bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carotenoid skin ornaments as flexible indicators of male foraging behavior in a marine predator: Variation among Mexican colonies of brown booby (Sula leucogaster)
Authors: Michael Nathan P. , Torres Roxana , Welch Andreanna J. , Felis Jonathan , Adams Josh , Bonillas-Monge Mario Erandi , Hodgson Samantha , Lopez-Marquez Laura , Martínez-Flores Alejandro , Castro-Mejias Gala Enidh , Wiley Anne E.
Published: April 2024

Carotenoid-dependent ornaments can reflect animals’ diet and foraging behaviors. However, this association should be spatially flexible and variable among populations to account for geographic variation in optimal foraging behaviors. We tested this hypothesis using populations of a marine predator (the brown booby, Sula leucogaster) that forage across a gradient in ocean depth in and near the Gulf of California. Specifically, we quantified green chroma for two skin traits (foot and gular color) and their relationship to foraging location and diet of males, as measured via global positioning system tracking and stable carbon isotope analysis of blood plasma. Our three focal colonies varied in which foraging attributes were linked to carotenoid-rich ornaments. For gular skin, our data showed a shift from a benthic prey-green skin association in the shallow waters in the north to a pelagic prey-green skin association in the deepest waters to the south. Mean foraging trip duration and distance of foraging site from coast also predicted skin coloration in some colonies. Finally, brown booby colonies varied in which trait (foot versus gular skin color) was associated with foraging metrics. Overall, our results indicate that male ornaments reflect quality of diet and foraging–information that may help females select mates who are adapted to local foraging conditions and therefore, are likely to provide better parental care. More broadly, our results stress that diet-dependent ornaments are closely linked to animals’ environments and that we cannot assume ornaments or ornament signal content are ubiquitous within species, even when ornaments appear similar among populations.
Ultrasound supports clinical decision-making in determining the Sanders’ skeletal maturity score of the hand
Authors: Wagner Ferdinand , König Stefanie , Wuermeling Quirin Johannes , Sitzberger Alexandra , Paolini Marco , Weigert Annabelle , Lauseker Michael , Endres Felix , Schneller Julia , Hubertus Jochen , Holzapfel Boris Michael , Birkenmaier Christof , Ziegler Christian Max
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The Sanders Scoring System has revolutionized the way we assess the remaining growth potential of the skeleton. However, because it involves radiation exposure, it must be used with caution in children. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether the Sanders skeletal maturity score (SMS) could be accurately determined using ultrasound (U).

Methods

We took radiographs (R) of the hand and performed U of the thumb and index finger in 115 patients between six and 19 years of age who were undergoing treatment for scoliosis or limb deformities. Paediatric orthopaedic surgeons, a paediatrician, and a paediatric radiologist were evaluated the blinded images. Those classified images are based on the SMS and the Thumb Ossification Composite Index (TOCI).

Results

Intrarater reliability was high for SMS and slightly weaker for TOCI, but still significant. Interrater reliability was clear for R and weaker for U in both staging systems. Ultimately, SMS 3 and 7 achieved the highest percentage of concordance (P) of 71.7% and 66.0%, respectively, when U was performed. Combining the clinically relevant groups of SMS 3&4 and SMS 7&8 also significantly increased peak scores (SMS 3 and 4 P = 76.7%; SMS 7 and 8 P = 79.7%). The probabilities of peak scores were significantly weaker when the TOCI score was examined.

Conclusion

Our study shows that U can be used effectively especially to measure stages 3 and 4 and stages 7 and 8 of SMS. The U method is easy to use and therefore may offer advantages in clinical practice without the need for radiation exposure.
Multiparametric prenatal imaging characterization of fetal brain edema in Chiari II malformation might help to select candidates for fetal surgery
Authors: Shi Hui , Prayer Florian , Kienast Patric , Khalaveh Farjad , Nasel Christian , Binder Julia , Watzenboeck Martin. L. , Weber Michael , Prayer Daniela , Kasprian Gregor
Published: April 2024

Objective

To identify brain edema in fetuses with Chiari II malformation using a multiparametric approach including structural T2-weighted, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics, and MRI-based radiomics.

Methods

A single-center retrospective review of MRI scans obtained in fetuses with Chiari II was performed. Brain edema cases were radiologically identified using the following MR criteria: brain parenchymal T2 prolongation, blurring of lamination, and effacement of external CSF spaces. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were calculated from regions of interest (ROI), including hemispheric parenchyma, internal capsule, and corticospinal tract, and compared group-wise. After 1:1 age matching and manual single-slice 2D segmentation of the fetal brain parenchyma using ITK-Snap, radiomics features were extracted using pyradiomics. Areas under the curve (AUCs) of the features regarding discriminating subgroups were calculated.

Results

Ninety-one fetuses with Chiari II underwent a total of 101 MRI scans at a median gestational age of 24.4 weeks and were included. Fifty scans were visually classified as Chiari II with brain edema group and showed significantly reduced external CSF spaces compared to the nonedema group (9.8 vs. 18.3 mm, p < 0.001). FA values of all used ROIs were elevated in the edema group (p < 0.001 for all ROIs). The 10 most important radiomics features showed an AUC of 0.81 (95%CI: 0.71, 0.91) for discriminating between Chiari II fetuses with and without edema.

Conclusions

Brain edema in fetuses with Chiari II is common and radiologically detectable on T2-weighted fetal MRI sequences, and DTI-based FA values and radiomics features provide further evidence of microstructure differences between subgroups with and without edema.

Clinical relevance statement

A more severe phenotype of fetuses with Chiari II malformation is characterized by prenatal brain edema and more postnatal clinical morbidity and disability. Fetal brain edema is a promising prenatal MR imaging biomarker candidate for optimizing the risk-benefit evaluation of selection for fetal surgery.

Key Points

Brain edema of fetuses prenatally diagnosed with Chiari II malformation is a common, so far unknown, association.

DTI metrics and radiomics confirm microstructural differences between the brains of Chiari II fetuses with and without edema.

Fetal brain edema may explain worse motor outcomes in this Chiari II subgroup, who may substantially benefit from fetal surgery.

Graphical Abstract
Super-mini PCNL (SMP) with suction versus standard PCNL for the management of renal calculi of 1.5 cm–3 cm: a randomized controlled study from a university teaching hospital
Authors: Kankaria Sanket , Gali Kasi Viswanath , Chawla Arun , Bhaskara Sunil Pillai , Hegde Padmaraj , Somani Bhaskar , de la Rosette Jean , Laguna Pilar
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To assess the safety and efficacy of super-mini PCNL (SMP, 14 Fr) when compared to standard PCNL (sPCNL, 24–30 Fr) in the management of renal calculi of size ranging from 1.5 to 3 cm.

Methods

From February 2021 to January 2022, a total of 100 patients were randomized to either SMP group or sPCNL group in a 1:1 ratio (50 in each group) using computer-generated simple randomization. Demographic data, stone characteristics, operative times, perioperative complications, blood transfusions, postoperative drop in haemoglobin, postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay and stone-free rates were compared between the two groups.

Results

Mean stone volume (2.41 cm2 vs 2.61 cm2) and stone-free rates (98% vs 94%, p = 0.14) were similar in both the SMP and sPCNL groups, respectively. The SMP group had significantly longer mean operative times (51.62 ± 10.17 min vs 35.6 ± 6.8 min, p = 0.03). Intraoperative calyceal injury (1/50 vs 7/50, p = 0.42) and mean postoperative drop in haemoglobin (0.8 ± 0.7 g/dl vs 1.2 ± 0.81, p = 0.21) were lower in the SMP group, but not statistically significant. SMP group showed significantly lower mean postoperative pain VAS scores (5.4 ± 0.7 vs 5.9 ± 0.9, p = 0.03) and mean duration of hospital stay (28.38 ± 3.6 h vs 39.84 ± 3.7 h, p = 0.0001). Complications up to Clavien grade 2 were comparable, with grade ≥ 3 complications higher in the standard group, but not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Super-mini PCNL is equally effective as standard PCNL in treating renal calculi up to 3 cm, with significantly reduced postoperative pain and duration of hospital stay and lower risk of Clavien grade ≥ 3 complications, although with higher operative times.
The efficacy of adjunctive mitomycin C and/or anti-VEGF agents on glaucoma tube shunt drainage device surgeries: a systematic review
Authors: Figueiredo Raquel , Barbosa-Breda Joao
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The effectiveness of mitomycin C (MMC) in trabeculectomy has long been established. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive agents in tube shunt drainage device surgery for glaucoma or ocular hypertension, since controversy still exists regarding their benefit.

Methods

We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and BASE for RCTs, which have used adjuvant antimetabolites—either MMC or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)—and/or anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) agents. The main outcome was IOP reduction at 12 months.

Results

Ten studies met our inclusion criteria. Nine used the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implant, while the double-plate Molteno implant was used in one study. Four studies used MMC. The remaining six studies used an anti-VEGF drug – either bevacizumab, ranibizumab or conbercept.

Only one MMC-study reported a significant difference in the IOP reduction between groups at 12 months, favouring the MMC group (55% and 51%; p < 0.01). A significant difference was also reported by two out of five bevacizumab-studies, both favouring the bevacizumab group (55% and 51%, p < 0.05; 58% and 27%, p < 0.05), with the highest benefit seen in neovascular glaucoma cases, especially when panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) was also used. Neither ranibizumab nor conbercept were found to produce significant differences between groups regarding IOP reduction.

Conclusion

There is no high-quality evidence to support the use of MMC in tube shunt surgery. As for anti-VEGF agents, specifically bevacizumab, significant benefit seems to exist in neovascular glaucoma patients, especially if combined with PRP.
The involvement of RIPK4 in TNF-α-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production by melanoma cells
Authors: Madej Ewelina , Lisek Anna , Brożyna Anna A. , Cierniak Agnieszka , Wronski Norbert , Deptula Milena , Wardowska Anna , Wolnicka-Glubisz Agnieszka
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK4) has an oncogenic function in melanoma, regulates NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, and is sensitive to the BRAF inhibitors: vemurafenib and dabrafenib which lead to its decreased level. As its role in melanoma remains not fully understood, we examined the effects of its downregulation on the transcriptomic profile of melanoma.

Methods

Applying RNA-seq, we revealed global alterations in the transcriptome of WM266.4 cells with RIPK4 silencing. Functional partners of RIPK4 were evaluated using STRING and GeneMANIA databases. Cells with transient knockdown (via siRNA) and stable knockout (via CRISPR/Cas9) of RIPK4 were stimulated with TNF-α. The expression levels of selected proteins were assessed using Western blot, ELISA, and qPCR.

Results

Global analysis of gene expression changes indicates a complex role for RIPK4 in regulating adhesion, migration, proliferation, and inflammatory processes in melanoma cells. Our study highlights potential functional partners of RIPK4 such as BIRC3, TNF-α receptors, and MAP2K6. Data from RIPK4 knockout cells suggest a putative role for RIPK4 in modulating TNF-α-induced production of IL-8 and IL-6 through two distinct signaling pathways—BIRC3/NF-κB and p38/MAPK. Furthermore, increased serum TNF-α levels and the correlation of RIPK4 with NF-κB were revealed in melanoma patients.

Conclusion

These data reveal a complex role for RIPK4 in regulating the immune signaling network in melanoma cells and suggest that this kinase may represent an alternative target for melanoma-targeted adjuvant therapy.
Open versus robot-assisted retroperitoneal tumors resection involving inferior vena cava, abdominal aorta, and renal hilum: a comparative study
Authors: Sulaiman Manan , Ali Khan Akhtar , Chunguang Yang , Hashim Rubina , Luan Yang , Xiong Ze Zhong , Huang Hui , Wang Zhihua
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Surgery is currently the only effective treatment for retroperitoneal tumors that do not involve any specific organ. The use of robots for removing both benign and malignant retroperitoneal tumors is considered safe and feasible. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether robotic retroperitoneal tumor resection (RMBRs) is superior to open retroperitoneal malignant resection (OMBRs). This study compares the short-term outcomes of robotic excision of benign and malignant retroperitoneal tumors with open excision of the same-sized tumors.

Methods

The study compared demographics and outcomes of patients who underwent robotic resection (n = 54) vs open resection (n = 54) of retroperitoneal tumors between March 2018 and December 2022. A 1:1 matching analysis was conducted to ensure a fair comparison.

Results

The study found that RBMRs resulted in reduced operative time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBM), and postoperative hospital stay (PSH) when compared to OBMRs. Additionally, RBMRs reduced EBL, PHS, and OT for patients with malignant tumor involvement in major vessels. No significant differences were found in tumor size, blood transfusion rate, and morbidity rate between the RBMRs and OBMRs groups.

Conclusion

When comparing RMBRs to OMBRs, it was observed that RMBR was associated with lower (EBL), shorter postoperative hospital stays (PHS), and reduced operative time (OT) in a specific group of patients with both benign and malignant tumors.
Proto-tool use for food processing in wild Arabian babblers: matching processing methods, substrates and prey types
Authors: Ben Mocha Yitzchak , Frisoni Francesca , Keynan Oded , Griesser Michael
Published: April 2024

Cognition is a powerful adaptation, enabling animals to utilise resources that are unavailable without manipulation. Tool use and food processing are examples of using cognition to overcome the protective mechanisms of food resources. Here, we describe and examine the flexibility of proto-tool use (defined as the alteration of an object through object-substrate manipulation) for food processing in a cooperatively breeding bird, the Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps). Field observations demonstrate that the birds transport different caterpillar species to different substrate types depending on the processing method needed to prepare the caterpillar for eating. Species with toxic setae (e.g. Casama innotata) are transported to be rubbed on rough substrates (e.g. sand) before consumption, while other species (e.g. Hyles livornica) are transported to be pounded against hard substrates until their inner organs are removed and only their external body part is consumed. These results are among the few to describe flexible proto-tool use for food processing in wild animals. They thereby contribute to the taxonomic mapping of proto-tool use and food processing in non-human species, which is a fundamental step to advance comparative studies on the evolution of these behaviours and their underlying cognitive mechanisms.
Duration, numerosity and length processing in healthy ageing and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Romeo Z. , Dolfi S. , D’Amelio M. , Mioni G.
Published: April 2024

People constantly process temporal, numerical, and length information in everyday activities and interactions with the environment. However, it is unclear whether quantity perception changes during ageing. Previous studies have provided heterogeneous results, sometimes showing an age-related effect on a particular quantity, and other times reporting no differences between young and elderly samples. However, three dimensions were never compared within the same study. Here, we conducted two experiments with the aim of investigating the processing of duration, numerosity and length in both healthy and pathological ageing. The experimental paradigm consisted of three bisection tasks in which participants were asked to judge whether the presented stimulus (i.e. a time interval, a group of dots, or a line) was more similar to the short/few or long/many standards. The first study recruited healthy young and elderly participants, while the second recruited healthy elderly participants and patients with Parkinson’s disease, a clinical condition commonly associated with temporal impairments. The results of both experiments showed that discrimination precision differed between domains in all groups, with higher precision in the numerosity task and lower sensitivity in judging duration. Furthermore, while discrimination abilities were affected in healthy elderly and, even more so, in Parkinson’s disease group, no domain-specific impairments emerged. According to our research, reduced discrimination precision might be explained by an alteration of a single system for all quantities or by an age-related general cognitive decline.
Investigating Deep Learning for Early Detection and Decision-Making in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Hcini Ghazala , Jdey Imen , Dhahri Habib
Published: April 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, making early detection essential for effective intervention. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of deep learning techniques, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNN) and vision transformers (ViT), for the classification of AD using brain imaging data. While previous reviews have covered similar topics, this paper offers a unique perspective by providing a detailed comparison of CNN and ViT for AD classification, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach. Additionally, the review presents an updated and thorough analysis of the most recent studies in the field, including the latest advancements in CNN and ViT architectures, training methods, and performance evaluation metrics. Furthermore, the paper discusses the ethical considerations and challenges associated with the use of deep learning models for AD classification, such as the need for interpretability and the potential for bias. By addressing these issues, this review aims to provide valuable insights for future research and clinical applications, ultimately advancing the field of AD classification using deep learning techniques.
A deep learning-based approach for predicting in-flight estimated time of arrival
Authors: Silvestre Jorge , Martínez-Prieto Miguel A. , Bregon Anibal , Álvarez-Esteban Pedro C.
Published: April 2024

Predictability is key for efficient and safe air traffic management. In particular, accurately estimating time of arrival for current passenger flights may help terminal controllers to plan ahead and optimize airport operations in terms of safety and resource allocation. While traditional physics-based simulations are still widely used, they are complex to model and often fail to include many factors affecting the progress of a flight. In this paper, we propose a deep learning approach based on LSTM that leverages the 4D trajectory of the flight and weather data at the destination airport, to accurately predict estimated time of arrival. We evaluate our model on flights arriving at Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas airport (Spain), in the first three quarters of 2022, achieving a mean absolute error of 2.65 min over the entire flight and reporting competitive short- and long-term predictions at different spatial and temporal horizons.
SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Esophageal Carcinoma: A Clinical Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Shweikeh Faris , Hong Gordon , Walter Jacob , Hoscheit Matthew , Lembo Anthony , Mouchli Mohamad , Lane Jason
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus (UEC) is a rare malignancy. Deficiency in SMARCA genes, critical for chromatin regulation, has been observed in cases of UEC. Research in UEC is sparse, however, and we present a case series along with a comprehensive review of the literature.

Case Series

Case 1 is a 49-year-old female with abdominal pain and dysphagia and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showing a friable mass at the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. Biopsies showed a poorly differentiated neoplasm and immunohistochemistry showed loss for SMARCA4. With metastatic disease, she agreed to undergo palliative chemotherapy and radiation, passing away at 4 months. Case 2 is an 88-year-old male with dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, and distal esophageal mass with biopsy showing a malignancy with loss of SMARCA4 expression. Due to extensive metastases, he was counseled on hospice care. Case 3 is a 53-year-old male with extensive alcohol and smoking history presenting with hematemesis, passing away shortly. Posthumous histopathology consistent with undifferentiated SMARCA4-deficient carcinoma of the esophagus. Results of the literature review indicate a predilection towards males (75.0%) and a variable age range (39–88 years). Majority (76.2%) reported with a distal esophagus location. Metastatic disease was common at initial presentation. Median survival was 2.60 months. Some were managed with chemotherapy and radiation.

Conclusions

Research in SMARCA-deficient UEC is very limited. It is more common in men, age is variable, and associated with Barret’s esophagus. Further research is necessary to better understand it and to establish treatment guidelines; however, it is clear that SMARCA4-deficient UEC carries a significantly poor prognosis.
A single-frame infrared small target detection method based on joint feature guidance
Authors: Xu Xiaoyu , Zhan Weida , Jiang Yichun , Zhu Depeng , Chen Yu , Guo Jinxin , Li Jin , Liu Yanyan
Published: April 2024

Single-frame infrared small target detection is affected by the low image resolution and small target size, and is prone to the problems of small target feature loss and positional offset during continuous downsampling; at the same time, the sparse features of the small targets do not correlate well with the global-local linkage of the background features. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes an efficient infrared small target detection method. First, this paper incorporates BlurPool in the feature extraction part, which reduces the loss and positional offset of small target features in the process of convolution and pooling. Second, this paper designs an interactive attention deep feature fusion module, which acquires the correlation information between the target and the background from a global perspective, and designs a compression mechanism based on deep a priori knowledge, which reduces the computational difficulty of the self-attention mechanism. Then, this paper designs the context local feature enhancement and fusion module, which uses deep semantic features to dynamically guide shallow local features to realize enhancement and fusion. Finally, this paper proposes an edge feature extraction module for shallow features, which utilizes the complete texture and location information in the shallow features to assist the network to initially locate the target position and edge shape. Numerous experiments show that the method in this paper significantly improves nIoU, F1-Measure and AUC on IRSTD-1k Datasets and NUAA-SIRST Datasets.
Innovative Solutions for High-Performance Silicon Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Overcoming Challenges and Real-World Applications
Authors: Khan Mustafa , Yan Suxia , Ali Mujahid , Mahmood Faisal , Zheng Yang , Li Guochun , Liu Junfeng , Song Xiaohui , Wang Yong
Published: April 2024

Silicon (Si) has emerged as a potent anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but faces challenges like low electrical conductivity and significant volume changes during lithiation/delithiation, leading to material pulverization and capacity degradation. Recent research on nanostructured Si aims to mitigate volume expansion and enhance electrochemical performance, yet still grapples with issues like pulverization, unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth, and interparticle resistance. This review delves into innovative strategies for optimizing Si anodes’ electrochemical performance via structural engineering, focusing on the synthesis of Si/C composites, engineering multidimensional nanostructures, and applying non-carbonaceous coatings. Forming a stable SEI is vital to prevent electrolyte decomposition and enhance Li+ transport, thereby stabilizing the Si anode interface and boosting cycling Coulombic efficiency. We also examine groundbreaking advancements such as self-healing polymers and advanced prelithiation methods to improve initial Coulombic efficiency and combat capacity loss. Our review uniquely provides a detailed examination of these strategies in real-world applications, moving beyond theoretical discussions. It offers a critical analysis of these approaches in terms of performance enhancement, scalability, and commercial feasibility. In conclusion, this review presents a comprehensive view and a forward-looking perspective on designing robust, high-performance Si-based anodes the next generation of LIBs.
Characterization of geopolymer composites for 3D printing: a microstructure approach
Authors: Youssef Passant , El-Feky Muhammad S. , Ragab Ahmed M. , Serag Mohamed I.
Published: April 2024

Given the importance of geopolymer in terms of 3D printing performance and the scarcity of information on the subject, as well as previous research findings, the purpose of this study is to propose a design methodology for geopolymer concrete mix that can be used in the 3D printing process by studying the effect of fine aggregate size and type, binder type (either slag or metakaolin) and ratio (slag/metakaolin), and alkaline solution amount and ratio (NaOH/Na2SiO3). The study concluded that MK has lower fluidity than BFS under the same conditions that used the same amount of SP. However, it can be improved by adding slag. The best dosage was chosen, which is 50% MK and 50% BFS. Because of these proportions, the mixture is very dense, homogeneous and compact, which increases its microstructure analysis behavior.
Synthesis of silica-encapsulated myristic acid phase-change-assisted nanocapsules for thermal management applications
Authors: Ghufran Muhammad , Huitink David
Published: April 2024

Myristic acid-based silica (MA/SiO2) nano-encapsulated phase change materials (NePCMs) were synthesized by the sol–gel process. Five different samples of the MA/SiO2 nanocapsules were prepared by varying the mass of the myristic acid. The nanocapsules were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). These characterization techniques confirmed the successful encapsulation of the myristic acid inside the silica shell. The maximum latent heat was found to be 114.46 J/g for the sample which was prepared with 25 g myristic acid and 20 ml tetraethyl orthosilicate precursor material. The highest encapsulation ratio of approximately 62% was obtained in the same sample and the mean size of the nanocapsules was 597 nm. The thermal stability of these nanocapsules was assessed using the thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results exhibited that the thermophysical properties remained consistent after 50 heating/cooling thermal cycles indicating excellent durability of the NePCMs.
Energy Harvesting Floor Tile Using Piezoelectric Patches for Low-Power Applications
Authors: Selim Kyrillos K. , Yehia Hossam M. , Saleeb Demyana A.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

One of the sustainable energy sources derived from kinetic energy is human footsteps. This research sought to find a substitute for conventional power sources to lessen dependence on them. As a result, a floor tile excited by human footsteps was demonstrated and presented to generate usable electrical power.

Methods

Piezoelectric patches, hot melt glue sticks, wood plates, and foam plates are just a few of the commercially available materials used in the suggested technique, making it suitable and practical. In addition to the components, uncomplicated circuits like a voltage multiplier and rectifier with a capacitance filter were employed for the electrical power capture. The proposed prototype has a length of 455 mm and a width of 405 mm.

Results

Two LEDs were effectively illuminated as an actual load using electrical energy collected from human footsteps. The maximum useful power that could be harvested successfully via the proposed floor tile (one tile) was 246 mW, with an approximate cost of $10.2.

Conclusions

Designing an array of footsteps-based energy harvesting tiles covering broad areas to maximize the harvested power could be considered as a future work. Moreover, the number of pedestrians variable can be also studied for the proposed design of this study in a real excitation environment such as a railway station, subway station, street, discotheque, and wedding festival hall.
Validation of the Greek Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) in a Mature Student Community-Based Sample
Authors: Petrogiannis Konstantinos , Sangeorzan Irina , Andriopoulou Panoraia
Published: April 2024

This paper reports the validation of the Greek Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) in a mature student community-based sample (n = 734). The WEMWBS was administered as part of a battery of questionnaires, and the survey data were analyzed employing rigorous advanced multivariate methods to determine its reliability and validity. The findings revealed excellent internal consistency, a unidimensional structure substantiated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and adequate convergent validity, confirming its validity as a cohesive metric for assessing mental well-being. The validated WEMWBS has the potential to be an instrument, for researchers, healthcare professionals, and other individuals involved in assessing the current condition of mental well-being in Greek-speaking populations.
From Research to Applications: What Can We Extract with Social Media Sensing?
Authors: Bozas Aris , Andreadis Stelios , Chatzakou Despoina , Symeonidis Spyridon , Theodosiadou Ourania , Kyriakidis Pantelis , Kokkalas Alexandros , Stathopoulos Evangelos A. , Diplaris Sotiris , Tsikrika Theodora , Gialampoukidis Ilias , Vrochidis Stefanos , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: April 2024

With the constant growth of social media in our daily lives, a huge amount of information is generated online by multiple social networks. However, what can we actually extract with the science of social media sensing? It is a very challenging task to mine meaningful data out of this vast crowdsourcing volume, which also rapidly changes or ends up being misleading. The scope of this paper is to present different approaches that overcome these challenges and utilize social media information from various sources. This work illustrates applications that: improve the performance of architectural design; preserve the cultural heritage; enhance citizen security; provide early detection for disasters; and discover creeping crisis events. A large variety of analyses are presented, including, among other, disaster or crime event detection, user identity linkage, relevance classification, and community detection techniques. The evaluation of the presented methods is also given in this article, proving that they can be practical and valuable in many applications.
Explainable Anomaly Detection of Synthetic Medical IoT Traffic Using Machine Learning
Authors: Aversano Lerina , Bernardi Mario Luca , Cimitile Marta , Montano Debora , Pecori Riccardo , Veltri Luca
Published: April 2024

In the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), particularly within medical facilities, the detection and categorization of Internet traffic remain significant challenges. While conventional methods for IoT traffic analysis can be applied, obtaining suitable medical traffic data is challenging due to the stringent privacy constraints associated with the health domain. To address this, this study proposes a network traffic simulation approach using an open-source tool called IoT Flock, which supports both CoAP and MQTT protocols. The tool is used to create a synthetic dataset, to simulate IoT traffic originating from various smart devices in different hospital rooms. The study shows a complete anomaly detection analysis of IoT-Flock-generated traffic, both normal and malicious, by leveraging and comparing traditional machine learning techniques, deep learning models with multiple hidden layers, and explainable artificial intelligence techniques. The results are very promising. For the binary classification, for example, the obtained accuracy is close to $$100\%$$

100
%

in the case of the CoAP protocol. Good results are also obtained when the multinomial classification is performed, observing that CoAP packets are classified better than MQTT packets, even if the identification of the different MQTT packets reaches very high metrics for the most of the considered algorithms. Moreover, the obtained classification rules are also meaningful in the considered IoT context. The results indicate that IoT-Flock synthetic data can effectively be used to train and test machine and deep learning models for detecting abnormal IoT traffic in medical scenarios. This research attempts also to bridge the gap between IoT security and healthcare, providing useful insights into securing medical IoT networks in general.
Advanced and prospects in phenol wastewater treatment technologies: unveiling opportunities and trends
Authors: da Silva Aires Francisco Izaias , Dari Dayana Nascimento , Freitas Isabelly Silveira , da Silva Jessica Lopes , de Matos Filho José Roberto , dos Santos Kaiany Moreira , de Castro Bizerra Viviane , Sales Misael Bessa , de Souza Magalhães Francisco Lucas , da Silva Sousa Patrick , Neto Francisco Simão , de Sousa Junior Paulo Gonçalves , Cavalcante Antônio Luthierre Gama , de Castro Érico Carlos , Melo Rafael Leandro Fernandes , dos Santos José Cleiton Sousa
Published: April 2024

This study aims to explore technological advances and prospects in phenol treatment by providing a detailed bibliometric survey of wastewater treatment applications, highlighting innovative advances in research. Using the Web of Science database, we identified 79,104 articles from 2003 to 2023, later refined to 1848. The keywords were used for the initial search: “phenol”, “wastewater”, “degradation”, “treatment” and “removal”. The bibliographic review details the occurrence of journals, authors, newspapers, countries, institutions, keywords, highly cited articles, and prominent predominant research fields. In particular, the field of “Engineering” was responsible for 32% of the published articles, followed by “Ecology of Environmental Sciences” (25%) and “Chemistry” (12%). In addition, a keyword analysis revealed five major groups of clusters that indicate where the research is progressing. This aspect is crucial for understanding the evolution and perspectives of research interests over time. Therefore, future research in the field should prioritize wastewater treatment and feedstock diversification. This focus is essential to address significant challenges, such as production costs, stability, and durability of treatment processes.

Graphical Abstract
Maternal and child health care access to skilled delivery services among Ghanaian rural mothers
Authors: Adongo Awinaba Amoah , Dapaah Jonathan Mensah , Azumah Francess Dufie , Onzaberigu John Nachinaab
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Most new-born babies are born at home in rural communities which is not new phenomenon due to lack of access to primary healthcare services and trained skilled health attendants, exposing mothers and children to a high risk of labour complications. The purpose of this study was to better understand factors influence rural women's access to primary health care and skilled delivery services as well as their reasons for using or not using maternal health care and skilled delivery services.

Methods

The study employed a social survey design with a quantitative approach to data analysis. Cluster Sampling was used, possibly based on rural communities, to efficiently collect data from different geographic locations. Simple random sampling individuals from each cluster ensures that all eligible individuals have an equal chance of being included in the study. This enhances the representativity of the sample. A total of 366 mothers were selected from four rural communities in the North East Region of Ghana. The choice of sample size considered factors like the study's objectives, available resources, and the desired level of statistical power. Data was primarily gathered through the administration of a questionnaire to the respondents. Factors considered for achieving representativity include, geographic representation, accessibility, healthcare infrastructure and healthcare professionals’ attitudes.

Findings

The study found that distance to health centres limits women's access to skilled delivery services. Lack of primary health facilities in the rural communities hamper maternal and child care services delivery. The attitude of health care professionals determines a mother’s utilisation of maternal health care and skilled delivery services.

Conclusion

The study contributes to the limited research on maternal health services and their impact on mother and child health in the study area. This study is one of the first to investigate into maternal health care as a key predictor of mother and child health in the study area. The study's theoretical lens was the Andersen and Newman Health Behavioural Model theory, which supports the explanation of distance, lack of primary health centres, attitudes and lack of skilled personnel to the non-utilisation of maternal and health services in rural communities. The study recommended that primary healthcare facilities and trained health professionals should be a priority of government in rural communities to promote maternal and child healthcare.
Artificial human thinking: ChatGPT’s capacity to be a model for critical thinking when prompted with problem-based writing activities
Authors: Janse van Rensburg Joalise
Published: April 2024

The ability to think critically is an important and valuable skill that students should develop to successfully solve problems. The process of writing requires critical thinking (CT), and the subsequent piece of text can be viewed as a product of CT. One of the strategies educators may use to develop CT is modelling. Given ChatGPT’s ability to generate textual responses, one could suggest that educators can use AI-generated responses to problem-based writing activities as a model for CT. This study employed a qualitative research approach guided by the interpretivist paradigm to thematically analyse 57 digital texts produced by ChatGPT 3.5. The study found that ChatGPT 3.5 has the capacity to produce a model response which exhibits CT skills and dispositions to three different degrees namely explicit, guided, and limited. Each degree requires a certain level of educator involvement for ChatGPT 3.5ʹs textual responses to be used as a model for CT.
Understanding cross-country differences in assessment simulations: insights from South African and Canadian students
Authors: Kotlyar Igor , Pearse Noel J. , Krasman Joe
Published: April 2024

AI-based simulations for educational and assessment purposes are gaining global recognition. Informed by cultural comparison research, this study investigates cross-country variations in users’ utilization and perceptions of a simulation-based assessment. Specifically, we conducted a comparative analysis between a sample of South African and Canadian students to uncover potential differences in assessment scores, communication patterns, and reactions vis-a-vis a simulation assessment for evaluating teamwork skills. Data were collected from over 500 undergraduate students in South Africa and Canada who completed a simulation assessment and reported their reactions and perceptions. The findings yielded several noteworthy observations. First, South African students attained higher assessment scores than Canadian students; although, the difference did not quite reach statistical significance at p < 0.05. Second, significant variations were observed in the quantity and style of communication. South African students used fewer words and more polite language, while Canadian students tended to use more decisive language and provided more explanations and help to their virtual teammates. Third, South African students were more likely to perceive their virtual teammates as “human” and were less concerned whether they were real people or virtual. Lastly, compared with their Canadian counterparts, South African students reported more positive reactions and perceived the assessment to be more accurate. These findings warrant further investigation.
Prognostic value of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in advanced gastrointestinal cancer immunotherapy: evidence from published studies and a Chinese single center cohort
Authors: Yan Yidan , Rong Shiyue , Xi Yufei , Peng Huixin , Wang Xin , Wang Xiaomeng , Wu Xiuqi , Zhu Tianyi , Wu Guangyu , Yu Minhao , Xia Qing
Published: April 2024

Background

Identification of prognostic biomarkers for outcomes in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer with immunotherapy is important. This study investigated the relationship between the prognostic biomarker, pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (preNLR), and immunotherapeutic outcomes in patients with advanced GI cancer.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies reporting predictive values for preNLR in patients with advanced GI cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). The primary outcomes considered were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PFS and OS were pooled using a random effects model. We then validated the results observed in an in-house cohort of patients treated with ICIs for advanced GI cancers. Other prognostic factors for PFS and OS were explored using Cox proportional hazard analyses.

Results

Overall, 27 observational studies involving 3,610 patients with advanced GI cancer were included. Patients with higher preNLR were associated with poorer PFS (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.50–1.92) and OS (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.82–3.03) with ICI treatment. Subgroup analyses based on NLR cut-off value, research center, sample size, and ICI drugs used were consistent with the primary results. A retrospective analysis of the in-house patient cohort validated these results (PFS: HR 3.173, 95% CI 2.314–4.351; OS: HR 3.004, 95% CI 1.837–4.912). Multivariable Cox regression analysis of 174 patients showed that higher preNLR and negative programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression were independently, significantly, and unfavorably associated with PFS and OS.

Conclusion

PreNLR might be an effective prognostic biomarker for patients with advanced GI cancer treated with ICIs.
A Computational Introduction to Quantum Physics
Authors: Selstø Sølve
Published: April 2024

This concise textbook introduces an innovative computational approach to quantum mechanics. Over the course of this engaging and informal book, students are encouraged to take an active role in learning key concepts by working through practical exercises. The book equips readers with some basic methodology and a toolbox of scientific computing methods, so they can use code to simulate and directly visualize how quantum particles behave. The important foundational elements of the wave function and the Schrödinger equation are first introduced, then the text gradually builds up to advanced topics including relativistic, open, and non-Hermitian quantum physics. This book assumes familiarity with basic mathematics and numerical methods, and can be used to support a two-semester advanced undergraduate course. Source code and solutions for every book exercise involving numerical implementation are provided in Python and MATLAB®, along with supplementary data. Additional problems are provided online for instructor use with locked solutions.
Early Childhood and Digital Media
Authors: Barr Rachel , Kirkorian Heather , Coyne Sarah , Radesky Jenny
Published: April 2024

Screen time, defined as estimates of child time spent with digital media, is considered harmful to very young children. At the same time, the use of digital media by children under five years of age has increased dramatically, and with the advent of mobile and streaming media can occur anywhere and at any time. Digital media has become an integral part of family life. Imprecise global screen time estimates do not capture multiple factors that shape family media ecology. In this Element, the authors discuss the need to shift the lens from screen time measures to measures of family media ecology, describe the new Dynamic, Relational, Ecological Approach to Media Effects Research (DREAMER) framework, and more comprehensive digital media assessments. The authors conclude this Element with a roadmap for future research using the DREAMER framework to better understand how digital media use is associated with child outcomes.
Rapid dynamic aeroelastic response analysis of the highly flexible wing with distributed propellers influence
Authors: Wu X. , Zhou Z. , Wang Z.P.
Published: April 2024

A rapid nonlinear aeroelastic framework for the analysis of the highly flexible wing with distributed propellers is presented, validated and applied to investigate the propeller effects on the wing dynamic response and aeroelastic stability. In the framework, nonlinear beam elements based on the co-rotational method are applied for the large-deformation wing structure, and an efficient cylinder coordinate generation method is proposed for attached propellers at different position. By taking advantage of the relatively slow dynamics of the high-aspect-ratio wing, propeller wake is modeled as a quasi-steady skewed vortex cylinder with no updating process to reduce the high computational cost. Axial and tangential induced velocities are derived and included in the unsteady vortex lattice method. For the numerical cases explored, results indicate that large deformation causes thrust to produce wing negative torsion which limits the displacement oscillation, and slipstream mainly increases the response values. In addition, an improvement of flutter boundary is found with the increase of propeller thrust while slipstream brings a destabilising effect as a result of the increment of dynamic pressure and local lift. The great potential of distributed propellers in gust alleviation and flutter suppression of such aircraft is pointed out and the method as well as conclusions in this paper can provide further guidance.