bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining the perceived risk of lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) among hookah users in Iran
Authors: Rajabi Abdolhalim , Cheperli Abdurraouf , Shahryari Ali , Charkazi Abdurrahman , Zarghami Fatemeh
Published: January 2024

Introduction
Hookah consumption is harmful to human health and can cause various diseases. Developing lung cancer and other lung diseases are one of the health consequences of hookah consumption. Measuring the perceived risk of being diagnosed with these conditions among hookah users is necessary. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the perceived risk of lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in hookah users in Iran.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted with a descriptive-analytical approach on 340 hookah users. These people were recruited through available sampling. The information on the perceived risk of participants was collected through a questionnaire on the perceived risk of lung cancer and COPD. Data were analyzed through descriptive tests and multiple linear regression tests. These analyses were performed using Stata statistical software version 17.
Results
The average age of the participants was 28.14 ± 7.22 years and the average for duration of their consumption with the current pattern was 4.29 ± 3.81 years. From all the participants, 286 people (84.1%) were men. The mean and standard deviation of the perceived risk for lung cancer was 8.41 ± 5.50 and for COPD was 8.51 ± 5.58 out of 20 possible scores. The results of multiple linear regression generally showed that the predictor variables accounted for 40% of the changes in the perceived risk of lung cancer (F(22, 317) = 11.25, p < 0.001) and 41% of the changes in the perceived risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (F(22, 317) = 12.11, p < 0.001). The results indicated that people with lung cancer and COPD, who use other forms of tobacco, people who are in preparation and contemplation stages of change, and those who have a negative attitude toward hookah reported higher perceived risks. In terms of gender variables, compared to men, women had a higher perceived risk of COPD, but this difference has not been observed with lung cancer.
Conclusion
In general, the perceived risk of developing lung cancer and COPD among hookah users was low. Therefore, it is necessary to provide widespread information about the potential harm of hookah in causing lung cancer and COPD, at the community level. Also, targeted interventions should be developed for those who use other forms of tobacco along with hookah and people who are not thinking of quitting hookah. There should be extensive knowledge dissemination at the population level to correct misconceptions that hookah is harmless, non-addictive, and it’s easy to quit.
Research on Collaborative Control Technology of Pressure Relief and Support for Retaining Roadway along Goaf with Hard Roof
Authors: Guo Shuai , Liu Xuyao , Zhang Dongjie , Wang Chengshuai , Wu Xiangye
Published: January 2024

According to field observation of the deformation of the reserved roadway with a hard roof, the shrinkage of the roof and floor on the goaf side is greater than on the coal side, and the surrounding rock of the road is in a long-term rheological deformation state. Through theoretical analysis, the relationship between the tensile stress of the rock and the top cutting and pressure relief parameters is expounded. In a certain range, with increasing cutting height and cutting angle, the tensile stress of the hard rock strata without top cutting is also greater, which is conducive to caving the roof. Through numerical simulation analysis, when the cutting height and cutting angle are 7m and 15 °, respectively, the deformation and stress of the surrounding rock are small and tend to be stable. Combined with theoretical calculation and construction cost, this parameter is determined to be the best top cutting parameter. Based on the failure causes of the retaining road along the hard roof and the need for strengthening support of the roof, the synergistic surrounding rock control technology of pressure relief and support is proposed. After adopting the surrounding rock control technology of roof cutting and pressure relief + constant resistance large deformation anchor cable of constant resistance support, the maximum deformation of the roof and floor of the reserved roadway is reduced from 750mm to 322 mm, and the maximum deformation of the solid coal is reduced from 486mm to 205mm. The surrounding rock control effect is good. The successful application of this technology improves the recovery rate of 090109 working face in Baigou Coal Mine and realizes the sustainable development and utilization of coal resources. It also provides guidance and reference for the control of surrounding rocks with similar roof conditions.
Optimal pile spacing considering soil arching effect for composite pile-supported foundation pit
Authors: Zhang Dashuai , Zhao Honghua , Yang Hong , Lu Zhao , Wang Jiangfeng , Tan Yong
Published: January 2024

The study aims to investigate the optimal spacing of piles in composite pile-supported excavations. By considering the characteristics of the composite pile support structure and the distribution of soil sliding forces behind the piles, this study formulated a simplified soil arch model in the shape of a semi-elliptical line. Utilizing static equilibrium conditions and the limit equilibrium theory, the study successfully developed a computational model for the soil arch in composite pile-supported excavations and derived the corresponding formula for calculating pile spacing. The accuracy and reliability of this method were validated through practical engineering cases. A systematic analysis of key factors, including cohesion, internal friction angle, and soil pressure, was conducted to reveal their influence on pile spacing. The results indicate an increasing trend in pile spacing with higher cohesion, a nonlinear increase with an elevated internal friction angle, and a decrease in pile spacing with greater soil pressure. The proposed formula for pile spacing is applicable not only to composite pile-supported excavations but also for calculating pile spacing in scenarios with identical-sized pile support, highlighting its broad generality and applicability. The research offers a dependable theoretical foundation for the secure and economically efficient design of composite pile support structures in engineering practice.
A systematic review of Hyperpartisan News detection: A Comprehensive Framework for Definition, Detection, and Evaluation
Authors: Maggini Michele Joshua , Bassi Davide , Otero Pablo Gamallo , Piot Paloma , Dias Gaël
Published: January 2024

Hyperpartisan news detection employs advanced technological methods to identify news articles characterized by extreme bias, reporting information in a highly polarized manner. The spread of such news could lead to detrimental effects in terms of social cohesion and facts-perception.
This systematic review delves into the uncharted territory of hyperpartisan news detection, where a conspicuous absence of comprehensive studies has left a void in scholarly discourse. Following the PRISMA methodology, we selected 80 pertinent articles.
The paper commences by addressing the inherent challenges arising from disparate and ambiguous definitions of hyperpartisan found in existing literature. Through a meticulous analysis, we propose a refined and comprehensive definition of hyperpartisan news, serving as a foundational framework for subsequent exploration.
The review systematically evaluates Non-Deep Learning, Deep Learning (i.e. non-Transformer and Transformer-based methods), and mixed approaches employed in the identification of hyperpartisan content across various studies. By scrutinizing methodologies, algorithms, and key features, we categorize and compare their performances, shedding light on their efficacy and limitations.
Furthermore, we conducted an examination of 36 datasets utilized in diverse studies, offering insights into the commonalities and variations in data sources. This inclusive dataset analysis contributes to a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced in the development and validation of hyperpartisan news detection models.
This paper not only pioneers the systematic review of hyperpartisan news detection, but also establishes a robust foundation for future research endeavors in this critical domain. We emphasize the necessity of standardized definitions, rigorous evaluation metrics, and shared datasets to advance the field.
Chitosan/Alginate-loaded Astragalus hamosus shows ameliorating effects on lipid profile, inflammatory and hormonal parameters, and reduces miRNA-222 expression in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats
Authors: Bostani Rashid Jafardoust , Kohnehshahri Maryam Parvini , Tabatabaei Zohreh Ghazi , Pouryaee Ata
Published: January 2024

Objective
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Chitosan/Alginate-loaded Astragalus hamosus extract (AH) on the expression of miRNA-222 and ESR1 genes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, lipid profiles, and sex hormone levels in rats with PCOS-induced by estradiol valerate (EV).
Methods
25 female Wistar rats, with an average weight of 180 g, were divided into control and PCOS groups. The PCOS model was induced by a single intramuscular injection of EV (4 mg/kg). After 28 days of PCOS induction, the rats were orally administered Chitosan/Alginate-loaded AH at doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg. Following four weeks of treatment, histological and biochemical parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokines, body weight, and the expression of miRNA-222 and ESR1 genes were evaluated.
Results
EV-induced PCOS rats exhibited a significant increase in body weight, abnormal lipid profiles, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, altered sex hormone levels, upregulation of miRNA-222 expression, and downregulation of ESR1 gene expression. The administration of Chitosan/Alginate-loaded AH (Chn/Al-AH) demonstrated ameliorative effects on the PCOS rats, restoring both endocrine and metabolic abnormalities to normal levels and attenuating complications in EV-induced PCOS rats. Notably, it significantly reduced miRNA-222 expression and promoted follicular development at various stages while reducing cystic follicles and increasing corpus luteum formation.
Conclusions
Chn/Al-AH was found to have beneficial effects in attenuating and improving certain complications in the PCOS rat models.
Stakeholder Perceptions of Dementia in Colombia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Barragan Alejandra Guerrero , Cuesta Diego Ivan Lucumi
Published: January 2024

Background: The global rise in dementia prevalence poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where resources for diagnosis, treatment, and support are constrained. Addressing this issue, the World Health Organization’s 2017-2025 global action plan on dementia envisions a future where dementia is preventable, and individuals with dementia and their caregivers receive dignified support.
Methods: Employing a qualitative research design, this study explores stakeholder perspectives on dementia in Colombia, framed by the World Health Organization's global action plan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 key stakeholders, representing academia, government, and the community. Data were analyzed using framework analysis.
Results: The interviews revealed a lack of recognition and prioritization of dementia as a public health concern in Colombia. Stakeholders expressed consensus on several challenges, including inadequate community awareness, persistent stigma, insufficient services across care levels, a lack of education for healthcare professionals, and a deficit in research characterizing the dementia population. Paradoxically, participants noted a positive trend, indicating growing awareness among both scientific and non-scientific populations.
Conclusions: Dementia must urgently be recognized as a public health priority in Colombia. The identified barriers underscore the struggles faced by individuals with dementia and their families, emphasizing the critical need for increased community and governmental awareness.
Functional Imaging Guided Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) with Focal Dose Escalation and Bladder Trigone Sparing for Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer: STUDY PROTOCOL FOR PHASE II SAFO TRIAL
Authors: Zapatero Almudena , Castro Pablo , Roch María , Carnero Pablo Rodríguez , Carroceda Sara , Rosciupchin Alexandra Elena Stoica , Hernandez Sergio Honorato , Cogorno Leopoldo , Iturriaga Alfonso Gómez , Garcia David Büchser
Published: January 2024

Background:
Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is an emerging treatment alternative for patients with localized low and intermediate risk prostate cancer patients. As already explored by some authors in the context of conventional moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy, focal boost of the index lesion defined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with an improved biochemical outcome. The objective of this phase II trial is to determine the effectiveness (in terms of biochemical, morphological and functional control), the safety and impact on quality of life, of prostate SABR with MRI guided focal dose intensification in males with intermediate and high-risk localized prostate.
Methods:
Patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer according to NCCN definition will be treated with SABR 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions to the whole prostate gland with MRI guided simultaneous integrated focal boost (SIB) to the index lesion (IL) up to 50 Gy in 5 fractions, using a protocol of bladder trigone and urethra sparing. Intra-fractional motion will be monitored with daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intra-fractional tracking with intraprostatic gold fiducials. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) will be allowed. The primary endpoint will be efficacy in terms of biochemical and local control assessed by Phoenix criteria and post-treatment MRI respectively. The secondary endpoints will encompass acute and late toxicity, quality of life (QoL) and progression-free survival. Finally, the subgroup of high-risk patients will be involved in a prospective study focused on immuno-phenotyping.
Discussion:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first trial to evaluate the impact of post-treatment MRI on local control among patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer undergoing SABR and MRI guided focal intensification. The findings from this trial will contribute to a deeper comprehension of treatment focal intensification using SABR technique within this patient subgroup, particularly those with high-risk disease, and to elucidate the value of MRI in monitoring local responses. Hopefully will also help to design more personalized biomarker-based phase III trials in this specific context. Additionally, this trial is expected to be incorporated into a prospective radiomics study focused on localized prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05919524; Registered 17 July 2023.
Designing Silvopastoral Systems: A Simulation Model Approach
Authors: Varela F. , Bussoni A. , Dieguez F.
Published: January 2024

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) can be analyzed as the differential evolution of forage, forest biomass, and livestock production that takes place under the canopy, in a temporal trajectory. SPS integrate cycles such as annual forage production, cattle fattening and medium to long-term forest development. The components’ interactions vary according to spatial arrangement, forest specie, animal category and stocking rate. Despite the importance, there is a lack of adapted tools that allow simulate them over a period, combining pasture-based meat and wood production. This research develops a computer tool called SimForGan, which is used for simulating forage and wood production, safe stocking rates, and economic performance in livestock and forestry systems. The tool is written in the .Net programming language and supports different database managers. It has been verified against a case study and other independent models for livestock and forestry. It considers environmental factors such as seasonal variations, thermal stress and solar radiation, which interact with the system components. The model allows projecting the forage intake and forage balance, considering the forest component and its effect on cattle. The system generates two main results, wood and meat production, influenced by the interactions between various components. This study allows us to elucidate the evolution of productive and economic variables over time, which can help decision-makers to plan Silvopastoral Systems at cattle ranchs. This archetype is also a conceptual representation of a generic Silvopastoral System, serving as a tool for the planning of medium and long time projections of these kinds of systems.
Inferring Object Boundaries and their Roughness with Uncertainty Quantification
Authors: Afkham Babak Maboudi , Riis Nicolai Andre Brogaard , Dong Yiqiu , Hansen Per Christian
Published: January 2024

This work describes a Bayesian framework for reconstructing the boundaries that represent targeted features in an image, as well as the regularity (i.e., roughness vs. smoothness) of these boundaries. This regularity often carries crucial information in many inverse problem applications, e.g., for identifying malignant tissues in medical imaging. We represent the boundary as a radial function and characterize the regularity of this function by means of its fractional differentiability. We propose a hierarchical Bayesian formulation which, simultaneously, estimates the function and its regularity, and in addition we quantify the uncertainties in the estimates. Numerical results suggest that the proposed method is a reliable approach for estimating and characterizing object boundaries in imaging applications, as illustrated with examples from X-ray CT and image inpainting. We also show that our method is robust under various noise types, noise levels, and incomplete data.
Ancient DNA: a promising tool for understanding the evolutionary history and human pressure in the highly endangered limpet Patella ferruginea
Authors: Espinosa Free , Haile James , Finlayson Stewart , Giles-Guzman Francisco , Finlayson Geraldine , Finlayson Clive , Fa Darren A.
Published: January 2024

The use of ancient DNA has been proved as a powerful tool in phylogeny and phylogeographic studies. Nonetheless, its application in the field of conservation has been limited. Moreover, marine mollusc shells are well-preserved in the fossil record, providing invaluable information about the past. However, the extraction of DNA from ancient shells constitutes a challenge and only recently it has performed. In this context, Patella ferruginea has been the target of intense research due to its endangered status in the Mediterranean, with several genetic approaches always using fresh soft tissue samples. In the present study and for the first time, DNA from shells either modern and ancient has been successfully extracted and sequenced in this species indicating that COI haplotypes were the same than those already sequenced in previous studies based on those fresh soft tissue samples. The fact that DNA retrieved from the Middle Age had been sequenced in this species, promotes further research to compare genetic diversity between ancient and present populations to assess the impact of glacial periods or human harvesting in sharping the genetic diversity in this flagship species.
Comparison of the type and prevalence of cardiac involvement among children hospitalized with COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tariverdi Marjan , Rajaei Shahrokh , Pourzare Saeed , Kargarfard Mohammad Reza , Mahmoudi Masoume
Published: January 2024

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019, more than 772 million individuals have been infected. There are numerous reports and studies about the complications and effects of this viral disease on different systems of the body. One of the important complications of COVID-19 in children is a condition named “Multisystem Inflammatory syndrome in Children (MIS-C)” which has some manifestations similar to Kawasaki disease or sepsis.
Methods: In this study, we retrospectively compared the cardiac complications of COVID-19 and MIS-C in individuals under 18 years old of age, admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Bandar-Abbas, Iran, in an 18-months period of time.
Results: The prevalence of mitral regurgitation in MIS-C and COVID-19 groups was 36.4% and 15.6%, respectively. The prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation in MIS-C and COVID-19 groups was 62.8% and 34.6%, respectively. The prevalence of positive result for troponin enzyme level in MIS-C and COVID-19 groups was 24.2% and 7.4%, respectively.
Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of cardiac involvement in MIS-C patients was greater than COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the most cardiac complications among these groups of patients were tricuspid regurgitation and mitral regurgitation.
The effect of natural salinity on seed germination, seedling establishment growth and selected biochemical properties of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
Authors: Omidi Heshmat , Keshavarzi Mohammad Hosein Bijeh , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2024

In dry and semi-arid climates, soil and water salinity reduces plant development and productivity. Due to salty land development and loss of arable land, identifying therapeutic plants resistant to salinity or substances that decrease its effects is crucial. This study examined the seed germination, seedling establishment, and antioxidant potential of a novel Stevia rebaudiana (Stevia UEM-13) variety to natural salinity. We also examined how salinity affected biochemical and physiological changes in two separate experiments to a CRD with four replications in laboratory and greenhouse. Five degrees of salinity treatments were examined in the natural saltwater Lake of Qom: Control, 4, 8, 12, and 16 ds.m− 1. The germination percent, root and shoot seedling dry weight, biochemical properties (medicinal content), and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured. Results indicate considerable impact of salt stress on germination, growth, biochemical, and physiological alterations (P ≤ 0.01). Increasing salinity stress to 16 ds.m− 1 decreased germination (95.08%), root and shoot length (43.93 and 80.88%), seedling dry weight (7.22%), and the best germination and growth index (88.00%) was found in controlled conditions. Shoot osmolytes increased with salinity stress. Example: Maximum protein (31.96%), POD (125%), SOD (64.36%), proline (115%), and soluble sugar (238%), observed at leaves sprout under salt stress (16 ds.m − 1). This study shows that salt stress increases secondary metabolites (phenolic chemicals), which modify stevia responsiveness and therapeutic qualities. Salinity stress enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, carotenoids, anthocyanin, phenol, and malondialdehyde in shoots. The maximum activity was seen at a salinity stress level of 12 ds.m− 1. Changing irrigating procedures may modulate stevia's secondary metabolites (medicinal contents).
Fever lasting 48 hours as a predictive factor of ESBL-producing E. coli in non-critically ill patients with urinary tract infection
Authors: Yoon Sungbin , Kim Hae-rim , Kim So Won , Yu Hoon
Published: January 2024

Background
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most prevalent urological condition worldwide; however, its management is increasingly challenging due to the increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. Choosing appropriate antibiotics for patients who have fever before receiving a culture result is challenging. We investigated the utility of fever at 48 h as a predictive factor for extended spectrum beta-lactamase -producing E. coli (EPEC).
Method
The study enrolled patients 394 patients hospitalized at Gangneung Asan Hospital for UTI from May 2017 to April 2021. Fever at 48 h of hospitalization was the analysis point, as this is when the response to antibiotic therapy manifest, although the results of antibiogram are not available. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the correlation between EPEC and fever at 48 h.
Result
Overall, 36.3% of patients had EPEC and 27.9% had fever at 48 h. In multivariate analysis, a significant association was found between EPEC and fever (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.30, P = 0.004)
Conclusion
Fever at 48 h is associated with EPEC, and could be considered a predictive factor for EPEC infection in patients with UTI. Antibiotic escalation may be considered in patients with fever at 48 h.
Relationship between gut microbiota and Hashimoto’ s thyroiditis: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Shao Xinran , Jiang Jiuzhi , Fei Xiang , Ying Zhang , Dongxiao Zhang , Jianchun Cui
Published: January 2024

Background
Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT)is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Observational studies have proved that the gut microbiome is related to the occurrence of HT, but the causal relationship between HT and gut microbiome. However, the causal-effect relationship between gut microbiome and HT remains to be determined.
Results
In this study, bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to explore the relationship between HT and gut microbiome. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) data of gut microbiota were obtained from the MiBioGen database, containing 18340 samples. HT data is from the IEU open GWAS database, which contains 568833 samples. The methods used for MR analysis in this paper include inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, weighted mode, Mr egger, and simple mode. F-statistics and sensitivity analysis were used to measure bias and reliability. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were used as instrumental variables (IVs) in MR studies.After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, we found a total of 9 bidirectional causal relationships between gut microbiome and HT. Five of them demonstrated the influence of gut microbiome on HT, respectively are genus Anaerostipes (OR = 1.239296,95%CI 1.03378–1.485669,p = 0.020389), family Alcaligenaceae (OR = 0.742608, 95%CI 0.61164–0.901619, p = 0.002645 )、genus Ruminococcaceae༈OR = 0.89581, 95%CI 0.810137–0.990542,p = 0.03193༉、genus Prevotella7 (OR = 0.895026,95%CI 0.810775–0.988031,p = 0.027898)、phylum Verrucomicrobia (OR = 0.838726,95%CI 0.722321–0.973889,p = 0.021051 ). Four described the effect of HT on the gut microbiome as follows, phylum Verrucomicrobia༈OR = 0.968114, 95%CI 0.938525–0.998637,p = 0.040743༉, class Deltaproteobacteria༈OR = 0.970233, 95%CI 0.942334–0.998958,p = 0.042353༉, family Verrucomicrobiaceae༈OR = 0.963272, 95%CI 0.933234–0.994277,p = 0.020607༉, family Christensenellaceae༈OR = 1.044625, 95%CI 1.003784–1.087127,p = 0.031903༉.No obvious horizontal pleiotrophy was found by MR-Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO global test.
Conclusions
This MR study revealed the relationship between gut microbiome and autoimmune disease ——HT, which may provide a new direction for the future research on the interaction mechanism between the two, and provide a new reference for the study of risk factors of HT. In turn, we can use the intestinal flora as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of HT.
Multi-agent Task Allocation based on NSGA-II in a Warehouse Environment
Authors: Peng Yunlong , An Li , Li Wei , Peng Huihui
Published: January 2024

Multi-agent systems (MAS) can be widely applied in warehouse management to enhance logistics operation efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making. In a MAS, robots can serve as agents to optimize the routing and scheduling of shipments, reducing delivery times and improving customer satisfaction in the warehouse environment. It is widely recognized that the more robots are deployed, the higher efficiency logistics operation will be. However, with the increasing number of robots, a growing number of challenges emerge, particularly in the domain of task allocation—a process aimed at assigning tasks to a group of robots to achieve a common goal. The task allocation often requires multi-objective optimization to balance various factors. This paper presents an efficient multi-agent task allocation algorithm that can handle both static and dynamic task allocation. To handle static tasks, the paper employs the NSGA2 algorithm, which can handle multi-objective optimization, to efficiently generate scheduling schemes and assign agents in the warehouse to execute tasks. For dynamic tasks, an auction-bid scheme is employed to quickly respond to task changes and ensure the efficient completion of the task. Meanwhile, we also design an effective scheme traffic-rules based to sufficiently avoid the robot collision. The simulation results demonstrated the capability of our algorithm to efficiently allocate tasks and plan the shortest path based on A*. Moreover, the algorithm effectively minimizes both the sum of the travel costs over all robots and the maximum individual travel cost over all robots simultaneously.
Occult tongue carcinoma and glossopharyngeal neuropathy: A rare cause of continuous hemicranial pain. A case report
Authors: Munoz-Cerón Joe , Castro Sebastian , Unigarro Adriana , Guerra Carlos
Published: January 2024

Background: Most tongue tumor lesions are evident upon physical examination; however, in cases where this does not happen in such a way, it is possible that invasion to adjacent neural structures may occur, resulting in headache as an initial manifestation.
Case presentation: We present the case of a 57-year-old man with continuous hemicranial pain, in whom further studies revealed occult tongue carcinoma as the cause of the headache. After treatment and two-year observation, the patient has remained asymptomatic.
Conclusions: This report suggests considering the tongue as a potential source of secondary etiologies of persistent hemicranial headache and describes a clinical variant of known cause of glossopharyngeal neuropathy (13.2.2.1 in ICHD III).
Design and deployment of a novel Decisive Algorithm to enable real-time optimal load scheduling within an Intelligent Smart Energy Management System based on IoT
Authors: Rao Challa Krishna , Sahoo Sarat Kumar , Yanine Franco Fernando
Published: January 2024

Consumers routinely use electrical devices, leading to a disparity between consumer demand and the supply side a significant concern for the energy sector. Implementing demand-side energy management can enhance energy efficiency and mitigate substantial supply-side shortages. Current energy management practices focus on reducing power consumption during peak hours, enabling a decrease in overall electricity costs without sacrificing usage. To tackle the mentioned challenges and maintain system equilibrium, it is essential to develop a flexible and portable system. Introducing an intelligent energy management system could pre-empt power outages by implementing controlled partial load shedding based on consumer preferences. During a demand response event, the system adapts by imposing a maximum demand limit, considering various scenarios and adjusting appliance priorities. Experimental work, incorporating user comfort levels, sensor data, and usage times, is conducted using Smart Energy Management Systems (SEMS) integrated with cost-optimization algorithms.
Qualitative Insights into Employee Perspectives on Service Quality in the Banking Industry
Authors: Anika Afrin
Published: January 2024

This qualitative research delves into the intricate world of employee perspectives on service quality within the banking industry, offering a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the delivery of high-quality services. Through semi-structured interviews with frontline staff, managers, and support personnel, the study reveals the pivotal role of interpersonal skills, organizational support, and adaptability to technological changes in shaping service quality. Frontline staff emphasized the importance of effective communication, empathy, and understanding customer needs, highlighting the human-centric aspect of service delivery. Managers underscored the influence of organizational support and leadership styles in fostering a positive service culture. The impact of technological changes on support personnel and their roles adds a layer of complexity, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to technology in service delivery. The findings provide practical implications for banks aiming to enhance service quality in a rapidly evolving industry. Training programs focusing on interpersonal skills, leadership development, and continuous education regarding technological advancements emerge as key strategies. By fostering a positive organizational culture that values employees, banks can create an environment conducive to delivering exceptional service, ultimately meeting and exceeding customer expectations in the digital era.
Solving the Open Problem of Finding the Exact Pointwise Stable Fluid Flow Approximation (PSFFA) State Variable of a Non-Stationary M/M/1 Queue with Potential Real-Life PSFFA Applications to Computer Engineering
Authors: Mageed Ismail A
Published: January 2024

It is a real mathematical challenge to analytically find the closed-form expression of the temporal first- order differential equation expressing the steady state variable, x(t), in a non-stationary or time- changing M/M/1 queueing system is addressed. The simulation was used to solve the only known solution to this open problem, namely the closed-form expression of PSFFA model of the non-stationary M/M/1 queueing system. This work proposes a constant ratio, namely β(Ismail's ratio) of both time-dependent mean arrival and mean service rates to provide a precise analytic solution to this open topic. Numerical experiments were carried out to capture the temporal impact combined with Ismail's ratio β, and queueing parameters on the stability dynamics of the non-stationary M/M/1 queue. Potential applications of PSFFA to Computer engineering are provided. Some challenging open problems are addressed combined with closing remarks and future research directions.
5d SCFTs and their non-supersymmetric cousins
Authors: Akhond Mohammad , Honda Masazumi , Mignosa Francesco
Published: January 2024

We consider generalisations of the recently proposed supersymmetry breaking deformation of the 5d rank-1 E_1E1 superconformal field theory to higher rank. We generalise the arguments to theories which admit a mass deformation leading to gauge theories coupled to matter hypermultiplets at low energies. These theories have a richer space of non-supersymmetric deformations, due to the existence of a larger global symmetry. We show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the non-SUSY deformations of the gauge theory and their (p,q)(p,q) 5-brane web. We comment on the (in)stability of these deformations both from the gauge theory and the 5-brane web point of view. UV duality plays a key role in our analysis, fixing the effective Chern-Simons level for the background vector multiplets, together with their complete prepotential. We partially classify super-Yang-Mills theories known to enjoy UV dualities which show a phase transition where different phases are separated by a jump of Chern-Simons levels of both a perturbative and an instantonic global symmetry. When this transition can be reached by turning on a non-supersymmetric deformation of the UV superconformal field theory, it can be a good candidate to host a 5d non-supersymmetric CFT. We also discuss consistency of the proposed phase diagram with the ’t Hooft anomalies of the models that we analyse.
Hand Gesture Classification using sEMG Data:Combining Gesture Detection and Cross-Validation
Authors: Chaves Gabriel , Vieira Anderson , Lima Markus
Published: January 2024

Prosthetic hands play a vital role in the rehabilitation of upper limb amputees. Gesture recognition using surface electromyography (sEMG) data has emerged as an excellent option for controlling such prosthetic devices since one does not require invasive methods to obtain these data. In order to improve gesture recognition, we must extract the muscle activity from the raw data before classification, as each gesture has its own patterns. In this paper, we use an artificial neural network classifier with individualized data segmentation based on gesture detection to identify six hand movements. We used data from ten healthy volunteers. By combining data segmentation and crossvalidation, we were able to refine the amplitude thresholds used to determine the beginning and end of muscle contractions for each person. We designed several experiments using different types of cross-validation. The performance achieved by the proposed model using 4-fold cross-validation was (93.6 ± 0.7)%, which represents 3.5% more than the mean accuracy of the baseline model, in which there is a single arbitrarily-chosen segmentation threshold for all volunteers.
Diagnóstico de Falhas em Rolamentos de Motores Elétricos com Base na Análise da Assinatura da Corrente do Motor
Authors: Oliveira Marcos Romulo , Pinto Luiz Alberto , Resende Cassius
Published: January 2024

This article presents a comparative analysis of the performance of classification algorithms applied to fault diagnosis in electric motor bearings. To represent the faults, 13 statistical descriptors of the electric current signals available in the Paderborn dataset were extracted. The classification problem consisted of nine failure classes in addition to the normal operating condition class. The models were built both in the time domain and in the time scale domain, using wavelet transform filters, Coiflet 5, Daubechies 4 (Daub 4) and Symlet 8, at predefined resolution levels. The k-NN, SVM and Decision Tree algorithms were used to build the models. The performance of the models was evaluated based on the metrics of accuracy, sensitivity and F1 score. The best accuracy results were obtained using the SVM algorithm, with Symlet and Coiflet 5 filters, reaching a value of 0.9967%. The articles main contribution, in addition to the use of Wavelets and SVM combined, was that it demonstrated results that were comparable when using electric current signals as entry to vibration signals that are already widely used in the industry and that the use of the Wavelet Transform, along which Machine Learning algorithms, when using good descriptors, can be a viable solution to implement diagnostic systems automatic detection of more accurate faults in electric motor bearings.
Investigating Solvent-Induced Changes in Structure and Nonlinear Optical Behavior of Thiazine Derivatives
Authors: Valverde Clodoaldo , da Silva André , Potla Krishna , de Oliveira Heibbe , Osório Francisco , Baseia Basílio
Published: January 2024

In this study, we examine the effects of solvent media on the structural and optical behaviors of two isomers of thiazine derivatives: rac-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one and (2S)-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin4-one. The solvent effects were modeled using the polarizable continuum model through density functional theory. Electrical parameters for rac-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one and (2S)-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one were determined using the density functional theory at the CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G(d) level. We studied the influence of isomer structures in various solvent media on the Hyper-RayleighScattering first hyperpolarizability, considering both static and dynamic scenarios. This research particularly emphasizes the implications of relocating the NO2 group from the meta-position (2S)-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one to the para-position rac-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one on molecular geometries, linear and nonlinear optical parameters, and gap energies across different solvent media. Bond dissociation energy calculations for hydrogen atoms and all other single acyclic bonds were performed for both derivatives to assess degradation and autoxidation properties. Additional insights from non-bonding orbitals, molecular electrostatic surface potential, Fukui calculations, electron localization function, and localized orbital locator are detailed.
Independence and political neutrality of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission
Authors:   European Constitutional Law Association, Yun Soo Jeong
Published: January 2024

In the summer of 2023, interest in independent administrative agencies such as the National Election Commission and the Board of Audit and Inspection, as well as legal agencies such as the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the Korea Communications Commission, was hotter than ever in Korea. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is an independent administrative agency under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Act) launched on February 29, 2008 by integrating three organizations: the National Complaint Handling Commission, the National Integrity Commission, and the Prime Minister's Administrative Appeals Commission.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission requires fairness in its work because it not only has a quasi-judicial nature for the ruling function related to administrative trials, but also monitors and checks administrative power for grievance complaints and prevention of corruption. In addition, independence is required in that the relief function is carried out within the administration, which is an organization in the hierarchy, so it should not be pressured by higher institutions or other state agencies. When overcoming these inherent limitations and reviewing the status and functions of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the most desirable form is the Anti- Corruption and Civil Rights Commission as an independent organization dedicated to corruption that is separated by function and focuses on the current anti-corruption function.
In reality, however, whether the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's independence is guaranteed is controversial. And most of these controversies are seen as inherent limitations stemming from the integration between institutions that cannot achieve functional integration. The reorganization of the government is to make conscious changes to the government's organizational structure. In such a government reorganization, various circumstances such as the purpose and procedure of the system, organization, operation, and complementarity should be comprehensively considered, and it should be designed as an appropriate organizational form for performing future-oriented tasks. I think the reorganization on the premise of this is the way to ensure the independence required by the institution.
Crecimiento de plántulas de Pinus tecunumanii usando fertilizantes foliares y sustratos en un vivero de Oxapampa, Perú
Authors: López­-Fernández Junior , Giacomotti José , Lombardi Ignacio
Published: January 2024

Pinus tecunumanii F. Schwerdtf. ex Eguiluz & J.P. Perry es una especie forestal introducida en el Perú usada en proyectos de reforestación debido a su buen desarrollo en viveros, su rápido crecimiento y los usos que brinda su madera. El presente trabajo se realizó en un vivero temporal de una plantación forestal del Fundo “El Pino” en el distrito de Huancabamba, provincia de Oxapampa. El objetivo fue evaluar el crecimiento de plántulas Pinus tecunumanii en tubetes de 115 cm3 en su etapa de vivero durante 80 días (cerca de tres meses). Estas plántulas crecieron sobre los sustratos S1 (tierra)­Testigo, S2 (tierra y turba), S3 (tierra y arena) y S4 (tierra, turba y arena), a los que se les aplicó cuatro tipos de fertilización: F1 (fertilizantes foliares QUIMIFOL P680 PLUS y QUIMIFOL N510 PLUS junto con el bioestimulante AGROSTEMIN GL), F2 (QUIMIFOL P680 PLUS con AGROSTEMIN GL), F3 (QUIMIFOL N510 PLUS con AGROSTEMIN GL) y F4 (Prueba testigo), teniendo 16 tratamientos con 10 repeticiones cada uno, evaluando en total 160 plántulas de Pinus tecunumanii. En las plántulas evaluadas se determinaron los atributos morfológicos (altura, diámet­ro, biomasa seca aérea y biomasa seca radicular) y los índices de calidad (relación entre la biomasa seca aérea y la biomasa seca radicular, el índice de robustez y el índice de calidad de Dickson). Los resultados muestran que el tratamiento T6 que usó la fertilización F2 (fertilizante foliar QUIMIFOL P680 PLUS + bioestimulante AGROSTEMIN GL) en el sustrato S2 (50% tierra + 50% turba) pre­sentó los mejores resultados en altura, biomasa seca aérea y biomasa seca radicular, recomendando su uso para la producción de plántulas de Pinus tecunumanii. Además, el sustrato S2 (50% tierra del área de estudio + 50% turba) fue beneficioso en el desarrollo de la altura, diámetro, Biomasa seca aérea y Biomasa seca radicular de las plántulas de esta especie bajo condición de vivero.
The Differences of Blood Group Typing using Erythrocytes and Leukocytes
Authors: Pavlo Kravchun , Frida Leontyeva , Olena Povelichenko , Valentyna Dielievska
Published: January 2024

Introduction::

Adsorption and mixed agglutination reactions detect A, B, and H blood group antigens in the cells.
The study aimed to investigate the adsorbing abilities of group-specific polyclonal antibodies using erythrocytes and leukocytes to improve the
quality of blood typing.

Material and Methods::

The adsorption was performed with group B erythrocytes and leukocytes using the usual heated citrated anti-B plasma at 4 °C and 37 °C. A mixed
agglutination reaction revealed group B antigens on leukocytes and erythrocytes.

Results::

The highest adsorption of antibodies from usual plasma on erythrocytes was observed at 4°C at physiological conditions. Weaker adsorption was
determined at pH 8.0 compared to pH 6.0 (the decrease of agglutination strength from 3+ to 2+ and 1+ accordingly).

:

The adsorption of polyclonal antibodies on erythrocytes at 37°C was the highest at pH 6.0 and 8.0 compared to physiological conditions (the
decrease of agglutination strength from 3+ to 1+). In contrast, adsorption at 4°C appeared to be stronger at pH 6.0.

:

The adsorption of IgG antibodies on erythrocytes at 37°C was higher at pH 8.0.

:

Complete adsorption of IgG antibodies was observed on group B erythrocytes and leukocytes at 37°C and 4°C.

Conclusions::

Adsorption of polyclonal group-specific antibodies on erythrocytes was the highest at 4 °C, and adsorption of IgG antibodies was strong at 4 °C
and 37 °C. Adsorption of leukocytes was revealed only with the use of the heated serum. IgG group-specific antibodies from the heated plasma
demonstrated higher adsorbing abilities on leukocytes than IgM antibodies from plasma.