bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The significance of guiding anterior cruciate ligament revision: a modified femoral tunnel classification
Authors: Niu Yingzhen , Chen Zhen , Jin Lingpeng , Li Zhikuan , Zheng Yi , Zhang Zhuangdai , Li Yusheng , Dong Jiangtao
Published: March 2024

Background The positioning error of femoral tunnel was the key factor leading to the failure of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This study aimed to propose a new femoral tunnel classification to guide ACL revision process.
Methods Totals of 150 patients with ACL reconstruction failure from 2016 and 2023 were enrolled in this retrospective study. According to the tunnel diameter, shape, back wall and the positioning relationship with the Lateral Intercondylar Ridge on the three-dimensional CT imaging, we divided the femoral tunnels into four types: Type I off-target type, Type Ⅱ straddled type, Type Ⅲ anatomical type, and Type IV irregular type. Finally, explored the inter-observer reliability within two groups of doctors (Group A, 12 high seniorities; Group B, 12 low seniorities), and evaluated the intra-observer reliability within 6 doctors after two months.
Results Among 150 cases of femoral tunnel three-dimensional CT reconstructed imaging, 144 cases were successfully included in the classification system, and 6 cases were confirmed as uncertain type. We measured the Kappa (κ) coefficient of group A was significantly higher than that of group B (κ 0.72 VS 0.68), and the κ coefficient of group A was still higher than group B (κ 0.69 VS 0.62) after further dividing Type Ⅲ anatomical type into three subtypes. In addition, the κ coefficients of intra-observer reliability were all exceeded 0.73.
Conclusion The new femoral tunnel classification was reliable and had clinical guiding significance based on three-dimensional CT imaging.
Level of evidence Level Ⅲ
Research on Anchor Loss in Weakly Coupled Resonator Systems of Mode-Localized Mass Sensor Based on PML Method
Authors: Cheng Rongjun , Zhang Wenlong , Yuan Yi , Huang Qiangxian , Zhang Liansheng , Li Hongli
Published: March 2024

The performance of a micro-resonator highly depends on the rate of vibrational energy dissipation. Anchor loss is one of the major sources of energy dissipation in vacuum-encapsulated weakly coupled mode-localized sensors. To study anchor energy loss in weakly coupled-resonator systems, the Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) method is utilized to investigate the influence of key factors on the anchor loss quality factor of mass sensor, including the size and position of the coupled beam, the resonator dimensions, and the material properties of weakly coupled resonator. The results indicate that increasing the ratio of Young’s modulus between the substrate and resonator beam, enhancing the length-to-width ratio of the resonator beam, selecting appropriate coupling positions, and reducing the width of the coupled beam can effectively reduce anchor loss, thus improving the quality factor of mode-localized weakly coupled systems. Moreover, the anchor loss is not only related to the stress distribution at the anchor region but also closely related to the eigenfrequency of the coupled resonant system. These findings can provide valuable references for the design and optimization of mode-localized mass sensors.
Fermentation of acidic-pretreated glycerol for enhanced 1,3-PDO production by immobilized Clostridium butyricum JKT 37 on coconut shell activated carbon
Authors: Tey Ker Yee , Luthfi Abdullah Amru Indera , Woon Kok Sin , Lee Chew Tin , Manaf Shareena Fairuz Abdul , Yeap Swee Keong , Mahmod Safa Senan , Silvamany Hemavathi , Tan Jian Ping , Hui Yew Woh
Published: March 2024

Bioproduction of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) is regarded as a low carbon footprint bioprocess with a 33% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional chemical processes. In line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, bioproduction of 1,3-PDO closes the loop between biodiesel waste glycerol and biobased 1,3-PDO to establish a circular bioeconomy. There are limited studies on the bioconversion of biodiesel-derived glycerol into 1,3-PDO via the immobilized cell biocatalysis route. In this study, the production of 1,3-PDO was enhanced by the wild-type Clostridium butyricum JKT 37 immobilized on the activated carbon of coconut shell (CSAC) as supporting material using the acidic-pretreated glycerol as a carbon source. Among various mesh sizes of CSAC tested, the 6-12 mesh immobilizer had enhanced cell density by about 94.43% compared to the suspended cell system. Following the acidic pretreatment in 37% (v/v) HCl, the pretreated glycerol had 85.60% glycerol with complete removal of soaps. The immobilized cell fermentation using pretreated glycerol produced 8.04 ± 0.34 g/L 1,3-PDO with 0.62 ± 0.02 mol/mol of yield, 15.81% and 27.78% higher than the control, respectively. Five repeated batches of immobilized cell fermentation had resulted in the average 1,3-PDO titer, yield, and productivity of 16.40 ± 0.58 g/L, 0.60 ± 0.03 mol/mol, and 0.68 ± 0.02 g/L.h, respectively. The metabolism pathway gradually shifted to a reductive branch when immobilized cells were reused in repeated batch fermentation, proven by the reduction in organic acid formation and the increased ratio of 1,3-PDO-to-total organic acids.
Does opting in or out affect the take up of incentives in a long running population-based cohort study: A nested randomised trial in ALSPAC
Authors: Northstone Kate , Bowring Claire
Published: March 2024

Background: Financial incentives may be important for improving response rates to data collection activities and for retaining participants in longitudinal studies. However, for large studies, this introduces significant additional costs. We sought to determine whether an opt-in or an opt-out option for receiving financial incentives when completing questionnaires offers any cost saving measures.
Methods: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children has been ongoing for more than 30 years. It has offered a £10 incentive for completing annual questionnaires for >10 years, this is provided by default unless a participant chooses to opt out. For questionnaires completed in 2020 by the original parents recruited to the study and by their offspring, we randomised participants to either opt-out or to opt-in to receiving their vouchers. Logistic regressions determined whether opt-out or opt-in made any difference to the proportion of participants receiving their vouchers.
Results: Participants are less likely to choose to receive a thank you for their time in the form of a £10 shopping voucher if they are asked to opt in compared to if they are asked to opt out. The odds ratio, adjusted for baseline characteristics was 3.94 (95% Confidence Interval: 3.49, 4.45). There was no difference in response rates according to whether participants were randomised to the opt-in or opt-out group.
Conclusions: ALSPAC now employs an opt-in procedure for participants receiving their financial incentive when completing a questionnaire. We recommend similar studies consider this option if they want to introduce some cost savings without harming overall response rates.
Mental illness and COVID-19 vaccination: a multinational investigation of observational & register-based data
Authors: Barker Mary , Kõiv Kadri , Magnúsdóttir Ingibjörg , Milbourn Hannah , Wang Bin , Du Xinkai , Murphy Gillian , Herweijer Eva , Gísladóttir Elísabet , Li Huiqi , Lovik Anikó , Kahler Anna , Campbell Archie , Feychting Maria , Hauksdóttir Arna , Joyce Emily , Thordardottir Edda , Frans Emma , Hoffart Asle , Magi Reedik , Tómasson Gunnar , Ásbjörnsdóttir Kristjana , Jakobsdóttir Jóhanna , Andreassen Ole , Sullivan Patrick , Johnson Sverre , Aspelund Thor , Brandlistuen Ragnhild , Ask Helga , McCartney Daniel , Ebrahimi Omid , Lehto Kelli , Valdimarsdóttir Unnur , Nyberg Fredrik , Fang Fang
Published: March 2024

Background: Individuals with mental illness are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. However, previous studies on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in this population have reported conflicting results. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between mental illness and COVID-19 vaccination uptake, using data from five countries.
Methods: Data from seven cohort studies (N=325,298), and the Swedish registers (8,080,234), were used to identify mental illness and COVID-19 vaccination uptake. Multivariable modified Poisson regression models were conducted to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% CIs of vaccination uptake among individuals with v.s. without mental illness. Results from the cohort studies were pooled using random effects meta-analyses.
Findings: Most of the meta-analyses performed using the COVIDMENT study population showed no significant association between mental illness and vaccination uptake. In the Swedish register study population, we observed a very small reduction in the uptake of both the first (prevalence ratio [PR]: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.98-0.99, p<0.001) and second dose among individuals with mental illness; the reduction was however greater among those not using pyschiatric medication (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.91-0.91, p<0.001).
Conclusions: The high uptake of COVID-19 vaccination observed among individuals with most types of mental illness highlights the comprehensiveness of the vaccination campaign , however lower levels of vaccination uptake among subgroups of individuals with unmedicated mental illness warrants attention in future vaccination campaigns.
Analysis of the Visual Function With the Continuous Transitional Focus Intraocular Lens Precizon Presbyopic
Authors: León-Ibáñez Luis , Piñero David Pablo
Published: March 2024

Purpose
To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a refractive multi-segmented continuous transitional focus intraocular lens (IOL), analyzing the potential influence of patient pupil dynamics on these outcomes\.
Methods
Retrospective consecutive case series study enrolling 40 eyes (20 patients, 47–81 years) implanted with the Precizon Presbyopic IOL (Ophtec BV). The following clinical outcomes were analyzed during a mean follow-up of 12.1 months (2–24 months): visual acuity, refraction, contrast sensitivity (CS) under photopic and mesopic conditions, binocular defocus curve and evaluation of the perception of disturbing visual symptoms with a validated questionnaire.
Results
Mean binocular uncorrected distance (UDVA), distance-corrected intermediate (DCIVA), uncorrected near (UNVA) and distance-corrected near visual acuities (DCNVA) were − 0.09 ± 0.07, 0.04 ± 0.05, 0.17 ± 0.12, and 0.15 ± 0.10 logMAR, respectively. In the binocular defocus curve, mean distance-corrected visual acuity was over 0.20 logMAR for defocus levels from + 1.50 to -3.00 D. No significant correlations of photopic pupil diameter were found with any postoperative visual acuity data (-0.165 ≤ r ≤ 0.192, p ≥ 0.235). Moderate correlations of mesopic pupil size were found with visual acuities for the defocus levels of -2.50 (r = 0.454, p = 0.003), -3.00 (r = 0.609, p < 0.001), -3.50 (r = 0.519, p < 0.001), and − 4.00 D (r = 0.403, p = 0.010). Only significant differences were found between mesopic and photopic CS for 12 cycles/degree (p = 0.010). No cases of severe glare or halos were detected. In contrast, 10% of patients referred the severe perception of starbursts postoperatively. Full spectacle independence was referred by almost all patients (90%).
Conclusions
The IOL demonstrates effective visual restoration at various distances, characterized by high levels of visual quality and minimal dependence on pupil dynamics.
Frequency analysis of annual maximum daily rainfall in Brazil with multiparameter probability density functions
Authors: Rodrigues Aryane Araujo , Beskow Tamara Leitzke Caldeira , Siqueira Tirzah Moreira , Beskow Samuel , de Mello Carlos Rogerio , de Oliveira Luis Fernando Coutinho
Published: March 2024

For water resources engineering and management, understand the extreme rainfall events it’s essential. Using rainfall frequency analysis, one can fit many Probability Density Functions (PDFs) to the rainfall series and identify the best fit through the goodness-of-fit tests, allowing the estimate of Annual Maximum Daily Rainfall (AMDR) quantiles for different Return Periods (RP). Recommendations regarding the best PDFs for this have been made for some countries, however, in the opposite direction, Brazil has no guidelines or recommendations such as the above mentioned, and Gumbel distribution still is the most used PDF for modeling AMDR, frequently without testing others. That said, we focus in modeling thousands of AMDR series in Brazil, evaluating ten PDF candidates to find the best fit and defining the most indicated to describe AMDR in the country. The methodology consisted of: acquisition, structuration and screening process by temporal and statistical criteria; fit of the 2-, 3- and multiparameter PDFs to the AMDR series based on the L-moments method; quantile estimation; and PDFs performance assessment by Filliben test and the relative absolute error. From the almost 4 thousand AMDR series investigated, we concluded that: Gumbel and Exponential provided the poorest performance (32.1–60.2% of non-satisfactory fits); multiparametric PDFs (Wakeby and Kappa) are the most indicated for modeling AMDR in Brazil; Gumbel had the highest error values for quantile estimate, especially for high RP; novelties and advances on probabilistic modeling of AMDR in Brazil were provided, helping decision makers with accurate and essential technical information for many purposes.
The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio associates with markers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in cognitively unimpaired elderly people
Authors: Jacobs Tovia , Jacobson Sean R. , Fortea Juan , Berger Jeffrey S. , Vedvyas Alok , Marsh Karyn , He Tianshe , Gutierrez-Jimenez Eugenio , Fillmore Nathanael R. , Bubu Omonigho M. , Gonzalez Moses , Figueredo Luisa , Gaggi Naomi L. , Plaska Chelsea Reichert , Pomara Nunzio , Blessing Esther , Betensky Rebecca , Rusinek Henry , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Glodzik Lidia , Wisniewski Thomas M , Leon Mony J. , Osorio Ricardo S. , Ramos-Cejudo Jaime
Published: March 2024

Background:
An elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in blood has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, an elevated NLR has also been implicated in many other conditions that are risk factors for AD, prompting investigation into whether the NLR is directly linked with AD pathology or a result of underlying comorbidities. Herein, we explored the relationship between the NLR and AD biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of cognitively unimpaired (CU) subjects. Adjusting for sociodemographics, APOE4, and common comorbidities, we investigated these associations in two cohorts: the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the M.J. de Leon CSF repository at NYU. Specifically, we examined associations between the NLR and cross-sectional measures of amyloid-β42 (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau), as well as the trajectories of these CSF measures obtained longitudinally.
Results:
A total of 111 ADNI and 190 NYU participants classified as CU with available NLR, CSF, and covariate data were included. Compared to NYU, ADNI participants were older (73.79 vs. 61.53, p < 0.001), had a higher proportion of males (49.5% vs. 36.8%, p = 0.042), higher BMIs (27.94 vs. 25.79, p < 0.001), higher prevalence of hypertensive history (47.7% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001), and a greater percentage of Aβ-positivity (34.2% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.009). In the ADNI cohort, we found cross-sectional associations between the NLR and CSF Aβ42 (β=-12.193, p = 0.021), but not t-tau or p-tau. In the NYU cohort, we found cross-sectional associations between the NLR and CSF t-tau (β = 26.812, p = 0.019) and p-tau (β = 3.441, p = 0.015), but not Aβ42. In the NYU cohort alone, subjects classified as Aβ+ (n = 38) displayed a stronger association between the NLR and t-tau (β = 100.476, p = 0.037) compared to Aβ- subjects or the non-stratified cohort. In both cohorts, the same associations observed in the cross-sectional analyses were observed after incorporating longitudinal CSF data.
Conclusions:
We report associations between the NLR and Aβ42 in the older ADNI cohort, and between the NLR and t-tau and p-tau181 in the younger NYU cohort. Associations persisted after adjusting for comorbidities, suggesting a direct link between the NLR and AD. However, changes in associations between the NLR and specific AD biomarkers may occur as part of immunosenescence.
Contrasting Linguistic Patterns in Human and LLM-Generated News Text
Authors: Muñoz-Ortiz Alberto , Gómez-Rodríguez Carlos , Vilares David
Published: March 2024

We conduct a quantitative analysis contrasting human-written English news text with comparable large language model (LLM) output from from six different LLMs that cover three different families and four sizes in total. Our analysis spans several measurable linguistic dimensions, including morphological, syntactic, psychometric, and sociolinguistic aspects. The results reveal various measurable differences between human and AI-generated texts. Human texts exhibit more scattered sentence length distributions, more variety of vocabulary, a distinct use of dependency and constituent types, shorter constituents, and more optimized dependency distances. Humans tend to exhibit stronger negative emotions (such as fear and disgust) and less joy compared to text generated by LLMs, with the toxicity of these models increasing as their size grows. LLM outputs use more numbers, symbols and auxiliaries (suggesting objective language) than human texts, as well as more pronouns. The sexist bias prevalent in human text is also expressed by LLMs, and even magnified in all of them but one. Differences between LLMs and humans are larger than between LLMs.
Investigation into the effects of machining parameters on the edge quality of particleboards - Modelling and Optimization
Authors: GARRIDO NUNO MANUEL BATISTA , Martins Jorge , Davim João Paulo , Carvalho Luisa
Published: March 2024

It is challenging to model and optimize the variables affecting particleboard's (PB) machining edges. The lack of thorough investigation of these models presents further difficulties. However, they can directly improve the cutting-edge profile's quality and reduce production costs. Statistical and mathematical modelling tools, such as the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) are valuable tools for understanding how both qualitative and quantitative variables affect the quality performance of a process or product, which means understanding how these variables respond to the factors involved in the model. The Box-Behnken experimental design model was initially used to plan experiments in this study. By employing this technique, fewer tests are necessary to examine the predefined factors. The model's suitability and the accuracy of the results were verified using a variance analysis (ANOVA). That allowed a comparison of the variation caused by the factors with the interference caused by random errors in the generated responses. Subsequently, a mathematical-statistical model was then generated from experimental data using polynomial functions to use RSM as an optimization method. From this examination, the optimal values for each response variable were obtained. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that both experimental and prediction results show a good correlation and highlight that the use of RSM to optimize the delamination criteria (Tw), the specific cutting energy (Es), and feed per tooth (fz) as response variables when influenced by the factors feed speed (Vf) and frequency (N), is appropriate for the edge quality analysis of the specific type of PB considered in this study. Extended author information available on the last page of the article Published online: xx XXXXXXX 2024
Estimation of time–frequency-dependent lagged coherence for ground motions in simulating multipoint ground motions
Authors: Wen Pan , Bi Xirong
Published: March 2024

Traditional coherence functions ignore the time-varying characteristics of ground motions, influencing the accuracy of simulating multipoint nonstationary ground motions. An effective process is proposed for building the time–frequency lagged coherence expression to describe the spatial variation in both the time and frequency domains. First, the advantage of wavelet packet transform (WPT) in recognizing the time–frequency characteristics of signals is leveraged. The WPT is used to analyze the time–frequency characteristics of ground motions and estimate the time–frequency lagged coherence using the observed recordings from SMART-1 array. Then, based on the frame of simulating multipoint ground motions, a blind test for verifying the rationality of time–frequency lagged coherence is conducted to simulate spatially correlated ground motions using time–frequency and traditional lagged coherence functions. The spatial coherence of the target region is observed to have clearly lost its inherent time-varying property. The comparative results confirm the significance of using the time–frequency lagged coherence in simulating multipoint ground motions.
Predictive analytics for environmental impact: Deep learning and AI ensemble strategies in forecasting CO2 emissions
Authors: Nazir Talha , Nagra Hareem Fatima , Bhatti Matloob Hussain , Shahid Rub Nawaz , Shaukat Nadeem , Tariq Naeem ul Haq
Published: March 2024

The forecasting of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission trends stands as a pivotal step towards achieving environmental sustainability. As countries grapple with the challenge of curbing escalating CO2 emissions, the significance of accurate forecasting has become increasingly pronounced in recent years. In this study, to unveil the trajectory of CO2 emissions in Pakistan, forecasting was done through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) driven Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models. Rigorous data preprocessing techniques were applied to historical CO2 emissions data for Pakistan comprising of 76 points from year 1946 to 2021. Sequences were formulated to capture temporal dependencies, paving the way for model training and validation. The ANN, GRU, and LSTM models were meticulously designed, each bearing unique attributes for time series forecasting. The obtained results yielded valuable insights, epitomized by model evaluations and predictions. The ANN model did really well with a test MAE of 8.111, a test R² of 0.8614 and a test RMSE of 10.25. The GRU model, characterized by a test MAE of 7.936, a test R² of 0.8355 and a test RMSE of 11.25, proved its worth as well. In contrast, the LSTM model demonstrated excellence with a test MAE of 7.941, a test R² of 0.8586 and a test RMSE of 10.45. A novel ensemble approach, combining these three models, yielded a test MAE of 7.876, a test R2 of 0.869, and a test RMSE of 10.5043. Further, the models were employed to forecast CO2 emissions for Pakistan from the year 2022 to 2030. The insights gained from this study not only enhance our understanding of CO₂ emissions trends in Pakistan but also provide valuable guidance for global efforts to adopt cleaner lifestyles and sustainable choices, fostering a healthier planet for all.
Cyclic loading effects and stability assessment of trees and stumps used as anchors in cable yarding operations
Authors: Marchi Luca , Mologni Omar , Byrne Ken , Grigolato Stefano , Roeser Dominik
Published: March 2024

Swing yarders in running skyline configuration using either grapples or chokers represent the most common configuration for cable yarding in coastal British Columbia. In this context, whole-tree logging and short work cycles lead to heavy and repeated loads applied to the trees and stumps when used as anchors for the rigging cables. Moreover, increased harvesting of second-growth forest stands leads to the unavailability of large and safe trees, thus introducing new challenges to identify suitable anchors and potentially increases safety risks of cable yarding operations. The present study aimed to collect evidence of the mechanical response provided by anchors for typical cable yarders used in second-growth harvesting in coastal British Columbia, and test the suitability of innovative techniques for the stability assessment based on the relationship between the anchor root-plate rotations and the related applied tensile forces. A conspicuous dataset could be derived from all the surveys, storing anchor rotations from a total of 1522 work cycles of which 1224 work cycles included also tensions measurements. The methodological approach was proven effective for monitoring different rigging configurations giving proof that repeated loading affects the stability of a tree/stump which can rapidly change over few hours of active yarding operations. Acquired data proved also that comparing theoretical failure limits with anchor rotations could be a valid approach however a considerable amount of species-specific data from tree pulling tests is required.
A Temporal Mathematical Model of Alopecia Areata: Investigating Hair Cycle Dynamics and Disease Progression
Authors: Alzubadi Hanadi
Published: March 2024

This paper describes the model development process in detail, including the formulation of equations and parameters based on existing knowledge of hair cycle dynamics and immune system interactions. Various analyses are conducted to gain insights into the behavior of the model. Illustrative simulations are performed to observe the temporal dynamics of the disease progression under different conditions. Sensitivity analysis using eFAST (Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) is employed to identify the most influential parameters affecting the length of the anagen phase in hair follicles affected by alopecia areata. The findings of the study shed light on the complex dynamics of alopecia areata and contribute to a deeper understanding of the disease mechanisms. The model provides a valuable tool for studying autoimmune hair loss diseases and may have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions. By simulating the immune response and its effects on hair follicles, the model offers insights into potential treatment strategies that can target immune dysregulation. The temporal mathematical model presented in this dissertation provides a comprehensive framework for investigating alopecia areata and understanding its underlying dynamics. The integration of hair cycle dynamics and immune system interactions enhances our knowledge of the disease and opens avenues for future advancements in diagnosis and treatment approaches.
Smoked, Smokeless, and Poly-tobacco Use during Pregnancy in relation to Infant Mortality in Cambodia: Findings from a Nationwide sample
Authors: Peng Jiahao , Petersen Anne Berit , Shavlik David , Xiao Daliao , Yel Daravuth , Kheam They , Singh Pramil N.
Published: March 2024

Background: Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy is an established risk factor for adverse maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes. In contrast, maternal smokeless tobacco use (i.e., e-cigarettes, snus, betel quid, iqmik) during pregnancy has a more complex risk profile due to its potential use as a smoking cessation aid or to reduce the harm from smoking tobacco. In this study, our overall aim was to investigate the association between smoked, smokeless, and poly-tobacco (smoked + smokeless) use during pregnancy and infant mortality in a national sample of women in Cambodia.
Methods: Our study used the data from the National Adult Tobacco Survey of Cambodia (NATSC) that used sampling methods and tobacco survey items from the CDC Global Adult Tobacco Survey but also included a supplement on reproductive health and birthing history. For our study, we selected the 5,342 persons of the NATSC who reported complete data on at least one pregnancy, and our unit of analysis was the 15,998 pregnancies from those persons. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression to relate tobacco use to infant mortality. Taylor linearized variance estimators were used to account for clustering by sampling unit and mother.
Results: We found that smokeless tobacco in the form of a betel quid was the most common form of tobacco used during pregnancy. In multivariable logistic regression, we found increased odds of infant death for all tobacco use categories but that the strongest effects were seen for habits that included smokeless tobacco (OR[95% CI] relative to never used tobacco in any form = 5.68[1.03, 31.46] for poly-tobacco use, 2.08 [1.15, 3.76] for exclusive use of smokeless tobacco). In more detailed analyses that considered the composition of the betel quid (tobacco, areca nut/leaf, slaked lime), we found that even chewing of tobacco leaves with no processing or additives was associated with a three-fold increase in odds of infant death (OR[95% CI] relative to never user = 3.05[1.45, 6.45]).
Conclusion: We found that even among those pregnant persons who limited their nicotine habit to chewing tobacco leaves with no processing or additives, there remained a higher odds of fetal or infant death from that pregnancy.
Uncertainty-Aware Deep Learning for Segmentation of Primary Tumour and Pathologic Lymph Nodes in Oropharyngeal Cancer: Insights from a Multi-Centre Cohort
Authors: De Biase Alessia , Sijtsema Nanna Maria , Dijk Lisanne V van , Steenbakkers Roel , Langendijk Johannes A. , Ooijen Peter van
Published: March 2024

Purpose
Within the medical field, there is a growing demand for deep learning (DL) models which convey model certainty to the end-user, while maintaining alignment between model accuracy and certainty. For oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) primary tumour (PT) segmentation in PET/CT images, an ensemble-based DL model was developed which outputs tumour probability maps (TPM) showing voxel-level predicted probabilities. This study extended the network to generate TPMs for both PT and pathologic lymph nodes (PL) and explored whether quantified uncertainty in TPMs can predict segmentation model accuracy in an independent external cohort.
Methods
We gathered PET/CT images and manual delineations of gross tumour volume of the PT (GTVp) and PL (GTVln) of 405 OPC patients treated with (chemo)radiation in our institute in 2010-2022. The publicly available 2022 HECKTOR challenge dataset served as external test set. The existing network was adapted to perform multi-label segmentation, training 15 models and considering the ensemble average of predicted TPMs per patient. Surface and aggregate DSC were computed for the predicted contours at different probability thresholds. Uncertainty was quantified by coefficient of variation (CV) of multiple predictions.
Results
GTVln segmentation showed slightly lower performance than GTVp: aggregate DSC of 0.66 and 0.67 in the internal, 0.70 and 0.75 in the external test sets. However, a significant negative correlation (about -0.6) was observed in both test sets between Average Surface DSC and CV for both structures, indicating a significant calibration.
Conclusion
Significant accuracy versus uncertainty calibration was achieved for TPMs in both internal and external test sets, indicating the potential use of CV to identify cases with lower GTVp and GTVln segmentation accuracy, independently of the dataset.
Reporting of participant race and ethnicity from COVID-19 randomized controlled drug and biologicals trials: a scoping review
Authors: Pranić Shelly Melissa , Estevão Maria Dulce , Vasanthan Lenny T. , Pérez-Neri Iván , Pulumati Anika , Junior Fábio Antonio Serra de Lima , Malih Narges , Mishra Vinayak , Thompson Jacqueline , Nnate Daniel
Published: March 2024

Racial and ethnic minorities have been disproportionally burdened by hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Participation of individuals of diverse races and ethnicities in clinical trials according to study-level characteristics of randomized controlled trials (RCT) that test effectiveness of COVID-19 drugs could be insightful for future researchers. The objective of this scoping review was to describe frequency of race and ethnicity reported as demographic variables and specific reporting of race and ethnicity according to COVID-19 RCT characteristics. We conducted comprehensive searches in Pubmed, ProQuest, WHO Database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and gray literature via preprint servers from 1/1/2020 to 5/4/2022. We included RCTs on emergency- or conditionally-approved COVID-19 drug interventions (remdesivir, barcitinib, and molnupiravir) with or without comparators. Self-reported race as American Indian/Pacific Islander, Asian, Black/African American, or White, ethnicity as Hispanic/Latinx, study design characteristics, and participant-relevant data were collected. A total of 17 RCTs with 17935 participants was included. Most (n=13, 76%) reported at least one race and ethnicity and were US-based, industry-funded RCTs. Asian, Black, Latinx, and White participants were mostly enrolled in RCTs that studied remdesivir. Native American and Hawaiian participants were mostly assessed for progression to high-flow oxygen/non-invasive ventilation. Time to recovery was assessed predominantly in Black and White participants, while hospitalization or death was mostly assessed in Asian, Latinx, and multi-race participants. Trialists should be aware of RCT-level factors and characteristics that may be associated with low participation of racial and ethnic minorities, which could inform evidence-based interventions to increase minority participation.
Registration: Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/3dx4f/?view_only=d1af00d952cc472b803df5297bce9a80
Physical, social, and behavioural determinants of household energy consumption in the UK
Authors: Satre-Meloy Aven , Hampton Sam
Published: March 2024

Determining which attitudes and behaviours predict household energy consumption can help accelerate the low-carbon energy transition. Conventional approaches in this domain are limited, often relying on survey methods that produce data on individuals’ motivations and self-reported activities without pairing these with actual energy consumption records, which are particularly hard to collect for large, nationally representative samples. This challenge precludes the development of empirical evidence on which attitudes and behaviours influence patterns of energy consumption, thus limiting the extent to which these can inform energy interventions or conservation programs. This study demonstrates a novel methodology for estimating energy consumption in the absence of actual energy records by using a large, publicly available data set of energy consumption in the UK. We develop a predictive model using the Smart Energy Research Laboratory (SERL) data portal (with records from nearly 13,000 UK households) and then use this model to predict energy consumption (both electric and gas) for a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK householders for which we separately collect over 200 variables relating to climate change attitudes and practices. Our approach uses a set of over 50 independent variables that are shared between the data sets, allowing us to train a model on the SERL data and use it to analyse the relationship between energy consumption and the opinions, motivations, and daily practices of survey respondents. Our results show that attitude and behavioural factors are less important in predicting both electricity and gas consumption than are dwelling characteristics, confirming previous findings in the literature. However, we also show that behaviours and attitudes related to frugality, conscientiousness, consumerism, and charitable giving demonstrate associations with energy consumption patterns. We discuss how these findings can inform efforts to decarbonize home energy use in the UK.
THE ANALYSIS OF SACRED SCIENCE AND SECULARISM CONCEPT ACCORDING TO HOSSEIN NASR
Authors: Hutama Achmad Reza
Published: March 2024

Many people think that religion is no longer entitled to intervene in the world, in other words, religion is a private matter that cannot be carried out in the public sphere. The ideology of secularism that continues to spread from the West has now spread to almost all corners of the world, including countries which are actually Islamic countries. Not a few think that modern people are people who have left the spiritual element. Nasr was the first Iranian student to study at MIT in America, he criticized modern science, he also argued that science has left its role and its proper application. So that he wanted to return to the Sacred Science found in previous religions. This study uses a type of literature research (library research) with a theoretical approach. This study uses critical analysis methods and research studies. The result of this study is that Nasr proposes Sacred Science as a way out of the secularization of science. According to him, faith is not separate from science and intellect is not separated from faith (credo ut intelligam et intelligo ut credam). The function of science is as the main path to the sacred. He did not claim that science was wrong, but that it was its philosophical grounds that he thought transcended boundaries.
The 2021 Sarawak State Election and Dayak Politics: Dayakism, Development and Division
Authors:   Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia, Puyok Arnold
Published: March 2024

This article analyses the performance of the candidates and political parties contesting in the Dayak-majority constituencies in the 2021 Sarawak State Election. It explains why, despite the promotion of Dayak issues by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Pari Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and the presence of ethnonationalist parties such as the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), the Dayak continued to support the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). The article argues that the success of GPS in securing the Dayak support can be attributed to three reasons: first, GPS’s ability in accentuating the “Sarawak First” sentiment among the Dayak; second, the ruling coalition’s ability in dispensing tangible development and economic benefits to the Dayak; and third, the political division among the Dayak which weakened their representation and influence outside of GPS. In the larger scheme of things, even though the theory of ethnic party competition can be used to explain the growth and survival of ethnic-based parties and ethnic politics in West Malaysia, it is only partially applicable in Sarawak, as the dynamics of the Dayak politics shows.
From Voting Bloc to Fragmentation: The Chinese Opposition Votes in the 2021 Sarawak State Election
Authors:   Department of Chinese Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ngu Ik-Tien ,   Malaysian Chinese Research Centre, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jing Xing ,   Department of Chinese Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Published: March 2024

This study analyses the voting patterns among the Sarawakian Chinese and their pro-opposition inclination in the 2021 Sarawak State Election (SSE21). It begins by recounting how the national opposition alliances, former Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliances—Barisan Alternatif (BA) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR)—gained popularity among the Chinese voters in Sarawak since the 2006 state elections. The voting trends reveal changes in Chinese voting patterns, from a voting bloc to fragmented votes, and their openness to local opposition parties in the recent state elections. In order to examine the plurality voting pattern and the extent of fragmentation, this research studies two Chinese-majority urban constituencies, Batu Lintang and Bukit Assek in Sarawak. It contends that the Chinese political leanings, including their tendency to embrace regionalism, are profoundly shaped by local and national political developments. In the past two decades, ethnopatronage politics and prevalent corruption practices partly explain the Chinese’s quest for regime change. The Sarawak government’s emphasis on regional identity and multiculturalism in its official narrative nurtures a sense of belonging, which also impacts Chinese identity politics. This article argues that the decision to support minor parties advocating for separatism can be read as strategic voting of the regional minority who feel deprived of their equal rights. It also contends that political fragmentation among the Chinese might persist if PH fails to consolidate its previous support. Otherwise, it spells the decline of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK). The sustainability of local opposition parties depends on the internal reform of parties. The parties should reduce the influences of personal politics as it tends to breed party-hopping, which places parties’ future or institutional development at risk of uncertainty.
Automated system for intertidal mollusk keeping with tidal cycle imitation
Authors: Kozminsky E. V. , Lezin P. A.
Published: March 2024

The article describes a working prototype of an automated laboratory setup for intertidal mollusk keeping with tidal cycle imitation. The setup currently consists of two groups of five aquariums. At high tide, water is gravity fed into the aquariums from a common water tank; at low tide, water is gravity drained into a common collection tank. Water is transferred between the tanks using a special pump. The control unit consists of a networked Arduino Mega board and two Arduino Nano boards. The Arduino Mega board is responsible for the environmental monitoring systems, data logging, and automatic seawater change, as well as a software-based selfchecking and decision-making system. One of the Arduino Nano boards is responsible for realizing the tidal cycle; the other board is responsible for the remote monitoring and control of the setup via SMS. The results of pilot experiments indicate a significant reduction in labor costs in mollusk keeping. The developed setup can be used to keep a wide range of intertidal animals for studying their biology, assessing the impact of environmental factors, and biotesting, as well as for educational purposes.
Performance evaluation and verification of post-processing methods for TIGGE ensemble data using machine learning approaches
Authors: Patel Anant , Yadav S. M.
Published: March 2024

Ensemble modelling has become a significant technique in the field of machine learning, as it utilises the combined knowledge of multiple base models to improve the accuracy of predictions in different domains. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of ensemble predictions relies on the implementation of post-processing techniques that enhance and optimize the outputs of the ensemble. This study explores the domain of ensemble data post-processing, utilizing a machine learning-focused methodology to thoroughly assess and contrast a variety of post-processing methods. TIGGE Ensemble data from ECMWF and NCEP were used from 2010 to 2020. Research covers machine learning approaches post-processing methods such as BMA, cNLR, HXLR, OLR, logreg, hlogreg, QM were applied. The probabilistic forecasts were validated using the Brier Score (BS), Area Under Curve (AUC) of Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) plots and reliability plots. The cNLR and BMA strategies for post-processing performed exceptionally well with BS value of 0.10 and RPS value of 0.11 at all grid points for both methods. The ROC–AUC values for the cNLR and BMA methods were found to be 91.87 and 91.82%, respectively. The results show that improved post-processing techniques can be helpful to predict the flood in advance with accurate precision and warning.
Nano-delivery of Silibinin Potentiate the Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD) in Melanoma Cells
Authors: Amiri Mina , Jafari Sevda , Lavasanifar Afsaneh , Molavi Ommoleila , Montazersaheb Soheila
Published: March 2024

Background:

Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumors can enhance antitumor
immunity and modulate immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Objective:

In the current study, we investigated the effect of silibinin, a natural compound with
anticancer activity, and its polymer-based nanoformulations on the induction of apoptosis and
ICD in cancer cells.

Methods:

Free and nanoparticulate silibinin were evaluated for their growth-inhibitory effects
using an MTT assay. Annexin V/PI staining was used to analyze apoptosis. Calreticulin (CRT)
expression was measured by flow cytometry. Western blotting was conducted to examine the
levels of elf2α, which plays a role in the ICD pathway. The HSP90 and ATP levels were determined
using specific detection kits.

Results:

Compared to the free drug, silibinin-loaded nanocarriers significantly increased the
induction of apoptosis and ICD in B16F10 cells. ICD induction was characterized by significantly
increased levels of ICD biomarkers, including CRT, HSP90, and ATP. We also observed
an increased expression of p-elf-2α/ elf-2α in B16F10 cells treated with silibinin-loaded micelles
compared to cells that received free silibinin.

Conclusion:

Our findings showed that the encapsulation of silibinin in polymeric nanocarriers
can potentiate the effects of this drug on the induction of apoptosis and ICD in B16F10 melanoma
cells.
Tanshinone IIA Against Cerebral Ischemic Stroke and Ischemia-
Reperfusion Injury: A Review of the Current Documents
Authors: Arefnezhad Reza , Nejabat Alireza , Behjati Fatemeh , Torkamanche Mona , Zarei Hooman , Yekkehbash Motahhareh , Afsharmanesh Fatemeh , Niknam Zahra , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: March 2024

Stroke is a well-known neurological disorder that carries significant morbidity and mortality
rates worldwide. Cerebral Ischemic Stroke (CIS), the most common subtype of stroke, occurs
when thrombosis or emboli form elsewhere in the body and travel to the brain, leading to reduced
blood perfusion. Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (CIRI) is a common complication of CIS and
arises when blood flow is rapidly restored to the brain tissue after a period of ischemia. The therapeutic
approaches currently recognized for CIS, such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy, have notable
side effects that limit their clinical application. Recently, there has been growing interest
among researchers in exploring the potential of herbal agents for treating various disorders and malignancies.
One such herbal agent with medicinal applications is tanshinone IIA, an active diterpene
quinone extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Tanshinone IIA has shown several pharmacological
benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective properties.
Multiple studies have indicated the protective role of tanshinone IIA in CIS and CIRI. This literature
review aims to summarize the current findings regarding the molecular mechanisms through
which this herbal compound improves CIS and CIRI.
Paper-based Microfluidic Devices for the Analysis of Various Pathogens
from Diverse Samples
Authors: Singh Namita Ashish , Rai Nitish , Singh Ashish Kumar , Jain Vidhi , Narang Jagriti
Published: March 2024

In today’s era, detection of disease is utmost important for the management of disease.
Early detection leads to early management of disease. Paper-based microfluidic devices are promising
technologies that are cost-effective, portable and easy to use over conventional methods. In addition,
paper-based microfluidics offers low reagent/sample volume, less response time and can be
used in resource-limited settings. Researchers are highly fascinated by this technology as it has a lot
of potential to convert into commercial monitoring devices. The present article covers the uses of
paper-based microfluidic technology for the swift and sensitive detection of pathogens from diverse
samples, viz. food, water and blood. In this comprehensive review, paper-based microfluidic devices
are introduced, including the basic concepts, current status and applications, along with the discussion
of the limitations of microfluidics for the detection of pathogens. Although paper-based microfluidic
devices are being developed, their commercialization requires simplification of manufacturing
processes, reduction in production costs as well as an increase in production efficiency. Nonetheless,
the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) like smartphones, digital
cameras, webcam etc. with paper-associated diagnosis has transformed the point-of-care (POC) diagnostics.