bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Supervised Skin Lesion Segmentation: An Annotation-Free Approach
Authors: Gharawi Abdulrahman , Alahmadi Mohammad D. , Ramaswamy Lakshmish
Published: September 2023

Skin cancer poses a significant health risk, affecting multiple layers of the skin, including the dermis, epidermis, and hypodermis. Melanoma, a severe type of skin cancer, originates from the abnormal proliferation of melanocytes in the epidermis. Current methods for skin lesion segmentation heavily rely on large annotated datasets, which are costly, time-consuming, and demand specialized expertise from dermatologists. To address these limitations and improve logistics in dermatology practices, we present a self-supervised strategy for accurate skin lesion segmentation in dermatologist images, eliminating the need for manual annotations. Unlike the traditional appraoch, our proposed approach integrates a hybrid CNN/Transformer model, harnessing the complementary strengths of both architectures. The Transformer module captures long-range contextual dependencies, enabling a comprehensive understanding of image content, while the CNN encoder extracts local semantic information. To dynamically recalibrate the representation space, we introduce a contextual attention module that effectively combines hierarchical features and pixel-level information. By incorporating local and global dependencies among image pixels, we perform a clustering process that organizes the image content into a meaningful space. Furthermore, as another contribution, we incorporate a spatial consistency loss to promote the gradual merging of clusters with similar representations, thereby improving the segmentation quality. Experimental evaluations conducted on two publicly available skin lesion segmentation datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method, outperforming both unsupervised and self-supervised strategies, and achieving state-of-the-art performance in this challenging task.
Forecasting Canadian Age-Specific Mortality Rates: Application of Functional Time Series Analysis
Authors: Rahman Azizur , Jiang Depeng
Published: September 2023

In the insurance and pension industries, as well as in designing social security systems, forecasted mortality rates are of major interest. The current research provides statistical methods based on functional time series analysis to improve mortality rate prediction for the Canadian population. The proposed functional time series-based model was applied to the three-mortality series: total, male and female age-specific Canadian mortality rate over the year 1991 to 2019. Descriptive measures were used to estimate the overall temporal patterns and the functional principal component regression model (fPCA) was used to predict the next ten years mortality rate for each series. Functional autoregressive model (fAR (1)) was used to measure the impact of one year age differences on mortality series. For total series, the mortality rates for children have dropped over the whole data period, while the difference between young adults and those over 40 has only been falling since about 2003 and has leveled off in the last decade of the data. A moderate to strong impact of age differences on Canadian age-specific mortality series was observed over the years. Wider application of fPCA to provide more accurate estimates in public health, demography, and age-related policy studies should be considered.
Benchmarking Maintenance Practices for Allocating Features Affecting Hydraulic System Maintenance: A West-Balkan Perspective
Authors: Orošnjak Marko , Šević Dragoljub
Published: September 2023

As a consequence of the application advanced maintenance practices, the theoretical probability of failures occurring is relatively low. However, observations of low levels of market intelligence and maintenance management have been reported. This comprehensive study investigates the determinants of maintenance practices in companies utilising hydraulic machinery, drawing on empirical evidence from a longitudinal questionnaire-based survey across the West-Balkan countries. This research identifies critical predictors of technical and sustainable maintenance performance metrics by employing the CA-AHC (Correspondence Analysis with Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering) method combined with non-parametric machine learning models. Key findings highlight the significant roles of the number of maintenance personnel employed; equipment size, determined on the basis of nominal power consumption; machinery age; and maintenance activities associated with fluid cleanliness in influencing hydraulic machine maintenance outcomes. These insights challenge current perceptions and introduce novel considerations with respect to aspects such as equipment size, maintenance skills and activities with the aim of preserving peak performance. However, the study acknowledges the variability resulting from differing operational conditions, and calls for further research for broader validation. As large-scale heterogeneous datasets are becoming mainstream, this research underscores the importance of using multidimensional data analysis techniques to better understand operational outcomes.
Potential Conflicts of Interest Arising from Dualism of Loyalty Imposed on Employees of Medical Institutions—Findings and Tools for Ethics Management
Authors: Gramma Rodica , Hanganu Bianca , Arnaut Oleg , Ioan Beatrice Gabriela
Published: September 2023

Background and Objective: Doctors should have full loyalty to their patients, while patients should be able to trust that physicians will act only in their best interests. However, doctors may be faced with situations where they must choose between the patient’s interests and those of a third party. This article presents the results of a study that aimed to identify situations of duality in the decision-making process of medical workers, which can compromise their ethical behavior. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 1070 participants, employed in 120 healthcare facilities in the Republic of Moldova. An online questionnaire was completed anonymously. Descriptive statistics for discrete data were performed by estimating absolute and relative frequencies. To perform the multivariate analysis, the logistic regression was applied. Results: A large number (74.4%) of respondents admitted that they had faced situations of conflicts of interest. Every third respondent (35.3%) had experienced ethical dilemmas when access to expensive treatments should be ensured. Every fourth respondent experienced a conflict between the patient’s interests and those of the institution (26.1%) or the insurance company (23.3%). As age increases, the probability of reporting the dilemma decreases. Physicians reported such dilemmas almost 3 times more often than nurses. A low rate of staff sought support when faced with dilemmas. Half of the respondents (50.6%) preferred to discuss the problem only with a colleague, and 40.1% preferred to find solutions without anyone’s help. There were significant gaps within organizations in terms of the ethical dimension of the decision-making process. Conclusions: Managers should adopt clear institutional policies and tools to identify and prevent situations of dual loyalty. Ethical support should be offered to employees facing such situations. The need to promote an institutional climate based on trust and openness becomes evident.
Extracellular Vesicles in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Progress and Challenges in the Translation from the Laboratory to Clinic
Authors: Yan Rong , Chen Haiming , Selaru Florin M.
Published: September 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play critical roles in intercellular communication by transporting bioactive cargo to recipient cells. EVs have been implicated in a range of physiological and pathological processes, including tumor progression, metastasis, immune modulation, and drug resistance. The objective of this review is to present a thorough overview of recent studies focusing on EVs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with an emphasis on their potential utility as diagnostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic agents. Initially, we explore the utility of EVs as diagnostic biomarkers for HCC, followed by a discussion of their potential as carriers of therapeutic payloads. Additionally, we delve into the emerging field of therapeutic EVs for modulating tumor immune responses. Through this review, our ultimate aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the clinical translation of EV research in the domain of HCC.
Recovery of the Decreased Phagocytic Function of Peripheral Monocytes and Neutrophil Granulocytes following Cytoreductive Surgery in Advanced Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Kovács Anna Rebeka , Lukács Luca , Pál László , Szűcs Sándor , Kovács Kincső Sára , Lampé Rudolf
Published: September 2023

(1) Monocytes and neutrophil granulocytes are the phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, playing a crucial role in recognizing and eliminating tumor-transformed cells. Our objective was to assess the impact of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and cytoreductive surgery on the phagocytic function of peripheral monocytes and neutrophil granulocytes. We aimed to compare the pre- and postoperative phagocytic function of these immune cells in EOC patients with healthy control women. Additionally, we aimed to examine the influence of surgery on phagocytic function by comparing pre- and postoperative samples from patients with benign gynecological tumors. (2) We examined peripheral blood samples from 20 patients with FIGO IIIC stage high-grade serous EOC and 16 patients with benign gynecological tumors as surgical controls, collected before and seven days after tumor removal surgery, and from 14 healthy women. After separation, the cells were incubated with Zymosan-A particles, and the phagocytic index (PI) was assessed using immunofluorescence microscopy. One-way ANOVA, the Kruskal–Wallis H-test, and the paired samples t-test were used for the statistical analysis of the data. A significance level of p < 0.05 was applied. (3) Peripheral monocytes and neutrophils from EOC patients exhibited significantly lower preoperative PI values compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). Following cytoreductive surgery, the PI values of immune cells in EOC patients significantly increased by the 7th postoperative day (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), reaching levels comparable to those of healthy controls (p = 0.700 and p = 0.991). In contrast, there was no significant disparity in the PI values of cells obtained from pre- and postoperative blood samples of surgical controls when compared to healthy women (monocytes: p = 0.361 and p = 0.303; neutrophils: p = 0.150 and p = 0.235). (4) EOC and/or its microenvironment may produce factors that reduce the phagocytic function of monocytes and neutrophils, and the production of these factors may be reduced or eliminated after tumor removal.
Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD): Commonly Associated Pathogens, Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Justiz-Vaillant Angel A. , Williams-Persad Arlene Faye-Ann , Arozarena-Fundora Rodolfo , Gopaul Darren , Soodeen Sachin , Asin-Milan Odalis , Thompson Reinand , Unakal Chandrashekhar , Akpaka Patrick Eberechi
Published: September 2023

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by a defect in the phagocytic function of the innate immune system owing to mutations in genes encoding the five subunits of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphatase (NADPH) oxidase enzyme complex. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive approach to the pathogens associated with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and its management. Patients with CGD, often children, have recurrent life-threatening infections and may develop infectious or inflammatory complications. The most common microorganisms observed in the patients with CGD are Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., Nocardia spp., Burkholderia spp., Serratia spp., and Salmonella spp. Antibacterial prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, antifungal prophylaxis usually with itraconazole, and interferon gamma immunotherapy have been successfully used in reducing infection in CGD. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) have been successfully proven to be the treatment of choice in patients with CGD.
Potential Benefits of Coffee Consumption on Improving Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Healthy Individuals and Those at Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Dludla Phiwayinkosi V. , Cirilli Ilenia , Marcheggiani Fabio , Silvestri Sonia , Orlando Patrick , Muvhulawa Ndivhuwo , Moetlediwa Marakiya T. , Nkambule Bongani B. , Mazibuko-Mbeje Sithandiwe E. , Hlengwa Nokulunga , Hanser Sidney , Ndwandwe Duduzile , Marnewick Jeanine L. , Basson Albertus K. , Tiano Luca
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered the predominant cause of death globally. An abnormal increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation are consistently linked with the development and even progression of metabolic diseases, including enhanced CVD risk. Coffee is considered one of the most consumed beverages in the world, while reviewed evidence regarding its capacity to modulate biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation remains limited. The current study made use of prominent electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to retrieve information from randomized controlled trials reporting on any association between coffee consumption and modulation of biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy individuals or those at increased risk of developing CVD. In fact, summarized evidence indicates that coffee consumption, mainly due to its abundant antioxidant properties, can reduce biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, which can be essential in alleviating the CVD risk in healthy individuals. However, more evidence suggests that regular/prolonged use or long term (>4 weeks) consumption of coffee appeared to be more beneficial in comparison with short-term intake (<4 weeks). These positive effects are also observed in individuals already presenting with increased CVD risk, although such evidence is very limited. The current analysis of data highlights the importance of understanding how coffee consumption can be beneficial in strengthening intracellular antioxidants to alleviate pathological features of oxidative stress and inflammation to reduce CVD risk within the general population. Also covered within the review is essential information on the metabolism and bioavailability profile of coffee, especially caffeine as one of its major bioactive compounds.
A Micropillar Array Based Microfluidic Device for Rare Cell Detection and Single-Cell Proteomics
Authors: Chen Kangfu , Wang Zongjie
Published: September 2023

Advancements in single-cell-related technologies have opened new possibilities for analyzing rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and rare immune cells. Among these techniques, single-cell proteomics, particularly single-cell mass spectrometric analysis (scMS), has gained significant attention due to its ability to directly measure transcripts without the need for specific reagents. However, the success of single-cell proteomics relies heavily on efficient sample preparation, as protein loss in low-concentration samples can profoundly impact the analysis. To address this challenge, an effective handling system for rare cells is essential for single-cell proteomic analysis. Herein, we propose a microfluidics-based method that offers highly efficient isolation, detection, and collection of rare cells (e.g., CTCs). The detailed fabrication process of the micropillar array-based microfluidic device is presented, along with its application for CTC isolation, identification, and collection for subsequent proteomic analysis.
Research on Resource Allocation Strategy of Indoor Visible Light Communication and Radio Frequency Systems Integrating Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access Technology
Authors: Ke Xizheng , Xu Yaxin , Qin Huanhuan , Liang Jingyuan
Published: September 2023

Aiming at the problem of resource allocation strategies limiting the system transmission rate in indoor visible light communication and radio frequency (VLC/RF) systems, a new resource allocation method is proposed, and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) technology is introduced. The capacity of the communication system is effectively increased. In the VLC/RF system model based on OFDMA, the Lyapunov optimization method is used to transform the time averaging problem into a series of single-slot online problems to reduce its computational complexity, the optimization problem is decomposed into three independent subproblems, and the Lagrange relaxation method and convex optimization theory are used to solve the subproblems to maximize the average transmission rate of the system, and the Lyapunov drift is used to ensure the stability of the system. Simulation verifies that the Lyapunov optimization algorithm does not require iteration, which improves the optimization speed to a high extent. The simulation results show that the proposed resource allocation strategy effectively balances the system queue length and transmission rate, improves the average transmission rate of the system to the greatest extent under the premise of ensuring the stability of the system, and compares with other algorithms from the aspects of system stability and transmission rate, which proves the effectiveness of the Lyapunov optimization algorithm.
Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives: A Review
Authors: Ameziane El Hassani Issam , Rouzi Khouloud , Assila Hamza , Karrouchi Khalid , Ansar M’hammed
Published: September 2023

Pyrazole, characterized by a five-membered heterocyclic structure featuring two neighboring nitrogen atoms, serves as a core element. Pyrazoles hold a privileged status as versatile frameworks in various sectors of the chemical industry, including medicine and agriculture. Previous reviews have extensively highlighted the significance of pyrazoles and their diverse biological activities, encompassing roles such as antituberculosis, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic agents. Consequently, they have garnered substantial interest from researchers. The aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive overview of the published research related to the synthesis of pyrazole derivatives, encompassing a discussion of diverse methods for accessing the pyrazole moiety. These methods span from utilizing transition-metal catalysts and photoredox reactions to employing one-pot multicomponent processes, novel reactants, and innovative reaction types. It encompasses studies conducted by numerous scientists worldwide, showcasing collective efforts in advancing the methodologies and applications of pyrazole derivatives.
Some Stochastic Orders over an Interval with Applications
Authors: Kanellopoulos Lazaros
Published: September 2023

In this article, we study stochastic orders over an interval. Mainly, we focus on orders related to the Laplace transform. The results are then applied to obtain a bound for heavy-tailed distributions and are illustrated by some examples. We also indicate how these ordering relationships can be adapted to the classical risk model in order to derive a moment bound for ruin probability. Finally, we compare it with other existing bounds.
Multiagent Q-Learning-Based Mobility Management for Multi-Connectivity in mmWAVE Cellular Systems
Authors: Ryu Si A , Kim Duk Kyung
Published: September 2023

Effective mobility management is crucial for efficient operation of next-generation cellular systems in the millimeter wave (mmWave) band. Massive multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) systems are seen as necessary to overcome the significant path losses in this band, but the highly directional beam makes the channels more susceptible to radio link failures due to blockages. To meet stringent capacity and reliability requirements, multi-connectivity has attracted significant attention. This paper proposes a multiagent distributed Q learning-based mobility management scheme for multi-connectivity in mmWave cellular systems. A hierarchical structure is adopted to address the model complexity and speed up the learning process. The performance is assessed using a realistic measurement data set collected from Wireless Insite in an urban area and compared with independent Q learning and a heuristic scheme in terms of handover probability and spectral efficiency.
Research on Autonomous and Collaborative Deployment of Massive Mobile Base Stations in High-Rise Building Fire Field
Authors: Li Ke , Huang Chen , Liang Jiaping , Zou Yanbin , Xu Biao , Yao Yao , Zhang Yang , Liu Dandan
Published: September 2023

High-rise building fires pose a serious threat to the lives and property safety of people. The lack of reliable and accurate positioning means is one of the main difficulties faced by rescuers. In the absence of prior knowledge of the high-rise building fire environment, the coverage deployment of mobile base stations is a challenging problem that has not received much attention in the literature. This paper studies the problem of the autonomous optimal deployment of base stations in high-rise building fire environments based on a UAV group. A novel problem formulation is proposed that solves the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) positioning problem in complex and unknown environments. The purpose of this paper is to realize the coverage and deployment of mobile base stations in complex and unknown fire environments. The NLOS positioning problem in the fire field environment is turned into the line-of-sight (LOS) positioning problem through the optimization algorithm. And there are more than three LOS base stations nearby at any point in the fire field. A control law which is formulated in a mathematically precise problem statement is developed that guarantees to meet mobile base stations’ deployment goals and to avoid collision. Finally, the positioning accuracy of our method and that of the common method were compared under many different cases. The simulation result showed that the positioning error of a simulated firefighter in the fire field environment was improved from more than 10 m (the positioning error of the traditional method) to less than 1 m.
Numerical Analysis of the Mitigation Performance of a Buried PT-WIB on Environmental Vibration
Authors: Gao Lei , Cai Chenzhi , Li Chao , Mak Cheuk Ming
Published: September 2023

Environmental vibration pollution has serious negative impacts on human health. Among the various contributors to environmental vibration pollution in urban areas, rail transit vibration stands out as a significant source. Consequently, addressing this issue and finding effective measures to attenuate rail transit vibration has become a significant area of concern. An infilled trench can be arranged periodically along the propagation paths of the waves in the soil to attenuate vibration waves in a specific frequency range. However, the periodic infilled trench seems to be unsatisfactory for providing wide band gaps at low and medium frequencies. To improve the isolation performance of wave barriers at low to medium frequencies, a buried PT-WIB consisting of a periodic infilled trench and a wave impedance block barrier has been proposed in this paper. A three-dimensional finite element model has been developed to evaluate the isolation performance of three wave barriers. The influence of the PT-WIB’s parameters on isolation performance has been analyzed. The results indicate that the combined properties of the periodic structure and the wave impedance block barrier can effectively achieve a wide attenuation zone at low and medium frequencies, enhancing the isolation performance for mitigating environmental vibration pollution.
The Application of Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning Algorithms in Rehabilitation Training: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wei Suyao , Wu Zhihui
Published: September 2023

The integration of wearable sensor technology and machine learning algorithms has significantly transformed the field of intelligent medical rehabilitation. These innovative technologies enable the collection of valuable movement, muscle, or nerve data during the rehabilitation process, empowering medical professionals to evaluate patient recovery and predict disease development more efficiently. This systematic review aims to study the application of wearable sensor technology and machine learning algorithms in different disease rehabilitation training programs, obtain the best sensors and algorithms that meet different disease rehabilitation conditions, and provide ideas for future research and development. A total of 1490 studies were retrieved from two databases, the Web of Science and IEEE Xplore, and finally 32 articles were selected. In this review, the selected papers employ different wearable sensors and machine learning algorithms to address different disease rehabilitation problems. Our analysis focuses on the types of wearable sensors employed, the application of machine learning algorithms, and the approach to rehabilitation training for different medical conditions. It summarizes the usage of different sensors and compares different machine learning algorithms. It can be observed that the combination of these two technologies can optimize the disease rehabilitation process and provide more possibilities for future home rehabilitation scenarios. Finally, the present limitations and suggestions for future developments are presented in the study.
A Study on the Effect of Temperature Variations on FPGA-Based Multi-Channel Time-to-Digital Converters
Authors: Alshehry Awwad H. , Alshahry Saleh M. , Alhazmi Abdullah K. , Chodavarapu Vamsy P.
Published: September 2023

We describe a study on the effect of temperature variations on multi-channel time-to-digital converters (TDCs). The objective is to study the impact of ambient thermal variations on the performance of field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based tapped delay line (TDL) TDC systems while simultaneously meeting the requirements of high-precision time measurement, low-cost implementation, small size, and low power consumption. For our study, we chose two devices, Artix-7 and ProASIC3L, manufactured by Xilinx and Microsemi, respectively. The radiation-tolerant ProASIC3L device offers better stability in terms of thermal sensitivity and power consumption compared to the Artix-7. To assess the performance of the TDCs under varying thermal conditions, a laboratory thermal chamber was utilized to maintain ambient temperatures ranging from −75 to 80 °C. This analysis ensured a comprehensive evaluation of the TDCs’ performance across a wide operational range. By utilizing the Artix-7 and ProASIC3L devices, we achieved root mean square (RMS) resolution of 24.7 and 554.59 picoseconds, respectively. Total on-chip power of 0.968 W was achieved using Artix-7, while 1.997 mW of power consumption was achieved using the ProASIC3L device. We worked to determine the temperature sensitivity for both FPGA devices, which could help in the design and optimization of FPGA-based TDCs for many applications.
Joint Communication and Radar Sensing: RF Hardware Opportunities and Challenges—A Circuits and Systems Perspective
Authors: Sen Padmanava , Harutyunyan Armen , Umar Muhammad , Kamal Shahanawaz
Published: September 2023

This paper focuses on the topic of joint communication and radar sensing (JCRS) and its applications in the scope of upcoming sixth-generation (6G) technology. While the fifth-generation applications have reached the consumer market in the last few years, JCRS has been identified as one of the key technologies for next generation networks. The role of JCRS will vary, ranging from tasks such as radar coordination, context awareness for communication, enhanced security, increased availability, and improving the resilience and trustworthiness of future networks. In this work, the niche of JCRS technology in the future 6G ecosystem, as well as several potential applications, are discussed with a focus on RF hardware. The use of centimeter (cmWave) and millimeter (mmWave) frequency spectrums in the context of JCRS system implementation have been further elaborated. After presenting the near-term application scenarios, the circuit implementation perspectives are investigated in terms of radio frequency (RF) front-end architectures, antenna implementation, and phased arrays. Different communication and radar antenna options are compared, and the best candidates are identified. The packaging options are also presented. From circuit and system perspectives, link budget and self-interference cancellation (SIC) are highlighted. Furthermore, future directions including the next steps on the path to enabling JCRS technology are presented throughout this article. Prior works focused more on physical layers and network capabilities of JCRS systems, with less focus on hardware possibilities; to fill this gap, this article aims to contribute to this exciting research topic with a holistic review of RF hardware, highlighting the diversity of applications and the available technologies to tackle the near- and long-term needs of consumer applications.
Automated Stabilization, Enhancement and Capillaries Segmentation in Videocapillaroscopy
Authors: Taormina Vincenzo , Raso Giuseppe , Gentile Vito , Abbene Leonardo , Buttacavoli Antonino , Bonsignore Gaetano , Valenti Cesare , Messina Pietro , Scardina Giuseppe Alessandro , Cascio Donato
Published: September 2023

Oral capillaroscopy is a critical and non-invasive technique used to evaluate microcirculation. Its ability to observe small vessels in vivo has generated significant interest in the field. Capillaroscopy serves as an essential tool for diagnosing and prognosing various pathologies, with anatomic–pathological lesions playing a crucial role in their progression. Despite its importance, the utilization of videocapillaroscopy in the oral cavity encounters limitations due to the acquisition setup, encompassing spatial and temporal resolutions of the video camera, objective magnification, and physical probe dimensions. Moreover, the operator’s influence during the acquisition process, particularly how the probe is maneuvered, further affects its effectiveness. This study aims to address these challenges and improve data reliability by developing a computerized support system for microcirculation analysis. The designed system performs stabilization, enhancement and automatic segmentation of capillaries in oral mucosal video sequences. The stabilization phase was performed by means of a method based on the coupling of seed points in a classification process. The enhancement process implemented was based on the temporal analysis of the capillaroscopic frames. Finally, an automatic segmentation phase of the capillaries was implemented with the additional objective of quantitatively assessing the signal improvement achieved through the developed techniques. Specifically, transfer learning of the renowned U-net deep network was implemented for this purpose. The proposed method underwent testing on a database with ground truth obtained from expert manual segmentation. The obtained results demonstrate an achieved Jaccard index of 90.1% and an accuracy of 96.2%, highlighting the effectiveness of the developed techniques in oral capillaroscopy. In conclusion, these promising outcomes encourage the utilization of this method to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions that impact microcirculation, such as rheumatologic or cardiovascular disorders.
A Muscle Load Feedback Application for Strength Training: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Noteboom Lisa , Nijs Anouk , Beek Peter J. , van der Helm Frans C. T. , Hoozemans Marco J. M.
Published: September 2023

Muscle overload injuries in strength training might be prevented by providing personalized feedback about muscle load during a workout. In the present study, a new muscle load feedback application, which monitors and visualizes the loading of specific muscle groups, was developed in collaboration with the fitness company Gymstory. The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of this feedback application in managing muscle load balance, muscle load level, and muscle soreness, and to evaluate how its actual use was experienced. Thirty participants were randomly distributed into ‘control’, ‘partial feedback’, and ‘complete feedback’ groups and monitored for eight workouts using the automatic exercise tracking system of Gymstory. The control group received no feedback, while the partial feedback group received a visualization of their estimated cumulative muscle load after each exercise, and the participants in the complete feedback group received this visualization together with suggestions for the next exercise to target muscle groups that had not been loaded yet. Generalized estimation equations (GEEs) were used to compare muscle load balance and soreness, and a one-way ANOVA was used to compare user experience scores between groups. The complete feedback group showed a significantly better muscle load balance (β = −18.9; 95% CI [−29.3, −8.6]), adhered better to the load suggestion provided by the application (significant interactions), and had higher user experience scores for Attractiveness (p = 0.036), Stimulation (p = 0.031), and Novelty (p = 0.019) than the control group. No significant group differences were found for muscle soreness. Based on these results, it was concluded that personal feedback about muscle load in the form of a muscle body map in combination with exercise suggestions can effectively guide strength training practitioners towards certain load levels and more balanced cumulative muscle loads. This application has potential to be applied in strength training practice as a training tool and may help in preventing muscle overload.
Accelerometer-Derived Intensity Thresholds Are Equivalent to Standard Ventilatory Thresholds in Incremental Running Exercise
Authors: Schützenhöfer Matthias , Birnbaumer Philipp , Hofmann Peter
Published: September 2023

Accelerometer cut-points are commonly used to prescribe the amount of physical activity, but this approach includes no individual performance measures. As running kinetics change with intensity, acceleration measurements may provide more individual information. Therefore, the aim was to determine two intensity thresholds from accelerometer measures. A total of 33 participants performed a maximal incremental running test with spirometric and acceleration (Axivity AX3) measures at the left and right tibia. Ventilatory equivalents (VE/VO2, VE/VCO2) were used to determine a first and second ventilatory threshold (VT1/VT2). A first and second accelerometer threshold (ACT1/ACT2) were determined within the same regions of interest from vector magnitude (|v| = √(ax2 + ay2 + az2). Accelerometer data from the tibia presented a three-phase increase with increasing speed. Speed at VT1/VT2 (7.82 ± 0.39/10.91 ± 0.87 km/h) was slightly but significantly lower compared to the speed at ACT1/ACT2 from the left (7.71 ± 0.35/10.62 ± 0.72 km/h) and right leg (7.79 ± 0.33/10.74 ± 0.77 km/h). Correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between speed at thresholds determined from spriometric data or accelerations (r = 0.98; p < 0.001). It is therefore possible to determine accelerometer thresholds from tibia placement during a maximal incremental running test comparable to standard ventilatory thresholds.
Enhancing Sustainable Design Thinking Education Efficiency: A Comparative Study of Synchronous Online and Offline Classes
Authors: Kim Joungmin , Ryu Sun Joo
Published: September 2023

As online education advances, there is a growing interest in conducting various online courses. However, design thinking education, which heavily relies on active interactions and discussions among team members, has predominantly taken place in offline environments. This raises the question of whether online design thinking education can be equally as effective as offline education. To address this, our study conducted comparative research between offline and synchronous online design thinking classes to investigate how these different environments contribute to developing design thinking mindsets. The acquisition levels of seven design thinking mindsets—ambiguity, curiosity, empathy, experimental spirit, integrative thinking, open mind, and teamwork—were used to measure the efficiency of the design thinking classes. The research involved a 15-week project-based course provided to 126 engineering students at a university, examining the differences in design thinking mindsets before and after the completion of the process. The study’s findings demonstrated that synchronous online classes favorably influence the cultivation of design thinking mindsets, exhibiting efficiency comparable to that observed in traditional offline courses. Specifically, synchronous online classes were found to be more effective in cultivating empathy, integrative thinking, and open mind, while experimental spirit showed more significant development in offline courses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential of synchronous online design thinking education and contribute the development of sustainable and effective online learning environments.
Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Evidence of Aqueous Humor Flow from the Suprachoroidal Space to Conjunctival Lymphatics
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Bezzabotnov Andrey Igorevich , Rustamova Zarina Shaykuliyevna , Dushina Galina Nikolaevna , Abu Zaalan Kamal Abdulmuhsen , Shradqa Ahmad Saleh Soliman , Frolov Mikhail Aleksandrovich
Published: September 2023

A surgical technique was developed to enhance aqueous humor (AH) flow through the non-trabecular outflow pathway by rerouting it from the anterior chamber (AC) to the suprachoroidal space (SCS) without detaching the ciliary body from the scleral spur. Medium- and long-term surgical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in a case series of 58 glaucoma patients. At 6, 12, and 24 months, the mean IOP decreased from 27.8 ± 8.3 to 14.9 ± 5.0 mmHg, median 15.0 (25th percentile (p25)13.0; 75th percentile (p75) 18.0) and 15.2 ± 3.3 mmHg, and hypotensive medication use reduced from a median (p25; p75) of 3 (2; 3) to 0 (0; 2), 0 (0; 2), and 0 (0; 1.5), respectively. Intra- and postoperative complications were few and manageable. Following surgery, no bleb formation occurred in any of the cases (as confirmed by optical coherence tomography). Conjunctival lymphatic vessels (CLVs) developed in 50% of eyes (29/58). Clinically, they developed directly from sclera and had no connection to the surgical site. Analysis further showed that the development of CLVs and their longer visibility period had poor prognostic value for IOP control. If the fluid flow from the SCS to CLVs was resistance-free, no CLV development was evident. However, if any resistance existed in the flow, the fluid accumulated in lymphatics, resulting in their engorgement. The proposed technique was safe and effective in decreasing IOP in glaucoma patients by enhancing AH flow from the SCS to CLVs via connecting intrascleral microchannels.
Coexistence of All-Order Topological States in a Three-Dimensional Phononic Topological Crystalline Insulator
Authors: Lai Hua-Shan , Chen Hao , Xia Chu-Hao , Yu Si-Yuan , He Cheng , Chen Yan-Feng
Published: September 2023

Classical-wave topological materials lacking intrinsic half-integer spins are less robust while more tunable. Here, we explore a single 3-dimensional phononic topological crystalline insulator that simultaneously exhibits a whole family of first-order quadratic surface, second-order hinge, and third-order corner states within the same bandgap. Such a topological crystalline insulator hosting all-order phases originates from the different topological nature when hierarchically projected onto different facets and lower dimensions, thus free from trivial cladding crystals. Our work offers an ideal platform for either robust wave propagation or localization in on-demand dimensions and may facilitate dimension division multiplexing technology.
Bibliometric Analysis of the Studies Determined By the Monte Carlo Simulation Technique of the Power of the Test
Authors: ERGİN Malik , ALBAYRAK DELİALİOĞLU Rabia , ALTAY Yasin , KOŞKAN Özgür
Published: September 2023

In order to give detailed information about the characteristics of scientific studies related to the power of the test, a bibliometric analysis of studies in which the power of the tests used in statistical data analysis was determined with the aid of Monte Carlo simulation techniques was carried out. The Web of Science (WoS) database's 1309 scientific studies in which the power of the test was determined by using Monte Carlo simulation techniques served as the study's material of data. The analysis includes the number of studies by year, average citation count by year, the number of articles published in scientific journals, countries of responsible authors, and the most relevant words in the studies. It was observed that Communications in Statistics-Simulation and Computation and Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation are the journals with the highest number of published articles. The United States of America (USA) takes the lead when considering the countries of corresponding authors, while Türkiye is in 8th place. The most used keywords in the ten-year time period of scientific studies were respectively “power”, “test”, “skewness”, “model” and “inference”. As a result, it can be concluded that test power studies can be obtained safely using the Monte Carlo simulation technique.
Fiscal Policy and Economic Performance of Pakistan: Trends and Analysis
Authors: Naverah Mahtab  , Saima Shafique  , Shah Syed Arshad Ali
Published: September 2023

This research is to find the impact of fiscal policy in economic growth of Pakistan. To fulfill this purpose the time series data from 1991-2021 is used. The data source is Economy Survey of Pakistan and WDI. In this analysis with respect to first Augmented Dicky Fuller unit root test is implementing for checking the stationarity of the variables. At order 1, the all variables are integrated. Secondly, the Least Square (Gauss Newton/ Marquardt Steps) is employed to recognize the Pakistan’s fiscal policy has affected the country’s economic condition. This finding suggests that the gross fixed capital formation, labour force participation rate, total government revenue is positively associated to the growth rate and total expenditure is negatively relate to the economic growth. This research result shows the significant the Pakistan’s fiscal policy has affected the country’s economic condition.
Intensi Berwirausaha Generasi Muda Di Lodtunduh Ubud Dalam Era E-Busines
Authors: Basmantra Ida Nyoman , Bandem I Gede Adhi Prasetya , Widhiasthini Ni Wayan
Published: September 2023

Di era sekarang ini, manusia menggunakan teknologi karena memiliki akal. Dengan akalnya, manusia ingin keluar dari suatu masalah, ingin hidup lebih baik, lebih aman, dan lebih mudah. Salah satu bisnis yang dapat dilakukan dalam kemajuan teknologi saat ini adalah e-business. Penelitian ini berfokus pada kewirausahaan yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui Niat Berwirausaha Generasi Muda di Lodtunduh Ubud. Intervensi tersebut dilihat dari beberapa variabel seperti: Digital Literacy, Self-Efficacy, dan Environment dalam konteks era E-Business. Populasi dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 109 dan sampel yang digunakan yaitu 86 responden. Metode penelitian ini adalah kuantitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah survey kuesioner dan observasi. Dengan adanya penelitian ini diharapkan penelitian ini dapat menambah dan memperluas wawasan pembaca mengenai Niat Berwirausaha Generasi Muda Lodtunduh Ubud di era E-Business
Pengaruh Beban Kerja Dan Stres Kerja Terhadap Turnover Intention Melalui Burnout Pada Karyawan PT BNI Cabang Ternate
Authors: Sari Dewi Nurul Ulfa , Alhadar Fadhliah M. , Mustafa Ikrima M.
Published: September 2023

This study aims to determine the effect of Work Load and Work Stress on Turnover Intention through Burnout. This research is a quantitative research. The population in this study is the employees of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Ternate City. The number of research samples is 73 respondents. The data analysis technique used in this research is path modeling analysis using Smart Partial Least Square (PLS) version 4 as a statistical test tool. The results of this study indicate that: (1) Work Load has no significant effect on Turnover Intention; (2) Work Stress has no significant effect on Turnover Intention; (3) Work Load has a significant effect on Burnout; (4) Work Stress has a significant effect on Burnout; (5) Burnout has a significant effect on Turnover Intention; (6) Work Load has no significant effect on Turnover Intention through Burnout; (7) Work Stress has a significant effect on Turnover Intention through Burnout.
Budist Uygur Metinlerinde Dinî Bir Terim Olarak ünüş = Skr. niḥsaraṇa İfadesi
Authors: İSİ Hasan
Published: September 2023

The article discusses the Old Turkic religious vocabulary and its association with belief systems such as Buddhism, Manichaeism, and Islam. It highlights the role of Uyghurs in embracing Buddhism and creating an extensive body of literature through translation. The Uyghur monks played a crucial role in translating Buddhist concepts into Turkish, carefully selecting terms that corresponded to source languages like Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan. This effort was not limited to Buddhism but also extended to conveying Islamic religious terms using Buddhist terminologies. A central concept in Buddhist teachings is saṃsāra, which refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth within the Indian philosophical framework. The article discusses the Sanskrit term niḥsaraṇa, which signifies ‘escape from saṃsāra’. This term carries various meanings in Sanskrit, such as ‘departure, death, path, solution, and ultimate happiness.’ In the Old Uyghur religious vocabulary, the corresponding term for niḥsaraṇa is ünüš (yol), which directly translates to ‘path’ in Old Turkic. This term is distinctively used within the Buddhist context of the Old Turkic religious vocabulary and is found in various combinations within Buddhist Uyghur texts. The article aims to analyze the thematic interpretations of this expression aligned with Buddhist philosophical systems. It seeks to elucidate how the term is used within Buddhist Uyghur texts, shedding light on its significance within the context of those writings.
Munkh-Erdene, L. The Nomadic Leviathan (A Critique of the Sinocentric Paradigm). Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2023, pp. xvi+524. ISBN: 978-90-04-54651-6.
Authors: DEMİRYAKAN Deniz
Published: September 2023

Munkh-Erdene, L. The Nomadic Leviathan (A Critique of the Sinocentric Paradigm). Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2023, pp. xvi+524. ISBN: 978-90-04-54651-6.
Mándoky Kongur, I. Newcomers from the East: Hungarians and Kipchak-Turks in Europe. Ed. by Molnár, Á. Second, enlarged, improved edition. Uppsala and Budapest: Uppsala University and Molnar & Kelemen Oriental Publishers, 2021, pp. xxiv+352. ISBN: 978-963-88238-8-5.
Authors: HAZNEDAROĞLU Aslıhan
Published: September 2023

Mándoky Kongur, I. Newcomers from the East: Hungarians and Kipchak-Turks in Europe. Ed. by Molnár, Á. Second, enlarged, improved edition. Uppsala and Budapest: Uppsala University and Molnar & Kelemen Oriental Publishers, 2021, pp. xxiv+352. ISBN: 978-963-88238-8-5.