bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MIF and AHP methods for Delineation of groundwater potential zones using remote sensing and GIS Techniques in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi District, India
Authors: Prabaharan Samuel , R Viji
Published: November 2023

The present study aims to identifying the delineation of potential Groundwater Zones is essential for monitoring surface and conserving underground water resources. This study was analysed the morphology of earth surface characteristics such as geomorphology, Lineament Density, lithology, Slope, soil types, land use and land cover, drainage density, Land surface temperature, NDVI, Rainfall and Topographic wetness index (TWI) parameters to delineate the potential groundwater zones. In the present paper applies the Analytical Hierarchical process (AHP) and Multi- influencing factors (MIF) Methods to identify prospective groundwater zones in the Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts of Tamil Nadu, India. In the AHP Process method, Individual parameters geometric mean and normalized weights were determined using pair-wise matrix analytical method. RS-GIS techniques were used to generate thematic map layers from normalized weights to delineate GWPZs. The GWPZs were classified as Very Low, Low, Medium, High and Very High. The Result shows the GWPZs were identified 3.57%,0.55%,6.62%,58.09% and 31.21% in the Study area for the five classes respectively. In this study, the thematic maps were also prepared by assigning fixed score and weights from the multi-influencing factor (MIF) approach. In the MIF approach, GWPZs were classified into five classes and identified 3.16%,0.33%,2.14%,61.21% and 33.16% in the Study area respectively. GWPZ maps were evaluated for both MIF and AHP techniques using Kappa statistics method with agreement values of 0.77% and 0.72% respectively. This study GIS-RS Method is more proficient and efficient to delineate the Groundwater Potential Zones.
The impact of osteogenesis imperfecta severity on oral health-related quality of life in Spain. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Elfituri Amira Ahmed , De Nova Manuel Joaquín , Najirad Mohammadamin
Published: November 2023

Background
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) affects dental and craniofacial development, therefore it can influence oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The objective of this study was to explore the influence of the severity of OI on OHRQoL in adults above eighteen years old, residing in Spain.
Method
Adults with OI were recruited from the Spanish Association of Crystal Bone (AHUCE) foundation. OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire, Spanish version (OHIP-14sp), oral hygiene habits, and a dental care survey. Clinical and radiological dental examinations were assessed to evaluate oral conditions.
Results
A total of 65 adults (70% female) aged between nineteen and sixty-two, diagnosed with OI and classified as type I, III, and IV (n = 20, 14, and 31 respectively) participated in the research. The total OHIP-14sp scores were significantly higher (worse) for type III (23 [SD = 10]) and type IV (21.4 [SD = 12]) than for type I (13.8 [SD = 6]) (P < 0.05). The negative impact of OHRQoL was due to the association of type III OI with all domains except handicap, while type IV OI was associated with physical disability, social disability, and handicap (P < 0.05 for both).
Conclusion
The severity of OI negatively impacts OHRQoL in adults. This association is statistically significant.
Development of the China’s list of Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs): A Study Protocol
Authors: Wang Jianjian , Xu Dong Roman , Zhang Yan , Fu Hongqiao , Wang Sijiu , Ju Ke , Chen Chu , Yang Lian , Jian Weiyan , Chen Lei , Liao Xiaoyang , Xiao Yue , Wu Ruixian , Jakovljevic Mihajlo , Chen Yaolong , Pan Jay
Published: November 2023

Background
The hospitalization rate of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) has been recognized as an essential indicator reflective of the overall performance of healthcare system. At present, ACSCs has been widely used in practice and research to evaluate health service quality and efficiency worldwide. The definition of ACSCs varies across countries due to different challenges posed on healthcare systems. However, there is absence of a China’s list of ACSCs. This study aims to prospectively explore and develop the China’s list to inform evidence-based decision-making for optimizing the healthcare system.
Methods
To develop the list, we will combine the best methodological evidence available with real-world evidence, adopt a systematic and rigorous process and absorb multidisciplinary expertise. Specific steps include: (1) establishment of working groups; (2) generations of the initial list (review of already published lists, semi-structured interviews, calculations of hospitalization rate); (3) optimization of the list (evidence evaluation, Delphi consensus survey); and (4) approval of a final version of China’s ACSCs list. Within each step of the process, we will calculate frequencies and proportions, use descriptive analysis to summarize and draw conclusions, discuss the results, draft a report, and refine the list.
Discussion
Once completed, the China’s list of ACSCs can be used to comprehensively evaluate the current situation and performance of health services, identify flaws and deficiencies embedded in the healthcare system to provide evidence-based implications to inform decision-makings towards the optimization of China’s healthcare system. The experiences might be broadly applicable and serve the purpose of being a prime example for nations with similar conditions.
Highly accurate disease diagnosis and highly reproducible biomarker identification with PathFormer
Authors: Li Fuhai , Dong Zehao , Zhao Qihang , Payne Philip , Province Michael , Cruchaga Carlos , Zhang Muhan , Zhao Tianyu , Chen Yixin
Published: November 2023

Biomarker identification is critical for precise disease diagnosis and understanding disease pathogenesis in omics data analysis, like using fold change and regression analysis. Graph neural networks (GNNs) have been the dominant deep learning model for analyzing graph-structured data. However, we found two major limitations of existing GNNs in omics data analysis, i.e., limited-prediction/diagnosis accuracy and limited-reproducible biomarker identification capacity across multiple datasets. The root of the challenges is the unique graph structure of biological signaling pathways, which consists of a large number of targets and intensive and complex signaling interactions among these targets. To resolve these two challenges, in this study, we presented a novel GNN model architecture, named PathFormer, which systematically integrate signaling network, priori knowledge and omics data to rank biomarkers and predict disease diagnosis. In the comparison results, PathFormer outperformed existing GNN models significantly in terms of highly accurate prediction capability (~ 30% accuracy improvement in disease diagnosis compared with existing GNN models) and high reproducibility of biomarker ranking across different datasets. The improvement was confirmed using two independent Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and cancer transcriptomic datasets. The PathFormer model can be directly applied to other omics data analysis studies.
An Overview of the Archaeological, Radiocarbonic and Palaeoclimatic Record at the Iberian Peninsula During the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition
Authors: Mayya Seba Sultan , Gomes Ana , Veiga-Pires Cristina , Connor Simon
Published: November 2023

The Iberian Peninsula is a significant region for studying the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic Transition (MUPT). Broadly speaking, this transition refers to the period when anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens, AMH) first appeared in the archaeological record of Palaeolithic Europe and the later extinction of Neanderthals in Europe. The Iberian Peninsula is a significant region for studying the causes of the replacement of Neanderthals by Anatomically Modern Humans, as it was one of the last places where these Neanderthals lived. Many theories have been proposed to explain the disappearance of Neanderthals, ranging from competition with Homo sapiens to environmental factors, such as climate change. Here we explore the relationship of the replacement of the Neanderthal by AMH populations and its relationship with climate change, by providing an overview of the archaeological and climate records in Iberian Peninsula during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT). Through the use of a relational database (combining archaeological information and radiocarbon dates), Summed Probability of Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates (SPCD), paleoecological records, GIS and Spatial modelling, this chapter examines the timing of the distribution of last Neanderthals and the entrance and distribution of AMH and its populational fluctuations in Iberian periods of climate change.
Dietary poly-β-hydroxybutyrate improved the growth, non-specific immunity, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, phagocytic activity and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei
Authors: Kim Suhyeok , Shin Jaebeom , Medagoda Nalin , Choi Sera , Park So Yun , Park Jeung-Yil , Lee Kyeong-Jun
Published: November 2023

This study assessed the effects of dietary supplementation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) on growth performance, feed efficiency, non-specific immunity, digestive enzyme capacity, phagocytic activity, hemocyte count, intestinal morphology and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Six diets were prepared by supplementing graded levels of PHB at 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 and 4.00% (Con, P0.25, P0.5, P1.0, P2.0 and P4.0, respectively). Triplicate groups of 25 shrimps (initial body weight: 0.25 ± 0.01 g) per treatment were randomly assigned and fed an experimental diet for 56 days. Growth performance of shrimp was significantly improved by 1% dietary PHB supplementation. PHB-included diets fed shrimp showed significantly improved hepatopancreatic trypsin, chymotrypsin and pepsin activities. Villus height was significantly increased with dietary PHB supplementation and villus width was increased at a 1% inclusion level. P0.25, P0.5 and P4.0 groups significantly increased phenoloxidase activity and the P2.0 group significantly increased anti-protease activity compared to that in Con group. The survival of shrimp challenged against V. parahaemolyticus were higher in P0.5, P1.0 and P2.0 groups than in the Con diet. According to the above observations, the optimal dietary PHB supplementation level for maximum weight gain would be 1% for Pacific white shrimp.
Appraising peri-urban food production in Durban, South Africa, with Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS)
Authors: SARDESHPANDE Mallika , Bangira Tsitsi , MATONGERA Trylee Nyasha , Cho Matilda Azong , Mabhaudhi Tafadzwanashe
Published: November 2023

Rapid urbanisation, particularly in the Global South, calls for more efficient and equitable food supply in urban and peri-urban areas. Peri-urban food production can be a source of affordable, fresh, and nutritious food, and can provide a departure from conventional forms of cropping. A number of social, ecological, and economic variables influence the feasibility of peri-urban food production. This study uses participatory mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess these variables, and to map suitable spaces and crop configurations for peri-urban food production at three sites on the periphery of eThekwini metropolitan municipality (Durban) in South Africa. We find that land tenure and livelihood opportunities factor into socioeconomic preferences for peri-urban food production. Topography and soil quality are ecological factors that significantly influence feasibility of peri-urban food production, and access to water and roads also influence economic viability. Our study finds that while GIS techniques can identify land suitability, participatory mapping adds local fine-scale context to better inform decision-making and investment in peri-urban farming. Based on the social-ecological conditions at the three sites, we suggest specific configurations of locally adapted foods and farm design for peri-urban food production.
Analysis of the current situation and influencing factors of decision-making conflicts among alternative decision-makers in critically ill patients after cardiac surgery: a cross-sectional study
Authors: huai qiyang , shi yanan , zhang renjie , shao mei , yang lijuan
Published: November 2023

Objective This study aims to examine the prevailing state of decision-making conflict among alternative decision-mkers in postoperative critically ill cardiac surgery patients and analyze the factors that contribute to this conflict.Methods A convenience sampling method was employed to select 200 postoperative critically ill cardiac surgery patients and their substitute decision-mkers from a tertiary-level hospital in Shandong Province, between September 2023 and November 2023. The survey subjects were assessed using a general information questionnaire,family inpatient communication Survey, and the scale of the decisional engagement.Results The study found that substitute decision-mkers of postoperative critically ill cardiac surgery patients had a mean decision conflict scale score of (15.59 ± 8.58) and a standardized score of (24.36 ± 13.42). Among the substitute decision-mkers,7.5% had a medium level of decision conflict, while 51% had a high level of decision conflict. Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the decision conflict level of alternative decision-mkers and the communication status of inpatient family members (r=-0.238, p < 0.01), as well as a negative correlation with the expectation level of participation in decision making (r=-0.195,p < 0.01);The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicate that several factors significantly influenced the decisions made by substitute decision-mkers.These factors include whether the patient was admitted to the hospital for the first time, the decision maker's awareness of the patient's condition, the level of Decisional Engagement, and the communication status of the hospitalized patient's family members.Conclusion Decision-making conflicts among alternative decision-mkers in postoperative critically ill cardiac surgery patients are prevalent and influenced by various factors.
Real-Time ENSO Forecast Skill Evaluated Over the Last Two Decades, with Focus on Onset of ENSO Events
Authors: Ehsan Muhammad Azhar , L'Heureux Michelle , Tippett Michael , Robertson Andrew , Turmelle Jeffrey
Published: November 2023

This paper provides an updated assessment of the “International Research Institute for Climate and Society's (IRI) El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Predictions Plume". We evaluate 247 real-time forecasts of the Niño 3.4 index from February 2002 to August 2022 and examine multimodal means of dynamical (DYN) and statistical (STAT) models separately. Forecast skill diminishes as lead time increases in both DYN and STAT forecasts, with peak accuracy occurring post-northern hemisphere spring predictability barrier and preceding seasons. The DYN forecasts outperform STAT forecasts with a pronounced advantage in forecasts initiated from late boreal winter through spring. The analysis uncovers an asymmetry in predicting the onset of cold and warm ENSO episodes, with warm episode onsets being better forecasted than cold onsets in both DYN and STAT models. The DYN forecasts are found to be valuable for predicting warm and cold ENSO episode onsets several months in advance, while STAT forecasts are less informative about ENSO phase transitions.
On Farm Diversity and Genetic Erosion of Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] inHaramaya District, East Haraghe, Ethiopia
Authors: Adem Ibsa , Yusuf Zekeria , Chimdesa Meseret
Published: November 2023

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] varieties can be distinguished by their flesh and skin colors (white, yellow, orange, and purple). Loss of crop diversity is a particular concern in centers of origin and secondary centers of diversity where varieties have evolved with high adaptability to the local environment as well as in developing countries where farmers rely on crop diversity for food security. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess on farm diversity and status of genetic erosion of sweet potato in Haramaya district, Ethiopia. The source of population for the study was sweet potato cultivating small holder farmers Haramaya district. Data were collected for similarity/ dissimilarity index, preference index, and genetic erosion. The result of preference index indicated the highest preference index (25.60) with preference rank 1st was recorded for BeelaBochol genotype as the least preference index (12.10) was recorded for BeelaBaleyso genotype. The highest similarity coefficient (0.80) was observed between Bachake and Maya Gudo followed by similarity coefficient value (0.75) between Maya Guddo and Khuro. Itwas found that the genetic integrity was found to be 88.9% as genetic erosion was 11.1%. The high genetic integrity implies little genetic erosion or loss of sweet potato varieties in the study area. The farmers’ cultivation and utilization of sweet potato varieties in the study area demonstrated that most of the farmers (90%) plant one (selected) variety for cultivation, and know less than 5 (< 5) varieties of sweet potato. About 144 (66%) of the respondents use intercropping system for sweet potato cultivation. The majority of respondents 212 (97%) observed loss of sweet potato varieties. In the study area, 180 (82%) of the respondent farmers suggested the use of their own seed source for planting. About 160 (73%) of the respondents suggested the cultivation of sweet potato as subsistence crop. The major constraints of sweet potato cultivation as suggested by the respondents were tiresome land preparation 80 (37%), lack of improved variety 56 (26%), land scarcity 50 (23%), and market demand 33 (15%). All respondents 219 (100%) suggested farmers intention to continue cultivation of sweet potato. It can be concluded from the result of the present study that farmers can identify and prefer sweet potato genotypes frequently using storage root yield and boiled quality.
Semantic Relational Extraction via Learning Syntactic Structural Representation
Authors: Éric Nguyen , Ari Tsuruoka
Published: November 2023

Leveraging distant supervision for relation extraction has emerged as a robust method to harness large text corpora, widely adopted to unearth new relational facts from unstructured text. Prevailing neural approaches have made significant strides in relation extraction by representing sentences in compact, low-dimensional vectors. However, the incorporation of syntactic nuances when modeling entities remains underexplored. Our study introduces a novel method for crafting syntax-aware entity embeddings to boost neural relation extraction. We start by encoding entity contexts within dependency trees through tree-GRU to generate sentence-level entity embeddings. We then apply both intra-sentence and inter-sentence attention mechanisms to distill entity embeddings at the sentence set level, considering every occurrence of the pertinent entity pair. The culmination of our methodology is the fusion of sentence and entity embeddings for relation classification. Our experiments on a benchmark dataset indicate that our approach harnesses the full potential of informative instances, thereby setting new benchmarks for relation extraction performance.
The effect of the incorporation of phosphor on the optoelectronic properties of InAs 0.75 Sb 0.250 ternary for optical telecommunications: DFT calculation
Authors: DJILI Amer , BENCHEHIMA Miloud , ABID Hamza
Published: November 2023

The super cell 16 atoms special quasi-random structures have been used, to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of InPxAsySb1−s−y quaternary alloys in zinc blende phase with a number of concentrations (1-x-y = 0.250) and x ranging from 0 to 0.750 in step of 0.125. The calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) as implemented under the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. We employed the local intensity (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation of Wu and Cohen (GGA-WC) to calculate the structural parameters. The two schemes (EV-GGA) and (TB-mBJ) were also used to describe the optoelectronic properties. The equilibrium structural parameters found are in good agreement with the previous results. Electronic results showed that InPxAsySb1−s−y quaternary alloys are a direct band gap semiconductor for all P concentrations. In addition, (TB-mBJ) results revealed that the increase in P content (x) did change the electronic band gap (Eg) from 0.475 eV for x = 0 to 1.106 eV for x = 0.750. The optical properties of InPxAsySb1−s−y quaternaries, including the dielectric function, optical conductivity, absorption coefficient and the complex refractive index were predicted and discussed in detail. The obtained results make these compounds very promising for optical telecommunications.
The impact of anesthesiology service accreditation on the incidence of postoperative hypothermia: A time series study
Authors: Menck Juliana Thomaz , de Oliveira Rohnelt Machado , Coelho Julio Cezar Uili , Stunitz Ana Carolina Locatelli
Published: November 2023

Background: Hospital and medical subspecialties accreditation programs evaluate institutions based on predetermined quality standards. Several indicators can be used to measure the quality of health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of accreditation on postoperative hypothermia rate in an anesthesiology department.
Methods: This was a longitudinal, observational and retrospective study, with an interrupted time series design. The temperatures of patients in post-anesthetic recovery were analyzed between January 2021 and February 2023 with three cycles of plan-do-study-act interventions being carried out during this period. Mild and moderate hypothermia rates and monthly temperature means were evaluated using linear regression graphs to verify possible shifts in variables or trends.
Results: The data were collected from 20,149 participants. It was observed an increase in level (0.3 degrees, P=0.005) and in trend (0.2 degrees/month, P=0.02) in monthly temperature mean along the accreditation program. The rate of moderate hypothermia fell by a mean of 3.6%/month (P = 0.001) getting close to zero (P=0.03). Mild hypothermia was initially more resistant but showed a significant downward trend after the third intervention cycle decreasing by 9%/month (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: This study shows a beneficial effect of accreditation on postoperative hypothermia rate in an anesthesiology service.
High-Resolution Plasma Metabolomics and Thiamine Status in Critically Ill Adult Patients
Authors: Gundogan Kursat , Nellis Mary M. , Ozer Nurhayat T. , Ergul Serap S. , Sahin Gulsah G. , Temel Sahin , Yuksel Recep C. , Teeny Sami , Alvarez Jessica A. , Sungur Murat , Jones Dean P. , Ziegler Thomas R.
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim:
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is an essential micronutrient and a co-factor for metabolic functions related to energy metabolism. We determined the association between whole blood thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) concentrations and plasma metabolites using high resolution metabolomics in critically ill patients.
Methods
Cross-sectional study performed in Erciyes University Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Participants were ≥ 18 years of age, with an expected length of ICU stay longer than 48 hours, receiving furosemide therapy for at least 6 months before ICU admission.
Results
Blood for TPP and metabolomics was obtained on the day of ICU admission. Whole blood TPP concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for plasma high-resolution metabolomics. Data was analyzed using regression analysis of TPP levels against all plasma metabolomic features in metabolome-wide association studies. We also compared metabolomic features from patients in the highest TPP concentration tertile to patients in the lowest TPP tertile as a secondary analysis. We enrolled 76 participants with a median age of 69 (range, 62.5–79.5) years. Specific metabolic pathways associated with whole blood TPP levels, using both regression and tertile analysis, included pentose phosphate, fructose and mannose, branched chain amino acid, arginine and proline, linoleate, and butanoate pathways.
Conclusions
Plasma high-resolution metabolomics analysis showed that whole blood TPP concentrations are significantly associated with metabolites and metabolic pathways linked to the metabolism of energy, amino acids, lipids, and the gut microbiome in adult critically ill patients.
Edge Server Placement and Allocation Optimization: A Tradeoff for Enhanced Performance
Authors: Ghasemzadeh Ardalan , Aghdasi Hadi S. , Saeedvand Saeed
Published: November 2023

Considering the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the volume of data and user requests, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is considered a novel and efficient solution that puts decentralized servers at the network's edge. This has the effect of lowering bandwidth demand and transmission latency. Optimal edge server placement and allocation, as the first stage of MEC, can improve end-user service quality, edge computing system utility, and cost and energy consumption. The majority of previous edge server placement studies have employed only one objective or developed a fitness function by the weighted sum method for optimization. Usually, using a single optimization objective without considering other objectives cannot yield the desired results for a problem with a multi-objective design. On the other hand, assigning weights to objectives can lead to losing optimal points in non-convex problems and selecting improper weights. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a multi-objective solution for the positioning and allocation of edge servers for MEC services based on the NSGA-II algorithm. In this regard, we identify two workload variance and latency reduction objectives with extensive evaluations. The experimental evaluation of the results using real-world data reveals that solutions based on the NSGA-II yield superior convergence and diversity of Pareto front points compared to Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO), Multi-Objective Biogeography Based Optimization (MOBBO), and Adaptive Weighted Sum Method (AWSM). Additionally, it effectively mitigates workload variance on servers and exhibits an average latency reduction of 8.79% in comparison to the adaptive weighted-sum approach, 9.19% in comparison to MOPSO, and 0.28% in comparison to MOBBO.
Assessing Psychiatric Characteristics and Death Anxiety Levels in Patients with Lung Cancer
Authors: Aker Derya Adalı , Aker Cemal
Published: November 2023

Background
Given that lung cancer is the deadliest cancer globally, it not only leads to physical issues but also triggers psychiatric challenges in patients with lung cancer. Research has shown that individuals with lung cancer encounter a higher prevalence of psychiatric issues when compared to patients with other types of cancers. For this reason, we endeavored to examine the levels of death anxiety, as well as the symptoms of depression and anxiety, among patients with lung cancer in our nation.
Method
The study included 43 patients with lung cancer who were monitored at the Istanbul Sisli Florence Nightingale Hospital’s Medical Oncology Clinic between August 29 and October 29, 2021. Additionally, 41 patients without any history of cancer, who had sought care at the internal medicine clinic, were included as the control group.
Results
In our study, there was no statistically significant difference in the sociodemographic characteristics of the case and control groups. The case group exhibited statistically significantly higher levels of ASDA, DAS, and HAD-D compared to the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.002, respectively). When evaluating the case group in terms of cut-off scores, it was found that their DAS > 6 and HAD-A ≥ 10 scores were statistically significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.049 and p = 0.045, respectively). Within the case group, 55.8% underwent lung surgery, while 44.2% did not undergo lung surgery. There was no statistically significant relationship between DAS and ASDA in the case group (p = 0.271). HAD-A was found to have a statistically significant positive correlation with both DAS and ASDA (p = 0.018 and p = 0.026, respectively). In the case group, a negative and statistically significant correlation was observed between ASDA and educational background levels, whereas a positive and statistically significant relationship was identified between HAD-A and age (p = 0.039 and p = 0.046, respectively). A statistically significant difference in ASDA levels was observed based on educational background (p = 0.044). The ASDA levels of elementary school graduates were statistically significantly higher than those of university graduates (p = 0.004). The DAS and HAD-D scores of individuals who underwent lung surgery were statistically significantly higher than those who did not undergo lung surgery (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). In the models derived from the variables in univariate analyses with p-values less than 0.250, the significant determinants identified were HAD-A for DAS, and history of lung surgery, HAD-A and HAD-D for ASDA.
Conclusion
The results of our study showed that patients with lung cancer had higher levels of depression and anxiety than those without cancer, as well as greater death anxiety. Furthermore, our observations indicated that individuals who underwent surgery exhibited higher levels of depression when compared to those who did not undergo surgical procedures.
Variable energy dynamic penetration resistance of soils based on a dynamic load-displacement relationship
Authors: Lopez Sebastian , Canou Jean , Dupla Jean-Claude , Benz Miguel
Published: November 2023

The evaluation of dynamic penetration resistance can be performed by applying different theoretical and empirical approaches, however, each method is based on the application of different concepts and assumptions. The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for the evaluation of the penetration resistance of dynamic driving equipment, based on the evaluation of the dynamic load-displacement relationship at the cone-soil interface. For the construction of the dynamic load-displacement relationship, an iterative methodology of decoupling and reconstruction of the dynamic deformation and acceleration signals at the cone-soil interface is applied, which allows evaluating the soil resistance response under the dynamic load generated by the cone driving into the soil. The results show that the dynamic penetration resistance evaluation methodology based on the load-displacement curve allows the determination of the penetration resistance based on a physical-mechanical soil response approach. The dynamic penetration resistance evaluated through the dynamic load-displacement relationship allows evaluating the sensitized soil response to density conditions and vertical effective stresses.
Mathematics MOVES Me: Digital Solutions for Coordinating Enactive and Symbolic Perspectives—The Case of Basic Arithmetic With Positive and Negative Integers
Authors: Anton Jacqueline , Cosentino Giulia , Gelsomini Mirko , Sharma Kshitij , Giannakos Michail N. , Abrahamson Dor
Published: November 2023

We present an innovative educational design for basic arithmetic that responds to students’ documented difficulties with adding and subtracting single-digit positive and negative numbers. The design utilizes MOVES, a technological architecture that combines floor- and wall-projected interactive interfaces. Students enact arithmetic operations, e.g., “3 - (-2)” by walking along a projected body-scale number line, while their actions are captured and analyzed to provide in-the-moment feedback on elements of their solution procedure. Next, a screen-based avatar is introduced who mimics their whole-body movements. Finally, analogous problems are presented on a tablet that utilizes tangible interaction, where students walk the avatar, now as an action-figure, along a standard-sized number line. Our theoretical framework, design conjecture, product evaluation, and data analysis all pertain to fostering conceptual understanding through coordinating full-body egocentric experiences on a body-scale number line with the allocentric experience of “puppeting” the avatar along the desk-scale number line. Based on pilot trials, we speculate on the nature and type of supports students require to coordinate these perspectives and discuss implications for future iterations of the design.
Terraces in Species Tree Inference from Gene Trees
Authors: Habib Mursalin , Roy Kowshic , Hasan Saem , Rahman Atif Hasan , Bayzid Md. Shamsuzzoha
Published: November 2023

A terrace in a phylogenetic tree space is a region where all trees contain the same set of subtrees, due to certain patterns of missing data among the taxa sampled, resulting in an identical optimality score for a given data set. This was first investigated in the context of phylogenetic tree estimation from sequence alignments using maximum likelihood (ML) and maximum parsimony (MP). It was later extended to the species tree inference problem from a collection of gene trees, where a set of equally optimal species trees was referred to as a ''pseudo'' species tree terrace which does not consider the topological proximity of the trees in terms of the induced subtrees resulting from certain patterns of missing data. In this study, we mathematically characterize species tree terraces and investigate the mathematical properties and conditions that lead multiple species trees to induce/display an identical set of locus-specific subtrees owing to missing data. We report that species tree terraces are agnostic to gene tree heterogeneity. Therefore, we introduce and characterize a special type of gene tree topology-aware terrace which we call ''peak terrace''. Moreover, we empirically investigated various challenges and opportunities related to species tree terraces through extensive empirical studies using simulated and real biological data. We demonstrate the prevalence of species tree terraces and the resulting ambiguity created for tree search algorithms. Remarkably, our findings indicate that the identification of terraces and the trees within them can substantially enhance the accuracy of summary methods and provide reasonably accurate branch support.
A synchronous atmosphere-cryosphere-land response to climate on the northern Antarctic Peninsula since the mid-Holocene
Authors: Evangelista Heitor
Published: November 2023

West Antarctica plays a pivotal role in sea level rise in projected scenarios with global socioenvironmental and economic consequences. Therefore, describing its recent and past climate history and changes is essential for identifying the main climate controls and past responses. To better understand the climatic sensitivity of this region, we analyzed sedimentary records from newly surveyed proglacial lacustrine profiles dated from the middle Holocene to the present on the North Antarctic Peninsula. We combined atmosphere-glacier-land databases that evidenced a close coupling among these compartments during intense melting events. Our analyses furthermore suggest that a short Neoglacial phase from ∼2,000 kyr BP until the onset of the 20th century was possibly influenced by a combined long-term decline in total solar irradiance, Andean volcanism and ENSO.
The effects of initial water content and casein solution viscosity on enhancing the mechanical properties of casein-amended soil
Authors: Ashour Mohammed , Aiping Tang , Yingzi Yang
Published: November 2023

Utilizing casein in geotechnical engineering and construction can reduce global dairy waste. Variations in initial water content during sample preparation influence cation and OH ion availability, alkaline additive concentrations, casein binder function, and rheological properties of the casein solution. This study investigates the impact of initial water content and casein solution rheology on unconfined compressive strength in two soil types (coarse and fine) treated with casein, both in dry conditions and after water immersion. The study also assesses the long-term performance of casein-treated soil under bio-decomposition. Results suggest that increasing casein content, beyond the optimal ratio, can enhance strength by adjusting initial water concentration. Notably, calcium caseinate-treated soil exhibits improved water resistance due to reduced viscosity and enhanced workability, leading to a more rigid soil structure during initial preparation. We propose an empirical formula describing the influence of casein solution rheological characteristics on soil strength. Furthermore, artificial neural networks, developed from experimental data, predict casein-treated soil strength, highlighting the significance of initial water content and rheological parameters.
MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy for Splenomegaly: Clinical Experiences and Technical Tips
Authors: Romano Angela , Placidi Lorenzo , Boldrini Luca , Chiloiro Giuditta , Dinapoli Nicola , Galetto Matteo , Mazzarella Ciro , Meffe Guenda , Nardini Matteo , Panza Giulia , Ceglie Sara , Chiusolo Patrizia , Rossi Elena , Indovina Luca , Gambacorta Maria Antonietta
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Splenomegaly is a common manifestation in chronic lymphoid and myeloid malignancies. While splenectomy is the preferred treatment for symptomatic splenomegaly, it carries significant risks. Radiotherapy (RT) has traditionally been considered a palliative option. This study explores the use of Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiotherapy (MRgRT) for splenic irradiation (SI) in patients with myelofibrosis (MFI) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN).

Methods

This single-center retrospective analysis includes patients with MFI and MDS/MPN who underwent MRgRT SI between 2018 and 2022. Ten 1 Gy fractions was delivered to PTV (spleen+5mm margin). An adaptive online/offline strategy has been used to reduce the dose to healthy organs. Dosimetric data and clinical outcomes, including pain relief, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hematological values, were assessed.

Results

Twelve patients completed SI without interruption, with supportive transfusions as needed for cytopenias. Pain and gastrointestinal symptoms relief was observed in most cases. The mean percentage reduction in spleen volume was 53.61%, with an average cranio-caudal extension reduction of 77.78%. Twenty-nine (24.2%) out of 120 fractions were online adapted and 14 (11.7%) were replanned offline. Non-hematological toxicities were not reported. At a median follow-up of 12.9 months, 6 patients died, while 9 patients underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation, with 6 of them surviving.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates MRgRT SI feasibility in MFI and MDS/MPN patients, offering symptom relief and significant spleen volume reduction. Real-time setup verification and adaptive planning allowed for tailored treatment with reduced margins, minimizing healthy tissue exposure. Larger prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to further validate its efficacy and safety.
Drivers of Active Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Use among Transgender Women in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: JadKarim Luzan , Galka Jonathan , Shrestha Roman , Mazzeo Rosanna , Restar Arjee , Gautam Kamal , Azwa Iskandar , Wickersham Jeffrey A.
Published: November 2023

While ample evidence exists regarding the use of active amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) among sex workers, the impact of ATS use has yet to be characterized among the transgender population in Malaysia. Our aim is to highlight and assess health-related factors associated with ATS use among transgender women in Malaysia. A total of 361 transgender women completed a cross-sectional survey regarding their attitude towards PrEP knowledge and use for HIV prevention. The original study explored a myriad of health-related topics including active ATS use. Data was analyzed using logistic regression analyses to determine factors associated with active ATS use. Most of the participants were between 25–40 years old (57.3%), ethnically identified as Malay (75%), and single (67.6%). We found that 10.2% of the participants were actively using ATS. On a multivariate level, hormone therapy use was associated with reduced odds of active ATS use (aOR = 0.364; 95% CI = 0.169, 0.784) and was positively associated with a history of drug related arrest (aOR = 4.604; 95%CI = 1.813, 11.691). Our findings show a high prevalence of active ATS use among transgender women in Malaysia, in addition to its correlation to other health-related factors. Interestingly, we found that trans women who were actively using hormone therapy, were less likely to engage in active ATS use. This relationship should be explored further along with the relationship between incarceration history. In addition, further prevention strategies and efforts are needed to decrease ATS use among transgender women in Malaysia.
A cupping spots Image Enhancement Algorithm Based on LAA-CycleGAN
Authors: Jianhua Qin , Mengyan Zhu , Liu Yingbin , ZENG Guifen , XU Baolin
Published: November 2023

During the automatic cupping process, a LAA-CycleGAN based image enhancement algorithm is proposed to address the issues of reduced image clarity and loss of detail features caused by fog adhering to the surface of the can body. Firstly, the generator contains a self-attention module to capture global features of the images; secondly, the discriminator introduces an Auto-Encoder to generate more stable images; Finally, a perceptual loss term is added to optimize the network for better perception. Experiments were conducted on the collected cupping spots dataset, and the results showed that compared with DCP, DehazeNet, AOD-Net, and CycleGAN algorithms, SSIM values increased by 48.78%, 61.02%, 53.45%, and 85.42%, while PSNR values increased by 5.02%, 5.09%, 4.78%, and 4.27%. The algorithm in this article reconstructs the cupping spots image with higher clarity, which can effectively enhance the quality of the cupping spots image and preserve details.
Small Modular AUV Based on 3D Printing Technology: Design, Implementation and Experimental Validation
Authors:   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Yang Lichun
Published: November 2023

A small modular autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) offers several benefits including enhanced mobility, cost-effectiveness, compact and portable structure, and small size. This paper proposes a comprehensive design and implementation approach for a small modular AUV, named as ARMs1.0, utilizing cutting-edge 3D printing technology. The main cabin shell of the AUV features a modular design and is manufactured using 3D printing technology. The control module and sensing equipment are installed in a sealed compartment. To achieve forward, pitching, and yawing motions, the AUV is equipped with ducted propeller and four independent rudders. The modular approach in AUV design has been implemented, considering both the main cabin shell as well as the subsections and segments of the AUV. Additionally, a centralized control system architecture design is developed based on the specific tasks of the AUV. The composition and functions of key units are described in detail, and an autonomous depth-tracking control strategy is formulated. Based on the experimental results for AUV motion in horizontal and vertical planes, including autonomous depth tracking tests, the ARMs1.0 AUV demonstrates the capability to successfully perform required maneuvering tasks. The designed small modular AUV has achieved accurate depth tracking, precise heading following and exhibits excellent maneuverability.
Assessing the impact of the russian invasion on the competitiveness in the Ukrainian insurance market
Authors: Plastun Alex , Laichuk Svitlana , Rudenko Liudmyla , Guzenko Tetiana , Mashyna Yuliia
Published: November 2023

The full-scale russian invasion and war in Ukraine have inflicted substantial damage on the Ukrainian economy across various sectors. During crises, a common phenomenon is a decline in market competitiveness. This paper seeks to investigate whether the war in Ukraine has resulted in a reduction of competitiveness in the Ukrainian insurance market. To assess this, a range of traditional measures of market concentration, as well as various statistical tests, were applied to three crucial indicators from the Ukrainian insurance market, namely, assets, insurance premiums, and insurance payments for the period from January 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023. The findings suggest that, despite substantial losses incurred by the Ukrainian insurance market due to the invasion, the competition in the market did not experience significant degradation. However, the existing trends indicating a propensity for increased market concentration are cause for concern and demand immediate attention from regulators to prevent the deterioration of the market. To prevent market degradation stemming from current trends, regulatory bodies like the National Bank of Ukraine should carefully monitor adverse developments. They ought to integrate commitments to ensure market competitiveness, complemented by specific quantitative metrics for oversight, into their strategic plans and concepts for the development of the insurance market. Given the persistent threat of russian bombing in Ukraine, a viable and promising direction involves the proactive adoption of digital services and products.
AcknowledgmentsAlex Plastun gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (0121U100473).
STRUCTURAL OPTIMIZATION OF JET PUMP BASED ON BP NEURAL NETWORK
Authors: Liu Bo
Published: November 2023

With the increasing drilling depth, problems follow, such as the lifting height of the liquid in the well and increased pump operation. Therefore, improving the production efficiency of deep wells is a hot spot in the current oil drilling and production industry. This paper designs a new jet pump that can be mined for high and low-pressure oil layers according to the oil wells’ inter-layer contradiction. The FLUENT software is used to simulate the new jet pump, analyze the pump efficiency factors of the jet pump and the physical properties of the fluid, and the BP neural network is used to optimize the structure of the jet pump. The results show that the maximum pump efficiency of spout distance, duct diameter, duct distance, and spread angle is 2.61-5.22 mm, 6.393-8 mm, 42.5-53.2 mm, and 6-9°, respectively. The best spout distance, duct diameter, duct distance, and spread angle are 2.74 mm, 6.80 mm, 46.5 mm, and 7.4°after being optimized by the BP neural network model presented in this paper and the optimized pump efficiency is improved by 9.45%.