bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IoT-Cloud, VPN and Digital Twin Based Remote Monitoring and Control of a Multifunctional Robotic Cell in the Context of AI, Industry and Education 4.0 and 5.0
Authors: Filipescu Adrian , Simion Georgian , Ionescu Dan , Filipescu Adriana
Published: October 2024

The monitoring and control of an assembly/disassembly/replacement (A/D/R) multifunctional robotic cell (MRC) with the ABB 120 Industrial Robotic Manipulator (IRM) based on IoT (Internet of Things)-Cloud, VPN (Virtual Private Network), and Digital Twin (DT) technology, are presented in this paper. The approach integrates modern principles of smart manufacturing as outlined in Industry/Education 4.0 (automation, data exchange, smart systems, machine learning, predictive maintenance) and Industry/Education 5.0 (human-robot collaboration, customization, robustness and sustainability). Artificial intelligence (AI) based on Machine Learning (ML) enhances system flexibility, productivity, and user-centered collaboration. Several IoT edge devices are engaged, connected in a local network (LAN), for remote and local processing and data acquisition. The system is connected to the Internet, via Wireless Area Network (WAN) and allows remote control via Cloud and VPN. IoT dashboards, as human machine interfaces (HMIs), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and OPC-UA (Open Platform Communication-Unified Architecture) facilitate remote monitoring and control of MRC, planning and management of A/D/R task. The assignment, planning and execution of A/D/R tasks were carried out using an augmented reality (AR) tool. Synchronized timed Petri nets (STPN) were used as digital twin like a virtual reality (VR) representation of A/D FRC operations. This integration of an advanced technology into a laboratory mechatronic system, where the devices are organized in a decentralized, multilevel architecture, creates a smart, flexible, and scalable environment that caters to both industrial applications and educational frameworks.
Investigating the Predominance of Large Language Models in Low-Resource Bangla Language Over Transformer Models for Hate Speech Detection: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Faria Fatema Tuj Johora , Baniata Laith H. , Kang Sangwoo
Published: October 2024

The rise of abusive language on social media is a significant threat to mental health and 1 social cohesion. For Bengali speakers, the need for effective detection is critical. However, current 2 methods fall short in addressing the massive volume of content. Improved techniques are urgently 3 needed to combat online hate speech in Bengali. Traditional machine learning techniques, while 4 useful, often require large, linguistically diverse datasets to train models effectively. This paper 5 addresses the urgent need for improved hate speech detection methods in Bengali, aiming to fill the 6 existing research gap. Contextual understanding is crucial in differentiating between harmful speech 7 and benign expressions. Large language models (LLMs) have shown state-of-the-art performance in 8 various natural language tasks due to their extensive training on vast amounts of data. We explore the 9 application of LLMs, specifically GPT-3.5 Turbo and Gemini 1.5 Pro, for Bengali hate speech detection 10 using Zero-Shot and Few-Shot Learning approaches. Unlike conventional methods, Zero-Shot 11 Learning identifies hate speech without task-specific training data, making it highly adaptable to new 12 datasets and languages. Few-Shot Learning, on the other hand, requires minimal labeled examples, 13 allowing for efficient model training with limited resources. Our experimental results show that 14 LLMs outperform traditional approaches. In this study, we evaluated GPT-3.5 Turbo and Gemini 1.5 15 Pro on multiple datasets. To further enhance our study, we considered the distribution of comments 16 in different datasets and the challenge of class imbalance, which can affect model performance. The 17 BD-SHS dataset consists of 35,197 comments in the training set, 7,542 in the validation set, and 7,542 18 in the test set. The Bengali Hate Speech Dataset v1.0 & v2.0 includes comments distributed across 19 various hate categories: personal hate (629), political hate (1,771), religious hate (502), geopolitical hate 20 (1,179), and gender abusive hate (316). The Bengali Hate Dataset comprises 7,500 non-hate and 7,500 21 hate comments. GPT-3.5 Turbo achieved impressive results with 97.33%, 98.42%, and 98.53% accuracy. 22 In contrast, Gemini 1.5 Pro showed lower performance across all datasets. Specifically, GPT-3.5 Turbo 23 excelled with significantly higher accuracy compared to Gemini 1.5 Pro. These outcomes highlight a 24 6.28% increase in accuracy compared to traditional methods, which achieved 92.25%. Our research 25 contributes to the growing body of literature on LLM applications in natural language processing, 26 particularly in the context of low-resource languages.
Constructing a Dynamic Monitoring and Analysis Platform for the International Mainstream Media Corpus on China’s Image
Authors: Hu Weihua , Wang Wendi , Qu Chenghao , Li Ruitian
Published: October 2024

This article reports on the development of a big data processing platform that uses hot words（politics, economy, military, culture and society） reflecting the national image as the search object and the key time points as the time domain of data resources. The platform crawls (in real time), continuously expands and dynamically monitors a corpus of mainstream media covering China in developed countries (including the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan) and in developing countries (such as Brazil, India and South Africa). In this study, the principles of platform development and operation and the software and hardware operating environment were determined.
Upgrading/Deacidification of Biofuels (Gasoline, Kerosene, and Diesel-like Hydrocarbons) by Adsorption Using Activated Red Mud-Based Adsorbents
Authors: Machado Nélio Teixeira , Borges Luiz Eduardo Pizarro , Mota Silvio Alex Pereira da , Mota and Andréia de Andrade Mancio da
Published: October 2024

This study explored the adsorption of carboxylic acids, especially free fatty acids (FFA), present in biofuel (distilled fractions of bio-oil such as gasoline-like hydrocarbons, kerosene-like hydro-carbons and diesel-like hydrocarbons) using red mud-based adsorbents. The red mud was ther-mally activated (at 40 °C and 600 °C) and chemically activated with HCl (0.25M, 1M, and 2M). Analytical techniques were used to characterize the adsorbents' properties. At the same time, the study examined factors like feed type, adsorbents, FFA content, adsorbent percentage, activation temperature, acid solution concentration and contact time to assess adsorption efficiency. The characterization results indicated that chemical activation with 0.25M HCl significantly in-creased the surface area to 84.3290 m²/g, surpassing thermally activated samples (35.2450 m²/g at 400 °C). Adsorption experiments demonstrated that all chemically activated samples, with 5% adsorbent, adsorbed over 2000 mg FFA per gram of adsorbent, with CARM – 1M HCl achieving 100% removal of acids from gasoline-like hydrocarbons. Kinetic modeling showed that the pseudo-second-order model best represented the adsorption data, as evidenced by high R² values and close agreement between experimental and calculated qe values. Therefore, adsorption with chemically activated red mud efficiently deacidifies biofuels, providing a cost-effective and promising approach for their upgrading.
A Novel Latency Composition Analysis for Telerobotic Performance Insights Across Various Network Scenarios
Authors: Bray NIck , Boeding Matthew , Hempel Michael , Sharif Hamid , Heikkilä Tapio , Suomalainen Markku , Seppälä Tuomas
Published: October 2024

Telerobotics involves the operation of robots from a distance, often using advanced communication technologies combining wireless and wired technologies and a variety of protocols. This application domain is crucial because it allows humans to interact with and control robotic systems safely and from a distance, often performing activities in hazardous or inaccessible environments. Thus, by enabling remote operations, telerobotics not only enhances safety but also expands the possibilities for medical and industrial applications. In some use cases, telerobotics bridges the gap between human skill and robotic precision, making the completion of complex tasks requiring high accuracy possible without being physically present. With the growing availability of high-speed networks around the world, especially with the advent of 5G cellular technologies, applications of telerobotics can now span the gamut of scenarios ranging from remote control in the same room to robotic control across the globe. However, there are a variety of factors that can impact the control precision of the robotic platform and user experience by the teleoperator. One such critical factor is latency, especially across large geographical areas or complex network topologies. Consequently, military telerobotics and remote operations, for example, rely on dedicated communications infrastructure for such tasks. However, this creates a barrier to entry for many other applications and domains, as the cost of dedicated infrastructure would be prohibitive. In this paper, we examine the network latency of robotic control over shared network resources in a variety of network settings, such as a local network, access-controlled networks through Wi-Fi and cellular, and also a remote transatlantic connection between Finland and the United States. The aim of this study is to quantify and evaluate the constituent latency components that comprise the control feedback loop of this telerobotics experience - between a camera feed to observe the telerobotic platform's environment by the operator in one direction and the control communications from the operator to the robot in the reverse direction and to subsequently use these insights to optimize the end-to-end latency for optimizing the user experience. The results show stable average round trip latency of 6.6 ms for local network connection, 58.4 ms connecting over Wi-Fi, 115.4 ms connecting through cellular, and 240.7 ms connecting from Finland to the United States over a VPN access-controlled network. These findings pave the way toward a better understanding of the capabilities and performance limitations of telerobotics activities over commodity networks.
Phubbing in Students: New Evidence for a Spanish Short Form of the Phubbing Scale (PS-6)
Authors: Ortuño-Sierra Javier , Navaridas-Nalda Fermín , Mason Oliver , Ciarreta-López Ana , Barbed-Castrejón Noelia
Published: October 2024

Phubbing - the act of snubbing someone by concentrating on a smartphone - is claimed to be an increasing, even normative, behaviour receiving more research attention. However, evidence about the adequacy of instruments that allow screening for phubbing is limited. Thus, the main purpose of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Phubbing scale in a sample of adolescents and young adults, and present a reliable and valid short form. The final sample included a total of 1351 adolescent students (54.25% males), aged between 12 and 21. A two-dimensional model of a short version of the PS with 6 items (PS-6) displayed appropriate goodness of-fit indices. Strong measurement invariance for the two-dimensional model across gender and educational level was confirmed. McDonald’s Omega coefficients for the Communication, the Obsession, and the Total score of the PS-6 were 0.617, 0.669, and 0.701, respectively. The PS-6 was positively associated with several indicators of psychological difficulties and negatively associated with psychological well-being and self-esteem. The present study contributes valuable information about the psy-chometric adequacy of the PS-6, a short instrument that allows screening for Phubbing in adoles-cents and young adults.
Lateral Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocation
Authors: Lau Vincent , Riebesell Samantha , Schultz Matthew J. , Cheema Adnan
Published: October 2024

Case:

We report a case of a 29-year-old woman who sustained a left lateral sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) dislocation. Imaging demonstrated a 30-mm gap between the sternum and medial clavicle. Given well-preserved shoulder range of motion and well-controlled pain, she was ultimately treated nonoperatively.

Conclusion:

SCJ dislocations are rare injuries, comprising 1% of all traumatic joint dislocations. They are typically classified into anterior and posterior dislocations. A direct lateral SCJ dislocation is considered to be a lesser-known type. This case is presented to discuss the rarity of this injury along with the clinical findings, diagnosis, associated injuries, and treatment parameters.
Digitalisasi Data Alumni Berbasis Website Sebagai Sarana Alternatif Pengganti Buku Alumni Pada FTKOM UNCP
Authors: Nirsal Nirsal , Syafriadi Syafriadi , Bantun Suharsono
Published: October 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk digitalisasi data alumni dengan merancang sebuah aplikasi berbasis web untuk pengelolaan data alumni Fakultas Teknik Komputer Universitas Cokroaminoto Palopo (FTKOM UNCP) dalam bentuk website. Berdasarkan observasi dan wawancara kepada pihak kampus FTKOM UNCP didapatkan permasalahan setelah lulus sulit mendapatkan data atau informasi tentang alumni, dan komunikasi antar alumni kurang baik, sehingga menyulitkan pihak FTKOM UNCP dalam menyebarkan informasi terkait dengan kebutuhan kampus seperti informasi tracer study, lowongan kerja, mitra kampus dan lain-lain. diperlukan inovasi untuk membantu mengatasi masalah sulit mendapatkan data atau informasi tentang alumni, dan komunikasi antar alumni kurang baik. Inovasi tersebut berupa digitalisasi data alumni berbasis website sehingga dengan adanya digitalisasi tersebut, pendataan Alumni FTKOM UNCP ini alumni dapat bertukar informas dan dapat berkomunikasi dengan baik sesama alumni maupun terhadap pihak FTKOM UNCP. Penelitian ini berhasil membuat aplikasi data alumni pada FTKOM UNCP. Website yang telah dibuat diharapkan bisa memberikan kemudahan akses bagi pengelola dan alumni. Peneliti mengharapkan untuk proses penggunaan jangka panjang maka diperlukan aspek pemeliharaan agar sistem dapat terus digunakan.
PENGEMBANGAN APLIKASI VIRTUAL CLASS UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KOMPETENSI LITERASI DIGITAL MAHASISWA MENUJU ERA SOCIETY 5.0
Authors: Priyambudi Surya , Probowati Yeni , Harist Muhammad
Published: October 2024

Literasi digital merupakan kemampuan yang harus dikuasai oleh mahasiswa dalam rangka mempersiapkan diri menghadapi era society 5.0. Kompetensi literasi digital yang dikembangkan pada aplikasi virtual class sebagai media pembelajaran digital, yaitu: 1)Pencarian di internet; 2)Pandu arah; 3)Evaluasi konten informasi; 4)Penyusunan pengetahuan. Penelitian ini akan dipergunakan pada mata kuliah Belajar dan Pembelajaran, kompetensi literasi digital akan dikembangkan pada aplikasi virtual class serta diintegrasikan dengan SPADA KEMDIKBUD. Rumusan permasalahan yaitu pengembangan pembelajaran digital menggunakan aplikasi virtual class untuk meningkatkan kompetensi literasi digital mahasiswa menuju era society 5.0 serta kendala-kendala yang mungkin dapat ditemui dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan perkuliahan tersebut. Tujuan penelitian untuk: 1)Mengembangkan aplikasi virtual class sebagai pembelajaran digital pada mata kuliah Belajar dan Pembelajaran di STKIP Bina Insan Mandiri; 2)Meningkatkan kompetensi literasi digital mahasiswa melalui aplikasi virtual class pada mata kuliah Belajar dan Pembelajaran di STKIP Bina Insan Mandiri; 3)Melakukan identifikasi terhadap kendala-kendala pada pelaksanaan perkuliahan menggunakan aplikasi virtual class untuk meningkatkan kompetensi literasi digital mahasiswa pada mata kuliah Belajar dan Pembelajaran di STKIP Bina Insan Mandiri. Metode penelitian menggunakan Research Development bertujuan menghasilkan media pembelajaran digital untuk meningkatkan kompetensi literasi digital menuju era society 5.0. Penelitian dilakukan Semester Genap Tahun Ajaran 2022/2023, menggunakan aplikasi virtual classs untuk meningkatkan kompetensi literasi digital mahasiswa. Berlandaskan dari hasil analisis dapat disimpulkan bahwa penggunaan aplikasi virtual class sebagai media literasi digital mahasiswa masih berada pada tingkatan yang memadai. Seiring pemanfaatan penggunaan dalam memperoleh informasi menyebabkan mahasiswa mampu melakukan penelusuran di internet dalam menemukan informasi yang dibutuhkan, namun kompetensi tersebut harus diimbangi dengan kemampuan lainnya.
Structural and dynamic functional connectivity alterations of cerebellum associated with family history in major depressive disorder
Authors: Li Hengfen , Pang Jiangyue , Xu Jiaying , Teng Huimin , Su Chenxiao , Ma Yanyan , Zhang Rui , Liu Gang , Chen Yuan , He Jin , Pang Yajing
Published: October 2024

Family history (FH) of major depressive disorder (MDD) significantly influences the progress of this illness. However, the underlying neural mechanism of FH remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the brain structural and connectivity alterations associated with FH in MDD. A total of 134 MDD patients with (FH group, n = 43) and without (NFH group, n = 91) first-degree FH, and 96 demographic matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging examination. Voxel-based morphometry and sliding-window dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) analyses were performed, and altered gray matter volume (GMV) and dFC were further used to differentiate between FH and NFH. Compared with HCs, both FH and NFH groups showed decreased GMV of left cerebellum and increased dFC between cerebellum and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL). FH group showed increased dFC between cerebellum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared with NFH and HCs. The GMV of cerebellum was positively correlated with C-reactive protein in the NFH group, while the dFC between cerebellum and mPFC was positively correlated with interleukin-6 in the FH group. Moreover, the combination of structure and dynamic connectomes is powerful to successfully distinguish FH from NFH patients. Altogether, the current results suggest that cerebellar structure and function differ as a function of FH of MDD and may somehow be related to inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the findings might provide new insight into the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of MDD, yet future longitudinal study is required.
Keywords: Major depressive disorder, family history, cerebellum, voxel-based morphometry, dynamic functional connectivity
Evaluating the efficacy of curcumin and mastic gum enclosed in phospholipid-based lipid nanoparticles on Helicobacter pylori treatment using urea breath test delta values: A single- arm prospective pilot study
Authors: Park Ji-Hyeon , Yang Jun-Young , Jeon Youngbae , Kim Jung Ho , Lee Woon Kee , Baek Jeong-Heum
Published: October 2024

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a persistent health problem in Korea, where the prevalence of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer is high. This study aimed to determine whether phospholipid-based lipid nanoparticles containing curcumin and mastic gum are beneficial in the treatment of H. pylori infection.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective single-arm pilot study. Patients with confirmed H. pylori infection (delta >8.5) according to a 13C-urea breath test (UBT) were included in this study. The study's primary endpoint was to determine the change in the delta UBT values after consuming curcumin-mastic concentrate powder three times a day for 10 days. The rates of H. pylori eradication with standard H. pylori eradication regimens, clarithromycin-based triple therapy, and bismuth quadruple therapy were evaluated.
Results: A total of 25 patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 64.44±10.03 years, including 16 male (64.0%) and nine female (36.0%). After 10 days of consuming curcumin-mastic concentrate, the mean delta value of the UBT significantly decreased from 31.85±21.54 to 21.36±21.47 (mean difference=-10.49, P=0.018). Six (24.0%) patients achieved H. pylori eradication after ingesting a curcumin-mastic concentrate (delta value <2.5). The H. pylori eradication rate increased to 56.5% after clarithromycin-based triple therapy and to 85.0% after additional bismuth quadruple therapy. No adverse events related to curcumin-mastic concentrate intake were reported during the study period.
Conclusions: Curcumin-mastic concentrate has been demonstrated to reduce H. pylori activity safely in humans. This study suggests that administering curcumin-mastic concentrate before H. pylori eradication treatment may improve eradication rates; however, further large randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this finding.
Innovative Gender Perspectives on Adaptive Capacity in Coastal Communities: A Study Case of the Community of Cocanha, Brazil
Authors: de Carvalho Danielle Almeida , Amaral Silvana , Alves Lincoln Muniz
Published: October 2024

This study examines the adaptive capacity of a coastal fishing community in Brazil, focusing on the critical role of gender in shaping adaptive strategies. Using an adaptive capacity framework, we explore the domains of Assets, Flexibility, Organization, Learning, and Agency, disaggregated by sex. Through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and content analysis, we highlight the distinct contributions of men and women to the community’s resilience against environmental and climate changes. Our findings reveal that gender inequalities significantly impact adaptive capacity, particularly for women, whose potential is often constrained by social structures and limited access to resources. Despite these challenges, women’s involvement in culinary activities and community-based tourism initiatives has become a pivotal force in enhancing the community’s adaptive capacity. The study underscores the importance of inclusive and gender-sensitive adaptation measures, advocating for greater support and representation of women in decision-making processes. By providing a sex-disaggregated analysis of adaptive capacity, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the community’s resilience and offers insights into developing more effective and equitable adaptation strategies. Our results will deepen our understanding of how gender relations in specific contexts relate to instances of social-ecological crises, adaptation, or transformation.
Stability Of Embankment Slopes: Study Of The Contribution Of Reinforcement Geotextiles To Reducing Deformation
Authors: AGBELELE Koffi Judicael , TOKPOHOZIN Noukpo Bernard , ARINLOYE Nabil , KOUDORO Julien Babarinde
Published: October 2024

Analysis of the deformations that emerge within embankments is of vital importance in ensuring the durability of structures and anticipating any potential risks. The aim of this study is to assess the deformations and stability of an embankment slope using PLAXIS version 8.2 finite element simulation software. A slope model was built, taking into account the appropriate geotechnical parameters, in order to calculate deformations, displacements and safety coefficients, firstly for an unreinforced case and then for a model enhanced by geotextile layers. For the unreinforced slope, the total extreme displacement is 0.63 m, the shear deformation is 42.04% and the safety coefficient is 1.007. As for the reinforced slope, the total extreme displacement is 0.2 m, the shear deformation is 5.61% and the safety coefficient is 1.619. The results showed a significant reduction in total displacements in the case of the reinforced slope compared with the unreinforced slope. In addition, the safety coefficient increased considerably for the reinforced slope. Volumetric vertical deformations were reduced by more than 25%, while shear deformations were reduced by more than seven times. The results obtained particularly highlighted the significant advantages of geotextile reinforcement in terms of reducing deformations and displacements, and confirmed the improvement in the safety coefficient of the slopes.
Hypergraph-based Multi-instance Contrastive Reinforcement Learning for Annotation-free Pan-cancer Survival Prediction on Whole Slide Histology Images
Authors: Lu Cheng , Tang Chao , Cui Yanfen , Liu Jun , Li Zhenhui , Zhang Xiuming , Yao Suo , Lin Huan , Yang Dacheng , Liu Zhishun , Zhao Wei , Luo Shiwei , Zhao Ke , Zhu Yun , Yang Guangjun , Yan Lixu , Chen Shuting , Zhao Xiangtian , Huo Yingqiu , Chen Zhiyang , Liu Hongbo , Ma Jiahui , He Wenfeng , Madabhushi Anant , Tang Jinglei , Liu Zaiyi
Published: October 2024

The computational challenges inherent to using digital pathology for prognosis derive from the fact that a typical gigapixel slide may consist of thousands of image tiles and previous models lack the capability on modeling the crucial slide-level contextual information, thereby resulting in suboptimal performance. Considering the aforementioned challenges, we propose a Hypergraph-based Multi-instance Contrastive Reinforcement learning model (HeMiCoRe). The HeMiCoRe employs a novel hypergraph construction method that can encode local morphology and spatial relationship provided by the dynamic selected image tiles simultaneously. The HeMiCoRe used the cluster-restricted local and across-cluster global information of WSIs, with hypergraph-level contrastive learning for better generalization. To assess the efficacy of the HeMiCoRe, we conducted extensive internal and external validation experiments for survival prediction on 5,195 whole slide images from 4,624 patients across 10 major cancer types. The HeMiCoRe attains state-of-the-art performance on 8 cancer types and outstanding generalization performance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the representative patch selector trained by reinforcement learning has the potential to exploit highly relevant image tiles for survival prediction. In summary, the HeMiCoRe is a hypergraph neural network-based model, with enhanced capabilities in capturing both the intra- and inter-cluster interaction mechanism, which makes it outperform existing weakly supervised classification models in pan-cancer survival prediction tasks. This model could be adapted in clinical practice for prognosticating cancer patients and facilitating clinical decision makings.
Discrepancy and agreement between subjective symptoms and visual field impairment in glaucoma patients at a driving assessment clinic
Authors: Kunimatsu-Sanuki Shiho , Fukuchi Takeo , Takahashi Masayo , Mizota Atsushi , Inoue Kenji
Published: October 2024

We investigated subjective symptoms during driving in 227 glaucoma patients at a driving assessment clinic. Patients underwent testing with the Humphrey Field Analyzer 24 − 2 (HFA 24 − 2) and a driving simulator (DS) with eye tracking. Patients reported whether they experienced symptoms during daily driving, such as fear or difficulty seeing under certain conditions. The integrated visual field (IVF) was calculated from HFA 24 − 2 data. The number of collisions in DS scenarios and eye movements during DS testing was recorded, and factors related to the presence of subjective symptom during driving were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression, with subjective symptoms as the dependent variable. Overall, 145 patients (63.9%) did not report subjective symptoms during driving. Awareness rates were 22.9%, 36.6%, and 41.7% for mild, moderate, and severe glaucoma, respectively (P = 0.030). Patients with symptoms had worse better-eye mean deviation (MD) (P = 0.012) and lower IVF sensitivity in the superior hemifield (P < 0.002). Logistic regression revealed a significant association between symptoms and decreased superior IVF sensitivity from 0° to 12° (P = 0.0029; OR: 1.07). Our study highlights that many glaucoma patients, even with severe disease, may not be aware of visual symptoms during driving, though superior IVF mean sensitivity contributed to subjective symptoms during driving.
Sex Differences of Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs in the Middle-Aged and Elderly: A Pharmacovigilance Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
Authors: Zhao Ying , Zhong Yuke , Wu Liuqing , Yan Jiao , Lu Wei Tao
Published: October 2024

It’s well known that sex is a risk factor for the occurrence of adverse events (AEs), most of which have found sex differences. Real-world data studies on the sex differences of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) are few and far between, with most small-scale retrospective studies based on FRID classes. To determine a list of drugs associated with falling and identify their sex differences in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), we used preferred terms from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities to search for AEs. During January 2004 to March 2023, 101,746 fall-related AEs were reported in FAERS from patients aged 50 to 100, with 68492 (67.3%) females and 32547 (32.0%) males. We found 261 signals for females while 284 for males. For females, the top 3 signals with the highest ROR were anethole trithione, clopenthixol, nikethamide (ROR: 388.879, 212.100, 113.944), while the top 3 signals with the highest IC025 were nikethamide, anethole trithione, benzbromarone (IC025: 3.913, 3.148, 2.486). For males, the top 3 signals with the highest ROR were fluprednidene acetate, potassium hydroxide, ketazolam (ROR: 216.858, 108.429, 108.429), while the top 3 signals with the highest IC025 were clomethiazole, piribedil, melperone (IC025: 3.311, 3.238, 2.985). Moreover, among the 119 shared signals found between males and females, 33 were biased towards females while 38 towards males. Signals showing significant sex differences were mainly concentrated on agents of the immune, nervous, musculo-skeletal, and cardiovascular systems. We offer a series of common drugs with risk signals and their sex differences in falling through the FAERS database. In the future, it is essential to find more drugs with increasing fall risks and whose sex differences are not fully understood.
Reference Values for the 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand test to Assess Functional Capacity and Short- Term Mortality in People with Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Prospective Real-World Cohort Study
Authors: Tsai Meng-Yun , Huang Kuo-Tung , Hsu Chiann-Yi , Yu Yi-Hsuan , Fu Pin-Kuei
Published: October 2024

Background:
Early diagnosis of functional decline in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (F-ILD) is crucial for timely treatment and improved survival. While the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is the gold standard for functional evaluation, it has limitations. The 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1MSTS) is easier to administer, but its correlation with the 6MWT in F-ILD patients is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the reference values of 1MSTS to assess functional capacity, 6-month mortality and its correlation with the 6MWT in F-ILD patients.
Methods:
This prospective study included subjects diagnosed with F-ILD through multidisciplinary team discussions. Assessments included the 1MSTS, 6MWT, pulmonary function test (PFT), GAP score, mMRC scale, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The association between 1MSTS repetitions and variables was calculated using Spearman's rho. Bland-Altman plots assessed the agreement between 1MSTS repetitions and the 6MWT. ROC curve analysis evaluated predictors for 6-month mortality.
Results:
Of the 150 F-ILD patients, 37 (24.6%) had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and 113 (75.4%) had connective tissue disease-related ILD (CTD-ILD). Using ≤ 20 repetitions as the cutoff for functional impairment, 36 (24.0%) patients were classified as impaired. The 6MWT distance significantly predicted 6-month mortality. Although the 1MSTS did not significantly predict 6-month survival, it showed strong correlations with GAP score (rs = -0.49, p < 0.001), mMRC scale (rs = -0.47, p < 0.001), and 6MWT distance (rs = 0.65, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement between 1MSTS repetitions and 6MWT distance. An AUC of 0.856 was achieved for predicting < 300 meters for the 6MWT distance by using ≤ 20 repetitions as the cutoff value for the 1MSTS.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that ≤ 20 repetitions in the 1MSTS can be used as an indicator of functional impairment and has a good correlation with 6MWT distance, GAP score, and mMRC scale in assessing patients with F-ILD.
Very Long-term Longitudinal Follow-up of Heart Failure on the REMADHE Trial
Authors: Bocchi Edimar Alcides , Guimaraes Guilherme Veiga , Romero Cristhian Espinoza , Ferreira Silvia Moreira Ayub , Biselli Bruno , Chizzola Paulo Roberto , Munhoz Robinson Tadeu , Fukushima Julia Tizue , Cruz Fatima das Dores
Published: October 2024

Background
Heart failure (HF) is associated with frequent hospitalization and worse prognosis. Prognosis factors and survival in very long-term follow-up have not been reported in HF. HF disease management programs(DMP) results are contradictory. DMP efficacy in very long-term follow-up is unknown. We studied the very long-term follow-up of up to 23.6 years and prognostic factors of HF in 412 patients under GDMT included in the REMADHE trial.
Methods
The REMADHE trial was a prospective, single-center, randomized trial comparing DMP versus usual care(C). The first patient was randomized on October 5, 1999. The primary outcome of this extended REMADHE was all-cause mortality.
Results
The all-cause mortality rate was 88.3%. HF was the first cause of death followed by death at home. Mortality was higher in the first 6-year follow-up. The predictive variables in multivariate analysis associated with mortality were age ≥ 52 years (P = 0.015), Chagas etiology (P = 0.010), LVEF < 45% (P = 0.008), use of digoxin (P = 0.002), functional class IV (P = 0.01), increase in urea (P = 0.03), and reduction of lymphocytes (P = 0.005). In very long-term follow-up, DMP did not affect mortality in patients under GDMT. HF as a cause of death was more frequent in the C group. Chagas disease, LVEF < 45%, and renal function were associated with different modes of death.
Conclusion
DMP was not effective in reducing very-long term mortality; however, the causes of death had changed. Our findings that age, LVEF, Chagas’ disease, functional class, renal function, lymphocytes, and digoxin use were associated with poor prognosis could influence future strategies to improve HF management.
Optical properties of polyvinyl alcohol-glass waste powder composites
Authors: Hussien Hani M
Published: October 2024

The effect of glass powder on the UV-Vis spectroscopy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been studied. The glass powder was obtained from fluorescent tubes waste. The solution casting method was utilized to prepare PVA- glass composite films by adding glass powder with 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt. %. UV-Vis absorption spectra of PVA- glass samples were listed in the range 200–1100 nm at room temperature. The optical parameters were calculated as follow: transmittance, absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss. The results of XRD showed that the amorphous nature was observed to increase with increase in the concentration of the added glass powder. The transmittance increased with the wavelength and the large increase in the weight percentage of glass powder made the transmittance constant for a certain range of wavelengths. While the absorption coefficient generally decreased with increasing wavelength. Also it was observed that at wavelengths greater than 600 nm, the absorption coefficient increased with the increase in the weight ratio of glass powder (except 20 wt. %). Furthermore, the highest values of the absorption coefficient were observed for the sample containing 20 wt. % of glass powder. It was also found that the change in the refractive index and dielectric constant with the wavelength were accompanied by the presence of peaks in the case of the pure sample and the other containing 10 wt% glass powder, while the peaks disappeared when the percentage of glass powder increased. On the other hand, it was noticed that the pure sample has the values of the imaginary dielectric constant and extinction coefficient that change very slightly with the wavelength and had the lowest values, while it increased with wavelength in other samples. Finally it was found that the energy gap did not change by adding glass powder except for the addition of 30% and 40 wt. %. Through this study, it was possible to change the optical properties of the polymer by adding glass powder, which allows the possibility of benefiting from the new formed composites for use in different applications and according to their response to wavelengths.
Multimodal Nuclear Magnetic Imaging Prediction of Early Neurological Deterioration in Patients with Acute Stroke Using Intravenous Thrombolysis
Authors: Long Xiaoyue , Zhang Peiren , Luo Bin , Yang Xiao , Du Yuxuan , Yu Xiaoqing , Zhang Fangfang , Chen Yan , Dong Zhong , Zhang Peilan
Published: October 2024

Background: To explore the relationship between Signal intensity ratio (SIR) levels, a cerebral hemodynamic index, and early neurological function deterioration in patients with acute cerebral infarction under the guidance of multimodal nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) with intravenous thrombolysis.
Methods: 157 patients with acute cerebral infarction who received intravenous thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of stroke were obtained from Tianjin Huanhu Hospital between January 2022 and February 2024. early neurological deterioration (END) was defined as an increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≥4 points from baseline at 24 hours after intravenous thrombolysis or death. The patients were divided into 36 cases in the END group and 121 cases in the non-END group. Baseline, clinical, and imaging data were collected from patients. Patients who received treatment were followed for 3 months. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was used to determine SIR levels before and after thrombolysis and to analyze the correlation between SIR levels and END.
Results: Patients in the END group had higher baseline systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, post-thrombolysis hemorrhage conversion, baseline NIHSS score, discharge NIHSS score, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score than those in the no-END group, whereas pre- and post-thrombolysis SIR levels were lower than those in the no-END group (P<0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that baseline NIHSS score, post-thrombolytic hemorrhagic conversion, and pre-thrombolytic SIR were independent risk factors for the development of END in patients with acute cerebral infarction treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of END detected by the combination of baseline NIHSS score and pre-thrombolysis SIR level was 0.791 (95% CI: 0.712-0.870), with sensitivity and specificity of 60% and 88.9%, respectively, and P<0.001 (Figure 1), which was higher than that of END detected by the two measures alone (baseline NIHSS score: AUC 0.770, 95% CI: 0.691-0.849, p=0.000; pre-thrombolytic SIR: AUC 0.654, 95% CI: 0.556-0.752, p=0.005). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that pre-thrombolysis SIR level was negatively correlated with the level of mRS score and post-thrombolysis hemorrhagic conversion (r=-0.218, p=0.000; r=-0.166, p=0.038), whereas it was positively correlated with post-thrombolysis SIR level (r=0.408, p=0.000).
Conclusions: SIR levels can be used as a simple, non-invasive and highly reproducible method in combination with baseline NIHSS scores to determine the occurrence of END after intravenous thrombolysis, providing a method for early screening of individuals at risk for END.
High greenhouse gas emission scenarios increase soil erosion risk: A case study of the Min-Tuo River Basin, China
Authors: Jiang Nan , Ni Fuquan , Deng Yu , Wu Mingyan , Zhu Mengyu , Wang Yuxuan , Ren Huazhun , Yue Ziying
Published: October 2024

To quantify the current status of soil erosion in the Min-Tuo River Basin and predict future soil erosion conditions, the RUSLE model and GIS technology were employed to assess soil erosion in the Min-Tuo River Basin from 2000 to 2020. Based on the CMIP6 model, precipitation in the Min-Tuo River from 2021 to 2050 was predicted, and the CA-Markov model was used to forecast land use types from 2030 to 2050, thereby predicting the spatial distribution trends of soil erosion in 2030, 2040, and 2050. The results indicate that: (1) The overall soil erosion intensity in the study area increased from 2000 to 2020; (2) Future precipitation in the basin, predicted using the CMIP6 model, showed a fluctuating upward trend compared to historical levels. The SSP5-8.5 scenario had the largest fluctuation; (3) In terms of future land use types, an increase in the area of converted cropland may increase the risk of soil erosion; (4) The area affected by soil erosion in the future will increase, with the highest annual average soil erosion modulus and total amount occurring under the SSP5-8.5 high emission scenario; (5) The dynamic evolution of future soil erosion levels indicates that the stability of soil erosion levels under the SSP2-4.5 scenario is higher than under the other scenarios. In the future high CO2 emission scenario, the risk of soil erosion in the Min-Tuo River Basin will increase, necessitating the active implementation of various prevention and control measures to prevent further exacerbation.
Development and validation of a nomogram clinical prediction model for osteoporosis in elderly malnourished patients
Authors: chen Jiao , Sun Chengxia , Zhu Yingchao , Pan Yuhao , Li Xueping
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study was to establish a nomogram model for predicting the incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in elderly malnourished patients and to verify its predictive effect. We conducted a retrospective analysis of elderly malnourished patients hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between December 2023 and June 2024. The cohort was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set in a 7:3 ratio. Optimal factors were identified using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, which were then incorporated into a multifactorial logistic regression model to ascertain independent predictors. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test, area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) were used to assess the model's goodness of fit, discrimination, calibration, and clinical impact, respectively. A total of 381 patients were included in the analysis. Independent predictors of OP in this population included: Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI)(OR=0.520,95%CI 0.282-0.958),activity situation(OR=0.590,95%CI 0.353 0.987),hypertension(OR=2.833,95%CI 1.384-5.798), type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)(OR=4.314,95%CI 1.971-9.439),serum calcium (Ca)(OR=0.012,95%CI 0.001-0.180), total cholesterol(TC)(OR=4.185,95%CI 2.571-6.809), triglycerides (TG)(OR=2.003,95%CI 1.217-3.297),albumin (ALB) (OR=0.804,95%CI 0.683-0.946),overall hip joint bone mineral density (BMD)(OR=0.015,95%CI 0.001-0.225),overall lumbar spine BMD(OR=0.029, 95%CI 0.005-0.188),and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)(OR=1.022,95%CI 1.011-1.034). The AUC for the training and validation sets were 0.946(95%CI 0.920-0.972) and 0.963(95%CI 0.936-0.990), respectively, indicating great discriminatory ability. The nomogram model developed in this study exhibits good discrimination and accuracy, facilitating the identification of OP risk in elderly malnourished patients in a simple and efficient manner. This model supports early clinical decision-making and intervention, serving as a vital tool for improving patient prognosis. It is anticipated that larger, multicenter studies will be conducted to further validate, enhance, and update the model.
Quantitative Assessment of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Its Correlation with Clinical Symptoms: A Study Utilizing Ultrashort Time-of-Echo and T2 Mapping as Biomarkers
Authors: Han Jun , Meng XiangHong , Ji Zhilin , Niu Feige , Zhu Nana , Zhao Tingting , Shen Zhiwei , Wang Zhi , Yang Qiang
Published: October 2024

Background:
Lumbar cartilage endplate (CEP) structures show low signal intensity on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), making them hard to observe and quantify. This often results in poor correlation between conventional MRI findings and low back pain (LBP) symptoms and provides inadequate guidance for clinical decisions.
Methods:
The study included Twenty-five healthy volunteers and forty-one patients with LBP. Quantitative MRI techniques—Ultrashort Echo Time (UTE) T2* mapping and T2 mapping are employed to evaluate lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and LBP symptoms. Pfirrmann and Rajasekaran grading systems and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) served as reference standards.
Regions of interest (ROIs) for the nucleus pulposus (NP), upper CEP, and lower CEP were outlined in UTE Two echo subtracting images and transferred to UTE images fused with 3D water sequence images and T2 mapping images. UTE-T2* and T2 mapping values were automatically calculated. Cohen’s kappa, Spearman’s rank correlation, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Spearman’s rank correlation revealed that UTE‑T2* and T2 values for upper CEP, lower CEP, and NP negatively correlated with Pfirrmann and Rajasekaran grades (P < 0.001). The Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant differences in values between Pfirrmann grades II, III, IV, and V (P < 0.001). ODI was negatively correlated with T2* and T2 values of the lower CEP (P < 0.001)and positively with Pfirrmann grade (r = 0.2, P = 0.003).
Conclusion: Quantitative MRI methods for T2* values and T2 mapping are associated with grade of degeneration and ODI index and are more effective for assessing CEP damage and LBP symptoms than conventional MRI sequence.
Formulation Development and Optimisation of a Novel Quality-by-Design Bedaquline-Loaded Nanoemulsion for the Potential Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Paediatrics
Authors: Ajayi Taiwo Oreoluwa , Poka Madan Sai. , Witika Bwalya Angel
Published: October 2024

Bedaquiline is a drug used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB in adults and children that is currently only commercially available in tablet form. The present study was aimed at preparing nanoemulsion (NE) of BDQ using natural vegetable oils to deliver BDQ. The optimisation of surfactant mixtures was undertaken using Design of Experiments (DoE), specifically an optimal mixture design. The NEs were optimised while monitoring droplet size (DS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PDI) and drug content (DC). The optimised NEs were further characterised using transmission electron microscopy, electrical conductivity, viscosity, pH and in vitro release studies. The optimised NE showed values of 191.6 nm ± 2.38 nm, 0.1176 ± 1.69, -25.9 mV ± 3.00 mV and 3.14 ± 0.82 mg/ml for DS, PDI, ZP and DC respectively. Furthermore, the TEM studies demonstrated the spherical shape of the optimised globules. The nanoemulsion was characterised by measuring its electrical conductivity, viscosity and pH which were determined as 53.1 µS/cm, 327 ± 3.05 cP and 5.63 ± 1.78, respectively. In conclusion, these NEs have great potential for improving solubility, drug delivery, and administration of BDQ. However, further studies are required to maximise the drug content and to demonstrate to what extent these NE have effect against MDR-TB.