bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The global burden of cervical cancer requiring surgery: database estimates
Authors: Allanson Emma R , Zafar Syed Nabeel , Anakwenze Chidinma P , Schmeler Kathleen M , Trimble Edward L , Grover Surbhi
Published: February 2024

Background

Scaling up surgical services for cervical cancer in low and middle income countries requires quantification of the need for those services. The aim of this study was to estimate the global burden of cervical cancer for which access to surgery is required.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of publicly available data. Cervical cancer incidence was extracted for each country from the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research, Global Cancer Observatory. The proportion of cases requiring surgery was extrapolated from the United States Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Result database. The need for cervical cancer surgery was tested against development indicators.

Results

Data were available for 175 countries, representing 2.9 billion females aged 15 and over. There were approximately 566,911 women diagnosed with cervical cancer (95% CI 565,462–568,360). An estimated 56.9% of these women (322,686) would require surgery for diagnosis, treatment or palliation (95% CI 321,955 − 323,417). Cervical cancers for which surgery is required represent less than 1% of cancers in high income countries, and nearly 10% of cancers in low income countries.

Conclusions

At least 300,000 cervical cancer cases worldwide require access to surgical services annually. Gathering data on available cervical cancer surgery services in LMIC are a critical next step.
World AIDS Day 2023: time to prioritize perilous HIV medicine
Authors: Gesesew Hailay Abrha
Published: February 2024

Background

World AIDS Day has been observed on the first of December every year. Whilst there are specific themes during the commemoration, the role of conflict on HIV seems neglected and needs prioritization given the rise of conflicts globally.

Discussion

The global HIV response brought substantial reduction of new HIV infections and HIV-related deaths, and increment of antiretroviral therapy coverage. Nevertheless, there is substantial inequity on the benefit of the response. Individuals with HIV in conflict zones have suffered immensely and are often neglected. The fact that the level, intensity, and number of conflicts is increasing mean more HIV people in conflict or post-conflict settings such as in Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Yemen Russia and Ukraine are at risk of negative HIV care and treatment outcomes. In particular, some conflicts such as the case of Ethiopia’s Tigray have been marked by severe public and humanitarian crises, including medical siege, intentional damage of healthcare infrastructure, targeted attacks on health workers, displacement, and appalling incidents of conflict-related sexual violence. Yet, people living with HIV in these conflict settings seem often overlooked. It is crucial to address the unique challenges in these areas to achieve the goals of AIDS/HIV care.

Conclusion

There is no ideal forum to remind the intricate relationship between conflict and the HIV epidemic other than the World AIDS Day. Thus, this this year’s World AIDS Day should focus on prioritizing on tackling the direct and indirect effects of conflict on HIV transmission and treatment. This way, we can achieve the ambitious UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals and Ending AIDS by 2030.
TREM2 improves microglia function and synaptic development in autism spectrum disorders by regulating P38 MAPK signaling pathway
Authors: Tian Yi , Xiao Xiao , Liu Weiliang , Cheng Shanqing , Qian Na , Wang Ling , Liu Yang , Ai Rong , Zhu Xiaoping
Published: February 2024

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a diverse range of neurodevelopmental disorders, but the precise underlying pathogenesis remains elusive. This study aim to explore the potential mechanism of TREM2 in regulating microglia function in ASD.

Materials and methods

The offspring rat model of ASD was established through prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA), and the behavioral symptoms of the ASD model were observed. On postnatal day (PND) 7 and PND 28, the effects of prenatally exposure to VPA on synaptic development and microglia phenotype of offspring rats were observed. Primary microglia were cultured in vitro. Lentivirus and adenovirus were utilized to interfere with TREM2 and overexpress TREM2.

Results

Prenatally VPA exposure induced offspring rats to show typical ASD core symptoms, which led to abnormal expression of synapse-related proteins in the prefrontal cortex of offspring rats, changed the phenotype of microglia in offspring rats, promoted the polarization of microglia to pro-inflammatory type, and increased inflammatory response. The experimental results in vitro showed that overexpression of TREM2 could increase the expression of Gephyrin, decrease the content of CD86 protein and increase the content of CD206 protein. In addition, after the expression of TREM2 was interfered, the content of p-P38 MAPK protein increased and the content of p-ELK-1 protein decreased.

Conclusion

The protective influence of TREM2 on the VPA-induced ASD model is attributed to its inhibition of the P38 MAPK pathway, this protective effect may be achieved by promoting the polarization of microglia to anti-inflammatory phenotype and improving the neuronal synaptic development.
Combined inhibition of HER2 and VEGFR synergistically improves therapeutic efficacy via PI3K-AKT pathway in advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Li Weisong , Zhang Kai , Wang Wenjun , Liu Yuanyuan , Huang Jianming , Zheng Meihong , Li Ling , Zhang Xinyu , Xu Minjuan , Chen Guofang , Wang Liefeng , Zhang Shuyong
Published: February 2024

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a prevalent malignancy in the female reproductive system, and developing effective targeted therapies for this disease remains challenging. The aim of this study was to use clinically-relevant OC models to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of RC48, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER2, either alone or in combination with the VEGFR inhibitor Cediranib Maleate (CM), for the treatment of advanced OC.

Methods

OC tumor specimens and cell lines were analyzed to determine HER2 and VEGFR expression by Western blot, immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence. Moreover, the OC cell lines, cell-derived xenograft (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were treated with RC48 and/or CM and then subjected to cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and tumor growth analyses to evaluate the feasibility of combination therapy for OC both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, RNA-Seq was performed to investigate the critical mechanism underlying the combination therapy of RC48 and CM.

Results

Our results demonstrated that RC48 alone effectively targeted and inhibited the growth of HER2-positive OC tumors in both cell lines and PDX models. Furthermore, the combination of RC48 and CM synergistically induced tumor regression in human OC cell lines, as well as CDX and PDX models. Mechanistically, we observed that the combination treatment inhibited the growth of OC cells involved inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell motility. RNA-seq analysis provided further mechanistic insights and revealed that co-administration of RC48 and CM downregulated multiple cancer-related pathways, including the AKT/mTOR pathway, cell cycle, and cell proliferation. Notably, our data further confirmed that the PI3K-AKT pathway played a key role in the inhibition of proliferation triggered by combinational treatment of RC48 and CM in OC cells.

Conclusions

These findings provide a preclinical framework supporting the potential of dual targeting HER2 and VEGFR as a promising therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes in patients with OC.
Violence against healthcare professionals in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis of frequency, risk factors, interventions, and preventive measures
Authors: Berger Sebastian , Grzonka Pascale , Frei Anja I. , Hunziker Sabina , Baumann Sira M. , Amacher Simon A. , Gebhard Caroline E. , Sutter Raoul
Published: February 2024

Background

To assess the frequency, risk factors, consequences, and prevention of violence against healthcare workers in intensive care units.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for studies on violence against healthcare workers in adult intensive care units. Risk factors, patient characteristics, and implications for healthcare workers were collected. Study quality, bias, and level of evidence were assessed using established tools.

Results

Seventy-five studies with 139,533 healthcare workers from 32 countries were included. The overall median frequency of violence was 51% (IQR 37–75%). Up to 97% of healthcare workers experienced verbal violence, and up to 82% were victims of physical violence. Meta-analysis of frequency revealed an average frequency of 31% (95% CI 22–41%) for physical violence, 57% for verbal violence (95% CI 48–66%), and 12% for sexual violence (95% CI 4–23%). Heterogeneity was high according to theI2statistics. Patients were the most common perpetrators (median 56%), followed by visitors (median 22%). Twenty-two studies reported increased risk ratios of up to 2.3 or odds ratios of up to 22.9 for healthcare workers in the ICU compared to other healthcare workers. Risk factors for experiencing violence included young age, less work experience, and being a nurse. Patients who exhibited violent behavior were often male, older, and physically impaired by drugs. Violence was underreported in up to 80% of cases and associated with higher burnout rates, increased anxiety, and higher turnover intentions. Overall the level of evidence was low.

Conclusions

Workplace violence is frequent and underreported in intensive care units, with potential serious consequences for healthcare workers, calling for heightened awareness, screening, and preventive measures. The potential risk factors for violence should be further investigated.

Systematic review registration: The protocol for this review was registered with Prospero on January 15, 2023 (ID CRD42023388449).
scGIST: gene panel design for spatial transcriptomics with prioritized gene sets
Authors: Yafi Mashrur Ahmed , Hisham Md. Hasibul Husain , Grisanti Francisco , Martin James F. , Rahman Atif , Samee Md. Abul Hassan
Published: February 2024

A critical challenge of single-cell spatial transcriptomics (sc-ST) technologies is their panel size. Being based on fluorescence in situ hybridization, they are typically limited to panels of about a thousand genes. This constrains researchers to build panels from only the marker genes of different cell types and forgo other genes of interest, e.g., genes encoding ligand-receptor complexes or those in specific pathways. We propose scGIST, a constrained feature selection tool that designs sc-ST panels prioritizing user-specified genes without compromising cell type detection accuracy. We demonstrate scGIST’s efficacy in diverse use cases, highlighting it as a valuable addition to sc-ST’s algorithmic toolbox.
The effects of TRX suspension training on sarcopenic biomarkers and functional abilities in elderlies with sarcopenia: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: Rezaei Sohrab , Eslami Rasoul , Tartibian Bakhtyar
Published: February 2024

Background

Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and strength that can be modulated by resistance training. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TRX Suspension Training (TST) on serum levels of neuromuscular and growth factors and functional indices in elderly men with sarcopenia, an age-related condition characterized by progressive muscle mass and strength loss.

Methods

Nineteen sarcopenic elderly men (age = 74.87 ± 4.58 years) were randomly assigned into two groups, the TST group (n = 10) and the control group (n = 9). Serum concentrations of regulatory muscle markers, anthropometric and body composition indices, and functional tests were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks. The training protocol consisted of eight weeks of TRX exercises, with three weekly sessions.

Results

After 8 weeks of training, growth factors such as Follistatin (FST) (P = 0.001), 22 kDa C-terminal agrin fragment (CAF) (P = 0.031), and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) (P = 0.049) increased significantly in the training group in comparison to the control group and Myostatin (MSTN) (P = 0.002) had a significant decrease. However, there was no significant difference in ASMM/m2 (P = 0.527), SMM/m2 (P = 0.621), or Body fat mass (P = 0.433) within or between groups. In addition, the TRX Suspension Training had a significant effect on the functional tests and improved gait speed (P = 0.037), chair stand (P = 0.016), and TUG (P = 0.016) as well as Handgrip strength (P = 0.035).

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the efficacy of TRX Suspension Training in enhancing the serum levels of muscle growth factors and functional capacities among elderly individuals with sarcopenia. Therefore, considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this protocol can prove beneficial for this demographic group.

Trial registry

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20230727058944N1, prospectively registered 20-09-2023,https://en.irct.ir/trial/71635
Gender differences in online abuse: the case of Dutch politicians
Authors: van der Vegt Isabelle
Published: February 2024

Online abuse and threats towards politicians have become a significant concern in the Netherlands, like in many other countries across the world. This paper analyses gender differences in abuse received by Dutch politicians on X (formerly Twitter), while taking into account the possible additional impact of ethnic minority status. All tweets directed at party leaders throughout the entire year of 2022 were collected. The effect of gender and ethnic minority status were estimated for six different linguistic measures of abuse, namely, toxicity, severe toxicity, identity attacks, profanity, insults, and threats. Contrary to expectations, tweets directed at male politicians scored higher on all forms of abuse. Significant interaction effects between gender and ethnic minority status were found for a number of abuse measures. Tweets directed at ethnic minority female politicians scored higher on severe toxicity, identity attacks, and profanity, compared to those directed at ethnic majority female politicians. Importantly, female ethnic minority politicians received the highest levels of threats compared to all groups. Given that online abuse and threats are reported to have a negative effect on political participation and retention, these results are particularly worrying.
Time-shifted expression of acetoclastic and methylotrophic methanogenesis by a single Methanosarcina genomospecies predominates the methanogen dynamics in Philippine rice field soil
Authors: Li Xin , Bei Qicheng , Rabiei Nematabad Mehrdad , Peng Jingjing , Liesack Werner
Published: February 2024

Background

The final step in the anaerobic decomposition of biopolymers is methanogenesis. Rice field soils are a major anthropogenic source of methane, with straw commonly used as a fertilizer in rice farming. Here, we aimed to decipher the structural and functional responses of the methanogenic community to rice straw addition during an extended anoxic incubation (120 days) of Philippine paddy soil. The research combined process measurements, quantitative real-time PCR and RT-PCR of particular biomarkers (16S rRNA, mcrA), and meta-omics (environmental genomics and transcriptomics).

Results

The analysis methods collectively revealed two major bacterial and methanogenic activity phases: early (days 7 to 21) and late (days 28 to 60) community responses, separated by a significant transient decline in microbial gene and transcript abundances and CH4 production rate. The two methanogenic activity phases corresponded to the greatest rRNA and mRNA abundances of the Methanosarcinaceae but differed in the methanogenic pathways expressed. While three genetically distinct Methanosarcina populations contributed to acetoclastic methanogenesis during the early activity phase, the late activity phase was defined by methylotrophic methanogenesis performed by a single Methanosarcina genomospecies. Closely related to Methanosarcina sp. MSH10X1, mapping of environmental transcripts onto metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and population-specific reference genomes revealed this genomospecies as the key player in acetoclastic and methylotrophic methanogenesis. The anaerobic food web was driven by a complex bacterial community, with Geobacteraceae and Peptococcaceae being putative candidates for a functional interplay with Methanosarcina. Members of the Methanocellaceae were the key players in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, while the acetoclastic activity of Methanotrichaceae members was detectable only during the very late community response.

Conclusions

The predominant but time-shifted expression of acetoclastic and methylotrophic methanogenesis by a single Methanosarcina genomospecies represents a novel finding that expands our hitherto knowledge of the methanogenic pathways being highly expressed in paddy soils.
Development and application of emotion recognition technology — a systematic literature review
Authors: Guo Runfang , Guo Hongfei , Wang Liwen , Chen Mengmeng , Yang Dong , Li Bin
Published: February 2024

Background

There is a mutual influence between emotions and diseases. Thus, the subject of emotions has gained increasing attention.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review of the developments in emotion recognition technology over the past decade. This review aimed to gain insights into the trends and real-world effects of emotion recognition technology by examining its practical applications in different settings, including hospitals and home environments.

Methods

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines and included a search of 4 electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore, to identify eligible studies published between 2013 and 2023. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) criteria. The key information from the studies, including the study populations, application scenarios, and technological methods employed, was summarized and analyzed.

Results

In a systematic literature review of the 44 studies that we analyzed the development and impact of emotion recognition technology in the field of medicine from three distinct perspectives: “application scenarios,” “techniques of multiple modalities,” and “clinical applications.” The following three impacts were identified: (i) The advancement of emotion recognition technology has facilitated remote emotion recognition and treatment in hospital and home environments by healthcare professionals. (ii) There has been a shift from traditional subjective emotion assessment methods to multimodal emotion recognition methods that are grounded in objective physiological signals. This technological progress is expected to enhance the accuracy of medical diagnosis. (iii) The evolving relationship between emotions and disease throughout diagnosis, intervention, and treatment processes holds clinical significance for real-time emotion monitoring.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the integration of emotion recognition technology with intelligent devices has led to the development of application systems and models, which provide technological support for the recognition of and interventions for emotions. However, the continuous recognition of emotional changes in dynamic or complex environments will be a focal point of future research.
Purchaser, firearm, and retailer characteristics associated with crime gun recovery: a longitudinal analysis of firearms sold in California from 1996 to 2021
Authors: Robinson Sonia L. , McCort Christopher D. , Smirniotis Colette , Wintemute Garen J. , Laqueur Hannah S.
Published: February 2024

Background

Firearm violence is a major cause of death and injury in the United States. Tracking the movement of firearms from legal purchase to use in crimes can help inform prevention of firearm injuries and deaths. The last state-wide studies analyzing crime gun recoveries used data from over 20 years ago; thus, an update is needed.

Methods

We used data for 5,247,348 handgun and 2,868,713 long gun transactions and law enforcement recoveries from California crime gun recovery (2010–2021) and California’s Dealer Records of Sales records. Covariates included characteristics of dealership sales, firearms and their transactions, and purchaser’s demographic characteristics, purchasing history, criminal history (from firearm purchaser criminal history records), and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Analyses for handguns and long guns was conducted separately. In multivariable analysis, we included correlates into a Cox proportional hazard model accounting for left truncation and clustering between the same firearm, purchaser, dealerships, and geographic location. Covariates that remained significant (P < 0.05) were retained. For handguns, we evaluated associations of violent and weapons crimes separately. In supplementary analyses, we examined interactions by purchasers’ race and ethnicity.

Results

In total, 38,441 handguns (0.80%) and 6,806 long guns (0.24%) were recovered in crimes. A firearm dealer’s sales volume, percent of transactions that were denials, pawns, pawn redemptions, and firearms that became crime guns were each positively associated with firearm recovery in crime. Handguns that were inexpensive, larger caliber, and that had been reported lost or stolen were positively associated with recovery in crimes. Purchaser characteristics associated with crime gun recovery included: being younger, female, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander, or other race/ethnicity (vs white), having previous arrests, living in close proximity to the firearm dealership, and living in a more socially vulnerable census tract. Associations with race and ethnicity were modified by previous infraction-only arrests.

Conclusions

This study confirms that many previously studied correlates of firearm recovery are still relevant today. We were able to expand on previous research by examining novel associations including purchasers’ criminal history and previous firearm transaction history. These results provide evidence that can be used to disrupt firearm use in crimes.
Wearable textile antennas: investigation on material variants, fabrication methods, design and application
Authors: Marterer Verena , Radouchová Michaela , Soukup Radek , Hipp Susanne , Blecha Tomáš
Published: February 2024

With the ongoing miniaturization of wireless devices, the importance of wearable textiles in the antenna segment has increased significantly in recent years. Due to the widespread utilization of wireless body sensor networks for healthcare and ubiquitous applications, the design of wearable antennas offers the possibility of comprehensive monitoring, communication, and energy harvesting and storage. This article reviews a number of properties and benefits to realize comprehensive background information and application ideas for the development of lightweight, compact and low-cost wearable patch antennas. Furthermore, problems and challenges that arise are addressed. Since both electromagnetic and mechanical specifications must be fulfilled, textile and flexible antennas require an appropriate trade-off between materials, antenna topologies, and fabrication methods—depending on the intended application and environmental factors. This overview covers each of the above issues, highlighting research to date while correlating antenna topology, feeding techniques, textile materials, and contacting options for the defined application of wearable planar patch antennas.
Identification and functional characterisation of a locus for target site integration in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Darino Martin , Urban Martin , Kaur Navneet , Machado Wood Ana , Grimwade-Mann Mike , Smith Dan , Beacham Andrew , Hammond-Kosack Kim
Published: February 2024

Background

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a destructive floral disease of different cereal crops. The Ascomycete fungus Fusariumgraminearum (Fg) is one of the main causal agents of FHB in wheat and barley. The role(s) in virulence of Fg genes include genetic studies that involve the transformation of the fungus with different expression cassettes. We have observed in several studies where Fg genes functions were characterised that integration of expression cassettes occurred randomly. Random insertion of a cassette may disrupt gene expression and/or protein functions and hence the overall conclusion of the study. Target site integration (TSI) is an approach that consists of identifying a chromosomal region where the cassette can be inserted. The identification of a suitable locus for TSI in Fg would avert the potential risks of ectopic integration.

Results

Here, we identified a highly conserved intergenic region on chromosome 1 suitable for TSI. We named this intergenic region TSI locus 1. We developed an efficient cloning vector system based on the Golden Gate method to clone different expression cassettes for use in combination with TSI locus 1. We present evidence that integrations in the TSI locus 1 affects neither fungal virulence nor fungal growth under different stress conditions. Integrations at the TSI locus 1 resulted in the expression of different gene fusions. In addition, the activities of Fg native promoters were not altered by integration into the TSI locus 1. We have developed a bespoke bioinformatic pipeline to analyse the existence of ectopic integrations, cassette truncations and tandem insertions of the cassette that may occurred during the transformation process. Finally, we established a protocol to study protein secretion in wheat coleoptiles using confocal microscopy and the TSI locus 1.

Conclusion

The TSI locus 1 can be used in Fg and potentially other cereal infecting Fusarium species for diverse studies including promoter activity analysis, protein secretion, protein localisation studies and gene complementation. The bespoke bioinformatic pipeline developed in this work together with PCR amplification of the insert could be an alternative to Southern blotting, the gold standard technique used to identify ectopic integrations, cassette truncations and tandem insertions in fungal transformation.
Optimized systems of multi-layer perceptron predictive model for estimating pile-bearing capacity
Authors: Shen Yuanke
Published: February 2024

The primary goal of this research is to leverage the advancements in machine learning techniques to forecast the bearing capacity of piles effectively. Accurately predicting load-bearing capability is an indispensable aspect in the field of substructure engineering. It is worth noting that determining load-bearing capability via in-place burden tests is a resource-intensive and labor-intensive process. This study presents a pragmatic soft computing methodology to tackle the aforementioned challenge, employing a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) for the estimation of load-bearing capacity. The dataset employed in this research encompasses a multitude of field-based pile load tests, with a meticulous selection of the most impactful factors influencing pile-bearing capacity as input variables. For a comprehensive comparative analysis, genetic algorithm-based optimizers (Crystal Structure Algorithm (CSA) and Fox Optimization (FOX)) were incorporated with MLP, leading to the development of hybrid models referred to as MLFO and MLSC, both structured with three layers. The performance of these models was rigorously evaluated using five key performance indices. The findings indicated a consistent superiority of MLFO over MLSC across all three layers. Remarkably, MLFO exhibited exceptional performance in the second layer (MLFO (2)), boasting an impressive R2 value of 0.992, an RMSE of 33.470, and a minimal SI value of 0.031. On the other hand, MLCS (1) registered the lowest accuracy in predicting the process with the least R2 value related to the validation phase of the model with 0.953. Taken together, these results affirm that the optimized MLP model stands as a valuable and practical tool for accurately estimating pile-bearing capacity in civil engineering applications.
Incentive approaches for cloud computing: challenges and solutions
Authors: Yunlong Fan , Jie Luo
Published: February 2024

Cloud computing enables highly configurable and reliable computing resources on a rentable per-use scheme, facilitating quick and cost-effective provisioning of large-scale applications. Thanks to the fast-paced evolution of cutting-edge technologies and the rapid spread of cloud-based solutions, the cloud computing ecosystem is now part of our everyday lives. Nevertheless, cloud computing relies on highly sophisticated data centers comprising energy-consuming servers and equipment that require much energy. Stimulating cloud services for active participation and network contributions presents several challenges. Strategies based on artificial intelligence (AI), game theory, and blockchain have great potential to create an economically sustainable cloud ecosystem. This paper explores strategies grounded in AI, game theory, and blockchain to foster an economically sustainable cloud ecosystem. Informed by a survey study, our research delves into incentive approaches within cloud computing. Theoretical foundations, motivations, and enabling techniques are comprehensively examined to provide valuable insights for a broad audience. The primary contributions of this work lie in elucidating the application of AI, game theory, and blockchain to address challenges in incentivizing cloud services, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient cloud computing landscape.
Unquiet Qing: The Course of Lovesickness in the Modernization of Chinese Literature
Authors: Ziyun Liu , Wang Yuefan
Published: February 2024

Lovesickness (xiangsi bing), a disease of qing (sentiment, passion, feeling, desire, and love), emerged as a literary topos in China's medieval lyrical tradition and was developed through late imperial drama and fiction. This article examines narratives of lovesickness in popular literature—both fiction and drama—from the Song (960–1279) to the Qing (1644–1912), including some texts rarely discussed in English scholarship from the perspective of love writing. With thorough documentation, we present two classic plot patterns of the literary malady: one involving mutual affection of separated lovers, the other the one-sided passion, whether of unrequited (usually male) love or of one part of a couple longing for reunion. We argue that the notorious lovelorn figures in late Ming (sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) legal cases and Qing scholar-beauty xiaoshuo novels made lovesickness a target for criticism by literati and prompted reflection and revision of traditional narratives. With the modernization and westernization of Chinese literature, this classical literary malady was finally “cured.” The disappearance of lovesickness reflects the gradual replacement of classical ways of thinking with a modern cognitive style and, simultaneously, the transition of Chinese literature from classical to modern.
On Translating Mountains and Seas: A Review Essay
Authors: Van Auken Newell Ann
Published: February 2024

Translating an ancient work entails not only rewriting a work in a new language but also reorienting it for a contemporary audience. The Shanhai jing 山海經 is a particularly interesting case because of the rich paratextual tradition associated with it, including both commentary and illustrations; at the same time, its fantastical content poses special challenges to translators. Topics of particular concern in this review are the use of paratextual elements, excerpting, and titles to reshape and present the text, and the ways in which various translators have used (or eschewed) transliteration and other strategies to convey the strangeness of the imaginary places and fantastical beings of the Shanhai jing. This essay engages in a retrospective review of four Anglophone translations of the Shanhai jing and also reviews two recent publications, a modern Chinese rendition of the Shanhai jing and a translation of this work.
The Philosophical Proposition “A Piercing Glance Elevates the Mind” and the Buddhist Thought in Zong Bing's “Preface to the Painting of Landscape”
Authors: Cai Zong-Qi , Roddy Stephen
Published: February 2024

“A Piercing Glance Elevates the Mind” is a philosophical proposition offered by Zhou Yong (?–493) in his debate with Zhang Rong (444–497) over the similarities and differences between Daoism and Buddhism. The appearance of this previously unknown proposition shows that as early as the Liu-Song dynasty (420–479) writers already went beyond the limitations of the native Chinese conception of “image” (xiang) and consciously applied Buddhist concepts to come to new understandings of the objects, methods, and effects of the visual sense and to probe their transcendental religious significance. Utilizing this proposition as a framework of analysis, this article rereads Zong Bing's (375–443) “Preface to the Painting of Landscape” in terms of the visual sense, to show how the terms, concepts, propositions, and discourse of the text's five sections form a logically coherent, fully systematic Buddhist exposition on painting. Support for the validity of Buddhist interpretations of all its terms and concepts is provided by intertextual readings of Zong Bing's “Elucidating Buddhism” and the poetry and prose by the Buddhist monks of Mt. Lu. We also demonstrate how Zong's consistently Buddhist theory of painting served as a firm foundation over which the Tang poet Wang Changling (698–757) built his Buddhist theory of the world of physical objects (wujing shuo).
Implementation of Rules and Routines in Physical Education Teaching and Learning in China
Authors: Zhang Huimin
Published: February 2024

Physical education is a significant aspect of the Chinese education system. Moreover, on a regular basis, physical education is an integral part of the Chinese education system. Therefore, the following study looks into different rules and routines for physical education teaching and learning in China. Most of the rules and regulations are formed based on guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education. Therefore, a systematic discussion regarding physical education training in China is conducted in the analysis. The significance of physical education (PE) in the Chinese education system cannot be overstated. It serves a dual purpose by not only promoting physical fitness but also fostering holistic personal development. PE contributes to the physical well-being of students, helping them lead healthier lives, but it also instills essential life skills like teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. In China, the Ministry of Education, as the overarching authority on educational matters, plays a pivotal role in shaping the rules and routines governing physical education. These rules encompass a wide array of aspects related to the curriculum, including the allocation of resources, curriculum design, assessment, and teaching methodologies. By adhering to these regulations, educational institutions across the country can ensure a standardized and comprehensive approach to physical education.
Numerical Simulation and Optimal Control of Composite Nonlinear Mechanical Parts Casting Process
Authors: Li Huan , Wang Peng
Published: February 2024

In order to understand the numerical simulation and optimal control of the casting process of Machine element, the author proposed a study based on the numerical simulation and optimal control of the casting process of composite Machine element. Firstly, the author analyzed the structural characteristics of composite Machine element, introduced them in detail, and studied their casting technology in combination with the actual situation. Secondly, the casting process of composite Machine element was simulated by using numerical simulation method, and the temperature field and flow field in the casting filling and solidification process were analyzed. Finally, selecting square cylinders with different wall thicknesses as typical components, the scheme design of traditional single casting process and multi material composite casting process based on dieless casting composite forming technology were carried out. Finite element numerical simulation and experimental research were conducted on the two processes, respectively. The results indicate that: The casting obtained by the multi material composite casting process almost solidifies simultaneously around 200 seconds later, and the graphite morphology around the casting is Type A, with a length of about 100 um, with small differences and uniform distribution; The minimum difference in tensile strength around the casting is about 3.8%, and the maximum increase in tensile strength value is 21%. This research achievement can provide technical reference for high-performance and high-quality casting of complex iron castings. In order to improve the casting quality, the author optimized the casting process of composite Machine element by numerical simulation.
Lightweight Saliency Target Intelligent Detection based on Multi-scale Feature Adaptive Fusion
Authors: Zhu Muqing
Published: February 2024

In order to solve the problems of small targets, variable shooting angles, and heights in drone images, the author proposes an adaptive drone target intelligent detection algorithm based on multi-scale feature fusion. The results show that after adding a deconvolution cascade structure to the network, mAP increased by about 2.5 percentage points and AP$^{50}$ increased by about 3 percentage points. Compared with Method 3, Method 4 uses GA-RPN instead of RPN, and when the IOU is 75, the AP increases by 3.5 percentage points, reflecting that the target prediction candidate boxes generated using semantic features adaptively match better than the manually designed target candidate boxes. This indicates that the proposed target detection framework has better classification ability and higher frame regression accuracy. Multi scale adaptive candidate regions are used to generate fused features of different scales generated by the network, weighted fused multi-scale features are used for target prediction, and semantic features are used to guide the network to adaptively generate target candidate frames, greatly enhancing the feature expression ability of various targets and improving the detection accuracy of aerial targets.
Smart Farming Using the Big Data-Driven Approach for Sustainable Agriculture with IOT
Authors: Wang Buyu
Published: February 2024

The study showcases the process of deep learning operated in agriculture, including Deep IoT, which makes the procedure easier using the deep neural system. The use of the IoT in the agrarian sectors makes the evolution of firms more effective. The application of the IoT detector supports the making of grade derivatives in the husbandry department. Marketing of crop finance is two other operations of smart agriculture that help for better harvest farming. Through the IoT technology in the farming industry, agriculturalists can get notifications about the temperature and climate. The method needs professional and qualified employees in the division to properly monitor the system and the methods.
The submission of the proper nourishment for the proper crop increases the life duration of the harvest and makes the crop free from menace. The velocity of the manufacture of undeveloped items can also be improved by using the IoT. The function of the BDA and IoT has enlarged for the healthier construction of farming items. The foreword of elegant farming in the rural industry requires more capable and qualified trainers to give the personnel proper teaching. The urbanization of the farming process and the use of elegant and modern technology are well-designed in the time of "Agriculture 3.0".
VisiSense: A Comprehensive IOT-based Assistive Technology System for Enhanced Navigation Support for the Visually Impaired
Authors: Pydala Bhasha , Kumar T. Pavan , Baseer K. Khaja
Published: February 2024

The field of visually impaired assistive technology looks for novel approaches to enhance independence and navigation. In this field, systems have to reliably identify and transmit environmental data in order to facilitate visually impaired users' safe and effective navigation. Developing a sophisticated framework for assistive technology that significantly enhances visually impaired navigation is the goal of this research. Make object detection and environmental awareness more efficient, dependable, and intuitive. This study introduces VISISENSE, "A Comprehensive IoT-Based Assistive Technology System for Enhanced Navigation Support for the Visually Impaired." VISISENSE is an IoT-based system with multiple components that enhances object detection. For primary environmental sensing, a handstick with implant sensors, a visual capture and transmission unit for processing visual data, and edge computing for object detection and classification are used. The system makes use of the R-CNN global computer vision model hosted on a cloud server, Mobinet computer vision models, and Logistic Regression with Iterative Learning. VISISENSE's effectiveness is demonstrated by a performance analysis of its object detection accuracy, processing speed, resource utilization, energy consumption, latency, and false positive rate. In all of these categories, VISISENSE performs better than Smart Stick and Smart Navigation. The data includes the fastest processing time of 17 ms, the most efficient resource utilization of 41%, and object detection accuracy of up to 99% at 2 Mbps load. Across all load conditions, VISISENSE has the lowest false positive rate, energy consumption, and latency. The VISISENSE assistive technology system is developed for the visually impaired. Its excellent object detection and navigation accuracy, speed, and efficiency enhance user experience and hold the potential to increase the independence and quality of life for visually impaired people. This research contributes to a significant advancement in assistive devices-smart, responsive technologies for the visually impaired.
Security Enabled New Term Weight Measure Technique with Data Driven for Next Generation Mobile Computing Networks
Authors: Budati Anil Kumar , Islam Shayla , Shaik Mohammad Rafee , Chitteti Chengamma , Narayana T. Lakshmi
Published: February 2024

In the field of ASIC and FPGA, Machine Learning (ML) techniques play a major role and become predominant for accurate results for different applications like big data analysis and automotive electronics, and driverless vehicles which are required speed and power savings. Due to increasing the demand for higher accuracy, low power, low area consumption, and higher throughput for the complexity of the designs in the latest technology, the proposed system is fulfilling these demands in ASIC and FPGA domains, reconfigurable hardware architecture has been proposed it consists of an ML-based Support Vector Machine (SVM), high-speed AHB protocol and Floating point (FP) operations and also the system has the flexibility to communicate with I2C and I2S protocols. In order to increase throughput with minimal latency, the proposed architecture with AHB protocol and AHB to APB bridge is incorporated between the fabric dynamically reconfigurable multi-processor (FDPM) and peripherals along with security algorithms using SHA-256bits and AES. In order to perform ML-based applications, the proposed system is incorporated double-precision floating point (DPFP) arithmetic operations. The overall proposed architecture is developed in Verilog HDL and quality checking using the LINT tool and Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) using Spyglass tool and synthesized using DC compiler for ASIC and Vivado Design Suite 2018.1 for FPGA implementation and verification. The entire design is interfaced with the Zynq processor and SDK tool to verify data transfer between hardware and software. The obtained results show the generated custom accelerator is able to compute any complex ML classifiers for a larger amount of data. The obtained results are compared with existing state-of-art results and found that 18 % improvement in throughput, a 21 % improvement in power consumption savings, and a 34 % reduction in latency.
Detection and Prevention of Cyber Defense Attacks using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Shang Yongqiang
Published: February 2024

Recent advancements in computing power, memory capacities, and connectivity have led to a corresponding surge in the utilization of big data, online platforms' prevalence, and machine learning's sophistication. Concerns regarding safety and the need for state-of-the-art security tools and methods to counter evolving cybercrime are amplified by the swift digitization of the world. This study investigates defensive and offensive applications of machine learning in cybersecurity. Additionally, it explores potential strategies to mitigate cyberattacks on machine learning models. The focus is on how machine learning facilitates cyberattacks, including developing intelligent botnets, advanced phishing using spear techniques, and deploying stealthy malware. Furthermore, the paper highlights the significance of artificial intelligence in digital safety, emphasizing its role in malware analysis, network vulnerability assessment, and threat prediction.
Wprowadzenie
Authors: Stopińska-Pająk Agnieszka
Published: February 2024

Współczesny nam świat jest niezwykle zróżnicowany, zmienny, patchworkowy, w którym przenikają się zjawiska społeczne, polityczne, kulturowe i inne z osobistymi wydarzeniami i doświadczeniami, wręcz narzucającymi podejmowane wybory i aktywności. Człowiek dorosły XXI wieku jest zagubiony, niepewny, wyobcowany, poszukujący stałych punktów, drogowskazów, jak pisał Zygmunt Bauman (2006; 2007). Dawne postrzeganie własnej dorosłości staje się balastem, przeszkodą. Problem ten dostrzeżony przez badaczy już w XX wieku, pokazany przez J.W. Botkin, M. Elmandjra, M. Malitza (1982), dzisiaj jest szczególnie aktualny. Pedagodzy, andragodzy, edukatorzy ludzi dorosłych, poprzez badania aktywności edukacyjnych dorosłych, różnorodnych sposobów i form uczenia się dorosłych, mają dostarczać wiedzy, mają zadanie pomagać dorosłym w kształtowaniu nowej definicji własnej dorosłości, nowej narracji dorosłości i edukacji w dorosłości, kształtować świadomość innego patrzenia na swoje życie w dłuższej perspektywie. Równocześnie inspirować do nabywania nowych kompetencji, w tym zwłaszcza biograficznych, rozbudzania ciekawości dla nowych form życia (Scott, Gratton, 2023). Teksty zamieszczone w aktualnym numerze Edukacji Dorosłych, choć pozornie różne, łączy jednak podejmowanie aktualnych dla edukacji dorosłych wyzwań.