bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Adaptive Approach towards COVID-19: Managing Psycho-social Crisis
Authors: Khan Maryam , Zeb Sana
Published: November 2024

Background: The world is facing an unprecedented challenge of COVID-19; which is undoubtedly giving an equally tough time to both, general public and vulnerable groups in terms of mental disruption and massive uncertainty. This paper is designed to review a few extensive scientific explorations for helping people understand the situation, plan their behavior and devise their adaptive approach towards this pandemic.
Methods: The present attempt was destined to review recent work to explore three specific questions like what are the prominent psychosocial challenges being faced by the masses, what should be the role of media in general and social media in particular (at present), and what would be the adaptive strategy to manage this hard time. Therefore, five recent research papers from a renowned journal - the lancet - were reviewed, specifically addressing the mentioned concerns. The inclusion criteria, as having the three month-timeline of April to June, 2020 publications, the papers addressing psycho-social impact of COVID-19, and a direction to respond the above mentioned questions, was specified.
Results: Findings, presented an increase in distress, anxiousness, suicide rate and self-harming tendencies; disorganized, threatening role of media; and a need to develop an understanding and careful distinction of social distancing, and loneliness along with building resilience to battle against this pandemic.
Conclusions: The study would help people to manage their emotional challenges and life activities as per the findings. Also, a food of thought for future consideration and a call for mental health practitioners for easing this transition back to normality is offered.
Shall I Be Buried in My Land? Difficulties of Pakistani Labour Diaspora in the Middle East
Authors: Chughtai Naeem Aslam
Published: November 2024

Background: After the outbreak of COVID-19, the psychosocial issues of employees serving as labor in the Middle East have increased. Corona-related fear, death anxiety, obsessive scary thoughts of having the infection, feelings of helplessness, and financial insecurity is prevailing.
Methods: Review of recently published articles that discuss the challenges and difficulties of Pakistani labour diaspora in the Middle East after the upsurge of COVID-19. Both empirical and non-empirical articles were reviewed that were available at PubMed, PsycINFO, and newspapers.
Results: Emotional health and financial security are intricately linked. Pakistani Labours in the Middle East are not sure whether they will able to see their families. They are apprehended that if they die in the remote land, will they be buried in their motherlands. Besides, job loss, salary abatements, and financial insecurity have elevated their level of distress.
Conclusions: The provision of urgent financial assistance and accessibility to effective and efficient psychological support services would help in alleviating widespread despair and loss. The reassurance of financial security from the government would help in promoting their confidence and wellbeing.
Significance of Perceived Social Support for Career Decision Self Efficacy-A Co-relational Study
Authors: Wasif Dr. Saima , Sohail Maheen , Nawab Ms. Maria
Published: November 2024

Background: An individual’s career competence depends profoundly on his career decision self-efficacy. In this regard, social support plays a substantial role during the process of career decision making for a person. Considering its impact on the decision making, the current study aimed at finding the relationship between Perceived Social Support (PSS) and Career Decision Self-efficacy (CDSE) among university students. 
Methods: By using non probability sampling technique, 500 students (190 males, 310 females) were selected for their participation in this research. Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Career Decision Self-efficacy scale were used for computing PSS and CDSE.
Results: Results showed that female students benefitted more from PSS in comparison to male respondents. However no significant gender differences were revealed regarding CDSE. Regression analysis was done to envisage the CDSS by PSS which revealed that PSS contributes to forecast up to 12% of the CDSE.
Implications: Current study will be advantageous for counselors and educationist by sensitizing them to consider the role of social support in career decision making among the individuals whom they deal with.
Conclusions: This study recommended that females possess more perceived social support as compared to males. It also found that there is positive association perceived social support  and career decision self-efficacy among university students.
Personality Characteristics of Pakistani Business Leaders: A Phenomenological Approach
Authors: Nisar Hafiz Haseeb , Hanif Dr. Rubina , Bilal Hamid
Published: November 2024

Background: The objective of the present study is to understand the key personality characteristics that contribute to the success of a business leader. In Pakistani context, doing business with all social and environmental challenges is not an easy job. Many theoretical paradigms have tried to capture and explain this phenomenon ranging from trait perspective to behavioral motivation perspective; all have tried to explain its significance. In such scenario business leaders plays key role in overall economic growth of the country. The purpose is to investigate such characteristics of personality needed to excel in difficult times to reach at successful level.
Methods: The phenomenological qualitative approach was used to investigate personality characteristics of Pakistan successful business leaders. Convenient purposive sampling technique was applied and sample n= 5 of successful business leader were taken from Lahore and Faisalabad. Semi-structured interview technique was used to understand their experiences, attitudes, styles of management and key factors about in their business success.
Results: Thematic Analysis technique was employed to analyze data. The following themes emerged through descriptive and interpretative thematic technique as personality characteristics of business leaders: optimism, assertiveness, professionalism, effective management style, business knowledge/ excellence, supportive family and strong faith in God.
Conclusions: It was noted that all themes were interlinked and connected with each other which produce positive results in terms of success in Pakistan based business culture. The importance of this study rests in its eastern contribution to the theoretical framework of psychology of business leaders and Industrial organizational Psychology and further these findings will help to realize the basic key factors of success behind a business leader in Pakistan.
Relationship between Personality Traits and Prosocial Behavior among Adolescents
Authors: Tariq Fauzia Tariq , Naqvi Dr. Irum
Published: November 2024

Background: Personality is the inner features of a person which help them in the beliefs, moods and behavior of an individual. Several studies have now tested to find the relationship between personality characteristics and prosocial behavior among adolescents’. These characteristics and prosocial behavior also appear to extend throughout the lifespan: the personality characteristics and prosocial behavior vary from childhood to adolescence, and adolescents to adulthood but prosocial behavior were more in adolescents.
Methods: The present study finds a relationship between Personality Traits and Prosocial Behavior among Adolescents. Convenient sample of 300 Students (Male, n= 150, Female=150) with age range from 16 to 18 years was recruited from different schools and colleges of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.  The Big Five Inventory (John & Srivastava, 1999) and Prosocialness scale (Caprara et al., 2003) were used to measure the personality traits and prosocial behavior.
Results: The results showed that Personality Traits (Openness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) had positive relationship with Prosocial Behavior but Neuroticism had negative relationship with Prosocial Behavior. Regression analysis further showed that Personality Traits (Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) were positive predictors of Prosocial Behavior, where Agreeableness was found the strongest predictor among all. However, Neuroticism was the negative predictor of Prosocial Behavior among adolescents.
Conclusions: The current study reveals that there is a significant correlation between personality traits and prosocial behavior. Literature suggested that agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to having significant positive correlations with helping behavior and neuroticism has negative relationship with prosocial behavior.
Automatic Simplification of Lithuanian Administrative Texts
Authors: Mandravickaitė Justina , Rimkienė Eglė , Kapkan Danguolė Kotryna , Kalinauskaitė Danguolė , Krilavičius Tomas
Published: November 2024

Text simplification reduces the complexity of text while preserving essential information, thus making it more accessible to a broad range of readers, including individuals with cognitive disorders, non-native speakers, children, and the general public. In this paper, we present experiments on text simplification for the Lithuanian language, aiming to simplify administrative texts to a Plain Language level. We fine-tuned mT5 and mBART models for this task and evaluated the effectiveness of ChatGPT as well. We assessed simplification results via both quantitative metrics and qualitative evaluation. Our findings indicated that mBART performed the best as it achieved the best scores across all evaluation metrics. The qualitative analysis further supported these findings. ChatGPT experiments showed that it responded quite well to a short and simple prompt to simplify the given text; however, it ignored most of the rules given in a more elaborate prompt. Finally, our analysis revealed that BERTScore and ROUGE aligned moderately well with human evaluations, while BLEU and readability scores indicated lower or even negative correlations
Transforming Strategy and Value Creation Through Digitalization?
Authors: Gouveia Sónia , de la Iglesia Daniel H. , Abrantes José Luís , López Rivero Alfonso J.
Published: November 2024

Digital transformation (DT) directly influences organizational competitiveness, reshaping value creation and necessitating adaptation across industries. This study investigates how DT redefines strategic imperatives and the mechanisms of value creation within organizations, synthesizing findings from five thematic clusters: “Strategic Management in Digital Transformation of Organizations”, “Emerging Trends in Digital Entrepreneurship and Sustainability”, “Digital Capabilities and Business Model Innovation”, “Digitalization and Transformation of SMEs”, and “Value Creation through Innovation and Digital Transformation”. The analysis uncovers crucial insights, including the shift towards business-to-business (B2B) value-oriented sales, the role of big data analytics in collaborative innovation, and the integration of AI-driven business models across retail, logistics, and healthcare. Strategic alignment between technological advances and organizational goals emerges as essential, especially for SMEs facing resources, regulatory compliance, and skills development challenges. Despite these insights, significant gaps remain. Future research should delve into the underexplored area of cross-industry best practices, particularly how SMEs can leverage digital tools to enhance resilience and adaptability in market volatility. Further investigation into the long-term impacts of digital entrepreneurship on sustainability is recommended, including metrics for measuring social and environmental value creation. Additionally, digital leadership roles, such as Chief Digital Officers, warrant more in-depth examinations to identify how these leaders can navigate the complexities of DT and maximize value co-creation. This systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis aim to consolidate current knowledge, address critical gaps, and lay the groundwork for future studies that support resilient and sustainable growth in an increasingly digital economy.
Prediction of the Potentially Suitable Areas of Sesame in China Under Climate Change Scenarios Using MaxEnt Model
Authors: Li Guoqiang , Wang Xue , Zhang Jie , Hu Feng , Zang Hecang , Gao Tongmei , Li Youjun , Huang Ming
Published: November 2024

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L, flora of China) is an essential oil crop in China, but its growth and development are affected by climate change. To cope with the impacts of climate change on sesame cultivation, we used the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to analyze the bioclimatic variables of climate suitability of sesame in China and predicted the suitable area and trend of sesame in China under current and future climate scenarios. The results showed that the MaxEnt model prediction was excellent. The most crucial bioclimatic variable influencing the distribution of sesame was max temperature in the warmest month, followed by annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, mean diurnal range, and precipitation of the driest month. Under the current climate scenario, the suitable areas of sesame were widely distributed in China, from south (Hainan) to north (Heilongjiang) and from east (Yellow Sea) to west (Tibet). The area of highly suitable areas was 64.51 × 104 km2, accounting for 6.69% of the total land area in China, and was primarily located in mainly located in southern central Henan, eastern central Hubei, northern central Anhui, northern central Jiangxi, and eastern central Hunan. The area of moderately suitable areas and lowly suitable areas accounted for 17.45% and 25.82%, respectively. Compared with the current climate scenario, the area of highly and lowly suitable areas under future climate scenarios increased by 0.10%–11.48% and 0.08%–8.67%, while the area of moderately suitable areas decreased by 0.31%–23.03%. In addition, the increased highly suitable areas were mainly distributed in northern Henan. The decreased moderately suitable areas were mainly distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. This work is practically significant for optimizing the regional layout of sesame cultivation in response to future climate conditions.
The Influence of Season and Age on Specific Semen Traits and Reproductive Behavior in Carpatina Breed Bucks
Authors: Pascal Constantin , Pânzaru Claudia , Radu-Rusu Răzvan-Mihail , Maciuc Vasile , Florea Alexandru Marian , Nechifor Ionică
Published: November 2024

This study explores how age and seasonal changes impact semen characteristics and reproductive behavior in Carpatina breed bucks. Males were divided into three age groups: young (14–23 months; L14), adult (3–4 years; L34), and older (5–6 years; L56). Scrotal biometry was determined using a measuring tape, and testicular volume was evaluated by fully submerging the testes in a water-filled container and measuring the displaced water. Semen analysis was conducted on samples collected each season, with volume, color, and acidity being assessed. The evaluation of specific semen characteristics (motility, sperm concentration, normal spermatozoa) was conducted using a Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) system, and testosterone levels were measured in blood samples collected at the start of each season. Behavior and sexual reflexes were evaluated based on mating desire and the bucks’ reaction to the presence of females. Key findings indicate that testicular volume varies significantly with both age and season, with the most pronounced differences between younger bucks and the older groups, especially during autumn. Semen quality parameters such as ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, and motility also showed seasonal fluctuations, with younger bucks having lower sperm concentrations. Testosterone levels were observed to increase with age, peaking in autumn. Behavioral observations revealed that younger bucks exhibited less intense sexual activity, although this improved during autumn. Additionally, a significant correlation was identified between body weight and testicular volume in adult bucks (R = 0.942, p-value = 0.016 for L34; R = 0.797, p-value = 0.022 for L56), suggesting that age plays a crucial role in reproductive potential. Our findings highlight that, while bucks are capable of year-round reproduction, autumn provides optimal conditions for semen quality and reproductive performance. This research has valuable implications for optimizing breeding programs, contributing to genetic advancement, and improving management strategies in goat farming, especially within temperate continental climates.
Relay Intercropping of Soybean and Winter Barley in Polish Climatic Conditions—Importance of Strip Width and Yearly Weather
Authors: Świtek Stanisław , Majchrzycki Wiktor , Taras Aleksander , Piechota Tomasz
Published: November 2024

Climate change and the increasing demand for food necessitate innovative agricultural methods. Relay intercropping, where one crop is sown into another already-grown crop, offers a promising alternative to traditional systems. In the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, a field experiment was conducted to assess the relay intercropping of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. polistichon) with soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). This experiment took place at the Brody Experimental and Educational Station of the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poland. Soybean was sown into designated strips within the barley field, and both crops were cultivated simultaneously until the barley was harvested. After the barley harvest, the soybean plants continued to grow and were harvested at full maturity. The results varied between the two years of this experiment. In the first year, characterized by drought conditions, the soybean yield was completely lost, while the barley maintained a stable yield. In the second year, with more favorable weather, the yields of barley and soybean were interdependent. The use of the relay intercropping system did not increase the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) above 1. Additionally, total protein yield remained consistent across different cultivation systems. Relay intercropping can serve as a method for protecting crop protein yields under adverse weather conditions and may offer a viable alternative for soybean cultivation in challenging climates.
Cultivation Practices Affect Biomass Yield and Quality of “Felina 32”, an Industrial Hemp Variety
Authors: Giannoulis Kyriakos D. , Bartzialis Dimitrios , Gintsioudis Ippolitos , Danalatos Nicholaos G.
Published: November 2024

Hemp is a multipurpose crop that produces high amounts of lignocellulosic biomass. There are few studies dealing with hemp’s biomass production (lignocellulosic and fiber) under cropping strategies such as irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the effect of irrigation and N-fertilization on the lignocellulosic biomass of one of the most well-known industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties worldwide (Felina 32) under a typical Mediterranean climate. For the purposes of this study, a field experiment was conducted in central Greece (Thessaly region) over the cultivating years 2022 and 2023. We determined the produced biomass dry yield and the dry biomass yield vs. N-uptake relation, as well as quality characteristics for hemp (cv. Felina 32) under three irrigation (I1: 33%, I2: 66%, and I3: 100% ETo) and three N-fertilization levels (N1: 0, N2: 70, and N3: 140 kg ha−1). A significant difference in the dry biomass yield was found, ranging between 10–11.2 t ha−1 using I2 and/or I3 irrigation levels and remaining at 8.6 t ha−1 with lower irrigation (I1). In terms of fertilization factor, it appeared that in samplings where statistically significant changes were observed, all degrees of fertilization differed from one another, with the N3 treatment exhibiting the highest production (11.4 t ha−1). The average protein content varied between 10% in 2023 and 14% in 2023. A linear biomass yield–nutrient uptake relationship was found with high R2, pointing to a nitrogen use efficiency of 55.15 kg kg−1. Thus, it would seem that nitrogen fertilization and irrigation are both crucial factors of industrial hemp cultivation, helping to raise the crop’s overall yield of lignocellulosic biomass. The introduction of hemp into land-use systems necessitates thorough evaluation, as hemp shows considerable potential as a crop that can yield substantial quantities of above-ground biomass (lignocellulosic: stems and fibers). This is especially true in regions where irrigation is possible, and the application of nitrogen fertilizers can further enhance these yields.
Optimal Computed Tomographic Arthrography Protocol for Stifle Ligamentous Structure and Menisci in Dogs
Authors: Yoon Jiwon , Hwang Gunha , An Soyon , Kim Young Joo , Hwang Tae Sung , Lee Hee Chun
Published: November 2024

This study aims to establish an optimized CTA protocol for qualitatively evaluating the ligamentous structures and menisci of the canine stifle. CTA of the stifle joint was conducted on six healthy beagle dogs. Each dog underwent a total of nine scans to evaluate various contrast protocols. These protocols involved three different concentrations of iodine (50, 100, and 150 mgI/mL) and three different volumes of contrast media injection (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mL/kg). Subsequently, the acquired arthrographic images were qualitatively assessed to determine the visibility of the stifle ligaments. The quantitative evaluation of CTA revealed that the cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments were more clearly visible in groups M2 (100 mgI/mL, 0.3 mL/kg) and M3 (100 mgI/mL, 0.4 mL/kg) in comparison to S1 (50 mgI/mL, 0.2 mL/kg) and L3 (150 mgI/mL, 0.4 mL/kg). The visibility of the medial meniscus was notably lower in S1 and S2 (50 mgI/mL, 0.3 mL/kg), while the lateral meniscus exhibited reduced visibility in S1. Overall, the high contrast settings (M2, M3) generally improved the visualization of the meniscofemoral ligament, meniscotibial ligament, and the intermeniscal ligament. For optimal evaluation of the canine stifle ligament using CTA, it is recommended to use 100 mgI/mL iodine at a dosage of 0.3 mL/kg or 0.4 mL/kg.
Therapeutic Potential of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an Antimycobacterial Agent: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Barua Nilakshi , Buragohain Alak Kumar
Published: November 2024

The uncontrolled emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial strains presents as the primary determinant of the present crisis in antimycobacterial therapeutics and underscores tuberculosis (TB) as a daunting global health concern. There is an urgent requirement for drug development for the treatment of TB. Numerous novel molecules are presently undergoing clinical investigation as part of TB drug development. However, the complex cell wall and the lifecycle of M. tuberculosis within the host pose a significant challenge to the development of new drugs and, therefore, led to a shift in research focus towards alternative antibacterial compounds, notably nanotechnology. A novel approach to TB therapy utilizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) holds the potential to address the medical limitations imposed by drug resistance commonly associated with currently available antibiotics. Their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity presents the utilization of AgNPs as a promising avenue for the development of therapeutics targeting mycobacterial-induced diseases, which can effectively target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including drug-resistant strains. AgNPs can enhance the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes and a shorter duration of therapy. However, the successful implementation of this complementary strategy is contingent upon addressing several pivotal therapeutic challenges, including suboptimal delivery, variability in intra-macrophagic antimycobacterial effect, and potential toxicity. Future perspectives may involve developing targeted delivery systems that maximize therapeutic effects and minimize side effects, as well as exploring combinations with existing TB medications to enhance treatment outcomes. We have attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of the antimycobacterial activity of AgNPs, and critically analyze the advantages and limitations of employing silver nanoparticles in the treatment of TB.
Assessing Evolution of Microservices Using Static Analysis
Authors: Abdelfattah Amr S. , Cerny Tomas , Yero Salazar Jorge , Li Xiaozhou , Taibi Davide , Song Eunjee
Published: November 2024

Microservices have gained widespread adoption in enterprise software systems because they encapsulate the expertise of specific organizational subunits. This approach offers valuable insights into internal processes and communication channels. The advantage of microservices lies in their self-contained nature, streamlining management and deployment. However, this decentralized approach scatters knowledge across microservices, making it challenging to grasp the holistic system. As these systems continually evolve, substantial changes may affect not only individual microservices but the entire system. This dynamic environment increases the complexity of system maintenance, emphasizing the need for centralized assessment methods to analyze these changes. This paper derives and introduces quantification metrics to serve as indicators for investigating system architecture evolution across different system versions. It focuses on two holistic viewpoints of inter-service interaction and data perspectives derived through static analysis of the system’s source code. The approach is demonstrated with a case study using established microservice system benchmarks.
Analytical Fragility Surfaces and Global Sensitivity Analysis of Buried Operating Steel Pipeline Under Seismic Loading
Authors: Banushi Gersena
Published: November 2024

The structural integrity of buried pipelines is threatened by the effects of Permanent Ground Deformation (PGD), resulting from seismic-induced landslides and lateral spreading due to liquefaction, requiring accurate analysis of the system performance. Analytical fragility functions allow us to estimate the likelihood of seismic damage along the pipeline, supporting design engineers and network operators in prioritizing resource allocation for mitigative or remedial measures in spatially distributed lifeline systems. To efficiently and accurately evaluate the seismic fragility of a buried operating steel pipeline under longitudinal PGD, this study develops a new analytical model, accounting for the asymmetric pipeline behavior in tension and compression under varying operational loads. This validated model is further implemented within a fragility function calculation framework based on the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), allowing us to efficiently assess the probability of the pipeline exceeding the performance limit states, conditioned to the PGD demand. The evaluated fragility surfaces showed that the probability of the pipeline exceeding the performance criteria increases for larger soil displacements and lengths, as well as cover depths, because of the greater mobilized soil reaction counteracting the pipeline deformation. The performed Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) highlighted the influence of the PGD and soil–pipeline interaction parameters, as well as the effect of the service loads on structural performance, requiring proper consideration in pipeline system modeling and design. Overall, the proposed analytical fragility function calculation framework provides a useful methodology for effectively assessing the performance of operating pipelines under longitudinal PGD, quantifying the effect of the uncertain parameters impacting system response.
A Short-Circuit Current Calculation Model for Renewable Power Plants Considering Internal Topology
Authors: Li Po , Huang Ying , Wang Guoteng , Li Jianhua , Lu Jianyu
Published: November 2024

With the large-scale integration of renewable energy into the grid, traditional short-circuit current (SCC) calculation methods for synchronous generators are no longer applicable to inverter-based non-synchronous machine sources (N-SMSs). Current SCC calculation methods for N-SMSs often use a single-machine multiplication method, which tends to overlook the internal variability of N-SMSs within power plants, leading to low calculation accuracy. To address this issue, this paper first derives an analytical expression for SCC in grid-connected inverters under low voltage ride through (LVRT) control strategies. Then, a single-machine steady-state SCC calculation model is proposed. Based on the classification of N-SMSs, a practical SCC calculation model for renewable power plants is introduced, balancing accuracy and computational speed. The feasibility of the model is validated through simulations. The proposed method enables simple calculations to obtain the steady-state voltage and SCC at the machine terminal, offering strong engineering practicality.
Detection of Defects in Warp Knitted Fabrics Based on Local Feature Scale Adaptive Comparison
Authors: Zhang Yongchao , Shi Weimin , Zhang Jindou
Published: November 2024

In order to improve the accuracy and detection effect of fabric defect detection, a fabric defect detection method based on local similarity comparison is proposed in this paper. This method first takes each pixel in the image as the central pixel, selects a specific window as the region size, and then uses the similarity between the central region and the surrounding neighborhood to find the neighborhood most similar to the central region to complete the estimation of the central pixel. Finally, the target image is obtained by the principle of background difference, so as to detect fabric defects. The results show that this method is superior to the traditional detection method, which can not only detect the defect image under the complex background, but also have good detection results for the fabric defect image under the influence of different organization and lighting factors. The detection accuracy rate under factory conditions can reach 98.45%, which has a high applicability and detection rate, and also demonstrates certain anti-interference performance.
DC-DC Buck Converters with Quasi-Online Estimation of Filter Capacitor Equivalent Parameters
Authors: Căiman Dadiana-Valeria , Bărbulescu Corneliu , Nanu Sorin , Dragomir Toma-Leonida
Published: November 2024

The article focuses on devising solutions for monitoring the condition of the filter capacitors of DC-DC converters. The article introduces two novel DC-DC buck converter designs that monitor the equivalent series resistance (ESR) and the capacitance of capacitors using a parameter observer (PO) and simple variable electrical networks (VEN). For the first scheme, the PO processes in real time the voltage at the capacitor terminals during a discharge-charge cycle. For the second scheme, the filtering is performed with two or more capacitors in parallel, and the PO processes the voltage at the terminals of each capacitor during two discharge processes without interrupting the filtering operation of the converter. The paper presents the principles and theoretical support on which the two schemes of DC-DC buck converters are based, design details regarding PO and VEN, as well as experiments performed with each of the schemes. In the experimental schemes, the PO is implemented with a microcontroller, and the parameters of some aluminum electrolytic filter capacitors are calculated in a real-time manner of about 40 ms. The calculation accuracy of the equivalent capacity is very good. Regarding the calculation accuracy of the ESR, it is shown that it depends on the fulfillment of certain ratios between the VEN resistances, on the one hand, as well as between them and the ESR, on the other hand.
Lack of Amino Acid Alterations Within the Cochlear Nucleus and the Auditory Cortex in Acoustic Trauma-Induced Tinnitus Rats Using In Vivo Microdialysis
Authors: Yuan Shanshan , Tan Huey Tieng , Smith Paul F. , Zheng Yiwen
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Tinnitus is a debilitating auditory disorder commonly described as a ringing in the ears in the absence of an external sound source. Sound trauma is considered a primary cause. Neuronal hyperactivity is one potential mechanism for the genesis of tinnitus and has been identified in the cochlear nucleus (CN) and the auditory cortex (AC), where there may be an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmissions. However, no study has directly correlated tinnitus with the extracellular levels of amino acids in the CN and the AC using microdialysis, which reflects the functions of these neurochemicals. In the present study, rats were exposed to acoustic trauma and then subjected to behavioural confirmation of tinnitus after one month, followed by microdialysis. Methods: Rats were divided into sham (aged, n = 6; young, n = 6); tinnitus-positive (aged, n = 7; young, n = 7); and tinnitus-negative (aged, n = 3; young, n = 3) groups. In vivo microdialysis was utilized to collect samples from the CN and the AC, simultaneously, in the same rat. Extracellular levels of amino acids were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with an electrochemical detector (ECD). The effects of sound stimulation and age on neurochemical changes associated with tinnitus were also examined. Results: There were no significant differences in either the basal levels or the sound stimulation-evoked changes of any of the amino acids examined in the CN and the AC between the sham and tinnitus animals. However, the basal levels of serine and threonine exhibited age-related alterations in the AC, and significant differences in threonine and glycine levels were observed in the responses to 4 kHz and 16 kHz stimuli in the CN. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the lack of a direct link between extracellular levels of amino acids in the CN and the AC and tinnitus perception in a rat model of tinnitus.
Transcriptome Responses of the Soil-Dwelling Collembolan (Entomobrya proxima Folsom) to Fertilizer Type and Concentration
Authors: Yang Xinyue , Li Gang , Xiu Weiming
Published: November 2024

Soil collembolans have been regarded as the effective bioindicator of environmental changes. However, the physiological mechanisms through which collembolans respond to agricultural activities are largely unknown. Given the plasticity and sensitivity to environmental changes, even subtle responses can be quantified via transcriptomics. Therefore, the relevant in situ soil ecosystem and numerically dominant collembolan species Entomobrya proxima Folsom was selected to explore the dynamic responses to fertilizer type and concentration using transcriptome sequencing over three periods (6 h, 24 h and 10 d). The results showed that exposure duration caused significant alterations in gene expression profiles. At day 10 after exposure, gene expression patterns differed remarkably between the two fertilizer types and the control. Relative to organic fertilizer, the number of DEGs was increased by 114.31% under inorganic fertilizer, which declined with increasing inorganic fertilizer concentrations. Functional enrichment analysis was indicative of enhanced fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism and reduced disease occurrence by organic fertilizer; however, an inhibited lipid synthesis process promoted susceptibility to infection, triggered oxidative stress, etc. by inorganic fertilizer. Overall, fertilizer addition changed the transcriptional pattern of the collembolan, potentially causing shifts in pathways related to metabolism, immunity, etc. In comparison to inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer impacted less on the gene expression patterns, implying that organic fertilizer application may be more beneficial to soil animal health.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-1 (IGFBP-1) as a Biomarker of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Lewitt Moira S. , Boyd Gary W.
Published: November 2024

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) contributes to the regulation of IGFs for metabolism and growth and has IGF-independent actions. IGFBP-1 in the circulation is derived from the liver, where it is inhibited by insulin and stimulated by multiple factors, including proinflammatory cytokines. IGFBP-1 levels are influenced by sex and age, which also determine cardiometabolic risk and patterns of disease presentation. While lower circulating IGFBP-1 concentrations are associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk profile, higher IGFBP-1 predicts worse cardiovascular disease outcomes. This review explores these associations and the possible roles of IGFBP-1 in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. We recommend the evaluation of dynamic approaches, such as simultaneous measurements of fasting IGFBP-1 and proinsulin level in response to an oral glucose challenge, as well as multi-marker approaches incorporating markers of inflammation.
Impact of Situation Awareness Variations on Multimodal Physiological Responses in High-Speed Train Driving
Authors: Dong Wenli , Fang Weining , Qiu Hanzhao , Bao Haifeng
Published: November 2024

Background: In safety-critical environments, human error is a leading cause of accidents, with the loss of situation awareness (SA) being a key contributing factor. Accurate SA assessment is essential for minimizing such risks and ensuring operational safety. Traditional SA measurement methods have limitations in dynamic real-world settings, while physiological signals, particularly EEG, offer a non-invasive, real-time alternative for continuous SA monitoring. However, the reliability of SA measurement based on physiological signals depends on the accuracy of SA labeling. Objective: This study aims to design an effective SA measurement paradigm specific to high-speed train driving, investigate more accurate physiological signal-based SA labeling methods, and explore the relationships between SA levels and key physiological metrics based on the developed framework. Methods: This study recruited 19 male high-speed train driver trainees and developed an SA measurement paradigm specific to high-speed train driving. A method combining subjective SA ratings and task performance was introduced to generate accurate SA labels. Results: The results of statistical analysis confirmed the effectiveness of this paradigm in inducing SA level changes, revealing significant relationships between SA levels and key physiological metrics, including eye movement patterns, ECG features (e.g., heart rate variability), and EEG power spectral density across theta, alpha, and beta bands. Conclusions: This study supports the use of multimodal physiological signals for SA assessment and provides a theoretical foundation for future applications of SA monitoring in railway operations, contributing to enhanced operational safety.
Neuropsychological Abnormalities Associated with Alcohol Dependence During Long-Term Rehabilitation Treatment of German Inpatients
Authors: Rabl Josef , Geyer Dieter , Kroll Dario , Schifano Fabrizio , Scherbaum Norbert
Published: November 2024

Background: Alcohol dependence is associated with several neuropsychological abnormalities, such as increased impulsivity or attentional bias towards drug-related stimuli. However, it is debated whether these abnormalities are on the decline after long-term abstinence from alcohol. Inpatient rehabilitation treatment enables the longitudinal investigation of such variables during a long, largely secured, period of abstinence. Methods: This study involved alcohol-dependent patients consecutively admitted for a duration of 14–26 weeks to an inpatient rehabilitation treatment center located in a hospital specializing in substance use disorders. Craving and impulsivity were assessed with the means of two questionnaires (e.g., OCDS-G and BIS-11); conversely, attentional bias and problems with inhibition were measured with the help of two computer-based experiments (e.g., dot–probe task and stop–signal–reaction task). Investigations were conducted at entry, after 6 weeks, and during the last two weeks of the inpatient treatment. Results: A total of 130 patients with alcohol dependence (mean age 43.3 years; 78.5% male) completed the first, N = 102 the second, and N = 83 the final assessment. Over the whole period of inpatient treatment, there was a significant decrease in patients’ scores for both craving (t(83) = 7.8, p < 0.001) and impulsivity (t(82) = −3.75, p < 0.001, t(82) = 4.4, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant changes regarding attentional bias (t(82) = 0.16, p = 0.494) and inhibitory control (t(76) = 0.04, p = 0.482) scores. Conclusions: Neuropsychological abnormalities associated with alcohol dependence might persist even after a long abstinence period. The decrease in both craving and impulsivity levels may be explained by the protected, alcohol-free, hospital environment; however, patients’ risk of post-discharge relapse may remain high, as the basic neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol dependence may persist for long periods, and possibly for more than 3–6 months.
Molecular and In Silico Analysis of the CHEK2 Gene in Individuals with High Risk of Cancer Predisposition from Türkiye
Authors: Ozdemir Ozkan , Bychkovsky Brittany L. , Unal Busra , Onder Gizem , Amanvermez Ufuk , Aydin Eylul , Ergun Berk , Sahin Ilayda , Gokbayrak Merve , Ugurtas Cansu , Koroglu Merve Nur , Cakir Berfin , Kalay Irem , Cine Naci , Ozbek Ugur , Rana Huma Q. , Hatirnaz Ng Ozden , Agaoglu Nihat Bugra
Published: November 2024

Background and Objectives: Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) is a tumor suppressor gene involved in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in CHEK2 are associated with increased cancer risk. Conversely, recent large cohort studies have identified certain variants that, despite being classified as P/LP by in silico analysis, are considered low risk. Thus, the genotype–phenotype correlations of CHEK2 require a better understanding. In this study, we aimed to characterize germline CHEK2 variants from a group of individuals who applied to cancer genetic clinics in the Marmara Region of Türkiye. We also aimed to assess the phenotypic impacts of these variants by using a new score of statistically significant in silico predictors (SSIPs). Methods: We analyzed 1707 individuals with high risk cancer predisposition, focusing on germline CHEK2 variants, using SSIP scores and population-specific data. Results:CHEK2 variants appeared in approximately 8% of cases. The SSIP scores indicated that the missense mutation, p.Arg117Gly, significantly impairs DNA repair. Almost half of the variants had higher allele frequencies than the variants listed in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD), and three variants had significantly higher frequencies compared to the variants listed on the Turkish Variome database (p.Thr476Met, p.Arg137Gln, c.592+3A>T), emphasizing the importance of population-specific data. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis of CHEK2 variants in the Turkish population provides crucial insights for cancer geneticists and oncologists. Our findings will help to enhance the evaluation and management of cancer predisposition associated with CHEK2 in Türkiye and other regions that have significant Turkish populations.
Lung and Colon Cancer Detection Using a Deep AI Model
Authors: Shahadat Nazmul , Lama Ritika , Nguyen Anna
Published: November 2024

Lung and colon cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early and accurate detection of these cancers is crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. False or incorrect detection is harmful. Accurately detecting cancer in a patient’s tissue is crucial to their effective treatment. While analyzing tissue samples is complicated and time-consuming, deep learning techniques have made it possible to complete this process more efficiently and accurately. As a result, researchers can study more patients in a shorter amount of time and at a lower cost. Much research has been conducted to investigate deep learning models that require great computational ability and resources. However, none of these have had a 100% accurate detection rate for these life-threatening malignancies. Misclassified or falsely detecting cancer can have very harmful consequences. This research proposes a new lightweight, parameter-efficient, and mobile-embedded deep learning model based on a 1D convolutional neural network with squeeze-and-excitation layers for efficient lung and colon cancer detection. This proposed model diagnoses and classifies lung squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinoma of the lung and colon from digital pathology images. Extensive experiment demonstrates that our proposed model achieves 100% accuracy for detecting lung, colon, and lung and colon cancers from the histopathological (LC25000) lung and colon datasets, which is considered the best accuracy for around 0.35 million trainable parameters and around 6.4 million flops. Compared with the existing results, our proposed architecture shows state-of-the-art performance in lung, colon, and lung and colon cancer detection.
Kill Two Birds with One Stone? The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Decreased Prevalence of Gastric Cancer and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Kuo Yang-Che , Ko Hung-Ju , Yu Lo-Yip , Shih Shou-Chuan , Wang Horng-Yuan , Lin Ying-Chun , Hu Kuang-Chun
Published: November 2024

The connection between microbial infections and tumor formation is notably exemplified by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its association with gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). While early studies hinted at a link between H. pylori and colorectal neoplasms, comprehensive retrospective cohort studies were lacking. Recent research indicates that individuals treated for H. pylori infection experience a significant reduction in both CRC incidence and mortality, suggesting a potential role of this infection in malignancy development. Globally, H. pylori prevalence varies, with higher rates in developing countries (80–90%) compared to developed nations (20–50%). This infection is linked to chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and GC, highlighting the importance of understanding its epidemiology for public health interventions. H. pylori significantly increases the risk of non-cardia GC. Some meta-analyses have shown a 1.49-fold increased risk for colorectal adenomas and a 1.70-fold increase for CRC in infected individuals. Additionally, H. pylori eradication may lower the CRC risk, although the relationship is still being debated. Although eradication therapy shows promise in reducing GC incidence, concerns about antibiotic resistance pose treatment challenges. The role of H. pylori in colorectal tumors remains contentious, with some studies indicating an increased risk of colorectal adenoma, while others find minimal association. Future research should investigate the causal mechanisms between H. pylori infection and colorectal neoplasia, including factors like diabetes, to better understand its role in tumor formation and support widespread eradication efforts to prevent both gastric and colorectal cancers.