bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing a competency scale for selecting and assessing psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area colleges: a pilot study in Guizhou Province, China
Authors: Guo Junru , Chen Wei , Liu Meilan , Jiang Lirong , Chen Yurong , Zhao Xiaoqing , Peng Dan , Jiang Xuefeng , Wang Li , Wang Dongmei
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Psychological peer counselors play a crucial role in the mental health education of college students, especially in ethnic regions. The study zeroes in on developing a tool for selecting and assessing psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area colleges and universities, using Guizhou Province as a case study.

Materials and methods

Focusing on psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area higher education institutions, this study amalgamates open-ended questionnaire surveys, interviews, and literature analysis to construct a competency characteristics questionnaire. The questionnaire underwent pretesting with 450 psychological peer counselors in colleges and universities, involving entry analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Subsequently, it was administered formally to 570 psychological peer counselors for confirmatory factor analysis, coupled with internal consistency reliability tests at the empirical validity level. A subset of 230 psychological peer counselors was retested after three-month intervals. The Interpersonal Reaction Coefficient Scale (IRC-C) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were employed for validity tests.

Results

The questionnaire consists of 21 items across four factors—role identity, communication sensitivity, personal traits, and professional ethic—cumulatively explaining 66.26% of the variance. The validated factor analyses demonstrated a good model fit (X2/df = 2.67, SRMR = 0.04, TLI/NNFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.05, AIC = 21960.17, BIC = 22261.10). The questionnaire’s total and factor scores correlated positively with the total scores of the IRC-C/GSES (r = 0.18–0.64; all p < 0.01). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the total questionnaire and individual factors ranged from 0.73 to 0.95, retest reliability from 0.64 to 0.92, and split-half reliabilities from 0.71 to 0.94.

Conclusion

The Competency Scale for Psychological Peer Counselors in Colleges of Ethnic Areas demonstrates robust reliability and validity, making it a reliable tool for future screening of psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area colleges and universities.
Influence of interoception and body movement on the rubber hand illusion
Authors: Kaneno Yoshitaka , Pasqualotto Achille , Ashida Hiroshi
Published: December 2024

Rubber hand illusion (RHI) refers to the illusory sense of body ownership of a fake hand, which is induced by synchronous visuotactile stimulation to the real and fake hands. A negative correlation was reported between the cardiac interoception and the strength of RHI, but the subsequent studies have been unsuccessful in replicating it. On the other hand, voluntary action is suggested to link interoception and the sense of body ownership in different situations. If so, moving RHI, induced by the active or the passive finger tapping while observing a fake hand, might reveal the relationship more clearly. The measurement of interoception has been another issue. We, therefore, examined the relationship between the moving RHI and two measures of interoception: interoceptive accuracy (IAcc) measured by the conventional heartbeat counting task and interoceptive sensibility (IS) measured using a questionnaire. For the classical visuotactile RHI, our results supported the lack of association between the interoception measures and RHI. For the moving RHI, a stronger sense of body ownership was induced for participants with higher IS regardless of active or passive movement, and a stronger sense of agency was caused by active than passive movement only for those with lower IAcc. These results reveal the dynamic links between the interoception and the bodily senses. The results also suggest that multiple dimensions of interoception affect the bodily senses differently.
Boredom and curiosity: the hunger and the appetite for information
Authors: Seiler Johannes P.-H. , Dan Ohad
Published: December 2024

Boredom and curiosity are common everyday states that drive individuals to seek information. Due to their functional relatedness, it is not trivial to distinguish whether an action, for instance in the context of a behavioral experiment, is driven by boredom or curiosity. Are the two constructs opposite poles of the same cognitive mechanism, or distinct states? How do they interact? Can they co-exist and complement each other? Here, we systematically review similarities and dissimilarities of boredom and curiosity with respect to their subjective experience, functional role, and neurocognitive implementation. We highlight the usefulness of Information Theory for formalizing information-seeking in the context of both states and provide guidelines for their experimental investigation. Our emerging view is that despite their distinction on an experiential level, boredom and curiosity are closely related on a functional level, providing complementary drives on information-seeking: boredom, similar to hunger, arises from a lack of information and drives individuals to avoid contexts with low information yield, whereas curiosity constitutes a mechanism similar to appetite, pulling individuals toward specific sources of information. We discuss predictions arising from this perspective, concluding that boredom and curiosity are independent, but coalesce to optimize behavior in environments providing varying levels of information.
Contextual and psychosocial factors associated with latrine utilization in rural communities in Ethiopia
Authors: Bamlaku Golla Eyasu , Geremew Habtamu , Abate Alegntaw , Ahmed Ali Mohammed , Simegn Mulat Belay , Wondie Smegnew Gichew , Kumbi Hawi , Kuse Samuel Abdisa
Published: December 2024

Background

Although proper latrine utilization is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of infection, it remains a challenge in the majority of rural communities in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Studies have demonstrated the link between individual behavior and latrine use, but there is a paucity of evidence on individual risk perception, perceived social pressure norms, social identity, and perceived ability, which plays an indubitable role in health and behavior change, especially in rural communities.

Objective

This study aimed to identify contextual and psychosocial factors associated with latrine utilization among rural communities in Lomabosa district, Ethiopia.

Methods

A rural community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2022 among rural households (HHs) in Lomabosa district, Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling method was used to select participant households. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire via face-to-face interviews and on-the-spot observations. Stata version 14.1 software was used for statistical analysis. A binary logistic regression model was used to run the bivariable and multivariable analysis of the data. Variables with p < 0.25 at bivariable logistic regression analysis were entered into the multivariable analysis. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of the association, and the statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05.

Results

Of the 682 computed sample sizes, 665 households participated in this study with a response rate of 97%. Accordingly, our analysis found that 67% (95% CI, 63.7–70.5) of households utilize their latrine properly. Educational status (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.01–2.08), wealth index (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.23–3.58), perceived susceptibility (AOR 3.2; 95% CI: 1.26–5.14), injunctive norm (AOR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.13–3.18), and perceived ability (AOR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.04–3.79) were identified as contextual and psychosocial factors associated with latrine utilization.

Conclusion and recommendations

This study found that educational status, wealth index, perceived susceptibility, injunctive norm, and perceived ability were the contextual and psychosocial factors associated with latrine utilization. Therefore, information intervention for the low perception of health risk, persuasive and normative interventions for changing norm factors, and infrastructural and other ability support for ability factors should be addressed.
Virtual friendly visitor program: combatting loneliness in community dwelling older adults
Authors: Gordon Barbara A. , Miceli Chelsea B. , Yankeelov Pamela A. , Cotton Samantha G. , Faul Anna C.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Loneliness is a critical public health issue affecting older adults, with significant impacts on their mental and physical health, including increased risks of depression, cognitive decline, and higher mortality rates, necessitating distinct approaches for each condition given their unique implications and the exacerbation of these issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examine the implementation and outcomes of a Friendly Visitor Program (FVP) designed to mitigate loneliness among older adults. The program involved social work student interns providing virtual visits to older adults using computers and tablets, with the goal of enhancing social interaction and support.

Methods

The study utilized a qualitative narrative design for process evaluation and a longitudinal non-experimental, prospective research design for outcome evaluation, employing a three-level cross-classified longitudinal growth model to assess changes in loneliness among VFVP participants while also testing potential predictors of these changes.

Results

Findings indicated that the program was associated with reduced loneliness over time. Younger and White participants performed better in the program than older participants from other races and ethnicity. Satisfaction with visits and willingness to recommend the program were significant predictors of reduced loneliness. Unexpectedly, greater comfort with technology correlated with increased loneliness, suggesting overreliance on digital interactions may not substitute for in-person contact. Furthermore, improved social networks was associated with reduced loneliness, highlighting the importance of strong social networks.

Discussion

The study underscores the potential of friendly visitor interventions in addressing the challenges of lonely older adults and provides insights for optimizing such programs in the future.
Evaluation and analysis of respiratory infectious disease prevention behaviors in older adults
Authors: Yu Liliang , Liu Min , Tan Qing , Wang Dan , Chen Xiaoyun , Zhao Mingming , Long Jiang , Fan Mingyue , Zheng Daikun
Published: December 2024

Background

Respiratory infectious diseases (RIDs) are a global public health problem, characterized by strong infectivity, high transmissibility, and a high incidence in the population. This study aimed to explore RID prevention behaviors among older adults and analyze their influencing factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine RID prevention behaviors among 2219 Chinese older adults. Analysis of variance and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare behaviors among subjects with different characteristics. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between knowledge, skills, and behavior, and a generalized linear model was used for multi-factor analysis.

Results

The participants in this questionnaire survey were predominantly older adults individuals aged 65–70 years (45.65%), with no more than a primary school educational level (86.70%). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant associations between age, education, place of residence, living condition, marital status, annual income in the past year, type of medical insurance, health status, smoking status, drinking status, weekly exercise durations, and sleep status in older adults and their RID prevention behavior. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a moderate correlation between knowledge, skills, and behavioral scores. Multivariate analysis identified place of residence, annual income, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, exercise frequency, knowledge level, and skill level as influential factors for behaviors related to the prevention and control of RID in older adults.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the importance of a healthy lifestyle in RID prevention among older adults, especially in terms of smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise, and provide empirical evidence for the development of health promotion programs for older adults people, particularly in rural areas.
Increased physical activity frequency in primary school adolescents is related to reduced risk of self-reported adverse mental health symptoms
Authors: Li Chunmei , Han Xiong-Zhe
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The sedentary lifestyle and mental health issues of primary school students are major public health issues in China and globally. Some studies have shown that regular physical activity is beneficial to health, but there are few epidemiological investigations on the relationship between physical activity and psychological problems. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between physical activity and mental health.

Materials and methods

We used data from our study, which was based on the Yanbian University School of Physical Education health survey of primary education, in which 822 elementary school students in grades 4–6 participated. Physical activity is evaluated through three questions (intensity, frequency, and duration), and mental health issues are evaluated through SPSS.

Results

In our study, 488 primary school students (200 males and 288 females) participated and completed self-reported data on physical activity and mental health variables. The findings revealed that a higher frequency of physical activity was significantly associated with decreased risks of various mental health symptoms. Specifically, students who reported a higher frequency of physical activity exhibited a lower risk of depressive symptoms (RR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14–0.71, p < 0.05), anxiety (RR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.18–0.67, p < 0.05), low self-esteem (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26–0.90, p < 0.05), and life dissatisfaction (RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.35–0.96, p < 0.05). The risk of somatic complaints reporting was slightly lesser if the prevalence of physical activity reported at screening was higher (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.50–1.76), although this result was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). These findings highlight the importance of regular physical activity in promoting mental health among primary school students.

Conclusion

Given the dose–response relationship between poor mental health and lack of physical activity, it is necessary to actively promote primary school students to participate more actively in physical activities.
Pneumothorax detection and segmentation from chest X-ray radiographs using a patch-based fully convolutional encoder-decoder network
Authors: Dumbrique Jakov Ivan S. , Hernandez Reynan B. , Cruz Juan Miguel L. , Pagdanganan Ryan M. , Naval Prospero C.
Published: December 2024

Pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition characterized by air accumulation in the pleural cavity, requires early and accurate detection for optimal patient outcomes. Chest X-ray radiographs are a common diagnostic tool due to their speed and affordability. However, detecting pneumothorax can be challenging for radiologists because the sole visual indicator is often a thin displaced pleural line. This research explores deep learning techniques to automate and improve the detection and segmentation of pneumothorax from chest X-ray radiographs. We propose a novel architecture that combines the advantages of fully convolutional neural networks (FCNNs) and Vision Transformers (ViTs) while using only convolutional modules to avoid the quadratic complexity of ViT’s self-attention mechanism. This architecture utilizes a patch-based encoder-decoder structure with skip connections to effectively combine high-level and low-level features. Compared to prior research and baseline FCNNs, our model demonstrates significantly higher accuracy in detection and segmentation while maintaining computational efficiency. This is evident on two datasets: (1) the SIIM-ACR Pneumothorax Segmentation dataset and (2) a novel dataset we curated from The Medical City, a private hospital in the Philippines. Ablation studies further reveal that using a mixed Tversky and Focal loss function significantly improves performance compared to using solely the Tversky loss. Our findings suggest our model has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in pneumothorax detection, potentially aiding radiologists in clinical settings.
Reasons to move—a cross-sectional study to identify factors promoting regular exercise
Authors: Wambsganz Antonia , Köpl Katharina , Roell Lukas , Fischer Tim , Schwaiger Rebecca , Hasan Alkomiet , Schmitt Andrea , Falkai Peter , Maurus Isabel
Published: December 2024

Regular physical activity can prevent various physical and mental illnesses or improve their prognosis. However, only about half of the German population meets the WHO recommendations for physical activity. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence engagement in regular exercise and could help increase physical activity levels in the general population. To this end, we conducted a cross-sectional study using questionnaire instruments and self-designed items. The research cohort comprised a sample of online-acquired data from 1,119 mentally healthy individuals. Higher regular exercise was associated with higher both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, resilience, internal locus of control, and risk-taking behaviour, as well as higher scores in the personality traits conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Higher regular exercise was also linked to lower external locus of control. Whether participants exercised was also related to external circumstances, such as their financial situation, whether family members frequently exercised during childhood or the availability of sports facilities. Furthermore, participants' preferred exercise environment was found to be different from reality. Despite expressing a preference for outdoor and group exercise, most participants reported exercising alone and indoors. People who exercised regularly during childhood stated higher levels of intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation and resilience. Based on our findings, we suggest that additional low-threshold, low-cost opportunities for physical exercise should be provided in public spaces that lack exercise facilities, as well as in childcare settings with a particular focus on disadvantaged social groups.
The nociceptive withdrawal reflex during spinal analgesia in pigs undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a prospective observational study
Authors: Petrucci Mariafrancesca , Spadavecchia Claudia , Bachmann Kaspar F. , Berger David , Mirra Alessandro , Casoni Daniela
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is still in the focus of research, in which pigs are commonly involved. During VA-ECMO, cardiovascular parameters are artificially manipulated and therefore not reliable indicators of nociception. Nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) thresholds can be a suitable alternative in such a context. This study aimed at recording and comparing NWR thresholds before and after administering spinal analgesia in healthy pigs undergoing VA-ECMO.

Methods

Sixteen pigs were sedated with a mixture of ketamine, midazolam, and methadone; general anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with propofol and fentanyl in continuous rate infusion. Before surgery, ropivacaine 0.75% and morphine (RM) were injected via a spinal catheter (T13-L1). Nociceptive withdrawal reflex thresholds were recorded before RM (baseline) and at 40 min, end of surgery, 240, 300, 360, 420 and 480 min afterward. If after spinal analgesia NWR thresholds increased ≥20% from their baseline values, the increase was deemed clinically relevant. If NWR thresholds decreased at least 20% from their baseline values, ropivacaine alone was injected (rescue analgesia). Thresholds were compared with baseline using ANOVA on Ranks followed by Dunn’s method. At each time point, the number of pigs showing a clinically relevant increase in thresholds, thresholds higher than the maximum stimulation intensity and the need of rescue analgesia, was assessed. Nine animals were included in the final data analysis.

Results

A clinically relevant increase of the thresholds was achieved in all the pigs at 240 min after the injection of RM. A statistically significant increase in NWR thresholds was found at 300 and 360 min (p = 0.009 and 0.048, respectively) compared to baseline. Rescue analgesia was required at 300 (one pig) and 420 (two pigs) and 480 (one pig) minutes.

Discussion and conclusion

Nociceptive withdrawal reflex thresholds increased significantly, both clinically and statistically following spinal injection. Their increase suggests that the combination of spinal morphine and ropivacaine can last on average up to 6 h. Particularly in those scenarios where cardiovascular variables are unreliable, NWR thresholds could be useful for evaluating antinociception following spinal analgesia in pigs.
Bacteriological load in Holstein Friesian cows with dystocia
Authors: Nechifor Florin , Ciornei Ștefan Gregore , Roșca Petru
Published: December 2024

The research took place on a farm in North-Eastern Romania with Holstein Friesian cows aged between 3 and 9 years. Bacteriological investigations were carried out throughout the year 2023, on a total of 35 cows, including 25 multiparous cows and 10 primiparous cows, 23 cows had eutocic parturitions and 12 cows had dystocic parturitions, during the first 3 weeks postpartum. In the case of dystocic parturition, biological samples yielded isolates including 9.3% strains classified as Staphylococcus, 8.1% strains of Escherichia coli, 4.1% strains of Arcanobacterium, and 2.3% strains of Klebsiella. Other bacterial types were identified in lesser proportions. In the case of eutocic parturition, Escherichia coli was most frequently isolated: 18.6% of the isolated bacterial strains, followed by 5.8% Pseudomonas spp., 4.6% Enterococcus spp., 4.6% Streptococcus species, 3.5% Staphylococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp., and 2.3% Arcanobacterium spp. It is noted that on the 7th day of puerperium, the mean value of colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) was 74 × 104 CFU/mL in normal calving cows compared to 29 × 106 CFU/mL in cows with dystocia. The total number of recorded germs increases significantly during the first 14 days postpartum in all cases, higher levels being shown in cows with dystocic calving. For statistical analysis, the independent t-test (p < 0.05) was made by using the SPSS 16 software. The object of the research is the bacteriological load in Holstein Friesian cows depending on the type of eutocic parturition/dystocia.
A triple protein-based ELISA for differential detection of ASFV antibodies
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Zuo Yuzhu , Gu Wenyuan , Zhao Yunhuan , Liu Ying , Fan Jinghui
Published: December 2024

African swine fever (ASF) caused by the ASF virus (ASFV) is a severe and highly contagious viral disease that poses a significant threat to the global pig industry. As no vaccines or effective drugs are available to aid prevention and control, early detection is crucial. The emergence of the low-virulence ASFV strain not expressing CD2v/MGFs (ASFVΔCD2v/ΔMGFs) has been identified domestically and internationally and has even become an epidemic in China, resulting in a complex epidemic. The commercialized ASFV ELISA kits available can detect the presence of ASFV infection in pigs, but they are unable to distinguish wild-type ASFV from gene-deleted strains. The current published ELISA assays can distinguish between the wild-type and CD2v gene-deleted ASFV but cannot differentiate wild-type and MGF505 gene-deleted ASFV or CD2v and MGF505 double-gene deleted ASFV infection, posing new challenges for an effective prevention and control of ASFV. In this study, the ASFV-p30, ASFV-CD2v, and ASFV-MGF505 proteins were expressed using a prokaryotic expression system, and a triple protein-based ELISA antibody detection method based on these proteins was successfully established to effectively differentiate between wild-type ASFV and ASFVΔCD2v and/or ASFVΔMGF505 virus infection. This triple protein-based ELISA showed good analytical specificity without cross-reactivity with antibodies against PRRSV, CSFV, PRV, and PCV2. Moreover, it demonstrates remarkable analytical sensitivity by allowing the identification of clinical samples even at dilutions as high as 1:800. The coefficient of variation the intra-assay and inter-assay were below 5%, indicating strong repeatability and reproducibility. To evaluate the performance of the triple protein-based ELISA, a total of 59 clinical serum samples were detected using the triple protein-based ELISA. The results showed that 22 samples were positive for ASFV, of which 19 were ASFV wild-type, one was ASFVΔCD2v, and two were ASFVΔMGF505. Compared with the commercialized triplex qPCR kit, the triple protein-based ELISA exhibited high diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity. The test accuracy with the commercialized triplex qPCR kit was 98.31% (58/59), and the test accuracy with the commercialized ELISA kit was 96.61% (57/59). These results indicated that the developed triple protein-based ELISA performs well in detection and differentiation. Therefore, it will be useful for the ASFV serological differential diagnosis and epidemiology study.
Phylogeny and divergence time estimation of the subfamily Amphipsyllinae based on the Frontopsylla diqingensis mitogenome
Authors: Pu Ju , Lin Xiaoxia , Dong Wenge
Published: December 2024

Fleas are primarily parasites of small mammals and serve as essential vectors of the transmission of plague. The subfamily Amphipsyllinae (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae) consists of 182 species across 13 genera, widely distributed worldwide. Only two species of Amphipsyllinae have been sequenced for complete mitogenomes to date. It hinders the taxonomy and evolutionary history studies of fleas. In this study, we first sequenced the Frontopsylla diqingensis mitogenome and performed comparative mitogenomic analyses with the two other species (Frontopsylla spadix and Paradoxopsyllus custodis) in Amphipsyllinae available in the NCBI database. The evolutionary process of Amphipsyllinae was comprehensively analyzed in terms of nucleotide composition, codon usage, nucleotide diversity, tRNA secondary structure, nucleotide skew, phylogeny tree, and divergence time. Nucleotide diversity and tRNAs of three species of fleas of Amphipsyllinae have differences among different species. The effective number of codon (ENC)-plot, neutrality curve, PR2, and correspondence analysis (COA) showed that the codon preference of Amphipsyllinae was influenced mainly by natural selection. For phylogenetic trees and divergence time of the order Siphonaptera, our results showed two concatenated data matrices, namely, PCG: (((Ceratophyllidae + Leptopsyllidae) + ((Vermipsyllidae + Hystrichopsyllidae) + Ctenophthalmidae)) + (Pulicidae + Pygiopsyllidae)); PCGRNA: ((((Ceratophyllidae + Leptopsyllidae) + ((Vermipsyllidae + Hystrichopsyllidae) + Ctenophthalmidae)) + Pulicidae) + Pygiopsyllidae). We concluded that P. custodis and Macrostylophora euteles from GenBank are the same species by phylogenetic trees and sequence alignment, and supported the monophyly of Amphipsyllinae. Amphipsyllinae diverged in the Cenozoic, approximately 73.37–40.32 million years ago (Mya). The majority of the species within the intraordinal divergence into extant lineages occurred after the K-Pg boundary. The common ancestor of the extant order Siphonaptera diverged during the Cretaceous. Our findings supported those of Zhu et al. (1). This study provides new insights into the evolutionary history and taxonomy of the order Siphonaptera.
Social sustainability and genetic biodiversity in Peruvian alpaca production: a review
Authors: Bello-Bravo Julia , Pilares Denis , Brito Luiz F. , Toro Ospina Alejandra M. , Sousa Junior Luis P. B. , Mamani Mamani Gerardo Cornelio , Schoonmaker Jon , Richardson Jennifer
Published: December 2024

This conceptual review addresses the social sustainability challenges facing traditional alpaca pastoralism in Peru, particularly in light of economic and environmental interventions such as selective breeding for international market demands. While efforts to prioritize economic and environmental sustainability are well-documented, the neglect of social sustainability threatens the survival of traditional Andean knowledge, practices, and cultural resilience. Utilizing a triple-bottom-line framework, this review explores the social impacts of genetic biodiversity conservation efforts within the Peruvian alpaca value chain. It highlights how selective breeding, driven by global market preferences, risks eroding not only the genetic diversity of alpacas but also the sustainability of traditional herding practices. The review underscores the need for increased attention to social dimensions when implementing technical solutions to economic and environmental challenges, emphasizing the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems and practices to sustain the livelihoods and cultural heritage of alpaqueros. Recommendations include prioritizing social sustainability by integrating traditional practices into development agendas, fostering greater participation from indigenous communities, and encouraging the transmission of intergenerational knowledge to ensure the long-term viability of Peruvian pastoralism. Future research directions are also discussed.
Deciphering the Complexity of the Immune Cell Landscape in Kidney Allograft Rejection
Authors: Terinte-Balcan George , Lebraud Emilie , Zuber Julien , Anglicheau Dany , Ismail Gener , Rabant Marion
Published: December 2024

While the Banff classification dichotomizes kidney allograft rejection based on the localization of the cells in the different compartments of the cortical kidney tissue [schematically interstitium for T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) and glomerular and peritubular capillaries for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR)], there is a growing evidences that subtyping the immune cells can help refine prognosis prediction and treatment tailoring, based on a better understanding of the pathophysiology of kidney allograft rejection. In the last few years, multiplex IF techniques and automatic counting systems as well as transcriptomics studies (bulk, single-cell and spatial techniques) have provided invaluable clues to further decipher the complex puzzle of rejection. In this review, we aim to better describe the inflammatory infiltrates that occur during the course of kidney transplant rejection (active AMR, chronic active AMR and acute and chronic active TCMR). We also discuss minor components of the inflammatory response (mastocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, follicular dendritic cells). We conclude by discussing whether the over simplistic dichotomy between AMR and TCMR, currently used in clinical routine, remains relevant given the great diversity of immune actors involved in rejections.
An AutoML-Powered Analysis Framework for Forest Fire Forecasting: Adapting to Climate Change Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Pan Mengya
Published: December 2024

Wildfires pose a serious threat to ecosystems and human safety, and with the backdrop of global climate change, the prediction of forest fires has become increasingly important. Traditional machine learning methods face challenges in forest fire prediction, such as difficulty identifying feature parameters, manual intervention in model selection, and hyperparameter tuning, which affect prediction accuracy and efficiency. This study proposes an analytical framework for forest fire prediction based on Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) technology to address the challenges traditional machine learning methods face in forest fire prediction. We collected meteorological, topographical, and vegetation data from Guangxi Province, with meteorological data covering 1994 to 2023, providing comprehensive background information for our prediction model. Using the prediction model, which was constructed with the AutoGluon framework, the experimental results indicate that models under the AutoGluon framework (e.g., KNeighborsDist classifier) significantly outperform traditional machine learning models in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score, with the highest accuracy rate reaching 0.960. Model error analysis shows that models under the AutoGluon framework perform better in error control. This study provides an efficient and accurate method for forest fire prediction, which is of great significance for decision-making in forest fire management and for protecting forest resources and ecological security.
Assessing the Relationship of Brain Metabolites to Cortical Thickness and Dementia Symptoms in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: Koenig Katherine A. , Bhattacharyya Pallab K.
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Those with the genetic disorder Down syndrome are at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Previous work shows group differences in magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolite measures in adults with Down syndrome who have Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia compared to those who do not. In this pilot study, we assess relationships between metabolites and measures related to dementia status in a sample of adults with Down syndrome. Methods: Seventeen adults with Down syndrome were scanned using a 3 tesla MRI scanner. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans focused on the hippocampus and dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex. Metabolites of interest, including myo-inositol and N-acetyl-aspartate, were correlated with scores on the Dementia Questionnaire for People with Learning Disabilities, cortical thickness, and a measure of cognitive ability. In addition, cortical thickness was compared to an age- and sex-matched cohort of 17 previously scanned adults without Down syndrome. Results: Metabolite measures were not significantly related to cognitive/behavioral measures or to cortical thickness in this small cohort. Participants with Down syndrome showed widespread increases in cortical thickness compared to controls, even after accounting for potential differences in grey matter/white matter contrast. Conclusions: Metabolite values were not related to two continuous measures that have previously been associated with dementia status in those with Down syndrome.
A Lumped Parameter Model Suggests That Infusion Studies Overestimate the Cerebrospinal Fluid Outflow Resistance in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Bateman Grant A. , Bateman Alexander R.
Published: December 2024

Background/objectives: Cerebrospinal infusion studies indicate that cerebrospinal fluid outflow resistance (Rout) is elevated in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). These studies assume that the cerebrospinal formation rate (CSFfr) does not vary during the infusion. If the CSFfr were to increase during the infusion then the Rout would be overestimated. Previous estimates of the CSFfr in NPH have suggested a low figure. More recent estimates of the CSFfr suggest that it is increased, indicating it probably varies with measurement technique. This would bring the estimation of Rout into doubt. A previous paper using a lumped parameter model suggested the CSFfr could vary with the capillary transmural pressure (TMP) in this disease, suggesting a possible solution to this problem. The current study investigates the possibility that the intracranial pressure manipulation occurring during an infusion study may vary the capillary TMP and CSFfr. Methods: A lumped parameter model previously developed to describe the hydrodynamics of NPH was modified to investigate the effect of CSF pressure manipulation during infusion studies and to describe how the CSFfr could vary depending on the technique used. Results: The model indicates the capillary transmural pressure is normal in NPH and increases during an infusion study. CSF drainage at the end of an infusion study similarly increases the capillary TMP and, presumably, the CSFfr by increasing the interstitial fluid production. Conclusions: The model suggests that infusion studies and draining CSF increases the CSFfr in NPH compared to earlier techniques. Allowing for an increase in the CSFfr suggests that infusion overestimates the Rout by between 23 and 33%. This study indicates that further research may be required into the utility and accuracy of infusion studies and their ability to diagnose NPH.
BNIP3 Downregulation Ameliorates Muscle Atrophy in Cancer Cachexia
Authors: Fornelli Claudia , Beltrà Marc , Zorzano Antonio , Costelli Paola , Sebastian David , Penna Fabio
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims: Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome affecting most cancer patients and is directly responsible for about 20% of cancer-related deaths. Previous studies showed muscle proteolysis hyper-activation and mitophagy induction in tumor-bearing animals. While basal mitophagy is required for maintaining muscle mass and quality, excessive mitophagy promotes uncontrolled protein degradation, muscle loss and impaired function. BNIP3, a key mitophagy-related protein, is significantly increased in the muscles of both mice and human cancer hosts. This study aimed to define the potential of mitigating mitophagy via BNIP3 downregulation in preserving mitochondrial integrity, counteracting skeletal muscle loss in experimental cancer cachexia. Methods: Two in vivo gene delivery methods were performed to knock down muscle BNIP3: electroporation of a BNIP3-specific shRNA expression vector or adenovirus injection. Results: The electroporation effectively reduced muscle BNIP3 in healthy mice but was ineffective in C26 tumor-bearing mice. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated BNIP3 knockdown successfully decreased BNIP3 levels also in tumor hosts. Although BNIP3 knockdown did not impact overall on body or muscle mass, it improved muscle fiber size in C26-bearing miceh2, suggesting partial prevention of muscle atrophy. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (OxPhos) and TOM20 protein levels were consistently rescued, indicating improvements in mitochondrial mass, while H2O2 levels were unchanged among the groups, suggesting that BNIP3 downregulation does not impair the endogenous control of oxidative balance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a fine balance between mitochondrial disposal and biogenesis is fundamental for preserving muscle homeostasis and highlight a potential role for BNIP3 modulation against cancer-induced muscle wasting.
Enhancing the Performance of Biodegradable Lignin Nanoparticle/PVA Composite Films via Phenolation Pretreatment of Lignin Using a Novel Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Cao Xiansheng , Li Xueping , Wu Ruchun , Liu Bao , Lin Wenfei
Published: December 2024

As an environment-friendly biodegradable material, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has been focused on improving performance and expanding its applications. In this study, improved performance lignin nanoparticle/PVA composite film was prepared by phenolation of bagasse lignin (BL) using a novel ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES). The effects of introduction of DES-phenolated lignin (DL) nanoparticles with different additions (1, 3, 5, 10 wt%) on the properties of DL/PVA composite film were comprehensively studied by mechanical performance test, UV-shielding performance test, contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analyses and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The experimental results indicated that lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were homogeneously distributed in a biodegradable PVA matrix due to hydrogen bonds between the PVA matrix and lignin nanoparticles. With the introduction of DES pretreatment on native bagasse lignin, the various performances of DL/PVA composite films, such as tensile strength, surface hydrophobicity, UV-shielding and thermal stability, were enhanced in comparison with both pure PVA film and BL/PVA composite film incorporated with DES-untreated BL. The tensile strength of DL/PVA composite film with 3 wt% addition increased to 97.79 MPa from 69.41 MPa for pure PVA film, and the water contact angle increased from 43.7° to 84.2°. DL/PVA composite film with 10 wt% addition shielded 95.8% of the UV spectrum (400–200 nm). Moreover, after incorporating the DL nanoparticles into the PVA matrix, the as-obtained DL/PVA composite films displayed good antioxidant activity by eliminating most of the DPPH free radicals. With 10 wt% addition of DL nanoparticles, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of DL/PVA composite film increased by about 76% compared with pure PVA film. These enhanced properties were attributed to the more phenolic hydroxyl groups of DL nanoparticles than of BL and the hydrogen-bonding interactions. In conclusion, the DES-phenolation pretreatment of lignin clearly improved the properties of PVA composite films. Furthermore, as both lignin and PVA are biodegradable, the lignin nanoparticle/PVA composite film may be a promising candidate for fully biodegradable robust coating materials with vital potential applications, such as UV-shielding and food packaging, etc.
Multi-Scale Thermo-Mechanical Model Simulation of Residual Stress in Atmospheric Plasma Spray Process
Authors: Martínez-García Jose , Martínez-García Venancio , Killinger Andreas
Published: December 2024

This work presents a multi-scale one-way-coupled thermo-mechanical method to determine the residual stress in an Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) process. The model uses three submodelling scale levels that range from the entire component (macroscopic) to a splat coating layer (microscopic) dimension. The three-level scale temperature and stress evolutions of an Al2O3 coating material on a flat aluminium substrate were analysed. The quenching stress for different substrate preheating temperatures up to 600 K at the end of the APS coating process was discussed and validated through an experimental in situ curvature method and Stoney’s quenching stress equation.
Some Open Questions About the Anisotropic Random Walks
Authors: Csáki Endre , Földes Antónia
Published: December 2024

Between 2007 and 2018, we collaborated extensively with Pál Révész and Miklós Csörgő on many of the problems discussed in this paper. Over the past six years, we have continued to explore these issues, and here, we present some of the most intriguing open questions in these areas. This paper compiles key results from a dozen of our previous works, providing the necessary background to frame these compelling unresolved questions.
SF6 Dynamic Capacitance Measurement Methods for Breaks in the Breaking Process of Circuit Breakers
Authors: Zhang Jianguo , Xu Chuxiong , Ma Feiyue , Xiang Zhonghua , Wang Yaoping , Niu Bo , Wu Qiang , Wang Yu
Published: December 2024

In order to effectively obtain the contact state without disassembling the interrupter chamber of the SF6 circuit breaker, a dynamic capacitance measurement method for the breakout process of the circuit breaker is proposed. The dynamic capacitance measurement is carried out by applying high-frequency excitation at both ends of the interrupter chamber, the dynamic capacitance measurement system that can meet the pF-level variation is designed, and the measurement method for correcting the stray capacitance of the wire is proposed. Based on the fundamental wave component method, a dynamic capacitance calculation method is proposed for the circuit breaker tripping process, and the optimal parameter combination for the dynamic capacitance calculation is determined through simulation analysis. The best combination of computational parameters for dynamic capacitance calculations was determined to be a triangular window, a window length of 480, and an overlap length of 0. The dynamic capacitance-travel curve of SF6 circuit breaker tripping process under different ablation states is obtained in the final test, and the results show that: with the increase in contact ablation, the overall shape of the dynamic capacitance-travel curve is basically unchanged, and the capacitance value at the starting point increases and the travel value decreases, which provides a new idea for the evaluation of circuit breaker interrupter chamber’s electric life. This provides a new idea for the electrical life assessment of circuit breaker interrupters.
A Novel Doppler Estimation Approach Using ORBCOMM Signals for High-Precision Positioning
Authors: Yang Mingchao , Wang Yiwei , Fang Zhibo , Chen Jiajia , Liu Yue , Lei Ming , Xu Ying
Published: December 2024

Positioning based on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite Signals of Opportunity (SOP) often relies on Doppler observations. Therefore, the accuracy of Doppler frequency measurements significantly impacts the positioning performance. Traditional frequency estimation methods for ORBCOMM satellite signals are typically implemented in the frequency domain and neglect the impact of the “frequency chirp” effect on measurement accuracy, which leads to low computational efficiency, poor noise resistance, and limited estimation accuracy. To address this issue, a high-precision frequency estimation method combining a “coarse and fine” process is proposed. In the coarse estimation process, ephemeris prior information is combined with matched filtering to effectively separate the Doppler rate, thereby mitigating the spectral broadening caused by the Doppler rate. In the fine estimation process, ORBCOMM signal characteristics are fully exploited. Single-sideband filtering is applied to improve noise resistance, followed by precise frequency discrimination of the delayed signal. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art “FFT + MLE” approach, achieving a frequency measurement accuracy on the order of 0.01 Hz while requiring fewer computational resources. Furthermore, this method improves estimation performance by approximately 12 dB without compromising frequency measurement accuracy.
Simulation of High-Voltage Cable Sheath Current with a Panoramic Digital Tunnel Model
Authors: Pan Zehua , Guo Wei , Men Yekun , Cai Jing , Li Huachun , Xiao Long , Xu Shiru , Wang Yu , Li Yuanxi
Published: December 2024

Monitoring cable sheath current is crucial for guaranteeing the secure and efficient operation of high-voltage cable tunnels. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) panoramic digital model of a tunnel in Beijing is modeled, a parallel cable sheath current simulation model is proposed, and a 3D panoramic visualization system with which the cable sheath current can be simulated online is developed in order to generate early warnings on the sheath current situation. The accuracy of the simulation model is verified and the results are as follows: The difference between the simulated sheath current and the actual measurement is within a maximum margin of 3.71%. A phase sequence optimization strategy can be obtained after calculations based on the simulation model, and an average sheath current reduction of 47.2% can be achieved following the optimization strategy. This study introduces a new approach by which cable sheath current dynamics and real-time warning against anomalies are visualized on a 3D tunnel model. In addition, a sheath current simulation model is integrated in the 3D visualization system developed in this study, and phase sequence optimization strategies for cables with abnormal sheath currents are automatically suggested, which may provide scientific support for auxiliary decision-making in real-time cable operation.