bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Digital Illiterate Classification Techniques Based on DeepFace Technology
Authors: Shin Dae-Kyeon , Kim Tae-Ho , Seo Dong-Jin , Kim Howard , Cha Jin-Gil , Kim Seong- Kweon
Published: October 2024

This paper presents an algorithm to identify digital illiterates by analyzing age and emotions from facial recognition. In this paper, digital illiterates refer to people who struggle in using digital devices. The study assumed that older individuals who display surprised or angry facial expressions while using digital devices are more likely to be identified as digitally illiterate. For age detection, the study used MTCNN (Multi-task Cascaded Convolutional Networks), and for emotion detection, it employed the VGG-Face model. MTCNN detects facial features and landmarks to preprocess images and distinguish facial characteristics. The VGG-Face model uses convolution operations to analyze facial images and classify emotional states. The dataset used in the study consisted of 3,000 facial images collected from the internet. The research team categorized the images into faces of individuals aged over 50, angry expressions, and surprised expressions. The dataset included 411 individuals (13.7%) aged over 50, 163 individuals (5.4%) with angry expressions, and 145 individuals (4.8%) with surprised expressions. Accuracy was estimated by comparing the results from the DeepFace algorithm with those from the research team’s classifications. The DeepFace algorithm achieved 95.77% accuracy in detecting individuals aged over 50, 83.45% accuracy for surprise, and 76.07% for anger. The results demonstrate that it is possible to identify digital illiterates based on their age and emotional expressions and could enable the development of personalized services to directly or indirectly support digital illiterates, potentially improving digital accessibility.
Factores asociados a la desnutrición crónica infantil en Perú
Authors: Trujillo-Roldan Melanie , Roldán-Arbieto Luis , Talavera Jesus E. , Perez Miguel A , Correa-López Lucy E. , De La Cruz-Vargas Jhony
Published: October 2024

Objective: To investigate factors associated with chronic malnutrition among children aged five and under in Peru.
Materials and Methods: Secondary data analysis based on the Peruvian 2018 Demographic and Family Health Survey.
Results: Child’s age (PR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.009 to 1.015) and living in a rural area (PR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.54) were associated with a higher risk of chronic malnutrition in the sample. Educational level, wealth index, and not belonging to the publicly funded Comedor Popular nutrition program, were identified as protective factors to chronic malnutrition.
Conclusion: Being under five and living in a rural area was associated with an increased risk of chronic malnutrition in children residing in Peru. A higher wealth index and mother’s level of education decrease the chances of chronic malnutrition in children under five years of age.
Keywords: Malnutrition; Child, Preschool; Infant; Risk factors, Public health
A retreatment of an endodontic tooth 25 with underfilled
Authors: Cahyani Febriastuti , Adita Farah Rahmi , Rachmawati Atika Nisaa , Haq Addina Ainul , Fadila Okta Mulia Nur , Cinantya Aulia Dian , Pribadi Nirawati
Published: October 2024

Background: Cases of endodontic failure requiring retreatment are endodontic failure cases in which microorganisms in root canal are able to survive, causing inflammation and pain. Purpose: This research aims to carry out retreatment of teeth after endodontic treatment to maintain and improve its function. Case: Male patient (67 years) has suffered from pain when chewing and discolored upper left second premolar tooth since one year ago in 2022. Ten years ago in 2013, he got dental treatment for the tooth. The patient also has a history of controlled hypertension. Case management: Several stages were conducted in sequence, namely gutta percha removal from previous endodontic treatment, root canal re-preparation, irrigation sequence, dressing, and obturation with single cone technique. Conclusion: In this case, an indirect restoration in the form of a crown should have been conducted to obtain a good contact point. As a result, food retention occurred in the interdental area, and then microorganisms entered through the periodontal tissue, causing periodontal inflammation. The inflammation then spread apically until it entered one-third of the apical in root canal, resulting in periapical inflammation. Exposed dentinal tubules in the missing portion of cementum then cause bacterial invasion of the tubules and increase the possibility of damage to the pulp. Periodontal disease can progress apically and involve the apical foramen. In this case, an indirect crown restoration was used since the quality of the final restoration has an impact on the survival and success rate of the endodontically treated tooth. In conclusion, a well-sealed crown restoration will prevent the entry of microorganisms
Further observations of a Black Falcon Falco subniger with yellow bare parts
Authors:   Lee Robertson Photography, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia, Robertson Amanda
Published: October 2024

I describe and provide photographs of a typically dark-plumaged Black Falcon Falco subniger that had yellow bare parts – cere, base of lower mandible, orbital skin and feet – observed in the field near Oakey, in inland Queensland, in July 2024.
Fluid flow modeling in annular and semi-annular channels
Authors: Kiryushina Maria Alexandrovna
Published: October 2024

Results of numerical simulation of flow of viscous incompressible isothermal liquid in annular channel, which represents gap between rotating and fixed cylinders, as well as in semi-annular channel between rotating cylinder and fixed wall, are given. A mathematical model and its implementation for this task in the OpenFOAM package are described. Results are shown for small and large Reynolds numbers, which correspond to the formation of stationary and stochastic flow modes.
Fibroma of Tendon Sheath Arising in the Subacromial Bursa
Authors: Tamai Kazuya , Kodama Rie , Ikegami Masachika , Tanaka Sakae
Published: October 2024

Case:

An 18-year-old woman presented with shoulder pain that had persisted for a year. The magnetic resonance imaging showed a solitary lesion in the subacromial bursa (SAB). Arthroscopy revealed an ovoid mass connected to the bursal wall with thin synovial tissue that was excised en bloc arthroscopically. Histological and molecular genetic examinations confirmed the diagnosis of fibroma of tendon sheath (FTS). The patient was symptom free for 32 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

This is the first case in the English literature of an FTS occurring in the SAB. FTS should be included in the differential diagnosis when a nodular lesion is noted in the SAB.
An applied noise model for scintillation-based CCD detectors in transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Zietlow Christian , Lindner Jörg K. N.
Published: October 2024

Measurements in general are limited in accuracy by the presence of noise. This also holds true for highly sophisticated scintillation-based CCD cameras, as they are used in medical applications, astronomy or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, signals measured with pixelated detectors are convolved with the inherent detector point spread function (PSF). The Poisson noise, arising from the quantized nature of the beam electrons, gets correlated by this convolution, which allows to reconstruct the detector PSF based on the Wiener–Khinchin theorem and the Pearson correlation coefficients under homogeneous illumination conditions. However, correlation also has a strong impact on the noise statistics of basic operations like the binning of signals, as it is usually done in electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Thus, this paper aims to give an insight into the different noise contributions occurring on such detectors, into their underlying statistics and their correlation. Detectors usually suffer from gain non-linearities and quantum efficiency deviations, which must be corrected for optimal results. All these operations influence the noise and are influenced by it, vice versa. In this work, we mathematically describe all these changes and show them experimentally. Methods on how to measure individual noise and correlation parameters are described allowing readers to implement routines for finding them. Sufficient knowledge on the noise of a measurement is not only crucial for classifying its quality and meaningfulness, but also allows for better post-processing operations like deconvolution, which is a common practice in spectroscopy to enhance signals.
Crosstalk between adult human retinas: exploring neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation for contralateral retina reflex insights.
Authors: Bernardes Rui , Jordão João , Figueira João , Morgado Miguel , Guimarães Pedro , Serranho Pedro , Farias Daniela Castro , DeBuc Delia Cabrera , Castelo-Branco Miguel , Paques Michel
Published: October 2024

Crosstalk mechanisms between retinas were never documented in humans despite being documented for several other species, including non-human primates. Here, we report the results of the first-in-human study that documents the crosstalk between retinas by measuring the vascular response in one retina to the photic stimulation of the contralateral eye in health and disease. We developed a stimulation apparatus and integrated it into an adaptive-optics fundus camera to image 32 healthy control (HC) subjects and 20 type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. We documented both the ipsilateral and the contralateral neurovascular coupling effect and established criteria to consider an actual response to find positive and negative responses. Ten (31.2%) and two (6.2%) subjects of the HC group presented contralateral positive and negative responses, respectively, and three (15.0%) positive and four (20.0%) negative responses were found for the DM group. Also, statistically significant differences in the ipsilateral and contralateral responses were found for the HC group, rejecting the null (non-response) hypothesis. This finding raises the need to revisit the current knowledge of neurovascular coupling mechanisms and the association between its dysregulation and neurological disorders. Further studies involving distinct populations and imaging centers are necessary to validate the findings herein.
FOSL1 drives the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating cell stemness, metastasis and multidrug resistance
Authors: Wang Shuping , Liu Xiaolong , Zhang Xueyan , Zeng Tingyu , Chen Yali , Ye Liu , Li Yulan
Published: October 2024

Background
Targeted therapy is a key strategy for the treatment of advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the leading causes for cancer-related death worldwide. To address the limitations of existing targeted drugs, there is an urgently need to find novel targets and therapeutic strategies. Transcription factor FOSL1 is a potential therapeutic target for challenging pancreatic cancer, which contributes to the malignant progression and poor gnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Methods
Human FOSL1 complete RNA, shRNA against FOSL1 and shRNA against HMGA1 lentiviral recombination vectors were used to overexpress FOSL1 and knock down FOSL1 and HMGA1. RNA sequencing, Q-PCR and Western blots were used to investigate the effects of FOSL1 on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. The relationship between FOSL1 and HMGA1 were analyzed by co-IP Mass spectrometry, Q-PCR and Western blots. The regulatory roles of FOSL1 and HMGA1 in the invasion and migration, stemness, and multidrug resistance were determined by transwell assay, immunofluorescence, Q-PCR and Western blots.
Results
We found that FOSL1 promoted the proliferation and progression of pancreatic cancer by trigging stemness, invasion and metastasis, and drug resistance. HMGA1 was a key downstream target of FOSL1 and directly interacted with FOSL1. Knockdown of HMGA1 inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the expression of genes related to stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and multidrug efflux system. FOSL1 promotes the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by up-regulating HMGA1 expression.
Conclusion
Targeting FOSL1 and HMGA1 in monotherapy or combination therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of advanced and metastasis pancreatic cancer.
Remire: Robust extremile regression in high dimensions
Authors: Sun Weixi , Wang Shanshan
Published: October 2024

Unconditional extremiles offer significant advantages over quantiles in risk management, as they satisfy the coherency axioms and provide various interpretative benefits. However, the application of extremile regression in multivariate conditional settings remains underexplored. In this paper, we propose a (penalized) robust linear extremile regression model (remire), incorporating the Huber loss function in place of the squared loss to enhance robustness against heavy-tailed errors. For high-dimensional data, we introduce a variable selection method using a folded concave penalty, and design an iteratively reweighted l1-penalized procedure for estimation. Each iteration’s estimation is solved via a local adaptive majorize-minimization algorithm. The proposed method exhibits desirable properties and performs well in finite samples, as demonstrated through comprehensive numerical studies. We further illustrate its practical utility with a real data application focused on childhood malnutrition.
A Novel Approach to Evaluating Running Performance: Using Special Endurance Coefficients as Statistical Norms
Authors: Blödorn Wolfgang , Döring Frank
Published: October 2024

Performance from sprint to long distance is largely determined by the relationship between speed and endurance. By analyzing over 14,000 race times of male runners, we introduce the coefficient of special endurance (KsA), which directly quantifies the pace loss between neighboring distances from 100m/200m to 5000m/10,000m. The KsA values obtained for seven distance pairs are nearly constant over decades in national runners, show low variability, and predict race times with less than one percent. The KsA-based reference ranges allow performance to be evaluated from the international to the regional level. This provides specific insight into runners' strengths, weaknesses and progression for individualizing training, selecting the most promising race distance, and identifying and developing talent. Overall, we provide empirically derived KsA values that serve as statistical norms for pace loss from 100m to 10,000m to evaluate running performance of males. The current approach should also be applicable to women, juniors, and road runners.
Investigating the influence of socio ecological factors on the engagement of primary school students in extracurricular sports: A comparative analysis across gender, grade, and urban versus rural environments
Authors: Zhu Youhuan , Qurban Haroona , Cui Shengli
Published: October 2024

Physical and mental health of the Primary school students has always been a focus of attention for the whole society. Affected by a multitude of factors, the current state of physical and mental health among primary school students is far from ideal. One significant contributing factor to this situation is the suboptimal quality of their engagement in extracurricular sports activities. The quality of primary school students' participation in extracurricular sports activities is influenced by a variety of factors, necessitating an exploration of this behavior within the broader societal context. Hence, this research takes a social ecological theory perspective to delve into the factors constraining the quality of primary school students' participation in extracurricular sports activities. The study investigates and analyzes the factors affecting primary school students' engagement in extracurricular sports, thereby identifying the key influencing elements. The results of the study revealed that the quality of primary school students' participation in extracurricular sports activities is still suboptimal, with significant disparities observed between urban and rural areas, while no significant differences are evident in terms of grade and gender. The primary factors affecting the quality of elementary school students' participation in extracurricular sports activities stem from individual-level factors, including attitudes, self-efficacy, and cognition. Factors such as peer support, school material resources, parental support, and community environment exert a secondary influence. Based on these findings, it is recommended that parents should work on reshaping their children's perception of extracurricular sports participation. Simultaneously, schools should make concerted efforts to create conducive conditions for extracurricular sports involvement. Collaboration with the community is also encouraged to establish platforms for extracurricular sports participation. This three-pronged approach, involving the family, school, and community, aims to guide students in transforming their attitudes, self-efficacy, and cognition, ultimately leading to an enhancement in the quality of their extracurricular sports participation behavior."
Predicting potentially suitable Bletilla striata habitats in China under future climate change scenarios using the optimized MaxEnt model
Authors: Luo Ming , Yang Pingfei , Yang Lili , Zheng Zhihong , Li Huan , Wu Mingkai
Published: October 2024

Bletilla striata, an important traditional Chinese medicine resource, holds high medicinal and ornamental value. However, unscientific habitat selection for its cultivation has led to low yields and poor quality as medicinal materials. The optimized MaxEnt model is a powerful tool for analyzing the potential impacts of environmental factors on species distribution and predicting habitat changes under climate change. It offers great significance for the protection and development of B. striata in China. Based on 269 B. striata distribution records in China and 15 major environmental factors, this study simulated the distribution patterns of potentially suitable B. striata habitats under four different climate change scenarios (SSP2.6, SSP4.5, SSP7.0, and SSP8.5) and three time periods (the current period, 2050s, and 2070s). The analysis was conducted using the MaxEnt model which exhibited high predictive accuracy and minimal overfitting. Solar radiation, annual temperature range, mean diurnal range and vapor pressure were revealed as the dominant factors affecting B. striata distribution, and their thresholds were ≤ 16265.39 kJ/m2·d− 1, ≤ 39.7℃, ≤ 12.6℃, and ≤ 2.9 kPa, respectively. The results showed that the total potentially suitable B. striata habitats in China were 30.07×105 km2 under current climate conditions, mainly distributed in 14 provinces or regions in southern China. Under future climate change conditions, the predicted potentially suitable B. striata habitats will decrease significantly over time, and the centroid of the predicted potentially suitable habitats at all levels will shift northward. The research results can guide future B. striata resource conservation, variety selection, and cultivation.
Body Weight and Cardio-respiratory Fitness: Predictors of Physical Function Capacity among Older Adults
Authors: Aloko Eric A. , Seibu Munkaila , Apaak Daniel , Sarpong Emmanuel O. , Sorkpor Stephen R. , Ansah Edward W.
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which body weight and cardio-respiratory endurance predict physical functional capacity of older adults in rural Ghana. This quantitative cross-sectional study sampled 998 aged (60yrs+) participants using a multistage sampling method. The senior fitness test battery, international physical activity questionnaire short form for elderly, weighing scale and tape measure were used to collect the data. The independent t-test and multiple regression analyses were applied the data. The results indicated that physical activity levels were minimal among both men and women older adults, but women were more overweight, had reduced cardio-respiratory function and physical function capacity. Body mass index and cardio-respiratory endurance are significant predictors of physical function capacity of the older adults. Education on the health benefits needs to be provided by health professionals who should also encourage these older adults to regularly participate in physical activity.
Multimodal Turn Beginning in Chinese English-as-a-foreign Language Learners’ Conversation
Authors: Ji Mengmeng , Chen Ming
Published: October 2024

Turn beginning is a crucial location for establishing speakership and gaining recipiency. It is one of the most challenging tasks for an individual learner. This study used a corpus-based approach to investigate how Chinese EFL learners employ multimodal resources to successfully execute turn beginnings, with a specific focus on potential variances between intermediate and advanced proficiency levels. The findings revealed a hierarchy in the allocation of linguistic resources, with feedback being the most prevalent, followed by demonstrative, connective, and syntactic relevance. This suggested that learners prioritized feedback on the previous turn at the outset of a turn, often serving an interactional function to convey acknowledgement and recognition. Interestingly, intermediate learner group used more demonstrative to provide a cue for utterance-interpretation. However, the advanced learner group preferred to establish logical relevance between each turn through the use of connective. In terms of non-linguistic resources, learners predominantly employed gaze and head movement to project turn beginning intention, demonstrating their capacity to harness multimodal resources to a certain extent. Moreover, the advanced learner group’s increased use of hand gesture suggested that as language proficiency improved, learners were more inclined to engage the hearer’s attention at the commencement of turns. This study contributes to the scholarly understanding of multimodal turn-taking by elucidating the distinct characteristics that learners exhibit when initiating conversational turns. It offers insights into how learners navigate the complex interplay of linguistic and non-linguistic resources in the pursuit of effective communication.
Percutaneous Nephrostomy Before Ureteral Reconstruction: Providing Ureteral Rest, But At What Cost?
Authors: Khizir Labeeqa , Lichtbroun Benjamin , Chua Kevin , Kaldany Alain , Pfail John , Passerelli Rachel , Doppalapudi Sai Krishna , Elsamra Sammy
Published: October 2024

Purpose
Ureteral stent removal with pre-operative placement of percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) allows for a period of ureteral rest. To better understand the impact on pre-operative PCN placement on patient quality of life (QoL), we created a novel questionnaire to distribute to our patients with questions pertaining to pain, general health, work performance, sexual matters, ease of follow-up, and urinary symptoms.
Methods
We retrospectively surveyed 20 patients with pre-operative PCN before ureteral reconstruction. Questions ranged from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5) on a 5-point Likert-scale.
Results
Of 20 total patients surveyed, 65% strongly agreed or agreed that PCN improved their pain prior to surgery with an average score of 3.9 (95% CI 3.31–4.49). Overall, 65% of patients strongly agreed or agreed that PCN made it challenging to enjoy everyday activities with an average score of 3.8 (95% CI 3.16–4.44). For work performance, 70% of patients strongly disagreed or disagreed that the quality of their work was diminished with an average score of 2.05 (95% CI 1.44–2.66). In terms of overall satisfaction, 95% of patients strongly agreed or agreed that they were happy to have a PCN due to an increased likelihood of having a successful surgery with an average score of 4.8 (95% CI 4.6-5.0).
Conclusions
Pre-operative PCN placement did not significantly impact patient’s QoL in terms of overall satisfaction and should continue to be employed for ureteral rest prior to ureteral reconstruction. This tool can be further utilized to quantify the personal implications of a PCN on patients.
"Optimizing Lathe Process Capability Using Non-Metallic Gears: A Comparative Analysis of Machining Performance"
Authors: Koli Tushar A. , Arajpure V. G. , Patil V. H.
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the effects of non-metallic gears (cast nylon, nylon, and Hylam) in the process capability performance of a lathe machine in turning operations in comparison with metallic gears. Machining of 216 shafts has been carried out under different setups of spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut. Process capability indices in terms of (Cp, Cpk) have been calculated and control charts - X-bar and R-charts were used to analyze the performance. The results also reveal that the Hylam gear outperforms the other gears, with higher process capability due to its superior density and flexural strength. This analysis reveals there is considerable scope for the application of non-metallic gears to develop surfaces that can achieve better surface finish by taking up process control and machining precision at lesser cost than metallic gears in modern lathe machining.
Shotgun proteomic analysis of the caterpillar Lonomia obliqua (Lepitoptera, Saturniidae) hemolymph and effects in rat hippocampal neurons culture
Authors: Maggi Silviane , Pinto Antonio Frederico Michel , Udo Mariana Sayuri Berto , Silva Mariana Aguilera Alencar da , Garcia Raphael Caio Tamborelli , Minetto Luciane , Tasso Leandro , Machado Pablo , Santos Diógenes Santiago , Eichler Paula , Barcellos Thiago , Junior Pedro Ismael da Silva , Mendonça Ronaldo Zucatelli , Marcourakis Tania , Moura Sidnei
Published: October 2024

Study of substances with potentially neuroprotective has been one of the research focus on drugs development. Toxic proteins of Lonomia obliqua caterpillars, which have caused several accidents in southern Brazil, were identified in the hemolymph with anti-apoptotic activity. This study aims the evaluation of the protein profile and the hemolymph effect on cell viability of rats’ primary cultured hippocampal neurons after apoptosis induction. Semi-quantitative shotgun proteomics approach was used to evaluate the protein profile of 3 caterpillars lots of different origin. Were identified a total of 76 proteins, 71 in hemolymph and 40 in fractions. Antiviral protein predominated in crude hemolymph, following by serine proteases, hemolins and protease inhibitors. In fractions were identified hemolins, serine proteases and protease inhibitors. The treatment of rats’ primary cultured hippocampal neurons with the chromatographic fraction at concentration of 0.05 and 0.10% (v/v) for 24 hours, with subsequently apoptosis induction was able to maintain cell viability significantly higher than positive control. Hemolymph protein composition can show qualitative and quantitative variations intra species when compared different origins animals and consequently exposed to various environmental factors. The results shown on this study may contribute to the identification of proteins with potential use as neuroprotective in degenerative conditions.
Mechanism of Contact Nonlinearity on the Natural Frequency of Spatial Spherical-Joint-Beam Structures
Authors: Peng Tao , Liu Rongqiang
Published: October 2024

Spherical joints are widely utilized in space-deployable truss extension arms due to their compact structure, high reliability and excellent flexibility. Spherical joints are often combined with beams to form Spherical-Joint-Beam Structures (SJBS). However, the nonlinear contact effects and discontinuities inherent to spherical joints pose challenges to the dynamic modeling of SJBS, leading to significant errors in predicting the dynamic performance of truss extension arms. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper proposes a continuous modeling method of the spherical joint structure by introducing equivalent material layer (EML) and developing a nonlinear dynamic model of the SJBS. Specifically, this study establishes a theoretical model for the contact force and stiffness of spherical joints based on fractal contact theory, along with an in-depth analysis of the factors influencing contact stiffness. Additionally, mathematical models for key parameters of the EML, such as the elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio and shear modulus are derived based on energy conservation, then the sensitivity analysis of the EML parameters is conducted. Finally, the dynamic characteristics of the SJBS are systematically investigated, and the accuracy of the theoretical model is validated experimentally through modal experiments. The results indicate that using EML in modal analysis better captures the contact characteristics of the ball joint compared to finite element simulation. The error for the first-order frequency is 9.66%, and for the second-order frequency, it is 12.98%. This study reveals the mechanisms by which geometric nonlinearity and contact nonlinearity influence the natural frequency of the SJBS, providing valuable insights for the application of these structures in the extension arms of large space trusses.
Effect of Finerenone in Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Rivera-Martinez Juan Carlos , Sabina Michael , Khanani Aqeel , Lurie Andrew , Rigdon Amanda , Abusnina Waiel , Bizanti Anas , Paul Timir
Published: October 2024

Purpose
Heart failure is prevalent in the United States. Although guidelines exist for managing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there is no consensus for heart failure with mildly reduced (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Recent trials have explored Finerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, in HFmrEF and HFpEF patients. This meta-analysis evaluates Finerenone as a treatment option.
Methods
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining Finerenone's effects on cardiovascular and renal outcomes. The analysis included three RCTs: FIDELIO-DKD, FIGARO-DKD, and FINEARTS-HF, with 19,027 participants. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and renal failure. Secondary outcomes included safety and adverse events like acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia. Meta-analyses used hazard ratios (HR), confidence intervals (CI), and risk ratios (RR).
Results
Finerenone reduced heart failure hospitalization risk by 20% (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.72–0.90, p < 0.0001) with no heterogeneity (I² = 0%). A 14% reduction in all-cause mortality was observed (RR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.97, p = 0.01). However, Finerenone did not significantly reduce cardiovascular death (HR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82–1.01, p = 0.06). Renal failure rates were similar between Finerenone and placebo (RR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.65–1.68).
Conclusion
This meta-analysis shows Finerenone significantly reduces heart failure hospitalizations and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Further research is needed to assess its impact on cardiovascular death and renal failure.
High-precision positioning and timing method of GNSS receiver for mobile communication networks
Authors: Haodong Zhao , Junna Shang , Huli Shi
Published: October 2024

In the current mobile communication network, many GNSS receiving devices have emerged. To reduce the construction cost of the mobile communication network and meet the needs of high-precision positioning and timing in certain scenarios, a self-differential enhanced iterative network algorithm suitable for mobile communication networks has been proposed. This algorithm can use existing GNSS receivers to form a CORS-like station network to achieve high-precision positioning in a local area. Based on high-precision positioning, various delay errors in the current 1PPS second pulse are corrected by differential information data to solve the precise time of the local clock, thereby improving timing accuracy.In engineering applications, the self-differential enhanced iterative network algorithm is used to make embedded improvements to the antenna parameter sensor commonly used in mobile communication networks. The improved antenna parameter sensor has obtained high-precision positioning and timing functions based on the original attitude and direction measurement functions. Its positioning accuracy can reach millimeter level, and the timing accuracy can reach 20 nanoseconds.
Fusion Diagnostic Knowledge and Foundation Model forAbnormal Cervical Cell Detection
Authors: Ding Bo , Zhou Xuefeng , Li Chaowei , Zhou Jun , He Yongjun
Published: October 2024

Automatic abnormal cervical cell detection provides cytopathologists with reliable evidence, rapiddiagnosis and reduced workload. However, this task is often prone to interference factors such as impurities,microorganisms, and neutrophils. The morphological diversity of abnormal cells also increasesthe complexity of detection. Unfortunately, existing abnormal cervical cell detection methods havenot fully utilized diagnostic knowledge from cytopathologists to handle these challenges.We proposean abnormal cervical cell detection method that leverages image and textual diagnostic knowledgein The Bethesda System (TBS) to interpret cervical cytology results, boosting the performance ofthe foundation model for target detection. First, we build a TBS diagnostic knowledge base througha TDK-Bert module. In TDK-Bert, TBS diagnostic knowledge can be efficiently extracted throughBert to capture textual features, which can then be aligned and fused with image features through anattention mechanism. In addition, we propose an ODC-SPPF module to improve the Spatial PyramidPooling-Fast (SPPF) module in a YOLO-based foundation model. The ODC-SPPF employs omnidimensionaldynamic convolution to improve the ability of feature extraction, particularly for subtlecells, and alleviates the interference of complex backgrounds in Thinprep cytologic test images. Experimentalresults on a cervical cell detection dataset demonstrate that our method effectively combinesknowledge bases and foundation models for abnormal cervical cell detection and outperforms thestate-of-the-art methods.
Sliding dynamics modeling and kinematic characteristic analysis of suspension ropes on elevator traction sheave
Authors: Zhang Weimin , Zhang Wenxin , Ye Lizhong , Zheng Bo , Wu Chengjun
Published: October 2024

The protection against the unintended car movement and the verification of traction force under emergency braking of the elevator are two extremely important protective measures in elevator safety protection. The main braking method for gearless main elevators is to indirectly stop the car by stopping the traction sheave through the traction machine brake. However, in existing theoretical research, the complex elevator braking process is only modeled through simple constant acceleration motion, without considering the sliding motion of the suspension ropes on the traction sheave after the traction sheave stops rotating, making it difficult to match the actual braking process and posing a huge challenge to the safe operation of elevators. Therefore, this article analyzes the asynchronous operation characteristics of the traction sheave motion state and the car motion state from the brake receiving the stop command to the complete stop of the car. A new formula for calculating the traction sheave acceleration and the differential equation for car acceleration are established, and the time-varying equations for car acceleration, velocity, and displacement are solved through approximate methods. The experimental results show that the theoretical model proposed in thz,2is paper can accurately evaluate the slip dynamics characteristics of the suspension ropes on the traction sheave, and has wide engineering application value.
Understanding Malaria Treatment Patronage from Informal Healthcare Providers in Nigerian Urban Settlements: Insights from community members and providers
Authors: Bamgboye Eniola Adetola , Ogunwale Akintayo Olamide , Adamu Al-Mukthar Yahuza , Bello Musa , Mhlanga Laurette , Olawuwo Morenikeji , Fagbamigbe Adeniyi Francis , Akinyemi Joshua Odunayo , Ajayi IkeOluwapo Oyeneye , Ozodiegwu Ifeoma Doreen
Published: October 2024

Informal Healthcare Providers (IHCPs), including Proprietary Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), Drug Peddlers (DPs), Traditional Healers (THs), and Herbal Drug Sellers (HDSs) are often the first choice for malaria treatment, especially in urban slums. Unplanned urbanization significantly impacts malaria transmission by creating cities with inadequate safety nets and healthcare access, increasing reliance on IHCPs. While WHO recognizes IHCP’s crucial role and emphasizes integrating them into formal healthcare for improved malaria care, they lack requisite training in malaria management and operate outside official regulations, raising concerns about the quality of care. Understanding IHCPs' perceptions and practices is essential for their proper integration. This study explored the perceived malaria burden, IHCPs' competence in malaria treatment, and reasons for visiting IHCPs in various urban settlements from both community member and provider perspectives.
This was a qualitative cross-sectional study in Ibadan and Kano metropolis. Eighteen (18) Focus Group Discussions (FGD) among 157 adult community members, and twelve (12) Key-Informant Interviews (KIIs) among PPMVs, DPs, THs, and HDSs were conducted in these cities. Participants were drawn purposively from settlements - designated as formal, informal and slum based on local definitions - in selected wards within the cities. Data were collected using pre-tested guides and analyzed thematically.
Our study reveals that malaria remains a significant health problem in these Nigerian cities. Patronage of IHCPs is driven by affordable treatment, perceived mildness of illness and access to credit facilities while cultural belief was key to patronage of HDSs and THs, largely among informal and slum residents. Furthermore, while IHCPs had a strong perceived competence in managing malaria cases, inadequate diagnosis and treatment were common practices. Educating and equipping IHCPs with diagnostic tools, enhancing access to affordable healthcare, and raising public awareness are crucial for proper malaria management and promoting collaborations with formal health care providers.
Enhancing Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction through Multi-feature Fusion Graph Convolutional Networks
Authors: Chen Xiaojing , Ou Meiying , Chen Yanming , Gu Shengwei , Zhao Ruibin
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces a multi-feature fusion graph convolutional network (MFFGCN) for the accurate prediction of pedestrian trajectories. Unlike previous methods that primarily relied on distance-based interactions, MFFGCN considers a broader range of influencing factors, including movement direction, relative distance, and movement velocity. By integrating these factors, the proposed model is able to more comprehensively capture the complex social interactions among pedestrians. The model comprises several modules: a pedestrian movement direction interaction module, distance-based and velocity-based interaction graph modules, a graph convolutional network (GCN) for feature extraction, and a temporal convolutional network (TCN) for trajectory prediction. Experimental results on the ETH and UCY datasets demonstrate that MFFGCN outperforms state-of-the-art methods, achieving lower average displacement error (ADE) and final displacement error (FDE). The proposed model not only improves the accuracy of pedestrian trajectory prediction but also provides insights into the importance of considering multiple factors in modeling pedestrian interactions. Our source code is available at: https://github.com/XiaojingChen327/MFFGCN-model/tree/main.
Классификация наук в античную эпоху и ее рецепция в раннее Новое время
Authors: Л.Я. Жмудь
Published: October 2024

В разделе книги показано, что в историографии науки последних двух столетий состав античной науки постоянно меняется: помимо точных дисциплин, mathēmata, в нее стали включать, с одной стороны, естествознание и медицину, хотя в античности они научными еще не были, а с другой, астрологию, алхимию и физиономику, давно выбывшие из числа научных дисциплин Нового времени. Античные классификации наук, принадлежащие Аристотелю и Гемину Родосскому (I в. до н.э.), опровергают эти добавления: научными в них считались только mathēmata. Многочисленные классификации XV–XVIII вв. широко понимаемой математики, чистой и смешанной, опирались преимущественно на античную традицию, постоянно расширяя universa mathesis за счет новых дисциплин, относящихся к mathesis mixta, или к математизированным областям физики и техники. Сложившиеся в античности представления о границах между математикой и физикой доминировали до конца XVIII в., современное понимание этих границ сформировалось только в XIX в.

This part of the book shows that in the historiography of science of the last two centuries, the composition of ancient Greek science is constantly changing: in addition to the exact sciences, mathēmata, it began to include, on the one hand, natural science and medicine, which in antiquity were not yet scientific, and on the other, astrology, alchemy, and physiognomy, which long since ceased to be scientific disciplines. On the contrary, ancient Greek classifications of sciences by Aristotle and Geminus of Rhodes (first century BC) include only mathēmata und thus defy modern additions. In the early modern period, numerous classifications of pure and mixed mathematics relied primarily on the ancient tradition, constantly expanding the universa mathesis through new disciplines related to mathesis mixta, or mathematized areas of physics and technology. Ancient perception of the boundaries between mathematics and physics dominated until the late 18th century, while modern understanding of these boundaries was formed only in the 19thcentury.
Effect of Root Severance on Growth of Field-grown Sugar Maple
Authors: Harris J. Roger , Knight Patricia , Fanelli Jody
Published: October 2024

This study addresses the growth limits imposed on large landscape trees by root severance at harvest and tests the effect of rootball size on stress following root severance. Two rootball sizes and a nontreated control treatment were randomly assigned to Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple) trees in four adjacent nursery rows at Waynesboro Nurseries, near Waynesboro, Va. One rootball size (75 cm in diameter) corresponded to the American Association of Nurserymen standards, and the other was 90 cm in diameter. Trees were dug with intact rootballs before bud swell. Height growth of root-severed trees was 19%, trunk diameter increase 10%, and twig extension 18% of control trees 2 years after root severance. Total stem nonstructural carbohydrate content was higher on controls than on root-severed trees. Leaf nitrogen content was greater for root-severed trees, presumably due to lack of a dilution effect. Although growth was severely curtailed by root severance, no effect on growth or measured plant stress indicators resulted from the use of a 90-cm vs. a 75-cm-diameter rootball.
Improving Off-season Production of Primocane-fruiting Red Raspberry by Altering Summer-pruning Intensity
Authors: Oliveira Pedro B. , Oliveira Cristina M. , Machado Pedro V. , Lopes-da-Fonseca Luís , Monteiro António A.
Published: October 2024

The effect of pruning intensity on the performance of red raspberry `Autumn Bliss', `Autumn Cascade', and `Heritage' was evaluated as a means of improving the autumn crop under plastic. Primocanes were cut at 0 and 10 nodes (N0, N10) in the first year of the experiment and at 5 to 25 nodes (N5 to N25) in the second year, in a nonheated plastic greenhouse in southern Portugal. In the first year, cutting the canes at ground level (N0) gave 57 g of fruit per cane for `Autumn Bliss', 9 g per cane for `Autumn Cascade', and no fruit for `Heritage'. Cutting the canes at ten nodes (N10) increased yields and greatly advanced harvest in all three cultivars. In the second year, the best pruning intensities were N10 for `Autumn Bliss' with 168 g of fruit per cane, N20 for `Autumn Cascade' with 232 g per cane, and N25 for `Heritage' with 48 g per cane. In all cultivars, the number of lateral branches per cane increased and their length decreased with longer pruning. Total node number decreased with longer pruning, but the number of fruiting laterals was the same. Only in `Autumn Bliss' did berry weight significantly decrease with longer pruning. This study clearly shows the possibility of achieving high yields under plastic in October and November with `Autumn Bliss' and `Autumn Cascade'. Late cultivars like `Heritage' must be avoided because of their longer growth cycles.
Yield and Quality Response of Muskmelon to Simulated Storm Damage
Authors: Bartolo Michael E. , Schweissing Frank C.
Published: October 2024

Severe storms with high winds, hail, and rain can severely injure muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud.) leaf and fruit tissues. Our study was conducted to determine the yield and quality response of muskmelon to simulated storm damage during different periods of plant development. We removed 33% and 67% of the muskmelon foliage at 10, 20, 30, and 40 days before the first anticipated harvest. In 1994, 67% defoliation significantly reduced marketable yields and fruit number more than did 33% defoliation. The same trend existed in 1993. At both levels, defoliation had a greater impact on marketable yield when it occurred just before the canopy had covered all bare ground in the plots (about 30 or 40 days before the first harvest). Defoliation, in general, decreased fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC). In 1993, SSC decreased as the severity of damage increased. The reduction in SSC was most prominent when defoliation occurred in the later stages of fruit development (10 or 20 days before harvest). Both moderate (33%) and severe (67%) foliage loss reduced marketable yield and fruit quality of muskmelons.
Growth and Cropping of Young Apple Trees as Affected by Heading and Support of the Central Leader
Authors: Barden John A. , Marini Richard P.
Published: October 2024

`Delicious', `Golden Delicious', and `York' apple trees (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) on dwarfing rootstocks were planted in 1988. For 7 years starting in 1989, the central leaders of trees of each cultivar were subjected to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of heading vs. not heading and supporting vs. not supporting. Support consisted of tying the leader to a conduit to 2.1 m; heading was the annual removal of one-half of the previous season's growth from the central leader. In general, tree height was suppressed by heading and increased by support. The only effect of treatment on trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) was in `Golden Delicious', in which support reduced TCA. Heading depressed cumulative fruit numbers in both `Delicious' and `Golden Delicious', while support had no effect. There was a consistent trend toward decreased cumulative fruit mass in headed trees.