bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blue Economy: Blessing of the sustainable growth in Tunisia
Authors: Saghrouni Olfa
Published: January 2025

The Blue economy in Tunisia is an opportunity to achieve integrated and sustainable development. Fundamental relationships between different macroeconomic variables may follow certain common theories, but local preferences are also decisive in determining their unique behavior. Looking into Blue Economic growth nexus is, therefore, needed in Tunisia, so as to understand the long -run economic stance and to capture the short-run dynamics in the national economy. This paper aims to analyze the impact of Blue Economic and economic growth in Tunisia using time series data over the period 2002 to 2022. This study is based on the Auto-Regressive Distributive Lags (ARDL) approach that is proposed by Pesaran et al (2001). Blue Economic are important for economic growth and economic growth has an impact in Tunisia. A successful and sustained economic growth requires growth in Blue Economic.
JEL classification: O4, Q56, R11
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening Policy: Nepalese and Japanese Perspectives
Authors: Iwaki Yoko , Hayashi Takayuki , Nomura Shuhei , Shimamura Shoko , Gauchan Rohita , Huang Michael C.
Published: January 2025

Objectives:This study examined the cost and benefit impact of the introduction of pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening policy, including testing and treatment for Japan and Nepal from 2014 to 2018.
Methods:This study used data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey; and from Japan’s Legal Affairs Bureau and Tuberculosis Surveillance Center. We used cost-benefit analysis to examine the effect of the pre-entry TB screening policy. Total cost, total benefit and net benefit for both countries were compared for the policy scenarios “With” and “Without”, using net present value (NPV). In order to address parameter difference for uncertainty, we conducted sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation with secondary transmission rate.
Results: Between 2014 and 2018 in Japan, NPV of Nepalese student increased from USD 1.9 million to USD 2.9 million; likewise, NPV of Nepalese workers grew from USD 1.1 million to USD 3.0 million. The increase in NPV was greater than zero, meaning that the implementation of the policy could produce a benefit for Japan regarding prevention of increase in number of new TB cases. In Nepal, the predicted number of foreign migrant applicants with newly diagnosed TB increased. Total NPV for Nepal was negative since total cost was greater than the benefit, suggesting added burden of direct TB cost.
Conclusions: Implementation of pre-entry TB screening policy for foreign migrants arriving in Japan from Nepal with high TB burden would achieve efficient cost-saving through reduction of number of newly diagnosed TB cases including those with transmission risk.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of deregulated miR-493-5p in patients with severe pneumonia
Authors: Liu Lili , Han Lei , Zhao Huan , Wang Liying
Published: January 2025

Background
A large number of studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely associated with pneumonia.
Aims
This study endeavors to explore the expression levels and clinical significance of miR-493-5p in pediatric patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
Methods
A total of 125 children diagnosed with severe pneumonia and 100 children with common pneumonia were enrolled in this study, alongside 100 healthy children who served as controls. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to was used to detect gene expression levels. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-493-5p in children with severe pneumonia. Kaplan-Meier and COX regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-493-5p in children with severe pneumonia. Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis. Furthermore, pneumonia model cells were constructed in vitro to explore the underlying mechanism of miR-493-5p in severe pneumonia.
Results
Serum miR-493-5p was highly expressed in children with severe pneumonia. miR-493-5p has a certain diagnostic value for severe pneumonia and is related to the prognosis of the disease. miR-493-5p is positively correlated with the levels of inflammatory factors in children with severe pneumonia. miR-493-5p affects the function and inflammation of pneumonia model cells. IRF1 could partially reverse the effect of miR-493-5p on MRC-5 cell.
Conclusions
The level of miR-493-5p has a certain value in the diagnosis and prognosis of children with severe pneumonia, and it may play a critical role in the disease process and associated inflammatory responses by targeting the IRF1.
Anxiety symptom and relationship to pain, functional disability and quality of life among spinal deformity patients scheduled for surgery: a prospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Mei Yanan , Zeng Yan , Li Weishi , Guo Meihan , Sun Yuting , Wang Mingchun , Yue Lina
Published: January 2025

Purpose
To assess the prevalence, severity and association of anxiety symptom with pain, disability and quality of life (QoL) in spinal deformity diseases (SDD) patients, and to compared with common degenerative spinal diseases (DSD).
Methods
A total of 304 patients scheduled for spinal surgery were included in the analysis, of which 184 patients were diagnosed as various SDD and 120 were common DSD. HRQoL assessment included VAS, ODI and SF-12v2. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluated anxiety symptom. The SDD were further divided into two subgroups according to symptom severity: mildly symptomatic spinal deformity (NSSD) with VAS ≤ 3 and ODI ≤ 20; significantly symptomatic spinal deformity (SSSD) with VAS > 3 or ODI > 20. Bivariate correlation analysis was conducted by spearman correlation. Hierarchical regression analysis was further performed for QoL of SDD.
Results
The high anxiety symptom accounted for 68.3%, 51.2% and 49.2%, respectively in the SSSD, MSSD and DSD patients (p = 0.009). The SSSD had significantly higher scores of STAI-S, STAI-T and STAI-Total compared to the DSD, and significantly higher STAI-S than MSSD. Anxiety severity showed significantly positive correlations with VAS and ODI as well as negative correlations with MCS, PCS and SF-12 total scores. Age, educational level, financial burden, disability and trait-anxiety symptoms were independently associated with the QoL of SDD patients.
Conclusions
Psychosocial factors were important correlates of QoL in spinal deformity patients and a broader biopsychosocial view is necessary in the treatment of spinal deformity patients.
Dyna-P: Placement-aware Dynamic Partitioning for Lightweight Applications with Modern GPUs
Authors: Adufu Theodora , Kim Yoonhee
Published: January 2025

Efficient GPU resource sharing is critical in dynamic cloud-based environments, particularly for lightweight HPC applications and Small Language Models, which demand partial GPU resources for execution. However, traditional scheduling frameworks fail to address intra-GPU and inter-node resource fragmentation and dynamic placement challenges arising from the heterogeneity in each application's resource demand and job completion times. This leads to resource under-utilization and scheduling delays in GPU clusters. This paper introduces Dyna-P, a novel scheduling framework designed to dynamically adjust GPU partitions to minimize resource fragmentation while improving system throughput and Makespan. Dyna-P proposes a Reconfiguration Last Policy which recognizes that workloads consisting of lightweight applications can benefit more from uninterrupted execution. Experimental results demonstrate that Dyna-P improves average throughput by up to 14.7% and reduces Makespan by 39% compared to state-of-the-art methods. These findings underscore Dyna-P’s potential to improve resource allocation rates in multi-tenant GPU environments
Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of the Allurion® Gastric Balloon in Latin American Patients: A Multicenter Case Series
Authors: Muriel María Emilia , García Manuel , Lascano Fernando Martinez , Vamvakianos Pablo Nicolas Martinez , Sosa Matias Facundo , Castellaro Pablo Javier , Sepulveda Matias , Palermo Mariano , Piatanesi Maria de la Paz , Argonz Julio Ernesto , Puentes Maria Eleonora , Awruch Diego , Tioni Rogelio , Gancedo María Clotilde , Ferraro Ariel , Baracco Arianna Sibila Portmann , Garland Luciano Poggi , Esqu Carlos
Published: January 2025

Introduction
Allurion® gastric balloon (AGB) is an innovative option for treating overweight and grade I obesity or as a bridging treatment for bariatric surgery or because the patient does not desire a surgical intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the AGB in a multicentric cohort.
Materials and methods
A retrospective analysis of consecutive cases treated with AGB (≥18 years old with BMI ≥27) was performed in eight centers in 3 countries in Latin America (Argentina, Chile, and Peru), between September 2021 to September 2022, with a 12-month follow-up.
Results
402 patients were included (median BMI of 32.81 kg/m2). Mean TWL% was 8.3%, 11.6%, and 14.9% at 3, 6, and 12 months respectively, with a follow-up of 93.03%, 75.37% and 40.54%. The adverse event rate was 1.24% (n=5). During the first 7 days, 34.58% (n=139) experienced concomitant symptoms, and 1.99% (n=8) asked for endoscopic balloon extraction because of intolerance. The complication rate was 6.46% (n=26). Readmission index was 4.97% (n=20) and reintervention was 2.23% (n=9). Balloon elimination was experienced by 5.7% of patients in the first 14 days, 29.10% (n=117) before the 3rd month, and 62.68% (n=252) after the 16th week. Early deflation rate was 2.73% (n=11). Digestive track elimination was perceived by 26.61%.
Conclusions
AGB is a safe and effective option for the treatment of overweight and obesity in Latin America. Lifestyle changes and continuous support with a multidisciplinary team are essential to achieving good mid- to long-term outcomes.
Accuracy and Reliability of 3D Cephalometric Landmark Detection with Deep Learning
Authors: Liu Boyan , Liu# Chang , Xiong Yutao , Zhu Hailin , Zeng Wei , Guo Jixiang , Liu Wei , Tang Wei , Chen Jinglong
Published: January 2025

Objective: Three-dimensional (3D) landmark detection is essential for assessing craniofacial growth and planning surgeries such as orthodontic, orthognathic, traumatic, and plastic procedures. This study aimed to develop an automatic 3D landmarking model for oral and maxillofacial regions and to validate its accuracy, robustness, and generalizability in both spiral computed tomography (SCT, 41 landmarks) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT, 14 landmarks) scans.
Methods: The model was constructed using an optimized lightweight 3D U-Net network architecture. Its accuracy, robustness, and generalizability were thoroughly evaluated and validated through a multicenter retrospective diagnostic study. The internal dataset included 480 SCT and 240 CBCT cases. For external validation, 320 SCT and 150 CBCT cases were assessed using mean radial error (MRE) and success detection rate within 2-, 3-, and 4-mm error thresholds as the primary evaluation metrics. Error analyses for landmark detection along each coordinate axis were performed. Consistency tests among index observers were conducted.
Results: The average MRE for both SCT and CBCT was consistently below 1.3 mm and, notably, below 1.4 mm in complex conditions such as malocclusion, missing dental landmarks, and the presence of metal artifacts. No significant differences in MRE and SDR at 2-4 mm were observed between external and internal SCT and CBCT sets. SCT bone landmarks were more precise than dental ones, with no difference between bone/soft tissue and dental/soft tissue. CBCT dental landmarks exhibited greater precision compared to bone landmarks. A detailed error analysis across the coordinate axes showed that the coronal axis had the highest error rates. The implementation of this model significantly improved the landmarking proficiency of senior and junior specialists by 15.9% and 28.9%, respectively, while also accelerating the process by a factor of 6 to 9.5 times.
Conclusions: This study shows that the AI-driven model delivers high-precision 3D localization of oral and maxillofacial structures, even in complex scenarios. The model can aid specialists across all experience levels in conducting accurate and efficient localization analyses, owing to its strong clinical utility, robustness, and generalizability.
Clinical Relevance: 3D cephalometric landmark detection is crucial for assessing craniofacial growth and planning diverse surgical procedures, such as orthodontic, orthognathic, trauma, and aesthetic interventions. The traditional manual landmark identification is time-consuming and requires significant expertise. This proposed AI method provides accurate measurements for both soft and hard tissues, streamlines digital planning, decreases reliance on expert knowledge, and enhances the efficiency and success of treatments.
RPA: A Performer-Based Retinex Model for Low-Light Image Enhancement
Authors: Shao Yunxue , Diao Yijin , Wang Lingfeng
Published: January 2025

In low-light scenarios, especially under high dynamic range (HDR) conditions, existing low-light image enhancement algorithms face significant challenges, such as over-enhancement of brightness, loss of details in high-light regions, and undesirable color distortions, which severely hinder their performance. To address these limitations, we propose an improved low-light image enhancement algorithm, Retinexformer on Performer Attention (RPA). By incorporating more efficient Performer Attention and relative position encoding, RPA enhances the model's capability to capture long-range global information and model local dependencies. The proposed framework comprises two key modules: a light decomposition module that generates illumination maps to brighten the image and a damage restoration module that leverages Relative-Performer Multi Self Attention (RPMSA) to refine image quality. Extensive experiments on six paired datasets and three unpaired datasets qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the effectiveness and generalization ability of RPA. Visually, it effectively suppresses high-light overexposure and preserves details and color consistency in more complex HDR environments, resulting in more natural enhancement effects. This study provides a novel perspective for low-light image enhancement. Code is available at https://github.com/JJCcxk/RPA.
Mitigating Salinity Stress in Solanaceae: The Role of Nanoparticles in Seed Germination and Growth Development
Authors: mahmud chinur
Published: January 2025

Salinity is a major challenge affecting agricultural productivity in many regions worldwide. Various approaches have been implemented to mitigate its impact and enhance crop production. This study investigates the application of nanoparticles to improve the growth and development of crops from the Solanaceae family, both individually and in combination with salinity stress. The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of salinity and nanoparticles, specifically titanium dioxide (TiO₂NPs), copper oxide (CuONPs), and zinc oxide (ZnONPs) at 750, 1250, and 1500 mg/kg per seed, respectively, on seed germination and growth performance of tomato, eggplant and pepper plants. The results demonstrated that tomato plants grown under salinity conditions exhibited significant improvements in key traits when treated with CuONPs. The lowest number of aborted flowers was observed under the combined application of salinity and TiO₂NPs, which also enhanced seed production and increased the 1000-seed weight. For eggplants, the combination of salinity with CuONPs and ZnONPs positively influenced plant characteristics, with CuONPs applied individually also showing notable effects. In contrast, control plants displayed the lowest values for all measured attributes in both tomatoes and eggplants. For pepper plants, ZnO nanoparticles applied individually were the most effective in improving plant traits. The application of CuONPs significantly reduced the number of aborted flowers and enhanced seed and mean daily germination rates. However, under salinity stress, pepper plants recorded the lowest values for most growth parameters. These findings suggest that the strategic use of nanoparticles under salinity conditions can support sustainable agriculture by enhancing the growth and productivity of vegetable crops, offering valuable solutions for farmers and growers facing salinity challenges.
Association between sphericity and ventricular function in fetuses of diabetic mothers: A longitudinal study from the fetal to neonatal period.
Authors: Sabry Ayman F. , Evers Patrick D. , Madriago Erin J.
Published: January 2025

Background: The impact of maternal diabetes on the fetal heart is complex and not fully understood.
Objective: The study aimed to investigate how differenttypes and stages of maternal diabetes affect fetal heart function and ventricular remodeling during prenatal and postnatal periods.
Methods: The study included 45 pregnant women with diabetes and 15 with uncomplicated pregnancies. Fetal echocardiograms were performed between 28-32 weeks of gestation using different techniques to assess cardiac function. Measurements of ventricular transverse and longitudinal diameters, as well as the sphericity index, were determined. Postnatal follow-up echocardiograms were also performed.
Results: The diabetic pregnant group was divided into three subgroups: 15 with GDM and 30 with PGD, including 15 well-controlled and 15 uncontrolled cases. The E and E/A ratio values for the mitral and tricuspid valves were significantly lower in fetuses and neonates affected by diabetes compared to the healthy group. The Tei Doppler index for the left ventricle was significantly higher in pregnancies affected bydiabetes, affecting both fetuses and neonates. The right ventricle exhibited significant differences in all groups of diabetic pregnancies in fetuses and postnatally in cases of pregestational diabetes. The sphericity index differed significantly in all fetal diabetic groups and in neonates compared to controls, except for the LV in the GDM cohort. Postnatally, the sphericity index of the RV increased compared to fetal values, while the LV sphericity index remained unchanged.
Conclusion: Maternal diabetes mellitus affects fetal cardiac function and structure, which may continue into the early days of life.
Identification of pancreatic nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors and solid pseudopapillary tumors via the construction of a consensus clustering model based on enhanced CT images
Authors: Zhang Wuyang , Cheng Peng , Cao Wei , Wang Min , Wang Bin , Shi Dan , Li Jingyu , Wei Wei
Published: January 2025

Background: Unsupervised clustering has played a greater role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pancreatic tumors in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the value of constructing a c[1]lustering model for unsupervised learning based on enhanced CT to identify pancreatic nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) and solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs).
Methods: 45 patients with SPTs and 47 patients with NF-psNETs were retrospectively analyzed. The data were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. One-way logistic regression was performed for each clinical variable to assess its relationship with the clustered labels, and a logistic regression model was fitted with the clustered labels as the dependent variable and the clinical variables as independent variables. Variables with P values <0.1 were selected for further analysis. Multifactorial logistic regression models were fitted via the clinical variables selected in the univariate analysis, ridge regularization (L2 penalty) was used to prevent overfitting and address potential multicollinearity, with the strength of regularization (alpha) set to a default value of 1. Clinical variables that were meaningful in the multifactorial logistic regression analyses were used to construct the final logistic regression model, which was used to predict individual clinical-based group labeling on the basis of individual clinical characteristics. For imaging, the optimal number of clusters k selected by the covariance coefficient was used to build the clustering model via unsupervised classification of the lesions through consensus clustering analysis fusing the imaging histological features of arterial-phase, venous-phase, and delayed-phase images. The clinical factors with a final p value < 0.2 were subsequently combined with the clustering model to perform stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses, thereby establishing a joint model. The performance of the three models was assessed via AUC values, and column line plots were generated to visualize the models. Finally, the clinical validity of the models was assessed via decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results: The AUCs of the clustered and clinical models were 0.70 and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66–0.81) in the training set and 0.65 and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.64–0.87) in the validation set, and the AUCs of the training and test sets in the joint model were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.94) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.71–0.96), respectively. Decision curve analysis revealed that the joint clinical-clustering model had a greater net benefit when the high-risk threshold probability was in the range of 0--1.
Conclusions: Unsupervised clustering models based on enhanced CT have potential for discriminating between SPTs and NF-PNETs, which can inform clinical decision-making.
Higher aphid infestation in the alleys of organic apple orchards compared to IPM during fruit setting in eastern Germany
Authors: Niyibizi Ingrid Aline Bapfubusa , Schnerch Benjamin , Djoudi El Aziz , Birkhofer Klaus
Published: January 2025

Apple is a major fruit crop worldwide and the most produced fruit in Germany. However, apple orchards face persistent threats from aphid infestations, which can severely compromise fruit yields. In this study we compared aphid infestation levels in commercial apple orchards under organic and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at three stages of the apple growing season: fruit-setting, fruit-growing and post-harvest, and in two habitats. We sampled eight organic and eight IPM apple orchards in eastern Germany using standardised canopy beating of apple trees and suction sampling in the orchard alleys. Our results indicate no significant differences in canopy aphid infestation between organic and IPM orchards. However, aphid communities in the tree canopy of organic orchards exhibited greater evenness across species compared to IPM orchards. Eriosoma lanigerum consistently dominated the aphid community of the tree canopies in both management systems, highlighting the need for targeted management practices for this pest. Aphid community structure varied significantly across sampling periods in the canopy and orchard alleys. Differences between organic and IPM orchards were observed during the fruit-setting phase in orchard alleys, with higher levels of infestation in organic orchards. Species such as Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Dysaphis spp., Aphis spiraecola, and Rhopalosiphum insertum contributed to these differences. Our findings provide a better understanding of the temporal dynamics of aphid communities in commercial apple orchards and highlight the importance of pest management strategies that consider different habitats and periods.
A Hybrid Prediction Method for Conducted EMI in AC-DC Power Converter
Authors: Xu Zhoujiang , Shu Liang , Jiang Min , Deng Yijian , Wang Chuanqi , Zhou Yongxing
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes a hybrid prediction method for the conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) of AC-DC power converter. Under this method, the equivalent EMI model of AC-DC converter system is established to separate interference source and conduction path in the converter. For the front stage rectifier with T type topology, a topology simplification method is applied to develop a time-domain model of the interference source with consideration given to variable slope characteristics and ringing effects. When modeling DC-DC converter stage, main interference source in time domain is built from the perspective of capacitor charging and discharging. Experimental verification is performed to obtain the results that are consistent with the analytical results obtained by using the proposed modeling method. Furthermore, frequency-domain prediction techniques are applied to forecast the conducted EMI of the converter. Finally, a comprehensive comparison is performed with other prediction method to demonstrate the advantage of this hybrid prediction method in accuracy, simulation speed and convergence.
A New Classification Method of Surrounding Rock Quality for Phyllite Tunnels under the Condition of Layer Orientation Parallel to the orientation of tunnel Axis
Authors: Yang Jing , Wu Chengfeng , Zeng Rui , Wang Ping , Lu Yupeng , Man Hao , Wang Jingyong , Ji Feng
Published: January 2025

Surrounding rock classification is a critical factor in evaluating tunnel stability, determining construction methods, and selecting support parameters. Various engineering sectors utilize different methods for grading tunnel surrounding rock quality. The HC method iswidely adopted in the hydropower industry for this purpose. However, due to the anisotropy of layered phyllite, the classification results obtained using the HC method for phyllite tunnels—when the layer orientation is parallel to the tunnel axis-differ significantly from those based on actual field investigations. This study conducted uniaxial compression tests on rocks, revealing that layered phyllite exhibits notable anisotropy at bedding angles of 0°, 45°, and 90°. The compressive strength follows a V-shaped trend as the angle between the bedding and loading orientations changes, while the deformation modulus decreases linearly with increasing angular deviation between the loading orientation and tunnel axis. Numerical simulations were performed to observe tunnel deformation at various bedding-to-tunnel axis angles. Results showed that, as the bedding angle decreases, deformation of the tunnel wall and crown increases progressively. At angles of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, the deformation ratios for the tunnel wall were 1:3.7:3:4.74:5.44:7.7, and for the tunnel crown, the ratios were 1:1.3:1.94:4.7:6.7. When the traditional HC method was used to classify the surrounding rock in tunnels with parallel phyllite layers, the agreement rate was only 13.33%, indicating low accuracy. By modifying the occurrence score for major structural joints and incorporating the weight ratios derived from numerical simulations, the HC method’s accuracy improved, achieving an agreement rate of 100%. This study enhances the precision and applicability of surrounding rock classification and offers valuable insights for tunnel construction.
Efficacy and safety of endoscopic versus robotic axillary lymph node dissection in patients with node-positive breast cancer: a comparative retrospective study
Authors: Wu Zhijie , Li Zongyan , Chen Zuxiao , Fu Xiaoyan , Huang Ze , Luo Yunxiang , Liu Qiwen , Li Haiyan
Published: January 2025

Background.
Robotic surgery for breast cancer is increasingly being adopted, but the evidence on its effectiveness and safety remains limited. This study aimed to compare the surgical quality and short-term outcomes of robotic and endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection in patients with node-positive breast cancer. Here we report the short-term outcomes of this trial.
Methods.
This single-center retrospective study compared the short-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic (E-ALND) and robotic (R-ALND) axillary lymph node dissection in patients with node-positive breast cancer. Patients were recruited from those who underwent surgery at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2022 and October 2024. Clinical and pathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications were analyzed.
Results
The study included 56 patients, with 29 undergoing E-ALND and 27 undergoing R-ALND. The R-ALND group had significantly shorter surgical times (43.37 ± 12.40 min vs. 60.10 ± 19.37 min, p < 0.001) and lower mean blood loss (3.26 ± 2.40 ml vs. 9.24 ± 4.29 ml, p < 0.001). Postoperatively, the R-ALND group had better upper limb function and sensation, with significantly lower DASH scores at 1-month (10.87 ± 1.35 vs. 14.64 ± 3.49, p < 0.001) and 3-month (6.68 ± 1.86 vs. 9.24 ± 2.74, p < 0.001) follow-ups. The R-ALND group also had fewer postoperative complications, including a lower incidence of reduced sensation, burning sensation, and numbness in the upper limb.
Conclusion
Compared with E-ALND, R-ALND significantly reduces intraoperative bleeding and postoperative complications, resulting in better upper limb function and sensation. These findings suggest that R-ALND may offer superior clinical outcomes for patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer.
The Effect of Neuromuscular Combined with Biomechanical Scapular Stabilizer Muscle Corrective Exercises on Upper Crossed Syndrome in Chinese Secondary School Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hu Xuanming , Bao Guiying , Quan Xi , Wang Kai
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives
Upper crossed syndrome (UCS), characterized by poor posture, neck pain and Functional disability, is a prevalent issue among youth. This study aims to evaluate the effects of neuromuscular combined with biomechanical exercise (NCBE) on UCS among secondary school students and compares its outcomes with biomechanical exercise (BE) alone.
Methods
Forty-five male secondary school students (aged 15–18) were divided into three groups: NCBE (n=15), BE (n=15), and a control group (n=15). The NCBE group underwent combined neuromuscular and biomechanical exercise, the BE group performed biomechanical exercise only, and the control group participated in regular physical activities. Interventions were conducted three times a week for eight weeks. Outcome measures, including Forward Head Angle (FHA), Rounded Shoulder Distance (RSD), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and scapular muscle strength (Middle Trapezius (MT), Lower Trapezius (LT), Serratus Anterior (SA) ), were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8.
Results
Within-group comparisons: Both BE and NCBE groups showed significant improvements in all measures by week 4 compared to baseline (p<0.05), with further improvements by week 8 (p<0.05), while the control group showed no significant changes (p>0.05).
Between the group comparisons: Both BE and NCBE groups had better outcomes than the control group at weeks 4 and 8 (p<0.05). NCBE group showed superior results compared to the BE group only in the strength of MT, LT and SA (p<0.05) in week 4. NCBE group showed superior results compared to BE in FHA, NDI, VAS and the strength of MT, LT and SA (p<0.05), except for RSD (p>0.05) at week 8.
Conclusion
Both NCBE and BE are effective in alleviating UCS symptoms in Chinese secondary school students. However, NCBE demonstrates superior treatment effects compared to BE across multiple outcome measures, offering a promising and cost-effective therapeutic option. Additionally, regular physical activity is ineffective in treating UCS.
Optimal Planning and Decision-Making for Hybrid Microgrids: Integrating Diverse Renewable Sources with Battery Systems
Authors: Alyahya Saleh , Zaky Alaa A. , Yousif Bedir , Dawoud Samir M.
Published: January 2025

Microgrids as modern power system facilities must be optimally designed to secure their efficient techno-economic feasibility. The uncertainty in renewable energy and electricity demand growth which can be managed by appropriate design and demand-side management methods. In this research work, a hybrid microgrid comprising 3rd generation Perovskite Solar Cells / Wind Turbines / Micro turbines and battery system is modeled in Homer Pro software 3.14.2 to determine the optimal decisions for different demand-side management cases. Furthermore, the Perovskite Solar Cells devices were fabricated and experimentally examined and integrated to microgrid under investigation. This paper investigates the techno-economic modeling and optimization-based demand-side management of microgrids to maintain the load demand of a rural community on the coast of Aswan, Egypt. Various load demand scenarios involving baseloads without demand-side management, with loads shifting-based demand-side management, and with combined loads shifting and peak clipping-based demand-side management, are implemented, including their impacts on the microgrids' cost, reliability, and emissions are evaluated and compared. The design objective is to minimize the levelized cost of energy subject to various operational constraints based on Homer Pro software. The results have indicated a significant reduction in the Perovskite Solar Cells output power (89.0 kW) with Case-1(base load). While applying Case-2 (demand-side management based on loads shifting technique) the power reduced to 78.9 KW. Added to that the implementing of Case-3 (demand-side management based on loads shifting and loads clipping techniques) the power reduced to 77.6 KW. The results revealed that at Case-2 the demand side management was able to attain an attractive reduction of cost of energy by 14% in comparison with Case-1. Moreover, emissions at Case-3 decreased by 15% in comparison with Case-1. Finally, the proposed approach is to assist decision-makers to provide costs- effective and emissions-conscious planning for microgrids efficiently.
MH-YOLO: A Lightweight Traffic Sign Detection Method Based on YOLOv10n with Hybrid Attention Transformer and Multi-Scale Dilated Attention
Authors: Zhang Yifeng , Ma Haifei , Zhang Canlong , Wang Zhiwen , Li Zhixin
Published: January 2025

In intelligent transportation systems, the accurate and real-time detection and recognition of traffic signs are crucial for autonomous and assisted driving. Despite improvements in efficiency and accuracy of existing deep learning object detection algorithms, challenges remain in detecting small objects, handling multi-scale targets, and achieving real-time detection in low computational resource environments. To address these challenges, we propose a lightweight YOLOv10n-based method that incorporates a Hybrid Attention Transformer (HAT) to enhance the super-resolution reconstruction of small targets, thereby improving detection accuracy. Additionally, we introduce a Multi-Scale Dilated Attention mechanism (MDA), embedded within the YOLOv10n model to capture multi-scale semantic information through self-attention mechanisms, effectively enhancing the model's detection performance. The proposed method, termed MH-YOLO, significantly improves detection effectiveness while maintaining low computational complexity. Furthermore, to address the lack of nighttime traffic sign data and region-specific sign data in existing datasets, we constructed the Chinese Traffic Sign Dataset (CTSDB), covering all time periods and various complex scenarios. Experimental results show that MH-YOLO achieves detection accuracy comparable to more complex models while maintaining model lightweightness.
Über Verwilderungen indigener, im Altmarkkreis Salzwedel (Sachsen-Anhalt) aber gebietsfremder Gehölze
Authors: Brennenstuhl Günter
Published: January 2025

Im Beitrag wird über Verwilderungen von 14 Gehölzen berichtet, die in der deutschen Flora zwar als indigen gelten, im Altmarkkreis Salzwedel (Sachsen-Anhalt) aber als neophytische Florenelemente angesehen werden. Dazu zählen neben den Forstgehölzen Abies alba, Larix decidua und Picea abies hauptsächlich strauchige Arten, die als Ziergehölze oder zur Landschaftsgestaltung kultiviert werden und gelegentlich verwildern. Fundortdaten werden nur bei Verwilderungen mit geringer Häufigkeit mitgeteilt. Bei mehreren Arten wird auf ethnobotanische Besonderheiten aufmerksam gemacht.
Leadership in conditions of instability: an innovative model for enhancing organizational resilience
Authors: Varis Iryna , Kravchuk Oksana , Eldris Yuliia
Published: January 2025

The relevance of this study is driven by the growing need for innovative leadership models capable of effectively responding to modern challenges arising from rapid socio-economic changes and instability, particularly in times of war. This article aims to develop an innovative model of transformational leadership in wartime that addresses these challenges and opportunities to strengthen organizational resilience and enhance competitiveness. The object of the study is current leadership trends and their impact on management effectiveness. The methodological foundation includes a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of various leadership styles and empirical research methods to identify effective management approaches. Structural and systemic approaches enabled the integration of diverse leadership elements into a unified model that is resilient and adaptable to dynamic conditions. The study results confirmed the importance of combining adaptive, innovative, inclusive, and ethical approaches to form a resilient management strategy that allows rapid responses to challenges. The findings of the study are of paramount importance, as they provide a robust model for transformational leadership in wartime. The practical value of the article lies in the recommendations developed for implementing the proposed model, which can be adapted to the needs of any organization, regardless of its scale, industry, or specific features. Such recommendations promote not only increased organizational resilience in crisis conditions but also foster conditions for long-term development and competitive advantage.
Cancer Survival as a Social Practice: A Study of Selective Indian Women Cancer Narratives
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of English, Little Flower College, Guruvayoor, University of Calicut, Dominic A Julie
Published: January 2025

Researching the survival trajectories of cancer survivors, through their narratives, is indeed crucial for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of their experiences. Within the Indian subcontinent, where cultural, societal, and healthcare dynamics differ widely, studying cancer narratives of female survivors offer a unique perspective. Women often face specific challenges related to gender roles, stigma, access to healthcare, and support systems. Understanding how female cancer survivors navigate through these challenges and develop strategies for survival can benefit both healthcare practices and social support structures. The four primary texts taken for analysis come under the genre of illness narratives: Anita Moorjani’s Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing (2012), Neelam Kumar’s To Cancer with Love: My Journey of Life (2015), Manisha Koirala’s (with Neelam Kumar) Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life (2018) and Lisa Ray’s Close to the Bone (2019) are analytically reviewed for the study. Theoretical perspectives from the survivorship theory of Alex Broom and Katherine Kenny have created a framework to analyse the survival trajectory in this research. Exploring how women perceive and cope with the news of their cancer diagnosis, including their emotional responses, fears, and uncertainties makes cancer survival a social practice rather than an individual struggle. The study also identifies the strategies and resources women utilise such as spirituality, peer support, information-seeking, or maintaining a positive outlook. It examines the long-term effects of cancer survivorship, like recurrence, survivorship care, body image, relationships, and existential concerns. By delving into these themes, the research understands the experiences of female cancer survivors to reduce stigma and inspire hope for others facing similar challenges.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Women and Men Towards Infertility: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mabitsela Vangile Naney , Musie Maurine Rofhiwa , Sepeng Nombulelo Veronica
Published: January 2025

Background

Infertility is a serious concern with emotional and medical implications, affecting millions of couples worldwide. Despite its prevalence, there are still misconceptions and a lack of knowledge and awareness surrounding infertility.

Objectives

The objective of this review is to synthesize the existing literature on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of men and women towards infertility.

Methods

The scoping literature review followed the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, which included formulating the research question, locating relevant studies, selecting studies, charting data, and synthesizing the results. The databases used were MEDLINE, Africa-Wide Information, Academic Search Complete, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo and Google Scholar. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyse the findings of this review.

Results

Twelve studies were included in this scoping review. The analysis of these studies produced six themes: women’s concerns regarding infertility, lack of knowledge and awareness regarding infertility, different types of educational information on reproductive health, attitudes towards infertility, practices related to infertility and gender-based treatment, responsibilities, and consequences of infertility.

Conclusion

The review revealed that men and women consulting in healthcare facilities reported several misunderstandings and information gaps regarding infertility. Regarding attitude, the review found that most men and women demonstrate a positive attitude towards infertility as a disease and regarding the use of fertility drugs for conception. Furthermore, the review found that most men were willing to adopt necessary lifestyle and health practices to enhance or improve their fertility. The use of alternative therapy was also a prominent healthcare option amongst most men and women. Lastly, infertility has been known to cause marriages into divorce or polygamy.

The results highlight the need for better healthcare to properly treat infertility. Furthermore, the review identified the need for education programs to address the stigma and misconceptions associated with infertility.
The Criminal-law characteristics and problems of qualification of the occupation of the highest position in the criminal hierarchy
Authors:   Abdulatip M. Abdulatipov Dagestan State University, Abdulatipov Abdulatip M.
Published: January 2025

В статье проведён критический анализ объективных и субъективных признаков состава занятия высшего положения в преступной иерархии (ст. 210.1 УК РФ). По результатам исследования отмечены существенные противоречия между объективными признаками данной статьи и положениями общей части УК РФ. Автором предложены рекомендации по их устранению. В целях эффективного применения исследуемой нормы, с учётом сложившейся правоприменительной и судебной практики, мнений видных учёных, автором предпринята попытка дать разъяснение оценочным понятиям «высшее положение в преступной иерархии», «занятие высшего положения», «иерархия преступной среды». Также даны рекомендации по разграничению исследуемого состава от смежных преступлений и, в первую очередь, от деяния, предусмотренного частью 4 статьи 210 УК РФ. Выводы и предложения проведённого исследования могут иметь теоретическое и практическое значение.
Mapping the Landscape of Digital Health Intervention Strategies: 25-Year Synthesis (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Shiyu , Ma Jingru , Sun Meichen , Zhang Chao , Gao Yujing , Xu Jinghong
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Digital health interventions have emerged as promising tools to promote health behavior change and improve health outcomes. However, a comprehensive synthesis of strategies contributing to these interventions is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to (1) identify and categorize the strategies used in digital health interventions over the past 25 years; (2) explore the differences and changes in these strategies across time periods, countries, populations, delivery methods, and senders; and (3) serve as a valuable reference for future researchers and practitioners to improve the effectiveness of digital health interventions.

METHODS

This study followed a systematic review approach, complemented by close reading and text coding. A comprehensive search for published English academic papers from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted. The search employed a combination of digital health and intervention-related terms, along with database-specific subject headings and filters. The time span covered 25 years, from January 1, 1999, to March 10, 2024. Sample papers were selected based on study design, intervention details, and strategies. The strategies were identified and categorized based on the principles of Behavior Change Techniques and Behavior Strategies.

RESULTS

A total of 885 papers involving 954,847 participants met the eligibility criteria. We identified 173 unique strategies used in digital health interventions, categorized into 19 themes. The 3 most frequently used strategies in the sample papers were “guide” (n=492, 55.6%), “monitor” (n=490, 55.4%), and “communication” (n=392, 44.3%). The number of strategies employed in each paper ranged from 1 to 32. Most interventions targeted clients (n=844, 95.4%) and were carried out in hospitals (n=268, 30.3%). High-income countries demonstrated a substantially higher number and diversity of identified strategies than low- and middle-income countries, and the number of studies targeting the public (n=647, 73.1%) far exceeded those focusing on vulnerable groups (n=238, 26.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital health interventions and strategies have undergone considerable development over the past 25 years. They have evolved from simple approaches to sophisticated, personalized techniques and are trending toward multifaceted interventions, leveraging advanced technologies for real-time monitoring and feedback. Future studies should focus on rigorous evaluations, long-term effectiveness, and tailored approaches for diverse populations, and more attention should be given to vulnerable groups.
Digital Health Interventions for Mental Health Improvement in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Gu An , Huang An , Wu Bei , Liu Xueqi , Huang Cheng , Qiu Xichenhui , Wang Lina
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Mental health issues are common among older adults with mild cognitive impairment. However, despite the growing use of digital health interventions to improve cognitive function, their impact on mental health remains largely underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of digital health interventions on mental health outcomes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, both overall and subgroup-specific effectiveness.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted, with searches in 7 databases from inception to March 2024. The primary outcomes were mental health outcomes. Quality assessment was used the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. Subgroup analysis examined variations based on specific intervention characteristics, with sensitivity and meta-regression analysis exploring other potential sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies with 610 participants met the selection criteria. The meta-analysis demonstrated that digital health interventions reduced depressive symptoms (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.19) and anxiety symptoms (SMD -0.47, -0.76 to -0.18); however, no significant effect on positive (SMD 0.74, -0.46 to 1.94) and negative affect (SMD -0.23, -0.60 to 0.14). Subgroup analysis indicated that hospital or nursing home settings with non-portable modality were optimal. Furthermore, interventions over 6 weeks, with sessions exceeding 30 minutes and occurring up to 2 per week, were more effective for depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This review indicates that digital health interventions hold promise for improving mental health in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Future research should focus on integrating digital therapeutic technologies to develop more comprehensive and effective interventions.

CLINICALTRIAL

CRD42024522342