bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of financial incentives for control of viral hepatitis among substance users: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Wanchen , Zhang Lu
Published: November 2024

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a significant global health challenge in substance users who are at a higher risk of infection. Financial incentives have been proposed as a strategy to enhance vaccine uptake among high-risk groups. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of financial incentives in increasing HBV vaccination rates among substance users.

Methods

A literature search across various databases was done for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials evaluating the impact of financial incentives on HBV vaccination rates in substance users. Six studies with a total of 3,886 participants were included. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of evidence, and a random-effects meta-analysis was done to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) for vaccination uptake.

Results

Financial incentives were associated with a significant increase in the HBV vaccination uptake rates among substance users, with pooled RR of 2.261 (95% CI: 1.327–3.851), despite considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 93.7%). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings. However, GRADE assessment indicated a very low quality of evidence, primarily due to risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, and potential publication bias, highlighted by a significant Luis Furuya–Kanamori (LFK) index of 6.42.

Conclusion

Financial incentives significantly improve HBV vaccination rates among substance users, underscoring their potential as a public health intervention in this high-risk population. Low quality of evidence calls for further high-quality RCTs to confirm these results and explore the most effective incentive strategies.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024505277, identifier CRD42024505277.
Oral microbial changes, oral mucositis and febrile neutropenia during myelosuppressive chemotherapy in patients diagnosed with a solid tumor or lymphoma
Authors: Zecha Judith A. E. M. , Raber-Durlacher Judith E. , Brandt Bernd W. , Buijs Mark J. , Zaura Egija , de Lange Jan , Smeele Ludwig E. , Laheij Alexa M. G. A.
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the possible changes of the oral microbiome during myelosuppressive chemotherapy (CT) and to investigate the potential relationship between the oral microbiome, the presence of oral mucositis (OM) and febrile neutropenia (FN).

Methods

A prospective, longitudinal, observational study was conducted in patients receiving myelosuppressive CT for a solid tumor or lymphoma. Oral rinsing samples were retrieved before, during and after the start of CT, but also when OM or FN was present. The samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and statistical analysis was performed using alpha (Shannon) and beta (PERMANOVA) diversity analyses. Furthermore, differential abundances were analyzed using ALDEx2v1.32.0. Differences between groups were calculated using the Mann Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank using R.

Results

Forty-six patients, with a mean follow up of 114 days, were included for analysis and a total of 138 oral rinsing samples were available in the CLR-transformed data for PERMANOVA and 137 samples—for alpha diversity calculation. Significant changes in alpha diversity were seen when OM or FN was present. Moreover, significant changes were seen in beta diversity during the course of the CT treatment and when OM was present. Genera showing substantial changes in relative abundance were Streptococcus during the course of CT treatment and Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Selenomonas, Actinomyces and Leptotrichia when OM was present.

Conclusion

Changes in the oral microbiome were observed during the CT-regimen and when OM was present. Furthermore, changes of the oral microbiota during FN episodes were observed; however, larger studies should be performed to substantiate our results.
Inefficiencies in water supply and perceptions of water use in peri-urban and rural water supply systems: case study in Cali and Restrepo, Colombia
Authors: Callejas Moncaleano Diana Carolina , Pande Saket , Haeffner Melissa , Rodríguez Sánchez Juan Pablo , Rietveld Luuk
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Water scarcity is a significant global challenge that frequently manifests as inadequate water supply for domestic purposes. However, domestic water insecurity can occur even in regions where water is naturally abundant. Despite Colombia’s plentiful surface water resources, rural and peri-urban communities often experience limited access to water. Existing water supply systems are frequently susceptible to poor maintenance, particularly in remote areas where much of the infrastructure remains outdated. Consequently, water is often lost through leaks or unintentional non-domestic use. Although a regulatory framework for water usage exists, it does not consistently translate into effective implementation.

Methodology

Based on an extensive survey of approximately 1000 households in four rural and four peri-urban communities in the Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia, we identified the factors underlying inefficient water supply and use. Perceived water use at the household level, based on self-reported time spent on various use types, such as bathing, and water supplied at the system level, was estimated.

Results and discussion

Household size, education level, age and occupation were found to be critical factors influencing end water use and water supply. This not only elucidates why water is supplied and used inefficiently in rural systems (e.g., due to non-domestic use), but also accounts for the variability of perceived water use within peri-urban systems. The water use perceived by households in the rural systems was statistically similar across the rural systems studied and was significantly lower than that in the peri-urban systems. Most rural systems exhibited very low ratios of perceived water use to water supplied, indicating that either water is lost in conveyance or that water is used for non-domestic purposes. Peri-urban users, who perceived to use more water than users in rural areas, were associated with younger and more educated households. Higher education levels were also associated with better financial capacity and technical ability to manage water systems; therefore, peri-urban systems were better managed.
Impact of limb ischemic preconditioning on the incidence of vein thrombosis in patients with peripherally inserted central catheter
Authors: Zhao Han , Kou Changhua , Zhao Hao , Liu Qing , He Maosheng , Wang Cong , Zhu Saisai , Ma Li , Wang Yun
Published: November 2024

Background

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are increasingly used in clinical practice, which also leads to an increased incidence of PICC-related thrombosis. Local thrombus formation could be prevented by limb ischemic preconditioning (IPC). This study aimed to determine whether IPC can prevent deep vein thrombosis in patients with PICC.

Methods

A total of 600 breast cancer patients receiving PICC were randomized into two groups between July 2016 and July 2018 at the Department of Radiation Oncology. In the preconditioning group, 5 min of ischemic preconditioning was performed three times before PICC, whereas no preconditioning was performed in the sham group. The coagulation function levels, the PICC-related complications, the length of hospital stay, the cost of hospitalization, and the satisfaction of patients were compared.

Results

The coagulation function levels of patients in the preconditioning group were more normal than in patients from the sham group. In total, 56/300 patients in the sham group had presence of PICC-related thrombosis, with only 23/300 in the IPC group, with no significant difference in other complications between the two groups. However, a longer hospital stay was observed in the sham group compared to the IPC group. Moreover, the cost of hospitalization was also reduced in the IPC group, which also improved the satisfaction of patients.

Conclusion

Limb ischemic preconditioning may attenuate the severity of vein thrombosis in patients with PICC, which contributes to reducing the incidence of PICC-related thrombosis in clinical practice.
Realidad virtual: transformando la educación, turismo y negocios hacia un futuro sostenible
Authors:   Universidad Tecnológica Empresarial de Guayaquil, Carrasquero Ferrer Sedolfo José , Bastardo Contreras Xiomara Josefina , Viteri Guzmán Grace Katiusca , Vaca Suárez Gustavo Gabriel , Bayas Paulina Donoso ,   Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Vizcaíno Imacaña Fernanda Paulina ,   Universidad Internacional del Ecuador
Published: November 2024

El volumen que el lector tiene en sus manos aborda el fenómeno de la realidad virtual desde la perspectiva didáctica y, a la vez, hacia un horizonte en el que los actores tengan un factor positivo en la evolución de dicha disciplina. A su vez, se convierte en el estudio de una bisagra engarzadora entre batientes tan movilizadoras de la academia como son el turismo, siempre desde la venta del desarrollo sostenible. A su vez, subraya nociones importantes del trabajo de la mujer en la ciencia y la tecnología, sin dejar de lado las últimas experiencias en la proyección de ecosistemas comunitarios hacia otros escritos simbólicos. Una valiosa serie de instituciones apoyan estos estudios desde sus recursos y habilidades y aspiran al diálogo con ulteriores acometidas.
Detecting Botrytis Cinerea Control Efficacy via Deep Learning
Authors: Yi Wenlong , Zhang Xunsheng , Dai Shiming , Kuzmin Sergey , Gerasimov Igor , Cheng Xiangping
Published: November 2024

This study proposes a deep learning-based method for monitoring the growth of Botrytis cinerea and evaluating the effectiveness of control measures. It aims to address the limitations of traditional statistical analysis methods in capturing non-linear relationships and multi-factor synergistic effects. The method integrates colony growth environment data and images as network inputs, achieving real-time prediction of colony area through an improved RepVGG network. The innovations include (1) combining channel attention mechanism, multi-head self-attention mechanism, and multi-scale feature extractor to improve prediction accuracy and (2) introducing the Shapley value algorithm to achieve a precise quantitative analysis of environmental variables’ contribution to colony growth. Experimental results show that the validation loss of this method reaches 0.007, with a mean absolute error of 0.0148, outperforming other comparative models. This study enriches the theory of gray mold control and provides information technology for optimizing and selecting its inhibitors.
Applicability of Different Assimilation Algorithms in Crop Growth Model Simulation of Evapotranspiration
Authors: Wang Jingshu , Li Ping , Bi Rutian , Xu Lishuai , He Peng , Zhao Yingjie , Li Xuran
Published: November 2024

Remote sensing spatiotemporal fusion technology can provide abundant data source information for assimilating crop growth model data, enhancing crop growth monitoring, and providing theoretical support for crop irrigation management. This study focused on the winter wheat planting area in the southeastern part of the Loess Plateau, a typical semi-arid region, specifically the Linfen Basin. The SEBAL and ESTARFM were used to obtain 8 d, 30 m evapotranspiration (ET) for the growth period of winter wheat. Then, based on the ‘localization’ of the CERES-Wheat model, the fused results were incorporated into the data assimilation process to further determine the optimal assimilation method. The results indicate that (1) ESTARFM ET can accurately capture the spatial details of SEBAL ET (R > 0.9, p < 0.01). (2) ESTARFM ET can accurately capture the spatial details of SEBAL ET (R > 0.9, p < 0.01). The calibrated CERES-Wheat ET characteristic curve effectively reflects the ET variation throughout the winter wheat growth period while being consistent with the trend and magnitude of ESTARFM ET variation. (3) The correlation between Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) ET and ESTARFM ET (R2 = 0.7119, p < 0.01) was significantly higher than that of Four-Dimensional Variational data assimilation (4DVar) ET (R2 = 0.5142, p < 0.01) and particle filter (PF) ET (R2 = 0.5596, p < 0.01). The results of the study provide theoretical guidance to improve the yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in the region, which will help promote sustainable agricultural development.
Site Preparation and Planting Strategies to Improve Native Forb Establishment in Pasturelands
Authors: Bellangue David , Barney Jacob , Flessner Michael , Kubesch Jonathan , O’Rourke Megan , Tracy Benjamin , Reid John Leighton
Published: November 2024

Increasing the diversity of native forbs in pasturelands can benefit insect pollinator populations, which have been declining widely. Establishing native forbs into existing pasturelands can be challenging, however, and information about effective planting strategies in these systems is lacking. In this study, we evaluated several planting strategies to improve native forb establishment. Two field experiments were conducted in Virginia, USA in 2021 and 2022. Experiment 1 evaluated how six herbicide treatments and tillage affected establishment success when forbs were planted in summer or fall. Experiment 2 investigated how different seeding rates from 2.2 to 56 kg/ha and pre-seeding cold stratification affected forb establishment. In experiment 1, treatments using Roundup/glyphosate and tillage resulted in the most forb establishment. Planting in summer improved establishment with Roundup/glyphosate application. In experiment 2, native forb plant establishment was positively associated with seeding rate (p < 0.001), with a rate of 56 kg/ha resulting in almost 3x more forbs compared to the lowest seeding rate. Cold stratification also increased target plant establishment (p < 0.01), but these effects were inconsistent among species. Our results suggest that effective native forb establishment can be achieved through intensive site preparation with Roundup/glyphosate or tillage to suppress vegetation and planting at rates no higher than 11 kg/ha.
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Cultivation and Breeding in the Republic of Korea: Advances and Future Perspectives
Authors: Kim Dong-Kwan , Iwar Kanivalan , Ochar Kingsley , Park Sin-Young , Go Eun-Byul , Lee Kyung-Dong , Kim Seong-Hoon
Published: November 2024

The cowpea is one of the most important legume species globally, with both the grains and fresh pods widely consumed for the rich nutritional content. In the Republic of Korea, the cultivation and breeding progress of cowpeas is relatively low but gradually receiving interest due to its potential contribution to nutrition and sustainable agriculture. Given the changing pattern of global climatic conditions, any effort in cowpea breeding in Korea may focus on important traits such as improving yield, stress resistance, and adaptability to local climate. This review provides a discussion on the current status of the cultivation and breeding of cowpeas in the Republic of Korea, with the aim of improving crop performance, agricultural sustainability, and food security.
OsABT Negatively Regulates the Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction Pathway in Rice Seedling Roots
Authors: Bao Lingran , Shen Yi , Yan Yijie , Huang Xuanzhu , Wen Danni , Shen Bo
Published: November 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a main food crop in China and is crucial for the maintenance of national food security. The growth of rice seedling roots is regulated by a variety of genes and is closely related to abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism and ABA signaling pathways. In this study, we found that OsABT could increase the length of rice root tip meristem cells and upregulate root development-related genes, thereby alleviating ABA’s inhibitory effects on rice root growth and seed germination. The overexpression of OsABT reduced the ABA content by downregulating ABA synthesis genes (OsNCED3 and OsNCED5) and upregulating the ABA catabolic gene (OsABA8ox2). In addition, OsABT interacted with OsPYL4, OsPYL10, and OsABIL2 via the ABA signal transduction pathway. By inhibiting the expression of positive regulatory genes (OsPYL9 and Rab16a) and increasing the expression of a negative regulatory gene (OsABIL1), OsABT negatively regulates the ABA signal transduction pathway. Transcriptome analysis revealed that OsABT inhibited the activity of Gene Ontology entries in response to ABA. Thus, OsABT increased the length of the rice root meristem, reduced the accumulation of ABA in the roots, and negatively regulated the ABA signal transduction pathway by interacting with key proteins in this pathway, ultimately relieving the inhibitory effect of ABA on rice root length and seed germination.
Alleviating Continuous Cropping Obstacles in Celery Using Engineered Biochar: Insights into Chemical and Microbiological Aspects
Authors: Lin Chia-Chia , Chuang Ya-Hui , Shen Fo-Ting , Chung Wen-Hsin , Chen Chi-Yu , Liu Yu-Ting , Hsieh Yi-Cheng , Tzou Yu-Min , Jien Shih-Hao
Published: November 2024

In the pursuit of environmental sustainability and food security, biochar has emerged as a promising soil conditioner to mitigate continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). This study explored the use of engineered biochar (WP400) with high adsorption capacity for phenolic acids in celery cultivation. Using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) for both target and suspect analyses, along with Biolog EcoPlate™ to track the functional diversity of soil bacteria, the study examined chemical and microbiological interactions at varying WP400 application rates. WP400 enhanced celery growth, reduced disease severity, and adsorbed p-coumaric acid (COU), a potential autotoxin. Additionally, other potential allelochemicals, predominantly fatty acid-related, were identified, suggesting a broader role for fatty acids in allelopathy. WP400 also influenced soil bacterial carbon utilization and altered microbial communities. However, higher WP400 doses (0.8% w/w) may not be beneficial for celery growth and reduced bacterial metabolic potential, indicating limitations to its effectiveness. Proper application of WP400 provides a sustainable solution for alleviating continuous cropping issues, promoting both environmental sustainability and agricultural development.
Straw Mulching and Weather Conditions Affecting the Trade-Off Between Grain Yield and Agronomic Traits of Maize
Authors: Du Kun , Li Zhao , Li Fadong
Published: November 2024

Straw mulching (SM) plays an important role in promoting the grain yield (GY) of maize under no-tillage conditions. However, there is still a lack of deep understanding on the interactive impact of SM and weather conditions on agronomic traits and the contributions to GY. This study selected a cornfield in the North China Plain as the research object and set up a straw management experiment, including SM and no straw mulching (NSM). The GY and agronomic traits of maize from 2018 to 2020 were monitored, and the relationship of agronomic traits with GY and the weather conditions were analyzed. The results show that SM promoted maize GY by 20.44%. Straw mulching increased the plant height, ear diameter, and ear height by 8.43%, 1.99%, and 12.65%, respectively. A correlation analysis showed that the ear length and ear height were the main factors affecting maize yield. Ear length was significantly correlated with kernel numbers per ear in SM. Growing degree days, hot dry wind, and air temperature significantly affected kernel numbers per ear and plant growth. This study highlights the contributions of agronomic factors to maize GY under SM and variable weather conditions and is helpful to improve cropland management.
Obtention of a Sensitive Acylated Pyrogallol[4]arene-Based Sensor for the Detection of Carnitine: A Spectroscopic and DRX Study
Authors: Casas-Hinestroza José Luis , Pérez-Redondo Adrián , Maldonado Mauricio
Published: November 2024

Complexation between carnitine and acetylated or benzylated pyrogallol[4]arenes was studied in DMSO via dynamic NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and in the gas phase via electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In the presence of benzylated tetra(phenyl)pyrogallol[4]arene, the interaction with carnitine via NMR was evident and was confirmed by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, where the formation of a host–guest-type complex was observed; this was stable and exhibited a change to a clear color. With benzylated tetra(propyl)pyrogallol[4]arene, the results showed that there was no interaction with the neurotransmitter. A plausible explanation for this behavior is based on the dynamic behavior of the benzylated tetra(propyl)pyrogallol[4]arene, and this shows the dependence on the size of the cavities and the substituent on the lower rim of the pyrogallo[4]arenes. Suitable crystals of O-acetylated-tetra(propyl)calix[4]pyrogallolarene were obtained and were characterized through an X-ray crystal structure determination.
Phytogenic Synthesis of Cuprous and Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles Using Black jack Leaf Extract: Antibacterial Effects and Their Computational Docking Insights
Authors: Paramasivam Sutha , Chidambaram Sathishkumar , Karumalaiyan Palanisamy , Velayutham Gurunathan , Chinnasamy Muthusamy , Pitchaipillai Ramar , Kumar K. J. Senthil
Published: November 2024

Background: Green synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have gained increasing popularity in recent times due to their broad spectrum of antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to develop a phytofabrication approach for producing cuprous (Cu2O) and cupric oxide (CuO) NPs using a simple, non-hazardous process and to examine their antimicrobial properties. Methods: The synthesis employed Bidens pilosa plant extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, alongside copper chloride dihydrate as the precursor. The biosynthesized NPs were characterized through various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results: XRD analysis confirmed that the synthesized CuO and Cu2O NPs exhibited a high degree of crystallinity, with crystal structures corresponding to monoclinic and face-centered cubic systems. SEM images revealed that the NPs displayed distinct spherical and sponge-like morphologies. EDS analysis further validated the purity of the synthesized CuO NPs. The antimicrobial activity of the CuO and Cu2O NPs was tested against various pathogenic bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) used to gauge their effectiveness. Conclusions: The results showed that the phytosynthesized NPs had promising antibacterial properties, particularly the Cu2O NPs, which, with a larger crystal size of 68.19 nm, demonstrated significant inhibitory effects across all tested bacterial species. These findings suggest the potential of CuO and Cu2O NPs as effective antimicrobial agents produced via green synthesis.
Simultaneous HPLC of Metformin, Glipizide and Gliclazide, and Metformin Uptake and Protection of HEI-OC1 from Hyperglycaemia
Authors: Gedawy Ahmed , Al-Salami Hani , Dass Crispin R.
Published: November 2024

The antidiabetic drugs metformin, glipizide and gliclazide have been used for many years to control blood glucose levels. In recent years, they have gained importance in non-diabetic pharmacological purposes including cancer and hearing loss treatment. Co-administration of these therapeutics represents a challenge to some clinicians seeking an efficient, sensitive and rapid analytical method to use in the pharmacokinetic studies and the therapeutic monitoring of these agents. This research outlines the development and validation of a new precise, robust, sensitive, selective and rapid ion-pairing reversed-phase HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of a ternary mixture of metformin, glipizide and gliclazide in the same isocratic chromatographic run within 5 min. The limits of detection were 59.22 ng/mL for metformin, 169.48 ng/mL for glipizide and 151.29 ng/mL for gliclazide. The method was applied in quantifying metformin uptake by the auditory cell line HEI-OC1, to gain an insight into the kinetics of this biguanide in the organ of Corti. Metformin exhibited a concentration-dependent uptake by HEI-OC1 cells up to 5 mM, after which, saturation of the uptake was noticed. When HEI-OC1 cells were subjected to diabetes-simulated conditions, metformin was able to mitigate the hyperglycaemic stress and revealed a protective role in this cell line.
A Study on the Determination Method of the Gear Reduction Ratio for Electric Trains Considering Drive Shaft Relative Damage and Motor Efficiency
Authors: Kwon Soonhyun , Jeong Jongbok , Kim Dongkyeom , Lim Wonsik
Published: November 2024

This study presents a method for determining the optimal gear ratio in electric trains by examining the effects of motor efficiency, wheel wear, and relative damage to the input and output shafts of the reduction gear. In electric trains, reduction gears and wheels are critical for converting the driving motor’s torque and determining the motor’s operational point, which in turn affects efficiency and durability. Over time, wheel wear from regular use and periodic profiling reduces the wheel radius, causing an effective increase in the gear ratio, which impacts the motor efficiency and load distribution across drivetrain components. This study models the dynamic behavior of the vehicle’s drivetrain system using MATLAB/Simulink and incorporates real-world data on wheel wear to address the problem. Through simulations with varying gear ratios, it analyzes changes in motor efficiency and uses Miner’s rule to assess the relative damage on the reduction gear’s input and output shafts. The results enable the identification of a gear ratio that balances motor efficiency and reduces cumulative fatigue damage, which is especially important for maintaining long-term drivetrain durability. This approach provides a systematic way to enhance the overall performance and lifespan of electric train systems by selecting a gear ratio that optimally aligns efficiency and durability.
Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity: A Review and a Case Study
Authors: Okdem Selcuk , Okdem Sema
Published: November 2024

The evolving landscape of cyber threats necessitates continuous advancements in defensive strategies. This paper explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as an emerging tool to enhance cybersecurity. While AI holds widespread applications across information technology, its integration within cybersecurity remains a recent development. We offer a comprehensive review of current AI applications in this domain, focusing particularly on their preventative capabilities against prevalent threats like phishing, social engineering, ransomware, and malware. To illustrate these concepts, the paper presents a case study showcasing a specific AI application in a cybersecurity context. This case study addresses a critical gap in securing communication within resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) networks using the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. We discussed the advantages and limitations of employing PN sequence encryption for this purpose.
Improving the Quality of Experience of Video Streaming Through a Buffer-Based Adaptive Bitrate Algorithm and Gated Recurrent Unit-Based Network Bandwidth Prediction
Authors: Woo Jeonghun , Hong Seungwoo , Kang Donghyun , An Donghyeok
Published: November 2024

With the evolution of cellular networks and wireless-local-area-network-based communication technologies, services for smart device users have appeared. With the popularity of 4G and 5G, smart device users can now consume larger bandwidths than before. Consequently, the demand for various services, such as streaming, online games, and video conferences, has increased. For improved quality of experience (QoE), streaming services utilize adaptive bitrate (ABR) algorithms to handle network bandwidth variations. ABR algorithms use network bandwidth history for future network bandwidth prediction, allowing them to perform efficiently when network bandwidth fluctuations are minor. However, in environments with frequent network bandwidth changes, such as wireless networks, the QoE of video streaming often degrades because of inaccurate predictions of future network bandwidth. To address this issue, we utilize the gated recurrent unit, a time series prediction model, to predict the network bandwidth accurately. We then propose a buffer-based ABR streaming technique that selects optimized video-quality settings on the basis of the predicted bandwidth. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on a dataset provided by Zeondo by categorizing instances of user mobility into walking, bus, and train scenarios. The proposed algorithm improved the QoE by approximately 11% compared with the existing buffer-based ABR algorithm in various environments.
Guided Decision Tree: A Tool to Interactively Create Decision Trees Through Visualization of Subsequent LDA Diagrams
Authors: Mohedano-Munoz Miguel A. , Raya Laura , Sanchez Alberto
Published: November 2024

Decision trees are a widely used machine learning technique due to their ease of interpretation and construction. This method allows domain experts to learn from raw data, but they cannot include their prior knowledge in the analysis due to its automatic nature, which implies minimal human intervention in its computation. Conversely, interactive visualization methods have proven to be effective in gaining insights from data, as they incorporate the researcher’s criteria into the analysis process. In an effort to combine both methodologies, we have developed a tool to manually build decision trees according to subsequent visualizations of data mapping after applying linear discriminant analysis in combination with Star Coordinates in order to analyze the importance of each feature in the separation. The nodes’ information contains data about the features that can be used to split and their cut-off values, in order to select them in a guided manner. In this way, it is possible to produce simpler and more expertly driven decision trees than those obtained by automatic methods. The resulting decision trees reduces the tree size compared to those generated by automatic machine learning algorithms, obtaining a similar accuracy and therefore improving their understanding. The tool developed and presented here to manually create decision trees in a guided manner based on the subsequent visualizations of the data mapping facilitates the use of this method in real-world applications. The usefulness of this tool is demonstrated through a case study with a complex dataset used for motion recognition, where domain experts built their own decision trees by applying their prior knowledge and the visualizations provided by the tool in node construction. The resulting trees are more comprehensible and explainable, offering valuable insights into the data and confirming the relevance of upper body features and hand movements for motion recognition.
Hybrid AI-Powered Real-Time Distributed Denial of Service Detection and Traffic Monitoring for Software-Defined-Based Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks: A New Paradigm for Securing Intelligent Transportation Networks
Authors: Polat Onur , Oyucu Saadin , Türkoğlu Muammer , Polat Hüseyin , Aksoz Ahmet , Yardımcı Fahri
Published: November 2024

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are wireless networks that improve traffic efficiency, safety, and comfort for smart vehicle users. However, with the rise of smart and electric vehicles, traditional VANETs struggle with issues like scalability, management, energy efficiency, and dynamic pricing. Software Defined Networking (SDN) can help address these challenges by centralizing network control. The integration of SDN with VANETs, forming Software Defined-based VANETs (SD-VANETs), shows promise for intelligent transportation, particularly with autonomous vehicles. Nevertheless, SD-VANETs are susceptible to cyberattacks, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, making cybersecurity a crucial consideration for their future development. This study proposes a security system that incorporates a hybrid artificial intelligence model to detect DDoS attacks targeting the SDN controller in SD-VANET architecture. The proposed system is designed to operate as a module within the SDN controller, enabling the detection of DDoS attacks. The proposed attack detection methodology involves the collection of network traffic data, data processing, and the classification of these data. This methodology is based on a hybrid artificial intelligence model that combines a one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN) and Decision Tree models. According to experimental results, the proposed attack detection system identified that approximately 90% of the traffic in the SD-VANET network under DDoS attack consisted of malicious DDoS traffic flows. These results demonstrate that the proposed security system provides a promising solution for detecting DDoS attacks targeting the SD-VANET architecture.
On Generalizations of Jacobi–Jordan Algebras
Authors: Abdelwahab Hani , Abdo Naglaa Fathi , Barreiro Elisabete , Sánchez José María
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we present some generalizations of Jacobi–Jordan algebras. More concretely, we will focus on noncommutative Jacobi–Jordan algebras, Malcev–Jordan algebras, and general Jacobi–Jordan algebras. We adapt a method, used to classify Poisson algebras, in order to classify all general Jacobi–Jordan algebras up to dimension 4, and, in particular, all noncommutative Jacobi–Jordan algebras up to dimension 4. We present the classification of Malcev–Jordan algebras up to dimension 5. As the class of Jacobi–Jordan algebras (commutative algebras that satisfy the Jacobi identity), we find that Malcev–Jordan algebras are Jordan algebras but not necessarily nilpotent. However, we show that the classification of nilpotent Malcev–Jordan algebras is sufficient to obtain the classification of the whole class.
Mechanisms of Heat Stress on Neuroendocrine and Organ Damage and Nutritional Measures of Prevention and Treatment in Poultry
Authors: Huang Yuyin , Cai Hongying , Han Yunsheng , Yang Peilong
Published: November 2024

Heat stress (HS) due to high temperatures has adverse effects on poultry, including decreased feed intake, lower feed efficiency, decreased body weight, and higher mortality. There are complex mechanisms behind heat stress in poultry involving the neuroendocrine system, organ damage, and other physiological systems. HS activates endocrine glands, such as the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, and gonadal, by the action of the hypothalamus and sympathetic nerves, ultimately causing changes in hormone levels: HS leads to increased corticosterone levels, changes in triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels, decreased gonadotropin levels, reduced ovarian function, and the promotion of catecholamine release, which ultimately affects the normal productive performance of poultry. Meanwhile, heat stress also causes damage to the liver, lungs, intestines, and various immune organs, severely impairing organ function in poultry. Nutrient additives to feed are important measures of prevention and treatment, including natural plants and extracts, probiotics, amino acids, and other nutrients, which are effective in alleviating heat stress in poultry. Future studies need to explore the specific mechanisms through which heat stress impacts the neuroendocrine system in poultry and the interrelationships between the axes and organ damage so as to provide an effective theoretical basis for the development of preventive and treatment measures.
Uricase-Expressing Engineered Macrophages Alleviate Murine Hyperuricemia
Authors: Feng Yu-Zhong , Cheng Hao , Xiong Guo-Qing , Cui Jia-Zhen , Chen Zhi-Li , Lu Yuan-Yuan , Meng Zhi-Xin , Zhu Chen , Dong Hao-Long , Xiong Xiang-Hua , Liu Gang , Wang Qing-Yang , Chen Hui-Peng
Published: November 2024

Background: Uricase, or urate oxidase (Uox) is a key enzyme in uric acid (UA) metabolism and has been applied in clinical treatment of human hyperuricemia (HUA). However, the current clinically applied uricases, despite their potent urate-lowering capacity, tend to form anti-drug antibodies because of their immunogenicity, leading to increased risk of anaphylaxis, faster drug clearance and reduced or even complete loss of therapeutic effect, limiting their clinical application. In this study, we constructed engineered macrophages that stably expressed uricase, which might serve as a promising alternative to the direct injection of uricases. Materials and Methods: Engineered macrophages RAW264.7 cells were injected intravenously to treat hyperuricemic KM mice. Serum uric acid and bio-indicators for renal and hepatic functions were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer; inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA; the livers and kidneys of the mice were sectioned for histological examination. Results: The uricase-expressing macrophages reduced UA levels from 300 ± 1.5 μmol/L to 101 ± 8.3 μmol/L in vitro. And in an HUA mouse model established by gavage with yeast extract, intravenous injection of the engineered macrophages could reduce the serum uric acid (sUA) of mice to normal level on the 14th day of modeling, with a decrease of 48.6%, and the urate-lowering effect was comparable to that of the first-line clinical drug allopurinol. In terms of safety, engineered macrophages did not cause liver or kidney dysfunction in mice, nor did they induce systemic immune response. Conclusions: Using macrophages as a chassis to deliver uricase might be a new, safe and effective strategy for the treatment and control of hyperuricemia.
Metaheuristic Algorithm and Laser Projection for Adjusting the Model of the Last Lower Surface to a Footprint
Authors: Rodríguez J. Apolinar Muñoz
Published: November 2024

Nowadays, metaheuristic algorithms have been applied to optimize last lower-surface models. Also, the last lower-surface model has been adjusted through the computational algorithms to perform custom shoe lasts. Therefore, it is necessary to implement nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms to perform the adjustment of last lower-surface model to the footprint topography. In this study, a metaheuristic genetic algorithm is implemented to adjust the last lower surface model to the footprint topography. The genetic algorithm is constructed through an objective function, which is defined through the last lower Bezier model and footprint topography, where a mean error function moves the last lower surface toward the footprint topography through the initial population. Also, the search space is deduced from the last lower surface and footprint topography. In this way, the genetic algorithm performs explorations and exploitations to optimize a Bezier surface model, which generates the adjusted last lower surface, where the surface is recovered via laser line scanning. Thus, the metaheuristic algorithm enhances the last lower-surface adjustment to improve the custom last manufacture. This contribution is elucidated by a discussion based on the proposed metaheuristic algorithm for surface model adjustment and the optimization methods implemented in recent years.
Sub- and Supra-Second Duration Perception of Implied Motion: Differences Between Athletes and Non-Athletes
Authors: Zheng Weiqi
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to investigate the differences in duration perception between athletes and non-athletes when looking at implied motion images within sub- and supra-second time ranges. By adopting the temporal bisection method, the study analyzed the duration perception of 20 college student athletes and 20 non-athletes regarding the implied motion of daily life (running and walking) and static postures (standing). The results showed that the effect of movement posture was significant, i.e., the perceived duration of the implied motion posture was longer than that of the static posture. Specifically, athletes perceived longer durations in the supra-second time range compared to non-athletes, indicating that long-term training enhanced athletes’ time perception abilities. The findings provide new insights into the cognitive mechanisms of time perception and emphasize the influence of long-term physical training on temporal perceptual capabilities.
Drivers and Obstacles of Consumers’ Continuous Participation Intention in Online Pre-Sales: Social Exchange Theory Perspective
Authors: Wang Ya , Qiu Xiaodong , Yin Jiwang , Wang Liya , Cong Rong
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on the factors influencing consumers’ continuous participation willingness in online pre-sale activities. Based on perceived value and social exchange theory, it analyzes how perceived benefits (including practical benefits, hedonic benefits, and social benefits) and perceived costs (including search costs, waiting costs, and adjustment costs) affect consumer satisfaction and their continuous participation intention in online pre-sales. A total of 527 valid questionnaires were collected, and structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The results indicate that perceived benefits are significantly positively correlated with consumer satisfaction and their willingness to continue participating, while perceived costs are significantly negatively correlated with both aspects. Additionally, the study found that product type moderates the effect of perceived benefits and perceived costs on consumer satisfaction. This research helps retailers understand consumers’ willingness to continuously participate in online pre-sales and provides valuable insights for developing pre-sale strategies.
Environmental Benefits of Fluorogypsum Reuse in the Production of Construction Materials
Authors: Rakhadilov Bauyrzhan , Kengesbekov Aidar , Kylyshkanov Manarbek , Bayatanova Lyaila , Amangeldyevna Abdulina Saule , Bayandinova Moldir
Published: November 2024

Fluorohypsum is a solid, large-tonnage waste generated during the production of hydrofluoric acid. The volume of accumulated waste in the world is hundreds of millions of tons, which makes its utilization an increasingly urgent task. This article presents the results of research aimed at the use of fluorohypsum as a component of building materials. On the basis of the obtained data, the technological scheme of manufacturing products based on anhydrite binder is developed. It was established that the introduction of specialized additives into gypsum–anhydrite mixtures significantly increases the bond strength with the base (up to four times). The mixture of gypsum and anhydrite with a 75/25 arrangement provides tensile strength of up to 4.3 MPa and bending strength of 1.8 MPa, which exceeds similar indicators for traditional building materials. An economic analysis has shown a 20–25% reduction in the cost of composite production compared to the use of natural gypsum, which provides cost savings and makes these materials competitive.
An Examination of the Spatial Distribution Patterns of National-Level Tourism and Leisure Districts in China and Their Underlying Driving Factors
Authors: Sheng Shuangqing , Pan Huanli , Ning Lei , Zhang Zhongqian , Xue Qiuli
Published: November 2024

In recent years, tourism and leisure districts have become a pivotal aspect of China’s tourism development. Analyzing their spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors is essential for fostering comprehensive district tourism and promoting sustainable development, while also facilitating the profound integration of culture and tourism. This study undertakes a thorough investigation of the spatiotemporal patterns of national-level tourism and leisure districts in China, employing GIS spatial statistical analysis techniques, including the Average Nearest-Neighbor Index, Kernel Density Analysis, and Standard Deviation Ellipse. Additionally, this research identifies the principal driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of these districts through overlay analysis, buffer analysis, and geographic detectors. The findings reveal that (1) tourism and leisure districts exhibit a notable spatial clustering pattern, characterized by a predominance in the eastern regions and scarcity in the west, alongside a higher concentration in the south compared to the north, with a gradual decline in spatial density. (2) High-density tourism and leisure districts are predominantly located in the Yangtze River Delta and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomerations, while regions of elevated density are situated in the southwest (notably in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces). The centroids of the first to third batches of tourism and leisure districts have transitioned from southern to northern locations. (3) The population density factor exhibits the most substantial explanatory power regarding the distribution of tourism and leisure districts (q: 0.80528), followed by the added value of the tertiary industry (q: 0.53285), whereas the slope factor shows minimal influence (q: 0.00876). Furthermore, the distance to rivers of grade three and above, in conjunction with population density, constitutes the primary factor combination influencing the spatial configuration of tourism and leisure districts (q: 0.9101).
Research on the 3D Visualization Method of Web-Based Seismic Wave CT Results and the Application in Underground Caverns
Authors: Li Tianwen , Xing Jieyun
Published: November 2024

This paper introduces a novel 3D visualization technique for seismic tomography results utilizing WebGL technology, which operates independently of specific software platforms and offers highly efficient visualization. The method constructs the mesh using wave velocity as a reference point, applies vertex and surface coloring techniques to the model, and integrates CT detection data, resulting in a detailed color rendering and a clear visual representation of the model. The visualization outcomes are presented on an intelligent construction platform with a response time maintained within 2 s. To validate the efficacy of the proposed method, it was applied to the underground cavern project of a hydropower station and compared with the geological 3D design software developed independently by the Northwest China Institute of Architectural Engineering. The comparative results demonstrate that the proposed visualization technique effectively identifies weak geological layers and displays the distribution of surrounding rock types in underground structures. This provides intuitive references for devising support schemes for underground structures and facilitates digital management during project construction.