bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Esports experts have a wide gaze distribution and short gaze fixation duration: A focus on League of Legends players
Authors: Jeong Inhyeok , Kudo Kazutoshi , Kaneko Naotusgu , Nakazawa Kimitaka
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the specific gaze control ability of expert players and low-skill players of League of Legends (LoL). Eleven expert and nine low-skill players were divided according to their official ranking. Then, the gaze movement of each participant when performing each task (e.g., easy task and moderate task) while competing against a computer artificial intelligence system was recorded. Experts were found to have a significantly wide horizontal gaze distribution. Additionally, experts had a consistently short gaze fixation duration during the moderate task. These results suggest that a wide horizontal gaze distribution allows experts to obtain information from a wider area. Additionally, the consistently short fixation duration of the experts indicated that they need only a short period to assess information, which is advantageous because large amounts of information need to be processed within a limited time while playing. This specific gaze control ability could be an important factor that contributes to the superior performance of expert LoL players.
Measuring facial mimicry: Affdex vs. EMG
Authors: Westermann Jan-Frederik , Schäfer Ralf , Nordmann Marc , Richter Peter , Müller Tobias , Franz Matthias
Published: January 2024

Facial mimicry is the automatic imitation of the facial affect expressions of others. It serves as an important component of interpersonal communication and affective co-experience. Facial mimicry has so far been measured by Electromyography (EMG), which requires a complex measuring apparatus. Recently, software for measuring facial expressions have become available, but it is still unclear how well it is suited for measuring facial mimicry. This study investigates the comparability of the automated facial coding software Affdex with EMG for measuring facial mimicry. For this purpose, facial mimicry was induced in 33 subjects by presenting naturalistic affect-expressive video sequences (anger, joy). The response of the subjects is measured simultaneously by facial EMG (corrugator supercilii muscle, zygomaticus major muscle) and by Affdex (action units lip corner puller and brow lowerer and affects joy and anger). Subsequently, the correlations between the measurement results of EMG and Affdex were calculated. After the presentation of the joy stimulus, there was an increase in zygomaticus muscle activity (EMG) about 400 ms after stimulus onset and an increase in joy and lip corner puller activity (Affdex) about 1200 ms after stimulus onset. The joy and the lip corner puller activity detected by Affdex correlate significantly with the EMG activity. After presentation of the anger stimulus, corrugator muscle activity (EMG) also increased approximately 400 ms after stimulus onset, whereas anger and brow lowerer activity (Affdex) showed no response. During the entire measurement interval, anger activity and brow lowerer activity (Affdex) did not correlate with corrugator muscle activity (EMG). Using Affdex, the facial mimicry response to a joy stimulus can be measured, but it is detected approximately 800 ms later compared to the EMG. Thus, electromyography remains the tool of choice for studying subtle mimic processes like facial mimicry.
Adolescent perspectives on peripartum mental health prevention and promotion from Kenya: Findings from a design thinking approach
Authors: Kathono Joseph , Nyongesa Vincent , Mwaniga Shillah , Obonyo Georgina , Yator Obadia , Wambugu Maryann , Banerjee Joy , Breuer Erica , Duffy Malia , Lai Joanna , Levy Marcy , Njuguna Simon , Kumar Manasi
Published: January 2024

In Kenya, approximately one in five girls aged 15–19 years old are pregnant or already a mother. Adolescent girls and young women experience significant mental health vulnerabilities during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, leading to poor antenatal and postnatal care attendance and inferior infant and maternal health outcomes. Pregnant adolescents often experience stigma and disenfranchisement due to their pregnancy status and at the same time lack access to mental health support within health settings, schools, religious institutions, and communities. This paper presents the results of qualitative interviews embedded within the human-centered design (HCD) process used to adapt the Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) program for Kenyan peripartum adolescents including young fathers. This qualitative study used two phases. First, a HAT advisory group participated in a series of four workshops to help identify and articulate mental health promotion needs and deepened the team’s understanding of youth-centered thinking. Second, qualitative interviews were conducted with 39 pregnant and parenting adolescents to understand their perspectives on mental health prevention and promotion. Pregnant and parenting adolescents articulated different needs including poor support, stigma, and psychological disturbances. Parenting adolescents reported disturbed relationships, managing motherhood, poor health, and social empowerment. Participants highlighted sources of stress including economic challenges, fear of delivery, strained relationships, rejection, and stigma. Participants described psychological disturbances such as feeling stressed, worthless, withdrawn, and suicidal. Coping mechanisms reported by participants included engaging in domestic activities, hobbies, and social networking. Peers, family and spirituality were identified as important sources of support, as well as school integration, livelihoods, support groups and mentorships. Findings from this study can be used to strengthen and adapt HAT program, policy and practice for mental health prevention and promotion for pregnant and parenting adolescents.
Duhuo Jisheng Decoction regulates intracellular zinc homeostasis by enhancing autophagy via PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway to improve knee cartilage degeneration
Authors: Wang Ye-Hui , Zhou Yi , Gao Xiang , Sun Sheng , Xie Yi-Zhou , Hu You-Peng , Fu Yang , Fan Xiao-Hong , Xie Quan
Published: January 2024

Background

Articular cartilage and cartilage matrix degradation are key pathological changes occurring in the early stage of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, currently, there are limited strategies for early prevention and treatment of KOA. Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) is a formula quoted in Bei Ji Qian jin Yao Fang, which was compiled by Sun Simiao in the Tang Dynasty of China. As a complementary therapy, it is widely used to treat early-stage KOA in China; however, its mechanism has not been completely elucidated.

Objective

This study investigated the potential role of DHJSD in preventing cartilage degradation and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

A rat model of KOA model was established via the Hulth method. Subsequently, 25 rats were randomized into sham (saline), model control (saline), high-DHJSD (1.9g/mL of DHJSD), medium-DHJSD (1.2g/mL of DHJSD), and low-DHJSD groups (0.6g/mL of DHJSD). After 4 weeks of treatment, all rats were sacrificed and the severity of the cartilage degeneration was evaluated by a series of histological methods. The autophagosome was observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the related functional proteins were detected by the western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Next, the mechanism by which DHJSD improves knee cartilage degeneration was further clarified the in vitro by gene silencing technology combined with a series of functional experiments. The proteins levels of PTEN, Akt, p-Akt, mTOR, and p-mTOR, as well as the marker proteins of autophagy and apoptosis were determined. Zinc levels in chondrocytes were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results

Histopathological staining revealed that DHJSD had a protective effect on the cartilage. DHJSD increased autophagosome synthesis and the expression of autophagy proteins LC3 and Beclin-1 in chondrocytes. Moreover, it reduced the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR and the levels of zinc, MMP-13, Bax, and Bcl-2. Following PTEN silencing, this DHJSD-mediated reduction in Akt and mTOR phosphorylation and Bax, Bcl-2, and zinc levels were further decreased; in addition, DHJSD-mediated increase in LC3 and Beclin-1 levels was decreased.

Conclusion

DHJSD inhibits the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by targeting PTEN to promote autophagy in chondrocytes, which may help reduce MMP-13 production by regulating zinc levels in chondrocytes.
What can entropy metrics tell us about the characteristics of ocular fixation trajectories?
Authors: Melnyk Kateryna , Friedman Lee , Komogortsev Oleg V.
Published: January 2024

In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of entropy measures calculated for fixation eye movement trajectories from the three different datasets. We employed six key metrics (Fuzzy, Increment, Sample, Gridded Distribution, Phase, and Spectral Entropies). We calculate these six metrics on three sets of fixations: (1) fixations from the GazeCom dataset, (2) fixations from what we refer to as the “Lund” dataset, and (3) fixations from our own research laboratory (“OK Lab” dataset). For each entropy measure, for each dataset, we closely examined the 36 fixations with the highest entropy and the 36 fixations with the lowest entropy. From this, it was clear that the nature of the information from our entropy metrics depended on which dataset was evaluated. These entropy metrics found various types of misclassified fixations in the GazeCom dataset. Two entropy metrics also detected fixation with substantial linear drift. For the Lund dataset, the only finding was that low spectral entropy was associated with what we call “bumpy” fixations. These are fixations with low-frequency oscillations. For the OK Lab dataset, three entropies found fixations with high-frequency noise which probably represent ocular microtremor. In this dataset, one entropy found fixations with linear drift. The between-dataset results are discussed in terms of the number of fixations in each dataset, the different eye movement stimuli employed, and the method of eye movement classification.
Generation of 3D finite element mesh of layered geological bodies in intersecting fault zones
Authors: Chen YingXian , Yang HongXia , Ye YongChao , Li JiaYing
Published: January 2024

As the geological fault surface divides the 3D space of stratified ores and rocks into complex spatial surface domains, it is necessary to fully consider the spatial relationship between intersecting fault zones and geological bodies in the process of 3D modeling, and how to accurately establish the 3D finite element mesh of geological bodies in intersecting fault zones is a difficult point in modeling complex geological structure. The laminated geological body in intersecting fault zone is a multifaceted domain grid model consisting of a ground-level grid, a geological fault plane grid, and a range grid. By analyzing the spatial relationship between the geological interfaces of the intersecting fault zones, a closed manifold processing method is proposed to establish the closed manifold spatial surface model of the intersecting fault zones, based on which the closed spatial surface model is tetrahedrally divided to establish a 3D solid model. Finally, the 3D solid model is imported into Ansys to generate a 3D finite element mesh. VC++ is used as the development platform for programming, to realize the generation and closed manifold processing of ground level and geological fault surfaces, and use TetGen library to generate finite element mesh based on irregular tetrahedron. Taking an intersecting fault zone in an open-pit mine as an example, the 3D finite element mesh of laminated geological bodies in the intersecting fault zone is established successfully. This method provides an effective and feasible solution for generating accurate 3D finite element meshes in complex stratigraphic spaces based on closed manifold processing.
Geometric entropy of plant leaves: A measure of morphological complexity
Authors: Muraleedharan Vishnu , Rajan Sajeev C. , R Jaishanker
Published: January 2024

Shape is an objective characteristic of an object. A boundary separates a physical object from its surroundings. It defines the shape and regulates energy flux into and from an object. Visual perception of a definite shape (geometry) of physical objects is an abstraction. While the perceived geometry at an object’s sharp interface (macro) creates a Euclidian illusion of actual shape, the notion of diffuse interfaces (micro) allows an understanding of the realistic form of objects. Here, we formulate a dimensionless geometric entropy of plant leaves (SL) by a 2-D description of a phase-field function. We applied this method to 112 tropical plant leaf images. SL was estimated from the leaf perimeter (P) and leaf area (A). It correlates positively with a fractal dimensional measure of leaf complexity, viz., segmental fractal complexity. Leaves with a higher P: A ratio have higher SL and possess complex morphology. The univariate cluster analysis of SL reveals the taxonomic relationship among the leaf shapes at the genus level. An increase in SL of plant leaves could be an evolutionary strategy. The results of morphological complexity presented in this paper will trigger discussion on the causal links between leaf adaptive stability/efficiency and complexity. We present SL as a derived plant trait to describe plant leaf complexity and adaptive stability. Integrating SL into other leaf physiological measures will help to understand the dynamics of energy flow between plants and their environment.
Hepatocyte ballooning and steatosis in early and late gestation without liver malfunction: Effects of low protein/high carbohydrate diet
Authors: Navarro-Meza Mónica , Díaz-Muñoz Mauricio , Cruz-Ramos José Alfonso , Trinidad Gallardo Jonathan Rafael , Rodríguez Oseguera María Conchita , Bello-Medina Paola C. , De Los Ríos-Arellano Ericka Alejandra
Published: January 2024

Pregnancy is a challenging metabolic and physiological condition. The aim of this study was to include a second demanding situation as a low protein/high carbohydrate diet (LPHCD) to characterize the histological and functional responses of the maternal liver. It is unknown how the maternal liver responds during early and late pregnancy to LPHCD intake. We explored early pregnancy (3 and 8 gestational age, G) and late pregnancy (15 and 20 G). The results indicated that pregnant rats under control diet showed an evident presence of ballooned hepatocytes, lipid vesicles and edema at late pregnancy (15G); in contrast, pregnant rats under LPHCD showed similar pattern of histological modification but at early pregnancy (3G). Unexpectedly, the serum biomarkers didn’t display functional alterations in either group, despite of the evident histological changes no liver malfunction was detected. We conclude that pregnant rats fed with control diet and experimental LPHCD, are subjected to metabolic and physiological conditions that impact the histopathological condition of the maternal liver. Control diet promoted the histological modifications during late pregnancy whereas LPCHCD advanced the onset of these changes. Further experiments are needed to explore the biochemical mechanisms that underlie these histological modifications. Our results are also an example of the resilience associated with the pregnancy: since no functional hepatic alterations accompanied the histopathological changes, another conclusion is that no evident pathological condition was detected in this nutritional protocol.
Community perceptions and experiences on caring for the premature babies in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site, southern Ethiopia: Interpretive Husserlian phenomenological study
Authors: Shibiru Shitaye , Endashaw Gesila , Kassa Mekidim , Ayele Gistane , Bante Agegnehu , Mersha Abera
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Premature birth is the leading cause of under-5 child mortality, accounting for 18%. More attention is needed for premature babies. Myths, misconceptions, and negative attitudes stigmatize premature births and slow prevention and care efforts. In Ethiopia, studies have been conducted on premature birth and its risk factors. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the perceived causes of premature birth, caring aspects, and community challenges. This qualitative study aims to address these research gaps.

Methods

This interpretive Husserlian phenomenological study was conducted from January 1–30, 2022. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 32 participants for focus group discussions and 10 participants for in-depth interviews. Participants included women, grandmothers, grandfathers, men, traditional birth attendants, and traditional healers. Interview and focus group data were analyzed using NVivo 12 Plus software and a thematic content analysis approach.

Results

In this study, the participants recognized premature babies by physical features such as transparent and bloody bodies, small and weak bodies, a limited range of motion, and bizarre behaviors. They perceived the causes of premature birth to be being young, carrying heavily loaded materials, accidents, illnesses, sin, social influence, and witchcraft. Participants provide warmth to premature babies by wearing cotton wool, making skin-to-skin contact, exposing to sunlight, and wrapping them in clothes. They also feed them boiled alcohol, muk, and formula, as well as fresh cow milk and butter. They frequently bathe the babies, wash and change their clothes, limit visits, and provide physical protection. The main challenges that the women faced were difficulty feeding and bathing the babies, limited social participation, psychosocial and economic impact, spirituality, and husband negligence.

Conclusions

The community has a gap in providing care for premature babies, and women with premature babies face many challenges. Therefore, we need to raise awareness of accurate information about the causes and care of premature babies, and we need to support women who have premature babies.
Spatial differentiation of soil nutrients and their ecological chemometrics based on geographic detector in National Agricultural Park of Tangchang, Southwest China
Authors: Liu Jiufen , Gong Cang , Wang Shunxiang , Wang Liang , Tan Changhai , Wen Lang , Lu Haichuan
Published: January 2024

In order to analyze the spatial variability of soil nutrients and their ecological chemometrics in Tangchang Town, National Agricultural Park, 20 influencing factors were selected: soil pH, Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, Se, elevation, slope, aspect, land use type, distance from industrial land, distance from commercial land, distance from railway, distance from residential area, distance from highway and distance from river. The effects of various influencing factors on the spatial variability of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), total potassium (K) and ecological stoichiometry were analyzed by means of geographic detector. The results showed that average contents of soil TOC, N, P and K in the study area are 10.24 g kg-1, 1.33 g kg-1, 1.14 g kg-1 and 23.60 g kg-1, respectively, and there were significant differences in the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and their eco-stoichiometry in the study area, and TOC, N, P, K, C/N, C/P, C/K, N/P, N/K and P/K has a significant correlation with each other and most correlation coefficients are above 0.5 or below -0.5. Factor detection showed that soil properties, distance from railway and distance from residential area had the most significant explanatory power to the spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients and eco-stoichiometry. Interaction detection showed that the interaction between soil properties with other factors was the most important factor affecting the spatial differentiation of soil nutrients and their ecological chemometrics, and elevation, distance from railway and distance from residential area were also important factors. Risk detection showed that the differences of soil nutrients and their ecological stoichiometry were most significant in the subregions of soil properties (pH, Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni and Se).
Cytotoxicity of water supply in a Palestinian refugee camp and a Syrian informal tented settlement in Lebanon
Authors: El Kawak Michelle , Al Hassanieh Jana , Berjawi Marwa , Jurdi Mey , Abiad Mohamad G. , Yassin Nasser , Dhaini Hassan R.
Published: January 2024

Deficient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) significantly account for a high burden of disease across the globe. Lebanon, an Eastern Mediterranean lower-middle-income country with a polluted environment, a fragmented healthcare system, and an ongoing severe economic crisis, faces serious challenges in sustaining safe water supplies, especially in vulnerable communities, while also hosting the world highest refugee population per capita. This study aimed to examine the mutagenicity, and the estrogenic and androgenic activities of water supplies, across both a Palestinian refugee camp and a Syrian informal settlement. Water samples were collected from two targeted camps in Dbayeh and Choueifat, North and South of the Capital City Beirut, respectively, between the months of September and October 2022. Microbial and physicochemical properties of samples were determined, including fecal contamination, total dissolved solids, and various minerals and salts. Organic pollutants were extracted using pre-packed solid phase extraction (SPE) columns, and then mutagenicity of extracts was examined using the Ames test in two Salmonella typhi bacterial strains. The estrogenic and androgenic activities of extracts were assessed using the yeast estrogen and androgen screen tests assays (YES/YAS). Results show excessive levels of total coliforms and total dissolved solids (TDS) in samples from both sites. In addition, the water supply from the Dbayeh Palestinian refugee camp is mutagenic, while the water supply from the Choueifat Syrian informal settlement shows anti-androgen activity. Our findings provide valuable WASH baseline data in two major vulnerable communities in Lebanon, and highlight the importance of a water toxicity testing approach concomitant with a water safety plan, based on a holistic strategy that covers all stages of the water supply chain.
Educational cooperation in the perspective of tripartite evolutionary game among government, enterprises and universities
Authors: Zhang Shuangzhi
Published: January 2024

Government-enterprise-university synergy (GEUS) is an effective way to mobilize government, enterprises, and universities to collaborate on education, but these three parties involved in GEUS may, out of bounded rationality, choose to collaborate in ways that benefit themselves and harm others. To guide the three parties to better cooperation, this study creates an evolutionary game model among the three parties and evaluates the applicability and validity of the model by selecting the educational cooperation data in Beijing. It is shown that participation in education cooperation is the best course of action for all three parties. The intensity of willingness to participate in the GEUS is on the order of high to low for universities, enterprises, and the government. If the three parties wish to accomplish education collaboration sooner, they can increase default payments, boost government revenues, raise corporate participation in distribution, and reduce government and government spending. These results highlight the inherent regularities of GEUS and provide concrete implementation strategies to improve the efficiency of education cooperation.
Optimizing health service location in a highly urbanized city: Multi criteria decision making and P-Median problem models for public hospitals in Jeddah City, KSA
Authors: Murad Abdulkader , Faruque Fazlay , Naji Ammar , Tiwari Alok , Qurnfulah Emad , Rahman Mahfuzur , Dewan Ashraf
Published: January 2024

Rapid urbanization and population growth have increased the need for optimizing the location of health services in highly urbanized countries like Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study employs a multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach, e.g., fuzzy overlay technique by combining the P-Median location-allocation model, for optimizing health services. First, a geodatabase, containing public hospitals, road networks and population districts, was prepared. Next, we investigated the location and services of five public hospitals in Jeddah city of KSA, by using a MCDM model that included a fuzzy overlay technique with a location-allocation model. The results showed that the allocated five hospitals served 94 out of 110 districts in the study area. Our results suggested additional hospitals must be added to ensure that the entire city is covered with timely hospital services. To improve the existing situation, we prioritized demand locations using the maximize coverage (MC) location problem model. We then used the P-Median function to find the optimal locations of hospitals, and then combined these two methods to create the MC-P-Median optimizer. This optimizer eliminated any unallocated or redundant information. Health planners can use this model to determine the best locations for public hospitals in Jeddah city and similar settings.
HIV prevalence and awareness among adults presenting for enrolment into a study of people at risk for HIV in Kisumu County, Western Kenya
Authors: Sing’oei Valentine , Nwoga Chiaka , Yates Adam , Owuoth John , Otieno June , Broach Erica , Li Qun , Hassen Zebiba , Imbach Michelle , Milazzo Mark , Mebrahtu Tsedal , Robb Merlin L. , Ake Julie A. , Polyak Christina S. , Crowell Trevor A. ,   on behalf of the RV393 Study Group
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Despite declines in new HIV diagnoses both globally and in Kenya, parts of Western Kenya still report high HIV prevalence and incidence. We evaluated HIV prevalence to inform the development of policies for strategic and targeted HIV prevention interventions.

Methods

Adult participants aged 18–35 years were recruited in Kisumu County and screened for HIV for a prospective HIV incidence cohort. Questionnaires assessed HIV-associated risk behaviors. Participants who tested positive for HIV were disaggregated into groups based on prior knowledge of their HIV status: previously-diagnosed and newly-diagnosed. In separate analyses by prior knowledge, robust Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors potentially associated with a positive HIV test in each group, as compared to participants without HIV.

Results

Of 1059 participants tested for HIV, 196 (18.5%) had a positive HIV test. Among PLWH, 78 (39.8%) were newly diagnosed with HIV at screening. After adjusting for other variables, previously-diagnosed HIV was more common among females than males (PR 2.70, 95%CI 1.69–4.28), but there was no observed sex difference in newly-diagnosed HIV prevalence (PR 1.05, 95%CI 0.65–1.69). Previously-diagnosed HIV was also more common among people reporting consistent use of condoms with primary sexual partners as compared to inconsistent condom use (PR 3.19, 95%CI 2.09–4.86), but newly-diagnosed HIV was not associated with such a difference between consistent and inconsistent condom use (PR 0.73, 95%CI 0.25–2.10).

Conclusion

Prevalence of newly-diagnosed HIV was high, at approximately 8% of participants, and not statistically different between genders, highlighting the need for improved HIV case finding regardless of sex. The higher prevalence of previously-diagnosed HIV in female participants may reflect higher rates of HIV testing through more encounters with the healthcare system. Higher prevalence of consistent condom use amongst those previously-diagnosed suggests behavioral change to reduce HIV transmission, a potential benefit of policies to facilitate earlier HIV diagnosis.
Hypertensive rats show increased renal excretion and decreased tissue concentrations of glycine betaine, a protective osmolyte with diuretic properties
Authors: Mogilnicka Izabella , Jaworska Kinga , Koper Mateusz , Maksymiuk Klaudia , Szudzik Mateusz , Radkiewicz Mariusz , Chabowski Dawid , Ufnal Marcin
Published: January 2024

Hypertension leads to water-electrolyte disturbances and end-organ damage. Betaine is an osmolyte protecting cells against electrolyte imbalance and osmotic stress, particularly in the kidneys. This study aimed to evaluate tissue levels and hemodynamic and renal effects of betaine in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Betaine levels were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) in normotensive rats (Wistar-Kyoto, WKYs) and Spontaneously Hypertensive rats (SHRs), a model of genetic hypertension. Acute effects of IV betaine on blood pressure, heart rate, and minute diuresis were evaluated. Gene and protein expression of chosen kidney betaine transporters (SLC6a12 and SLC6a20) were assessed using real-time PCR and Western blot. Compared to normotensive rats, SHRs showed significantly lower concentration of betaine in blood serum, the lungs, liver, and renal medulla. These changes were associated with higher urinary excretion of betaine in SHRs (0.20 ± 0.04 vs. 0.09 ± 0.02 mg/ 24h/ 100g b.w., p = 0.036). In acute experiments, betaine increased diuresis without significantly affecting arterial blood pressure. The diuretic response was greater in SHRs than in WKYs. There were no significant differences in renal expression of betaine transporters between WKYs and SHRs. Increased renal excretion of betaine contributes to decreased concentration of the protective osmolyte in tissues of hypertensive rats. These findings pave the way for studies evaluating a causal relation between depleted betaine and hypertensive organ damage, including kidney injury.
Influence of nitrogen fertilizer rate and variety on tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] nutritional composition and sensory quality of a staple bread (Injera)
Authors: Dagnaw Hayelom Berhe , Woldegiorgis Ashagrie Zewdu , Kebede Kebebew Assefa
Published: January 2024

In Ethiopia, tef is one of the major staple crops used as a basic raw material for food development such as stable bread called injera. Studies reported that imbalanced N fertilizer reduces the overall deliciousness of grains. Nowadays nitrogenous fertilizers are considered as the source of variation for the quality of injera, Ethiopian traditional flat bread. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of N fertilizer rates (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha-1) on grain nutrition and sensory quality of injera of three tef varieties of (Kora, Boset, and Asgori). The experiment was conducted in main cropping season in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and Di-ammonium Phosphate was used in the same dose. Crop attribute parameters were determined using standard methods. Sensory quality and color of injera were determined by panelists and injera eye software respectively. Results showed that only protein content increased with nitrogen rates, while carbohydrate decreased significantly at (P < 0.05). Kora at the control plot (K0) had better color, flavor, texture, and taste values of injera, but they decreased with nitrogen rates. Injera from white tef varieties had a better acceptance as compared with Asgori red tef variety. Injera eye software indicated that the color of injera was significantly affected by varieties. Kora had a higher (55.74) lightness value followed by Boset (54.71), and Asgori (51.26). Injera from the Asgori variety had a maximum red color. Kora and Boset had higher yellow color on the control plot, but for Asgori it increased with the nitrogen rate.
Good learners or trouble makers? Study on the relationship between academic performance and antisocial behavior of junior high school students
Authors: Zhu Xiaobo , Jiang Wenyi , Shi Weijin , Shi Junfeng
Published: January 2024

The school bullying incident has aroused widespread concern in current society. How to manage students’ anti-social behavior has become an increasingly serious problem for administrators. This study uses a sample of 8270 junior high school students to examine the mechanism of academic achievement on students’ antisocial behavior. The results showed that academic performance has a U-shaped impact on antisocial behavior. This study further found that the U-shaped effect of academic performance on antisocial behavior was mediated by the praise; In addition, this study also found that moral identity moderates the U-shaped relationship between academic performance, praise, and antisocial performance. The findings provide the implications for school administrators and teachers to pay attention to the "moral trap" of academic achievement and praise, and pay attention to excellent students’ moral education, to reduce the possibility of their anti-social behavior.
Direct toxicity of cigarette smoke extract on cardiac function mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction in Sprague-Dawley rat ventricular myocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Authors: Matsumura Sakiko , Yasuda Jumpei , Notomi Takuya , Suzuki Yoshihiro , Chen I-Shan , Murakami Daichi , Hotomi Muneki , Nakamura Tomoe Y.
Published: January 2024

Cigarette smoke has been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, its direct effects on rodent and human cardiomyocytes and its cellular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the direct effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on contractile functions, intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, and mitochondrial function using cultured or freshly isolated rat ventricular myocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)-derived cardiomyocytes. In rat cardiomyocytes, CSE (≥0.1%) resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent cessation of spontaneous beating of cultured cardiomyocytes, eventually leading to cell death, which indicates direct toxicity. In addition, 1% CSE reduced contractile function of freshly isolated ventricular myocytes. Similar contractile dysfunction (declined spontaneous beating rate and contractility) was also observed in human iPS-derived cardiomyocytes. Regarding intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, 1% CSE increased the Ca2+ transient amplitude by greatly increasing systolic Ca2+ levels and slightly increasing diastolic Ca2+ levels. CSE also accelerated the decay of Ca2+ transients, and triggered spike-shaped Ca2+ transients in some cells. These results indicate that CSE causes abnormal Ca2+ dynamics in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, CSE induced a cascade of mitochondrial dysfunctions, including increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. These results suggest that CSE-induced contractile dysfunction and myocardial cell death is caused by abnormal Ca2+ dynamics and subsequent mitochondrial dysregulation, which would result in reduced bioenergetics and activation of cell death pathways.
Academics’ continuance intention to use learning technologies during COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Vasuthevan Kaveendra , Vaithilingam Santha , Ng Jason Wei Jian
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized the teaching pedagogy in higher education as universities are forecasted to increase investments in learning technology infrastructure to transition away from traditional teaching methods. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate whether academics intend to continually integrate learning technologies as part of a permanent pedagogical change beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing upon the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), this study examines the salient determinants influencing the continuance intention of academics to use learning technologies in their teaching pedagogy during and after COVID-19. Primary data collected from a private university was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed two sequential mediating relationships which serve as the mechanism linking the relationship between facilitating conditions and their continuance intention to use learning technologies during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drivers and influencers of blockchain and cloud-based business sustainability accounting in China: Enhancing practices and promoting adoption
Authors: Tian Zhouyu , Qiu Lening , Wang Litao
Published: January 2024

The field of sustainability accounting aims to integrate environmental, social, and governance factors into financial reporting. With the growing importance of sustainability practices, emerging technologies have the potential to revolutionize reporting methods. However, there is a lack of research on the factors influencing the adoption of blockchain and cloud-based sustainability accounting in China. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to examine the key drivers and barriers to technology adoption for sustainability reporting among Chinese businesses. Through a systematic literature review, gaps in knowledge were identified. Primary data was collected through an online survey of firms, followed by in-depth case studies. The findings of the study reveal a positive relationship between company size and reporting behaviors. However, size alone is not sufficient to predict outcomes accurately. The industry type also has significant but small effects, although its impact on reporting behaviors varies. The relationship between profitability and reporting behaviors is intricate and contingent, requiring contextual examination. The adoption of blockchain technology is positively associated with capabilities, resources, skills, and regulatory factors. On the other hand, cloud computing adoption is linked to resources, management support, and risk exposures. However, the specific impacts of industry on adoption remain inconclusive. This study aims to offer empirical validation of relationships, shedding light on the intricate nature of interactions that necessitate nuanced conceptualizations incorporating contextual moderators. The findings underscore the importance of providing customized support and adaptable guidance to accommodate the evolving practices in sustainability accounting. Moreover, the assimilation of technology and organizational changes highlights the need for multifaceted stakeholder cooperation to drive responsible innovation and address the challenges posed by digital transformations in this field.
Reliability and validity of a simplified touch experiences and attitudes questionnaire for Chinese college students
Authors: Yang Lei , Li Xuelian , Xie Zhijie , Shen Lujun
Published: January 2024

Touch cultures have both differences and commonalities in different regions. The Touch Experiences and Attitudes Questionnaire (TEAQ) is a widely applicable self-report tool. The purpose of our research was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of TEAQ for Chinese college students. We translated the 57 items of the original TEAQ into Chinese and assessed its cultural and linguistic adaptation in Chinese context. Two samples were recruited for the assessment of validity and reliability. The Social Support Rating Scale, Index of Well-being Scale and Security Questionnaire were chosen as criterion-related validity indicators. Item analysis, principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the simplified Chinese version of TEAQ contained 18 items in three factors: Attitude to Intimate Touch, Childhood Touch and Current Positive Touch, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 57.12%. The 3-factor model had good validity and reliability. The TEAQ was positively correlated with social support, sense of security and well-being. There were demographic differences in sex and left-behind experience. We anticipate the simplified TEAQ will be a valuable tool for the research of touch among Chinese college students.
QuantiFERON Gold-In-Tube for the diagnosis of mycobacterial tuberculosis infection in children under 5 years of age: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Volkman Thomas , Muruganandah Visai , Graham Hamish , Tosif Shidan , Stokes Simon , Ranganathan Sarath
Published: January 2024

Background

Previous meta-analysis regarding the performance of QuantiFERON Gold-In-Tube in children have yielded contrasting results. Emerging data in children younger than 5 years of age necessitates a new analysis.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted of MedLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases between 1998–2023. Pooled estimates of sensitivities and specificities of QFT-GIT compared to tuberculin skin test (TST) were calculated. The Kappa (k) coefficient was calculated for each study to determine the degree of congruence between TST and QFT-GIT results. Studies including patients co-infected with HIV or other immune compromising conditions or those treated with anti-tubercular treatment were excluded.

Results

Seventeen studies (4335 patients) were included in quantitative analysis. All studies were conducted in middle to high income countries. They were conducted across 14 countries and 4 studies in countries with high TB incidence. The pooled sensitivity, specificity and DOR were 0.45 (0.42–0.48), 0.96 (0.96–0.97) and 18.84 (7.33–48.41) respectively. The ability of QFT-GIT to discriminate with disease and no disease was “good” as demonstrated by a summary receiver operating characteristic curve with area under curve of 0.7812. The average Kappa (k) co-efficient was 0.501 with a wide variety of values between studies (0.167 to 0.800).

Conclusion

The findings of this meta-analysis support the judicious use of QFT-GIT in children 5 years and under, with caution as a sole test to exclude Tuberculosis in this age group. The heterogeneity and methodological quality of diagnostic studies limits the generalisability of results.
Improved Support Vector Machine based on CNN-SVD for vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy detection and classification
Authors: Bilal Anas , Imran Azhar , Baig Talha Imtiaz , Liu Xiaowen , Long Haixia , Alzahrani Abdulkareem , Shafiq Muhammad
Published: January 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, a major contributor to global vision impairment, is becoming increasingly pronounced. Notably, the detection of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) has been significantly fortified through automated techniques. Traditionally, the reliance on manual analysis of retinal images, albeit slow and error-prone, constituted the conventional approach. Addressing this, our study introduces a novel methodology that amplifies the robustness and precision of the detection process. This is complemented by the groundbreaking Hierarchical Block Attention (HBA) and HBA-U-Net architecture, which notably propel attention mechanisms in image segmentation. This innovative model refines image processing without imposing excessive computational demands by honing in on individual pixel intricacies, spatial relationships, and channel-specific attention. Building upon this innovation, our proposed method employs a multi-stage strategy encompassing data pre-processing, feature extraction via a hybrid CNN-SVD model, and classification employing an amalgamation of Improved Support Vector Machine-Radial Basis Function (ISVM-RBF), DT, and KNN techniques. Rigorously tested on the IDRiD dataset classified into five severity tiers, the hybrid model yields remarkable performance, achieving a 99.18% accuracy, 98.15% sensitivity, and 100% specificity in VTDR detection, thus surpassing existing methods. These results underscore a more potent avenue for diagnosing and addressing this crucial ocular condition while underscoring AI’s transformative potential in medical care, particularly in ophthalmology.
Aversive conditioning increases short-term wariness but does not change habitat use in black bears associated with conflict
Authors: Homstol Lori , Raymond Sage , Edwards Claire , Hamilton Anthony N. , St. Clair Colleen Cassady
Published: January 2024

Conflict between humans and black bears (Ursus americanus) occurs throughout North America with increasing public demand to replace lethal management with non-lethal methods, such as aversive conditioning (AC). AC aims to teach animals to associate negative stimuli with humans or their infrastructure. We sought to test the efficacy of AC using radio-collared black bears in Whistler, British Columbia, by monitoring individuals and assigning those in conflict with people to control or treatment groups. We measured wariness using overt reaction distance, displacement distance, and reaction to researchers before, during and after executing 3–5-day AC programs that consisted of launching projectiles at bears in the treatment group. We also assessed predictors of successful AC events (i.e., leaving at a run), changes in bear use of human-dominated habitat during the day and at night, and the effects of including a sound stimulus to signal the beginning and end of AC events. Among treated bears, overt reaction distance increased by 46.5% and displacement distance increased by 69.0% following AC programs, whereas both overt reaction distance and displacement distance decreased over time among control group bears. Each additional AC event during the previous 30 days increased likelihood of bear departure in response to researcher presence by 4.5%. The success of AC events varied among individuals, declined with distance to cover, and increased with exposure to previous AC events. Projectiles launched from guns were slightly more effective at causing bears to displace compared to those launched from slingshots, and sound stimuli decreased the likelihood of a successful AC event. AC did not alter diurnal use by bears of human-dominated habitat. Our results suggest that AC effectively increases short-term wariness in black bears but does not alter bear use of human-dominated spaces, highlighting the importance of proactive attractant management and prevention of food conditioning.
Walking speeds are lower for short distance and turning locomotion: Experiments and modeling in low-cost prosthesis users
Authors: Seethapathi Nidhi , Jain Anil Kumar , Srinivasan Manoj
Published: January 2024

Preferred walking speed is a widely-used performance measure for people with mobility issues, but is usually measured in straight line walking for fixed distances or durations, and without explicitly accounting for turning. However, daily walking involves walking for bouts of different distances and walking with turning, with prior studies showing that short bouts with at most 10 steps could be 40% of all bouts and turning steps could be 8-50% of all steps. Here, we studied walking in a straight line for short distances (4 m to 23 m) and walking in circles (1 m to 3 m turning radii) in people with transtibial amputation or transfemoral amputation using a passive ankle-foot prosthesis (Jaipur Foot). We found that the study participants’ preferred walking speeds are lower for shorter straight-line walking distances and lower for circles of smaller radii, which is analogous to earlier results in subjects without amputation. Using inverse optimization, we estimated the cost of changing speeds and turning such that the observed preferred walking speeds in our experiments minimizes the total cost of walking. The inferred costs of changing speeds and turning were larger for subjects with amputation compared to subjects without amputation in a previous study, specifically, being 4x to 8x larger for the turning cost and being highest for subjects with transfemoral amputation. Such high costs inferred by inverse optimization could potentially include non-energetic costs such as due to joint or interfacial stress or stability concerns, as inverse optimization cannot distinguish such terms from true metabolic cost. These experimental findings and models capturing the experimental trends could inform prosthesis design and rehabilitation therapy to better assist changing speeds and turning tasks. Further, measuring the preferred speed for a range of distances and radii could be a more comprehensive subject-specific measure of walking performance than commonly used straight line walking metrics.