bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adaptive variance adjusting strategy for the climatological background error covariance matrix based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Huang Lilan , Leng Hongze , Song Junqiang , Wang Dongzi , Wang Wuxin , Hu Ruisheng , Cao Hang
Published: July 2024

Precision in the initial state is pivotal for the prediction accuracy of numerical weather prediction models. A mature method for providing the initial state, variational data assimilation (VarDA) relies notably on a climatological background error covariance matrix, especially its diagonal, which encapsulates variance information. Nevertheless, variance estimation often contains errors, and current adjustment methods are manual or semi-adaptive. In this paper, an innovative adaptive strategy for adjusting variance, based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed. Harnessing the robust data-sensing capabilities of deep learning alongside the adept decision-making skills of reinforcement learning, our strategy aims to optimize assimilation performance by end-to-end learning from sensing VarDA state input to generating a variance-adjusted vector as output. Numerical experiments on the Lorenz96 model demonstrate that the initial state generated by the VarDA system adjusted by our method exhibits almost consistently the lowest climatological root mean square error compared to state-of-the-art methods, regardless of the quality of observations. With the initial state more aligned with the dynamic properties of the forecast model, the prediction capabilities of the experimental forecast model are enhanced to two Lyapunov times and the mean days of available forecast to the model are maximal in a one-month cycle statistic.
Multiscale modelling of dispersal pathways for the invasive blue crab larvae (Callinectes sapidus) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Barrier Céline , Piana Théo La , Barrier Nicolas , Lett Christophe , Garavelli Lysel , Garrido Marie , Pasqualini Vanina , Durieux Eric
Published: July 2024

The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is an invasive species that has occurred in the Mediterranean Sea since the mid twentieth century but undergone a significant population increase in the last decade. This worrying increase has raised concerns necessitating to provide information about its ecology and population dynamics at different scales, including its dispersal patterns. Biophysical modeling is a valuable tool for addressing the challenges associated to the study of marine species dispersal across various timeframes and geographical areas. To study the dispersal routes and connectivity of the blue crab in regions of the Mediterranean Sea where this invasive species has been observed, we used a biophysical modeling study, combining a Lagrangian tool with two hydrodynamic models of different spatial resolutions and geographical coverages but with the same period (2010 to 2020). We highlight the main larval dispersal routes, such as the recurrent connections between nearby coastlines including Tunisia and Sicily, as well as Sardinia, Corsica, and the Ligurian Sea coast, and their consistency, both across the entire Mediterranean Sea and a focus on its Northwestern part. The areas with the highest larval retention are revealed to be the Gulf of Lion, the Gulf of Gabès, the Adriatic Sea and the Levantine basin. Furthermore, the critical role of islands in the colonization dynamics of the blue crab is emphasized. Interconnected regions are identified, including Tunisia, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and the coastlines of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Larval connectivity was determined to be high between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean basins, likely explaining the crab's rapid invasion into suitable habitats over the whole sea. In more isolated regions, such as the Adriatic Sea, highest self-recruitment rates were obtained. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of tools and visualizations that can assist managers and stakeholders in gaining a better understanding of the challenges posed by the invasion of the blue crab in the Mediterranean Sea.
KUTS: A Foundational Triage System for Improving Accuracy in Mid-Level Emergency Classifications
Authors: Yu Tao , Liu Tuo , Gu Yang , Chen Hongyi , Zhang Yan , Zheng Leqi , Huang Xuanqi , Xu Yanjun , Wen Cai , Chen Mansheng , Lin Jiaqi , Huang Dongguo , Chen Feixia , Zhong Yulan , Chen Hui , Guo Yanfeng , Lu Mei , Zhang Guangwei , Wu Hao , Wang Changdong , Xi Xiaotu , Li Li
Published: July 2024

Triage is of great importance in the procedure of the emergency diagnosis, which needs artificial intelligence to assist due to the scarcity of medical resources. However, AI models for aiding triage have difficulty in identifying levels that are difficult or ambiguous for human clinicians to distinguish. Here, to address this challenge and improve the performance of triage models, we propose KUTS, a foundational classification model for emergency triage, which leverages a knowledge prompt-tuning encoder and an uncertainty-based classifier. KUTS takes tabular data and chief complaints as input, and then generates the recommended triage level for human clinicians. On the most difficult level for human to distinguish (Level 3), our KUTS significantly outperformed the previous shallow single-modal methods, deep single-modal methods and deep multi-modal methods by an average of 14.85%, 28.38% and 11.14%, respectively. Besides, on all the triage levels, our KUTS also outperformed the previous shallow single-modal methods, deep single-modal methods and deep multi-modal methods by an average of 9.02%, 9.45% and 4.18%, respectively. KUTS provides a foundational framework and paradigm for the study of emergency triage, and can be extended to scenarios that require pre-hospital emergency treatment such as disasters and accidents.
Hippo pathway and NLRP3-driven NETosis in macrophages: Mechanisms of viral pneumonia aggravation
Authors: Pan Linghui , Luo Bijun , Wang Xiaoxia , Lin Jinyuan , Mo Jianlan , Xie Jiaan , Zhou Yanqiong , Feng Jifeng
Published: July 2024

Background
Severe viral infections can precipitate acute lung injury, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. NETosis plays a crucial role in defending against pathogens and viruses, but its excessive or dysregulated formation can cause pulmonary damage, with research into its regulation offering potential insights and treatment strategies for viral lung injuries.
Methods
Elevated levels of NETosis were detected in the peripheral blood of patients with viral pneumonia. To explore the correlation between NETosis and virus-induced acute lung injury, we employed a murine model, administering poly(I:C) (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid), an artificial substitute for double-stranded RNA, intratracheally to mimic viral pneumonia. Assessment of NETosis biomarkers in afflicted patients and poly(I:C)-stimulated mice was conducted, alongside mechanistic investigations into the involvement of the Hippo signaling pathway, inflammatory factors, and chemokines in the injury process. Cytokine assays, co-culture experiments, and downstream inflammatory mediator analyses were used to ascertain the role of the Hippo pathway in macrophage to mediate NETosis.
Results
Enhanced expression of NETosis biomarkers was found both in patients with viral pneumonia and in poly(I:C)-stimulated mice. Hippo pathway activation in conjunction with increased levels of inflammatory actors and chemokines was observed in lung tissues of the mouse model. Elevated IL-1β was detected in cells and macrophages isolated from infected mice; this was mitigated by Hippo pathway inhibitors. IL-1β was confirmed to induce NETosis in co-culture experiments, while NLRP3, functioning downstream of the Hippo pathway, mediated its secretion. Patients with viral pneumonia exhibited increased NLRP3 and IL-1β in monocyte-macrophages relative to healthy controls.
Conclusions
Activated Hippo pathway in macrophages during poly(I:C) exposure upregulates NLRP3 and IL-1β expression to promote the occurrence of NETosis, thereby aggravating virus-induced lung injury. This study identifies a potential target pathway for therapeutic intervention to mitigate lung injury stemming from viral infections.
Antioxidant properties and proximate analysis of selected underutilized fruits in Sri Lanka
Authors: Somasiri Indi Vishaka , Herath Harshini , Senanayake Seetha Priyanganie , Ratnayake Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Chula Sena
Published: July 2024

The research investigated on the phytochemical compositions, proximate analysis, and antioxidant properties of ten selected underutilized fruits in Sri Lanka. Despite their potential health benefits, these fruits are often overlooked in favor of more commonly consumed varieties. Hence, this research aims to highlight the nutritional and therapeutic value of these fruits, encouraging their incorporation into the diet and promoting conservation of biodiversity. The presence of phytochemicals; polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and saponins in different extracts of fruits was qualitatively tested using methanol, water and acetone as solvents. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu and Aluminium chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity of the fruit extracts was assessed using DPPH assay, ABTS assay and FRAP assay. The vitamin C, fat, protein, carbohydrate, moisture and ash contents of the fruits were also analyzed. The total phenolic contents, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the fruit extracts were different depending upon the type of the solvent used for extraction. Acetone was the most efficient solvent for the extraction of total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidants of the selected fruits. The highest total phenolic content, flavonoid content and ascorbic acid content were recorded from P. pussilla and S. caryophyllatum. These findings conclude the potential of the 10 selected underutilized fruits and suggest to enhance and promote their commercial value in utilization with better biodiversity conservation strategies.
Experimental study on the effect of ultrasonic waves on flocculation and sedimentation of cohesive sand
Authors: Jian Chen , Ang Zhou , qinqin Liu , Huijie Zhang , Yaowei Li , Xinyang Chen
Published: July 2024

Sediment flocculation and sedimentation is a common phenomenon in estuarine coastal areas, and its sedimentation characteristics are one of the key contents of sediment transport research. In order to realize the purpose of high turbidity sediment flocculation without affecting the water quality, the authors propose a method to promote the flocculation and sedimentation of viscous sand to realize the separation of water and sand - ultrasonic-assisted flocculation and sedimentation method. Flocculation and sedimentation of viscous sand was studied by ultrasonic waves, and the results showed that: (1) when the concentration of sand content was 29 ~ 79%, the rate of flocculation and sedimentation of viscous sand was V natural > V ultrasonic waves + natural, but compared with natural sedimentation, the turbidity of the water quality was significantly reduced by the flocculation and sedimentation of ultrasonic waves and then natural sedimentation; at the same time, due to the pulsating vortex generated by the ultrasonic waves, the algae in the water body and other At the same time, due to the pulsating vortex generated during the ultrasonic action, other impurities in the water body such as algae floated on the water surface, which had the effect of removing algae in the water; (2) when the concentration of sand content was 41%~52%, the ultrasonic action prompted the viscous sand to produce the best flocculation and sedimentation effect, which corresponded to the clear and muddy interface with the settling height of 3.05 ~ 3.45 cm, and the rate of settling was 0.161 ~ 0.173 cm/min; (3) under the action of ultrasonic action, the water content of water W top > W middle > W middle, and then natural settlement after flocculation and sedimentation were achieved at different times. (3) Under the effect of ultrasonic waves, different time corresponds to different layers of wet substrate with water content Wupper > Wmiddle > Wlower, and dry substrate with water content Wupper < Wmiddle < Wlower. The research results can provide research and technical references for the study of flocculation kinetics and the treatment of high turbidity sandy water bodies.
Elevated Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure and Outcomes after Major Hip Surgery: A Case Control Study
Authors: Carton Meghan , O’Driscoll David N. , Marsh Brian , Gaine Sean , McMahon Aisling
Published: July 2024

Patients at risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently present for emergency orthopedic surgery. A right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) of 35 mmHg or above, calculated from a tricuspid regurgitant jet on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely considered an appropriate screening test for PH.1 The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an elevated RVSP detected on preoperative TTE on outcomes after hip replacement or fracture fixation surgery. We undertook a retrospective, single centre, case control study of 115 adult patients who had a TTE before undergoing hip surgery over a six-year period. Forty-eight patients (42%) had an elevated RVSP and 67 patients (58%) had a normal RVSP on preoperative TTE. Patients with an elevated RVSP were older and had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In multivariate analysis there was no significant association between these variables and in hospital mortality. In keeping with the echocardiographic characteristics of high right-sided pressure, tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular dilation occurred more frequently in the elevated RVSP group. Patients with an elevated RVSP were significantly more likely to die in hospital, with all in hospital deaths occurring within this group (9/48 (19%) vs 0/67 (0%), p = < 0.001). Four patients died within one week of surgery after a cardiac arrest. The remaining 5 patients died a median of 26 (IQR 24–59) days after surgery due to pneumonia and progression of comorbid disease, often complicated by delirium. This study highlights the potential association between an elevated preoperative RVSP and increased mortality after hip replacement or fracture fixation surgery.
Research on the construction and fidelity evaluation of digital twins for CNC machine tools
Authors: Zhang Xiaogang , Chen Wei , Li Jian , Zhao Zhongyuan , Yin Zhenkun , Mu Zongyi , Wang Hongwei
Published: July 2024

Performance evaluation of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools is challenging due to high costs, experimental difficulties, and data scarcity. Digital twin technology can effectively address this issue through interactions between the physical and virtual environments. An executable high-fidelity digital twin is the foundation for utilizing digital twin technology in performance evaluation. Current research rarely focuses on the simplification methods and fidelity evaluation of CNC machine tool digital twins. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel digital twin construction methodology and introduces fidelity evaluation metrics based on the three-layer division of meta-action theory. Additionally, a multi-indicator weight allocation method is presented for the quantitative analysis of model updates and iterations. Firstly, CNC machine tools are divided into three layers: system level, chain level, and unit level based on meta-action theory. The digital twin architecture comprises the physical entity, information assurance layer, virtual entity, and functional application layer. Furthermore, a multi-level assessment framework is established, incorporating general indicators, system-level indicators, and unit-level indicators. To facilitate a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the digital twins, the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weighting method are employed for weight allocation. This proposed approach simplifies the construction of digital twins and provides robust evaluation methods for their enhancement. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is validated through a case study on the axial stiffness performance testing of a specific CNC machine tool rotary table model.
Soil forensics predicting acidic pollutants based on 16S rRNA gene of acidophiles and machine learning
Authors: Park Suin , Nguyen Minh Thi , Jeon Junbeom , Yoo Keunje , Oh Jeong-Eun , Shin Jea-Ho , Bae Hyokwan
Published: July 2024

In industrial settings, events such as explosions, fires, and container breakages can lead to the extensive leakage of acids into the soil environment. As awareness of acidic soil contamination grows, efforts are being made to identify the sources of such pollution to improve soil sustainability. This study aimed to identify HCl, HF, HNO3, and H2SO4 pollution in soil using 16S rRNA gene profiles of acidophiles. Exposure to these pollutants lowered soil pH to 1.8-2.0, causing a decline in proteobacteria and a rise in acidophilic firmicutes, as shown by NGS and T-RFLP analysis. Using this data for clustering analysis, distinct groupings emerged based on the type of acidic contaminant. Although the T-RFLP dataset provided a clearer distinction compared to NGS, pinpointing the specific acidic contaminants with precision remained challenging. The machine learning model using artificial neural networks achieved a 94.4% accuracy in predicting acidic contaminants using the species level NGS data. When utilizing T-RFLP data, it demonstrated an accuracy of 86.9%, showing performance between the genus and family classification levels of NGS. The artificially augmented T-RFLP data further enhanced predictive accuracy. This combined technology of machine learning and molecular microbial detection offers a new approach to soil contamination monitoring.
Exploring the Biogenesis of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology: Diverge Origins, Common Threads
Authors: Sharma Yashvi , Mohanty Sujata
Published: July 2024

In the intricate web of cellular communication, the endosome originating small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs), also known as exosomes, are crucial mediators and have gained significant attention in theranostics. The current knowledge about sEVs biogenesis has been gleaned by studying the biogenesis pathways in cancer cells, which holds importance for diagnostic purposes. However, pertaining therapeutics, where stem cell sEVs are considered as one of the new investigational drugs, the biogenesis pathways remain largely unexplored. This article unravels parallel narratives in sEVs biogenesis within cancer cells and stem cells. It seeks to explore the involvement of key regulators of sEVs biogenesis identified in cancer cells, vis-à-vis the biogenesis pathways of stem cells. Intriguingly, while these proteins exhibit similarities, a discernible difference arises in their primary function in the regulation of sEVs biogenesis. Notably, ALIX's pivotal role in stem cell biogenesis underscores its potential as a target for modulating sEVs yield in regenerative therapies. Through this comparative analysis, we shed light on shared molecular signatures, offering insights to guide therapeutic interventions, and harness the regenerative potential of stem cells.
Comparative Analysis of Burden of Topmost Disorders Requiring Rehabilitation Services – a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Ekechukwu Echezona Nelson Dominic , Chijioke Olive Udunma , ROTIMI Dorcas Tamilore , DHAMIJA Rajinder K. , ILECHUKWU Tochukwu Bright , OLOWOYO Paul , OJEH Amala Blessing , FENG Wuwei , BENJAMIN Solomon Chidubem , DADA Olumide Olasunkanmi , ATUEYI Blessing Chiagozikam , PLATZ Thomas , Owolabi Mayowa Ojo
Published: July 2024

Background: Rehabilitation is an essential health service that should be available for all. Equitable distribution of scarce and limited rehabilitation resources is determined by the burden of diseases. Most studies on burden of diseases have laid greater emphasis on disability adjusted life years (DALYs) and rarely compared these burdens among conditions. This present study aims to systematically review and compare the burden of the top 10 GBD ranking of disorders.
Method: This review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022316091). PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically searched as well as a manual search of grey literatures from 01/01/1990 to 29/02/2022. The results of this review were reported based on PRISMA guideline. Meta-analysis results were presented using forest plots and summary tables.
Results: A total of 11,367 studies were obtained from the searches, while the findings of 55 studies (17,753,434 participants) were reviewed. Majority of the studies were conducted in high-income-countries (56.1%) though, all the studies on neonatal disorders (100.0%) and congenital birth disorders (100.0%) came from the low-and-middle-income-countries. Neonatal disorders, stroke and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) topped the rank of disease burden. Overall, the burden of neurological disorders and their associated risk factors (aRFs), in terms of disease prevalence, were evaluated to be 36.75% while their mortality rate was 29.90%. Neurological conditions and aRFs accounted for 61.83% of total economic burden.
Conclusion: Neonatal disorders, stroke and IHD are the three most burdensome disorders. There is therefore need for greater focus of rehabilitation attention and resources in the coming decades. Keywords: Burden of diseases, Rehabilitation, Systematic Review, Comparative Analysis
Reference charts for fetal corpus callosum length in the early second trimester: a prospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Bozbay Nizamettin , Taşpınar Merve Nur , Pekin Aybike Tazegül
Published: July 2024

Objective: This study aimed to establish normal reference ranges for fetal corpus callosum (CC) measured by prenatal ultrasonography (USG) between 16-25 weeks of gestation in healthy fetuses.
Material and Method: A total of 809 fetuses in the second trimester were evaluated by transabdominal USG. All measurements were obtained by a single clinician.
Results:
Based on the correlation analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between gestational week and CC (r=0.907; p<0.001).
Conclusion: We anticipate that the reference intervals obtained from healthy fetuses will help clinicians who are interested in neurosonography to detect CC abnormalities at an early stage.
Does Moringa Oleifera Protect the Brain Against 3-Acetylpyridine-Induced Cerebellar Ataxia?
Authors: Hassan Doaa Mohamad , Sabra Nourhan Tharwat , Farghaly Maha Eid , Sedeak Ahmed Yahia
Published: July 2024

There is no treatment for some neurological conditions, like cerebellar ataxia (CA). Moringa Oleifera (MO) has been revealed to have neuroprotective properties, but little is known about how it could protect against CA. In this study, we studied the neuroprotective effects of MO in an animal model of CA induced by 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP), which showed deficits in balance and motor coordination. Although cerebellar neuroinflammatory responses are evident in CA, it is yet unclear how neuroinflammation might influence CA. Here, we investigate whether MO, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective qualities, can help with cerebellar neurodegeneration and locomotor activity deficits. Four groups of 24 adult male rats were divided into four equal groups. The control group received saline orally, the MO group received MO extract orally, the 3-AP group was injected with 3-AP, and the 3-AP + MO combined group received both 3-AP and MO for four weeks. The animals underwent a motor coordination test on the experiment’s first and last days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized, the cerebellums were dissected, and they were then subjected to standard biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical studies. The combined group showed remarkable improvement in the CA. The cerebellar neurodegeneration and declination of locomotor activity had improved. Our findings imply that MO may protect against the CA degenerative condition and improve cerebellar function.
Nonlinear correlation between prognostic nutritional indices (PNI) and patients with sepsis: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC database.
Authors: Han Xu , Qi Baofeng , Yuan Weiwei , Liu Yue , Liu Bin
Published: July 2024

Background: The objective of this study was to explore the association between PNI and mortality among sepsis patients.
Methods: Data in the present study were obtained from MIMIC-IV. PNI was calculated as follows: serum albumin concentration (g/L) + 0.005 × lymphocyte count. The primary outcome of this study was in-hospital mortality. COX proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between PNI and in-hospital mortality. A linear trend was evaluated by including the median PNI of each group as a continuous variable in the model. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was employed to explore the linear relationship between PNI and the risk of in-hospital mortality and to investigate the interaction between PNI and different factors.
Results: A total of 2794 patients were included in this study and divided into four groups (Q1-Q4) according to PNI quartile values. In the fully adjusted model, in-hospital mortality of patients in the highest quartile group of PNI values was 49.4% (HR = 0.506, 95% CI: 0.342-0.747, P = 0.001) lower than those in the lowest quartile group, respectively, with a statistically significant trend toward increased risk, Ptrend < 0.001. RCS analysis showed that an L-shaped association between PNI and in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analyses showed a association between PNI and in-hospital mortality in different strata of patients, with a negative correlation between PNI and in-hospital mortality in all groups (HR <1 in each group).
Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between low PNI and an increased risk of death during hospitalization in patients with sepsis. An L-shaped association was observed between PNI and in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis, with an inflection point at 33.99.
Association of ABO Blood Group with Blood Pressure in Healthy Adults of Districts Hyderabad Pakistan
Authors: Shaikh Shakil Ahmed , Memon Salma Farukh , Laghari Keenjhar Rani , Rahu Naila Hajira , Shah Hanozia , Laghari Zulfiqar Ali
Published: July 2024

Objectives
This study was conducted to find out any association of the ABO blood group with blood pressure.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study includes 600 randomly selected subjects from the different organizations of district Hyderabad including Universities, colleges, Hospitals, their students, faculty members, and their employees. This study was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022. Informed consent was obtained from volunteers. A detailed history was taken followed by a thorough clinical examination. Blood pressure was recorded with a mercury sphygmomanometer. Blood grouping was done by ABO typing. Data obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 20.0.
Results
In this study, the B blood group was found more prevalent in district Hyderabad, and blood group B was found more associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusion
The incidence of hypertension is high in Pakistan as found in other developing countries. In this study, the evidence is suggestive of the association of the B blood group with increased blood pressure in young healthy adults of district Hyderabad Pakistan.
Adolescents Perceptions and Behaviors Towards Periodic Health Examinations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alrukban Mohammed , Alsultan Ahmad , Alnasser Alwaleed , Alayban Ahmed , Almousa Mohammed , Alotaibi Salman
Published: July 2024

Objectives: To evaluate and assess the awareness, knowledge, and level of application of recommended Periodic health examinations (PHEs) for adolescents in Riyadh.
Methods: Descriptive Cross-sectional study, conducted among adolescents between June 2022 and January 2023. The Sample size was 1199 adolescents of both genders, between the ages of 12-20 years, studying in intermediate and secondary schools in Riyadh. The sample of participants was collected through a stratified multistage random sampling technique. Ethical approval and Ministry of Education acceptance were considered. The data was collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire containing close-ended questions. The level of knowledge was assessed by using three knowledge items; PHE definition, PHEs performance time, and the list of recommended PHEs known. The level of performance was assessed based on the performance of recommended (Six recommended PHEs by Saudi CDC) and none-recommended (Nine non-recommended PHEs as distractors).
Results: Among the (1199) adolescents, the vast majority (70.6%) were aware of the PHEs. There is a positive attitude of adolescents toward PHEs, with (75.8%) acknowledging their importance and (87.1%) willing to undergo PHEs if given the opportunity. Despite this positive attitude, the actual knowledge and performance of PHEs remains relatively low, with (56.1%) being illiterate about it and only (36.8%) having undergone PHEs at least once, and a smaller percentage (26.1%) doing so regularly. There was a clear association (p<0.05) between the level of knowledge and application. Adolescents with adequate knowledge had a higher prevalence of application (56.8% VS 43.2%). There was an association between Adolescents' level of education and their levels of knowledge and performance (p<0.05). The more educated adolescents the higher their knowledge level and performance level. There was also an association between the availability of health insurance and application. The presence of health insurance increases the probability of applying PHEs. The most used sources of information regarding PHEs were digital sources (62.1%).
Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a positive attitude of adolescents toward PHEs. The study highlights a disparity in knowledge and performance of PHEs among adolescents, influenced by socio-demographic factors such as gender, nationality, type of school, and parental education. Females and students from private or international schools, as well as those with higher levels of parental education, demonstrated better knowledge and higher performance rates of PHEs. The research underscores the role of digital sources in educating adolescents about PHEs. This study emphasizes the need for targeted educational interventions to improve adolescent knowledge and performance of PHEs, considering the identified barriers and socio-demographic influences.
Deep Multi-Biometric Fuzzy Commitment Scheme: Fusion Methods and Performance
Authors: Fohr Valentina , Rathgeb Christian
Published: July 2024

Biometric cryptosystems offer privacy-preserving authentication using biometric data, such as fingerprints or iris scans. However, single modalities suffer from limited entropy, impacting both recognition performance and security. This work investigates the fusion of multiple biometric characteristics to address these limitations.
This study provides a detailed description of the Deep Multi-biometric Fuzzy Commitment Scheme and its components. In the experimental setup, we demonstrate how Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are used to tackle the challenge of non-uniform representation vectors by generating uniform embeddings. This process generates the monomodal databases of iris and fingerprint vectors, as well as the multibiometric database. We then evaluate our three proposed fusion methods: concatenation, interleaving, and random shuffling within the fuzzy commitment scheme using error correction methods such as Hadamard and Reed-Solomon codes.
The evaluation of performance and security reveals that random shuffling outperforms other methods like interleaving and concatenation in terms of recognition performance. Concatenation displayed the lowest performance. Finally, the findings are summarized and potential improvements are discussed.
Efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer with early recurrence during or after adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 alone: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Yamaguchi Toshifumi , Kumagai Koshi , Yagi Shusuke , Nomura Takashi , Nagashima Kengo , Watanabe Masaya , Makuuchi Rie , Kawakami Kentaro , Matsushima Tomohiro , Kadowaki Shigenori , Haruta Shusuke , Cho Haruhiko , Kakihara Naoki , Otsuka Shinya , Yamada Takanobu , Imai Yoshiro , Boku Narikazu
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to survey the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens in the real world setting and explore the most promising regimen for patients experiencing early recurrence for gastric cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of 207 patients with gastric cancer, who developed early recurrence during or within 6 months after completing S-1 adjuvant therapy at 19 Japanese institutions between 2012 and 2016. The treatment regimens after recurrence were fluoropyrimidines plus platinum-based regimens (FP) in 91 (44%) patients, paclitaxel-based regimens (PTX) in 102 (49%), and irinotecan-based regimens (IRI) in 14 (7%). The overall response and disease control rates were 28.7% and 54.1%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.1 and 12.9 months, respectively. In the FP, PTX, and IRI regimens, the median PFS and OS were 5.9, 4.1, 4.1 months and 12.8, 12.9, and 11.8 months, respectively. The combination of PTX and ramucirumab demonstrated the most favorable survival. Multivariate analyses for OS showed that recurrence during adjuvant chemotherapy and undifferentiated histological type were independent poor prognostic factors. Although the prognosis of patients with early recurrence even withadjuvant S-1 was poor, PTX plus ramucirumab therapy could be a potential treatment option.
Prevalence of Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies in Older Adults with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Memel Zoe , Thiemann Anna , Dort Cooper , Mahadevan Uma , Beck Kendall
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims: The nutritional status and consequences of malnutrition among older adults with ulcerative colitis (UC) is not known.
Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of patients 65 years and older with Ulcerative colitis (UC). Malnutrition was defined using the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) definition. Eight micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition-related outcomes were measured. The Saskatchewan Inflammatory Bowel Disease–Nutrition Risk Tool was utilized to identify patients at risk for malnutrition. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Characteristics of patients with and without malnutrition were compared using Chi Square test or Fisher’s exact tests (analysis of variance for age) where appropriate.
Results: Two-hundred and ninety patients with a mean age of 73.4 years were included. 54% of patients had moderate to severe UC, with 52% receiving advanced therapy. Fifty-one patients (18%) met criteria for malnutrition, 17% were moderate to high risk for malnutrition, and 87% were low risk. 220 patients (76%) had at least one micronutrient deficiency: 38% vitamin D deficiency, 43% iron deficiency and 11% B12 deficiency. Half of patients had osteoporosis or osteopenia (49%), however, only39% of high-risk patients had undergone a DEXA scan.
Conclusions: Older adults with UC are high risk for malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. This population is at particularly high risk for bone-related disease, yet a significant proportion of patients are not undergoing guideline-directed bone density testing. These findings illustrate the need for regular screening for malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and bone-related disease in older adults with UC.
MHD lensing in inhomogeneous ISM for qualitative understanding of the morphology of supernova remnants
Authors: Sofue Yoshiaki
Published: July 2024

Morphological evolution of expanding shells of fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves through an inhomogeneous ISM is investigated in order to qualitatively understand the complicated morphology of shell-type supernova remnants (SNR). Interstellar clouds with high Alfv\'en velocity act as concave lenses to diverge the MHD waves, while those with slow \alf velocity act as convex lenses to converge the waves to the focal points.By combination of various types of clouds and fluctuations with different Alfv\'en velocities, sizes, or wavelengths, the MHD-wave shells attain various morphological structures, exhibiting filaments, arcs, loops, holes, and focal strings, somehow mimicking old and deformed SNRs.
Rare chronic afferent loop syndrome causing partial small bowel obstruction after Bill Roth ii gastro jejunostomy: a case report
Authors: Daniel Tigabu , woldegiorgis tsegaye
Published: July 2024

Background: - chronic afferent loop syndrome is one of rare complication after Bill Roth II gastrojejunostomy. Surgical correction is must to avoid complications that come after conservative management. Most common complications of chronic afferent loop syndrome are sepsis, pancreatitis, cholangitis and ischemia of the afferent loop.
Case presentation
Here we are presenting 18 years old female patient presented with repeated episodes of bilious vomiting, nausea, epigastric discomfort and distension after her 90th post-truncal vagotomy and Bill Roth II gastrojejunostomy for gastric outlet obstruction secondary to peptic ulcer disease stricture. Braun’s corrective anastomosis done and the patient discharged with improvement. Now the patient was on follow up with no compliant.
Conclusion
Although rare to happen after Bill Roth II gastrojejunostomy reconstruction, it is better to consider chronic afferent loop syndrome irrespective of surgery done time for those who have bilious vomiting. Revision of the bypass surgery is must for chronic afferent loop syndrome to avoid serious complications.
Fully autonomous tuning of a spin qubit
Authors: Ares Natalia , Schuff Jonas , Carballido Miguel , Kotzagiannidis Madeleine , Calvo Juan Carlos , Caselli Marco , Rawling Jacob , Craig david , Straaten Barnaby van , Severin Brandon , Fedele Federico , Svab Simon , Kwon Pierre Chevalier , Eggli Rafael , Patlatiuk Taras , Korda Nathan , Zumbuhl Dominik
Published: July 2024

Spanning over two decades, the study of qubits in semiconductors for quantum computing has yielded significant breakthroughs. However, the development of large-scale semiconductor quantum circuits is still limited by challenges in efficiently tuning and operating these circuits. Identifying optimal operating conditions for these qubits is complex, involving the exploration of vast parameter spaces. This presents a real `needle in the haystack' problem, which, until now, has resisted complete automation due to device variability and fabrication imperfections.
In this study, we present the first fully autonomous tuning of a semiconductor qubit, from a grounded device to Rabi oscillations, a clear indication of successful qubit operation. We demonstrate this automation, achieved without human intervention, in a Ge/Si core/shell nanowire device. Our approach integrates deep learning, Bayesian optimization, and computer vision techniques. We expect this automation algorithm to apply to a wide range of semiconductor qubit devices, allowing for statistical studies of qubit quality metrics. As a demonstration of the potential of full automation, we characterise how the Rabi frequency and $g$-factor depend on barrier gate voltages for one of the qubits found by the algorithm. Twenty years after the initial demonstrations of spin qubit operation, this significant advancement is poised to finally catalyze the operation of large, previously unexplored quantum circuits.
Bidirectional Chemical Intelligent Net: A unified deep learning–based framework for predicting chemical reactions
Authors: Wang Xiaojian , Xue Xi , Chen Kai , Sun Hanyu , Liu Xiangying , Liu Xue , Li Shize , Yan Jingjie , Mubarak Mohammad , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Hu Hai-Yu , Deng Yafeng , Pan Xiandao
Published: July 2024

Chemical reactions, which transform one set of substances to another, drive research in chemistry and biology. Recently, computer-aided chemical reaction prediction has spurred rapidly growing interest, and various deep learning–based algorithms have been proposed. However, current efforts primarily focus on developing models that support specific applications, with less emphasis on building unified frameworks that predict chemical reactions. Here, we developed Bidirectional Chemical Intelligent Net (BiCINet), a prediction framework based on Bidirectional and Auto-Regressive Transformers (BARTs), for predicting chemical reactions in various tasks, including the bidirectional prediction of organic synthesis and enzyme-mediated chemical reactions. This versatile framework was trained using general chemical reactions and achieved top-1 forward and backward accuracies of 80.6% and 48.6%, respectively, for the public benchmark dataset USPTO_50K. By multitask transfer learning and integrating various task prompts into the model, BiCINet enables retrosynthetic planning and metabolic prediction for small molecules, as well as retrosynthetic analysis and enzyme-catalyzed product prediction for natural products. These results demonstrate the superiority of our multifunctional framework for comprehensively understanding chemical reactions.
Real-Time Observations of Leaf Vitality Extinction by Dynamic Speckle Imaging
Authors: COLIN Elise , Caurel Enrique Garcia , Adeline Karine , Plyer Aurélien , Orlik Xavier
Published: July 2024

Sap flow within a leaf is a critical indicator of plant vitality and health. This paper introduces an easy-to-use, non-invasive and real-time imaging method for sap microcirculation imaging. From the coherent backscattering of light on a leaf, we show that the acquisition frequency of dynamic speckle can be linked to the microcirculation speed inside the leaf. Thus, by accessing different ranges of sap flow velocities, we reveal in a non invasive way, the anatomy of the leaf's circulatory network with unprecedented richness. We experimentally validate the ability of the method to characterize in real time the vitality of a fig leaf by observing the continuous decrease of sap circulation, first in the smaller vessels and then in the larger ones, following the cutting of the leaf over a 48-hour period.
A systematic review and analysis of the viability of virtual reality (VR) in construction work and education
Authors: Din Zia Ud , Mohammadi Payam , Sherman Rachael
Published: July 2024

This systematic review explores the viability of virtual reality (VR) technologies for enhancing learning outcomes and operational efficiency within the construction industry. This study evaluates the current integration of VR in construction education and practice. Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, this review analyzed 36 peer-reviewed journal articles from databases such as the Web of Science, ERIC, and Scopus. The methodology focused on identifying, appraising, and synthesizing all relevant studies to assess the effectiveness of VR applications in construction-related fields. This review highlights that VR significantly enhances learning by providing immersive interactive simulations that improve the understanding of every complex construction process, such as structural elements or tunnel-boring machine operations. This review contributes by systematically compiling and evaluating evidence on using VR in construction, which has seen a limited comprehensive analysis. It provides practical examples of how VR can revolutionize education and work.
Business strategy and stock price crash risk: The mediating role of financial constraints
Authors: Rezk Omara Mohamed , Rashed Ahmed
Published: July 2024

The global financial crisis increased uncertainty in economic policy. Firms manage challenges through business strategies and financial constraints and deal with crash risk more proactively to overcome these impediments. This paper investigates the mediating role of financial constraints in the association between business strategy and crash risk, and the type of business strategy that influenced crash risk in Egyptian firms from 2014 to 2021. Data were obtained from financial statements and reports available in the Thomson Reuters database. A total of 792 observations were collected, representing 99 Egyptian firms. The statistical techniques employed in the analysis included ordinary least squares, modified least squares, and path analysis. The results indicate that a higher financial constraint ratio increases crash risk and has a mediating effect on business strategy and crash risk. Results show a positive impact of prospector strategy on crash risk using OLS and GLS, in line with the bad news hoarding hypothesis. Further research shows that prospector strategies have a positive effect on financial constraints. Egyptian firms have higher levels of information asymmetry, which leads to adopting a prospector business strategy and exerts a more pronounced positive influence on the likelihood of crash risk. A robustness check confirms the positive effect of financial constraints as a mediator variable on the relationship between prospector business strategy and crash risk.
Creative Industries’ Risk Appetite in East Java and Its Impact on Dynamic Capability and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Sidi Agus Purnomo , Santoso Risa
Published: July 2024

Studies related to risk appetite, which plays an important role in risk management in the creative economy sector, still need to be made available, so relating it with dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage is the main novelty of the research. The research aimed to understand the risk appetite of the creative Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in East Java, Indonesia, and analyze the impact of the risk appetite on their dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages. Primary data was obtained through a quantitative research method with a Likert-sized online questionnaire instrument and distributed to 300 creative industries in East Java, with the unit of analysis being the creative business owner. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) weight analysis with SmartPLS version 4 software. After passing the external test and inner model, hypothesis testing was carried out by reviewing the t-statistics and p-values. The analysis results provide a surprise, showing that not all types of risk appetite significantly impact dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage. Avoiding the discovery of detrimental risks to dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage emphasizes that in this era, every creative SME must face risks. Avoiding risks makes the business unable to face dynamic changes in conditions and will not have a competitive advantage. However, risk and revenue sharing do not significantly impact competitive advantage. It has a strong impact through dynamic capabilities. Creative SMEs can choose to transfer risks or reduce them. Future research can examine different risk appetites for creative economy in each subsector.