bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring Connectivity in Robotic Swarms – A Probabilistic Approach
Authors: Eshaghi Kasra , Sari Naeimeh Najafizadeh , Haigh Cameron , Roman Darie , Nejat Goldie , Benhabib Beno
Published: June 2024

Connectivity is an integral trait for swarm robotic systems to enable effective collaboration between the robots in the swarm. However, connectivity can be lost due to events that could not have been a priori accounted for. This paper presents a novel probabilistic connectivity-restoration strategy for swarms with limited communication capabilities. Namely, it is assumed that the swarm comprises a group offollowerrobots whose global connectivity to a base can only be achieved via a localizedleaderrobot. In this context, the proposed strategy incrementally restores swarm connectivity by searching for the lost robots in regions-of-interest (RoIs) determined using probability theory. Once detected, newly found robots are either recruited to help the leader in the restoration process, or directly guided to their respective destinations through accurate localization and corrective motion commands. The proposed swarm-connectivity strategy, thus, comprises the following three stages: (i) identifying a discrete set of optimal RoIs, (ii) visitation of these RoIs, by the leader robot, via an optimal inter-region search path, and (iii) searching for lost robots within the individual RoIs via an optimal intra-region search path. The strategy is novel in its use of a probabilistic approach to guide the leader robot’s search as well as the potential recruitment of detected lost robots to help in the restoration process. The effectiveness of the proposed probabilistic swarm connectivity-restoration strategy is represented, herein, through a detailed simulated experiment. The significant efficiency of the strategy is also illustrated numerically via a comparison to a competing random-walk based method.
I Didn’t Want the Psychotic Thing to Get Out to Anyone at All: Adolescents with Early Onset Psychosis Managing Stigma
Authors: Klauber Dea Gowers , Christensen Sofie Heidenheim , Fink-Jensen Anders , Pagsberg Anne Katrine
Published: June 2024

The impact of stigmatisation on adults with mental illnesses has been thoroughly demonstrated. However, little is known about experiences of stigmatisation among adolescents with mental illness. Through semi-structured interviews with 34 Danish adolescents (14–19 years) diagnosed with psychosis, this study explores adolescents’ experiences of psychosis stigma. On the basis of phenomenological analysis, we find that stigmatisation is widely experienced, and psychosis is generally regarded as more stigmatising than co-morbid mental illnesses. The participants engage in different strategies to manage possible stigma, especially strategies of (non-)disclosure. Disclosure is experienced as both therapeutic and normative, but also bears the risk of stigmatisation, and is therefore associated with numerous considerations. Being understood when disclosing is central to the participants, and lack of understanding from others is a continuous challenge. Nevertheless, participants experience benefits when feeling understood by people they confide in and can to a degree create the grounds for this through centralising aspects of their experiences of psychosis and mental illness. We argue that disclosure is both a stigma management strategy and a normative imperative, and that being understood or not is a challenge transcending stigma definitions.

Clinical trial registration: Danish Health and Medicines Authority: 2612-4168. The Ethics Committee of Capital Region: H-3-2009-123. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01119014. Danish Data Protection Agency: 2009-41-3991.
Assessing and accounting for measurement in intensive longitudinal studies: current practices, considerations, and avenues for improvement
Authors: Vogelsmeier Leonie V. D. E. , Jongerling Joran , Maassen Esther
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Intensive longitudinal studies, in which participants complete questionnaires multiple times a day over an extended period, are increasingly popular in the social sciences in general and quality-of-life research in particular. The intensive longitudinal methods allow for studying the dynamics of constructs (e.g., how much patient-reported outcomes vary across time). These methods promise higher ecological validity and lower recall bias than traditional methods that question participants only once, since the high frequency means that participants complete questionnaires in their everyday lives and do not have to retrospectively report about a large time interval. However, to ensure the validity of the results obtained from analyzing the intensive longitudinal data (ILD), greater awareness and understanding of appropriate measurement practices are needed.

Method

We surveyed 42 researchers experienced with ILD regarding their measurement practices and reasons for suboptimal practices.

Results

Results showed that researchers typically do not use measures validated specifically for ILD. Participants assessing the psychometric properties and invariance of measures in their current studies was even less common, as was accounting for these properties when analyzing dynamics. This was mainly because participants did not have the necessary knowledge to conduct these assessments or were unaware of their importance for drawing valid inferences. Open science practices, in contrast, appear reasonably well ingrained in ILD studies.

Conclusion

Measurement practices in ILD still need improvement in some key areas; we provide recommendations in order to create a solid foundation for measuring and analyzing psychological constructs.
Culture and social entrepreneurship: the role of value-practice misalignment
Authors: Brownell Katrina M. , Hechavarria Diana M. , Robb Colleen C. , Kickul Jill
Published: June 2024

Scholars tend to evaluate the effects of cultural factors on social entrepreneurial activity based on either cultural values or cultural practices. However, societal inconsistencies between values and practices have the potential to create uncertainty in expected entrepreneurial behaviors. In this paper, we operationalize cultural dissonance as the gap between cultural values and cultural practices and draw on role congruity theory to theorize and test how cultural dissonance influences engagement in social entrepreneurship. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness, and the World Bank datasets (N = 23,828), we show that cultural dissonance can either impede or encourage social entrepreneurial activity and that female entrepreneurs are less sensitive to these effects than male entrepreneurs.
Population-specific responses to pollution exposure suggest local adaptation of invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii along the Mediterranean French coastline
Authors: Raffalli Marie-Catherine , Bojórquez-Sánchez Ana María , Lignot Jehan-Hervé , Martínez-Alarcón Diana
Published: June 2024

Anthropogenic stressors can have an impact in a broad range of physiological processes and can be a major selective force leading to rapid evolution and local population adaptation. In this study, three populations of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii were investigated. They are geographically separated for at least 20 years, and live in different abiotic environments: a freshwater inland lake (Salagou lake) with no major anthropogenic influence and two other coastal wetlands regularly polluted by pesticides along the Mediterranean coast (Camargue region and Bages-Sigean lagoon). Collected adults were genetically characterized using the mitochondrial COI gene and haplotype frequencies were analyzed for genetic variability within and between populations. Results revealed a higher genetic diversity for these invasive populations than any previous report in France, with more than seven different haplotypes in a single population. The contrasting genetic diversity between the Camargue and the other two populations suggest different times and sources of introduction. To identify differences in key physiological responses between these populations, individuals from each population were maintained in controlled conditions. Data on oxygen consumption rates indicate that the Salagou and Bages-Sigean populations possess a high inter-individual variability compared to the Camargue population. The low individual variability of oxygen consumption and low genetic diversity suggest a specific local adaptation for the Camargue population. Population-specific responses were identified when individuals were exposed to a pesticide cocktail containing azoxystrobin and oxadiazon at sublethal concentrations. The Salagou population was the only one with altered hydro-osmotic balance due to pollutant exposure and a change in protease activity in the hepatopancreas. These results revealed different phenotypic responses suggesting local adaptations at the population level.
A Fully-Automated Senescence Test (FAST) for the high-throughput quantification of senescence-associated markers
Authors: Neri Francesco , Takajjart Selma N. , Lerner Chad A. , Desprez Pierre-Yves , Schilling Birgit , Campisi Judith , Gerencser Akos A.
Published: June 2024

Cellular senescence is a major driver of aging and age-related diseases. Quantification of senescent cells remains challenging due to the lack of senescence-specific markers and generalist, unbiased methodology. Here, we describe the Fully-Automated Senescence Test (FAST), an image-based method for the high-throughput, single-cell assessment of senescence in cultured cells. FAST quantifies three of the most widely adopted senescence-associated markers for each cell imaged: senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity (SA-β-Gal) using X-Gal, proliferation arrest via lack of 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, and enlarged morphology via increased nuclear area. The presented workflow entails microplate image acquisition, image processing, data analysis, and graphing. Standardization was achieved by (i) quantifying colorimetric SA-β-Gal via optical density; (ii) implementing staining background controls; and (iii) automating image acquisition, image processing, and data analysis. In addition to the automated threshold-based scoring, a multivariate machine learning approach is provided. We show that FAST accurately quantifies senescence burden and is agnostic to cell type and microscope setup. Moreover, it effectively mitigates false-positive senescence marker staining, a common issue arising from culturing conditions. Using FAST, we compared X-Gal with fluorescent C12FDG live-cell SA-β-Gal staining on the single-cell level. We observed only a modest correlation between the two, indicating that those stains are not trivially interchangeable. Finally, we provide proof of concept that our method is suitable for screening compounds that modify senescence burden. This method will be broadly useful to the aging field by enabling rapid, unbiased, and user-friendly quantification of senescence burden in culture, as well as facilitating large-scale experiments that were previously impractical.
Fluvial ecology disasters: the impact of the Gliwice Canal on the ecological crisis in the Oder River basin, Poland (2022)
Authors: Ruman Marek , Janczewska Natalia , Kosek Klaudia , Artichowicz Wojciech , Nasiek Magdalena , Matysik Magdalena
Published: June 2024

In August 2022, the Oder River experienced an ecological disaster, resulting in the extinction of hundreds of aquatic organisms. Mass fish deaths also occurred during that time in the Gliwice Canal, located in southern Poland, which connects to the upper section of the Oder River. The aim of the article was to assess the impact of the waters from the Gliwice Canal on the water quality changes in the Oder River, as expressed by chloride, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate content, as well as its parameters such as conductivity, temperature, and pH. Statistical analyses were conducted based on our own research and a series of data collected by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Below the confluence of the Oder River with the waters of the canal, an increase in sulphates levels and a decrease in sodium content were observed. The other parameters remained unchanged. It was also noted that the magnitude of each parameter was significantly higher in the waters of the Gliwice Canal compared to the Oder River. The research conclusion is that there is no influence of the canals’ waters on the quality of the Oder River waters, both during the ecological disaster and afterwards. The presented research clearly indicates the need for separate analyses of flowing waters (with significantly higher salt and other pollutant dissolution capacity) and stagnant waters in water infrastructure (without water exchange).
Nurses and Voluntary Assisted Dying: How the Australian Capital Territory’s Law Could Change the Australian Regulatory Landscape
Authors: Jeanneret R. , Prince S.
Published: June 2024

On June 5, 2024, the Australian Capital Territory passed a law to permit voluntary assisted dying (“VAD”). The Australian Capital Territory became the first Australian jurisdiction to permit nurse practitioners to assess eligibility for VAD. Given evidence of access barriers to VAD in Australia, including difficulty finding a doctor willing to assist, the Australian Capital Territory’s approach should prompt consideration of whether the role of nurses in VAD should be expanded in other Australian jurisdictions. Drawing on lessons from Canada, which currently permits nurse practitioners to assess patient eligibility, we argue that the time has come for Australian jurisdictions to expand the role of nurses in VAD systems. This would be an important step in ensuring access to VAD for patients in practice. Attention, however, must also be paid to ensuring adequate remuneration of nurses (and doctors) if this goal of promoting access is to be achieved in practice.
Regression Tree and Clustering for Distributions, and Homogeneous Structure of Population Characteristics
Authors: Minami Mihoko , Lennert-Cody Cleridy E.
Published: June 2024

Scientists often collect samples on characteristics of different observation units and wonder whether those characteristics have similar distributional structure. We consider methods to find homogeneous subpopulations in a multidimensional space using regression tree and clustering methods for distributions of a population characteristic. We present a new methodology to estimate a standardized measure of distance between clusters of distributions and for hierarchical testing to find the minimal homogeneous or near-homogeneous tree structure. In addition, we introduce hierarchical clustering with adjacency constraints, which is useful for clustering georeferenced distributions. We conduct simulation studies to compare clustering performance with three measures: Modified Jensen–Shannon divergence (MJS), Earth Mover’s distance and Cramér–von Mises distance to validate the proposed testing procedure for homogeneity. As a motivational example, we introduce georeferenced yellowfin tuna fork length data collected from the catch of purse-seine vessels that operated in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hierarchical clustering, with and without spatial adjacency constraints, and regression tree methods were applied to the density estimates of length. While the results from the two methods showed some similarities, hierarchical clustering with spatial adjacency produced a more flexible partition structure, without requiring additional covariate information. Clustering with MJS produced more stable results than clustering with the other measures.
Diabetes and long duration leading to speech-, low/mid-, and high- frequency hearing loss: current evidence from the China National Health Survey 2023
Authors: Huang H. , Fan Y. , Yan F. , Hu Y. , He H. , Xu T. , Zhu X. , Zhu Y. , Diao W. , Xia X. , Tu J. , Li A. , Lin B. , Liu Q. , Lu Z. , Xi T. , Wang W. , Xu D. , Chen Z. , Wang Z. , Chen X. , Shan G.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To examine the effect of diabetes, duration of diabetes, and blood glucose on speech-, low/mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 2821 participants aged 20–87 years in the China National Health Survey were included. Diabetes was defined as valid fasting blood glucose (FBG) of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, a self-reported history of diabetes or the use of anti-diabetic medications. Speech-(500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz), low/mid- (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz), and high-frequency (4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz) hearing loss was defined as pure tone average of responding frequencies > 20 dB HL in the better ear, respectively.

Results

In fully adjusted models, for speech-, low/mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss, compared with no diabetes, those with diabetes (OR[95%CI]: 1.44 [1.12, 1.86], 1.23 [0.94, 1.61], and 1.75 [1.28, 2.41], respectively) and with diabetes for > 5 years duration (OR[95%CI]: 1.63 [1.09, 2.42], and 1.63 [1.12, 2.36], 2.15 [1.25, 3.70], respectively) were at higher risk. High FBG level was associated with a higher risk of speech-, low/ mid-, and high-frequency hearing loss. And there were stronger associations between HL and diabetes, longer duration and higher in “healthier population” (no hypertension, no dyslipidemia and younger age).

Conclusion

Diabetes, longer duration, and higher FBG level were independently associated with hearing loss for speech-, low/mid- and high-frequency hearing loss, particularly in higher frequency and “healthier population”. Paying more attention to hearing loss in those populations could lower the burden of hearing loss.
The self-healing performance of asphalt binder and mixtures: a state-of-the-art review
Authors: Jwaida Zahraa , Dulaimi Anmar , Mydin Md Azree Othuman , Kadhim Yasir N. , Al-Busaltan Shakir
Published: June 2024

The intrinsic ability of asphalt pavement to undergo self-healing is not sufficient enough to effectively repair fractures resulting from a range of variables, including traffic load, asphalt aging and weather conditions. Consequently, the field of self-healing technology is focused on advancing crack repair techniques by employing microwave and induction heating and encapsulation amongst other healing procedures. These approaches make use of a range of additives, including waste materials and polymers, to facilitate the healing process. The present paper provides an in-depth review of self-healing technologies used for asphalt pavements, this including their conceptualization, development, application and the methods used to evaluate its performance. The self-healing capacity of materials can be influenced by various parameters including humidity, molecular diffusion, induction conditions, temperature and time. As such, treatments have the potential to enhance self-healing capacity, but with varying degrees of success depending on the specific evaluation indicator and healing situation. By examining international research, this review will also draw attention to the global relevance of the applicability of asphalt self-healing techniques used to enhance the durability and sustainability of transportation infrastructures worldwide. This paper therefore, serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and policymakers engaged in the pursuit of innovative solutions for resilient and cost-effective pavement systems on an international scale. This review also proposes prospective pathways for further study that will serve as a basis for future development of the industry.
The network of sports: using network analysis to understand the relationship between sports and socio-physiological factors in contemporary China
Authors: Bi Xiangyang , Sun Zhanning , Hu Boran
Published: June 2024

This study examines sports and physical activities among Chinese aged 18–65, using network analysis on a significant random sample. It categorizes sports into 11 groups based on public selection, with a community detection algorithm aiding classification. Variables like age, gender, and education were integrated, revealing how life stages, gender disparities, and social class influence activity participation. The mixed graph model shows both positive and negative correlations among activities, highlighting the role of sports as both a social integrator and divider, reflective of broader societal norms and inequalities. The exponential random graph model further illustrates a complex network of demographic-driven participation patterns. The purpose of this investigation is twofold: to advance methodological approaches in the study of sports-related social networks and to explore the broader implications such networks may have on individual and collective behaviors within this field.
Empirische Unterrichtsforschung – quo vadis?
Authors: Reusser Kurt
Published: June 2024

Die quantitative pädagogisch-psychologische Unterrichtsqualitätsforschung (UQF) hat durch die Identifikation von generischen Basismerkmalen zu einem tieferen Verständnis von Unterrichtsqualität beigetragen. In Kontrast dazu steht, dass die Forschungsergebnisse die Schulpraxis kaum oder wenig verständnistief erreichen. Der Text plädiert für eine allgemein und fachdidaktische Fundierung der Unterrichtsqualitätsforschung und sieht darin einen Beitrag zur Weiterentwicklung ihrer Qualitätskonzepte und zu einer an das Unterrichtshandeln stärker anschlussfähigen, theoretisch und methodisch weniger eng geführten Forschungspraxis.
Characterisation of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 strains in Turkey and their transmission to various vegetative compatibility types of Cryphonectria parasitica
Authors: Çakar Deniz , Özer Göksel , Şimşek Seçil Akıllı , Maden Salih
Published: June 2024

Characterization of the Cryphonectria parasitica population was initially done by a phenotypical assessment of 40 in vitro grown isolates obtained from 52 healing cankers collected from eight important chestnut-growing provinces of Turkey. The results of Bavendamm test, often correlated indirectly to hypovirulence, suggested 31 possibly hypovirulent and 9 virulent isolates. PCR tests amplified two regions of ORFs A and B of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) from 36 of 40 isolates. The PCR test confirmation was more sensitive than the Bavendamm test. Partial ORFA sequencing revealed 36 CHV-1 haplotypes belonging to Italian subtype (I), with all hypovirulent isolates being of EU-1 vc type. The CHV-1 from 10 native EU-1 isolates were first transferred to six European vc type testers, EU-2, EU-3, EU-5, EU-7, EU-26, and EU-44, having heteroallelism at one vic locus. The presence of the vic locus difference generally reduces virus transmission. The easiest and highest frequency virus transfer was obtained by vic4 and vic6 allelic differences, while the differences vic2 and vic7 made the transfer more challenging. Finally, in this study we successfully transferred CHV-1 to an EU-1 isolate obtained from the Bursa province to an EU-12 European tester isolate.
Dynamic Color Regulation of the Lycaenid Butterfly Wing Scales
Authors: Sun Mingxia , Meng Weihao , Yin Haiwei , Fan Lingjie , Shi Lei , Watson Gregory S. , Watson Jolanta A. , Wang Jingxia , Jiang Lei , Liang Aiping
Published: June 2024

Butterfly coloration originates from the finely structured scales grown on the underlying wing cuticle. Most researchers who study butterfly scales are focused on the static optic properties of cover scales, with few works referring to dynamic optical properties of the scales. Here, the dynamic coloration effect of the multiple scales was studied based on the measurements of varying-angle reflection and the characterization of scale flexibility in two species of Lycaenid, Plebejus argyrognomon with violet wings and Polyommatus erotides with blue wings. We explored the angle-dependent color changeability and the color-mediating efficiency of wing scales. It was found that the three main kinds of flexible scales (cover, ground and androconia scales) were asynchronously bent during wing rotation, which caused the discoloration effect. The three layers of composite scales broaden the light signal when compared to the single scale, which may be of great significance to the recognition of insects. Specifically, the androconia scales were shown to strongly contribute to the overall wing coloration. The cover scale coloration was ascribed to the coherence scattering resulted from the short-range order at intermediate spatial frequencies from the 2D Fourier power spectra. Our findings are expected to deepen the understanding of the complex characteristics of biological coloration and to provide new inspirations for the fabrication of biomimetic flexible discoloration materials.
Dynamic output feedback control strategy for a satellite orbital model within negative-imaginary systems theory framework
Authors: Choudhary Santosh Kumar , Chokkadi Shreesha
Published: June 2024

This article presents the synthesis of a dynamic output feedback controller for a satellite orbital system confronted with uncertainties. The investigated method transforms the closed-loop system, synthesized by the controller, into an $$\alpha $$
α
-strictly negative-imaginary system. It utilizes the DC-loop gain condition associated with negative-imaginary systems theory to demonstrate robust stability of the satellite orbital system in the presence of uncertainties. Furthermore, the synthesized negative-imaginary closed-loop system exhibits notable time-domain performance. The numerical simulation outcomes presented in this article validate the investigated synthesis method.
Enabling Civil Single-Pilot Operations: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Puca Nicola , Guglieri Giorgio
Published: June 2024

Advanced avionics and automation technologies have significantly transformed cockpit operations, resulting in a gradual reduction of the crew members on-board. Single-pilot operations (SPO) concept is gaining significant attention in the aviation industry due to its potential for cost savings and to cope with the anticipated pilot shortage and the increasing air traffic demand. This paper conducts a scoping literature review on SPOs, serving as an initial step to map the scientific peer-reviewed content on the subject. The survey focuses on three thematic domains, which are, respectively, operations, automation, and the emerging field of digital and cognitive flight assistants. The methodology involved the use of Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore databases. Sources were selected adapting the search criteria to the proposed sub-topics and prioritizing either the most cited and recent contributions. The analysis of the literature reveals a growing body of work in the recent years. This review also highlights interest in the human-centered design for automation solutions which are responsive to cognitive and behavioral states of the pilot. While acknowledging the potential safety and operational challenges associated with SPOs and the pilot-automation cooperation, this work suggests that great research efforts should be made on the human factor and regulatory subjects to pave the way for a feasible and safe implementation of the single-pilot paradigm in commercial aviation.
Executing Ad-Hoc Queries on Large Geospatial Data Sets Without Acceleration Structures
Authors: Bormann Pascal , Krämer Michel , Würz Hendrik M. , Göhringer Patrick
Published: June 2024

In this case study, we investigate if it is possible to harness the capabilities of modern commodity hardware to perform ad-hoc queries on large raw geospatial data sets. Normally, this requires building an index structure, which is a time-consuming process. We aim to provide means to individual users who receive a new or updated geospatial data set and want to directly start working with it without having to build such an index structure first. To this end, we conduct various experiments on two distinct types of data: 3D building models and point clouds. For the former, we demonstrate that well-known algorithms such as fast string search allow a wide range of queries to be answered in at most a few seconds on data sets with over a million buildings. The usage of progressive indexing additionally improves query run time by more than a factor of two. Regarding point clouds, we achieve similar run times using the popular LAS file format and a query throughput of up to a billion points per second when using a columnar memory layout. The run time of ad-hoc queries is often on par with that of database-driven solutions, sometimes even outperforming them. Considering that ad-hoc queries require no preprocessing, our results show that they are a viable alternative to acceleration structures when working with geospatial data.
A green binder for cold weather applications: enhancing mechanical performance of alkali-activated slag through modulus, alkali dosage, and Portland cement substitution
Authors: Dener Murat , Altunhan Ufuk , Benli Ahmet
Published: June 2024

Below 5 °C, Portland cement (PC) experiences delayed hydration, slowing strength development, making it unsuitable for winter. Alkali-activated slag (AAS) emerges as a viable alternative with continuous hydration in low-temperature conditions. The effect of the activator nature on the performance of AAS cured at normal temperatures is well known, but further studies are required for low-temperature conditions. This study investigates the synergistic impact of activator modulus (1.2 and 1.5), alkali dosage (5, 7, and 9%), and PC substitution rates (0, 10, and 20%), on low-temperature cured AAS properties. Eighteen mixtures were prepared and cured at 2 °C. Compression and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were conducted after 7, 28, and 90 days. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed to examine the microstructure of the samples. Elevating alkali dosage enhanced early age strength but resulted in a drop in 90-day strength. Simultaneous increases in modulus and PC substitution rate reduced strength due to shrinkage-induced crack formation. Optimal mixture design options included using 10% PC in the 1.2 modulus and omitting PC when the 1.5 modulus was selected. Despite low temperatures, the use of PC significantly accelerated the setting time. Altering modulus and alkali dosage caused a considerable change in the intensity of the peaks in the FTIR spectrum. The findings indicate that AAS shows promise when adjusting the mixture design for temperatures below 5 °C, which are unfavorable for the hydration of PC.
Comparing cognitive load in learning spatial ability: immersive learning environment vs. digital learning media
Authors: Jian Yi , Abu Bakar Juliana Aida
Published: June 2024

Spatial ability is an important skill for art students, and its learning difficulty lies in the students' need to form abstract three-dimensional thinking and spatial perception. Common digital learning media (DLM) consume many cognitive resources and result in a limited spatial ability for students to learn. Previous studies have shown that virtual reality (VR) technology has unique advantages in improving spatial ability and training design thinking. This study uses VR technology to design an immersive learning environment (ILE) and discusses the differences between students' learning performance and cognitive load in DLM mode based on slides and ILE mode based on VR technology. Twenty-eight first-year university students participated in the experiment, divided into control and experimental groups based on their entrance grades and gender. The student's learning performance and cognitive load were obtained through academic ability tests and questionnaires. The experimental results show that the main effect of the learning environment is significant. Students in ILE have lower cognitive load and higher learning performance, and gender does not significantly influence cognitive load and academic performance. However, DLM increases students' cognitive load, and the cognitive load of females is higher than that of males. The results of this study provide a reference for future spatial ability learning and the impact of cognitive load on learning performance while also supporting efforts towards sustainable development by promoting innovative educational approaches aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Human feedback enhanced autonomous intelligent systems: a perspective from intelligent driving
Authors: Yuan Kang , Huang Yanjun , Guo Lulu , Chen Hong , Chen Jie
Published: June 2024

Artificial intelligence empowers the rapid development of autonomous intelligent systems (AISs), but it still struggles to cope with open, complex, dynamic, and uncertain environments, limiting its large-scale industrial application. Reliable human feedback provides a mechanism for aligning machine behavior with human values and holds promise as a new paradigm for the evolution and enhancement of machine intelligence. This paper analyzes the engineering insights from ChatGPT and elaborates on the evolution from traditional feedback to human feedback. Then, a unified framework for self-evolving intelligent driving (ID) based on human feedback is proposed. Finally, an application in the congested ramp scenario illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Application of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Vulnerability Analysis of Intelligent Ship Network
Authors: Lan Dan , Xu Peilong , Nong Jia , Song Junkang , Zhao Jie
Published: June 2024

The improvement in transportation efficiency, security, safety, and environmental effects may be possible due to the impending advent of autonomous ships. Automatic situational awareness, risk detection, and intelligent decision-making are the key features of the intelligent ship network, differentiating it from conventional ships. There is an immediate need to implement a system for marine information management and network security due to the growing importance of this field, which poses a risk to national and societal stability due to factors, such as the diversity and complexity of marine information types, the challenges associated with data collection, and other similar factors. By recognizing different vulnerabilities and through research cases of the ship systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, this paper presents Adaptive Fuzzy Logic-assisted Vulnerability Analysis of Intelligent Ship Networks (AFL-VA-ISN) in various cyberattack scenarios for autonomous ship intrusion detection and information management. Fuzzy logic has been combined with AI, providing a framework for handling uncertainty and imprecision in intelligent ship networks and effective decision-making. This work presents a method for detecting anomalies in risk data based on the collaborative control structure of the Ship Information System. Maintaining the network security of intelligent ships is the primary focus of this research, which mainly employed multi-sensor nodes to evaluate data containing information about malicious attacks and placed self-execution protection organize generating nodes into place to intercept and protect against attacks. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the suggested AFL-VA-ISN model increases the data transmission rate by 99.2%, attack detection rate by 98.5%, risk assessment rate by 97.5%, and access control rate of 96.3%, and reduces the network latency rate of 11.4% compared to other existing models.
Age-specific Multimorbidity Patterns and Burden on All-Cause Mortality and Public Direct Medical Expenditure: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hong Sabrina Nan , Lai Francisco Tsz Tsun , Wang Boyuan , Choi Edmond Pui Hang , Wong Ian Chi Kei , Lam Cindy Lo Kuen , Wan Eric Yuk Fai
Published: June 2024

Objective

To evaluate age-specific multimorbidity patterns and morbidity burden on mortality and healthcare expenditure across age groups.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective observational study between January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017 using electronic health records in Hong Kong: Individuals were stratified by age (< 50, 50–64, 65–79, ≥ 80), and sub-classified by number of morbidities (0, 1, 2, 3, ≥ 4) out of 21 common chronic conditions. Clustering analyses were conducted to identify specific patterns of multimorbidity. Association between the number as well as combinations of morbidities and all-cause mortality and public expenditure was examined.

Results

4,562,832 individuals with a median follow-up of 7 years were included. Mental disorders were the top morbidities among young individuals, while cardiovascular diseases were prevalent in the elderly. An increased number of morbidities was associated with a greater relative risk for mortality and medical expenditure, and this relationship was stronger among younger patients. Compared to individuals in the same age group without morbidity, the hazard ratios (HR; 95% CI) of all-cause mortality in patients aged < 50 and ≥ 80 with two comorbidities 3.81 (3.60–4.03) and 1.38 (1.36–1.40), respectively, which increased to 14.22 (9.87–20.47) and 2.20 (2.13–2.26), respectively, as the number of morbidities increased to ≥ 4. The stroke-hypertension cluster was shown to be associated with the highest HR of mortality 2.48 (2.43–2.53) among all identified clusters arising from the clustering analysis.

Conclusion

Given the stronger association between multimorbidity and all-cause mortality and greater opportunity costs in younger populations, prevention and management of early-onset multimorbidity are warranted. (248 words)
Engaging science across cultures: building a research community of Buddhist monastics and undergraduate and faculty mentors
Authors: Goldberg David , Poppitz George , Sonsurkar Sayli , Manuel Joshua , Klaus Jacob , Zhang Eric , Goldberg Michael , Gray Kelsey , Eisen Arri
Published: June 2024

Emory University has had a long relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama through the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. Recently the Tenzin Gyatso Science Scholars, who are Tibetan Buddhist monastics that reside and take courses on Emory’s campus, were enrolled in a novel science research course designed and taught by undergraduate students at Emory. The goal of this study was to build a research community of Buddhist monastics who worked alongside undergraduate and graduate mentors to complete projects in R1 research laboratories, and the course was designed as preparation for these efforts. The course covered aspects of the scientific method and focused on enhancing engagement and motivation of the Scholars to pursue science research. Knowledge acquisition was assessed through quizzes, affect changes were assessed through focus group interviews, and overall course success was measured through Principal Investigator surveys. Conceptual knowledge and overall average improvement increased significantly week-to-week. Changes in affect for self-efficacy, belonging, knowledge, and future applications/drive trended towards improvement in each respective category. Finally, all seven Monastic Scholars who participated in the research curriculum were enrolled in R1 research experiences after conclusion of the course, and their principal investigators positively evaluated the preparedness and motivation of the monastics. The curriculum detailed here and its implementation facilitated cross-cultural education and successfully transitioned students from the classroom into research laboratories.
The measurement errors of google trends data
Authors: Liu Kerry
Published: June 2024

Google Trends is a popular data source that has been utilized in hundreds of studies across various fields, including information technology, business, economics, healthcare, and political science. While several previous research has addressed sampling error issues, this article focuses on the measurement errors resulting from changes in Google Trends' data collection method. By examining key phrases such as ‘covid-19,’ ‘decoupling China,’ and ‘debt trap diplomacy,’ this article reveals that, after 2022 when the data collection method was updated, Google Trends generates search results for terms that were not yet coined or yields too few results. These ‘strange’ search results indicate the presence of measurement errors in Google Trends data. Scholars are advised to validate the contents of Google Trends data through additional steps. In particular, authors in fields like business, economics, and healthcare are encouraged to replicate their research conducted before 2022 to assess the forecasting errors arising from the new data sets retrieved after that period.
Can ChatGPT provide high-quality patient information on male lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostate enlargement?
Authors: Puerto Nino Angie K. , Garcia Perez Valentina , Secco Silvia , De Nunzio Cosimo , Lombardo Riccardo , Tikkinen Kari A. O. , Elterman Dean S.
Published: June 2024

Background

ChatGPT has recently emerged as a novel resource for patients’ disease-specific inquiries. There is, however, limited evidence assessing the quality of the information. We evaluated the accuracy and quality of the ChatGPT’s responses on male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostate enlargement (BPE) when compared to two reference resources.

Methods

Using patient information websites from the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association as reference material, we formulated 88 BPE-centric questions for ChatGPT 4.0+. Independently and in duplicate, we compared the ChatGPT’s responses and the reference material, calculating accuracy through F1 score, precision, and recall metrics. We used a 5-point Likert scale for quality rating. We evaluated examiner agreement using the interclass correlation coefficient and assessed the difference in the quality scores with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

ChatGPT addressed all (88/88) LUTS/BPE-related questions. For the 88 questions, the recorded F1 score was 0.79 (range: 0–1), precision 0.66 (range: 0–1), recall 0.97 (range: 0–1), and the quality score had a median of 4 (range = 1–5). Examiners had a good level of agreement (ICC = 0.86). We found no statistically significant difference between the scores given by the examiners and the overall quality of the responses (p = 0.72).

Discussion

ChatGPT demostrated a potential utility in educating patients about BPE/LUTS, its prognosis, and treatment that helps in the decision-making process. One must exercise prudence when recommending this as the sole information outlet. Additional studies are needed to completely understand the full extent of AI’s efficacy in delivering patient education in urology.
Heat shock protein 90α reduces CD8+ T cell exhaustion in acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Yan Lei , Chen Yumei , Yang Yilin , Han Yi , Tong Chaoyang
Published: June 2024

CD8+ T-cell exhaustion is a promising prognostic indicator of sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients with sepsis-related ARDS had reduced levels of HSP90AA1. However, whether the changes in CD8+ T cells were related to HSP90α, encoded by the HSP90AA1 gene, was unclear. This study aimed to examine the regulatory mechanism of HSP90α and its impact on CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, by conducting a mouse model of ALI, we found that one week after LPS-induced ALI, CD8+ T cells showed exhaustion characteristics. At this time, proliferation and cytokine release in CD8+ T cells were reduced. The inhibitory costimulatory factors PD-1 and Tim-3, on the other hand, were enhanced. Meanwhile, the expression of HSP90α and STAT1 decreased significantly. The in vitro studies showed that HSP90α stimulation or inhibition affected the CD8+ T-cell exhaustion phenotype. Interference with STAT1 reduced the expression of HSP90α and impaired its regulation of CD8+ T cells. The Co-Immunoprecipitation results indicated that HSP90α can directly or indirectly bind to TOX to regulate TOX expression and downstream signal transduction. In summary, by inhibiting TOX-mediated exhaustion signaling pathways, HSP90α inhibited CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in ALI. The participation of STAT1 in the regulation of HSP90α was required.
Pyrotinib and trastuzumab plus palbociclib and fulvestrant in HR+/HER2+ breast cancer patients with brain metastasis
Authors: Chen Dongshao , Xu Fei , Lu Yongkui , Xia Wen , Du Caiwen , Xiong Dun , Song Dong , Shi Yanxia , Yuan Zhongyu , Zheng Qiufan , Jiang Kuikui , An Xin , Xue Cong , Huang Jiajia , Bi Xiwen , Chen Meiting , Zhang Jingmin , Wang Shusen , Hong Ruoxi
Published: June 2024

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) patients are at a high risk of developing metastases in the brain. However, research focusing on treatment strategies for hormonal receptor positive (HR+), HER2+ BC patients with brain metastases (BM) remains limited. Thus, a multi-center, prospective trial was conducted in China. Women over the age of 18 who were naive to whole brain radiotherapy and had estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone-receptor (PgR) positive, HER2+ BM were treated with palbociclib, fulvestrant, trastuzumab and pyrotinib, until disease progression or the development of intolerable side effects. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) in the central nervous system (CNS). This ongoing study is still recruiting participants and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04334330). This report presents the findings from an interim analysis. From December 4, 2020, to November 2, 2022, 15 patients were enrolled. Among the 14 patients who were evaluable for clinical response, the ORR was 35.7% (95% CI: 12.8–64.9%), with a CNS–ORR of 28.6% (95% CI: 8.4–58.1%). The median follow-up period was 6.3 months (range, 2.1–14.3 months), during which the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.6 months (95% CI: 4.3–16.9 months), and the median time to CNS progression was 8.5 months (95% CI: 5.9–11.1 months). The most common adverse event was diarrhea (93%), with 33% having grade 3 and 6.7% having grade 4. The study suggests that the combination of palbociclib, trastuzumab, pyrotinib and fulvestrant offers a promising chemo-free treatment strategy for HR+, HER2+ BC patients with BM.
A high-quality dataset featuring classified and annotated cervical spine X-ray atlas
Authors: Ran Yu , Qin Wanli , Qin Changlong , Li Xiaobin , Liu Yixing , Xu Lin , Mu Xiaohong , Yan Li , Wang Bei , Dai Yuxiang , Chen Jiang , Han Dongran
Published: June 2024

Recent research in computational imaging largely focuses on developing machine learning (ML) techniques for image recognition in the medical field, which requires large-scale and high-quality training datasets consisting of raw images and annotated images. However, suitable experimental datasets for cervical spine X-ray are scarce. We fill the gap by providing an open-access Cervical Spine X-ray Atlas (CSXA), which includes 4963 raw PNG images and 4963 annotated images with JSON format (JavaScript Object Notation). Every image in the CSXA is enriched with gender, age, pixel equivalent, asymptomatic and symptomatic classifications, cervical curvature categorization and 118 quantitative parameters. Subsequently, an efficient algorithm has developed to transform 23 keypoints in images into 77 quantitative parameters for cervical spine disease diagnosis and treatment. The algorithm’s development is intended to assist future researchers in repurposing annotated images for the advancement of machine learning techniques across various image recognition tasks. The CSXA and algorithm are open-access with the intention of aiding the research communities in experiment replication and advancing the field of medical imaging in cervical spine.