bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brazilian version of the “Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome - Quality of Life questionnaire (PSS-QoL)”: translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation
Authors: Miyamoto Samira Tatiyama , Serrano Érica Vieira , Gianórdoli Ana Paula Espíndula , Altoé Lara Betini , Noronha Bianca Domingos , Santos Pedro Henrique Alves dos , Pedrini Ana Paula Truhlar , Silva Nicole Reis Souza da , Favarato Letícia Fonseca , Alochio Luíza Vallory , Tomé Weider Andrade , Lackner Angelika , Valim Valéria
Published: June 2024

Background
People with disabilities frequently experience barriers in seeking healthcare that lead to poorer health outcomes compared to people without disabilities. To overcome this, it is important to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities – broadly defined to include a disability-inclusive service provision – so as to document present status and identify areas for improvement. We aimed to identify, adapt and pilot test an appropriate tool to assess the accessibility of primary health facilities in Luuka District, Uganda.
Methods
We conducted a rapid literature review to identify appropriate tools, selecting the Disability Awareness Checklist (DAC) on account of its relative brevity and development as a sensitization and action tool. We undertook three rounds of adaptation, working together with youth researchers (aged 18 – 35) with disabilities who then underwent 2 days of training as DAC facilitators. The adapted tool comprised 71 indicators across four domains and 12 sub-domains. We also developed a structured feedback form for facilitators to complete with healthcare workers. We calculated mean accessibility scores overall, per domain and per sub-domain, and categorised feedback form suggestions by type and presumed investment level. We pilot-tested the adapted tool in 5 primary health facilities in one sub-district of Luuka, nested within a pilot healthcare worker training on disability.
Results
The average overall facility accessibility score was 19.7% (range 12.3 – 28.8). Facility scores were highest in the universal design and accessibility domain (29.7%, 22.6 – 41.9), followed by reasonable accommodation (21.3%, 6.7 – 33.3). Average scores for capacity of facility staff (9.3%, 6.7 – 20.0), and linkages to other services were lower (5.0%, 0 – 25.0). Within the feedback forms, there were on average 21 suggestions (range 14 – 26) per facility. Most commonly, these were categorised as minor structural changes (20% of suggestions), with a third categorised as no (2%) or low (33%) cost, and the majority (40%) medium cost.
Conclusions
Overall accessibility scores were low, with many opportunities for low-cost improvement at the facility level. We did not identify any issues with the implementation of the tool, suggesting few further adaptations are required for its future use in this setting.
The relationship between experienced benefits and harms of using complementary and integrative health approaches and intention to maintain their use in Finland
Authors: Pyykkönen Maija , Ahola Salla , Aarva Pauliina , Pasanen Matti , Helin Kaija
Published: June 2024

Background
The estimated prevalence of the use of complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches varies between 24–71% in adult populations worldwide. Little is known about the intention to maintain their use. This study aimed to examine whether the experienced benefits and harms of CIH use, and self-rated health (SRH) relate to the intention to use CIH in the future in current users.
Methods
A total of 1652 Finnish CIH users completed an online-survey in December 2022, out of which 58.8% intended to use CIH in the future. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between the intention to use CIH, experienced benefits and harms of CIH use and SRH.
Results
Having experienced at least one type of benefit from CIH use compared to no experienced benefits was related to the intention to use CIH (OR = 19.3, 95%CI = 11.05 to 33.80). Conversely, having experienced at least one harm from CIH use compared to no harms was inversely related to the intention to use CIH (OR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.20 to 0.35). Easing of pain or related ailment was found to be the most strongly related benefit to the intention to use CIH. SRH was not found to be statistically significantly related to the intention to use CIH.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of the benefits and harms CIH users experience on the continuation of CIH use. The intention to maintain use relates to everyday effectiveness of CIH experienced by users.
Machine Learning-Based Mortality Prediction of 90-Day Discharge in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients
Authors: Zhang Xinyi , Zhao Zhongxing , Guo Xiaoyan , Lin Jiandong , Lin Mingrui , Deng Feng
Published: June 2024

Background
This study aims to develop and validate a novel mortality prediction model to forecast the 90-day mortality risk for patients with ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) after discharge.
Methods
We selected 1359 patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database as our study cohort and collected 32 clinical indicators within the first 24 hours of their admission. By randomly assigning these patients to a training group and a validation group (with a ratio of 0.65:0.35), we used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression and bidirectional stepwise logistic regression to identify 7 key variables. Based on these variables, we constructed a mortality prediction model. To evaluate the model's accuracy and reliability, we plotted the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, calculated the Area Under the Curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity, and performed calibration analysis, including plotting calibration curves, calculating Brier scores, and conducting Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit tests. Additionally, through Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) and comparison with current clinical scoring systems, we further assessed the clinical utility of our model.
Results
Age, SOFA (Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment), APS III (Acute Physiology Score III), AG(Anion Gap), RR(Respiratory rate), INR(International normalized ratio), and BUN(Bun urea nitrogen) were identified as independent predictors of 90-day mortality risk. The model demonstrated good diagnostic performance in both the training and validation groups, with AUC values of 0.842 and 0.855, respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results indicated a good fit for both datasets, with P-values of 0.1626 and 0.4008. The Brier scores were 0.107 for the training set and 0.103 for the validation set, indicating the model's good predictive performance. Compared to existing scoring systems (SOFA, APSIII), DCA showed that our model could provide a higher net benefit in clinical applications.
Conclusion
We identified seven clinical indicators including age, SOFA, APSIII, AG, RR, INR, and BUN as independent prognostic factors for predicting the 90-day all-cause mortality in patients with ACS after discharge. This model can assist ICU physicians to quickly make preliminary clinical decisions for ACS patients in clinical practice.
A mixed methods study of the challenges and prospects of utilizing telemedicine in the delivery of healthcare to Nigerian children
Authors: Peter Igoche David , Danjuma-Karau Kuyet Jemimah , Omokhuale Ejemeirele M. , Yakubu Joel Cherima
Published: June 2024

Background Despite its immense potential, telemedicine has been underutilized for the paediatric population in Nigeria despite unacceptable mortality indices in newborns and children aged less than 5 years. This study identifies the barriers, prospects and benefits of telemedicine utilization to achieve the second target of the third Sustainable Development Goals. Methods The convergent parallel approach with a mixed methods design was used in this study. Interviewer-administered electronic questionnaires were used to obtain data from 57 and 50 mothers in an urban and a rural healthcare facility, respectively, in Abuja, Nigeria. Audio-recorded semistructured in-depth interviews lasting up to 20 minutes were conducted with key informants, including a paediatrician, an ICT expert and a matron. The qualitative data were analysed via an inductive thematic analysis approach. Results Telemedicine awareness was significantly greater among urban respondents than among rural respondents (p < 0.000). Perceptions of telemedicine as inferior to physical consultation, lack of awareness and cost of service, and resource constraints were identified as barriers. Respondents who were unaware of telemedicine were 0.27 times less willing to pay for the services (p = 0.017). Themes generated include resource constraints, standard operating procedures and possible advantages. Telemedicine was found to be beneficial in terms of patient convenience and physical workspace decongestion. Conclusion Public insights into the applicability of telemedicine to newborn and child care and the availability of resources will enhance its utilization, with attendant benefits.
Synthesis, physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of novel imidazolium based ionic liquids
Authors: Tokoyi Vuyolwethu , Pillay Charlene , Kabane Bakusele , Sabiu Saheed , Deenadayalu Nirmala
Published: June 2024

Most of the research groups are now focusing on deep eutectic solvents due to the lack of biodegradation of ionic liquids (ILs), these liquid salts first emerged as promising and alternative “green” solvents for volatile organic solvents. Ionic liquids have a wide variety of applications with interesting and appealing properties because of various cation and anion combinations that expand their application either as antimicrobial agents, lubricant, and additives. The essence and importance of ILs is continuously being evaluated especially for the industrial applications and some ILs have not yet been synthesized or metathesized, and with their properties not fully evaluated. Herein, a series of novel imidazolium based ILs were synthesized using the metathesis method and characterized to determine their acidity, moisture, and thermal stability. Their physicochemical properties showed that [1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium] [TFO] is the most thermally stable compound according to the DSC/TGA analysis, and Karl Fisher analysis was used to determine the content of water. The acidity levels of the ILs determined by using a Hammett’s Acidity function revealed Ho values in the range of 3.9861 to 4.2857. The photocatalytic degradation process revealed that 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium salicylate [Amim] [SaL] was still present after 72 hours. Microbial susceptibility testing of the ILs against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using agar well diffusion method revealed diverse degrees of susceptibility of the test organisms, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC BAA 1744 and Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 being the least and most sensitive to all the treatments, respectively.
Factors Associated With In-Hospital Mortality After Road Traffic Accidents in Bukavu
Authors: Numbe Bachelard Cissa Wa , Gulimwentuga Fabrice Cikomola , Mukamba Franck Masumbuko , Matabaro Bijoux Safi , Wani Alliance Bisimwa , Mudekereza Paterne Safari , Murhega Roméo Bujiriri , Musilimu Costa Sudi , Toha Georges Kuyigwa , Namugusha Alain Kabakuli , Mirindi Dominique Chimanuka , Budema Paul Munguakonkwa , Mukengeshai Léon-Emmanuel Mubenga
Published: June 2024

Background
Road accidents continue to weigh heavily on the healthcare system in developing countries. Very few studies on the severity of road accidents have been conducted in Bukavu and in the Democratic Republic of Congo in general. We conducted a cross-sectional, analytical study with prospective data collection, to determine the factors associated with in-hospital mortality following road traffic accidents in Bukavu.
Methods
Victims of road traffic accidents who consulted the emergency department of the Bukavu Provincial General Reference Hospital (HPGRB), a public hospital, were recruited consecutively between April 1, 2021 and April 1, 2022. Epidemiological and clinical information was collected from medical records. Independent variables associated with mortality were assessed using multivariate logistic regression .
Results
The mean age of participants was 30(24.42) years, three-quarters were aged between 18 and 40 and 76.41% were male. 57% (191) had limb injuries and 163(48.65%) head injuries, while 35.63% (119) had fractures. Female gender (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01–0.40, p = 0.002); unemployed (aOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28–0.97, p = 0.042); respiratory distress (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95, p = 0.001) and low GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) (≤ 12) on admission (p = 0.001) were associated with post RTA mortality in our study subjects.
Conclusion
In-hospital mortality post RTA was associated with female gender, respiratory distress, unemployment and low GCS on admission. By improving prevention strategies and developing a trauma system that includes pre-hospital care, improved in-hospital surgical services and post-rehabilitation services, thousands of lives could be saved in the future.
Unexpected postoperative liver failure in patients with splenomegaly induced by induction chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Hayashi Koki , Ono Yoshihiro , Oba Atsushi , Ito Hiromichi , Sato Takafumi , Inoue Yosuke , Saiura Akio , Takahashi Yu
Published: June 2024

Purpose:
With advances in chemotherapy, conversion surgery is often performed for initially unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CLM). However, unexpected postoperative liver failure (POLF) is sometimes associated with chemotherapy-related hepatotoxicity following long-term chemotherapy. We aimed to identify predictive factors for POLF after conversion surgery for initially unresectable CLM.
Methods:
We retrospectively identified 774 consecutive patients who underwent initial liver resections for histologically confirmed CLMs between 2010 and 2019 at our institute. We enrolled 107 patients with initially unresectable CLMs. Clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated to determine their association with POLF. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the predictors of POLF.
Results:
Among the 107 patients, POLF occurred in 15. Significant risk factors for POLF include splenomegaly during preoperative chemotherapy (>135%), two-stage hepatectomy, and increased operative times and blood loss. Multivariate analysis revealed that splenomegaly was an independent risk factor for POLF (P=0.002). In the analysis limited to the splenomegaly group, lower platelet counts, increased blood loss and operative times, and large liver resection areas (>100 cm2) were significant risk factors for POLF. Among them, a liver resection area >100cm2 can be calculated preoperatively and correlate with a complex hepatectomy.
Conclusion:
These findings could help predict POLF after conversion surgery and induction chemotherapy for initially unresectable CLMs. Careful decisions, including detailed procedures and timing of hepatectomy, should be made before conversion hepatectomy in patients who develop splenomegaly after induction chemotherapy and require complex hepatectomies with a large liver resection area.
Exploring quantile graphs: a novel approach for classifying Parkinson's disease-related events during the TUG test
Authors: Pineda Aruane Mello , Vicchietti Mário Lucas , Carra Rafael Bernhart , Thome-Souza Sigride , Salgado Daniele , Rodrigues Francisco Aparecido , Campanharo Andriana Susana Lopes de Oliveira , Cury Rubens Gisbert
Published: June 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, resulting in the progressive impairment of movements, such as tremors, slow movements, muscle stiffness, imbalance, speech and writing disturbances, and deterioration of gait. Understanding the challenges associated with PD, including episodes of freezing, where individuals suddenly stop and struggle to resume rhythmic movements, has been a subject of study in the literature. The reliable detection of freezing before it occurs still lacks an effective mechanism, emphasizing the importance of understanding the dynamic changes in the brain related to both frozen moments and healthy functioning. Recent studies have focused on analyzing PD through techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), which records the brain’s electrical activity and generates temporal series. However, this approach faces challenges, prompting the exploration of alternative techniques and interdisciplinary approaches to gather more comprehensive information about these signals. A promising approach is the use of Quantile Graphs (QG), which have shown potential in distinguishing patients with various medical conditions but have not yet been tested in PD patients. The QG method involves mapping temporal series into a network based on transition probabilities. In this context, this article aims to investigate the application of QG to quantify differences in brains affected by PD and pave the way for the application of this method to the disease. To achieve this initial goal, EEG data from 18 channels were collected from four PD patients, classifying three events of the patient during the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (normal walking, Freezing of Gait, and voluntary stop). The findings confirmed the utility of QG in analyzing complex and nonlinear signals, such as those generated by EEG recordings in individuals with PD. Using QG, researchers can obtain valuable information about the intricate dynamics of brain activity related to PD. This approach holds promise for improving the understanding of PD and potentially aiding in the early detection and treatment of freezing episodes, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with this challenging condition.
Adversarial Augmented Fields for Efficient Geophysical Analysis
Authors: Cao Xiaoming , Zeng Zhengkui , Hu Shike , Mukhtar Aiman , Wu KaiMing , Gu Liyuan
Published: June 2024

Accurate and comprehensive data remain critical for modeling and understanding Earth's complex systems, directly influencing weather forecasting, climate change predictions, and disaster management strategies. However, the scarcity of data, particularly for rare or extreme events, and the inherent imbalance in datasets pose significant challenges to developing robust predictive models. These issues highlight the need for effective data augmentation techniques, a domain where existing methodologies remain underexplored for geophysical data. Addressing this gap, this study introduces a data augmentation framework for geophysical fields, employing a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) architecture. Our GAN's generator utilizes a UNet architecture combined with depthwise separable convolutions to capture multi-scale spatial hierarchies while also reducing computational cost. The discriminator is enhanced with residual attention mechanisms to distinguish simulations from observations. Beyond the standard GAN loss, a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) regularization term is incorporated to ensure the generated data fields are distinguishable from the original dataset, promoting diversity and enhancing model training. Our approach has been validated through its application to downstream tasks including downscaling, extrapolation, and imputation. It achieves outstanding performance improvements, reducing the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) by 25.1%, 19.6%, and 27.4% across these tasks, respectively.
Mixed-design cross-sectional study on the impact of quality of life and self-esteem in Spanish men with erectile dysfunction during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sandoval-Salinas Carolina , Benitez Jose , Laborda Eugenio , MartinezP Juan
Published: June 2024

A cross-sectional study incorporating quantitative and qualitative analyses was conducted between 2020 and 2022, to evaluate the perception of quality of life and self-esteem in men with erectile dysfunction (ED), exploring factors associated with these psychological constructs. General and sexual-specific quality of life, self-esteem, and confidence, were measured in men with ED in Spain, using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (SLQQ), and Self-Esteem and Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire. Comprehensive interviews were conducted to deepen the understanding of how ED impacts various aspects of life. 353 men participated in the quantitative phase and 21 in the qualitative phase. 54.9% of participants rated their general quality of life as good or very good. No association was found between the perceived quality of global life and the quality of erection or severity of ED. The median SLQQ score was 33.75 (IQR 22.5), and the median SEAR subscale self-esteem score was 37.5 (IQR 25). It was found that the duration of ED and the frequency of sexual activity influenced self-esteem and confidence in men with ED. In the qualitative assessment, the subjects considered that ED did not influence aspects of their life unrelated to sexual health.
Control of slab tears and slab flat wedging on volcanism in the Alaska subduction zone
Authors: WANG ZHI , Hu Yaping , Liu Cunxi , Zhao Feiyu
Published: June 2024

Multistage plate subduction plays a crucial role in magmatism; however, the mechanisms by which deep geodynamic processes govern volcanism in the Alaska subduction zone remain controversial. In this study, we revealed that the Pacific Plate transitioned from oblique subduction along the Aleutian volcano chain to lower-angle subduction beneath the Pacific-Yakutat Plate interaction zone, forming two slab tears that enhance hot asthenosphere materials upwelling. The partial melting of the mantle wedge induced by Pacific slab dehydration and, the concurrent upwelling of mantle materials, jointly drove volcanism in the transition zone. However, the flat subduction of the Yakutat slab into the mantle wedge overlying the Pacific slab effectively hindered the upwelling of hot hybrid materials, cooling the Pacific mantle wedge. This process produced a non-volcanic gap beneath Denali, reducing volcanic degassing. The findings provide novel perspectives on understanding the volcanic activities in Alaska and their influence on the carbon cycle.
Laplacian Metropolis Hastings Gradient Torgerson Scaling and Optimized Vgg16 Based Mammogram Classification
Authors: Kumari Leena Prema , Karupaswamy Perumal
Published: June 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is proliferating to a greater extent day to day. Early discovery can help the patient in saving life. Mammography is commonly utilized in diagnosing BC. Mammography classification is the most critical stage as it assists medical professionals in identifying BC. In this paper, a hybrid method accomplishes accurate and precise classification in a timely manner is proposed and tested. In this work a method called, Laplacian Metropolis Hastings Gradient Torgerson Scaling and Optimized (LMHG-TSO) VGG16-based mammogram classification is proposed. The LMHG-TSO VGG16-based mammogram classification method is split into four sections, namely, preprocessing, segmentation, feature selection and finally classification. First, with the raw mammogram images obtained as input is subjected to Laplacian Neighborhood Gabor Filter-based preprocessing for acquiring computationally efficient preprocessed mammogram images. Second watershed segmentation model called Metropolis Hastings Gradient Region is applied to the preprocessed images to obtain precise segmentation results. Next, to minimize dimensionality and reduce loss Torgerson Scaling Sequential Feature Selection model is applied to the segmented preprocessed mammogram images. Finally, Affine Linear Optimized VGG16-based Mammogram Classification model is applied to make distinct classification between three types (i.e., normal, benign and malignant) in an accurate manner. Experimental evaluation is carried out on factors such as precision, recall, training time and classification accuracy for different mammogram images. The reported results prove the efficiency of the suggested method against prevailing stateof-the-art methods.
Precise identification of Higher Order Repeats (HORs) in T2T-CHM13 assembly of human chromosome 21 – novel 52mer HOR and failures of hg38 assembly
Authors: Glunčić Matko , Vlahović Ines , Rosandić Marija , Paar Vladimir
Published: June 2024

From the complete T2T-CHM13 assembly of human chromosome 21, recently sequenced by the T2T Consortium, the precise alpha satellite higher-order repeat (HOR) structure is computed using novel high-precision GRM2023 algorithm, which includes Global Repeat Map (GRM) and Monomer Distance (MD) diagrams. This study rigorously identified and structurally analyzed alpha satellite HORs within the centromere. The major alpha satellite HOR array in chromosome 21 reveals a novel Cascading 11mer HOR copies with subfragments of periods 7, 4 and 20, 9. Within each row in the cascading HOR, the monomers are of different types, but different rows within the same cascading 11mer HOR can contain more than one monomer of the same type. Each canonical 11mer HOR copy comprises 11 monomers yet belong to 10 different monomer types. Another pronounced 23/25mer HOR array is of mixed Willard's/Cascade HOR type. It was found that the 33mer HOR and major 8mer HOR identified previously in hg38 assembly are absent in the T2T-CHM13 assembly, pointing inadequacies of hg38 assembly. The novel 52mer HOR was discovered, with the longest alpha satellite HOR copy in human genome. Previous results for alphoid subfamilies identified using restriction enzymes mostly align with precise predictions for HORs and/or subfragments obtained by applying the GRM2023 algorithm to the complete T2T-CHM13 assembly. Alphoid subfamilies previously identified by restriction enzymes approximately correspond either to a nmer HOR or to a subfragment align with the framework of Cascading HORs.
Loss of myosin light chain kinase induces the cellular senescence-associated secretory phenotype to promote breast epithelial cell migration
Authors: Kim Dayoung , Cooper Jonathan , Helfman David
Published: June 2024

Overexpression of oncogenes or loss of tumor-suppressor genes can induce cellular senescence as a defense mechanism against tumor development, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, cancer cells can circumvent this senescent state and continue to spread. In breast cancer cells, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is notably downregulated. Our study demonstrates that MLCK depletion enhances cell migration through senescence-associated secretory phenotypes in breast epithelial cells. The reduction of MLCK results in an increase in p21Cip1 mRNA transcripts and protein expression, which is regulated by p53. Subsequently, p21Cip1 promotes the secretion of soluble ICAM-1, IL-1α, IL-6, and IL-8, thereby enhancing collective cell migration in MLCK-depleted cells. Interestingly, AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway also supports p21Cip1 induction and regulates cell migration in MLCK-depleted cells. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into the role of MLCK in cellular senescence and cancer progression.
Spatio-Temporal Variability of Sediment Chemistry and Biochemical Compounds in tropical Mangrove Ecosystem
Authors: Mathew Jennees , Gopinath Anu
Published: June 2024

The tropic status and sediment quality of the mangrove forest has been assessed using biochemical indices. All the samples are collected from seven mangrove forest located at South west coast of India during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Biochemical composition of sedimentary organic matter from the selected mangrove ecosystem was characterized by the dominance of was dominated carbohydrate followed by proteins and lipids in all seasons and stations (CHO%>PRT%>LPD%). Comparatively higher concentration of carbohydrates in the sediments has been attributed to the accumulation of aged organic matter due to the faster utilization of proteins than carbohydrate by microorganisms. Tannin and lignin content was found at the selected mangrove stations for the study as the most common compound and crucial variable. The PRT/CHO ratio revealed the presence of aged organic matter at stations 1,2 and 3 (Northern Kerala mangroves) and newly created organic debris at stations 4,5 (Kochi) ,6 and 7 (Kollam). The LPD/CHO ratio also supported the same. The Bio Polymeric Carbon (BPC) values indicated that at all the samples, except at the station 6 showed eutrophic nature. In the statistical analysis talks about strong interrelationships prevailing between the biochemical constituents revealed their origin from a common source.
Causal effects of triacylglycerol concentration on cervical cancer: evidence from two-step mediated Mendelian randomization
Authors: Xu Cong , Xu Yonghong , Yang Yunhui , Wang Guangming
Published: June 2024

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women globally, and in recent years, there has been widespread attention on the role of lipids in tumorigenesis and development. This study utilized Mendelian Randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship between immune cell-mediated lipids and cervical cancer risk. We have selected lipids, which are closely associated with the function of immune cells, and identified their genetic instrumental variables. Using large-scale genomic association study (GWAS) data, we genetically evaluated their levels and analyzed their correlation with the risk of cervical cancer Preliminary results suggest that triacylglycerol is significantly associated with cervical cancer risk. And elevated levels of triacylglycerol are associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. In addition, we found that regulatory immune cells such as BAFF − R on naive − mature B cell, BAFF − R on IgD+, and BAFF − R on transitional may indirectly influence the development of cervical cancer by influencing the lipids response. Our research, employing causal inference analysis on Mendelian randomization, demonstrates the significance of immune cell-induced lipids in cervical cancer progression. These results contribute to comprehending the origins of cervical cancer and might steer the creation of upcoming preventive approaches and therapeutic tactics. Additional studies are essential to confirm these results and investigate particular biological processes.
Watermarking-Based Enhanced Data Security Among Shadow Users in Cloud Computing Using ESRCC and OMESD-LWT
Authors: TIWARI CHANDRA , Jha Vijay Kumar
Published: June 2024

For the distribution of computing services via servers, databases, data storage, and networking over the Internet, Cloud Computing (CC) is significant. Therefore, for protecting the data from security threats, data security is required for the cloud network. Yet, enhancing the data security of CC among shadow users has not been concentrated on by any work. Hence, in this article, data security is improved by preserving data from the shadow users utilizing Exponential Square Root Curve Cryptography (ESRCC) and Odd Mean Even Standard Deviation-Lifting Wavelet Transform (OMESD-LWT) techniques. Primarily, the Data Owner (DO) registers and logs into the system. Thereafter, by utilizing ESRCC, Linear Permutation-Skein Hashing Algorithm (LP-SHA), and Mid Square-based Merkle Tree (MS-MT), the data is securely shared on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). Afterward, the user logs in and selects the required file for retrieving it. Then, to forward requests to IPFS, the key and digital signatures are generated. Meanwhile, the DO enhances security by ciphering the MAC address utilizing Fishers Yates Transposition Cipher (FYTC) and sending it to IPFS. Then, from the IPFS, the data is decrypted utilizing ESRCC and watermarked the Media Access Control (MAC) address by employing the OMESD-LWT method. Subsequently, the user verifies the key and MAC address to download the data. The data will be accessible to the user if it is verified; otherwise, the IPFS denies the user's request. When compared with the conventional approaches, the proposed technique has enhanced performance. The proposed mechanism enhanced the Security Level (SL) to 98.92%. Also, the proposed system encrypts and decrypts the data within 1032ms and 1273ms, respectively.
An adaptive reference vector strategy with Q-learning for many-objective workflow scheduling problem in the cloud computing environment
Authors: Dong Tingting , Fan Wenyu , Wang Peiwen , Xue Fei , Chen Yuezheng
Published: June 2024

Cloud computing environment is widely used in various fields, and the scientific workflow scheduling problem in this environment is a many-objective optimization problem and has attracted much attention. Aiming at meeting the different demands of multiple users, this paper proposes an adaptive many-objective algorithm (AD\_CLIA) based on cascade clustering and reference point incremental learning algorithm (CLIA). First, this paper constructs a workflow scheduling model with four objectives: completion time (makespan), cost load, and average resource utilization (AU). Then, for improving the convergence and diversity of CLIA, a reinforcement learning method for adaptively selecting effective reference vectors is proposed. And at the same time, a double-faced mirror strategy is constructed to deal with the problem of uneven distribution of the optimal solution set. It has shown advantages in both low-dimensional DTLZ test problems and high-dimensional WFG and MaF test problems. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied to four famous real workflow problems and the results are satisfactory.
Comparative analysis of the interaction of allure red with hemoglobin and myoglobin
Authors: Pang Jingtao , Chen Lijuan , Li Yilin , Geng Fang , Gan Na , Wang Qingling , Wu Di
Published: June 2024

Studying the interaction between hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) with allure red (AR) has important implications for the safe use of pigments. Extensive multi-fluorescence and thermodynamic (Ksv) analyses revealed that static quench, spontaneous binding processes were predominantly driven by van der Waals forces. At 37°C, the binding constant (Ka) was 0.55×104 (L/mol) compared with 0.22×104 (L/mol) for AR to Mb. AR has a greater effect on the secondary structure of Mb and remarkable α-helix changes. Notably, docking and molecular dynamic simulations indicated that AR is bonding in the hydrophobic cavity of Hb and in the active region of Mb, and that hydrophobic forces primarily drive the binding of AR to Hb and Mb. LEU100, LEU104, HIS103 and, HIS64, HIS24, LEU69, LEU104, LIE142 are the major contributors to AR to Hb Mb binding. Moreover, greater fluctuation in RMSD values indicate conformational changes in AR to Mb. Rg results demonstrated a tighter structure in AR to Hb and a looser structure in AR to Mb compared with the unbound proteins.
Use of Mushroom for Removing Wastewater Turbidity: Characterization and Optimization Study
Authors: Tayeb Aghareed M. , Othman Reham H. , Mahmoud Mohamed A. , Monazei Aliaa M.
Published: June 2024

In the present study, a commercially available mushroom is used as a natural flocculent at different dosages to treat a synthetic suspension containing different concentrations of local clay. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is used to optimize the values of operating parameters based on residual turbidity and turbidity removal percentage reduction. The highest percent reduction in water turbidity was obtained at a pH of 6.7. The lowest value for residual turbidity (11.1 NTU) is achieved by a clay suspension with a concentration of 1000 ppm, and the highest value for residual turbidity (22 NTU) is achieved by a clay suspension with a concentration of 6000 ppm. The optimum values of mushroom dose were 0.2 and 0.1 g for clay concentrations of 4000 and 5000 ppm, respectively, after a time of 120 minutes of settling. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is used to optimize the values of the operating parameters and the results of the model fitted well with the experimental results.
Measurement-Based Care Implementation by K-12 Public School Clinicians: A Mixed Methods Proof of Concept Study
Authors: Connors Elizabeth , Selino Sophia , Almiral Daniel , Fusco Nicolina , Tebes Jacob
Published: June 2024

Background This study assessed feasibility and acceptability of a multilevel, multi-component implementation strategy for Measurement Based Care (MBC) called Feedback and Outcomes for Clinically Useful Student Services (FOCUSS). FOCUSS includes six components selected in our prior work with a national sample of school mental health stakeholders. This is among the first demonstrations of MBC with school-employed clinicians. We explored proof of concept by observing adoption rates achieved by the end of the school year and other related implementation outcome data. Methods A mixed-method, single-arm pilot study was conducted during one academic year with 10 school-employed mental health clinicians in two K-12 public school districts in Connecticut. Clinician adoption was assessed by monthly fidelity monitoring of measures entered in the feedback system. Clinician self-reported practices, attitudes, feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness of using MBC with K-12 students was assessed by pre-training, 3-, 6- and 9-month surveys. School year-end qualitative interviews explored clinician implementation experiences using MBC and FOCUSS implementation supports to inform future changes to FOCUSS in a district-wide trial. Results Clinicians were asked to implement MBC with five students; 60% of the clinicians achieved or exceeded this target and MBC was adopted with 65 students. Other implementation outcomes were comparable to related studies, and qualitative feedback indicated that MBC is clinically valuable in schools by providing consistency and structure to sessions, is compatible with school mental health and well-regarded by students and parents. FOCUSS implementation supports were regarded as helpful and individual performance feedback emails appeared to be a necessary component of FOCUSS to boost implementation. Conclusion This is among the first studies of MBC implementation with school-employed mental health professionals in the United States. Results demonstrate proof of concept for MBC implementation with school-employed clinicians and support subsequent district-wide use of FOCUSS to install MBC in schools.
Does an increase in portfolio volatility create more returns? Evidence from India
Authors: Bhama Vandana
Published: June 2024

The classical view of experts associates greater risks with greater rewards. The present study explores whether increased volatility in portfolios can create more returns for investors by using technical indicators or the buy-and-hold (BH) strategy. The study used closing prices of National Stock Exchange (NSE) 500 index firms for a period of 16 years (2007–2022). Five portfolios ranging from low to high volatility were created using standard deviation as a key measure. Findings indicate that as the volatility of the portfolios increases, the moving average (MA) returns seem to be higher. Across the various MA time frames, the 20-day MA seems to have generated the highest return annually (36.53% before transaction costs and 31.05% after transaction costs) due to reasonable trading opportunities with adjustable transaction costs. The CAPM also generated positive alpha (after bearing transaction costs) in the case of 20, 50, and 100 days MA, with the values being 16.66%, 13.29%, and 12.09%, respectively, in the case of highly volatile portfolios. On the other hand, while the BH strategy created substantial returns in all scenarios, the risk factor was extremely high due to the high standard deviation. Hence, it is suggested that investors/traders consider the BH strategy more cautiously while choosing between technical analysis returns and BH returns. Investors with high-risk preferences may have BH as their choice, while day traders with managed risk appetites may prefer technical tools over BH returns.
AcknowledgmentThe infrastructural support provided by the FORE School of Management, New Delhi in completing this paper is gratefully acknowledged.
Leaf Temperature Measurement Using Low-Resolution Thermal Camera Based on Thresholding and Clustering Techniques
Authors: Soetedjo Aryuanto , Hendriarianti Evy
Published: June 2024

Leaf temperature can indicate photosynthetic rates, leaf water status, and stomata conductance. Leaf temperature can be measured using thermal resistance sensors, thermocouple devices, infrared thermometers, or infrared thermal imaging devices. Additionally, measuring leaf temperature using a thermal camera is simple and efficient. Therefore, the research proposes a leaf temperature measurement method using AMG8833, a low-resolution (64 pixels) thermal camera. The proposed system adopts an image segmentation technique to extract the leaf area from a thermal image. The leaf temperature is then calculated by averaging the temperature values on the leaf area. The proposed system aims to utilize a low-cost and low-resolution thermal camera for measuring the leaf temperature. The proposed approach is evaluated using real images of the Dieffenbachia plant, a popular ornamental plant that can be easily planted. In the experiments, fourteen segmentation methods consisting of eight thresholding techniques and six clustering techniques are evaluated. The experimental findings on the Dieffenbachia plant indicate that the most accurate leaf temperature measurements are obtained using local thresholding with an absolute error of 0.0109 and k-means clustering with an absolute error of 0.0134. The proposed method provides a simple, effective, and low-cost leaf temperature measurement system compared to the existing systems which employ high-cost commercial thermal cameras and complex measurement methods.
Insights into Mobile Government Adoption Factors: A Comprehensive Analysis of Peduli Lindungi Application in Indonesia
Authors: Kurniasih Denok , Setyoko Paulus Israwan , Huda Mohammad Nurul
Published: June 2024

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) progression has notably impacted the shift from traditional public services to digital alternatives. Among the various digital services, m-government services, provided by smartphone technology, have gained widespread popularity. Unfortunately, the broader adoption of digital technology encounters several challenges, including insufficient user interest and acceptance, as well as concerns regarding security and user privacy. The primary goal of the research is to address the existing gap in the literature by examining the factors that contribute to the effective implementation of m-government services. A mix of key components is employed, incorporating the Information Systems (IS) Success model and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as research variables. The research applies a quantitative approach in the form of an online survey. Furthermore, a Partial Least Square- Structure Equational Modeling (PLS-SEM) analytic approach is performed to evaluate 230 data points. The research findings support five hypotheses while rejecting three hypotheses. Significantly, the findings suggest that perceived usefulness and ease of use influence behavioral intention considerably. Additionally, constructions related to service quality significantly impact behavioral intention. Meanwhile, both system quality and information quality do not contribute to affecting behavioral intention. Furthermore, information quality exerts a substantial impact on perceived usefulness, but it does not influence perceived ease of use. Finally, it is observed that system quality significantly affects the perceived ease of use.
Uncovering the Risk of Academic Information System Vulnerability through PTES and OWASP Method
Authors: Putra Utama Ferzha , Hilmi Nurhadi Raden Muhammad
Published: June 2024

The security of academic information systems needs consideration to anticipate various threats, resulting in data leakage, misuse of information, modification, and data destruction. There are 36 public and private universities that utilize the academic information system provided by the software developed by Company XYZ. Limited resources in universities contribute to the weak handling of vulnerabilities in academic information systems. The research aims to determine the vulnerability level of academic information systems developed by Company XYZ through penetration testing. The research employs a deductive approach to explore academic system vulnerabilities based on incidents related to system security issues at a university. The research utilizes a combination of two testing methods: Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) and Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), chosen for their reliability, ease of use, and support by penetration testing tools. Penetration testing follows the PTES, involving seven steps: pre-engagement interaction, information collection, threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, postexploitation, and reporting. The threat focus in the research aligns with the top 10 of 2021 OWASP, ranking the ten most critical security risks. Results reveal eight critical security issues based on measurements using the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) method. There are two high-level vulnerabilities, five medium-level vulnerabilities, and one low-level vulnerability. Moreover, the three principal vulnerabilities are Structured Query Language (SQL) Injection, broken access control, and weak encryption. Universities can enhance data integrity by independently remediating vulnerabilities discovered in the research. Furthermore, universities are encouraged to raise awareness within the academic community regarding the security of academic data.
Valoración de la escuela secundaria a partir del contexto de pandemia en Mar del Plata, República Argentina
Authors: López Bayerque Juan Pablo , Rodríguez Norma Viviana , Huinchulef María Eugenia , Vittar Markman María Victoria
Published: June 2024

El presente trabajo muestra los resultados de un estudio descriptivo, de enfoque mixto, realizado en 2021 en escuelas de nivel secundario de la ciudad de Mar del Plata (Provincia de Buenos Aires, República Argentina). El objetivo fue indagar la percepción de los estudiantes en relación con los efectos del Aislamiento Social Preventivo Obligatorio (ASPO), correspondiente al contexto Covid-19, en los procesos de aprendizaje y en el bienestar personal y colectivo. Para ello, se consideró la dinámica escolar en el nivel secundario -que los estudiantes de la Provincia de Buenos Aires cursan entre los 12 y los 17 años- que incluía estrategias de agrupamientos a través de burbujas sanitarias (concurrencia a clase de grupos reducidos), bloques horarios y formatos presenciales, semipresenciales y a distancia. El trabajo se enmarca en una concepción de la convivencia escolar entendida como el conjunto de pautas relacionales que organizan el modo en que se ejerce la autoridad, se afrontan y resuelven los conflictos, se desarrolla la comunicación, y se estructura la labor colectiva. Al mismo tiempo, se asume que las capacidades sociales contribuyen a los modos en los que las posibles diferencias interpersonales se transitan, se mejoran los aspectos socioemocionales y las condiciones para el aprendizaje. La investigación permitió acercar la mirada en torno a la valoración que los jóvenes tienen del espacio escolar, y lo que éste significa para ellos, por encima de los factores coyunturales. Se pusieron en evidencia los efectos que estos modos de transitar la escuela han tenido en los estudiantes sobre su aprendizaje, sus vínculos con pares y docentes, sus relaciones de compañerismo y/o amistad y sus propias emociones. Asimismo, se observó que las herramientas TIC no habrían cubierto para los estudiantes los momentos de intercambio que genera la escuela en la presencialidad plena, tanto para el aprendizaje como para el sostenimiento de los diferentes niveles de vincularidad interpersonal.