bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the relationship between flexible working arrangements and employee performance: a mini review
Authors: Çivilidağ Aydın , Durmaz Şerife
Published: July 2024

This research aims to determine the relationship between flexible working arrangements (FWAs) and employee performance (EP). The research was conducted by reviewing studies in Web of Science (WoS), EBSCO and Google Scholar databases between 2010 and 2024. The research was screened in the databases in line with the inclusion criteria, which were determined as studies written in English, where data were collected by survey technique, data were analyzed by correlation, and those that met the criteria were included in the research. As a result of the preliminary screening, second screening, and screening in line with the inclusion criteria, the remaining 21 studies constituted the data set of this study. The correlation between FWAs and EP was [r(20) = 0.596, p < 0.05]. This value can be interpreted a significant and high-level relationship between them. According to the random model, Fisher’s Z and 95% CI (LL = 0.52 and UL = 0.84), Z = 8.45, measured an effect size of 0.35 p = 0.000. This value shows a moderate effect size according to Cohen’s d. FWAs have a positive effect on EP, productivity, job satisfaction, job stress, work-family harmony, and organizational commitment. It is recommended that organizations, managers, organizational psychology, and human resources professionals (HRP) should include FWAs in job analysis, job design, and planning.
Association between benzodiazepine anxiolytic polypharmacy and concomitant psychotropic medications in Japan: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Takeshima Masahiro , Yoshizawa Kazuhisa , Ogasawara Masaya , Kudo Mizuki , Itoh Yu , Ayabe Naoko , Shibata Nana , Mishima Kazuo
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Guidelines for various psychiatric disorders recommend short-term use of benzodiazepine anxiolytic monotherapy in few cases. Contrarily, benzodiazepine anxiolytic polypharmacy (BAP) is not recommended in any case. However, BAP is often used in real world. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between BAP and concomitant use of psychotropic medications.

Method

This retrospective cross-sectional study used claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center. Medical information of health insurance subscribers treated with benzodiazepine anxiolytics in June 2019 was extracted. Prescription of two or more benzodiazepine anxiolytics was defined as BAP. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with BAP, using age group, sex, type of subscriber, and number of concomitant hypnotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics (none, one, and two or more) as covariates.

Result

The eligible participants were 104,796 adults who were prescribed benzodiazepine anxiolytics. Among them, 12.6% were prescribed two or more drugs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that BAP was significantly associated with those who received hypnotic monotherapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001–1.09, p=0.04), antidepressant monotherapy and polypharmacy (aOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.51–1.63, p<0.001 and aOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.88–2.09, p<0.001, respectively), and antipsychotic monotherapy and polypharmacy (aOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07–1.19, p<0.001 and aOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.30–1.54, p<0.001, respectively). Conversely, lower BAP was associated with those who received hypnotic polypharmacy (aOR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.81–0.91, p<0.001).

Discussion

This study showed that the greater the number of concomitant antidepressants and antipsychotics, the greater the association with BAP. Since combination therapy with antidepressants or antipsychotics is generally not recommended, patients receiving combination therapy with these medications may be resistant to pharmacotherapy. Therefore, implementing the recommended non-pharmacological treatments may reduce BAP.
Regular exercise reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in socially isolated older adults: the Otassha Study
Authors: Ejiri Manami , Kawai Hisashi , Imamura Keigo , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Ihara Kazushige , Hirano Hirohiko , Obuchi Shuichi
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Social isolation is associated with increased mortality risk. On the other hand, some older adults prefer to be alone. Additionally, predictors of isolation are mostly unchanged across interventions. Therefore, knowledge of how to prevent negative health outcomes in isolation would be beneficial. One of the factors that reduces the risk of mortality is regular exercise. However, to date, no studies to our knowledge have examined whether regular exercise reduces mortality among socially isolated individuals. This study aimed to determine the effects of the combination of social isolation and regular exercise on mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was part of the larger Otassha Study of community-dwelling older adults living in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, Japan. In October 2012, 835 individuals (males = 350, females = 485; mean age 73.1 years) completed a comprehensive baseline health survey. Individuals were considered socially isolated if their frequency of interactions with others averaged less than once per week. Regular exercise was defined as exercise performed at least twice a week. The participants were assigned to one of the following four groups: (1) not isolated with regular exercise, (2) not isolated without regular exercise, (3) isolated with regular exercise, and (4) isolated without regular exercise. All-cause mortality information was obtained from the ward office database. Follow-ups were conducted until 1 November 2020. A Cox proportional regression analysis was performed.

Results

A final analysis was performed on a complete dataset of 735 participants (males = 303, females = 432; mean age 72.9 years). A total of 132 (18.0%), 426 (58.0%), 27 (3.7%), and 150 (20.4%) participants were assigned to groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The mortality rates in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 6.1%, 9.2%, 7.4%, and 19.3%, respectively. Compared with group 1, isolated individuals who did not perform regular exercise had a significantly higher mortality rate [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12–5.52]. However, no significant association was noted in isolated individuals who performed regular exercise (aHR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.26–5.91).

Conclusion

Regular exercise was associated with a decrease in mortality risk, regardless of social isolation status. Thus, our results indicate that encouraging isolated older adults to exercise regularly may reduce their negative health outcomes.
Head tracking using an optical soft tactile sensing surface
Authors: Gandhi Bhoomika , Mihaylova Lyudmila , Dogramadzi Sanja
Published: July 2024

This research proposes a sensor for tracking the motion of a human head via optical tactile sensing. It implements the use of a fibrescope a non-metal alternative to a webcam. Previous works have included robotics grippers to mimic the sensory features of human skin, that used monochrome cameras and depth cameras. Tactile sensing has shown advantages in feedback-based interactions between robots and their environment. The methodology in this paper is utilised to track motion of objects in physical contact with these sensors to replace external camera based motion capture systems. Our immediate application is related to detection of human head motion during radiotherapy procedures. The motion was analysed in two degrees of freedom, respective to the tactile sensor (translational in z-axis, and rotational around y-axis), to produce repeatable and accurate results. The movements were stimulated by a robot arm, which also provided ground truth values from its end-effector. The fibrescope was implemented to ensure the device’s compatibility with electromagnetic waves. The cameras and the ground truth values were time synchronised using robotics operating systems tools. Image processing methods were compared between grayscale and binary image sequences, followed by motion tracking estimation using deterministic approaches. These included Lukas-Kanade Optical Flow and Simple Blob Detection, by OpenCV. The results showed that the grayscale image processing along with the Lukas-Kanade algorithm for motion tracking can produce better tracking abilities, although further exploration to improve the accuracy is still required.
Predicting chronic responses to calcium channel blockade with a virtual population of African Americans with hypertensive chronic kidney disease
Authors: Clemmer John S. , Pruett W. Andrew , Hester Robert L.
Published: July 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with the progressive loss of functional nephrons and hypertension (HTN). Clinical studies demonstrate calcium channel blocker (CCB) therapy mitigates the decline in renal function in humans with essential HTN. However, there are few long-term clinical studies that determine the impact of CCBs in patients with hypertensive CKD. African Americans (AA) have a higher prevalence of CKD and a faster progression to total kidney failure as compared to the white population but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Both clinical evidence (the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension, or AASK trial) and experimental studies have demonstrated that CCB may expose glomerular capillaries to high systemic pressures and exacerbate CKD progression. Therefore, using a large physiological model, we set out to replicate the AASK trial findings, predict renal hemodynamic responses and the role of the renin-angiotensin system during CCB antihypertensive therapy in a virtual population, and hypothesize mechanisms underlying those findings. Our current mathematical model, HumMod, is comprised of integrated systems that play an integral role in long-term blood pressure (BP) control such as neural, endocrine, circulatory, and renal systems. Parameters (n = 341) that control these systems were randomly varied and resulted in 1,400 unique models that we define as a virtual population. We calibrated these models to individual patient level data from the AASK trial: BP and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) before and after 3 years of amlodipine (10 mg/day). After calibration, the new virtual population (n = 165) was associated with statistically similar BP and GFR before and after CCB. Baseline factors such as elevated single nephron GFR and low tubuloglomerular feedback were correlated with greater declines in renal function and increased glomerulosclerosis after 3 years of CCB. Blocking the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the virtual population decreased glomerular pressure, limited glomerular damage, and further decreased BP (−14 ± 8 mmHg) as compared to CCB alone (−11 ± 9 mmHg). Our simulations echo the potential risk of CCB monotherapy in AA CKD patients and support blockade of the renin angiotensin system as a valuable tool in renal disease treatment when combined with CCB therapy.
Male animal sterilization: history, current practices, and potential methods for replacing castration
Authors: Hess Rex A. , Park Chan Jin , Soto Sandra , Reinacher Lindsey , Oh Ji-Eun , Bunnell Mary , Ko CheMyong J.
Published: July 2024

Sterilization and castration have been synonyms for thousands of years. Making an animal sterile meant to render them incapable of producing offspring. Castration or the physical removal of the testes was discovered to be the most simple but reliable method for managing reproduction and sexual behavior in the male. Today, there continues to be global utilization of castration in domestic animals. More than six hundred million pigs are castrated every year, and surgical removal of testes in dogs and cats is a routine practice in veterinary medicine. However, modern biological research has extended the meaning of sterilization to include methods that spare testis removal and involve a variety of options, from chemical castration and immunocastration to various methods of vasectomy. This review begins with the history of sterilization, showing a direct link between its practice in man and animals. Then, it traces the evolution of concepts for inducing sterility, where research has overlapped with basic studies of reproductive hormones and the discovery of testicular toxicants, some of which serve as sterilizing agents in rodent pests. Finally, the most recent efforts to use the immune system and gene editing to block hormonal stimulation of testis function are discussed. As we respond to the crisis of animal overpopulation and strive for better animal welfare, these novel methods provide optimism for replacing surgical castration in some species.
Veterinary and pet owner perspectives on addressing access to veterinary care and workforce challenges
Authors: Niemiec Rebecca , Champine Veronica , Frey Danielle , Lobdell Allyce , Steele Apryl , Vaiden Claire , Kogan Lori , Mertens Andrew
Published: July 2024

Objectives

(1) Assess and compare the perceptions of pet owners and veterinary professionals pertaining to the extent of veterinary workforce and access to care challenges in 2023 in Colorado, and (2) Assess what programs, policies, and resources veterinary professionals and pet owners believe would be most effective at addressing access to care and workforce challenges in Colorado.

Sample

736 veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or practice/owner manager (“veterinary professionals”) in Colorado. A total of 1,209 pet owners (919 from an online survey and 290 from in-person surveying).

Procedures

Distribution of an online anonymous survey to veterinary professionals in Colorado. Pet owners were surveyed both online and in-person at pet pantry or shelter events.

Results

Veterinary professionals reported significant workforce challenges, including having to frequently divert clients, clients forced to decline medical care or having to euthanize their pets due to cost. Veterinary professionals were especially supportive of policy efforts to enhance recruitment and retention of technicians, including through mechanisms such as clarifying their scope of practice, loan repayment programs, and enhancing career pathways. Colorado pet owners’ responses pertaining to the scope of access to care challenges were similar to prior national research. Pet owners reported particularly needing low-cost emergency clinics in their community as well as resources to reduce the cost of care. Pet owners were generally supportive of expanding veterinary care access through telemedicine; indicating they would feel comfortable seeing a veterinarian via telemedicine, even for the first time, and that expanded use of telemedicine would increase their ability to obtain care.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Colorado pet owners and veterinary professionals both identified numerous access to care challenges as well as indicated support for the development of several potential initiatives to address the problem. Low-cost clinics that provide sick and emergency care was the resource rated as being most helpful among pet owners. Further exploration of grants, voucher programs, expansion of telemedicine, increased utilization and title protection for CVTs, and the creation of the veterinary professional associate position are all initiatives that were noted to be worthy of further exploration.
The role of immunotherapy in early-stage and metastatic NSCLC
Authors: Lieber Attila , Makai Attila , Orosz Zsuzsanna , Kardos Tamás , Isaac Susil Joe , Tornyi Ilona , Bittner Nóra
Published: July 2024

In the past decade we have seen new advances and thus remarkable progress in the therapeutic options for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among cytostatic therapies with new approaches in molecularly targeted therapies, we see new developments in a wide range of applications for immunotherapies. In this review we discuss the new potential modalities for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the frontlines, including in early-stage (perioperative) and metastatic settings. The perioperative use of ICIs in both neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings may show benefits for patients. In early-stage NSCLC (from stage IIB and above) a multimodality approach is recommended as the gold standard for the treatment. After surgical resection platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard of care for many years. Based on the benefit of disease-free survival, the approval of adjuvant atezolizumab and adjuvant pembrolizumab was a significant breakthrough. In the metastatic setting, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy, regardless of PD-L1 expression or ICI alone (PD-L1 expression equal to or greater than 50%) also improves overall survival and progression-free survival.
Qualitative Content and Discourse Analysis Comparing the Current Consent Systems for Deceased Organ Donation in Spain and England
Authors: Rees Kate , Mclaughlin Leah , Paredes-Zapata David , Miller Cathy , Mays Nicholas , Noyes Jane
Published: July 2024

England switched to an opt-out system of consent in 2020 aiming to increase the number of organs available. Spain also operates an opt-out system yet has almost twice the organ donations per million population compared with England. We aimed to identify both differences and similarities in the consent policies, documents and procedures in deceased donation between the two countries using comparative qualitative content and discourse analysis. Spain had simpler, locally tailored documents, the time taken for families to review and process information may be shorter, there were more pathways leading to organ donation in Spain, and more robust legal protections for the decisions individuals made in life. The language in the Spanish documents was one of support and reassurance. Documents in England by comparison appeared confusing, since additions were designed to protect the NHS against risk and made to previous document versions to reflect the law change rather than being entirely recast. If England’s ambition is to achieve consent rates similar to Spain this analysis has highlighted opportunities that could strengthen the English system-by giving individuals’ decisions recorded on the organ donor register legal weight, alongside unifying and simplifying consent policies and procedures to support families and healthcare professionals.
Optimization Comparison of Torque Performance of Axial-Flux Permanent-Magnet Motor Using Differential Evolution and Cuckoo Search
Authors: Ge Wei , Xiao Yiming , Cui Feng , Wu Xiaosheng , Liu Wu
Published: July 2024

To improve the torque performance of the axial-flux permanent-magnet motor (AFPMM), differential evolution (DE) and cuckoo search (CS) are proposed for optimizing the motor’s structural parameters. The object of this research is an AFPMM with a single-rotor and double-stator configuration. Firstly, finite element analysis (FEA) and BP neural network machine learning (ML) were combined to obtain an ML calculator. This calculator is about the relationships between five input structural parameters of the motor and two output torque parameters (i.e., average torque and cogging torque). Then, an optimization objective function was designed to reduce the cogging torque while increasing the average output torque. And motor structural parameters were optimized using the DE and CS algorithms, respectively. Finally, air-gap flux density, average torque, cogging torque, and ripple torque before and after the optimization of the motor structure parameters are compared by FEA. The results show that both algorithms achieved almost the same optimized structural parameters. And the optimized motor has reduced cogging torque while increasing the average output torque and reducing the ripple torque. Compared with the CS, the DE is more advantageous in terms of faster iteration speed, shorter time to obtain the optimal solution, and less resource consumption.
Chitosan-Integrated Curcumin–Graphene Oxide/Copper Oxide Hybrid Nanocomposites for Antibacterial and Cytotoxicity Applications
Authors: Sanmugam Anandhavelu , Sellappan Logesh Kumar , Sridharan Abbishek , Manoharan Swathy , Sairam Ananda Babu , Almansour Abdulrahman I. , Veerasundaram Subha , Kim Hyun-Seok , Vikraman Dhanasekaran
Published: July 2024

This study deals with the facile synthesis of a single-pot chemical technique for chitosan–curcumin (CUR)-based hybrid nanocomposites with nanostructured graphene oxide (GO) and copper oxide (CuO) as the antibacterial and cytotoxic drugs. The physicochemical properties of synthesized hybrid nanocomposites such as CS-GO, CS-CuO, CS-CUR-GO, and CS-CUR-GO/CuO were confirmed with various advanced tools. Moreover, the in vitro drug release profile of the CS-CUR-GO/CuO nanocomposite exhibited sustained and controlled release during different time intervals. Also, the antibacterial activity of the CS-CUR-GO/CuO hybrid nanocomposite presented the maximum bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli pathogens. The hybrid nanocomposites revealed improved cytotoxicity behaviour against cultured mouse fibroblast cells (L929) via cell adhesion, DNA damage, and proliferation. Thus, the chitosan-based hybrid nanocomposites offer rich surface area, biocompatibility, high oxidative stress, and bacterial cell disruption functionalities as a potential candidate for antibacterial and cytotoxicity applications.
Fracture and Damage of Slit Charge Blasting in the Layered Rock Mass
Authors: Ding Chenxi , Su Hong , Yang Haitao , Xiao Chenglong
Published: July 2024

Directional fracture blasting technology of the slit charge has broad application prospects in the drilling and blasting construction of the layered rock mass. In this paper, the method of model experiment and numerical simulation is used to preliminarily explore the fracture damage characteristics of slit charge blasting in the layered rock mass. The results show that the blasting effect of the slit charge in the layered rock mass is significantly different from that of the unlayered rock mass, and the pressure relief of the blasting gas at the layer is the main factor affecting the blasting effect. The length of directional cracks in the slit direction is significantly larger than that in other directions, and the directional fracture effect of the slit charge in the layered rock mass can still be played well. However, both the directional crack length and the damage range of rock mass in the slit direction gradually decrease along the detonation direction. In addition, the damage value of a single-layer rock mass also decreases gradually along the detonation direction. In engineering practice, the directional fracture effect of the layered rock mass can be improved by detonating at both ends of the slit charge at the same time.
Improving YOLO Detection Performance of Autonomous Vehicles in Adverse Weather Conditions Using Metaheuristic Algorithms
Authors: Özcan İbrahim , Altun Yusuf , Parlak Cevahir
Published: July 2024

Despite the rapid advances in deep learning (DL) for object detection, existing techniques still face several challenges. In particular, object detection in adverse weather conditions (AWCs) requires complex and computationally costly models to achieve high accuracy rates. Furthermore, the generalization capabilities of these methods struggle to show consistent performance under different conditions. This work focuses on improving object detection using You Only Look Once (YOLO) versions 5, 7, and 9 in AWCs for autonomous vehicles. Although the default values of the hyperparameters are successful for images without AWCs, there is a need to find the optimum values of the hyperparameters in AWCs. Given the many numbers and wide range of hyperparameters, determining them through trial and error is particularly challenging. In this study, the Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Artificial Rabbit Optimizer (ARO), and Chimpanzee Leader Selection Optimization (CLEO) are independently applied to optimize the hyperparameters of YOLOv5, YOLOv7, and YOLOv9. The results show that the preferred method significantly improves the algorithms’ performances for object detection. The overall performance of the YOLO models on the object detection for AWC task increased by 6.146%, by 6.277% for YOLOv7 + CLEO, and by 6.764% for YOLOv9 + GWO.
Design of U-Shaped Frame of Spaceborne Turntable Based on Multi-Constraint Topology Optimization Method
Authors: Wang Jiahao , Ruan Ping , Xie Youjin , Han Jingyu , Peng Bo , Qu Yun
Published: July 2024

The spaceborne turntable is a piece of precision optical equipment utilized for monitoring space information and facilitating laser communication. The measurement accuracy of optical instruments is correlated to some extent with the mechanical properties of the structure. Addressing the design challenge posed by the U-frame in the spaceborne optoelectronic tracking and pointing turntable, this paper proposes a multi-constraint topology optimization method utilizing Abaqus/CAE and TOSCA. This method offers insights for U-frame design and has undergone scientific validation. Initially, the empirical design structure is established, optimization design areas are defined, and the initial model undergoes pre-processing in Abaqus/CAE. Subsequently, conceptual and mathematical models for topology optimization are developed, with the objective of minimizing structural compliance (thereby maximizing stiffness), and including constraints related to volume fraction, first-order natural frequency, and stress. Utilizing TOSCA, the U-frame topology optimization design is finalized, resulting in an optimized conceptual model. A comparative analysis of the optimized design against the empirical design structure demonstrates a significant 27.53% reduction in maximum stress, enhanced static stiffness, an increase of 11.48% in the first natural frequency, and a 4.3% reduction in mass. Moreover, the turntable that utilizes the optimized design structure not only meets reliability requirements in spacecraft structural design but also provides a stable platform for precise optical load alignment. The static and dynamic performance of the optimized U-frame has been enhanced, effectively mitigating the impact of external excitation on optical instrument measurement accuracy and meeting the lightweight design requirements for the U-frame, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the topology optimization method. This research offers valuable insights into U-frame design for spaceborne optoelectronic tracking and pointing turntables and carries significant guiding implications.
Performance—Based Route Selection for Mountainous Highways: A Numerical Approach to Addressing Safety, Hydrological, and Geological Aspects
Authors: Said Dalia , Foda Ahmed , Abdelhalim Ahmed , Elkhedr Mustafa
Published: July 2024

This study presents an innovative methodology for Highway Route Selection (HRS), specifically tailored for mountainous terrains. The approach focuses on selecting the most suitable route for road alignment while prioritizing road safety and hydrological and geological considerations. Through systematic analysis, the methodology evaluates alternative road alignments by examining various risk factors related to geometric design, hydrological, and geological impacts. Utilizing Fault-Tree Analysis (FTA), 14 key design factors related to geometric design and environmental factors are identified. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology in selecting road alignments that enhance safety and mitigate environmental risks. A case study is presented where a 90-km segment of a road in Egypt’s Golden Triangle Project, characterized by challenging terrain and diverse geological features, is examined. Through detailed analysis, the study identifies critical design factors to enhance road safety and minimize environmental impact. The methodology’s comprehensive approach offers insights into road design, providing a quantitative framework for decision-making and mitigation strategies.
Strip Steel Defect Prediction Based on Improved Immune Particle Swarm Optimisation–Improved Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique–Stacking
Authors: Fang Zhi , Zhang Fan , Yu Su , Wang Bintao
Published: July 2024

A model framework for the prediction of defects in strip steel is proposed with the objective of enhancing the accuracy of defect detection. Initially, the data are balanced through the utilisation of the Improved Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (ISmote), which is based on clustering techniques. Subsequently, further enhancements are made to the inertia weights and learning factors of the immune particle swarm optimisation (IPSO), with additional optimisations in speed updates and population diversity. These enhancements are designed to address the issue of premature convergence at the early stages of the process and local optima at the later stages. Finally, a prediction model is then constructed based on stacking, with its hyperparameters optimised through the improved immune particle swarm optimisation (IIPSO). The results of the experimental trials demonstrate that the IIPSO-ISmote-Stacking model framework exhibits superior prediction performance when compared to other models. The Macro_Precision, Macro_Recall, and Macro_F1 values for this framework are 93.3%, 93.6%, and 92.2%, respectively.
Correction: Taylor et al. A Statistical Forecasting Model for Extremes of the Fire Behaviour Index in Australia. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 470
Authors: Taylor Rachel , Marshall Andrew G. , Crimp Steven , Cary Geoffrey J. , Harris Sarah
Published: July 2024

In the original publication [...]
Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Strategies for Fashion Products Using Stochastic Fashion Level Function
Authors: Lu Wenhan , Yan Litan
Published: July 2024

The fashion apparel industry is facing an increasingly growing demand, compounded by the short sales lifecycle and strong seasonality of clothing, posing significant challenges to inventory management in the retail sector. Despite some retailers like Uniqlo and Zara implementing inventory management and dynamic pricing strategies, challenges persist due to the dynamic nature of fashion trends and the stochastic factors affecting inventory. To address these issues, we construct a mathematical model based on the mathematical expression of the deterministic fashion level function, where the geometric Brownian motion, widely applied in finance, is initially utilized in the stochastic fashion level function. Drawing on research findings from deteriorating inventory management and stochastic optimization, we investigate the fluctuation of inventory levels, optimal dynamic pricing, optimal production rates, and profits—four crucial indicators—via Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Analytical solutions are derived, and the numerical simulation is provided to verify and compare the proposed model with deterministic fashion level function models. The model emphasizes the importance of considering stochastic factors in decision-making processes and provides insights to enhance profitability, inventory management, and sustainable consumption in the fashion product industry.
Analyzing the Ricci Tensor for Slant Submanifolds in Locally Metallic Product Space Forms with a Semi-Symmetric Metric Connection
Authors: Li Yanlin , Aquib Md , Khan Meraj Ali , Al-Dayel Ibrahim , Masood Khalid
Published: July 2024

This article explores the Ricci tensor of slant submanifolds within locally metallic product space forms equipped with a semi-symmetric metric connection (SSMC). Our investigation includes the derivation of the Chen–Ricci inequality and an in-depth analysis of its equality case. More precisely, if the mean curvature vector at a point vanishes, then the equality case of this inequality is achieved by a unit tangent vector at the point if and only if the vector belongs to the normal space. Finally, we have shown that when a point is a totally geodesic point or is totally umbilical with n=2, the equality case of this inequality holds true for all unit tangent vectors at the point, and conversely.
HGTMDA: A Hypergraph Learning Approach with Improved GCN-Transformer for miRNA–Disease Association Prediction
Authors: Lu Daying , Li Jian , Zheng Chunhou , Liu Jinxing , Zhang Qi
Published: July 2024

Accumulating scientific evidence highlights the pivotal role of miRNA–disease association research in elucidating disease pathogenesis and developing innovative diagnostics. Consequently, accurately identifying disease-associated miRNAs has emerged as a prominent research topic in bioinformatics. Advances in graph neural networks (GNNs) have catalyzed methodological breakthroughs in this field. However, existing methods are often plagued by data noise and struggle to effectively integrate local and global information, which hinders their predictive performance. To address this, we introduce HGTMDA, an innovative hypergraph learning framework that incorporates random walk with restart-based association masking and an enhanced GCN-Transformer model to infer miRNA–disease associations. HGTMDA starts by constructing multiple homogeneous similarity networks. A novel enhancement of our approach is the introduction of a restart-based random walk association masking strategy. By stochastically masking a subset of association data and integrating it with a GCN enhanced by an attention mechanism, this strategy enables better capture of key information, leading to improved information utilization and reduced impact of noisy data. Next, we build an miRNA–disease heterogeneous hypergraph and adopt an improved GCN-Transformer encoder to effectively solve the effective extraction of local and global information. Lastly, we utilize a combined Dice cross-entropy (DCE) loss function to guide the model training and optimize its performance. To evaluate the performance of HGTMDA, comprehensive comparisons were conducted with state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, in-depth case studies on lung cancer and colorectal cancer were performed. The results demonstrate HGTMDA’s outstanding performance across various metrics and its exceptional effectiveness in real-world application scenarios, highlighting the advantages and value of this method.
Hypoglycemic Effect of Polysaccharides from Physalis alkekengi L. in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mice
Authors: Zhang Yun , Wang Minghao , Li Peng , Lv Ge , Yao Jing , Zhao Lin
Published: July 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common metabolic disease that adversely impacts patient health. In this study, a T2DM model was established in ICR mice through the administration of a high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to explore the hypoglycemic effect of polysaccharides from Physalis alkekengi L. After six weeks of treatment, the mice in the high-dosage group (800 mg/kg bw) displayed significant improvements in terms of fasting blood glucose concentration, glucose tolerance, serum insulin level, insulin resistance, and weight loss (p < 0.05). The polysaccharides also significantly regulated blood lipid levels by reducing the serum contents of total triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins and increasing the serum content of high-density lipoproteins (p < 0.05). Furthermore, they significantly enhanced the hepatic and pancreatic antioxidant capacities, as determined by measuring the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and the total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the P. alkekengi polysaccharides can increase the expression of GPR43 in mice colon epithelial cells, thereby promoting the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1. In summary, P. alkekengi polysaccharides can help to regulate blood glucose levels in T2DM mice and alleviate the decline in the antioxidant capacities of the liver and pancreas, thus protecting these organs from damage.
Screening of Secretory Proteins Linking Major Depressive Disorder with Heart Failure Based on Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis and Machine Learning
Authors: Zhang Chuanjing , Song Yongfei , Cen Lichao , Huang Chen , Zhou Jianqing , Lian Jiangfang
Published: July 2024

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) plays a crucial role in the occurrence of heart failure (HF). This investigation was undertaken to explore the possible mechanism of MDD’s involvement in HF pathogenesis and identify candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of MDD with HF. Methods: GWAS data for MDD and HF were collected, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to investigate the causal relationship between MDD and HF. Differential expression analysis (DEA) and WGCNA were used to detect HF key genes and MDD-associated secretory proteins. Protein–protein interaction (PPI), functional enrichment, and cMAP analysis were used to reveal potential mechanisms and drugs for MDD-related HF. Then, four machine learning (ML) algorithms (including GLM, RF, SVM, and XGB) were used to screen candidate biomarkers, construct diagnostic nomograms, and predict MDD-related HF. Furthermore, the MCPcounter algorithm was used to explore immune cell infiltration in HF, and MR analysis was performed to explore the causal effect of immunophenotypes on HF. Finally, the validation of the association of MDD with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the performance assessment of diagnostic biomarkers was accomplished based on animal models mimicking MDD. Results: The MR analysis showed that the MDD was linked to an increased risk of HF (OR = 1.129, p < 0.001). DEA combined with WGCNA and secretory protein gene set identified 315 HF key genes and 332 MDD-associated secretory proteins, respectively. Through PPI and MCODE analysis, 78 genes were pinpointed as MDD-related pathogenic genes for HF. The enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were predominantly enriched in immune and inflammatory regulation. Through four ML algorithms, two hub genes (ISLR/SFRP4) were identified as candidate HF biomarkers, and a nomogram was developed. ROC analysis showed that the AUC of the nomogram was higher than 0.90 in both the HF combined dataset and two external cohorts. In addition, an immune cell infiltration analysis revealed the immune dysregulation in HF, with ISLR/SFRP4 displaying notable associations with the infiltration of B cells, CD8 T cells, and fibroblasts. More importantly, animal experiments showed that the expression levels of ISLR (r = −0.653, p < 0.001) and SFRP4 (r = −0.476, p = 0.008) were significantly negatively correlated with LVEF. Conclusions: The MR analysis indicated that MDD is a risk factor for HF at the genetic level. Bioinformatics analysis and the ML results suggest that ISLR and SFRP4 have the potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers for HF. Animal experiments showed a negative correlation between the serum levels of ISLR/SFRP4 and LVEF, emphasizing the need for additional clinical studies to elucidate their diagnostic value.
Evaluating Sex Steroid Hormone Neuroprotection in Spinal Cord Injury in Animal Models: Is It Promising in the Clinic?
Authors: Coyoy-Salgado Angélica , Segura-Uribe Julia , Salgado-Ceballos Hermelinda , Castillo-Mendieta Tzayaka , Sánchez-Torres Stephanie , Freyermuth-Trujillo Ximena , Orozco-Barrios Carlos , Orozco-Suarez Sandra , Feria-Romero Iris , Pinto-Almazán Rodolfo , Moralí de la Brena Gabriela , Guerra-Araiza Christian
Published: July 2024

The primary mechanism of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) comprises the initial mechanical trauma due to the transmission of energy to the spinal cord, subsequent deformity, and persistent compression. The secondary mechanism of injury, which involves structures that remained undamaged after the initial trauma, triggers alterations in microvascular perfusion, the liberation of free radicals and neurotransmitters, lipid peroxidation, alteration in ionic concentrations, and the consequent cell death by necrosis and apoptosis. Research in the treatment of SCI has sought to develop early therapeutic interventions that mitigate the effects of these pathophysiological mechanisms. Clinical and experimental evidence has demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of sex-steroid hormone administration after traumatic brain injury and SCI. The administration of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone has been associated with neuroprotective effects, better neurological recovery, and decreased mortality after SCI. This review evaluated evidence supporting hormone-related neuroprotection over SCI and the possible underlying mechanisms in animal models. As neuroprotection has been associated with signaling pathways, the effects of these hormones are observed on astrocytes and microglia, modulating the inflammatory response, cerebral blood flow, and metabolism, mediating glutamate excitotoxicity, and their antioxidant effects. Based on the current evidence, it is essential to analyze the benefit of sex steroid hormone therapy in the clinical management of patients with SCI.
Genetic Insights into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Bhumika  , Bora Nalini S. , Bora Puran S.
Published: July 2024

One of the major causes of vision impairment among elderly people in developed nations is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The distinctive features of AMD are the accumulation of extracellular deposits called drusen and the gradual deterioration of photoreceptors and nearby tissues in the macula. AMD is a complex and multifaceted disease influenced by several factors such as aging, environmental risk factors, and a person’s genetic susceptibility to the condition. The interaction among these factors leads to the initiation and advancement of AMD, where genetic predisposition plays a crucial role. With the advent of high-throughput genotyping technologies, many novel genetic loci associated with AMD have been identified, enhancing our knowledge of its genetic architecture. The common genetic variants linked to AMD are found on chromosome 1q32 (in the complement factor H gene) and 10q26 (age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 and high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 genes) loci, along with several other risk variants. This review summarizes the common genetic variants of complement pathways, lipid metabolism, and extracellular matrix proteins associated with AMD risk, highlighting the intricate pathways contributing to AMD pathogenesis. Knowledge of the genetic underpinnings of AMD will allow for the future development of personalized diagnostics and targeted therapeutic interventions, paving the way for more effective management of AMD and improved outcomes for affected individuals.
Tensile-to-Shear Crack Transition in the Compression Failure of Steel-Fibre-Reinforced Concrete: Insights from Acoustic Emission Monitoring
Authors: Jiang Zihan , Zhu Zhiwen , Accornero Federico
Published: July 2024

Steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) has been increasingly used in the field of engineering structures in recent years. Hence, the accurate monitoring of the fracturing process of in-service SFRC has considerable significance in terms of structural safety. This paper investigates the acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) features characterising the damage behaviour of SFRC samples in compression. For all the tests, cumulated AE, b-value, βt coefficient, average frequency, and rise angle are considered to describe the actual SFRC failure mechanisms. The results show that SFRC exhibits enhanced toughness compared to normal concrete (NC), with an indicated transition from a brittle to a ductile structural behaviour. This improved behaviour can be attributed to the bridging effect of steel fibres, which also drives the progressive tensile-to-shear crack transition, thus being the main cause of the final SFRC failure. As the loading rate increases, there is a corresponding increase in the number of shear cracks, leading to a decrease in the overall ductility and toughness of SFRC. Moreover, since the number of shear cracks notably increases right before SFRC fracture, this can serve as a safety warning of the impending failure. Furthermore, the cumulated AE curve displays a strong discontinuity in the occurrence of an unstable fracturing process in SFRC, which can also be forecasted by the AE time-scaling coefficient βt. The AE and DIC features can be used as failure precursors in the field of structural surveying, offering an accurate technical support for engineering failure warnings.
Factor Analysis for In Situ Reinforced Concrete Beam Production: A Principal Component Analysis Approach
Authors: Ekyalimpa Ronald , Kanyike Carlton , Ruhangaatwiine Methodius , Tiruneh Getaneh Gezahegne , Liu Hexu
Published: July 2024

The construction industry, a driver for economic development worldwide, faces productivity challenges in Uganda, particularly in labour-intensive activities like in situ concrete beam construction. This study aims to identify and rank the factors influencing the production rate of reinforced in situ concrete beam construction in Kampala and Wakiso districts using principal component analysis (PCA). These factors including but not limited to weather, beam design and site conditions represent the independent variables while the production rate is the dependent variable. These variables were contextualized using a mixed-method approach in which data were collected from 20 construction sites through on-site measurements, a literature review and interviews. PCA was then employed to analyse the data and isolate the most influential factors on production rate, singling out beam length, daily temperature, the number of helpers, and the number of steel fixers, with average coefficients of 0.98, 0.882, 0.78, and 0.36, respectively, as the most significant. Therefore, this study provides an empirical ranking of factors influencing in situ concrete beam construction production rates, offering a foundation for better resource allocation and project management in Uganda’s construction sector.
Fluid Grey: A Co-Living Design for Young and Old Based on the Fluidity of Grey Space Hierarchies to Retain Regional Spatial Characteristics
Authors: Qiu Yayan , Lai Ih-Cheng
Published: July 2024

Architectural design and urban renewal that adapt to an ageing society and are localized are urgent needs around the world. On the other hand, the concept of grey space, which refers to transitional space and is an in-between concept, has been proposed since the 1980s, but few studies have further explored its hierarchy, fluidity, and relationship with regional characteristics. Therefore, this study hopes to use the fluidity of the grey space hierarchy to solve the problem of design that adapts to an ageing society and preserves regional characteristics. This study mainly focuses on the spatial characteristics of Beitou Heart Village, summarizes five grey space hierarchies and fluidity modes, and finally designs social housing for young and old cohabitation in a bottom-up manner based on them, restoring local unique neighborhood care and multi-ethnic communication methods. There are three innovations in this study: (1) defining the division method of the grey space hierarchy; (2) exploring the richness and scalability of the grey space hierarchy in terms of fluidity; (3) using the grey space hierarchy to achieve neighborhood care and multi-ethnic communication, making social housing for urban renewal more people-oriented and retaining spatial regional characteristics. This paper may provide a theoretical foundation and practical help for grey-space-based design and urban renewal in the future.