bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evolutionary-based polynomial regression modeling approach to predicting discharge flow rate under sheet piles
Authors: Asr A. Ahangar , Johari A. , Javadi A. A.
Published: August 2023

The discharge flow rate beneath sheet plies is an essential parameter in designing these water retaining structures. This paper presents a unified framework for modeling and predicting discharge flow rate using an evolutionary-based polynomial regression technique. EPR (Evolutionary Polynomial Regression) is a data-driven method based on evolutionary computing to search for polynomial structures representing a system. The input parameters in the modeling procedure included the sheet pile height, upstream water head, and the hydraulic conductivity anisotropy ratio. Due to ever-increasing demand for water, a widely held view on predicting and controlling the available water behind reservoirs, dams, barrages, and weirs is of vital importance. To this end, the sheer novelty of the current study has been worn off through the development of a comprehensive model to predict the flow rate considering the most effective variables in the seepage issue. To the best of our knowledge, the research conducted in the literature has yet to cover the whole seepage problem using a comprehensive database extracted by numerical methods; thus, a comprehensive finite-element-based artificial database including 1000 data lines was created using the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM) by simulating seepage beneath sheet plies covering a considerably wide range of seepage-related real-world values. The database was then employed to develop and validate the EPR flow rate prediction model. Data were divided into training (used for creating the models) and testing (for validating the developed models) data based on a statistical process. The procedure for preparing the data and developing and validating the models is presented in detail in this paper. The main advantage of the proposed models over a conventional and neural network and most GP (Genetic Programming)-based constitutive models is that they provide the optimum structure for the material constitutive model representation as well as its parameters, directly from raw experimental (or field) data. EPR can learn nonlinear and complex material behavior without any prior assumptions on the constitutive relationships. The proposed algorithm captures and transparently presents relationships between contributing parameters in polynomial expressions providing the user with a clear insight into the problem. EPR-based model predictions demonstrated an excellent agreement with the unseen simulated data used for validating the developed model. A parametric study on the presented models was conducted to investigate the effects of the contributing parameters on model predictions and the consistency of the parameter relationships with the database. Results of the parametric study showed that the effects of variations in the contributing parameters on EPR predictions are in line with the expected behavior. The merits and advantages of the proposed technique are discussed in the paper.
Spurenstoffmanagement im Donaueinzugsgebiet
Authors: Zoboli O. , Kovacs A. , Kittlaus S. , Clement A. , Kardos M. K. , Jolánkai Z. , Kaps R. , Gabriel O. , Broer M. , van Gils J. , Loos S. , Weber N. , Milacic R. , Dimova G. , Tonev R. , Nedelea I. , Marchidan E. , Zessner M.
Published: August 2023

Spurenstoffe stellen eine der zentralen Herausforderungen für die Wasserwirtschaft im Donaueinzugsgebiet dar. Der vorliegende Artikel präsentiert das Konzept und einen Überblick zu den Ergebnissen des Projekts Danube Hazard m3c, welches im Rahmen des Interreg-Danube-Transnational-Programms der EU in den Jahren 2020 bis 2023 abgewickelt wurde. Im Zuge des Projekts konnten Spurenstoffkonzentrationen in unterschiedlichen Eintragspfaden und Gewässersystem aus verschiedenen nationalen und internationalen Monitoringprogrammen in einer umfassenden und harmonisierten Datenbank erfasst und diese Datenbasis durch ein gezieltes Monitoring in unterschiedlichen Umweltmedien erweitert werden. Auf diesen Daten aufbauend wurden eine einzugsgebietsweite Emissionsmodellierung umgesetzt und gewonnene Erkenntnisse für abgestimmte Politikempfehlungen genutzt. Trotz zum Teil großer Anstrengungen in Ländern des Donaueinzugsgebiets, den Monitoringerfordernissen der EU-WRRL nachzukommen, zeigen sich bei dem Versuch, die Daten unterschiedlicher Länder in harmonisierter Weise zu erfassen, einige Schwierigkeiten, die dieses Vorhaben behindern. Auch zeigt sich, dass es massiver zusätzlicher Anstrengungen der Donauländer bedürfen wird, um den enormen Herausforderungen gewachsen zu sein, die an ein zukünftiges Spurenstoffmanagement im Lichte vielfältiger Anforderungen und Veränderungen zu stellen sein wird. International abgestimmtes Monitoring, harmonisierte Datenerfassung und einzugsgebietsbezogene Emissionsmodellierung sollten grundlegende Elemente für ein wissensbasiertes Spurenstoffmanagement sein. Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Belastungssituation der Gewässer des Donaueinzugsgebiets sollten entsprechend der Hierarchie der Belastungskontrolle konzeptioniert werden. Dies bedeutet Kontrollen beim Einsatz von Spurenstoffen, um deren Freisetzung zu mindern, Kontrollen der Emissionen über technische Einrichtungen der Wasserwirtschaft und Minderung des Transports durch natürliche Barrieren wie z. B. Pufferstreifen.
Effect of repeatedly applied cold water immersion on subclinical atherosclerosis, inflammation, fat accumulation and lipid profile parameters of volunteers
Authors: Tóth Štefan , Barbierik Vachalcová Marianna , Kaško Dávid , Turek Martin , Guľašová Zuzana , Hertelyová Zdenka
Published: August 2023

Significant acute cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine changes have been traced to short-lasting cold water immersion (CWI); however, the long-term impact of recurrent CWI on atherogenesis, lipid parameters, and fat distribution has not yet been studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the alleged protective effect. A total of 35 healthy volunteers were monitored for a period of 5 months during which the CWI was performed under standardized conditions (three times per week for 7–10 min, without neoprene equipment). Volunteers with measured weight or muscle mass increases of more than 5% were ineligible. An analogous control group (N = 30) was included. At the onset and completion of the study, blood samples were obtained, and clinical assessments took place. PCSK9 and hsCRP levels were measured together with other lipid-related and non-lipid-related indicators. Carotid intima-media thickness test (cIMT) and echo-tracking for the identification of arterial stiffness (PWV, AI, and β) were used to identify early vascular alterations. Hepatorenal index (HRI) calculations served to quantify liver steatosis, while changes in subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness were used to quantify fat distribution. The given protocol was successfully completed by 28 volunteers. Long-term repeated CWI resulted in a significant decline in cIMT (p = 0.0001), AI (p = 0.0002), Beta (p = 0.0001), and PWV (p = 0.0001). PCSK9 (p = 0.01) and hsCRP (p = 0.01) showed a significant decrease when compared to initial values. In comparison to the starting values, liver fat accumulation decreased by 11% on average (HRI p = 0.001). LDL, TC, TG, and VLDL levels all significantly decreased as well. We suggest that repeated CWI may have beneficial impact on lipid, non-lipid, and lipid-related indices, as well as atherogenesis and liver fat storage.
Altered functional connectivity of the hippocampus with the sensorimotor cortex induced by long-term experience of virtual hand illusion
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Hu Gang , Meng Xiangfeng , Guo Jie , Fang Hui , Jiang Haiyan , Weng Dongdong
Published: August 2023

Synchronizing the movement of a virtual hand with an unseen real hand in a virtual environment is an effective method to induce a sense of ownership of the virtual hand. Although several neuroimaging studies have revealed neural mechanisms related to the ongoing process of ownership illusion, the effect of the long-term experience of ownership illusion on brain activity remains to be investigated. Here, we developed an apparatus based on real-time image matting and virtual reality technology which allowed us to use the image of participants’ real hands as their virtual hands and synchronize the movement of the virtual hands with the unseen real hands in a virtual scene. Resting-state functional imaging data were acquired immediately after participants completed several light office tasks with the virtual hands in either the virtual environment (virtual hand condition) or real environment (real hand condition). Significant positive functional connectivity of the hippocampus with the primary somatosensory and motor cortex was only observed in the virtual hand condition. The results provided novel evidence for the involvement of hippocampal-sensorimotor connection in the long-term experience of virtual hand ownership. The functional connection reorganization of the hippocampus might promote multi-sensory information integration into memory and updated the sense of body ownership, which offered important insights into the neural network underlying the availability of long-term use of VR technology in healthcare and rehabilitation.
A multi-way analysis of similarity patterns in longevity improvements
Authors: Cardillo Giovanni , Giordani Paolo , Levantesi Susanna , Nigri Andrea , Spelta Alessandro
Published: August 2023

With the increasing availability of temporal data, a researcher often analyzes information saved into matrices, in which entries are replicated in different occasions. Such multidimensional data can be stored in arrays or tensors in a way that relevant patterns among variables can be teased apart by retaining the time-varying nature of the data. In this work, we show how the nonnegative three-way DEcomposition into DIrectional COMponents (DEDICOM) model is able to extract meaningful relational patterns from multi-population mortality data. The dataset considered is provided by the human mortality database (HMD) and refers to three dimensions: countries, age groups and years. The three-dimensional decomposition technique identifies persistent groups of countries with homogeneous mortality behaviours related to the evolutionary process of longevity improvements. Moreover, we exploit both country group information and recurrent neural networks to forecast future trajectories of similarities among countries’ mortality. Our work, by specifically describing the mesoscale interactions between countries and their evolution in time, could help to design appropriate actions against longevity risk that may impact the stability conditions of life assurance and pensions.
Numerical analysis of nonlinear degenerate parabolic problems with application to eddy current models
Authors: Acevedo Ramiro , Gómez Christian , Navia Paulo
Published: August 2023

This paper deals with the numerical analysis for a family of nonlinear degenerate parabolic problems. The model is spatially discretized using a finite element method; an implicit Euler scheme is employed for time discretization. We deduce sufficient conditions to ensure that the fully discrete problem has a unique solution and to prove quasi-optimal error estimates for the approximation. Finally, we propose a nonlinear degenerate parabolic problem that arises from electromagnetic applications in conductive nonlinear magnetic media and deduce its solubility and convergence by using the developed abstract theory, including some numerical results to confirm the obtained theoretical results.
Prescribed mean curvature flow of non-compact space-like Cauchy hypersurfaces
Authors: Gentile Giuseppe , Vertman Boris
Published: August 2023

In this paper we consider the prescribed mean curvature flow of a non-compact space-like Cauchy hypersurface of bounded geometry in a generalized Robertson–Walker space-time. We prove that the flow preserves the space-likeness condition and exists for infinite time. We also prove convergence in the setting of manifolds with boundary. Our discussion generalizes previous work by Ecker, Huisken, Gerhardt and others with respect to a crucial aspects: we consider any non-compact Cauchy hypersurface under the assumption of bounded geometry. Moreover, we specialize the aforementioned works by considering globally hyperbolic Lorentzian space-times equipped with a specific class of warped product metrics.
Expanding Early Psychosis Care across a Large and Diverse State: Implementation Lessons Learned from Administrative Data and Clinical Team Leads in Texas
Authors: Cohen Deborah A. , Klodnick Vanessa V. , Reznik Samantha J. , Lopez Molly A.
Published: August 2023

The U.S. is facing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis. Translating the findings from mental health intervention trials into large scale, accessible community-based services poses substantial challenges. Examination of state actions as a result of research-informed federal policy to improve youth access to quality mental healthcare is necessary. This mixed-methods study examines the implementation of evidence-informed multidisciplinary coordinated specialty care (CSC) for first-episode psychosis (FEP) services across Texas. The study explores CSC service model components, site location and participant characteristics, and implementation barriers. This cross-sectional study analyzes State of Texas public mental health administrative data from 2015 to 2020, including CSC site (n = 23) characteristics and CSC participant (n = 1682) demographics. Texas CSC site contracts were compared to OnTrackNY, a leading CSC model in the U.S. for CSC service element comparison. In-depth interviews with CSC Team Leads (n = 22) were analyzed to further understand CSC service elements and implementation barriers using qualitative content analysis. CSC was implemented across three waves in 2015, 2017, and 2019—serving 1682 participants and families. CSC sites were located in adult mental health programs; approximately one third of CSC participants were under 18 years. CSC implementation challenges reported by Team Leads included: staff role clarification, collaboration and turnover, community outreach and referrals, child and adult service billing issues, and adolescent and family engagement. Study findings have implications for large state-wide evidence-based practice implementation in transition-to-adulthood community mental health.
Subsequent primary neoplasms after childhood cancer therapy – design and description of the German nested case–control study STATT-SCAR
Authors: Scholz-Kreisel Peter , Becker Cornelia , Kaiser Melanie , Mahmoudpour Seyed Hamidreza , Voigt Mathias , Ressing Meike , Blettner Maria , Calaminus Gabriele , Baust Katja , Scholtes Cathy , Zimmermann Martin , Zeissig Sylke Ruth , Schmidberger Heinz , Karle Heiko , Meyer-Oldenburg Sarah , Kaatsch Peter , Spix Claudia
Published: August 2023

Background

Subsequent primary neoplasms (SPN) are among the most severe late effects and the second most frequent cause of death in childhood cancer patients. In this paper we introduce method and properties of the STATT-SCAR study (Second Tumor After Tumor Therapy, Second Cancer After Radiotherapy), which is a joint nested matched case–control study to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy (STATT) as well as radiotherapy (SCAR) on the risk of developing a SPN.

Methods

Based on the cohort of the German childhood cancer registry (GCCR), we selected patients diagnosed with a first neoplasm before age 15 or younger between 1980 and 2014. We selected those with a SPN at least half a year after the first neoplasm, and matched up to four controls to each case. Therapy data were acquired from various sources, including clinical study centers and treating hospitals. To analyze the impact of radiotherapy, organ doses were estimated by using reconstructed treatment plans. The effect of chemotherapy was analyzed using substance groups summarized after isotoxic dose conversion.

Results

1244 cases with a SPN were identified and matched with 4976 controls. Treatment data were acquired for 83% of all match groups (one case and at least one control). Based on preliminary analyses, 98% of all patients received chemotherapy and 54% of all patients were treated with radiotherapy.

Conclusions

Based on our data, detailed analyses of dose response relationships and treatment element combinations are possible, leading to a deeper insight into SPN risks after cancer treatments.

Trial registration

The study is registered at the German clinical trial register (DRKS) under number DRKS00017847 [45].
Full-field electroretinogram recorded with skin electrodes in 6- to 12-year-old children
Authors: Wang Jiajun , Wang Yalan , Guan Weichen , Zhao Yun-E.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To determine the full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) parameters, including the light-adapted (LA) 3 ERG and the photopic negative response (PhNR), in 6- to 12-year-old children.

Methods

ffERG data were obtained from 214 eyes of 214 healthy subjects. The amplitudes and peak time of the ffERG responses were obtained from children divided into 6- to 8-year-old and 9- to 12-year-old groups. Using a skin electrode, electrical signals were measured in response to white stimulating light and white background light (LA 3 ERG). A blue background light and red flashes were then used to elicit the PhNR.

Results

The a-wave amplitude ranged from 0.40 to 9.20 μV, the b-wave ranged from 4.70 to 30.80 μV, and the PhNR ranged from 1.30 to 39.90 μV. The b-wave peak time (33.20 ms) of 6- to 8-year-old groups was slightly shorter than that of the 9- to 12-year-old groups (33.60 ms, P = 0.01), but no differences in amplitudes or in peak time of other components. There were significant correlations between the amplitudes (a-wave and b-wave: r = 0.43, p < 0.001; a-wave and PhNR: r = 0.25, p < 0.001; b-wave and PhNR: r = 0.45, p < 0.001). There was a moderate correlation between the a-wave and b-wave peak time (r = 0.31, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

We determined the largest dataset of the LA 3 ERG and PhNR parameters in a population of healthy children, aged 6–12 years, which may provide a useful reference value when evaluating children with potential retinal defects.
Clustering eye-movement data uncovers students’ strategies for coordinating equations and diagrams of vector fields
Authors: Hahn Larissa , Klein Pascal
Published: August 2023

In mathematics education, students are repeatedly confronted with the tasks of interpreting and relating different representations. In particular, switching between equations and diagrams plays a major role in learning mathematical procedures and solving mathematical problems. In this article, we investigate a rather unexplored topic with precisely such requirements—that is, vector fields. In our study, we first presented a series of multiple-choice tasks to 147 introductory university students at the beginning of their studies and recorded students’ eye movements while they matched vector field diagrams and equations. Thereafter, students had to solve a similar coordination task on paper and justify their reasoning. Two cluster analyses were performed including (i) transition and fixation data on diagrams and options (Model 1), and (ii) additionally the number of horizontal and vertical saccades on the diagram (Model 2). In both models, two clusters emerge—with Model 1 distinguishing behaviors related to representational mapping and Model 2 additionally differentiating students according to representation-specific demands. Model 2 leads to a better distinction between the groups in terms of different performance indicators (test score, response confidence, and spatial ability) which also transfers to another task format. We conclude that vertical and horizontal saccades reflect executive actions of perception when approaching vector field coordination tasks. Thus, we recommend targeted interventions for mathematics lessons; these lessons must focus on a visual handling of the vector field diagram. Further, we infer that students’ difficulties can be attributed to covariational reasoning, thereby indicating the need for further investigations. From a methodological perspective, we reflect on the triangulation of eye-tracking and verbal data in (multiple-choice) assessment scenarios.
Rating and perceived helpfulness in a bipartite network of online product reviews
Authors: Campos Pedro , Pinto Eva , Torres Ana
Published: August 2023

In many e-commerce platforms user communities share product information in the form of reviews and ratings to help other consumers to make their choices. This study develops a new theoretical framework generating a bipartite network of products sold by Amazon.com in the category “musical instruments”, by linking products through the reviews. We analyze product rating and perceived helpfulness of online customer reviews and the relationship between the centrality of reviews, product rating and the helpfulness of reviews using Clustering, regression trees, and random forests algorithms to, respectively, classify and find patterns in 2214 reviews. Results demonstrate: (1) that a high number of reviews do not imply a high product rating; (2) when reviews are helpful for consumer decision-making we observe an increase on the number of reviews; (3) a clear positive relationship between product rating and helpfulness of the reviews; and (4) a weak relationship between the centrality measures (betweenness and eigenvector) giving the importance of the product in the network, and the quality measures (product rating and helpfulness of reviews) regarding musical instruments. These results suggest that products may be central to the network, although with low ratings and with reviews providing little helpfulness to consumers. The findings in this study provide several important contributions for e-commerce businesses’ improvement of the review service management to support customers’ experiences and online customers’ decision-making.
Acoustic monitoring reveals spatiotemporal occurrence of Nathusius’ pipistrelle at the southern North Sea during autumn migration
Authors: Lagerveld Sander , Wilkes Tony , van Puijenbroek Marinka E. B. , Noort Bart C. A. , Geelhoed Steve C. V.
Published: August 2023

Seasonal movements between the summer and winter areas are a widespread phenomenon in bats So far, most information on the migration ecology of bats has been obtained by studies in terrestrial habitats, whereas scientific knowledge on migration over sea is scarce. We performed continuous ultrasonic acoustic monitoring at 13 locations in the southern North Sea during four consecutive years (2017–2020) and analysed the spatiotemporal occurrence of Nathusius’ pipistrellePipistrellus nathusiiduring autumn migration in relation to weather parameters and lunar phase. Our analysis showed that the main autumn migration of Nathusius’ pipistrelle at the southern North Sea occurs from mid-August until late October and most bats within the study area occur off the Noord Holland coast. North Sea crossings frequently last longer than one night; the day is spent roosting at an offshore structure. The strongest migration occurs during nights with tailwinds from the east-northeast, but bats are also recorded offshore with low to moderate headwinds or crosswinds. Bat presence decreased between the full moon and the last quarter and increased just before the new moon. Finally, our observations show that the occurrence of bats at sea was reduced in 2020 in comparison to the previous years. The results of this study show clear spatiotemporal patterns of migratory bat occurrence at the southern North Sea. The spatial distribution can be used in spatial planning of future offshore wind farms, whereas the temporal occurrence and environmental factors that shape offshore migration can be used to develop mitigation measures to reduce the number of bat fatalities.
Discourses on Non-Heteronormative Masculinities and Intimate Partner Violence: a Russian Media Case Study
Authors: Andreevskikh Olga
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The current paper is devoted to the analysis of the mediation of non-heteronormative masculinities within discourses on intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence and abuse (DVA) in contemporary Russian media.

Methods

The article presents a discourse analysis of five samples of media texts devoted to IPV and/or DVA among LGBTQ people. The media texts were sampled through a keyword search completed on the websites of two openly pro-LGBTQ media outlets (news and entertainment portals Meduza and Takie Dela) and two media outlets catered for predominantly LGBTQ audiences (the news and entertainment portal Parni PLUS and the website of the NGO SPID-Tsentr).

Results

The interpretative qualitative analysis of the sampled texts demonstrated that the IPV/DVA survivors’ confessional narratives are framed within wider discourses on non-heteronormative masculinities, which are represented both as transgressing concepts of hegemonic masculinity and as challenging stereotypes about non-heteronormative masculinities.

Conclusions

The outcome of the analysis presented in the paper is that there is evidence of the emergence of new media discourses on IPV and DVA among LGBTQ communities. Drawing on feminist discourses on IPV and DVA in heterosexual relationships and using media strategies of LGBTQ coming-out confessional narratives, the sampled media data reveals an ongoing search for a new language of discussing the relatively new societal problem. Further research into mediation of non-heteronormative male survivors of IPV and DVA promises insightful findings concerning the evolution of discourses on non-heteronormative masculinities in contemporary Russian media.
Policing Technology-Facilitated Domestic Abuse (TFDA): Views of Service Providers in Australia and the United Kingdom
Authors: Douglas Heather , Tanczer Leonie , McLachlan Freya , Harris Bridget
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Technology-facilitated domestic abuse (TFDA) is a prevalent form of domestic abuse. While police are recognized as critical first responders to intimate partner violence, there is limited research about what the challenges to policing TFDA are perceived to be and how they might be addressed. This article speaks to this issue.

Methods

Between April 2020 and June 2022, n = 196 Australian and n = 256 United Kingdom representatives of services engaged with domestic abuse victim-survivors participated in an online survey about TFDA. Survey components asked respondents to report on challenges to policing TFDA. The authors analyzed these comments.

Results

Key themes identified from the survey responses regarding challenges to policing TFDA include that participants held perceptions that (a) police do not recognize TFDA as an aspect of coercive control and thus do not recognize its seriousness, (b) police receive inadequate training about TFDA, (c) police have insufficient time and personnel to tackle TFDA and (d) evidence collection is an obstacle to policing TFDA.

Conclusions

The study points to a need to address the perceived concerns associated with policing TFDA to effectively respond to domestic abuse in the digital age and ensure domestic abuse perpetrators who misuse emerging technologies are held accountable.
Dyslipidemia initiates keratinocytes proliferation through upregulation of lncRNA NEAT in psoriasis patients
Authors: Mostafa Abeer , Sabry Dina , Aboraia Nesreen , Fawzy Ahmed , Abou-Elalla Amany A.
Published: August 2023

Background

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune-mediated and hyper proliferative skin disorder that has underlying genetic factors. Psoriasis can result from interaction of cytokines between keratinocytes and T-lymphocytes. NEAT is a lncRNA involved in immune modulation and has been previously studied in cancers. This study aims to clarify the unprecedented role of NEAT in psoriasis pathogenesis.

Methods

The study was conducted on 50 healthy control subjects and 50 psoriasis patients. Blood samples from all participants were collected for analysis of their lipid profile. qRT-PCR was done for lncRNA NEAT, TNF-α, VEGF genes expression. The levels of ROS and caspase-3 were estimated by ELISA. ROC analysis was done to detect the diagnostic value of lncRNA NEAT gene expression.

Results

Dyslipidemia is more prevalent among psoriasis patients. A significant up regulation in lncRNA NEAT, TNF-α, VEGF genes expression (p value˂0.001) in psoriasis patients in addition to significant increase in ROS and caspase-3 levels (p value˂0.001) in compare to controls. Additionally, a positive significant correlation between TNF-α, ROS, NEAT, caspase-3 and dyslipidemia. NEAT had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931 (95% CI 0.844–0.978, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Dyslipidemia is an initiating signal in psoriasis pathogenesis that creates a state of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. This state induces keratinocytes proliferation and release of NEAT with subsequent caspase-3 activation to counteract the proliferating cells. NEAT could be considered as a good diagnostic biomarker for psoriasis.

Graphical abstract
Detection of central serous retinopathy using deep learning through retinal images
Authors: Hassan Syed Ale , Akbar Shahzad , Khan Habib Ullah
Published: August 2023

The human eye is responsible for the visual reorganization of objects in the environment. The eye is divided into different layers and front/back areas; however, the most important part is the retina, responsible for capturing light and generating electrical impulses for further processing in the brain. Several manual and automated methods have been proposed to detect retinal diseases, though these techniques are time-consuming, inefficient, and unpleasant for patients. This research proposes a deep learning-based CSR detection employing two imaging techniques: OCT and fundus photography. These input images are manually augmented before classification, followed by training of DarkNet and DenseNet networks through both datasets. Moreover, pre-trained DarkNet and DenseNet classifiers are modified according to the need. Finally, the performance of both networks on their datasets is compared using evaluation parameters. After several experiments, the best accuracy of 99.78%, the sensitivity of 99.6%, specificity of 100%, and the F1 score of 99.52% were achieved through OCT images using the DenseNet network. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model is effective and efficient for CSR detection using the OCT dataset and suitable for deployment in clinical applications.
Psychometric properties of health-related quality of life instruments used in survivors of critical illness: a systematic review
Authors: De Silva Sheraya , Chan Nicholas , Esposito Katherine , Higgins Alisa M. , Hodgson Carol L.
Published: August 2023

Background and objectives

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a patient-reported measure of health status. However, research on the psychometric properties of HRQoL instruments used post-critical care is less common. We conducted a systematic review assessing the psychometric properties of HRQoL instruments used in adult survivors following critical illness.

Methods

Three databases were systematically searched between 1990 and June 2022. Screening articles for eligibility, we selected either development studies for new tools or studies that evaluated psychometric properties, and whose target population represented adult survivors following critical illness. Methodological quality was assessed using the COnsensus-Based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The results of each psychometric property were then assessed for criteria of good psychometric properties (sufficient, insufficient or indeterminate) and qualitatively summarised. Finally, we graded the quality of the evidence using a modified GRADE approach.

Results

We retrieved 13 eligible studies from 2,983 records identifying 10 HRQoL instruments used post-critical illness. While high-quality evidence for the considered PROMs was limited primarily due to risk of bias, seven instruments demonstrated sufficient levels of reliability, four instruments presented sufficient hypothesis testing, and two instruments showed sufficient responsiveness. Except the Short Form-36, evidence for psychometric properties of other individual measures was limited to a few studies.

Conclusion

There was limited evidence demonstrated for the psychometric properties of the included PROMs evaluating HRQoL. Further research is warranted to evaluate the psychometric properties of HRQoL measures, strengthening the evidence for administering these instruments in survivors following critical illness.
Small-scale fishing has affected abundance and size distributions of deepwater snappers and groupers in the MesoAmerican region
Authors: Baremore Ivy E. , Graham Rachel T. , Owen Samuel R. D. , Witt Matthew J.
Published: August 2023

Deepwater fisheries in the Caribbean Sea are poorly studied and mostly unmanaged, despite their importance to local economies and food security. In the MesoAmerican region, deepwater fisheries are nearshore and easily accessible in many locations by small vessels, but historical and contemporary fishing effort varies by country. We used standardized fishery-independent methods, including vertical longlines and baited remote underwater video (BRUV) to assess the relative abundance and distribution of deepwater (100–550 m) snappers and groupers in Belize and Honduras. Fishery-dependent samples were used to supplement spatial distribution and body length data. Gathered data revealed that Belize, with a smaller fishing population and shorter history of deepwater fishing, had overall higher abundance of groupers and snappers and that fish were significantly larger than those in Honduras, which has a well-established and larger deepwater fishery. Water temperature was found to influence the abundance and occurrence of deepwater snappers more than depth. Deepwater snappers were widely-distributed throughout available habitat in both countries, but groupers were more patchy, and rarely encountered in the more heavily fished areas off Honduras. Our results suggest that a precautionary approach to fisheries management and targeted biological research of these stocks is required, which is particularly relevant for Belize, where climate change and overfishing mitigation measures are focused on an expansion of the deepwater fishery.
Artificial intelligence and firm growth — catch-up processes of SMEs through integrating AI into their knowledge bases
Authors: Kopka Alexander , Fornahl Dirk
Published: August 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a key technology for future economic growth. It is labelled as a general-purpose technology, as well as an invention of a method for inventing. Thus, AI is perceived to generate technological opportunities and through these, innovations, and productivity growth. The leapfrogging hypothesis suggests that latecomer firms can use these opportunities to catch up. The aim of this paper is to provide insight into this catch-up process of latecomer firms through integrating AI into their knowledge portfolio and thereby creating new technological trajectories. The moderating effect of firm size is also analysed. Combining firm-level data with patent data, a regression at the firm level is conducted. Evidence is found that smaller firms experience productivity growth from AI when operating at the productivity frontier, indicating the opposite of the leapfrogging hypothesis. However, there is evidence for the positive impact of AI on firm innovation, which is higher for latecomer firms that are larger in size. In general, we find a diverging pattern of the influence of AI on productivity and innovation growth, indicating the need for a finer grained analysis that takes indirect effects - that also could explain the observed productivity paradox - into account.
Non-dynamism and temporal disturbances
Authors: Baron Sam , Latham Andrew J. , Varga Somogy
Published: August 2023

Philosophical accounts denying that temporal passage is an objective feature of reality face an explanatory challenge with respect to why it appears to us as though time passes. Recently, two solutions have surfaced. Cognitive illusionism claims that people experience the passage of time due to their belief that time passes. Cognitive error theory claims that we do not experience the passage of time, but hold the belief that we do, which we have acquired through making an inference from the prior belief that time passes. These approaches suppose that belief and passage experience are explanatorily connected, and they depend on the claims that people who experience the passage of time or at least believe that they do also believe that time passes. To test these claims, we probed the beliefs of populations of individuals with depression and schizotypy, thus conditions that are strongly associated with alterations in temporal phenomenology. Depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and schizotypy with the short Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE). While cognitive illusionism and inferentialist cognitive error theory would predict a strong association between BDI and O-LIFE scores and beliefs about time passage, our study found no such association. The experience of passage does not seem to be explanatorily connected to beliefs about the passage of time.
Temporal trends in anticoagulation use and clinical outcomes among medicare beneficiaries with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Atwater Brett D. , Guo Jennifer D. , Keshishian Allison , Delinger Rachel , Russ Cristina , Rosenblatt Lisa , Jiang Jenny , Yuce Huseyin , Ferri Mauricio
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Oral anticoagulants effectively prevent stroke/systemic embolism among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation but remain under-prescribed. This study evaluated temporal trends in oral anticoagulant use, the incidence of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding, and economic outcomes among elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and CHA2DS2–VASc scores ≥ 2.

Methods

Retrospective analyses were conducted on Medicare claims data from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2017. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients aged ≥ 65 years with CHA2DS2–VASc scores ≥ 2 were stratified by calendar year (2013–2016) of care to create calendar-year cohorts. Patient characteristics were evaluated across all cohorts during the baseline period (12 months before diagnosis). Treatment patterns and clinical and economic outcomes were evaluated during the follow-up period (from diagnosis through 12 months).

Results

Baseline patient characteristics remained generally similar between 2013 and 2016. Although lack of oral anticoagulant prescriptions among eligible patients remained relatively high, utilization did increase progressively (53–58%). Among treated patients, there was a progressive decrease in warfarin use (79–52%) and a progressive increase in overall direct oral anticoagulant use (21–48%). There were progressive decreases in the incidence of stroke/systemic embolism 1.9–1.4 events per 100 person years) and major bleeding (4.6–3.3 events per 100 person years) as well as all-cause costs between 2013 and 2016.

Conclusions

The proportions of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who were not prescribed an oral anticoagulant decreased but remained high. We observed an increase in direct oral anticoagulant use that coincided with decreased incidence of clinical outcomes as well as decreasing total healthcare costs.
Insights of the Ultralow Wear and Low Friction of Carbon Fiber Reinforced PTFE in Inert Trace Moisture Environment
Authors: Johansson Pontus , Elo Robin , Naeini Vahid Fadaei , Marklund Pär , Björling Marcus , Shi Yijun
Published: August 2023

Ultralow wear rates and low friction have been observed for carbon fiber reinforced PTFE (CF/PTFE) when sliding against steel or cast iron in dry gas environments. Although the strong environmental sensitivity of this tribosystem is well known, the origin of the outstanding tribological performance in dry gas remains unanswered. Some researchers attribute the low friction and wear to the formation of carbon-rich surfaces in the absence of oxygen and moisture in the environment. However, low friction between carbon surfaces is generally dependent on moisture. In this paper, extensive analyzes are conducted on the tribofilms formed on the CF/PTFE surface and the steel counterface after sliding in a high-purity nitrogen environment. TEM analysis of a cross-section of the tribofilm on the steel surface reveals that the sliding surface consists mainly of iron (II) fluoride and not carbon, even though a significant amount of carbon was observed near the surface. XPS and TEM analysis further revealed that the tribofilm formed on the worn composite surface consisted of nanoparticle agglomerates, anchored to the PTFE matrix and to each other by carbon with turbostratic structure. Turbostratic carbon also formed an ultrathin and surface-oriented superficial layer on top of the agglomerates. Governing mechanisms of the low friction and wear of the CF/PTFE—steel tribosystem were investigated by complementary tribotests with pure graphite samples and MD simulations of the identified surfaces. These indicated that the low friction between the carbon and iron fluoride in the tribofilms is due to poor adhesion between the distinctly different surfaces.

Graphical Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplemented diets mitigate the effects of waterborne cadmium toxicity on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.): growth performance, haemato-biochemical, stress biomarkers, and histopathological investigations
Authors: Abdel-Tawwab Mohsen , Khalil Riad H. , Younis Nehal A. , Abo Selema Talal A. M. , Saad Adel H. , El-Werwary Suzan O. M. , Gouda Ali H. , Soliman Ashraf M. , Shady Sherien H. H. , Monier Mohamed N.
Published: August 2023

Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been utilized as a probiotic in aqua-feeds to promote growth and alleviate the stress in aquatic animals. On the other hand, cadmium (Cd) toxicity causes serious retardation of growth and welfare status of aquatic animals. The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective role of dietary yeast in mitigating the waterborne Cd toxicity effects on the growth, haemato-biochemical, stress biomarkers, and histopathological investigations of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). In a 3 × 3 factorial design, the acclimated fish (20–24 g) were randomly distributed into nine treatments in triplicates where they were fed on 0.0% (control), 0.5%, and 1.0% of yeast along with exposure to 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0 mg Cd/L for 60 days. All growth parameters and mRNA expressions of IGF-1 and GH genes as well as haematological parameters were markedly increased with the increase of dietary yeast levels; meanwhile these variables were significantly retarded with Cd exposure. Contradictory effects on the above-mentioned variables were observed with Cd toxicity. In contrast, blood cortisol, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, in addition to DNA fragments % were noticeably increased with Cd toxicity especially at the treatment of 2.0 mg Cd/L, while decreasing with increasing dietary yeast levels. Compared with the control fish group, Cd concentrations in the gill, liver, and muscle tissues of gilthead seabream were higher in Cd-exposed treatments, especially at the treatment of 2.0 mg Cd/L. Deposition of Cd in fish liver was higher than that in gill tissues but lowest Cd residue was observed in muscle tissues. No significant changes in Cd residues in fish organs were observed in yeast-fed fish with no Cd exposure. The Cd exposure negatively affected histological status of gill, liver, and kidney tissues of S. aurata; while feeding Cd-exposed fish on yeast diets lowered the Cd residues in fish organs and recovered the adverse effects of Cd toxicity. Hence, this study recommends the addition of bakery yeast (1.0%) to fish diets to improve the performance, overall welfare, and histopathological status of gilthead seabream, S. aurata.
Behavioral metabolomics: how behavioral data can guide metabolomics research on neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: van de Wetering Ross , Vorster Jan A. , Geyrhofer Sophie , Harvey Joanne E. , Keyzers Robert A. , Schenk Susan
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Metabolomics produces vast quantities of data but determining which metabolites are the most relevant to the disease or disorder of interest can be challenging.

Objectives

This study sought to demonstrate how behavioral models of psychiatric disorders can be combined with metabolomics research to overcome this limitation.

Methods

We designed a preclinical, untargeted metabolomics procedure, that focuses on the determination of central metabolites relevant to substance use disorders that are (a) associated with changes in behavior produced by acute drug exposure and (b) impacted by repeated drug exposure. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was carried out on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data obtained from 336 microdialysis samples. Samples were collected from the medial striatum of male Sprague-Dawley (N = 21) rats whilst behavioral data were simultaneously collected as part of a (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced behavioral sensitization experiment. Analysis was conducted by orthogonal partial least squares, where the Y variable was the behavioral data, and the X variables were the relative concentrations of the 737 detected features.

Results

MDMA and its derivatives, serotonin, and several dopamine/norepinephrine metabolites were the greatest predictors of acute MDMA-produced behavior. Subsequent univariate analyses showed that repeated MDMA exposure produced significant changes in MDMA metabolism, which may contribute to the increased abuse liability of the drug as a function of repeated exposure.

Conclusion

These findings highlight how the inclusion of behavioral data can guide metabolomics data analysis and increase the relevance of the results to the phenotype of interest.
Development of response surface method prediction model for traffic-related roadside noise levels based on traffic characteristics
Authors: Elkafoury Ahmed , Elboshy Bahaa , Darwish Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: August 2023

Recently, several urban areas are trying to mitigate the environmental impacts of traffic, where noise pollution is one of the main consequences. Thus, studying the determinants of traffic-related noise generation and developing a model that predicts the level of noise by controlling the influencing factors are crucial for transportation planning purposes. This research aims at utilizing the response surface method (RSM) to develop a robust statistical prediction model of traffic-related noise levels and optimize different traffic characteristics’ ranges to reduce the expected noise levels. The results indicate that the rate of Leq increase is higher at traffic flow values less than the 1204 veh/h. The interaction effect of flow-speed and flow-heavy vehicle percentage pairs shows that Leq has peak values around 45.8 km/h and 28.71%, respectively, with almost symmetric value distribution about those center points. The main effects study indicates a direct effect of traffic flow, speed, density, and traffic composition on roadside noise levels. The prediction model has good representativeness of observed noise levels by predicted noise levels as the model has a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 95.87% and R2 adj = 92.26%) with a significance level of 0.0036. Then, the research presents a methodology to perform an optimization of the roadside noise level by defining traffic characteristics that can keep the noise level below 65 dB(A) or minimize noise level. Decision-makers could use the proposed method to control the roadside noise level.