bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of authentic leadership on employee turnover intention: Perceived supervisor support as mediator and organizational identification as moderator
Authors: Jun Kiho , Hu Zhehua , Sun Yi
Published: January 2023

Authentic leadership is considered a critical factor for retaining talented employees. However, despite fruitful findings, researchers have paid little attention to how authentic leadership is associated with employee turnover intention. Drawing on organizational support theory, justice literature, and social identity theory, we examine the effects of supervisors’ authentic leadership on employee turnover intention to better understand how authentic leaders reduce employees’ turnover intention in Asian context. In this study, we focus on the mediating role of perceived supervisor support (PSS) and the moderating role of organizational identification in the relationship between supervisors’ authentic leadership and employee turnover intention. To test our hypothesized research model, we adopted a cross-sectional design with a convenience data sampling. We also used a self-report research design in the current study. We collected data from 433 employees from several organizations in Korea. Our respondents rated their immediate supervisors’ authentic leadership and their PSS, turnover intention and organizational identification. Confirmatory factor analysis, regression analysis, and moderated mediation analysis revealed that: authentic leadership negatively predicted employee turnover intention. In addition, PSS completely mediates the relationship between authentic leadership and employee turnover intention. Furthermore, organizational identification moderates the relationship between PSS and turnover intention. Lastly, organizational identification moderates the mediating effect of PSS on the relationships between perceptions of authentic leadership and employee turnover intention. Herein, we discuss the managerial implications and future research directions arising from our study.
Evolutionary psychological perspectives on filicide are applicable in modern-day Norway
Authors: Ottesen Vibeke
Published: January 2023

Current evolutionary psychological (EP) perspectives on filicide perpetration propose that it is an extreme behavioral manifestation of psychological mechanisms that evolved due to their function toward enabling ancestrally adaptive discriminative parental investment. Predictions concerning the characteristics traits of filicide derived from this hypothesis have been empirically supported cross-culturally. Still, it remains a theoretical and empirical question whether EP perspectives on filicide are applicable in societies where the general population is alleviated from ancestrally salient cues to reproductive conflict between individuals and children in their care and the opportunities for lethal caretaker behaviors are highly constricted. Compiling a national sample of filicide cases in modern-day Norway, the present study catered for testing whether EP perspectives on filicide apply in such a society. As predicted, the majority of incidents (79.5%) were associated with perpetrator psychopathology (psychotic episode or filicide-suicide). This further catered for testing the EP hypothesis that filicides associated with perpetrator psychopathology will be characterized by traits that contradict an ancestrally adaptive logic for discriminant parental investment. A full series of predictions derived from this hypothesis was supported as filicides with this association included no step-parental perpetrators and, when compared against filicides that were not associated with perpetrator psychopathology, had older victims and perpetrators and more often multiple victims. The findings confirm the potential applicability of EP perspectives on filicide in progressive and highly developed welfare states, thus lending support to their universal validity.
Post COVID-19, still wear a face mask? Self-perceived facial attractiveness reduces mask-wearing intention
Authors: Cha Seung Eun , Ku Xyle , Choi Incheol
Published: January 2023

With the emerging post-COVID era, wearing face masks has become a domain of personal choice. Then, who wants to continue wearing a mask when it is no longer mandatory? In this article, we expect and examine the role of self-perceived facial attractiveness in predicting mask-wearing intention and its mechanism across three studies (total N = 1,030). Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that individuals with high (vs. low) self-perceived attractiveness were less willing to wear a mask, due to a weaker endorsement of the belief that mask-wearing enhances their perceived attractiveness (i.e., mask attractiveness belief). Study 3 further revealed that this mediational association was stronger in situations where the need to deliver a favorable impression was high (job interview context) versus low (walking a dog context). Overall, we provide a novel finding that self-perceived attractiveness has significant effects on mask-wearing intention via mask attractiveness belief in the post-pandemic of COVID-19. Our findings suggest that mask-wearing can shift from being a self-protection measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to a self-presentation tactic in the post-pandemic era.
A study on the correlation between family dynamic factors and depression in adolescents
Authors: Shi Jiali , Tao Yiran , Yan Caiying , Zhao Xudong , Wu Xueqing , Zhang Tingting , Zhong Cheng , Sun Jinhua , Hu Manji
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the relationship between systemic family dynamics and adolescent depression.

Methods

An offline survey was distributed to 4,109 students in grades 6–12, with the final analysis including 3,014 students (1,524 boys and 1,490 girls) aged 10–18 years. The questionnaire included the Self-Rating Scale of Systemic Family Dynamics (SSFD), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and demographic characteristics.

Results

Family dynamics were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, with better family dynamics (high scores) associated with lower levels of depression based on the SDS score. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, an ordinal multiclass logistic regression analysis identified family atmosphere (OR = 0.952, 95% CI: 0.948–0.956, p < 0.001) as the most important protective family dynamic against depression, followed by individuality (OR = 0.964, 95% CI: 0.960–0.968, p < 0.001). Latent class analysis (LCA) created the low family dynamic and high family dynamic groups. There were significant differences in the mean SDS scores between the two groups (45.52 ± 10.57 vs. 53.78 ± 11.88; p < 0.001) that persisted after propensity matching. Family atmosphere and individuation had a favorable diagnostic value for depression, with AUCs of 0.778 (95% CI: 0.760–0.796) and 0.710 (95% CI: 0.690–0.730), respectively. The diagnostic models for depression performed well.

Conclusion

Poor family dynamics may be responsible for adolescent depression. A variety of early intervention strategies focused on the family may potentially avoid adolescent depression.
Unsociability and social adjustment of Chinese preschool migrant children: The moderating role of resilience
Authors: Zhu Jingjing , Zhang Zhenzhen , Xu Pin , Huang Kaiyu , Li Yan
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The present study examined the moderating effect of children’s resilience on the relations between unsociability and social adjustment (i.e., prosocial behaviors, peer exclusion, interpersonal skills, internalizing problems) in Chinese preschool migrant children.

Methods

Participants were N = 148 children (82 boys, Mage = 62.32 months, SD = 6.76) attending two public kindergartens in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. Mothers provided ratings of children’s unsociability and resilience; teachers assessed children’s social adjustment outcomes, and children reported their receptive vocabulary.

Results

Unsociability was positively associated with peer exclusion and internalizing problems, and negatively associated with prosocial behaviors and interpersonal skills among Chinese preschool migrant children. Moreover, children’s resilience significantly moderated the relationship between unsociability and social adjustment. Specifically, among children with lower levels of resilience, unsociability was significantly and positively associated with peer exclusion and internalizing problems, while among children with higher levels of resilience, unsociability was not associated with social adjustment difficulties.

Conclusion

The current findings inform us of the importance of improving children’s resilience to buffer the negative adjustment among Chinese migrant unsociable young children. The findings also highlight the importance of considering the meaning and implication of unsociability for preschool migrant children in Chinese culture.
The role of self-reported fear and disgust in the activation of behavioral harm avoidance related to medical settings
Authors: Birkás Béla , Kiss Botond , Coelho Carlos M. , Zsidó András N.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Although adaptive defense mechanisms are useful in helping us avoid getting injured, they are also triggered by medical interventions and procedures, when avoidance is harmful. A body of previous results showed that both fear and disgust play a pivotal role in medical avoidance. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine the effects of experience, perceived control, and pain on medical avoidance with disgust and fear as mediating factors from an evolutionary perspective.

Methods

We assessed participants' knowledge of and experience with medical procedures, former negative medical experiences, and health-related information; their life history strategy variation; pain-related fear and anxiety of medical procedures; perceived control over emotional reactions and extreme threats; disgust sensitivity; blood-injury-injection phobia and medical treatment avoidance.

Results

We found that more knowledge, experience, and a slower life strategy were linked to a greater level of perceived control and attenuated emotional reactions. Further, better ability to control affective and stress reactions to negative experiences was linked to reduced disgust and fear of pain, and thus might mitigate the level of perceived threat, and diminish fear and disgust reactions.

Discussion

More knowledge and experiences, better perceived control together with reduced disgust and fear of pain can decrease the probability of avoiding medical situations. Implications to treatment are discussed. Results support the importance of targeting these contextual factors in prevention to increase the likelihood of people attending regular screenings or seeking medical care when needed.
Feasibility of the virtual reality-based assessments in patients with panic disorder
Authors: Kim Byung-Hoon , Kim Jae-Jin , Oh Jooyoung , Kim Seung-Hyun , Han Changsu , Jeong Hyun-Ghang , Lee Moon-Soo , Kim Junhyung
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Recurrences and diagnostic instability of panic disorder (PD) are common and have a negative effect on its long-term course. Developing a novel assessment tool for anxiety that can be used in a multimodal approach may improve these problems in panic disorder patients. This study assessed the feasibility of virtual reality-based assessment in panic disorder (VRA-PD).

Methods

Twenty-five patients with PD (ANX group) and 28 healthy adults (CON group) participated in the study. VRA-PD consisted of four modules based on the key components of cognitive behavior therapy for an anxiety disorder: “Baseline evaluation module” (M0), “Daily environment exposure module” (M1), “Relaxation module” (M2), and “Interoceptive exposure module” (M3). Multiple evaluations, including self-rating anxiety scores (AS) and physiological responses [heart rate variability (HRV) index], were performed in three steps at M1, M2, and M3, and once at M0. Comparisons between patients with PD and healthy controls, factor analysis of variables in VRA-PD, changes in responses within modules, and correlation analysis between variables in VRA-PD and anxiety symptoms assessed by psychological scales were performed.

Results

All participants completed the VRA-PD without discontinuation. The ANX group reported significantly higher AS for all steps and a smaller HRV index in M1 (steps 1 and 2) and M2 (step 1). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant interaction effects for AS in M1 (F = 4.09, p = 0.02) and M2 (F = 4.20, p = 0.02), and HRV index in M2 (F = 16.22, p < 0.001) and M3 (F = 21.22, p = 0.02). The HRV index only indicated a good model fit for the three-factor model, reflecting the construct of the VRA-PD. Both AS and HRV indexes were significantly correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Discussion

The current study provides preliminary evidence that the VRA-PD could be a valid anxiety behavior assessment tool.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors in 13 African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Azanaw Jember , Endalew Mastewal , Zenbaba Demisu , Abera Eshetu , Chattu Vijay Kumar
Published: January 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the entire world, especially sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, researchers and government agencies are working to create effective COVID-19 vaccinations. While vaccination campaigns are moving rapidly in high-income nations, COVID-19 is still ruthlessly affecting people in low-income nations. However, this difference in the spread of the disease is not because of a lack of a COVID-19 vaccine but mainly due to people's reluctance. As a result, this review summarized the data on COVID-19 vaccination adoption and factors related among nations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Method

Comprehensive searches were conducted using PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases. The risk of bias and methodological quality of each published article that fit the selection criteria were evaluated using Critical Appraisal Checklist tools. All statistical analysis was done by STATA 16.

Results

This review was based on 29 studies with 26,255 participants from sub-Saharan Africa. Using a random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among study participants was 55.04% (95 % CI: 47.80–62.27 %), I2 = 99.55%. Being male [POR = 1.88 (95% CI: 1.45, 2.44)], having a positive attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine [POR = 5.56 (95% CI: 3.63, 8.51)], having good knowledge in the COVID-19 vaccine [POR = 4.61 (95% CI: 1.24, 8.75)], having government trust [POR = 7.10 (95% CI: 2.37, 21.32)], and having undergone COVID-19 testing in the past [POR = 4.41 (95%CI: (2.51, 7.75)] were significant predictor variables.

Conclusion

This analysis showed that respondents had a decreased pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Sex, attitude, knowledge, government trust, and COVID-19 testing were statistically significantly correlated characteristics that affected the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine. All stakeholders should be actively involved in increasing the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine and thereby reducing the consequences of COVID-19. The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination can be increased by using this conclusion as an indicator for governments, healthcare professionals, and health policymakers in their work on attitude, knowledge, government trust, and COVID-19 testing.
Monkeypox outbreaks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Network and clustering analyses of global risks and modified SEIR prediction of epidemic trends
Authors: Gao Jing , Zhou Cui , Liang Hanwei , Jiao Rao , Wheelock Åsa M. , Jiao Kedi , Ma Jian , Zhang Chutian , Guo Yongman , Luo Sitong , Liang Wannian , Xu Lei
Published: January 2023

Background

Ninety-eight percent of documented cases of the zoonotic disease human monkeypox (MPX) were reported after 2001, with especially dramatic global spread in 2022. This longitudinal study aimed to assess spatiotemporal risk factors of MPX infection and predict global epidemiological trends.

Method

Twenty-one potential risk factors were evaluated by correlation-based network analysis and multivariate regression. Country-level risk was assessed using a modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model and a risk-factor-driven k-means clustering analysis.

Results

Between historical cases and the 2022 outbreak, MPX infection risk factors changed from relatively simple [human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and population density] to multiple [human mobility, population of men who have sex with men, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and socioeconomic factors], with human mobility in the context of COVID-19 being especially key. The 141 included countries classified into three risk clusters: 24 high-risk countries mainly in West Europe and Northern America, 70 medium-risk countries mainly in Latin America and Asia, and 47 low-risk countries mainly in Africa and South Asia. The modified SEIR model predicted declining transmission rates, with basic reproduction numbers ranging 1.61–7.84 in the early stage and 0.70–4.13 in the current stage. The estimated cumulative cases in Northern and Latin America may overtake the number in Europe in autumn 2022.

Conclusions

In the current outbreak, risk factors for MPX infection have changed and expanded. Forecasts of epidemiological trends from our modified SEIR models suggest that Northern America and Latin America are at greater risk of MPX infection in the future.
Loss-framing of information and pre-vaccination consultation improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance: A survey experiment
Authors: Wang Kailu , Wong Eliza Lai-Yi , Cheung Annie Wai-Ling , Dong Dong , Yeoh Eng-Kiong
Published: January 2023

Backgrounds

Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to protect populations from COVID-19 infection, severe conditions, and death. This study aims to examine whether the gain/loss-framing of information, provision of subsidized pre-vaccination physician consultation, and cash incentives can improve COVID-19 acceptance amongst adults.

Methods

A survey experiment was conducted within a broader cross-sectional survey of people aged 18–64 years in Hong Kong, China. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the eight groups derived from full-factorial design of the three strategies with stratification by age and sex. The vaccine acceptance rate was compared between people with and without any of the strategies. The heterogeneous effects of these strategies were identified for those with different perceptions of the pandemics and vaccine in multiple logistic regressions.

Results

The survey experiment collected 1,000 valid responses. It found that loss-framed information and provision of subsidized physician consultation to assess suitability to be vaccinated, can improve vaccine acceptance, while cash incentives did not make a difference. The improvement effect of loss-framing information and physician consultation is stronger among those with higher perceived infection risk and severity of condition, as well as unvaccinated people with lower confidence in vaccine safety.

Conclusions

The findings indicated that individualized loss-framing messages and equitable provision of subsidized pre-vaccination physician consultations can be incorporated in efforts to promote vaccine acceptance and vaccination roll-out speed. However, it remains inconclusive whether and how universal cash incentives may be deployed to support vaccination promotion.
On the precision of 6 DoF IMU-LiDAR based localization in GNSS-denied scenarios
Authors: Frosi Matteo , Bertoglio Riccardo , Matteucci Matteo
Published: January 2023

Positioning and navigation represent relevant topics in the field of robotics, due to their multiple applications in real-world scenarios, ranging from autonomous driving to harsh environment exploration. Despite localization in outdoor environments is generally achieved using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, global navigation satellite system-denied environments are typical of many situations, especially in indoor settings. Autonomous robots are commonly equipped with multiple sensors, including laser rangefinders, IMUs, and odometers, which can be used for mapping and localization, overcoming the need for global navigation satellite system data. In literature, almost no information can be found on the positioning accuracy and precision of 6 Degrees of Freedom Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) localization systems, especially for real-world scenarios. In this paper, we present a short review of state-of-the-art light detection and ranging localization methods in global navigation satellite system-denied environments, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Then, we evaluate two state-of-the-art Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems able to also perform localization, one of which implemented by us. We benchmark these two algorithms on manually collected dataset, with the goal of providing an insight into their attainable precision in real-world scenarios. In particular, we present two experimental campaigns, one indoor and one outdoor, to measure the precision of these algorithms. After creating a map for each of the two environments, using the simultaneous localization and mapping part of the systems, we compute a custom localization error for multiple, different trajectories. Results show that the two algorithms are comparable in terms of precision, having a similar mean translation and rotation errors of about 0.01 m and 0.6°, respectively. Nevertheless, the system implemented by us has the advantage of being modular, customizable and able to achieve real-time performance.
Evolution of livelihood vulnerability in rice terrace systems: Evidence from households in the Ziquejie terrace system in China
Authors: Deng Chuxiong , Wang Shuyuan , Liu Yaojun , Li Zhongwu , Zhang Guangye , Li Wenqing , Liu Changchang
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Globally, terraces, and rice terrace systems face problems that affect their sustainability, such as terrace degradation, abandonment, de-agriculturalization, labor migration, etc. The implementation of development projects such as reforestation, poverty alleviation, and tourism development have changed traditional smallholder livelihood patterns. It is not clear whether farmers' livelihoods have become more resilient or vulnerable as a result.

Methods

Using survey data on households' livelihoods in a rice terrace system in Southern China, we evaluated the livelihood impacts of multiple changes.

Results

The results show that development projects are not entirely beneficial. The attributes and intensity of the disturbance of projects (e.g., tourism) on land functions, and differentiated farmer strategies jointly drive the hierarchical evolution of livelihood vulnerability. In detail, underdeveloped tourism increased rather than reduced livelihood vulnerability; the role of agriculture in livelihood directly exacerbated the variation in vulnerability levels; this resulted in the most vulnerable livelihood for households that are exogenously dependent or located in the core tourism area.

Discussion

Subsequently, an evolutionary model of livelihood vulnerability is proposed in this study. Based on this, we judged that the livelihood vulnerability of rice terrace systems has entered a chaotic stage of adaptation. Reducing livelihood vulnerability will require the support of a tangible and circular pathway of benefits between farmers and the land. Policies should focus on the heterogeneity of farmers and the “negative effects” of development projects on livelihood. This household-level farmer livelihood vulnerability dynamics study goes beyond anti-poverty to provide science-based practical guidance to promote the sustainable development of rice terrace systems.
Upcycling Quince Peel into Bioactive Ingredients and Fiber Concentrates through Multicomponent Extraction Processes
Authors: Pereira Alexis , Añibarro-Ortega Mikel , Kostić Marina , Nogueira António , Soković Marina , Pinela José , Barros Lillian
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to promote the total upcycling of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) peel into bioactive extracts (BEs) and fiber concentrates (FCs). The multicomponent extraction processes were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a 20-run experimental design, where the effects of time (1–120 min), temperature (25–95 °C), and EtOH percentage (0–100%) were combined. In addition to the extraction yields, BEs were analyzed for phenolic compounds, organic acids, and other water-soluble constituents, while FCs were characterized for their color and dietary fiber content. Statistically valid theoretical models were obtained by fitting these dependent variables to a quadratic equation and used to predict optimal extraction conditions. Those obtained for phenolic compounds and malic acid were experimentally validated, yielding 9.3 mg/g and 7.6 g/100 g of these bioactive constituents, respectively, and about 51% (w/w) FC. These BEs showed in vitro antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects against foodborne fungi and bacteria, standing out in some aspects in relation to synthetic food additives, mainly the malic acid-enriched BE. Overall, the developed extraction processes allowed valorizing of quince peel in FCs and BEs that could be used as natural fortifiers or preservatives in the formulation of foods, beverages and dietary supplements.
Security Requirement Recommendation Method Using Case-Based Reasoning to Prevent Advanced Persistent Threats
Authors: Jung Ji-Wook , Lee Seok-Won
Published: January 2023

As the world becomes digitized and connected, cyberattacks and security issues have been steadily increasing. In particular, advanced persistent threats (APTs) are actors who perform various complex attacks over the long term to achieve their purpose. These attacks involve more planning and intelligence than typical cyberattacks. Many studies have investigated APT detection and defense methods; however, studies on security requirements that focus on non-technical factors and prevention are relatively few. Therefore, this study aims to provide attack information to users obtained by analyzing attack scenarios as well as security requirements to help the users understand and make decisions. To this end, we propose a method for extracting attack elements by providing users with templates for attack scenarios with different levels of abstraction. In addition, we use a problem domain ontology that is based on the concept of a case to provide users with attack analysis results and recommended security requirements. Our method uses case-based reasoning to retrieve similar cases, recommend reusable security requirements, and propose revision directions. The ontology can be improved by adding the solution to the problem as a new case. We conducted case studies and surveys to evaluate our methods and showed that they help specify security requirements.
Corrosion Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Spun Pile Materials
Authors: Refani Afif Navir , Nagao Takashi
Published: January 2023

Prestressed concrete piles with closed-ended circular hollow sections (spun piles) are sometimes used as foundations for pile-supported wharves. Due to a reduction in the rebar area, concrete compressive strength, yield strength of PC-bar, and bond strength between PC-bar and concrete, corrosion attacks typically lower the performance of spun piles in the marine environment. A comprehensive analysis of the corrosion effect on the mechanical properties of the spun pile materials is crucial to assess the performance of corroded spun plies. Using a three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA), this study aimed to evaluate the impact of corrosion on the mechanical properties of the material used in spun pile construction. We simulated the effect of nonuniformly distributed corrosion products using a volumetric strain expansion over 0–75 years. The FEA results provided the stress–strain relationship of the corroded spun pile materials and the bond–slip relationship between the corroded PC-bar and concrete. We proposed equations for predicting the deterioration degree of the mechanical properties of corroded spun pile materials and compared them to those presented in previous studies. It was shown that the compressive strength of the corroded cover concrete decreased significantly after the corrosion degree reached 12%, which the previous research had not expected. The bond strength reduction was inverse exponential against the elapsed years after the corrosion degree reached 1.3%. Moreover, the yield strength of PC-bars decreased linearly with the increase in the corrosion degree.
Clustering of Heart Failure Phenotypes in Johannesburg Using Unsupervised Machine Learning
Authors: Mpanya Dineo , Celik Turgay , Klug Eric , Ntsinjana Hopewell
Published: January 2023

Background: The diagnosis and therapy of heart failure are guided mainly by a single imaging parameter, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Recent studies have reported on the value of machine learning in characterising the various phenotypes of heart failure patients. Therefore, this study aims to use unsupervised machine learning algorithms to phenotype heart failure patients into different clusters using multiple clinical parameters. Methods: Seven unsupervised machine learning clustering algorithms were used to cluster heart failure patients hospitalised with acute and chronic heart failure. Results: The agglomerative clustering algorithm identified three clusters with a silhouette score of 0.72. Cluster 1 (uraemic cluster) comprised 229 (36.0%) patients with a mean age of 56.2 ± 17.2 years and a serum urea of 14.5 ± 31.3 mmol/L. Cluster 2 (hypotensive cluster) comprised 117 (18.4%) patients with a minimum systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 91 and 60 mmHg, respectively. In cluster 3 (congestive cluster), patients predominantly had symptoms of fluid overload, and 93 (64.6%) patients had ascites. Among the 636 heart failure patients studied, the median LVEF was 32% (interquartile range: 25–45), and the rate of in-hospital all-cause mortality was 14.5%. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, age, and the LVEF had the most substantial impact on discriminating between the three clusters. Conclusions: Clinicians without access to echocardiography could potentially rely on blood pressure measurements and age to risk stratify heart failure patients. However, larger prospective studies are mandatory for the validation of these clinical parameters.
Secured MCDM Model for Crowdsource Business Intelligence
Authors: Nallakaruppan Musiri Kailasanathan , Johri Ishita , Somayaji SivaRamaKrishnan , Bhatia Surbhi , Malibari Areej A. , Alabdali Aliaa M.
Published: January 2023

In the current era, there are a plethora of mobile phone companies rendering different features. It is challenging to distinguish the best and create correlations among them. However, this can be accomplished through crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing is the process of gathering information from multiple sources, and we use the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) process to determine which company’s model is the best among many. The weight value of each model is compared to the assigned values, and if one of the company product weights is greater than the assigned weight, that product is the best. Eventually, we can use this process to select the most preferred and best mobile phone model from among all other models. Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) is one of the most popular models, employing a grey co-efficient that estimates the data items by ranking. This model defines a process’s situation or state as black with no information and white with perfect information. In this work, AHP initially assumes criteria weights and assigns rank with the CR (Consistency Ratio) of 1.5%. The criteria weights are re-assigned based on the outcomes, and the CR remains constant as 1.5%. This work also provides an environmental-based attribute access control system, which adds the strength to the system by providing security and the integrity. So, this proposed work performs as a decision support system combined with the security enhancements, and hence it becomes a complete framework to provide a solution to a target application. The novelty of the proposed work is the combination of the crowdsourcing with the recommender system on a secured framework.
Recognizing and Recovering Ball Motion Based on Low-Frame-Rate Monocular Camera
Authors: Zhang Wendi , Zhang Yin , Zhao Yuli , Zhang Bin
Published: January 2023

Reconstructing sphere motion is an essential part of indoor screen-based ball sports. Current sphere recognition techniques require expensive high-precision equipment and complex field deployment, which limits the application of these techniques. This paper proposes a novel method for recognizing and recovering sphere motion based on a low-frame-rate monocular camera. The method captures ball motion streaks in input images, reconstructs trajectories in space, and then estimates ball speed. We evaluated the effectiveness of the streak detection method and obtained an F1-score of 0.97. We also compared the performance of the proposed trajectory reconstruction method with existing methods, and the proposed method outperformed the compared techniques.
Influence of Process Parameters on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Olive Tree Trimmings: A 13C Solid-State NMR Study
Authors: Calucci Lucia , Forte Claudia
Published: January 2023

Chars obtained from the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of agricultural wastes are increasingly being employed as solid biofuels. Their properties are strongly dependent on HTC process parameters. In this study, 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy was applied to semiquantitatively investigate carbon functionalities present in olive tree trimming feedstock and in the corresponding hydrochar samples. Hydrochars were obtained by HTC under different conditions, that is, at two different temperatures (180 and 250 °C), with two different biomass/water ratios (B/W of 7 and 25% w/w) and with reaction times at peak temperatures of 30, 60, and 180 min. The NMR analysis was complemented by infrared spectroscopy experiments. A detailed analysis of carbon functionalities and their evolution during HTC allowed the transformation of feedstock into hydrochar to be followed and the structure of hydrochars to be correlated to the different reactions occurring during HTC in dependence on reaction time, temperature, and B/W ratio, as well as to the hydrochar properties fundamental for their application as solid biofuel reported in previous studies. 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy revealed a powerful tool for explaining hydrochar properties as a function of HTC parameters.
Numerical Simulation of Wind Characteristics in Complex Mountains with Focus on Terrain Boundary Transition Curve
Authors: He Jiawei , Zhang Hongfu , Zhou Lei
Published: January 2023

In recent years, an increasing number of projects have been developed in complex mountainous areas. The wind environment in mountainous areas, extremely complex due to the undulating terrain and diverse landscapes, is a key factor threatening the structural safety of buildings and their appurtenances in mountainous areas. Therefore, it is important to study the wind environment in complex terrain to clarify the wind resistance of structures in mountainous areas. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches are commonly used to examine wind fields in complex terrain; however, due to the limited range of terrain considered, direct modeling using terrain elevation data can result in truncated elevation differences, affecting the accuracy of numerical simulations. To address the problem of truncated elevation differences at terrain boundaries, the parameters of the wind tunnel contraction curve are optimized regarding the wind tunnel contraction section design principle. Moreover, several transition curves are analyzed and evaluated by numerical simulation methods, and a transition curve applicable to the terrain boundary transition form is proposed. The proposed terrain transition curves are applied to model the terrain of complex mountainous ski resort areas to be used in CFD numerical simulations. Furthermore, the accuracy of the numerical simulation is verified through a comparison with the field-measured data. Results indicate that the proposed method can accurately and effectively reflect the wind environment characteristics of a ski resort area. The proposed terrain transition curve provides a theoretical basis and case support for designing the terrain model boundary transition section, which can be used as a reference for wind tunnel and numerical simulation studies in complex mountainous areas.
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential and Characterization of Novel T7-Like Erwinia Bacteriophages
Authors: Jo Su Jin , Kim Sang Guen , Lee Young Min , Giri Sib Sankar , Kang Jeong Woo , Lee Sung Bin , Jung Won Joon , Hwang Mae Hyun , Park Jaehong , Cheng Chi , Roh Eunjung , Park Se Chang
Published: January 2023

The recent outbreak of blight in pome fruit plants has been a major concern as there are two indistinguishable Erwinia species, Erwinia amylovora and E. pyrifoliae, which cause blight in South Korea. Although there is a strict management protocol consisting of antibiotic-based prevention, the area and the number of cases of outbreaks have increased. In this study, we isolated four bacteriophages, pEp_SNUABM_03, 04, 11, and 12, that infect both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae and evaluated their potential as antimicrobial agents for administration against Erwinia-originated blight in South Korea. Morphological analysis revealed that all phages had podovirus-like capsids. The phage cocktail showed a broad spectrum of infectivity, infecting 98.91% of E. amylovora and 100% of E. pyrifoliae strains. The antibacterial effect was observed after long-term cocktail treatment against E. amylovora, whereas it was observed for both short- and long-term treatments against E. pyrifoliae. Genomic analysis verified that the phages did not encode harmful genes such as antibiotic resistance or virulence genes. All phages were stable under general orchard conditions. Collectively, we provided basic data on the potential of phages as biocontrol agents that target both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae.
Effects of a Combination of Empagliflozin Plus Metformin vs. Metformin Monotherapy on NAFLD Progression in Type 2 Diabetes: The IMAGIN Pilot Study
Authors: Caturano Alfredo , Galiero Raffaele , Loffredo Giuseppe , Vetrano Erica , Medicamento Giulia , Acierno Carlo , Rinaldi Luca , Marrone Aldo , Salvatore Teresa , Monda Marcellino , Sardu Celestino , Marfella Raffaele , Sasso Ferdinando Carlo
Published: January 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a heterogeneous group of metabolic liver diseases and is characterized by the presence of steatosis in at least 5% of hepatocytes. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of the combination therapy of empagliflozin + metformin vs. metformin monotherapy on NAFLD progression in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. Sixty-three metformin-treated T2DM patients who were SGLT2i-naïve and had an ultrasound diagnosis of NAFLD (aged 60.95 ± 11.14 years; males, 57.1%) were included in the present analysis. Thirty-three started the combination therapy. All patients were observed for 6 months and routinely monitored with anthropometry, blood biochemistry, and FibroScan®/CAP. At the 6-month follow-up, the combination therapy group presented a significant reduction in BMI (30.83 ± 3.5 vs. 28.48 ± 3.25), glycated hemoglobin (8.2 (7.4–8.8)) vs. 7.2 (6.8–7.9), ALT (68.5 (41.5–88.0) vs. 45.00 (38.00, 48.00)), CAP parameter (293.5 (270.0–319.25) vs. 267.00 (259.50, 283.75)) and steatosis degree (p = 0.001) in comparison with the control group, whose parameters remained almost stable over time. In patients affected by T2DM, the combination of empagliflozin + metformin vs. metformin monotherapy ameliorated liver steatosis, ALT levels, body weight, and glycated hemoglobin after a 6-month follow-up.
Tantalum as Trabecular Metal for Endosseous Implantable Applications
Authors: Carraro Filippo , Bagno Andrea
Published: January 2023

During the last 20 years, tantalum has known ever wider applications for the production of endosseous implantable devices in the orthopedic and dental fields. Its excellent performances are due to its capacity to stimulate new bone formation, thus improving implant integration and stable fixation. Tantalum’s mechanical features can be mainly adjusted by controlling its porosity thanks to a number of versatile fabrication techniques, which allow obtaining an elastic modulus similar to that of bone tissue, thus limiting the stress-shielding effect. The present paper aims at reviewing the characteristics of tantalum as a solid and porous (trabecular) metal, with specific regard to biocompatibility and bioactivity. Principal fabrication methods and major applications are described. Moreover, the osteogenic features of porous tantalum are presented to testify its regenerative potential. It can be concluded that tantalum, especially as a porous metal, clearly possesses many advantageous characteristics for endosseous applications but it presently lacks the consolidated clinical experience of other metals such as titanium.
Long-Term Outcomes among Patients with Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
Authors: Liu Yan , Kang Xiao-Gang , Gao Qiong , Liu Yu , Song Chang-Geng , Shi Xiao-Jing , Wu Jia-Ning , Jiang Wen
Published: January 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term survival and functional outcomes of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC) 1–8 years after brain injuries. Methods: Retrospective study to assess the long-term survival and functional outcomes of patients with pDoC was conducted. We performed Cox regression and multivariate logistic regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the outcome of survival and to identify risk factors of the functional outcome. Results: We recruited 154 patients with pDoC. The duration of follow-up from disease onset was 1–8 years. The median age was 46 years (IQR, 32–59), and 65.6% (n = 101) of them were men. During the follow-up period, one hundred and ten patients (71.4%) survived; among them, 52 patients had a good outcome. From the overall survival curve, the 1-, 3-, and 8-year survival rates of patients were about 80.5%, 72.0%, and 69.7%, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between the lower APACHE II score (p = 0.005) (cut-off score ≥ 18) and the presence of sleep spindles (p = 0.001) with survival. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a higher CRS-R score (cut-off score ≥ 7), and presence of sleep spindles were related to a favorable outcome among patients with pDoC. Conclusions: Sleep spindles are correlated with both long-term survival and long-term functional outcome in pDoC patients.
Food Restriction in Anorexia Nervosa in the Light of Modern Learning Theory: A Narrative Review
Authors: Garcia-Burgos David , Wilhelm Peter , Vögele Claus , Munsch Simone
Published: January 2023

Improvements in the clinical management of anorexia nervosa (AN) are urgently needed. To do so, the search for innovative approaches continues at laboratory and clinical levels to translate new findings into more effective treatments. In this sense, modern learning theory provides a unifying framework that connects concepts, methodologies and data from preclinical and clinical research to inspire novel interventions in the field of psychopathology in general, and of disordered eating in particular. Indeed, learning is thought to be a crucial factor in the development/regulation of normal and pathological eating behaviour. Thus, the present review not only tries to provide a comprehensive overview of modern learning research in the field of AN, but also follows a transdiagnostic perspective to offer testable explanations for the origin and maintenance of pathological food rejection. This narrative review was informed by a systematic search of research papers in the electronic databases PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science following PRISMA methodology. By considering the number and type of associations (Pavlovian, goal-directed or habitual) and the affective nature of conditioning processes (appetitive versus aversive), this approach can explain many features of AN, including why some patients restrict food intake to the point of life-threatening starvation and others restrict calorie intake to lose weight and binge on a regular basis. Nonetheless, it is striking how little impact modern learning theory has had on the current AN research agenda and practice.
Motivational Understanding of MOOC Learning: The Impacts of Technology Fit and Subjective Norms
Authors: Dong Lingfeng , Ji Ting , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2023

This study examines the mechanisms underlying the relationship between motivation and massive open online course (MOOC) learning intention, and the contextual moderators that affect this mechanism. Drawing on motivational theory and the related literature, this study investigates how motivation affects students’ intention to learn with MOOCs and the related meditation and moderation effects. The findings of our study show that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations have a significant influence on intention to learn with MOOCs. In addition, the results also suggest that the relationship between extrinsic motivation and intention to learn is mediated by the technology fit perceived by learners but not the relationship between intrinsic motivation and intention to learn. Furthermore, the relationships between both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and intention to learn are moderated by subjective norms. This study enriches the extant literature on the impact of technology fit and subjective norms on MOOC learning. Few studies have focused on how students can be effectively encouraged to take MOOCs. Given the lack of theoretical and empirical research, this study developed a theoretical model and conducted an empirical study to fill the research gap.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Triaxial Compressive Behavior of Steamed Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Chen Yuzhi , Ning Yingjie , Chen Xudong , Xuan Weihong , Zhu Xiangyi
Published: January 2023

The use of recycled aggregates to produce precast concrete products is conductive to the green development of construction industrialization. This paper aimed to study the effects of curing regimes and confining pressures on the triaxial compression behavior of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Triaxial compression tests were carried out on RAC under different curing regimes (standard curing, 60 °C—12 h and 80 °C—9 h), and the designed confining pressures were 0 MPa, 2.5 MPa, 5 MPa, and 10 MPa. The results show that the increase of confining pressure limits the expansion of cracks, causing the failure mode to change from vertical splitting to oblique shearing, and the triaxial compressive strength is doubled at most. Compared with standard curing, steam curing significantly weakened the triaxial compressive strength of RAC, which was related to the reduction of RAC cohesion, and the cohesion of RAC steam cured at 80 °C was reduced by 30%. The triaxial compression failure of RAC closely follows the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. Based on the discrete element method and test results, an RAC triaxial compression numerical model considering the shape of the actual coarse aggregate was established, and the propagation of cracks was discussed at the mesoscopic level.