bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Am I an Atheist?
Authors: Hatina Meir
Published: May 2024

This article sheds light on a neglected episode in the scholarship on Egypt's intellectual life in the interwar period, as well as on the Arab renaissance (Nahda) and its intensive preoccupation with the triangle of religion, science, and secularism. The discussion focuses on a provocative manifesto published in 1937 by an Egyptian writer Ismaʿil Ahmad Adham, which called for a godless universe. Adham's challenge to established religions is framed within a broader historical and intellectual context. It raises the following questions: How unique is Adham's atheism in the Egyptian and Arab writings of his time? What can we learn from the public discussions of his views about Egyptian civil culture in the 1930s and its commitment to a democratic ethos? Addressing these questions from a comparative perspective in both Islamic and European history may contribute much to the understanding of Arab debates about the existence of God.
A Harbor That Never Was
Authors: Shankar Devika
Published: May 2024

Through a focus on an abandoned harbor development project in Tuticorin in southeastern India, this article interrogates the factors shaping port development in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Tuticorin—which at the time was the second-busiest port in the Madras presidency—had emerged as the likeliest site for an ambitious port development scheme, thanks largely to its intimate relationship with both Colombo and the plantations of Ceylon just across the Gulf of Mannar. Within just a few years, however, this project would be abandoned abruptly after being declared unrealistic and impractical. What made Tuticorin's development appear almost inevitable at one point, only to be deemed completely unviable a couple of decades later? This article uses the rise and fall of port development schemes at Tuticorin in the early decades of the twentieth century to examine wider developments in the colonial economy and to interrogate the infrastructural networks and environmental forces underpinning both the hopes for port modernization and their eventual success or failure around the Indian Ocean.
Relative Cortical Atrophy Index as a Strong Predictor of Recurrence After Surgery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma
Authors: Charehsaz Amin , Vayisoglu Tugberk , Uyaniker Zeynep Arzum , Cekic Efecan , Ozturk Ebru , Isikay Ahmet Ilkay , Hanalioglu Sahin
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) presents significant management challenges in neurosurgical practice, with recurrence being a notable postoperative consideration. This study aimed to evaluate the Relative Cortical Atrophy (RCA) Index as a predictor of recurrence after CSDH surgery.

METHODS:

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 98 patients who underwent surgical evacuation for unilateral CSDH. The RCA Index was calculated using pre- and postoperative cranial imaging, correlating it with patient demographics, hematoma characteristics, and recurrence. Inter-rater reliability among measurements by 4 independent physicians was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to identify the correlation of the RCA Index with other factors and their potential predicting power of CSDH recurrence, respectively.

RESULTS:

The study population had a mean age of 74.1 (11.9) years, with a 23.5% (23 patients) recurrence rate of CSDH. The ICC analysis showed excellent inter-rater reliability for RCA Index measurements (ICC: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.997-0.998, P < .001). A higher preoperative RCA Index was significantly associated with recurrence (0.215 [0.031] in the recurrent group vs 0.125 [0.034] in the nonrecurrent group, P < .001). The preoperative RCA Index highly correlated with the postoperative RCA Index (Pearson's correlation: 0.918, P < .001), and there was only a small (average: 0.005) but significant increase in the RCA Index of the unaffected hemisphere after surgery (P = .01).The preoperative RCA Index positively correlated with age, preoperative SDH thickness and volume, and recurrence. A RCA Index cutoff value of 0.165 predicted CSDH recurrence with high sensitivity (95.6%) and specificity (93.3%) (area under the curve = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.93-1).

CONCLUSION:

The RCA Index is a simple yet robust predictor of CSDH recurrence. Incorporating this measure into the preoperative assessment may enhance surgical planning and postoperative management, potentially reducing recurrence rates.
DLX genes and proteins in mammalian forebrain development
Authors: Rubenstein John L. , Nord Alex S. , Ekker Marc
Published: May 2024

The vertebrate Dlx gene family encode homeobox transcription factors that are related to the Drosophila Distal-less (Dll) gene and are crucial for development. Over the last ∼35 years detailed information has accrued about the redundant and unique expression and function of the six mammalian Dlx family genes. DLX proteins interact with general transcriptional regulators, and co-bind with other transcription factors to enhancer elements with highly specific activity in the developing forebrain. Integration of the genetic and biochemical data has yielded a foundation for a gene regulatory network governing the differentiation of forebrain GABAergic neurons. In this Primer, we describe the discovery of vertebrate Dlx genes and their crucial roles in embryonic development. We largely focus on the role of Dlx family genes in mammalian forebrain development revealed through studies in mice. Finally, we highlight questions that remain unanswered regarding vertebrate Dlx genes despite over 30 years of research.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of development and regeneration
Authors: Prasad Kalika , Palakodeti Dasaradhi
Published: May 2024

Regeneration involves a highly coordinated interplay of intricate cellular processes, enabling living organisms to renew and repair themselves, from individual cells to entire ecosystems. Further, regeneration offers profound insights into developmental biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Development and Regeneration (CMMDR) 2024 conference, which took place at the Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence and University (India), gathered together an international array of researchers studying a wide variety of organisms across both plant and animal kingdoms. In this short Meeting Review, we highlight some of the outstanding research presented at this conference and draw together some of the common themes that emerged.
The US-China Trade War and Global Reallocations
Authors: Fajgelbaum Pablo , Goldberg Pinelopi , Kennedy Patrick , Khandelwal Amit , Taglioni Daria
Published: May 2024

The US-China trade war created net export opportunities rather than simply shifting trade across destinations. Many “bystander” countries grew their exports of taxed products into the rest of the world (excluding the United States and China). Country-specific components of tariff elasticities, rather than specialization patterns, drove large cross-country variation in export growth of tariff-exposed products. The elasticities of exports to US-Chinese tariffs identify whether a country’s exports complement or substitute the United States or China and its supply curve’s slope. Countries that operate along downward-sloping supplies whose exports substitute (complement) the United States and China are among the larger (smaller) beneficiaries of the trade war. (JEL F13, F14, O19, P33)
Universalism and Political Representation: Evidence from the Field
Authors: Enke Benjamin , Fisman Raymond , Freitas Luis Mota , Sun Steven
Published: May 2024

This paper provides field evidence on the link between morals and political behavior. We create a district-level variable that reflects to what degree charitable giving decreases as a function of (geographic and social) distance, which we interpret as a real-stakes measure of citizens’ values on the universalism-particularism continuum. Our measure of district universalism is strongly predictive of local Democratic vote shares, legislators’ roll call voting, and the moral content of congressional speeches. Spatial heterogeneity in universalism is a substantially stronger predictor of geographic variation in political outcomes than traditional economic variables such as income or education. (JEL D72, D91, Z13)
Greek hotel industry
Authors: Σκλάβος Φαβιανός
Published: May 2024

Η ικανοποίηση των πελατών αναδεικνύεται ως πρωταρχικός στόχος στον ξενοδοχειακό κλάδο καθότι συνδέεται με την παραγωγή πωλήσεων. Παρόλο που ένας σημαντικός αριθμός των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την ικανοποίηση των πελατών έχει μελετηθεί, υπάρχει ένα αξιοσημείωτο κενό στη βιβλιογραφία αναφορικά με τη σχέση μεταξύ των οικονομικών δεδομένων και απόδοσης των ξενοδοχείων, και της ικανοποίησης των πελατών τους. Η διατριβή επιχειρεί να διερευνήσει τη συσχέτιση μεταξύ διαφόρων οικονομικών δεικτών των ξενοδοχείων και της ικανοποίησης των πελατών τους, όπως αυτή αποτυπώνεται στις αξιολογήσεις στην πλατφόρμας του TripAdvisor. Προκειμένου να επιτευχθεί ο στόχος της διατριβής, αντλήθηκαν δεδομένα που περιλάμβαναν τις βαθμολογίες στο TripAdvisor για ένα δείγμα ελληνικών ξενοδοχείων τριών έως πέντε αστέρων (N=554) για τα έτη 2011 έως 2016 (5,540 παρατηρήσεις). Στη συνέχεια, οι βαθμολογίες του TripAdvisor του κάθε ξενοδοχείου αντιστοιχήθηκαν με οικονομικά δεδομένα (και επιλεγμένους χρηματοοικονομικούς δείκτες) που αντλήθηκαν από τους ισολογισμούς και τις καταστάσεις αποτελεσμάτων χρήσεων, των ξενοδοχείων. Η μεθοδολογική οικονομετρική προσέγγιση που χρησιμοποιήθηκε περιλαμβάνει “random effects panel models” και “stochastic frontier analysis”. Τα δεδομένα διαστρωματώθηκαν και αναλύθηκαν με βάση το μέγεθος του ξενοδοχείου, την κατηγορία αστέρων και την επιχειρησιακή τους αποδοτικότητα. Τα αποτελέσματα υποδεικνύουν ότι οι οικονομικοί δείκτες και τα οικονομικά μεγέθη των ξενοδοχείων παρουσιάζουν σημαντική συσχέτιση με τις βαθμολογίες που λαμβάνουν αυτά στην πλατφόρμα TripAdvisor. Ειδικότερα, τo συνολικό ενεργητικό παρουσιάζει μη γραμμική σχέση με τις βαθμολογίες, ενώ οι επενδύσεις σε κεφαλαιουχικές και λειτουργικές δαπάνες, είναι καθοριστικοί παράγοντες επηρεασμού της ικανοποίησης των πελατών. Αντίθετα, η ύπαρξη πισίνας στο ξενοδοχείο σχετίζεται αρνητικά με την ικανοποίηση των πελατών. Επιπλέον, τόσο το μέγεθος όσο και η κατάταξη αστέρων του ξενοδοχείου σχετίζονται με την αποδοτικότητα του, με τα μεγαλύτερα ξενοδοχεία και τα ξενοδοχεία 5 αστέρων να παρουσιάζουν την μεγαλύτερη συσχέτιση. Επιπρόσθετα, τα ξενοδοχεία συγκεκριμένων νομών της χώρας αποδεικνύεται ότι είναι πολύ πιο αποδοτικά και λαμβάνουν σημαντικά υψηλότερες βαθμολογίες στο TripAdvisor σε σχέση με άλλους νομούς, λιγότερο τουριστικά αναπτυγμένους. Είναι βέβαιο ότι η εφαρμογή και η γενίκευση των ευρημάτων της διατριβής σε διαφορετικούς πληθυσμούς ξενοδοχείων καθώς και ξενοδοχεία άλλων χωρών απαιτεί περαιτέρω έρευνα. Εν κατακλείδι, η διατριβή διερευνά την περίπλοκη αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ των οικονομικών μεγεθών και δεικτών των ξενοδοχείων και της ικανοποίησης των πελατών τους, παρέχοντας σημαντικά συμπεράσματα τα οποία δύναται να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την αποτελεσματικότερη διοίκηση και διαχείριση των ξενοδοχειακών μονάδων, για την λήψη επενδυτικών αποφάσεων δημιουργίας νέων ξενοδοχειακών υποδομών αλλά και βάση για περαιτέρω ακαδημαϊκή έρευνα.
Robots sociales, música y movimiento: percepciones de las personas mayores sobre el robot Pepper para su formación (Social robots, music and movement: Older people's perceptions of the Pepper training robot)
Authors: Martínez Roig Rosabel
Published: May 2024

La robótica social es considerada una tecnología emergente en el contexto educativo. Esta investigación tiene por objeto conocer las percepciones de las personas mayores sobre el uso de los robots sociales en su formación a través de la música y el movimiento. Para ello, se diseñó una secuencia de actividades con el robot social Pepper, el cual ejerció de monitor asistente en una clase de ejercicio físico. En el estudio, con un diseño mixto y enfoque descriptivo-inferencial, participaron 41 personas mayores que acuden semanalmente a actividades formativas en un Centro de Día. Con esta muestra de conveniencia se utilizó una versión adaptada de un cuestionario previamente validado, así como tres grupos de discusión, todo ello basado en el marco conceptual de la Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Los resultados apuntan hacia valoraciones favorables en cuanto al uso de Pepper con fines educativos, destacando la importancia de incluir música en esta formación. Este trabajo puede contribuir a comprender mejor cómo perciben las personas mayores el uso de los robots sociales con el fin de implicarlas en su diseño y desarrollo basados en Inteligencia Artificial y obtener, así, beneficios potenciales para su formación integral.
Molecular cytogenetics markers reveal the existence of a cryptic complex of Mazama temama species
Authors: Pinto Sandoval Eluzai Dinai , Bernegossi Agda Maria , Gallina Sonia , Reyna-Hurtado Rafael , Barbanti Duarte José Maurício
Published: May 2024

Mazama temama, commonly named Central American red brocket deer, was described in Veracruz, east-central México.  Cytogenetic studies have characterized differentiated karyotypes observed in captive individuals of the species with a diploid number (2n) = 49 to 50, in a recently collected neotype with a diploid number (2n) = 44 and fundamental number (FN) = 70, and in specimens collected in Campeche in the southeast of México with a diploid number (2n) = 47 and fundamental number (FN) = 70.  Then, we used BAC probes derived from cattle genome aiming to describe the chromosomal differences in M. temama karyotypic variants.  We compared three individuals from Campeche (CAM) and the Veracruz neotype (VER).  A total of 38 clones have been mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization onto the chromosomes of both variants and a comparative map has been established.  We assessed Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene sequences to perform phylogenetic analyzes including M. temama individuals from these localities and other Neotropical deer.  The integrated analysis of hybridization results showed the real and surprising differences between the specimens.  Besides the morphological similarities between the M. temama specimens, the results showed a difference of 10 chromosomes involved in rearrangements that separate their karyotypic composition, associated with tandem and centric fused chromosomes.  Bayesian Inference tree evidenced Campeche and Veracruz individuals in two separated subclades within M. temama clade.  The observed chromosomal and genetic differences are a substantially evidence of a reproductive isolation mechanism between the Veracruz and Campeche individuals suggesting the existence of a cryptic complex of species under M. temama nomenclature.  Therefore, conservation strategies should be considered separately for each population of central American red brocket deer.
Case Report on the Efficacy of Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Severe Post-Dural Puncture Headache after Failed Subarachnoid Block
Authors: Indriani Ratri Dwi , Nofiansyah Rian , Kriswidyatomo Prihatma
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a case report on the management of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) after failed subarachnoid block anesthesia through trans-nasal sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB). PDPH, a distressing complication following procedures like lumbar punctures, can persist despite conservative management and usually happen in multiple or single attempts at successful subarachnoid injections. For a long period, the treatment for severe PDPH was an epidural blood patch. SPGB, targeting the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) involved in cranial pain transmission, has emerged as a promising intervention. The case involves a patient experiencing severe PDPH after failed subarachnoid block anesthesia. Although SPGB initially brought relief, a recurrence of headaches followed, highlighting the need for further optimization. The case shows that SPGB could be used as an extra treatment for PDPH that doesn't seem to be working, but more research is needed to find out how well it works in the long term and what the best technique is. The abstract emphasizes the importance of ongoing monitoring and intervention in managing PDPH, offering insights into the challenges and prospects of SPGB in clinical practice.
Spreading positivity in the workplace: the trainees’ perspective
Authors: El Boghdady Michael
Published: May 2024

Why it is essential to maintain positivity at work.
Legal privilege for medical experts: a recent judgement
Authors: Todd NV , Wright-Todd JC
Published: May 2024

How medical expert matters should be handled during legal proceedings – and the hidden pitfalls.
Learning legacies: better understanding the dynamics of domestic abuse suicidality through domestic homicide reviews
Authors: Dangar Sarah , Munro Vanessa E. , Young Andrade Lotte
Published: May 2024

This article draws on analysis of 32 Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) undertaken in England and Wales in cases where the deceased took their life in the context of domestic abuse, as well as a series of 36 interviews and one focus group discussion, conducted by the authors with key stakeholders in the DHR process, including commissioners, Chairs, panel members, and bereaved families. Discussion reflects on the clear, but also complicated, causal relationship between domestic abuse and suicidality that is demonstrated through this data, with close analysis of the experiences reflected within the DHRs providing a particularly rich and textured account of victims’ navigation of complex vulnerabilities, often in plain sight of statutory and third sector services. Highlighting lessons that can, and should, be learned from these human legacies, in the closing sections of the article, we underscore the importance of recognising the compounding effects of intersecting vulnerabilities in a way that resists siloed or victim-blaming responses, while not diminishing the role and responsibility of the perpetrator(s) of abuse. We also emphasise the need for more holistic, trauma-informed, and sustainably funded support, that can connect expertise around domestic abuse more effectively and consistently with expertise on suicide prevention.
Academic Enabling Behavior Strengths of Students With Intellectual Disability in Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs
Authors: McLendon Katherine E. , Roach Andrew T. , Meyers Joel , Perkins Catherine , Thomas Erin Vinoski
Published: May 2024

Participation in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs yields benefits for students with intellectual disability, yet little is known about their classroom-related, nonacademic thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, sometimes referred to as academic enabling behaviors (AEBs). AEBs include academic engagement, interpersonal skills, motivation, and study skills. The research team explored IPSE staff’s understandings of IPSE students’ AEB strengths. Ten staff from IPSE programs participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research. Results suggest students have strengths that span multiple AEBs and that these strengths can be leveraged to support strengths-based assessment and intervention.
First-principle study of two-photon absorption in Fe3O4
Authors: Hui Liao Hong , Yang Ke , Zhang Xiao-Dong , Liu Tianyu
Published: May 2024

Utilizing the length gauge and the electron density operator, we calculate the two-photon absorption (2PA) coefficient of Fe3O4 based on a full ab initio band structure. The pure two-photon interband transitions and those modulated by intraband transitions have been separated explicitly to determine their impact on the 2PA spectrum. A single main absorption peak instead of two will present in the spectrum by including the hybridization of inter- and intra-band transitions, which can be identified easily in future experimental studies. In addition, we find that in almost the whole 2PA-active spectral range, circularly polarized light can be absorbed with a much lower threshold power than the linearly polarized one. But the linearly polarized light is more easily to be manipulated. One can control the magnitude and resonance frequency of the 2PA coefficient by simply adjusting the polarization angle of the incident light. Our findings will deepen the understanding of the 2PA phenomenon in Fe3O4 nanoparticles.
Systematic error calibration of vertical dynamic interferometer with sloshing liquid plane
Authors: Hu Chenhui , Zheng Donghui , Chen Lei
Published: May 2024

Liquid mirror can calibrate the interferometer system error by measuring the surface of a steady-state, high-viscosity liquid; however, strict environmental safeguards are typically required. To address this problem, we propose a new liquid mirror method based on liquid micro-amplitude sloshing to calibrate dynamic interferometer system error. According to the multimodal analysis method of fluid finite amplitude sloshing, the liquid surface sloshing surface was modeled and analyzed, a time dimensional mean model was established, and the minimum sampling time was calculated. Finally, the error of the liquid surface sloshing was reduced by time averaging to realize the absolute calibration of the dynamic interferometer's systematic error. According to the proposed minimum sampling time theory, when the mean processing time is greater than the minimum sampling time, the error in the sloshing liquid surface can be controlled to within λ/100. The method’s correctness is proven through an experimental comparison of different calibration methods.
Shifting reasons for older men remaining uncircumcised: Findings from a pre- and post-demand creation intervention among men aged 25–39 years in western Kenya
Authors: Agot Kawango , Onyango Jacob , Otieno George , Musingila Paul , Gachau Susan , Ochillo Marylyn , Grund Jonathan , Joseph Rachael , Mboya Edward , Ohaga Spala , Omondi Dickens , Odoyo-June Elijah
Published: May 2024

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces men’s risk of acquiring Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through vaginal sex. However, VMMC uptake remains lowest among Kenyan men ages 25–39 years among whom the impact on reducing population-level HIV incidence was estimated to be greatest at the start of the study in 2014. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention survey as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of two interventions (interpersonal communication (IPC) and dedicated service outlets (DSO), delivered individually or together) on improving VMMC uptake among men ages 25–39 years in western Kenya between 2014 and 2016. The study had three intervention arms and a control arm. In arm one, an IPC toolkit was used to address barriers to VMMC. In arm two, men were referred to DSO that were modified to address their preferences. Arm three combined the IPC and DSO. The control arm had standard of care. At baseline, uncircumcised men ranked the top three reasons for remaining uncircumcised. An IPC demand creation toolkit was used to address the identified barriers and men were referred for VMMC at study-designated facilities. At follow-up, those who remained uncircumcised were again asked to rank the top three reasons for not getting circumcised. There was inconsistency in ranking of reported barriers at pre- and post- intervention: ‘time/venue not convenient’ was ranked third at baseline and seventh at follow-up; ‘too busy to go for circumcision’ was tenth at baseline but second at follow-up, and concern about ‘what I/family will eat’ was ranked first at both baseline and follow-up, but the proportion reduced from 62% to 28%. Men ages 25–39 years cited a variety of logistical and psychosocial barriers to receiving VMMC. After exposure to IPC, most of these barriers shifted while some remained the same. Additional innovative interventions to address on-going and shifting barriers may help improve VMMC uptake among older men.
“It’s my calling”, Canadian dog rescuers’ motives and experiences for engaging in international dog rescue efforts
Authors: von Rentzell Kai Alain , Bratiotis Christiana , Protopopova Alexandra
Published: May 2024

The importation of rescue dogs has become an increasingly common occurrence in recent years, often involving industrialized countries as the ultimate destination. However, international dog rescue activities have attracted considerable criticism from the veterinary community and the public due to the associated zoonotic disease and public health risks, as well as the potential poor behaviour of international rescue dogs. The Government of Canada has also recently placed a temporary suspension on all commercial dog imports from non-rabies free countries due to the growing concerns of the zoonotic disease risks. To understand the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders involved in dog import activities in Canada, we interviewed nine members in leadership positions of Canadian-based international dog rescue organizations. Thematic analysis of interview dialogue yielded three themes: 1) Motive, which described the reason behind participants’ involvement in international dog rescue; 2) Challenge, which described the major difficulties faced in participants’ dog rescue work; 3) Duty, which described participants’ beliefs on responsible dog rescue practices. Members of international dog rescue organizations described being driven by strong desires to provide animal and humanitarian aid. However, local dog rescue efforts were constrained by logistical and societal barriers unique to the Canadian context. Additionally, the current study revealed both similarities and differences in occupational experiences between international dog rescue organizations and other animal care professions. Specifically, difficulties with the emotional burden associated with caregiving professions was also present within dog rescue work. However, international dog rescue members also experienced additional challenges due to the stigma surrounding international dog rescue operations. Further research on attitudes held by other stakeholders involved in dog import activities, as well as members of Canadian communities needing dog rescue aid may provide meaningful inputs on how to better support and facilitate local and international dog rescue efforts.
Effects of different geriatric nursing teaching methods on nursing students’ knowledge and attitude: Systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Cheng Yifen , Sun Shuqin , Hu Yu , Wang Jing , Chen Wenzhen , Miao Yukuan , Wang Hui
Published: May 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different teaching methods of geriatric nursing on the mastery of geriatric knowledge among nursing students and their attitude toward the elderly.

Methods

Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies on teaching methods to improve nursing students’ knowledge and attitude were systematically retrieved in electronic databases. The time scale of retrieval spans from the database establishment to January 2024, and the database consists of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), China Biological literature database (CBM), Wanfang Database and VIP Database. Network meta-analysis was performed by Stata 16.0 software.

Results

Thirty-nine studies involving 5310 nursing students met our inclusion criteria, and a total of 6 teaching methods were analyzed. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) ranking, problem-based learning (PBL) was most effective in enhancing the knowledge mastery of geriatric nursing, while simulation-based learning (SBL) demonstrated the best application effect in improving nursing students’ attitude toward the elderly. When considering both knowledge acquisition and attitude improvement simultaneously, service learning combined with traditional teaching method (SL+TTM) was found to exhibit the most optimal effectiveness.

Conclusion

Educators in geriatric nursing education should prioritize the adoption of PBL, SBL and SL + TTM to enhance nursing students’ knowledge and attitude.

Protocol registry

PROSPERO (CRD42023442001).
Gut microbiome in the Graves’ disease: Comparison before and after anti-thyroid drug treatment
Authors: Jeong Chaiho , Baek Hansang , Bae Jaewoong , Hwang Nakwon , Ha Jeonghoon , Cho Young-Seok , Lim Dong-Jun
Published: May 2024

While several studies have proposed a connection between the gut microbiome and the pathogenesis of Graves’s disease (GD), there has been a lack of reports on alteration in microbiome following using anti-thyroid drug treatment (ATD) to treat GD. Stool samples were collected from newly diagnosed GD patients provided at baseline and after 6 months of ATD treatment. The analysis focused on investigating the association between the changes in the gut microbiome and parameter including thyroid function, thyroid-related antibodies, and the symptom used to assess hyperthyroidism before and after treatment. A healthy control (HC) group consisting of data from 230 healthy subjects (110 males and 120 females) sourced from the open EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database was included. Twenty-nine GD patients (14 males and 15 females) were enrolled. The analysis revealed a significant reduction of alpha diversity in GD patients. However, after ATD treatment, alpha diversity exhibited a significant increase, restored to levels comparable to the HC levels. Additionally, GD patients displayed lower levels of Firmicutes and higher levels of Bacteroidota. Following treatment, there was an increased in Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidota, resembling levels found in the HC levels. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism were negatively associated with Firmicutes and positively associated with Bacteroidota. GD had significantly lower levels of Roseburia, Lachnospiraceaea, Sutterella, Escherichia-shigella, Parasuterella, Akkermansia, and Phascolarctobacterium compared to HC (all p < 0.05). Post-treatment, Subdoligranulum increased (p = 0.010), while Veillonella and Christensenellaceaea R-7 group decreased (p = 0.023, p = 0.029, respectively). Anaerostipes showed a significant association with both higher smoking pack years and TSHR-Ab levels, with greater abundantce observed in smokers among GD (p = 0.16). Although reduced ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes was evident in GD, this ratio recovered after treatment. This study postulates the involvement of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of GD, suggesting potential restoration after treatment.
An ensemble classification method based on machine learning models for malicious Uniform Resource Locators (URL)
Authors: Sankaranarayanan Suresh , Sivachandran Arvinthan Thevar , Mohd Khairuddin Anis Salwa , Hasikin Khairunnisa , Wahab Sait Abdul Rahman
Published: May 2024

Web applications are important for various online businesses and operations because of their platform stability and low operation cost. The increasing usage of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices within a network has contributed to the rise of network intrusion issues due to malicious Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Generally, malicious URLs are initiated to promote scams, attacks, and frauds which can lead to high-risk intrusion. Several methods have been developed to detect malicious URLs in previous works. There has been a good amount of work done to detect malicious URLs using various methods such as random forest, regression, LightGBM, and more as reported in the literature. However, most of the previous works focused on the binary classification of malicious URLs and are tested on limited URL datasets. Nevertheless, the detection of malicious URLs remains a challenging task that remains open to research. Hence, this work proposed a stacking-based ensemble classifier to perform multi-class classification of malicious URLs on larger URL datasets to justify the robustness of the proposed method. This study focuses on obtaining lexical features directly from the URL to identify malicious websites. Then, the proposed stacking-based ensemble classifier is developed by integrating Random Forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost. In addition, hyperparameter tuning was performed using the Randomized Search method to optimize the proposed classifier. The proposed stacking-based ensemble classifier aims to take advantage of the performance of each machine learning model and aggregate the output to improve prediction accuracy. The classification accuracies of the machine learning model when applied individually are 93.6%, 95.2%, 95.7% and 94.8% for random forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost respectively. The proposed stacking-based ensemble classifier has shown significant results in classifying four classes of malicious URLs (phishing, malware, defacement, and benign) with an average accuracy of 96.8% when benchmarked with previous works.
European Robotic Surgery Consensus (ERSC): Protocol for the development of a consensus in robotic training for gastrointestinal surgery trainees
Authors: Fadel Michael G. , Walshaw Josephine , Pecchini Francesca , Elhadi Muhammed , Yiasemidou Marina , Boal Matthew , Carrano Francesco Maria , Massey Lisa H. , Antoniou Stavros A. , Nickel Felix , Perretta Silvana , Fuchs Hans F. , Hanna George B. , Francis Nader K. , Kontovounisios Christos ,   On behalf of the European Robotic Surgery Consensus (ERSC) study group
Published: May 2024

Background

The rapid adoption of robotic surgical systems across Europe has led to a critical gap in training and credentialing for gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons. Currently, there is no existing standardised curriculum to guide robotic training, assessment and certification for GI trainees. This manuscript describes the protocol to achieve a pan-European consensus on the essential components of a comprehensive training programme for GI robotic surgery through a five-stage process.

Methods and analysis

In Stage 1, a Steering Committee, consisting of international experts, trainees and educationalists, has been established to lead and coordinate the consensus development process. In Stage 2, a systematic review of existing multi-specialty robotic training curricula will be performed to inform the formulation of key position statements. In Stage 3, a comprehensive survey will be disseminated across Europe to capture the current state of robotic training and identify potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. In Stage 4, an international panel of GI surgeons, trainees, and robotic theatre staff will participate in a three-round Delphi process, seeking ≥ 70% agreement on crucial aspects of the training curriculum. Industry and patient representatives will be involved as external advisors throughout this process. In Stage 5, the robotic training curriculum for GI trainees will be finalised in a dedicated consensus meeting, culminating in the production of an Explanation and Elaboration (E&E) document.

Registration details

The study protocol has been registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/br87d/).
Derivation of correlation dimension from spatial autocorrelation functions
Authors: Chen Yanguang
Published: May 2024

Background

Spatial complexity is always associated with spatial autocorrelation. Spatial autocorrelation coefficients including Moran’s index proved to be an eigenvalue of the spatial correlation matrixes. An eigenvalue represents a kind of characteristic length for quantitative analysis. However, if a spatial correlation process is based on self-organized evolution, complex structure, and the distributions without characteristic scale, the eigenvalue will be ineffective. In this case, a scaling exponent such as fractal dimension can be used to compensate for the shortcoming of characteristic length parameters such as Moran’s index.

Method

This paper is devoted to finding an intrinsic relationship between Moran’s index and fractal dimension by means of spatial correlation modeling. Using relative step function as spatial contiguity function, we can convert spatial autocorrelation coefficients into spatial autocorrelation functions.

Result

By decomposition of spatial autocorrelation functions, we can derive the relation between spatial correlation dimension and spatial autocorrelation functions. As results, a series of useful mathematical models are constructed, including the functional relation between Moran’s index and fractal parameters. Correlation dimension proved to be a scaling exponent in the spatial correlation equation based on Moran’s index. As for empirical analysis, the scaling exponent of spatial autocorrelation of Chinese cities is Dc = 1.3623±0.0358, which is equal to the spatial correlation dimension of the same urban system, D2. The goodness of fit is about R2 = 0.9965. This fractal parameter value suggests weak spatial autocorrelation of Chinese cities.

Conclusion

A conclusion can be drawn that we can utilize spatial correlation dimension to make deep spatial autocorrelation analysis, and employ spatial autocorrelation functions to make complex spatial autocorrelation analysis. This study reveals the inherent association of fractal patterns with spatial autocorrelation processes. The work may inspire new ideas for spatial modeling and exploration of complex systems such as cities.
Research on defect detection of bottle cap interior based on low-angle and large divergence angle vision system
Authors: Chen Bowen , Li Chen , Yuan Pi , Yan Yujie , Yin Yongjing
Published: May 2024

During the machine vision inspection of the inner section of bottle caps within pharmaceutical packaging, the unique conca bottom and convex side walls often create obstructions to the illumination. Consequently, this results in challenges such as irregular background and diminished feature contrast in the image, ultimately leading to the misidentification of defects. As a solution, a vision system characterized by a Low-Angle and Large Divergence Angle (LALDA) is presented in this paper. Using the large divergence angle of LED, combined with low-angle illumination, a uniform image of the side wall region with bright-field characteristics and a uniform image of inner circle region at the bottom with dark-field characteristics are obtained, thus solving the problems of light being obscured and brightness overexposure of the background. Based on the imaging characteristics of LALDA, a multi-channel segmentation (MCS) algorithm is designed. The HSV color space has been transformed, and the image is automatically segmented into multiple sub-regions by mutual calculation of different channels. Further, image homogenization and enhancement are used to eliminate fluctuations in the background and to enhance the contrast of defects. In addition, a variety of defect extraction methods are designed based on the imaging characteristics of different sub-regions, which can avoid the problem of over-segmentation in detection. In this paper, the LALDA is applied to the defect detection inside the cap of capsule medicine bottle, the detection speed is better than 400 pcs/min and the detection accuracy is better than 95%, which can meet the actual production line capacity and detection requirements.
Prediction of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in comparison with other stroke types using routine care data
Authors: Kanning Jos P. , van Os Hendrikus J. A. , Rakers Margot , Wermer Marieke J. H. , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Ruigrok Ynte M.
Published: May 2024

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) can be prevented by early detection and treatment of intracranial aneurysms in high-risk individuals. We investigated whether individuals at high risk of aSAH in the general population can be identified by developing an aSAH prediction model with electronic health records (EHR) data. To assess the aSAH model’s relative performance, we additionally developed prediction models for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and compared the discriminative performance of the models. We included individuals aged ≥35 years without history of stroke from a Dutch routine care database (years 2007–2020) and defined outcomes aSAH, AIS and ICH using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Potential predictors included sociodemographic data, diagnoses, medications, and blood measurements. We cross-validated a Cox proportional hazards model with an elastic net penalty on derivation cohorts and reported the c-statistic and 10-year calibration on validation cohorts. We examined 1,040,855 individuals (mean age 54.6 years, 50.9% women) for a total of 10,173,170 person-years (median 11 years). 17,465 stroke events occurred during follow-up: 723 aSAH, 14,659 AIS, and 2,083 ICH. The aSAH model’s c-statistic was 0.61 (95%CI 0.57–0.65), which was lower than the c-statistic of the AIS (0.77, 95%CI 0.77–0.78) and ICH models (0.77, 95%CI 0.75–0.78). All models were well-calibrated. The aSAH model identified 19 predictors, of which the 10 strongest included age, female sex, population density, socioeconomic status, oral contraceptive use, gastroenterological complaints, obstructive airway medication, epilepsy, childbirth complications, and smoking. Discriminative performance of the aSAH prediction model was moderate, while it was good for the AIS and ICH models. We conclude that it is currently not feasible to accurately identify individuals at increased risk for aSAH using EHR data.
Enhancing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated film for food processing: Unveiling surface transformations through oxygenated plasma treatment and parameter optimization using response surface methodology
Authors: Abidin Noraziani Zainal , Hashim Haslaniza , Zubairi Saiful Irwan , Maskat Mohamad Yusof , Purhanudin Noorain , Awang Rozidawati , Ali Jarinah Mohd , Yaakob Harisun
Published: May 2024

Spray drying fruit juice powders poses challenges because sugars and organic acids with low molecular weight and a low glass transition temperature inherently cause stickiness. This study employed a hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film to mimic the surface of the drying chamber wall. The Central Composite Design (CCD) using response surface methodology investigated the impact of power (X1, Watt) and the duration of oxygenated plasma treatment (X2, minutes) on substrate contact angle (°), reflecting surface hydrophobicity. To validate the approach, Morinda citrofolia (MC) juice, augmented with maltodextrins as drying agents, underwent spray drying on the improved PTFE-coated surface. The spray drying process for MC juice was performed at inlet air temperatures of 120, 140, and 160°C, along with Noni juice-to-maltodextrin solids ratios of 4.00, 1.00, and 0.25. The PTFE-coated borosilicate substrate, prepared at a radio frequency (RF) power of 90W for 15 minutes of treatment time, exhibited a porous and spongy microstructure, correlating with superior contact angle performance (171°) compared to untreated borosilicate glass. Optimization data indicated that the PTFE film attained an optimum contact angle of 146.0° with a specific combination of plasma RF operating power (X1 = 74 W) and treatment duration (X2 = 10.0 minutes). RAMAN spectroscopy indicated a structural analysis with an ID/IG ratio of 0.2, while Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis suggested an average particle size of less than 100 nm for all coated films. The process significantly improved the powder’s hygroscopicity, resistance to caking, and moisture content of maltodextrin-MC juice. Therefore, the discovery of this modification, which applies oxygen plasma treatment to PTFE-coated substrates, effectively enhances surface hydrophobicity, contact angle, porosity, roughness, and ultimately improves the efficacy and recovery of the spray drying process.
A novel replication initiation region encoded in a widespread Acinetobacter plasmid lineage carrying a blaNDM-1 gene
Authors: Bello-López Elena , Pérez-Oseguera Ángeles , Santos Walter , Cevallos Miguel Ángel
Published: May 2024

The blaNDM-1 gene and its variants encode metallo-beta-lactamases that confer resistance to almost all beta-lactam antibiotics. Genes encoding blaNDM-1 and its variants can be found in several Acinetobacter species, and they are usually linked to two different plasmid clades. The plasmids in one of these clades contain a gene encoding a Rep protein of the Rep_3 superfamily. The other clade consists of medium-sized plasmids in which the gene (s) involved in plasmid replication initiation (rep)have not yet been identified. In the present study, we identified the minimal replication region of a blaNDM-1-carrying plasmid of Acinetobacter haemolyticus AN54 (pAhaeAN54e), a member of this second clade. This region of 834 paired bases encodes three small peptides, all of which have roles in plasmid maintenance. The plasmids containing this minimal replication region are closely related; almost all contain blaNDM genes, and they are found in multiple Acinetobacter species, including A. baumannii. None of these plasmids contain an annotated Rep gene, suggesting that their replication relies on the minimal replication region that they share with the plasmid pAhaeAN54e. These observations suggest that this plasmid lineage plays a crucial role in the dissemination of the blaNDM-1 gene and its variants.
Evaluation of reliability and validity of the Serbian Aphasia Screening Test
Authors: Vuković Mile , Milovanović Tanja , Teovanović Predrag , Stojanovik Vesna
Published: May 2024

Purpose

A rise in strokes worldwide means that the number of people affected by aphasia is increasing. Early and accurate diagnosis of aphasia is crucial for recovery. Presently, there are no dedicated screening tests tailored for evaluating aphasia in Serbian-speaking individuals. This paper presents and describes the psychometric properties of the Serbian Aphasia Screening Test (SAST), a novel aphasia screening tool designed specifically for Serbian speakers. This initiative fills the gap in aphasia assessment tools for the Serbian population, providing a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach to the evaluation of language disorders.

Method

Data using the SAST were collected from 240 participants: 120 Serbian speakers with aphasia after stroke compared to 120 neurotypical individuals. The assessment included the following subtests: conversation, verbal automatized sequences, auditory comprehension, visual confrontation naming, responsive naming, repetition of words, repetition of sentences, oral word reading, oral sentence reading, reading comprehension, and writing. The main objectives were to ascertain the psychometric qualities of the SAST, including inter-rater reliability of scoring, test-retest reliability, reliability of the individual subtests, overall test reliability, and inter-correlations among subtests. Additionally, the study evaluated the discriminatory capability of the SAST in distinguishing between individuals with aphasia and neurotypical controls, as well as between individuals with different types of aphasia.

Results

The findings revealed that the SAST has excellent inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. There were statistically significant differences between individuals with aphasia and neurotypical controls on all SAST subtests. Furthermore, the study identified significant differences in language profiles among participants with different types of aphasia. The significant correlations between scores on the SAST and on the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) suggest good convergent validity of the SAST.

Conclusions

The results underscore the robust psychometric properties of this novel screening assessment (SAST) and its ability to effectively discriminate between diverse linguistic abilities within different aphasia syndromes in Serbian speaking individuals.