bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Authorship inequalities in global health research: the IeDEA Southern Africa collaboration
Authors: Skrivankova Veronika W , Hossmann Stefanie , Cornell Morna , Ballif Marie , Dupont Carole , Huwa Jacqueline , Seintaridis Konstantinos , Kalua Thokozani , Wandeler Gilles , Kassanjee Reshma , Haas Andreas D , Technau Karl-Gunter , Fenner Lukas , Low Nicola , Davies Mary-Ann , Egger Matthias
Published: December 2023

Background

The International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS conducts research in several regions, including in Southern Africa. We assessed authorship inequalities for the Southern African region, which is led by South African and Swiss investigators.

Methods

We analysed authorships of publications from 2007 to 2020 by gender, country income group, time and citation impact. We used 2020 World Bank categories to define income groups and the relative citation ratio (RCR) to assess citation impact. Authorship parasitism was defined as articles without authors from the countries where the study was conducted. A regression model examined the probability of different authorship positions.

Results

We included 313 articles. Of the 1064 contributing authors, 547 (51.4%) were women, and 223 (21.0%) were from 32 low-income/lower middle-income countries (LLMICs), 269 (25.3%) were from 13 upper middle-income countries and 572 (53.8%) were from 25 high-income countries (HICs). Most articles (150/157, 95.5%) reporting data from Southern Africa included authors from all participating countries. Women were more likely to be the first author than men (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.83) but less likely to be last authors (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.99). Compared with HIC, LLMIC authors were less likely to publish as first (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.41) or last author (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.42). The proportion of women and LLMIC first and last authors increased over time. The RCR tended to be higher, indicating greater impact, if first or last authors were from HIC (p=0.06).

Conclusions

This analysis of a global health collaboration co-led by South African and Swiss investigators showed little evidence of authorship parasitism. There were stark inequalities in authorship position, with women occupying more first and men more last author positions and researchers from LLMIC being ‘stuck in the middle’ on the byline. Global health research collaborations should monitor, analyse and address authorship inequalities.
Creation of an institutional preoperative checklist to support clinical risk assessment in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) considering ileoanal pouch surgery
Authors: Alves Martins Bruno Augusto , Shamsiddinova Amira , Alquaimi Manal Mubarak , Worley Guy , Tozer Phil , Sahnan Kapil , Perry-Woodford Zarah , Hart Ailsa , Arebi Naila , Matharoo Manmeet , Warusavitarne Janindra , Faiz Omar
Published: December 2023

Background

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the most established restorative operative approach for patients with ulcerative colitis. It has associated morbidity and the potential for major repercussions on quality of life. As such, patient selection is crucial to its success. The main aim of this paper is to present an institutional preoperative checklist to support clinical risk assessment and patient selection in those considering IPAA.

Methods

A literature review was performed to identify the risk factors associated with surgical complications, decreased functional outcomes/quality of life, and pouch failure after IPAA. Based on this, a preliminary checklist was devised and modified through an iterative process. This was then evaluated by a consensus group comprising the pouch multidisciplinary team (MDT) core members.

Results

The final preoperative checklist includes assessment for risk factors such as gender, advanced age, obesity, comorbidities, sphincteric impairment, Crohn’s disease and pelvic radiation therapy. In addition, essential steps in the decision-making process, such as pouch nurse counselling and discussion regarding surgical alternatives, are also included. The last step of the checklist is discussion at a dedicated pouch-MDT.

Discussion

A preoperative checklist may support clinicians with the selection of patients that are suitable for pouch surgery. It also serves as a useful tool to inform the discussion of cases at the MDT meeting.
Very early invasive strategy in higher risk non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: the RAPID NSTEMI trial
Authors: Kite Thomas A , Ladwiniec Andrew , Greenwood John P , Gale Chris P , Anantharam Brijesh , More Ranjit , Hetherington Simon Lee , Khan Sohail Q , O'Kane Peter , Rakhit Roby , Chase Alexander , Barber Shaun , Waheed Ghazala , Berry Colin , Flather Marcus , McCann Gerry P , Curzen Nick , Banning Adrian P , Gershlick Anthony H
Published: December 2023

Objective

To investigate whether a very early invasive strategy (IS)±revascularisation improves clinical outcomes compared with standard care IS in higher risk patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods

Multicentre, randomised, controlled, pragmatic strategy trial of higher risk patients with NSTE-ACS, defined by Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events 2.0 score of ≥118, or ≥90 with at least one additional high-risk feature. Participants were randomly assigned to very early IS±revascularisation (<90 min from randomisation) or standard care IS±revascularisation (<72 hours). The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, new myocardial infarction or hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months.

Results

The trial was discontinued early by the funder due to slow recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. 425 patients were randomised, of whom 413 underwent an IS: 204 to very early IS (median time from randomisation: 1.5 hours (IQR: 0.9–2.0)) and 209 to standard care IS (median: 44.0 hours (IQR: 22.9–72.6)). At 12 months, there was no significant difference in the primary outcome between the early IS (5.9%) and standard IS (6.7%) groups (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.42 to 2.09; p=0.86). The incidence of stroke and major bleeding was similar. The length of hospital stay was reduced with a very early IS (3.9 days (SD 6.5) vs 6.3 days (SD 7.6), p<0.01).

Conclusions

A strategy of very early IS did not improve clinical outcomes compared with a standard care IS in higher risk patients with NSTE-ACS. However, the primary outcome rate was low and the trial was underpowered to detect such a difference.

Trial registration number

NCT03707314.
Risk-reducing decisions regarding germlineBRCApathogenic variant: focusing on the timing of genetic testing and RRSO
Authors: Abe Akiko , Nomura Hidetaka , Fusegi Atsushi , Yunokawa Mayu , Ueki Arisa , Habano Eri , Arakawa Hiromi , Kaneko Keika , Minoura Yuko , Inari Hitoshi , Ueno Takayuki , Kanao Hiroyuki
Published: December 2023

Background

In Japan, the public insurance policy was revised in 2020 to cover hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), including genetic testing and surveillance, for patients with breast cancer (BC). Consequently, the demand for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) has increased. This study aimed to clarify the changes in the demand and timing of genetic testing and RRSO associated with public insurance coverage for HBOC in Japan.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included 350 women with germlineBRCA(gBRCA) pathogenic variants (PVs) who had visited gynaecologists; they received gBRCAgenetic testing at 45.1±10.6 (20–74) years. The use of medical testing and preventive treatment was compared between the preinsurance and postinsurance groups using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests.

Results

The findings indicate that RRSO rates doubled from 31.4% to 62.6% among patients with gBRCA-PV. The implementation rate was 32.4% among unaffected carriers and 70.3% among BC-affected patients. Younger patients received genetic testing with significantly shorter intervals between BC diagnosis and genetic testing and between genetic testing and RRSO.

Conclusion

Overall, the insurance coverage for HBOC patients with BC has increased the frequency of RRSO in Japan. However, a comparison between the number of probands and family members indicated that the diagnosis among family members is inadequate. The inequality in the use of genetic services by socioeconomic groups is an issue of further concern.
Intra-arterial nimodipine for the treatment of refractory delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Vossen Laura Victoria , Weiss Miriam , Albanna Walid , Conzen-Dilger Catharina , Schulze-Steinen Henna , Rossmann Tobias , Schmidt Tobias Phillip , Höllig Anke , Wiesmann Martin , Clusmann Hans , Schubert Gerrit Alexander , Veldeman Michael
Published: December 2023

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the main contributors to poor clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Endovascular spasmolysis with intra-arterial nimodipine (IAN) may resolve angiographic vasospasm, but its effect on infarct prevention and clinical outcome is still unclear. We report the effect of IAN on infarction rates and functional outcome in a consecutive series of SAH patients.

Methods

To assess the effectiveness of IAN, we collected functional outcome data of all SAH patients referred to a single tertiary center since its availability (2011–2020). IAN was primarily reserved as a last tier option for DCI refractory to induced hypertension (iHTN). Functional outcome was assessed after 12 months according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS, favorable outcome = GOS4-5).

Results

Out of 376 consecutive SAH patients, 186 (49.5%) developed DCI. Thereof, a total of 96 (25.5%) patients remained unresponsive to iHTN and received IAN. DCI-related infarction was observed in 44 (45.8%) of IAN-treated patients with a median infarct volume of 111.6 mL (Q1: 51.6 to Q3: 245.7). Clinical outcome was available for 84 IAN-treated patients. Of those, a total of 40 (47.6%) patients reached a favorable outcome after 1 year. Interventional complications were observed in 9 (9.4%) of the IAN-treated patients.

Conclusion

Intra-arterial spasmolysis using nimodipine infusion was associated with low treatment specific complications. Despite presenting a subgroup of severely affected SAH patients, almost half of IAN-treated patients were able to lead an independent life after 1 year of follow-up.

Trial registration number

German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00030505.
Medical clowning in hospitals: practices, training and perception
Authors: Korin Orly , Babis Deby
Published: December 2023

Previous studies on medical clowning focused on patients, while research remains inadequate concerning clowning itself: training programmes and prerequisite requirements, clowning methods, deontology and accepted practices. Diverse approaches and paradigms in this field of complementary medicine are promoted by non-profit organisations worldwide. Based on an ethnographic study, we explore the current forms of medical clowning in 5 Israeli hospitals. The observed clowns are from the two Israeli organisations, Dream Doctors andSimchat Halev(in Hebrew: joy of the heart), consisting of paid professional medical clowns and volunteers, respectively. According to the findings, significant differences were observed to exist between the organisations. Dream Doctors is conceived and pursued as an expertise practised by performance art professionals, requiring extensive training. These clowns work unaccompanied, receive a salary, are considered members of the medical team, and, given their privileged status, have access to hospitals’ open and closed areas. The Dream Doctors consider medical clowning as a paramedical practice, in which interventions are individually suited to the circumstances of each patient, and obtain therapeutic results. In contrast,Simchat Halev’s medical clowns are volunteers with no prerequisite artistic background and undergo shorter periods of training. The access granted to these clowns, usually working in pairs, is restricted to open areas.Simchat Halevpromotes medical clowning as a volunteer-based public practice, offering general entertainment to all patients indiscriminately, and their contribution is characterised as achieving basic entertainment value.
Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant women in South Africa, 2021–2022: randomised controlled trial
Authors: de Voux Alex , Nyemba Dorothy Chiwoniso , Silliman Miriam , Mashele Nyiko , Mvududu Rufaro , Myer Landon , Joseph Davey Dvora
Published: December 2023

Objective

Pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) in Southern Africa are at increased risk of acquiring HIV and curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe and effective to use during pregnancy to reduce HIV acquisition and vertical transmission. Point-of-care (POC) STI testing can identify PPW at risk of HIV and facilitate risk-differentiated and person-centred counselling to improve PrEP initiation, persistence and adherence. We evaluated the impact of POC STI testing compared with STI syndromic management on PrEP outcomes among PPW in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

The STI and PrEP in Pregnancy Study enrolled PPW without HIV and ≤34 weeks pregnant at their regular antenatal care visit with follow-up after 1 month. PPW were randomised to receive POC STI testing or STI syndromic management. PPW randomised to POC STI testing self-collected vaginal swabs forChlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorhoeaeandTrichomonas vaginalis(Cepheid GeneXpert) testing and were offered same-day treatment if diagnosed. We compared PrEP initiation at baseline, PrEP prescription refill at 1 month (persistence) and adherence through tenofovir-diphosphate detection in dried blood spots by randomisation arm. In a secondary analysis, we evaluated the association between an STI diagnosis (positive STI test or reporting STI symptoms) with PrEP outcomes.

Results

We enrolled and randomised 268 pregnant women. Twenty-eight per cent of women were diagnosed with ≥1 STI. Overall, 65% of women initiated and 79% persisted on PrEP with no significant differences by randomisation arm. Secondary analysis demonstrated that an STI diagnosis (positive STI test or reporting STI symptoms) was associated with higher PrEP initiation (adjusted relative risk=1.28; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.52), controlling for arm, maternal and gestational age.

Conclusions

POC STI testing was not associated with PrEP initiation or persistence relative to syndromic management. However, improving STI diagnosis by supplementing syndromic management with POC STI testing could improve PrEP initiation among PPW.

Trial registration number

NCT03902418; Clinical Trials.gov; 1 April 2019.
Impact of sex on severe asthma: a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of UK primary and specialist care
Authors: Loewenthal Lola , Busby John , McDowell Ronald , Brown Thomas , Burhan Hassan , Chaudhuri Rekha , Dennison Paddy , Dodd James William , Doe Simon , Faruqi Shoaib , Gore Robin , Idris Elfatih , Jackson David Joshua , Patel Mitesh , Pantin Thomas , Pavord Ian , Pfeffer Paul E , Price David B , Rupani Hitasha , Siddiqui Salman , Heaney Liam G , Menzies-Gow Andrew
Published: December 2023

Introduction

After puberty, females are more likely to develop asthma and in a more severe form than males. The associations between asthma and sex are complex with multiple intrinsic and external factors.

Aim

To evaluate the sex differences in the characteristics and treatment of patients with severe asthma (SA) in a real-world setting.

Methods

Demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics for patients with SA in the UK Severe Asthma Registry (UKSAR) and Optimum Patient Care Research Database (OPCRD) were retrospectively analysed by sex using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for year, age and hospital/practice.

Results

3679 (60.9% female) patients from UKSAR and 18 369 patients (67.9% female) from OPCRD with SA were included. Females were more likely to be symptomatic with increased Asthma Control Questionnaire-6 (UKSAR adjusted OR (aOR) 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.18) and Royal College of Physicians-3 Question scores (OPCRD aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.47). However, they had a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second per cent (FEV1%) predicted (UKSAR 68.7% vs 64.8%, p<0.001) with no significant difference in peak expiratory flow. Type 2 biomarkers IgE (UKSAR 129 IU/mL vs 208 IU/mL, p<0.001) and FeNO (UKSAR 36ppb vs 46ppb, p<0.001) were lower in females with no significant difference in blood eosinophils or biological therapy. Females were less likely to be on maintenance oral corticosteroids (UKSAR aOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.99) but more likely to be obese (UKSAR aOR 1.67, 95% CI 145 to 1.93; OPCRD SA aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.34 to 1.58).

Conclusions

Females had increased symptoms and were more likely to be obese despite higher FEV1% predicted and lower type 2 biomarkers with consistent and clinically important differences across both datasets.
Evaluation of sequential mesotrione application rates and sequential tolpyralate and mesotrione applications for narrow-leaved goldenrod management in lowbush blueberry
Authors: White Scott N.
Published: December 2023

Sequential mesotrione applications of 72 g a.i. ha−1 gave similar control of narrow-leaved goldenrod as sequential applications of 144 g a.i. ha−1. This use pattern is recommended for narrow-leaved goldenrod management in lowbush blueberry. Early POST tolpyralate applications exhibited good crop tolerance and could be considered as part of a sequential herbicide program for lowbush blueberry.
The potato vine crusher: a new tool for harvest weed seed control
Authors: McKenzie-Gopsill Andrew , MacDonald Ashley Nicolle , Anderson Laura , White Scott Neil , Noronha Christine
Published: December 2023

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC), an evolving strategy in weed management, is highly effective for the control of a variety of weed species in North American cropping systems. Previous devices for weed seed devitalization at harvest have been limited to tow behind and integrated combine systems. The potato vine crusher (PVC) is a harvester-mounted set of rollers originally designed for crushing and control of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) larvae during potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) harvest. To evaluate the potential of the PVC for HWSC, we conducted stationary testing of spring tension and roller speed settings to maximize devitalization of lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L.), the most problematic weed species in Canadian potato production. In addition, we evaluated the efficacy of the PVC for the devitalization of several pernicious weed species under controlled conditions and during a simulated harvest. Increasing PVC spring tension reduced the devitalization of lambsquarters seed, whereas roller speed had minimal effect. In contrast, maximized spring tension and minimized roller speed reduced lambsquarters emergence (53%) in soil. Hypocotyl and radicle elongation was observed from lambsquarters seed fragments under controlled conditions, potentially contributing to increased control in soil through fatal germination. High levels of seed devitalization (65%–94%) were observed for all species under controlled conditions. During simulated harvest, control of large weed seeds (50%–63%) was observed, whereas smaller seeds were not impacted, signifying the importance of seed size for PVC efficacy. These studies demonstrate the PVC as a promising new tool for HWSC in Canadian potato production systems.
Cosmological constraints on $$\Lambda (t)$$CDM models
Authors: Macedo H. A. P. , Brito L. S. , Jesus J. F. , Alves M. E. S.
Published: December 2023

Problems with the concordance cosmology $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM as the cosmological constant problem, coincidence problems and Hubble tension has led to many proposed alternatives, as the $$\Lambda (t)$$

Λ
(
t
)

CDM, where the now called $$\Lambda $$
Λ
cosmological term is allowed to vary due to an interaction with pressureless matter. Here, we analyze one class of these proposals, namely, $$\Lambda =\alpha 'a^{-2}+\beta H^2+\lambda _*$$

Λ
=

α
′

a

-
2

+
β

H
2

+

λ

∗

, based on dimensional arguments. Using SNe Ia, cosmic chronometers data plus constraints on $$H_0$$

H
0

from SH0ES and Planck satellite, we constrain the free parameters of this class of models. By using the Planck prior over $$H_0$$

H
0

, we conclude that the $$\lambda _*$$

λ

∗

term can not be discarded by this analysis, thereby disfavouring models only with the time-variable terms. The SH0ES prior over $$H_0$$

H
0

has an weak evidence in this direction. The subclasses of models with $$\alpha '=0$$

α
′

=
0

and with $$\beta =0$$

β
=
0

can not be discarded by this analysis. Finally, by using distance priors from CMB, the $$\Lambda $$
Λ
time-dependence was quite restricted.
Conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetimes and curvature-squared gravity
Authors: Hazra Dipankar , De Uday Chand
Published: December 2023

First, we illustrate that a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime is a perfect fluid spacetime. As a consequence, we prove that such a spacetime represents a dust matter fluid, stiff matter and dark energy era under certain restrictions on the Ricci scalar. Then we establish that such a spacetime is a Robertson–Walker spacetime. Also, we note that in a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime, the fluid is shear-free, vorticity-free and its flow vector is hypersurface orthogonal. We investigate a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime as a solution of curvature-squared gravity theory. In this study, various energy conditions in terms of the Ricci scalar are examined and state that the Universe is in an accelerating phase and satisfies the weak, null, dominant, and strong energy conditions.
Chaplygin gas equation in curvature-matter coupling gravity
Authors: Baffou E. H. , Moraes P. H. R. S. , Assolohou C. G. , Houndjo M. J. S.
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we study the Chaplygin gas equation in curvature-matter coupling gravity to describe the observed expansion of the universe. We consider the Chaplygin gas equation of state in terms of the energy density [Formula: see text] and pressure [Formula: see text], by the relationship [Formula: see text] and the curvature-matter coupling gravity as [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a positive constant, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] denote, respectively, the Ricci scalar and the trace of energy–momentum tensor. Considering the gravitational lagrangian in the form [Formula: see text], where we used two forms of [Formula: see text] and by assuming a perfect fluid as matter source, we determined through the modified Friedmann equations, the corresponding energy and pressure for each model. By using the free parameters of our models, we performed the numerical results of the energy conditions to study its viability. Furthermore, we have derived some cosmological parameters like deceleration parameter and statefinder parameters and graphically investigated the nature of these parameters in Chaplygin gas model.
A NEW FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVE MODEL FOR THE NON-DARCIAN SEEPAGE
Authors: QIU PEITAO , ZHANG LIANYING , MA CHAO , LI BING , ZHU JIONG , LI YAN , YU YANG , BI XIAOXI
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a new fractional derivative model for the non-Darcian seepage within the exponential decay kernel is addressed for the first time. The new fractional derivative model is for high-speed non-Darcian and low-speed non-Darcian seepage, in which the applied zone is enlarged.
THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND FAILURE MODE OF SIMULATED LUNAR ROCK BY IN SITU TEMPERATURE REAL-TIME ACTION OF LUNAR-BASED
Authors: HAO HAI-CHUN , GAO MING-ZHONG , WU YAN , ZHOU XUE-MIN , WANG XUAN , GAO ZHENG , YANG ZHAO-YING
Published: December 2023

To achieve in situ condition-preserved coring of the lunar surface and deep lunar rocks and a return mission, it is necessary to explore the mechanical properties and failure modes of simulated lunar rocks that have physical and mechanical properties approximately equivalent to those of mare basalt under simulated lunar temperature environments ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]C to 200[Formula: see text]C). To this end, real-time uniaxial compression tests were conducted on simulated lunar rocks under corresponding in situ temperature conditions, and the mechanical properties, deformation characteristics, micromorphology, and failure modes were analyzed. Based on the macroscopic analysis, as the environmental temperature decreases, the uniaxial compressive strength, peak strain, and peak strain duration of simulated lunar rocks exhibit a nonlinear increasing trend, with maximum increases of 33.00[Formula: see text], 36.16[Formula: see text], and 49.25[Formula: see text] from those at room temperature, respectively. Based on microscopic analysis, the intergranular fractures run through the entire samples under the environmental temperature. As the environmental temperature increases, intergranular and transgranular fractures coexist, and layered fractures appear at high temperatures. At the same time, some samples exhibit undulating and stepped morphologies caused by shear stress. For the fractal dimension of a simulated lunar rock main fracture surface, the fractal dimension of the actual angle and the corrected angle increase first and then decrease with increasing environmental temperature, and the maximum error of the two is only 1.84[Formula: see text]. The overall fractal dimension ranges from 2.02 to 2.28, and the fractal dimension under real-time high-temperature conditions is higher than that under real-time low-temperature conditions. In addition, the failure mode of the simulated lunar rocks under real-time in situ temperature changes is a combined tensile–shear failure mode with shear failure (primary) and tensile failure (secondary). The above research results are expected to be applied to in situ condition-preserved coring in extreme lunar environments and provide a scientific basis for the design and development of in situ condition-preserved coring robot systems for the extreme environment of deep space.
LOCAL FRACTIONAL VARIATIONAL ITERATION TRANSFORM METHOD: A TOOL FOR SOLVING LOCAL FRACTIONAL PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: JAFARI HOSSEIN , JASSIM HASSAN KAMIL , ANSARI ALI , NGUYEN VAN THINH
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we use the local fractional variational iteration transform method LFVITM to solve a class of linear and nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), as well as a system of PDEs which are involving local fractional differential operators (LFDOs). The technique combines the variational iteration transform approach and the Yang–Laplace transform. To show how effective and precise the LFVITM four examples are given.
LAPLACE DECOMPOSITION METHOD FOR SOLVING THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL DIFFUSION PROBLEM IN FRACTAL HEAT TRANSFER
Authors: JAFARI HOSSEIN , JASSIM HASSAN KAMIL , ÜNLÜ CANAN , NGUYEN VAN THINH
Published: December 2023

In this paper, the Local Fractional Laplace Decomposition Method (LFLDM) is used for solving a type of Two-Dimensional Fractional Diffusion Equation (TDFDE). In this method, first we apply the Laplace transform and its inverse to the main equation, and then the Adomian decomposition is used to obtain approximate/analytical solution. The accuracy and applicability of the LFLDM is shown through two examples. The LFLDM results are in good agreement with the exact solution of the problems.
A NEW FRACTAL MODELING FOR THE NERVE IMPULSES BASED ON LOCAL FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVE
Authors: WEI CHUN-FU
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a new fractal nerve impulses modeling is successfully described via the Yang’s local fractional derivative in a microgravity space, and its approximate analytical solution is obtained by a new Adomian decomposition method. The efficiency and accuracy analysis of the proposed method is elucidated according to the graphs. The result shows that our method is excellent and accurate in dealing with Local fractional differential equations.
A HILBERT-TYPE LOCAL FRACTIONAL INTEGRAL INEQUALITY WITH THE KERNEL OF A HYPERBOLIC COSECANT FUNCTION
Authors: LIU YINGDI , LIU QIONG
Published: December 2023

By using Yang’s local fractional calculus theory, the method of weight function, and real-analysis techniques in the fractal set, a general Hilbert-type local fractional integral inequality with the kernel of a hyperbolic cosecant function is established. The necessary and sufficient condition for the constant factor of the general Hilbert-type local fractional integral inequality to be the best possible is discovered. Furthermore, two equivalent inequalities with the best constant factors were obtained.
Efficient Syndrome Decoder for Heavy Hexagonal QECC via Machine Learning
Authors: Bhoumik Debasmita , Majumdar Ritajit , Madan Dhiraj , Vinayagamurthy Dhinakaran , Raghunathan Shesha , Sur-Kolay Susmita
Published: December 2023

Error syndromes for heavy hexagonal code and other topological codes such as surface code have typically been decoded by using Minimum Weight Perfect Matching– (MWPM) based methods. Recent advances have shown that topological codes can be efficiently decoded by deploying machine learning (ML) techniques, in particular with neural networks. In this work, we first propose an ML-based decoder for heavy hexagonal code and establish its efficiency in terms of the values of threshold and pseudo-threshold for various noise models. We show that the proposed ML-based decoding method achieves ~ 5 × higher values of threshold than that for MWPM. Next, exploiting the property of subsystem codes, we define gauge equivalence for heavy hexagonal code, by which two distinct errors can belong to the same error class. A linear search-based method is proposed for determining the equivalent error classes. This provides a quadratic reduction in the number of error classes to be considered for both bit flip and phase flip errors and thus a further improvement of ~ 14% in the threshold over the basic ML decoder. Last, a novel technique based on rank to determine the equivalent error classes is presented, which is empirically faster than the one based on linear search.
Analyzing the Energy Usage of a Community and the Benefits of Energy Storage
Authors: Wamburu John , Lee Stephen , Iyengar Srinivasan , Irwin David , Shenoy Prashant
Published: December 2023

Understanding the energy usage of a community is crucial for policymaking, energy planning, and achieving sustainable development. The advent of the smart grid has made it feasible to gather fine-grain energy usage data at large-scales, providing us with new opportunities to understand demand patterns at different spatial and temporal scales. In this paper, we conduct a large-scale empirical study of energy usage of 14,849 residential and commercial energy consumers from a small city in the United States. We conduct a wide ranging analysis of energy usage at multiple granularities—citywide, transformer-level, and individual home levels. In doing so, we demonstrate how city-wide smart meter datasets can answer a variety of questions on energy consumption, such as the impact of weather on energy usage. For example, we show that extreme weather events significantly increase energy usage, e.g., by 36% and 11.5% on hot summer and cold winter days, respectively. As another example, we show 19.2% of transformers in the grid get overloaded during peak load periods. Finally, we evaluate the impact of incorporating varying amounts of energy storage within the distribution grid and the impact such deployments will have on the peak demand patterns seen by the grid as well as the ability to reduce overloads seen by distribution transformers during peak periods.
A Systematic Review of Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics in Information Retrieval
Authors: Bernard Nolwenn , Balog Krisztian
Published: December 2023

We live in an information society that strongly relies on information retrieval systems, such as search engines and conversational assistants. Consequently, the trustworthiness of these systems is of critical importance and has attracted significant research attention in recent years. In this work, we perform a systematic literature review of the field of fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethics in information retrieval. In particular, we investigate the definitions, approaches, and evaluation methodologies proposed to build trustworthy information retrieval systems. This review reveals the lack of standard definitions, arguably due to the multi-dimensional nature of the different notions. In terms of approaches, most of the work focuses on building either a fair or a transparent information retrieval system. As for evaluation, fairness is often assessed by means of automatic evaluation, while accountability and transparency are most commonly evaluated using audits and user studies. Based on the surveyed literature, we develop taxonomies of requirements for the different notions, and further use these taxonomies to propose practical definitions to quantify the degree to which an information retrieval system satisfies a given notion. Finally, we discuss challenges that have yet to be solved for information retrieval systems to be trustworthy.
A Combinatorial Optimization Analysis Method for Detecting Malicious Industrial Internet Attack Behaviors
Authors: Zhao Kejing , Zhang Zhiyong , Raymond Choo Kim-Kwang , Zhang Zhongya , Zhang Tiantian
Published: December 2023

Industrial Internet plays an important role in key critical infrastructure sectors and is the target of different security threats and risks. There are limitations in many existing attack detection approaches, such as function redundancy, overfitting, and low efficiency. A combinatorial optimization method—Lagrange multiplier—is designed to optimize the underlying feature screening algorithm. The optimized feature combination is fused with random forest and XG-Boost selected features to improve the accuracy and efficiency of attack feature analysis. Using both the UNSW-NB15 and natural gas pipeline datasets, we evaluate the performance of the proposed method. It is observed that the influence degrees of the different features associated with the attack behavior can result in the binary classification attack detection increasing to 0.93 and the attack detection time reducing by 6.96 times. The overall accuracy of multi-classification attack detection is also observed to improve by 0.11. We also observe that nine key features of attack behavior analysis are essential to the analysis and detection of general attacks targeting the system, and by focusing on these features one could potentially improve the effectiveness and efficiency of real-time critical industrial system security. In this article, the CICDDoS2019 and CICIDS2018 datasets are used to prove the generalization. The experimental results show that the proposed method has good generalization and can be extended to the same type of industrial anomaly datasets.
Validation of a Proteomic-Based Prognostic Model for Breast Cancer and Immunological Analysis
Authors: Yu Yunlin , Dong Linhuan , Dong Changjun , Zhang Xianlin
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer (BC) has emerged as an extremely destructive malignancy, causing significant harm to female patients and society at large. Proteomic research holds great promise for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and the integration of proteomics with genomics can offer valuable assistance in the early diagnosis, treatment, and improved prognosis of BC patients. In this study, we downloaded breast cancer protein expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and combined proteomics with genomics to construct a proteomic-based prognostic model for BC. This model consists of nine proteins (HEREGULIN, IDO, PEA15, MERIT40_pS29, CIITA, AKT2, CD171 DVL3, and CABL9). The accuracy of the model in predicting the survival prognosis of BC patients was further validated through risk curve analysis, survival curve analysis, and independent prognostic analysis. We further confirmed the impact of differential expression of these nine key proteins on overall survival in BC patients, and the differential expression of the key proteins and their encoding genes was validated using immunohistochemical staining. Enrichment analysis revealed functional associations primarily related to PPAR signaling pathway, steroid hormone metabolism, chemokine signaling pathway, DNA conformation changes, immunoglobulin production, and immunoglobulin complex in the high- and low-risk groups. Immune infiltration analysis revealed differential expression of immune cells between the high- and low-risk groups, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent immunotherapy. The model constructed in this study can predict the survival of BC patients, and the identified key proteins may serve as biomarkers to aid in the early diagnosis of BC. Enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis provide a necessary theoretical basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms and subsequent immunotherapy.
Cracking Characteristics and Mechanism of Internal Components of Large-Span Shield Tunnel
Authors: Dong Fei , Li Ao , Huang Jun , Zhao Guang , Chen Ningwei
Published: December 2023

With the ever-increasing number of large-span shield tunneling projects and the extended operational time, their distinctive internal component issues are becoming more pronounced and exhibiting unique characteristics. In order to reveal the cracking mechanism of concrete on the top of the middle partition wall, based on a large-span shield tunnel section of Nanjing Metro, the crack mode, distribution characteristics, and cracking process of concrete inside tunnel structure were studied by combined field investigation and extended finite element analysis. The results showed that: (1) there were 96 cracks of concrete on the top of the middle partition wall in the interval. Based on the propagation path, number, and shape of cracks, they could be divided into type I, II, III, Y, and Z, with type-Y and type-Z being subtypes of type-I. (2) The crack started at the opposite side of horizontal differential displacement of the flue plate. The development curves of the length and end width of type-I and type-II cracks showed the significant characteristics of three stages. The relationship between crack end width and length was nonlinear, showing that 250 and 225 mm, respectively, were the critical crack lengths growing with the rapid growth of the end width of type-I and type-II cracks. (3) In type-II cracks, the propagation curves of two cracks under the same working condition were consistent, and the spacing of plate joints greatly influenced the length and slope of each stage of the curve. For type-III cracks, the first crack propagation process was basically consistent with type-I and type-II cracks, and the propagation of the other two cracks had obvious brittle characteristics.
Therapeutic Potential of Punica granatum and Isolated Compounds: Evidence-Based Advances to Treat Bacterial Infections
Authors: Mendes Priscila Mendonça , Gomes Fontoura Guilherme Martins , Rodrigues Liliane dos Santos , Souza Aloiso Sampaio , Viana Jesse Pereira Machado , Fernandes Pereira Ana Lucia , Dutra Richard Pereira , Nogueira Ferreira Adriana Gomes , Neto Marcelino Santos , Reis Aramys Silva , Berretta Andresa Aparecida , Monteiro-Neto Valério , Maciel Márcia Cristina Gonçalves
Published: December 2023

Punica granatum Linn has been known for its nutritional and medicinal value since ancient times and is used in the treatment of various pathologies owing to its antibacterial properties. This review reports the results of the most recent studies on the antibacterial effects of P. granatum and its isolated compounds on bacteria of clinical interest. A search in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) databases was performed, which included articles that evaluated the antibacterial activity of P. granatum extracts and excluded articles that analyzed other microorganisms or nonpathogenic bacteria, as well as theses, dissertations, duplicate articles, and those not fully available. The literature suggests that P. granatum extracts can act on bacteria, such as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, fruit peel was the most commonly used pharmacogen and methanol, ethanol, and water were the most common solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds. The antibacterial potential of the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel could be attributed to the presence of active compounds, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, punicic acid, gallic acid, and punicalagin. Thus, there is evidence that these plant extracts, having high polyphenol content, can disrupt the bacterial plasma membrane and inhibit the action of proteins related to antimicrobial resistance. P. granatum shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with great potential against multidrug-resistant strains. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of action related to this biological activity and investigate the isolated substances that may be responsible for the antibacterial effects.
Coping Strategies with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Banaei Mojdeh , Mehrnoush Vahid , Roozbeh Nasibeh , Kariman Nourossadat
Published: December 2023

Background. Genital/pelvic pain penetration disorder (GPPPD) decreased mental and physical functioning, reduced quality of life, and reduced feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, all of which impair the ability of women with GPPPD to enjoy sex. This qualitative study was conducted to identify which factors can reduce sexual stress and help Iranian women cope with GPPPD. Methods. This qualitative study was conducted through the participation of 18 women with GPPPD diagnosed by a sexologist and using DSM-IV diagnostic criteria from March to July 2022, Iran. The samples were selected using the purposive sampling method and considering the maximum variation. The semistructured question guide was used as a data collection tool and data collection continued until data saturation was reached. The collected data were analyzed using conventional content analysis approach. Results. Data analysis led to the emergence of three main themes: “problem-focused coping” which included the three categories of received social support, problem self-control, and penetration replacement; “emotion-focused coping” which included three categories: a couple’s negative reaction to the problem, attachment disorder, and surrendering the problem; and “treatment-seeking” which consisted of searching and choosing a therapist to solve the problem, ineffective medical approaches, and ineffective nonmedical approaches. Conclusion. Coping strategies in women with GPPPD were classified as “problem-focused coping,” “emotion-focused coping,” and “treatment-seeking.” These findings indicate a need for GPPPD information and education, as well as a need for healthcare professionals to actively inquire about sexual problems and commit to serious treatment efforts. Cultural interventions that promote sexual pleasure can aid in the management of GPPPD.
Seroprevalence of Human Brucellosis among Syrian Refugees in Jordan, 2022
Authors: Al-Sanouri Tarek , Khader Yousef , Hailat Ekhlas , Iweir Sereen , Abu Khudair Mohammad , Al Nsour Mohannad
Published: December 2023

Introduction. Brucellosis is prevalent in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated factors among Syrian refugees in Jordan. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Syrian refugees who attended the Public Health Lab (PHL) in Al Mafraq governorate, during the period of May-June 2022 to obtain a health certificate, which is legally required to receive governmental authorization for employment in Jordan. Blood samples were obtained from participants and a serum specimen was tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against Brucella using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG kits (Vircell Microbiologists, Granada, Spain). Results. A total of 1562 Syrian refugees were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged between 18 and 74 years, with a median age of 30 years at presentation. The majority were males (75.9%, n = 1186) and 24.1% (n = 376) were females. The Brucella ELISA IgG results were positive for 149 persons, with an overall seroprevalence rate of 9.5% (95% confidence interval: 8.0%–11.0%). Having animal-related occupations, residing outside refugee camps, consuming unpasteurized milk, handling animals or their tissues, and slaughtering animals within 6 months of study inclusion were significantly higher among the seropositive group. In the multivariate analysis, IgG-positive persons were 13 times more likely to report being diagnosed with brucellosis (OR = 13.1, 95% CI: 6.1–28.3;

p

 ≤ 0.001). In addition, they were more likely to reside in the city of Al Mafraq, as opposed to a refugee camp (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.2;

p

 = 0.025) and to have handled animals within 6 months of study inclusion (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1–8.9;

p

 = 0.035). Conclusions. In conclusion, one-tenth of adult Syrian refugees were tested positive for Brucella ELISA IgG. Being diagnosed with brucellosis, residing in the city of Al Mafraq, as opposed to a refugee camp, and handling animals within 6 months of study inclusion were significantly associated with being positive for Brucella ELISA IgG. This study illustrates the need for improved brucellosis control measures via comprehensive vaccination of animals and enhanced laboratory detection and surveillance capacities, in addition to emphasizing the need for increased awareness sessions among Syrian refugees on the safe use and preparation of dairy products and safety practices of handling animals and their tissues.
Time Series Modeling of Tuberculosis Cases in India from 2017 to 2022 Based on the SARIMA-NNAR Hybrid Model
Authors: Yadav Baikunth Kumar , Srivastava Sunil Kumar , Arasu Ponnusamy Thillai , Singh Pranveer
Published: December 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the severe progressive threats in developing countries. There are some limitations to social and economic development among developing nations. The present study forecasts the notified prevalence of TB based on seasonality and trend by applying the SARIMA-NNAR hybrid model. The NIKSHAY database repository provides monthly informed TB cases (2017 to 2022) in India. A time series model was constructed based on the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving averages (SARIMA), neural network autoregressive (NNAR), and, SARIM-NNAR hybrid models. These models were estimated with the help of the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and Akaike information criterion (AIC). These models were established to compare the estimation. A total of 12,576,746 notified TB cases were reported over the years whereas the average case was observed as 174,677.02. The evaluating parameters values of RMSE, MAE, and MAPE for the hybrid model were found to be (13738.97), (10369.48), and (06.68). SARIMA model was (19104.38), (14304.15), and (09.45) and the NNAR were (11566.83), (9049.27), and (05.37), respectively. Therefore, the NNAR model performs better with time series data for fitting and forecasting compared to other models such as SARIMA as well as the hybrid model. The NNAR model indicated a suitable model for notified TB incidence forecasting. This model can be a good tool for future prediction. This will assist in devising a policy and strategizing for better prevention and control.