bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Enhancing Self-Efficacy, Quality of Life and Six-Minute Walking Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Yang Po-Chou , Lin I-Mei , Wu Da-Wei
Published: December 2024

Objective
Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a psychological intervention applied to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and improves their autonomic activation and pulmonary function. This study explored the effects of HRVB on self-efficacy, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and heart rate variability (HRV) indices under the Six-Minute Walking Test (6MWT) in patients with COPD.
Methods
A total of 53 patients with COPD were assigned to either an HRVB group (n = 26) or a control group (n = 27), both received standard medical care. The HRVB group also participated in one hour weekly for six weeks. All participants completed assessments using the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory pre-test and post-test. The 6MWT was administered to measure HRV during baseline, walking, and recovery stages.
Results
Significant improvements in self-efficacy and quality of life for the HRVB group, with a significant increase in post-test compared to pre-test and the control group. Additionally, the HRVB group exhibited a significant decrease in HRV reactivity and increased HRV recovery at the post-test compared to the pre-test.
Conclusion
These findings indicated that HRVB effectively enhances self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with COPD while improving autonomic function. Therefore, HRVB could be a valuable component of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD.
Determining and Comparing the Level of Motivation for Exercise According to the Sociodemographic Characteristics of University Students
Authors: Ahsan Mohammad , Ali Mohammed Feroz , Alam Mumtaz
Published: December 2024

Background
Motivation levels for exercise vary widely among individuals and are influenced by various factors. This study aimed to compare exercise motivation levels and explore influencing factors among university students.
Methods
A cross-sectional research design targeted university students aged 18 to 32. Participants (n = 148) were selected via cluster random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire assessed motivating factors for exercise. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient to assess differences among demographic variables (year of study, age, gender, marital status, location, and family size) and relationships between motivational aspects.
Results
The average exercise motivation level among all students was 166.94 ± 32.20. Fifth-year students exhibited the highest motivation (178.33 ± 30.37). No significant gender differences were found (p = 0.149). However, age (p = 0.024), location (p = 0.015), marital status (p = 0.050), and family size (p = 0.030) significantly influenced exercise motivation.
Conclusion
University students demonstrate inherent motivation for physical activity, with significant variations observed across demographic factors. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to promote exercise and enhance student well-being. Further research, including longitudinal studies, is warranted to comprehensively understand exercise motivation dynamics in this population.
Implementation of a Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Sexual Health Clinic in a High-Volume Cancer Centre
Authors: Matthew Andrew , Incze Taylor , Stragapede Elisa , Guirguis Steven , Neil-Sztramko Sarah , Elterman Dean
Published: December 2024

Background
Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among cancer survivors, significantly impacting patient and partner quality of life. Despite this, sexual health clinics (SHCs) remain rare in cancer centres across Canada. An innovative clinic was developed at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada to address this significant gap in survivorship care. This study examines factors affecting the provision of sexual healthcare and the implementation of a sexual health clinic within a large urban centre.
Methods
The Quality Implementation Framework was used to explicate patient and provider experience and identify barriers and facilitators to integrating sexual healthcare into routine cancer care workflows. Healthcare providers and patients representing selected cancer types (prostate, cervical, ovarian, testicular, bladder, kidney, and head and neck cancer) participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the Framework qualitative analysis protocol.
Results
The analysis identified three organizing domains and ten themes that describe the unique aspects of the sexual healthcare experience and critical factors for sexual health implementation. Both patients and providers described a lack of sexual health support in the oncology setting and emphasized the need for comprehensive and personalized care. Limitations of current care provision included mutual silence between patients and providers due to discomfort in discussing sexual issues, insufficient provider confidence in delivering optimal sexual healthcare, and constraints related to space and time. Key Factors for implementing a sexual health clinic in oncology emphasized the importance of having a dedicated clinic, flexibility in service delivery, proactive patient engagement, and ongoing staff education.
Conclusions
Findings highlight significant challenges in addressing sexual health in an oncology setting, underscoring the need for specialized sexual health clinics that are integrated with, but distinct from, routine oncology care. This study further emphasizes the need for incorporating sexual healthcare in survivorship programs as well as the necessity of conducting thorough implementation research, involving multiple stakeholders, prior to launching new programs.
Global and regional burden of ischemic stroke disease from 1990 to 2021: an age-period-cohort analysis
Authors: Zhu Weimin , He Xiaxia , HuangMD Daochao , Jiang Yiqing , Hong Weijun , Ke Shaofa , Wang En , Wang Feng , Wang Xianwei , Shan Renfei , Liu Suzhi , Xu Yinghe , Jiang Yongpo
Published: December 2024

Ischemic stroke is a significant global public health issue that impacts health burdens across various regions. This study analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to assess the incidence, mortality, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) associated with IS worldwide and across different Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions. Using Joinpoint regression and Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models, we examined trends in disease burden and made projections for 2022 to 2035. As of 2021, approximately 7,804,449 (95% UI, 6,719,760–8,943,692) individuals were affected by ischemic stroke, resulting in 3,591,499 (95% UI, 3,213,281–3,888,327) deaths and 70,357,912 (95% UI, 64,329,576 − 76,007,063) DALYs. These numbers represent increases of 88.0%, 55.0%, and 52.4% since 1990. Despite these increases, age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates are declining, with annual percentage change rates (AAPC) of -0.578%, -0.927%, and − 14.372%, consistent across all SDI regions. The global rates of IS are influenced by age, period, and cohort, showing increased rates with age but declining over time, particularly in high SDI regions. Major risk factors include hypertension, environmental pollution, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Projections indicate that by 2035, incidence, mortality, and DALYs will rise among those aged 45 and above, while decreasing for those under 35. This highlights the urgent need for preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting ischemic stroke, particularly for individuals over 45, while addressing the impact of major risk factors in high-burden regions.
Evaluating percent correct shade identification: A practical approach to intraoral scanner and shade device performance
Authors: Hein Sascha , Nold Julian , Masannek Matthias , Westland Stephen , Spies Benedikt C. , Wrbas Karl Thomas
Published: December 2024

Objectives The study aimed to assess the percent correct shade identification of four intraoral scanners (IOS) and a spectrophotometer, focusing on how reliably each device selects the correct tooth shade compared to a visual observer’s selection. The research question addresses how much clinicians can trust the device-selected shade without visual verification. Materials and Methods Sixteen participants with natural, unrestored teeth were included. The teeth evaluated were tooth 21 (left maxillary central incisor), tooth 23 (left maxillary canine), and tooth 26 (first left maxillary molar). Tooth color was measured using four IOS devices and the Vita Easyshade V in three regions: incisal, middle, and cervical. The nearest 3D Master shade selected by each device was compared to the visual observer’s selection. The percent exact match, acceptable match (> 1.2, ≤ 2.7 ∆Eab), and mismatch type A (< 2.7, ≤ 5.4 ∆Eab) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-square test with a 95% confidence level. Results The overall clinical pass rate was highest for Carestream (78.2%), followed by Easyshade (63.5%), Primescan (51.2%), Trios (39.5%), and Medit (31.3%). Carestream also recorded the highest rate of mismatch type A (47.7%). Significant differences between devices were observed for all categories (p < 0.05). Conclusions Carestream demonstrated the highest overall clinical pass rate, while Medit exhibited the lowest. The study highlights the variability between devices in shade matching performance. Clinical Relevance This study highlights the importance of considering device performance when relying on IOS or spectrophotometers for shade selection without visual assessment, as the reliability can vary significantly across devices.
Changes of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia Among Chinese Children, 2019-2023
Authors: Hong Ping , Wu YueMing , Gan Lu , Cai Bin , Gao Yu , Lei Lei , Jie Fei , Cao ShiYan , Zhou Lin
Published: December 2024

Objective
To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae-associated hospitalizations among children in Shanghai, a south province of China before, during and post-COVID-19 Pandemic (2019-2023).
Methods
From January 2019 to December 2023, an observational cross-sectional study was conducted, and the trend, season distribution and age group of hospitalization children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was investigated. The clinical data of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in 2019 and 2023 were compared to describe the changes in the two periods of Mycoplasma pneumoniae prevalence.
Results
1123 children hospitalized by mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia were rolled. The number of hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia peaked in 2019（411cases） and 2023（548 cases）, during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), and the cases decreased significantly, especially in 2020 (37 cases). Children aged 3-7 years account for the majority of hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia，208 cases (50.6%) in 2019,22 cases (59.5%) in 2020,56 cases (65.1%),18 cases (43.9%) in 2022. However, 267 children (48.7%) aged > 7 years old age in 2023. The mean time of duration of fever before admission and total duration of fever in 2023 were longer than those in 2019(4.91±2.48 days vs 3.91±2.60 days , P=0.000; 5.56±3.34 days vs 4.51±3.31 days, P=0.000，respectively).Cases of severe pneumonia and labor pneumonia in 2023, post the COVID-19 pandemic, were higher than those in 2019( 195(35.6%) vs60(14.6%),P=0.000; 288(52.6%)vs 113(27.5%),P=0.000，separately).
Conclusion
During COVID-19 epidemic, the number of hospitalizations for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia decreased exceedingly. The seasonal prevalence of mycoplasma pneumoniae was not changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The time of fever and the proportion of lobar and severe pneumonia in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia were increased post the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metatarsal Osteotomy for the Treatment of Chronic Metatarsalgia: A Clinical, Radiological and Pedobarographic Analysis
Authors: Felsberg Maria , Schilde Sebastian , Kroeber Isabella , Arbab Dariusch , Panian Matti , Delank Karl-Stefan , Gutteck Natalia
Published: December 2024

Introduction:
Metatarsalgia is a widespread symptom complex with demanding treatment. The Weil osteotomy and the distal minimally invasive metatarsal osteotomy (DMMO) are both considered appropriate surgical treatment modalities and have been shown to result in comparable outcomes in previous studies.
Materials and Methods
In this retrospective study, 77 patients with chronic metatarsalgia were included. 41 patients (44 feet) received DMMO and 36 patients (40 feet) received Weil osteotomy. They followed clinical, radiological, and pedobarographic examination in a comparative study.
Results
Compared to DMMO, Weil osteotomy seems to result in a higher rate of wound healing disorders and wound infections. The appearance of floating toes tended to be higher in the Weil-group without reaching a statistically significant level. Improvement in postoperative AOFAS score was comparable in both groups.Pedobarographically, the DMMO group showed a particularly decrease of metatarsal peak pressure and a favorable shifting in the pressure-time integral.
Conclusion
DMMO and Weil osteotomy equally improved AOFAS and FFI Scores. The pedobarographic results indicated a significantly better postoperative pressure redistribution after DMMO compared to Weil osteotomy. DMMO was advantageous regarding the rate of wound healing impairments making it an attractive procedure in patients with risk profile.
Exosomes derived from endothelial progenitor cells enhance osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells by activating the MAPK dependent pathway
Authors: Liang Yanming , Xiao Jiajun , Yu Jiayu , Sun Ting , Liu Ming , he xiaoning
Published: December 2024

Recent studies have shown that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) could enhance osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through multiple paracrine signals. However, the role of EPCs-derived exosomes (EPCs-exos) in osteogenesis has been rarely reported, and little is known regarding their underlying mechanisms. This study attempted to investigate the underlying mechanism by which EPCs-exos promotes osteogenesis of MSCs. EPCs-exos was isolated by supercentrifugation and characterized by western blot, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nano particle analysis (NTA). Internalization of EPCs-exos was observed via a laser confocal microscope. The effects of EPCs-exos on the regulation of MSCs biological properties were investigated in vivo and in vitro. The expression of osteogenesis markers and calcium nodule formation was quantified by qRT-PCR, western blotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin Red staining. Rat critical-sized calvarial bone defects model was used to assess the efficacy of EPCs-exos on bone regeneration. Real-time PCR array and western blotting were performed to explore possible signaling pathways involved in osteogenesis. Results showed that EPCs-exos could be internalized by MSCs, which exhibited greater ALP activity and increased calcium mineral deposition and improved osteogenic markers expression. EPCs-exos combined with MSCs could improve bone regeneration in vivo. These data suggest that EPCs-exos influence the biological function and promote MSCs osteogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was involved in this process. Activation of the p38MAPK pathway may be the key to enhancing MSCs osteogenic differentiation.
Do viral-associated pathways underlie the immune activation during the acute phase of severe major depression?
Authors: Maes Michael , Zhang Yingqian , Plaimas Kitiporn , Suratanee Apichat , Li Jing , Almulla Abbas F.
Published: December 2024

Background
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and its most severe phenotype, major dysmood disorder (MDMD), are distinguished by the activation of the immune-inflammatory response system, T cell activation, and a relative T regulatory cell suppression. Nevertheless, these immune data were not used to characterize the features of the immune protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of MDMD.
Objectives
To identify the network's nodes and bottlenecks as well as the biological processes that are overrepresented in the PPI network, we conducted PPI network, annotation, and enrichment analyses.
Results
The PPI network analysis has identified the following backbone genes: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), interleukin (IL)6, CXCL12, CXCL10, CCL5, cluster of differentiation (CD)4, CD8A, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, and FOXP3. A “cellular and defense response”, an “immune response system response”, and “a viral process that involves viral protein interaction with cytokines and cytokine receptors” were all highly associated with the network. The chemokine network and TNF and nuclear factor-κB (NFKB) pathways are additional biological pathways that are enriched in the PPI network. Molecular complex detection extracted one component from the data, including viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptors and “regulated by RELA” (an NFKB subunit).
Conclusions
Viral processes may underlie the activation of T cells and the cytokine and chemokine networks that are associated with MDMD. Future research on the pathogenesis of MDMD and MDD should examine whether and which viral infections are associated with the onset of these conditions, or whether viral reactivation is associated with the recurrence of illness.
Targeted Limbic Self-Neuromodulation for Alleviating Central Sensitization Symptoms in Fibromyalgia
Authors: Or-Borichev Ayelet , Lerner Yulia , Hamrani Yael , Gurevitch Guy , Mor Netali , Doron Maayan , Sarna Noam , Ablin Jacob N. , Hendler Talma , Sharon Haggai
Published: December 2024

Background
Fibromyalgia (FM), involving somatic, cognitive, and affective domains is often regarded as a hallmark central sensitization syndrome. Despite limited current therapeutic options, emerging understanding of its neural underpinnings offers the potential of applying novel neuromodulation strategies. Specifically, limbic dysregulation underlying abnormalities in pain modulation and somatic-affective processing, has been shown to play a key role in FM. Here, we assessed the long-term efficacy of targeted limbic self-neuromodulation for improving clinical disease burden in FM.
Method
Forty-seven FM patients participated in a double-blind, randomized, dual-control study employing a novel specialized neurofeedback probe representing amygdala activity. Patients underwent 10 sessions of either genuine (NFT = 21) or sham (NFS = 13) training, or treatment as usual (TAU = 13). Disease burden was assessed using the Symptom Severity Score (SSS), alongside other questionnaires pre- and post-treatment. Clinical follow-up was performed 10–12 months post-intervention.
Results
NFT resulted in significant immediate and long-term reduction in SSS (F(2,40) = 7.32, p = 0.00, ηp2 = 0.27) and the FIQ (F(2,40) = 9.85, p = 0.00, ηp2 = 0.33), alongside multidomain short and long-term clinical benefits. NFS resulted in a long-term decrease in pain, but not in other disease measures or overall disease burden. The TAU group exhibited no clinical improvements.
Conclusions
Our findings support the intimate involvement of limbic brain areas in the pathophysiology of FM and suggest that targeted neuromodulation offers a novel mechanism-based approach to managing multidomain symptoms in FM.
Trial registration
This study was preregistered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Registration number NCT02146495. Name of trial registry Targeted Limbic Selfmodulation as a Potential Treatment for Patients Suffering From Fibromyalgia. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02146495
Comparative analysis of clinical characteristics of drug-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and viral pneumonia in children under 6 years of age
Authors: 杨 月 , Zhang Yuxiang , Liang Xuan , Qi Jing , Zhang Rongfang
Published: December 2024

Purpose
Comparative analysis of differences in clinical features and laboratory findings between macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumoniae (MRMPP) and viral pneumonia in children under 6 years of age.
Methods
In this study, 213 children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to the pediatrics department of Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from March 2023 to August 2024 were selected and divided into the MRMPP group and the viral pneumonia group according to the results of Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and the general data, clinical characteristics, laboratory examinations, chest CT and fiberoptic bronchoscopic manifestations of the two groups were compared and analyzed.
Results
There were 145 cases (68.1%) in the MRMPP group and 68 cases (31.9%) in the viral pneumonia group. The incidence of severe illness was 59.3% and 29.4% in the MRMPP and viral pneumonia groups, respectively. The MRMPP group showed a higher proportion of fever, longer total duration of fever, more likely to hear moist rales and diminished breath sounds, and more likely to have wheezing and sputum sounds in the viral pneumonia group. The MRMPP group was dominated by increased levels of N%, CRP, D-D, and ESR, and the viral pneumonia group was dominated by increased levels of WBC, L%, Alb, ALT, and AST, and chest CT was more likely to show lobar pneumonia and lung consolidation, and the rates of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, bronchial inflammatory stenosis, and plasmacytoid bronchitis were higher.
Conclusions
Despite the differences in clinical features and laboratory tests between MRMPP and viral pneumonia in children under 6 years of age, it is difficult to differentiate them in clinical practice, and the use of tNGS may help to clarify the etiology of the infection when it is difficult to do so.
Using virtual reality to enhance mobility, safety, and equity for persons with vision loss in urban environments
Authors: Ricci Fabiana Sofia , Ukegbu Charles K , Krassner Anne , Hazarika Sanjukta , White Jade , Porfiri Maurizio , Rizzo John-Ross
Published: December 2024

This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) as an innovative tool to enhance awareness, acceptance, and understanding of accessibility for persons with vision loss (VL). Through a VR-based workshop developed in collaboration with New York City's Department Of Transportation, participants experienced immersive simulations of VL and and related immersive mobility challenges. The methodology included pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, assessing changes in participants’ knowledge, confidence, and perception. Participants included urban planners, designers, and architects. Results showed a significant increase in awareness of VL-related challenges that affect design guidelines, as well as improved confidence in addressing such challenges. Participants also expressed strong support for VR as a pedagogical tool, noting its potential for reshaping professional practices, improving capacity building, and enhancing inclusive design. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of VR as an experiential learning platform, fostering empathy and a long-term commitment to integrating VL considerations into urban design. These findings highlight the transformative potential of VR in advancing equity and accessibility in urban environments.
Albumin orchestrates a natural host defense mechanism against mucormycosis
Authors: Pikoulas Antonis , Morianos Ioannis , Nidris Vassilis Nidris , Hamdy Rania , López-López Ángeles , Moran-Garrido Maria , Muthu Valliappan , Halabalaki Maria , Papadovasilaki Maria , Irene Kyrmizi , Gu Yiyou , Aerts Robina , Mercier Toine , Vanbiervliet Yuri , Cho Sung-Yeon , Spallone Amy , Samonakis Dimitrios , Kastritis Efstathios , Drakos Elias , Tzardi Maria , Eliopoulos Aristides , Georgila Konstantina , Carvalho Agostinho , Kurzai Oliver , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash , Lanternier Fanny , Petratos Kyriacos , Maertens Johan , Bruno Vincent , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios , Barbas Coral , Soliman Sameh , Ibrahim Ashraf , Chamilos Georgios
Published: December 2024

Mucormycosis is an emerging, life-threatening human infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Metabolic disorders uniquely predispose an ever-expanding group of patients to mucormycosis via poorly understood mechanisms. Therefore, it is highly likely that uncharacterized host metabolic effectors confer protective immunity against mucormycosis. Here, we uncover a master regulatory role of albumin in host defense against Mucorales through the modulation of the fungal pathogenicity program. Our initial studies identified severe hypoalbuminemia as a prominent metabolic abnormality and a biomarker of poor outcome in independent cohorts of mucormycosis patients. Strikingly, we found that purified albumin selectively inhibits Mucorales growth among a range of human pathogens, and albumin-deficient mice display susceptibility specifically to mucormycosis. The antifungal activity of albumin is mediated by the release of bound free fatty acids (FFAs). Importantly, albumin prevents FFA oxidation, which results in loss of their antifungal properties. A high degree of FFA oxidation is found in the sera of patients with mucormycosis. Physiologically, albumin-bound FFAs blocks the expression of the mycotoxin mucoricin and renders Mucorales avirulent in vivo. Overall, we discovered a novel host defense mechanism that directs the pathogen to suppress its growth and the expression of virulence factors in response to unfavorable metabolic cues regulated by albumin. These findings have major implications for the pathogenesis and management of mucormycosis.
Object Detection Based on Enhancement of Subtle Features in Low-Illumination Images
Authors: yu li , wang jiawei
Published: December 2024

This study discusses the issue of target detection in low-light environments, which is of great significance for improving traffic safety, enhancing the perception capabilities of autonomous driving, and intelligent surveillance systems. Addressing the challenges of image detection under low-light conditions, such as low brightness, weak contrast, and noise interference, this paper selects the YOLOv5 model for improvement research and primarily proposes a new type of attention mechanism, ICA, which integrates IRMB and CA attention mechanisms to more accurately identify inconspicuous features and reduce the interference of irrelevant information. Additionally, to address contrast issues caused by uneven lighting, this paper replaces the original YOLOv5 up-sampling operator with the CARAFE operator, which dynamically generates adaptive up-sampling kernels through content-aware methods and aggregates contextual information within a larger receptive field, thereby enhancing the model's object recognition capabilities. Lastly, to cope with the variability of objects in low-light environments, this paper introduces the ASFF module, which further enhances the model's detection performance for multi-scale targets by adaptively learning the fusion weights of each scale feature map. Through multiple training sessions, more suitable parameter settings for training are found, further enhancing the model's performance. The proposed model is named YOLOV5-ICAs.
Proca stars in excited states
Authors: Joaquin Carlos , Alcubierre Miguel
Published: December 2024

In this paper we consider families of solutions for excited states of Proca stars in spherical symmetry. We focus on the first two excited configurations and perform a series of fully non-linear dynamical simulations in order to study their properties and stability. Our analysis reveals that excited Proca stars are always unstable against even very small perturbations, and their dynamical evolution can lead to three different final states: collapse to a black hole, dissipation, or migration to a different configuration in the ground state. We find that migration to the ground state can only occur in a small region of the parameter space of solutions with negative binding energy.
PACS numbers: 04.20.Ex, 04.25.Dm, 95.30.Sf
Association Between Internet Addiction and Insomnia Among College Freshmen: A Moderated Chain Mediation Effect of Emotion Regulation and Anxiety
Authors: Yu Ye , Zhang Li , Su Xuejian , Zhang Xinfeng , Deng Xiaopeng
Published: December 2024

Background: The advancement of the information age has led to the widespread use of the internet, accompanied by numerous internet-related issues that often correlate with various physical and mental health conditions, particularly among college freshmen. We examined the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and insomnia among these students, using emotion regulation (ER) and anxiety as mediators and gender as a moderating variable.
Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 7353 college freshmenat Yangtze University in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China. The survey assessed their IA, ER, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms. PROCESS was employed to analyse the mediation and moderation effects.
Results: ER and anxiety served as chained mediators in the relationship between IA and insomnia. Moderated mediation analysis revealed that males were more adept at predicting insomnia levels on the basis of IA, whereasfemales were more likely to predict insomnia through ER or by influencing anxiety via ER.
Limitations: First, the use of multiple assessment tools should be considered to increaseobjectivity. Second, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Third, a multicentersample survey is needed to explore this relationship further.
Conclusion: IA can exacerbate insomnia in college freshmenby compromising their ER, subsequently triggering anxiety symptoms. The process differs by gender, suggesting tailored strategies for each. These findings may play crucial rolesin promoting the physical and mental well-being of college freshmen.
Behaviorally-relevant features of observed actions dominate cortical representational geometry in natural vision
Authors: Han Jane , Chauhan Vassiki , Philip Rebecca , Taylor Morgan , Jung Heejung , Halchenko Yaroslav , Gobbini M. Ida , Haxby James , Nastase Samuel
Published: December 2024

We effortlessly extract behaviorally relevant information from dynamic visual input in order to understand the actions of others. In the current study, we develop and test a number of models to better understand the neural representational geometries supporting action understanding. Using fMRI, we measured brain activity as participants viewed a diverse set of 90 different video clips depicting social and nonsocial actions in real-world contexts. We developed five behavioral models using arrangement tasks: two models reflecting behavioral judgments of the purpose (transitivity) and the social content (sociality) of the actions depicted in the video stimuli; and three models reflecting behavioral judgments of the visual content (people, objects, and scene) depicted in still frames of the stimuli. We evaluated how well these models predict neural representational geometry and tested them against semantic models based on verb and nonverb embeddings and visual models based on gaze and motion energy. Our results revealed that behavioral judgments of similarity better reflect neural representational geometry than semantic or visual models throughout much of cortex. The sociality and transitivity models in particular captured a large portion of unique variance throughout the action observation network, extending into regions not typically associated with action perception, like ventral temporal cortex. Overall, our findings expand the action observation network and indicate that the social content and purpose of observed actions are predominant in cortical representation.
Situation analysis of clinical education during teaching hospitals based on the standards of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Hazrati Hakimeh , Nojomi Marzieh , Vahedi Leila
Published: December 2024

Background: Clinical education forms the foundation and core of medical education, playing a pivotal role in shaping medical students' professional identities This study examined the current state of clinical teaching within the teaching hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in two phases: questionnaire design and psychometric evaluation, and questionnaire administration. The study analyzed the status of clinical teaching in two teaching hospitals at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software.
Results: The overall impact score, CVI, and CVR index for the questionnaire titled "Situation Analysis of Clinical Education from the Students' Perspective" were 4.88, 0.96, and 0.90, respectively. For the questionnaire titled "Situation Analysis of Clinical Education from the Teachers' Perspective," the scores were 4.78, 0.92, and 0.91. A total of 97 students and 46 clinical professors completed the questionnaires. Both groups reported higher compliance with standards in the morning report (77.28% for students and 71.37% for professors) compared to other areas. However, in the clinical skills center (43.5% for students and 44.71% for professors), compliance was reported to be lower. Additionally, students reported low compliance with journal club standards, with only 35% meeting the required standards.
Conclusion: This study identified a weakness in the implementation of standards in the clinical skills center and the lack of practical evaluation methods in different areas of clinical education. As the clinical skills unit prepare students for clinical practice, it will be important for health policy-makers to give priority to the unit and to improve the teachingof teachers in the skills workshops, particularly in relation to changes in the evaluation process of students in clinical areas.
A Green and Verified High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Technique for the Concurrent Measurement of a Few Veterinary Drug Residues in Milk
Authors: Sattar Osama I. Abdel , Abuseada Hamed H. M. , Emara Mohamed Saleh , Rabee Mahmoud
Published: December 2024

Milk is a dietary item that is often consumed due to its high nutritional value. Milk containing residues of veterinarian medications is dangerous for human health and could negatively impact consumers. These leftovers are becoming more widely recognized as a developing environmental problem. This study developed and refined a chromatographic method for the simultaneous identification of specific veterinary medication residues in milk samples. The drugs that were selected were Sulfadimidine (SDD), Flunixin Meglumine (FNM), and Imidocarb Dipropionate (IMD). An ODS Hypersil C18 column with UV detection at 270 nm was used to perform the separation. A flow rate of 1 mL/min of 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 3: acetonitrile: methanol (55: 30: 15; by volume) used as the mobile phase. The target medicines were extracted from milk using a protein precipitation process that used methanol as a deproteinization agent prior to analysis. The suggested technique worked well for measuring the drug residues in milk samples that had been tampered with. In order to confirm that the suggested approach was an environmentally friendly and green analytical method, its greenness and environmental impact were also assessed.
Co-production in sleep and circadian research: a scoping review of current practices and future directions
Authors: Gale Emma Louise , Manrai Raahat , Caddick Lorna , Murray Aja , Whalley Heather C , Smith Daniel , Gardani Maria
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Sleep is essential for mental and physical health and research in the field has substantially expanded over the past fifty years. Co-production methodology has been increasingly used within health and social care research and refers to collaboration between researchers, policy makers, community partners and wider stakeholders. The aim of this scoping review was to detail the use of co-production methods within sleep research.
Methods: A review of the existing literature was conducted using seven databases following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Search terms included objective and subjective sleep outcomes, and the use of co-production research methodologies.
Results: Sixteen studies were included in the final review: ten studies used solely qualitative co-production methods to inform intervention design and development (sleep as a primary outcome (n=5) and as a secondary outcome (n=5)) and six studies used co-production methodologies to establish sleep as a priority outcome for future research. Most studies used consultation approaches to design interventions (n=8), instead of using co-design teams (n=2). Two studies focusing on intervention development recruited participants from clinical populations with poor sleep, other studies recruited from those with other underlying conditions or a healthy population.
Discussion: The most common limitations of the included studies were small sample size, researcher driven topics/domains for the PAR components, under-representative samples and COVID-19 pressures. Future sleep research should consider the use of co-production methodologies from the study conceptualisation, through to the design, development and implementation of research to further benefit the intended research population.
Optimizing Credit Card Fraud Detection with Random Forests and SMOTE
Authors: P SUNDARAVADIVEL , R Augustian Isaac , D.Elangovan  , Raj K. D. Krishna , Rahul L. R. V. V. Lokesh , Raja R.
Published: December 2024

Credit card fraud is a growing concern in the financial industry, necessitating the development of efficient detection methods to minimize financial losses. In this project, we built a machine learning-based system to detect fraudulent transactions using a publicly available dataset of credit card transactions. The dataset, highly imbalanced with fraudulent transactions representing less than 0.2% of the total, was processed using techniques like Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) to handle class imbalance. Various classification algorithms, including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Neural Networks, were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in identifying fraudulent activities. The Random Forest model emerged as the best performing algorithm with an accuracy of 99.5% and a high recall score, indicating its robustness in detecting fraudulent transactions. This system can be deployed in real-time financial systems to enhance fraud prevention mechanisms and ensure secure financial transactions.
Einfluss nicht-antibiotischer Pharmazeutika auf die Kolonisation mit multiresistenten Erregern bei akuter Dekompensation der Leberzirrhose
Authors:   , Janz Malte
Published: December 2024

Patienten mit einer Leberzirrhose haben ein erhöhtes Risiko bakterielle Infektionen zu entwickeln, zugleich sind bakterielle Infektionen der häufigste identifizierbare Auslöser der akuten Dekompensation und des akut-aufchronischem Lebersagen. Die CANONIC- und die PREDICT-Studie zeigten einen deutlichen Anstieg der Prävalenz von Infektionen mit multiresistenten Erregern (MRE) und eine relevant erhöhte Mortalität bei MRE-Infektionen.
Kürzlich konnte zudem gezeigt werden, dass MRE-Infektionen oft eine MRE-Kolonisation mit demselben Erreger vorausgingen. Es ist mittlerweile bekannt, dass auch nicht-antibiotische Pharmazeutika wie z.B. Metformin, Protonen Pumpen Inhibitoren und atypischer Neuroleptika Einfluss auf die Komposition des intestinalen Mikrobioms und einer möglichen MRE-Selektion nehmen. Der Einfluss nicht-antibiotischer Medikamente auf die Kolonisation mit MRE und deren prognostische Relevanz bei Patienten mit Leberzirrhose ist ungeklärt.
In unserer retrospektiven Studie konnten wir 324 Patienten mit akuter Dekompensation (AD) oder akut-auf chronischem Leberversagen (ACLF), rektalem MRE-Screening zu Beginn der Intensivbehandlung und lückenloser Dokumentation zur Medikation vor Aufnahme einschließen. Das Patientenkollektiv wurde mit univariaten- und multivariaten logistischen Regressionsanalysen auf einen möglichen Einfluss von nicht-antiinfektiven Medikamenten auf eine MRE-Kolonisation untersucht und ein Propensity-Score Matching zur Reduktion von Verzerrungseffekten durchgeführt.
Beim MRE-Screening zu Baseline zeigten 97 Patienten-bzw. 29,9% der Gesamtkohorte eine de novo MRE-Kolonisation, und 35 Patienten bzw. 10,8 % entwickelten während des Follow-ups eine MRE-Infektion. Patienten mit einer denovo MRE-Kolonisation zeigten eine signifikant erhöhte Rate von MREInfektionen, im Vergleich zu Patienten ohne MRE-Kolonisation (18 % vs. 7 %, p=0,0098). Patienten mit einer MRE-Infektion hatten wiederum eine signifikant höhere Mortalität als Patienten ohne MRE-Infektion (p=0,026). Für die MREKolonisation zeigte sich ein Trend zu einer erhöhten Mortalität (p=0,0967).
Unter den untersuchten nicht-antibiotischen Pharmazeutika war eine Terlipressin-Therapie der einzige unabhängige Prädiktor für eine MREKolonisation. Die MRE-Kolonisationsrate in der Terlipressin-Kohorte war signifikant erhöht (83,3 % vs. 33,3 %, p <0,0001). In der multivariaten Analyse zeigte sich entsprechend ein signifikant erhöhtes Risiko für eine MREKolonisation (Gesamtkohorte OR 12,6 (95%-KI 4,04-39,0, p=<0,0001; gematchten Kohorte OR 6,79 (95%-KI 1,55-29,79, p =0,011).
Zusammenfassend ergaben unsere Analysen ein signifikant erhöhtes Risiko einer de novo MRE-Kolonisation für Patienten mit AD oder ACLF, die innerhalb der letzten 2 Wochen eine Terlipressin-Therapie erhalten hatten. Zugleich hatten Patienten mit einer de novo MRE-Kolonisation ein signifikant erhöhtes Risiko für eine MRE-Infektion, welche mit einer erhöhten Mortalität assoziiert ist.
Theory and History of „Governmentality“ and Governmental Regimes in The Work of Michel Foucault
Authors: Urošević Milan
Published: December 2024

In this article we reconstruct and systematize the theoretical apparatus used by Michel Foucault in his research on the phenomenon of governance, as well as his investigations into specific governing regimes that have existed in the history of Western modernity. The aim of the article is to contribute to the resolution of conceptual confusion that has accompanied the governmentality studies since their emergence in the early 1990s and thereby facilitate the development and application of this perspective in future research. The article begins by situating Foucault’s research on governance within the broader context of his career and highlighting the socio-political conditions under which Foucault changed the direction of his academic work towards this field. We will then proceed with a systematic exposition of some of Foucault’s basic concepts like “practice”, “power” and “dispositive”. We will also highlight how the problematic of governance entered his work through the concepts of “pastorality” and “subjectivity”. In the next section we will reconstruct the theoretical apparatus Foucault used when researching government and governmental regimes. Here we will point out the specific meaning the notion of “governmentality” has in his research and how it is used to signify rationalities embodied in governmental regimes. Considering this theoretical apparatus, we will, in the second part of this section, reconstruct the history of governmental regimes in Foucault’s work starting from the regime of raison d’État in early modernity, through the liberal regime of governance in 18th and 19th centuries and concluding with the neoliberal regime. In conclusion, we will reflect on the advantages that the perspective of governmentality studies offers in researching the social world.
A Novel Method for Forensic Examination of Bribery Cases Using Alpha-Naphtholphthalein
Authors: Das Rahul , Mishra Vichar , Mishra Jayati
Published: December 2024

Background: Corruption is one of the major issues of India and other third world countries. Anti-corruption Bureau, detective agencies and various Forensic Science Laboratories make use of indicator dyes/detective dyes, such as, Phenolphthalein and Anthracene for catching a person involved in taking bribe, red-handed. This study aims to solve the issue of fading out of colour and fluorescence due to extraneous substances, often encountered in case of traditional dyes.  To overcome the limitations faced in case of traditional dyes, a new and innovative approach by using ?-naphtholphthalein [3,3-Bis(4-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one] has been developed. Results: The sensitivity of the method was evaluated and limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 243.2005 ?g/mL or ppm and 736.9712 ?g/mL or ppm respectively, with a regression coefficient of 0.987. Conclusion: Two pathways have been suggested in this study – Aerosol spray method and the traditional wash-solution method. The resulting wash solution and the turquoise blue coloured solution have been analysed using Acid-Alkali test, pH test, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Colorimetry and UV Spectrophotometry.
LIVING ON THE EDGE: HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT AND AGRICULTURE DESTRUCTION IN KERALA: A CASE STUDY ON PANAMARAM PANCHAYATH, WAYANAD DISTRICT
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Kannur University, Kerala., Shaharban V. , C.P Hanna ,   Masters Scholar, Department of Economics, Kannur University, Kerala.
Published: December 2024

Wayanad district in Kerala is basically an agrarian economy, but recently farmers in Wayanad facing many problems including crop destruction by wild animal attacks. Thisimpaires agriculture production, lowers income, has negative effects on education, health, and development in the long run.Human-wildlife strife may be a contentious issue within Kerala Western Ghats, as well as in other regions of India. This paper attempts to analyse the crop destruction due to human-wildlife conflict in agriculture sector and also to assess human casualties, various techniques adopted by farmers and government institutions to prevent wild animal attacks in PanamaramPanchayath of Wayanad district.
A CASE OF DYSEMBRYOPLASTIC NEUROEPITHELIAL TUMORIN AN ADOLESCENT MALE
Authors:   Pathology Department, Souss-Massa University Hospital, Agadir, Morocco., Miry Achref , Tbouda Mohammed ,   Radiation Therapy Department, Souss-Massa University Hospital, Agadir, Morocco., Barhdadi Boutaina ,   Mohammed V Military Hospital, Agadir, Morocco., Bouhajeb Youssef ,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Agadir, Agadir, Morocco., Amaoui Bouchra ,   Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Agadir, Agadir, Morocco., Safini Fatima ,   Ibn Rochd Pathology Center, Agadir, Morocco., Abbaoui Sanae ,   Al MassiraRadiology Center, Agadir, Morocco.
Published: December 2024

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) are low grade glioneuronal tumors frequently occurring in the pediatric population and in young adults. The correct diagnosis is based on Magnetic resonance Imaging, Immunohistochemistry, and identification of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and BRAF V600E mutations. These tumors are considered non-recurring lesions and gross total surgical resection are curative with disappearance of seizuresin up to 100% of cases. We report a 13-year-old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department for a generalized seizure, with a 5-year-history of iterative complex partial seizures for which he has been receiving valproic acid, with no improvement. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging was performedrevealing a 14x12mm, oval-shaped, circumscribed solido-cystic lesion, of the left fronto-parietal lobes cortex. A ring enhancing appearance could be also identified.Pathological assessment has revealedthe presence of a low-cellularity neoplastic proliferation made of round, uniform, mildly atypical cells, in an abundant myxoid stroma that contained numerous bundles of axons. Floating neurons were also observed. Follow-up of the patient showed a favorable evolution with complete disappearance of any seizures anti-convulsive therapy has been stopped.Follow-up MRI surveillance is planned in our patient.