bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How does bank lending affect small and medium-sized businesses?
Authors: Mishura A. V.
Published: August 2024

The article analyzes the influence of bank lending on the dynamics of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the regions of Russia in 2012—2023. Was the dynamics of bank loans to SMEs an essential factor of development and employment of the sector? This is an important issue, since expanding the availability of lending is often considered as a key method for supporting SMEs and diversification of the economy. We use data of the Federal State Statistics Service on the turnover and the number of employees in small, medium and micro enterprises in Russian regions, on the one hand, and the data of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on the bank lending to SMEs, on the other. We estimate how changes in SMEs lending amounts affect SMEs turnover and employment using the Alellano—Bond dynamic panel regression approach. It has been found that lending dynamics was a significant factor in changes of the turnover in the SMEs sector, and, to a lesser extent, employment in small enterprises. However, a significant increase in lending is required to significantly increase the size of the sector and its share in the country’s economy and employment.
Tendência de Mortalidade por Cânceres Hematológicos em Sergipe e sua Distribuição Geoespacial de 1980 a 2021
Authors: Ferreira Ríllary de Oliveira Silva , Moura Alex Rodrigues , Lima Carlos Anselmo , Silva Ângela Maria da
Published: August 2024

Introdução: O câncer é a principal causa de morte de origem não metabólica no mundo. Os cânceres sanguíneos têm origem no sistema hematopoiético e são classificados em linfomas, leucemias, neoplasias de plasmócitos e síndromes mielodisplásicas. Objetivo: Descrever a tendência de mortalidade das principais neoplasias hematológicas no Estado de Sergipe entre 1980 e 2021 e sua distribuição espacial. Método: Foram estudadas, por meio de softwares de análise longitudinal e geoespacial, as taxas de mortalidade do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade para o Estado e analisadas por grupo etário, sexo, tipo de neoplasia e município. Foram construídos gráficos de tendência temporal e analisadas suas variações percentuais anuais e médias, e confeccionados mapas de geodistribuição das taxas, com áreas de contiguidade, e análise de significância estatística pelos métodos Moran e LISA. Resultados: As taxas de mortalidade apresentaram-se constantemente crescentes no período em todas as neoplasias e grupos em que houve significância estatística. O maior número de óbitos ocorreu em homens com crescimento anual de 3% (IC 95%; 2,5-3,5). As leucemias corresponderam a 48,78% do total de óbitos. A ordem decrescente de mortalidade foi leucemias, linfoma não Hodgkin e mieloma múltiplo. O grupo etário de 65+ representou 35,76% do total de óbitos. As áreas de risco foram as Mesorregiões Leste e Agreste e a Região Grande Aracaju. Conclusão: A tendência de mortalidade por cânceres hematológicos em Sergipe é um tema pouco analisado. As taxas de mortalidade têm crescido no Estado, destacando-se leucemias, sexo masculino, idosos, e municípios com maior desigualdade e produção agrária.
La valutazione del rischio di recidiva negli autori di reato. Analisi preliminare delle proprietà psicometriche della versione italiana del Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI)
Authors: Sorge Antonia , Bianchi Gianluca , Bonanomi Andrea , Bonta James , Saita Emanuela
Published: August 2024

Nel contesto della Giustizia nazionale, la valutazione psico-sociale del rischio di recidiva degli autori di reato si basa principalmente sul giudizio clinico non strutturato, spesso portando a errori e inefficienze nelle risorse per il recupero e il reinserimento delle persone condannate. L'accento posto dalla comunità scientifica sull'importanza di procedure di "risk assessment" empiricamente validate ha spinto le organizzazioni a cercare strumenti migliori. Questo studio esplora l'applicabilità del Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) tra gli autori di reato italiani. La versione italiana della Sezione 1 dello strumento è stata somministrata a 74 adulti italiani allo scopo di effettuarne una valutazione preliminare delle proprietà psicometriche. I risultati hanno evidenziato differenze significative rispetto al campione nordamericano, sottolineando variazioni culturali tra i "Central Eight", ovvero i fattori centrali che influenzano la valutazione del rischio. Nonostante alcune incongruenze nelle otto sottocomponenti dello strumento, il LS/CMI ha mostrato buona coerenza interna e validità convergente con la Psychopathy Checklist Revised. La regressione logistica binaria ha confermato l'associazione positiva tra il punteggio totale del LS/CMI e la probabilità di recidiva, indicando il suo potenziale come strumento predittivo. Questi risultati costituiscono un primo passo verso la validazione del LS/CMI italiano, sottolineando l'importanza di ulteriori ricerche longitudinali per migliorare l'affidabilità dello strumento e contribuire agli sforzi volti a ridurre la recidiva nel sistema penale italiano.
Uma investigação das práticas de estudo de graduandos de ciências humanas
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Maringá, López Carlos Eduardo , Laurenti Carolina ,   Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Boldo Martins Felipe ,   Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Published: August 2024

Considerando a importância do repertório de estudo para o desempenho acadêmico de graduandos, esta pesquisa de natureza empírico-exploratória teve como objetivo investigar possíveis contingências envolvidas nas práticas de estudo de alunos de graduação, analisando as dificuldades, bem como a efetividade do estudar. Participaram da pesquisa 647 acadêmicos de cursos de ciências humanas de uma universidade pública paranaense. As informações foram obtidas por meio de um questionário eletrônico elaborado com base no conceito de tríplice contingência. Embora as respostas indiquem um comportamento de estudar frequente (5 dias por semana), a maioria dos participantes (70,5%) disse não ter uma rotina de estudos. O comportamento de estudar de 45,5% dos participantes ainda está sob controle de situações aversivas, como provas e trabalhos. Em geral, os participantes relataram que estudam sozinhos, mas muitos fazem uso de recursos tecnológicos como internet e redes sociais online, o que pode favorecer a ocorrência de comportamentos incompatíveis com o estudar. Além disso, 62,5% responderam estar insatisfeitos com suas práticas de estudo. Esses resultados indicam que o participante médio da pesquisa não tem um comportamento de estudar efetivo.
LAMOST J1010+2358 is not a Pair-Instability Supernova Relic
Authors: Thibodeaux Pierre , Ji Alexander P. , Cerny William , Kirby Evan N. , Simon Joshua D.
Published: August 2024

The discovery of a star formed out of pair-instability supernova ejecta would have massive implications for the Population III star initial mass function and the existence of stars over 100 Msun, but none have yet been found. Recently, the star LAMOST J1010+2358 was claimed to be a star that formed out of gas enriched by a pair-instability supernova. We present a non-LTE abundance analysis of a new high-resolution Keck/HIRES spectrum of J1010+2358. We determined the carbon and aluminum abundances needed to definitively distinguish between enrichment by a pair-instability and core-collapse supernova. Our new analysis demonstrates that J1010+2358 does not have the unique abundance pattern of a a pair-instability supernova, but was instead enriched by the ejecta of a low mass core-collapse supernova. Thus, there are still no known stars displaying unambiguous signatures of pair-instability supernovae.
A Pilot Search for Gravitational Self-Lensing Binaries with the Zwicky Transient Facility
Authors: Crossland Allison , Bellm Eric C , Klein Courtney , Davenport James R. A. , Kupfer Thomas , Groom Steven L. , Laher Russ R. , Riddle Reed
Published: August 2024

Binary systems containing a compact object may exhibit periodic brightening episodes due to gravitational lensing as the compact object transits the companion star. Such “self-lensing” signatures have been detected before for white dwarf binaries. We attempt to use these signatures to identify detached stellar-mass neutron star and black hole binaries using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). We present a systematic search for self-lensing signals in Galactic binaries from a subset of high-cadence ZTF data taken in 2018. We identify 12 plausible candidates from the search, although because each candidate is observed to only brighten once, other origins such as stellar flares are more likely. We discuss prospects for more comprehensive future searches of the ZTF data.
Edukasi Literasi Keuangan Digital Pada UMKM Binaan LLDIKTI Wilayah II Palembang
Authors: Mellita Dina , Fitriasuri Fitriasuri , Misnawati Desy , Elpanso Efan , Noviardy Andrian , Heriyanto Heriyanto
Published: August 2024

Tujuan dari kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini adalah memberikan edukasi tentang literasi keuangan digital untuk meningkatkan kapabilitas serta produktivitas bagi pelaku UMKM. Hal ini dikarenakan bahwa literasi keuangan digital merupakan kunci untuk mengoptimalkan potensi teknologi, mengelola keuangan secara efektif dan melindungi diri dari resiko transaksi online. Metode pendekatan yang digunakan ialah dengan mengadakan penyuluhan terhadap 10 UMKM pada program UMKM Merdeka Batch 2 LLDIKTI Wilayah II. Dari hasil pre-test dan post test diketahui bahwa terjadi peningkatan dalam hal pemahaman peserta program pengabdian. Sebelum diberikan edukasi mengenai keuangan digital tingkat literasi digital keuangan dari peserta adalah sebesar 45% dengan nilai rata-rata yang didapat sebesar 6,72 dari 15 soal yang diberikan. Setelah diberikan edukasi mengenai keuangan digital, tingkat pemahaman peserta naik 29% menjadi 74% dengan nilai rata-rata mencapai 12 dari 15 soal yang diberikan.
Analysis of Student Skills in Developing Mathematics Learning Videos Using ICT-Based Learning Media
Authors: Mujtahid Zainul , Widya Widya , Rahadi Irwan , Sinaga Nurul Afni
Published: August 2024

The development of ICT-based learning media can improve the quality of learning. The availability of ICT-based learning media is still limited, while the Merdeka curriculum demands the application of ICT-based learning media in learning. Therefore, prospective teachers must be equipped to develop ICT-based learning media, one of which is learning videos. The type of research is a case study with 29 research subjects (students/prospective teachers) from the mathematics education study program at Malikusaleh University. Data collection is carried out through assessing learning videos made by students. Then, the assessment data is analyzed using a student skills analysis sheet in creating/designing a learning video. The assessment results show that students have reached the "Very Skilled" level in the indicators: the material is presented coherently and systematically, the language used is easy to understand, and the media delivery strategy makes it easier to understand and master the material. Students also reach the "Skilled" level in indicators: delivering material with correct intonation and precise articulation, learning the material presented, and having excellent and appropriate time management in providing the material. However, there are several differences in the results of assessing students' levels by the three assessors on the indicators: media used for the material taught, effective and efficient use of learning media, creativity in learning media and learning media used.
Estratégias de uma pianista expert para o aprendizado de uma música por melodia cifrada
Authors: A Lima Joao G , Ramos Danilo
Published: August 2024

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar as estratégias de prática que uma pianista expert utilizou enquanto aprendia uma nova música a partir de uma melodia cifrada. Duas sessões de prática foram realizadas, ambas envolvendo a aplicação do protocolo think-aloud concorrente, na qual a pianista relatava verbalmente seus pensamentos enquanto aprendia a música e do think-aloud retrospectivo, aplicado minutos depois, no qual ela assistia à gravação de sua própria performance. As sessões foram gravadas, transcritas e submetidas a uma análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostraram 15 estratégias de prática utilizadas pela pianista, que foram categorizadas com base em componentes de codificação de informações na memória. Observou-se, ainda, que o aprendizado da música escolhida envolveu estratégias distintas em relação à aprendizagem de músicas por partitura. O uso dessas estratégias pode fornecer ferramentas pedagógicas a serem utilizadas por professores e estudantes de piano para o aprendizado de músicas a partir de melodias cifradas.
Overview of the PI (2DoF) algorithm in wind power system optimization and control
Authors: Desalegn Belachew , Tamrat Bimrew
Published: August 2024

Recent research generally reports that the intermittent characteristics of sustainable energy sources pose great challenges to the efficiency and cost competitiveness of sustainable energy harvesting technologies. Hence, modern sustainable energy systems need to implement a stringent power management strategy to achieve the maximum possible green electricity production while reducing costs. Due to the above-mentioned characteristics of sustainable energy sources, power management systems have become increasingly sophisticated nowadays. For addressing the analysis, scheduling, and control problems of future sustainable power systems, conventional model-based methods are completely inefficient as they fail to handle irregular electric power disturbances in renewable energy generations. Consequently, with the advent of smart grids in recent years, power system operators have come to rely on smart metering and advanced sensing devices for collecting more extensive data. This, in turn, facilitates the application of advanced machine learning algorithms, which can ultimately cause the generation of useful information by learning from massive data without assumptions and simplifications in handling the most irregular operating behaviors of the power systems. This paper aims to explore various application objectives of some machine learning algorithms that primarily apply to wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). In addition, an enhanced proportional integral (PI) (2DoF) algorithm is particularly introduced and implemented in a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based WECS to enhance the reliability of power production. The main contribution of this article is to leverage the superior qualities of the PI (2DoF) algorithm for enhanced performance, stability, and robustness of the WECS under uncertainties. Finally, the effectiveness of the study is demonstrated by developing a virtual reality in a MATLAB-Simulink environment.
Unsupervised identification of Greater Caribbean manatees using Scattering Wavelet Transform and Hierarchical Density Clustering from underwater bioacoustics recordings
Authors: Merchan Fernando , Contreras Kenji , Poveda Héctor , Guzman Hector M. , Sanchez-Galan Javier E.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

This work presents an unsupervised learning-based methodology to identify and count unique manatees using underwater vocalization recordings.

Methods

The proposed approach uses Scattering Wavelet Transform (SWT) to represent individual manatee vocalizations. A Manifold Learning approach, known as PacMAP, is employed for dimensionality reduction. A density-based algorithm, known as Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (HDBSCAN), is used to count and identify clusters of individual manatee vocalizations. The proposed methodology is compared with a previous method developed by our group, based on classical clustering methods (K-Means and Hierarchical clustering) using Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT)-based spectrograms for representing vocalizations. The performance of both approaches is contrasted by using a novel vocalization data set consisting of 23 temporally captured Greater Caribbean manatees from San San River, Bocas del Toro, in western Panama as input.

Results

The proposed methodology reaches a mean percentage of error of the number of individuals (i.e., number of clusters) estimation of 14.05% and success of correctly grouping a manatee in a cluster of 83.75%.

Discussion

Thus having a better performances than our previous analysis methodology, for the same data set. The value of this work lies in providing a way to estimate the manatee population while only relying on underwater bioacoustics.
Social observation modulates the influence of socioeconomic status on pro-environmental behavior: an event-related potential study
Authors: Zhong Bowei , Niu Nana , Li Jin , Wu Yun , Fan Wei
Published: August 2024

Understanding the psychological antecedents of socioeconomic status (SES) on pro-environmental behavior is crucial for effectively encouraging individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds to address environmental issues. Previous research has separately examined the influence of SES and social observation on pro-environmental behavior. However, little is known about whether social observation moderates the influence of SES on pro-environmental behavior, and the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain uncharacterized. Using event-related potential (ERPs), we adopted the green purchase paradigm and manipulated subjective SES, to examine whether the influence of SES on pro-environmental behavior is moderated by social observation. The behavioral results revealed that individuals of high SES tended to purchase more eco-friendly products under the observable condition than those in the non-observable condition. The ERP results revealed that participants with high SES exhibited more negative N2 and N400 amplitude during environmental decisions in the non-observable condition than in the observable condition, indicating that high SES individuals experience less cognitive conflict during environmental decisions, which may reflect the attenuated cost–benefit trade-off due to reputational incentives in the presence of observers. Additionally, individuals with high SES exhibited greater reputational motivation when observed, as indicated by larger P3 amplitude. However, these differences were not observed among individuals with low SES. These findings suggest that SES is associated with distinct psychological and behavioral differences in pro-environmental behavior, moderated by social observation, evident across both the early and later stages of environmental decisions in the brain.
Face processing in animal models: implications for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Sgadò Paola , Pross Alessandra , Lamanna Jacopo , Adiletta Alice
Published: August 2024

Processing facial features is crucial to identify social partners (prey, predators, or conspecifics) and recognize and accurately interpret emotional expressions. Numerous studies in both human and non-human primates provided evidence promoting the notion of inherent mechanisms for detecting facial features. These mechanisms support a representation of faces independent of prior experiences and are vital for subsequent development in social and language domains. Moreover, deficits in processing faces are a reliable biomarker of autism spectrum disorder, appearing early and correlating with symptom severity. Face processing, however, is not only a prerogative of humans: other species also show remarkable face detection abilities. In this review, we present an overview of the current literature on face detection in vertebrate models that could be relevant to the study of autism.
Body fat ratio as a novel predictor of complications and survival after rectal cancer surgery
Authors: Zhao Haiyuan , Liu Gang , Li Yang , Lu Feixiang , Yang Nianzhao , Zhao Jun
Published: August 2024

Background

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between body fat ratio (BFR), visceral fat area (VFA), body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat density (VFD) and assess their reliability in assessing risk of postoperative complications and survival status in patients with rectal cancer (RC).

Materials and methods

The present study retrospectively included 460 patients who underwent surgical treatment for RC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China) between September 2018 and July 2021. BFR, VFA, BMI, and VFD were measured and basic information, clinical data, complications and survival were recorded.

Results

Statistical analysis was performed to determine optimal BFR cut-off and evaluate group differences. BFR demonstrated a significant positive correlation with VFA (R = 0.739) and BMI (R = 0.783) and significant negative correlation with VFD (R = −0.773). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of BFR, VFA, BMI, and VFD in predicting postoperative complications in RC were all >0.7 and the optimal cut-off value of BFR was 24.3. Patients in the BFR-low group had fewer postoperative complications, lower intraoperative indices, shorter hospitalization times and lower costs than those in the BFR-high group. BFR predicted complications with high diagnostic significance and was validated by multiple models. Furthermore, patients in the BFR-high group had a longer overall survival compared with patients in the BFR-low group.

Conclusion

BFR was associated with BMI, VFA, and VFD. A BFR threshold of 24.3 was correlated with decreased complications and enhanced long-term survival.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and their impact on all-cause mortality in Parkinson’s disease: insights from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020 data
Authors: Yong Yufei , Dong Hui , Zhou Zhen , Zhu Yan , Gu Meiling , Li Wenxiao
Published: August 2024

Background and purpose

This study explores the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and mortality among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, providing evidence for the potential benefits of vitamin D (VD) supplementation.

Methods

PD patients were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999 to 2020. These patients were categorized based on their serum 25(OH)D levels: deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency. We compared demographic information and analyzed mortality data from the National Death Index. A restricted cubic spline model assessed the nonlinear association between 25(OH)D levels and mortality, complemented by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Consistency of results was checked through subgroup analysis.

Results

The study included 364 PD patients: 87 (23.9%) with VD deficiency, 121 (33.2%) with insufficiency, and 156 (42.9%) with sufficiency. Demographically, 46.4% were male, and 56% were over 65 years. The deficiency group predominantly consisted of Mexican Americans (53.1%), had lower income levels, a higher unmarried rate, and increased liver disease incidence. The analysis showed a U-shaped curve between 25(OH)D levels and mortality risk, with the lowest risk at 78.68 nmol/L (p-non-linear = 0.007, p-overall = 0.008). Kaplan–Meier analysis found the highest survival rates in patients with 25(OH)D levels between 75–100 nmol/L (p = 0.039). Compared to this group, patients with levels below 50 nmol/L had a 3.52-fold increased mortality risk (95% CI = 1.58–7.86, p = 0.002), and those above 100 nmol/L had a 2.92-fold increase (95% CI = 1.06–8.05, p = 0.038). Age-specific subgroup analysis (p = 0.009) revealed that both very low (<50 nmol/L) and high (>100 nmol/L) levels increased mortality risk in patients under 65, while levels below 75 nmol/L raised mortality risk in older patients.

Conclusion

Serum 25(OH)D levels are nonlinearly linked to mortality in PD patients, with optimal survival rates occurring at 75–100 nmol/L. Deviations from this range increase the risk of death.
Unveiling the synergetic benefits of the tunneling technique using stapler tractor in precise resection of lung segments: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhu Jian , Fu Cheng-Hao , Chen Liang , Zhu Quan , Zhu Shu-Sheng , Zheng Jianan , Liao Wei , Li Kun , Wen Wei
Published: August 2024

Background

Tunneling technique has shown preliminary promise in lung segmentectomy which requires the use of staplers in specific procedures. However, the obstacle when staples pass is the most obvious factor hindering the implementation and development of this technique. This study investigated whether the obstacle of the technology could be addressed by using an innovative self-designed stapler tractor and analyzed the combined and respective advantages of them.

Methods

The clinical data of patients with lung nodules located near anatomical sites with potential tunnel creation treated by segmentectomy were analyzed in this retrospective case-control study. The data were divided into four groups according to four distinct surgical strategies: In Group A, the tunneling technique was performed with a stapler tractor; in Group B, the tunneling technique was performed without a stapler tractor; in Group C, didn’t perform the tunneling technique but using stapler tractor in a normal approach; and in Group D, neither performed the technique nor used the stapler tractor. The general linear data, operation times, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative recovery and complications were compared.

Results

Compared with other groups, Group A exhibited the best surgical outcomes in comprehensive aspects. Separately, the tunnel groups (Group A&B) had better outcomes in the macro implementation of operation, including resection margin, the number of sampled intrapulmonary lymph nodes and resected subsegments, while the staple tractor groups (Group A&C) performed better on details of the procedure, including operation time, conversion to thoracotomy, and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.05). Both of them were beneficial for shorter hospital stay, and the tunnel group was more advantageous.

Conclusion

The tunneling technique is an advanced and beneficial surgical strategy for performing precise resection of lung segments while a stapler tractor can promote and facilitate it as a supplementary instrument. They show more combined benefits in effectively minimizing the occurrence of erroneous injuries and enhancing the operational efficacy.
Long segment ureterectomy with tapered demucosalized ileum replacement of ureter for ureteral cancer: a case report and literature review
Authors: Xie Zhifei , Liu Mingwen , Chen Shulian , Tang Wen , Liang Guobiao , Xu Jingyu , Zhao Zeju
Published: August 2024

Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder sleeve resection is currently the gold standard for the treatment of high-risk ureteral cancer. However, in certain special cases, such as bilateral upper tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC), isolated and chronic kidney disease, and low-risk UTUC, kidney sparing surgery(KSS) may represent a viable alternative, though it remains highly challenging. The current KSS options for ureteral cancer include endoscopic treatment, segmental ureterectomy, total ureterectomy combined with kidney autotransplantation and nephrostomy. These methods are associated with significant disadvantages, such as a high risk of recurrence and vascular-related complications. On the basis of previous studies, we creatively proposed a surgical method of long segment ureterectomy with tapered demucosalized ileum(TDI) replacement of the ureter for ureteral cancer, and successfully performed this operation on a patient with ureteral cancer. The follow-up results showed that this surgical method provides good tumor control while preserving the patient’s renal function and improves the inherent defect of the ileal replacement of the ureter, which is a feasible choice for patients with ureteral cancer and kidney preservation.
Pharmacological mechanisms by which baicalin ameliorates cardiovascular disease
Authors: Si Lujia , Lai Yu
Published: August 2024

Baicalin is a flavonoid glycoside obtained from the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which belongs to the Labiatae family. Accumulating evidence indicates that baicalin has favorable therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have revealed the therapeutic effects of baicalin on atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, hypertension, and heart failure through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid metabolism mechanisms. In recent years, some new ideas related to baicalin in ferroptosis, coagulation and fibrinolytic systems have been proposed, and new progress has been made in understanding the mechanism by which baicalin protects cardiomyocytes. However, many relevant underlying mechanisms remain unexplained, and much experimental data is lacking. Therefore, further research is needed to determine these mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of baicalin, which include its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis; modulation of innate immunity; suppression of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation, migration, and contraction; regulation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems; inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy; prevention of myocardial fibrosis; and anti-apoptotic effects on cardiomyocytes.
The structural characterization and UV-protective properties of an exopolysaccharide from a Paenibacillus isolate
Authors: Xu Xiaodong , Ding Zhao , Pu Chunlin , Kong Changchang , Chen Shijunyin , Lu Weiling , Zhang Jianfa
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is known to cause damage to the skin, leading to sunburn and photo-aging. Chemical sunscreen products may give rise to health risks including phototoxicity, photosensitivity, and photosensitivity. Natural polysaccharides have attracted considerable interests due to diverse biological activities.

Methods

A novel polysaccharide isolated was purified and structurally characterized using chemical methods followed by HPLC, GLC-MS, as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The photoprotective effect of the EPS on UVB-induced damage was assessed in vitro using cultured keratinocytes and in vivo using C57BL/6 mouse models.

Results

The average molecular weight of the EPS was 5.48 × 106 Da, composed of glucose, mannose and galactose residues at a ratio of 2:2:1. The repeating units of the EPS were →3)-β-D-Glcp (1→3) [β-D-Galp (1→2)-α-D-Glcp (1→2)]-α-D-Manp (1→3)-α-D-Manp (1→. In cultured keratinocytes, the EPS reduced cytotoxicity and excessive ROS production induced by UVB irradiation. The EPS also exhibits an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen degradation found in the photodamage in mice. 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis for skin suggested that the EPS partly reversed the shifts of metabolic profiles of the skin in UVB-exposed mice.

Conclusion

The EPS exhibits skin photoprotective effects through regulating oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings highlight that the EPS is a potential candidate in sunscreen formulations for an efficient solution to UVB radiation.
SRNet-YOLO: A model for detecting tiny and very tiny pests in cotton fields based on super-resolution reconstruction
Authors: Yang Sen , Zhou Gang , Feng Yuwei , Zhang Jiang , Jia Zhenhong
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Effective pest management is important during the natural growth phases of cotton in the wild. As cotton fields are infested with “tiny pests” (smaller than 32×32 pixels) and “very tiny pests” (smaller than 16×16 pixels) during growth, making it difficult for common object detection models to accurately detect and fail to make sound agricultural decisions.

Methods

In this study, we proposed a framework for detecting “tiny pests” and “very tiny pests” in wild cotton fields, named SRNet-YOLO. SRNet-YOLO includes a YOLOv8 feature extraction module, a feature map super-resolution reconstruction module (FM-SR), and a fusion mechanism based on BiFormer attention (BiFormerAF). Specially, the FM-SR module is designed for the feature map level to recover the important feature in detail, in other words, this module reconstructs the P5 layer feature map into the size of the P3 layer. And then we designed the BiFormerAF module to fuse this reconstruct layer with the P3 layer, which greatly improves the detection performance. The purpose of the BiFormerAF module is to solve the problem of possible loss of feature after reconstruction. Additionally, to validate the performance of our method for “tiny pests” and “very tiny pests” detection in cotton fields, we have developed a large dataset, named Cotton-Yellow-Sticky-2023, which collected pests by yellow sticky traps.

Results

Through comprehensive experimental verification, we demonstrate that our proposed framework achieves exceptional performance. Our method achieved 78.2% mAP on the “tiny pests” test result, it surpasses the performance of leading detection models such as YOLOv3, YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 by 6.9%, 7.2%, 5.7% and 4.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, our results on “very tiny pests” reached 57% mAP, which are 32.2% higher than YOLOv8. To verify the generalizability of the model, our experiments on Yellow Sticky Traps (low-resolution) dataset still maintained the highest 92.8% mAP.

Discussion

The above experimental results indicate that our model not only provides help in solving the problem of tiny pests in cotton fields, but also has good generalizability and can be used for the detection of tiny pests in other crops.
Increased absorption and use of nutrients induced by Si is an indicator for tolerance to water deficit in a common bean cultivar cultivated in the field with and without application of K
Authors: Teixeira Gelza Carliane Marques , Gonzalez-Porras Carlos Vital , Messias Ferreira Patrícia , Prado Renato De Mello , Silva Oliveira Kamilla , Carvalho Lívia Tálita da Silva , Palaretti Luiz Fabiano
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Reduced water content in the soil triggers physiological, biochemical, and morphological damage to plants, aggravated by nutritional deficiency. One possible strategy to mitigate this damage comprises the use of silicon (Si). This study investigated whether Si can mitigate the damage caused by water deficit through nutritional mechanisms in bean plants grown under field conditions. Furthermore, it investigated whether the effectiveness of Si is influenced by water availability in the soil and the Si dose supplied.

Methods

Therefore, two split-plot experiments were carried out: with and without K supply. In both experiments,the treatments comprised a 3 × 4 factorial scheme. Treatments included three water regimes: 80% (no water deficit), 60% (moderate water deficit), and 40% (severe water deficit) of the soil’s water retention capacity. Moreover, they comprised four doses of Si supplied via fertigation—0 kg/ha, 4 kg/ha, 8 kg/ha, and 12 kg/ha—arranged in a randomized block design with four replications.

Results and discussion

The appropriate dose of Si to be applied increased with the severity of the water deficit, with the recommended dose being 6 kg/ha, 7 kg/ha, and 8 kg/ha of Si for adequate water conditions, moderate water deficit, and severe water deficit, respectively.
A high-frequency sense list
Authors: Liu Lei , Gong Tongxi , Shi Jianjun , Guo Yi
Published: August 2024

A number of high-frequency word lists have been created to help foreign language learners master English vocabulary. These word lists, despite their widespread use, did not take word meaning into consideration. Foreign language learners are unclear on which meanings they should focus on first. To address this issue, we semantically annotated the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and the British National Corpus (BNC) with high accuracy using a BERT model. From these annotated corpora, we calculated the semantic frequency of different senses and filtered out 5000 senses to create a High-frequency Sense List. Subsequently, we checked the validity of this list and compared it with established influential word lists. This list exhibits three notable characteristics. First, it achieves stable coverage in different corpora. Second, it identifies high-frequency items with greater accuracy. It achieves comparable coverage with lists like GSL, NGSL, and New-GSL but with significantly fewer items. Especially, it includes everyday words that used to fall off high-frequency lists without requiring manual adjustments. Third, it describes clearly which senses are most frequently used and therefore should be focused on by beginning learners. This study represents a pioneering effort in semantic annotation of large corpora and the creation of a word list based on semantic frequency.
Influenza vaccination for heart failure patients: a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system
Authors: Zhao Minting , Liu Fuqiang , Wang Lan , Chen Dan
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Influenza infection induces cardiovascular events in heart failure (HF) patients, with potential risk reduction through vaccination. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination for HF patients in China.

Methods

We developed a Markov model with a 3-month cycle to simulate the cost-effectiveness of administering the influenza vaccine to patients with HF over a 3-year period. Patients in the model received either the influenza vaccine or a placebo, in addition to standard HF treatment. Cost data, sourced from the China Healthcare Statistic Yearbook and other public records, and effectiveness data from the IVVE (Influenza Vaccine to Prevent Adverse Vascular Events in HF) trial, were incorporated. Specifically, the cost of the influenza vaccine was 75 Chinese Yuan (CNY) (11 USD), the cost of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) was 9,326 CNY (1,386 USD), and the cost of treatment for pneumonia was 5,984 CNY (889 USD). The study’s primary outcome, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), quantifies the incremental cost (CNY and USD) per incremental quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Additional outcomes included total cost, total effectiveness, incremental cost, and incremental effectiveness. We conducted one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) to assess certainty and uncertainty, respectively. Scenario analysis, considering various situations, was performed to evaluate the robustness of the results.

Results

In the base case analysis, influenza vaccine, compared to placebo, among Chinese HF patients, resulted in a cost increase from 21,004 CNY (3,121 USD) to 21,062 CNY (3,130 USD) and in QALYs from 1.89 to 1.92 (2.55 life years vs. 2.57 life years) per patient. The resulting ICER was 2,331 CNY (346 USD) per QALY [2,080 CNY (309 USD) per life year], falling below the willingness-to-pay threshold based on per capita GDP. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that disparities in HHF and cardiovascular death rates between groups had the most significant impact on the ICER, while the cost of vaccines had a marginal impact. PSA and scenario analysis collectively affirmed the robustness of our findings.

Conclusion

This study suggests that adding the influenza vaccine to standard treatment regimens for Chinese patients with HF may represent a highly cost-effective option. Further real-world data studies are essential to validate these findings.
Loneliness and low life satisfaction associated with older adults’ poor oral health
Authors: Finlayson T. L. , Moss K. L. , Jones J. A. , Preisser J. S. , Weintraub J. A.
Published: August 2024

Objective

To examine the association of older adults’ loneliness, life satisfaction, and other psychological stressors and resources with oral health status.

Methods

This study merged 2018 data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) CORE survey with the HRS-Dental Module, and Psychosocial and Lifestyle Questionnaire–Panel A “Leave Behind” surveys (HRS-LB)(N = 418). Dental Module outcomes of interest were self-rated oral health status (SROH), and oral health-related quality of life (OHQOL). Older adults reported on loneliness, life satisfaction, perceived age, social status, control, mastery, and chronic stressors. Three distinct profiles based on the distribution of loneliness and life satisfaction were previously identified in the combined HRS and HRS-LB study population (N = 4,703) using latent class analysis (LCA). Class A:“Not Lonely/Satisfied” adults had the fewest psychosocial risk factors and most resources; Class C:“Lonely/Unsatisfied” adults exhibited the opposite profile (most risk factors, fewest resources); Class B:“Lonely/Satisfied” adults exhibited loneliness with favorable life satisfaction. Regression models examined associations between LCA classes and fair/poor SROH and the OHQOL scale score and individual items, after adjusting for socio-demographics.

Results

About 13% of older adults experienced loneliness, and about 16% reported low life satisfaction. About one-quarter (28%) of older adults reported fair/poor SROH, and they experienced more psychosocial risk factors than their counterparts with better oral health status. Nearly half the older adults were categorized in Class A:“Not Lonely/Satisfied” (n = 201), and about one-quarter each in Class B:“Lonely/Satisfied” (n = 103) and Class C:“Lonely/Unsatisfied” (n = 112). In fully adjusted models, Class B older adults had 1.81 (1.11–2.96) times greater odds of fair/poor SROH, and Class C had 4.64 (2.78–7.73) times greater odds of fair/poor SROH than Class A. Fully adjusted linear regression model results indicated a gradient by LCA class. OHQOL varied; Class A older adults had the best (lowest) OHQOL score (mean = 8.22, 4.37–12.10), Class B scored in the middle (mean = 12.00, 7.61–16.50), while Class C had the worst (highest) OHQOL score (mean = 16.20, 11.80–20.60).

Conclusion

Loneliness, as a defining characteristic distinguishing three latent classes of older adults, was associated with more risk factors and poorer oral health outcomes. Loneliness, life satisfaction, perceived age, social status, control, mastery, and chronic stressors vary widely for older adults and matter for oral health and OHQOL.
From care practices to speculative vignettes–design considerations for robots in good care
Authors: Vetter Ralf , Dobrosovestnova Anna , Frijns Helena Anna , Vogel Laura , Brunnmayr Katharina , Frauenberger Christopher
Published: August 2024

The care sector has become one of the test beds for developing robotic technologies, which have been promised to mitigate problems with aging populations and labor shortages. Despite these promises, the practical application of such technologies have been met with limited success. Apart from technical limitations, other challenges exist in the way we approach designing these technologies. Critical to the development in the care sector is understanding the complexity of the contexts, the needs and goals of diverse actors, and how these are socio-materially scaffolded. This paper presents a study conducted at the intersection of a value sensitive design and speculative design to understand these sensitivities. Based on the data collected in interviews (n = 6) and card workshops (n = 6) from care workers and residents in mobile care and care home contexts in Austria, we developed five themes capturing situated practices and understandings of good care as built on trust-developing routines, negotiations between different actors, affective and reciprocal dimension of care, care worker self-care, and material mediations. Subsequently, we created six speculative vignettes which serve as rhetorical devices to emphasize the tensions that arise with any technological intervention entering and reshaping existing care practices and relations. We argue that our approach can support robot designers to develop a rich understanding of the values and tensions in the specific context under study from the before design and development begin.
Practical actions towards equity in space physics
Authors: Liemohn Michael W.
Published: August 2024

To mitigate the issues of inequity, exclusion, and a lack of diversity in the solar and space physics research community, a Research Topic collection gathered articles of how scientists in this discipline are taking strides to make this community more welcoming. This review summarizes the key advice from those articles and offers practical actions for both immediate and long-term implementation. There are six major topical categories into which the collection’s article can be grouped: early-year improvements (pre-college and undergraduate); inclusive project teams; diversity in awards; equity in hiring and promotion; leadership development; and the workplace environment. The scope of suggestions ranges from the very localized, such as the language choices we make in everyday conversations, to the institutional, such as the establishment of codes of conduct with a definition and enforcement of consequences for inappropriate behavior regarding inclusion and equity issues. It is hoped that the recommendations are applicable not only to the space physics community but also to others.
Towards an automated approach for understanding problematic gaming
Authors: Afonso Ana Paula , Fonseca Manuel J. , Cardoso Joana , Vázquez Beltrán
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Video games have become increasingly popular worldwide, attracting billions of gamers across diverse demographics. While studies have highlighted their potential benefits, concerns about problematic gaming behaviors have also emerged. Conditions such as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have been recognized by major health organizations, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. However, existing methods, primarily reliant on self-report questionnaires, face challenges in accuracy and consistency. This paper proposes a novel technological approach to provide gaming behavior indicators, aiming to offer precise insights into gamer behavior and emotion regulation.

Methods

To attain this objective, we investigate quantifiable gaming behavior metrics using automated, unobtrusive, and easily accessible methods. Our approach encompasses the analysis of behavioral telemetry data collected from online gaming platforms and incorporates automated extraction of gamer emotional states from face video recordings during gameplay. To illustrate the metrics and visualizations and demonstrate our method’s application we collected data from two amateur and two professional gamers, all of whom played Counter-Strike2 on PC. Our approach offers objective insights into in-game gamer behavior, helping health professionals in the identification of patterns that may be difficult to discern through traditional assessment methods.

Results

Preliminary assessments of the proposed methodology demonstrate its potential usefulness in providing valuable insights about gaming behavior and emotion regulation. By leveraging automated data collection and visualization analysis techniques, our approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of gamer behavior, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the valuable insights obtainable from a tool that collects telemetry data, emotion regulation metrics, and gaming patterns. This tool, utilizing specific indicators, can support healthcare professionals in diagnosing IGD and tracking therapeutic progress, potentially addressing challenges linked to conventional IGD assessment methods. Furthermore, this initial data can provide therapists with detailed information on each player’s problematic behaviors and gaming habits, enabling the development of personalized treatments tailored to individual needs. Future research endeavors will focus on refining the methodology and extending its application in clinical settings to facilitate more comprehensive diagnostic practices and tailored interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.