bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Mental State-Aware Brain Computer Interface for Adaptive Control of Electric Powered Wheelchair
Authors: Hussain Syed Abu Huraira , Raza Imran , Hussain Syed Asad , Jamal Muhammad Hasan , Gulrez Tauseef , Zia Ali 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) provide a mobility solution for patients with various disabilities. However, BCI systems require further research to enhance their performance, while incorporating the physical and behavioral states of patients into the system. As the principal users of a BCI system, patients with disabilities are emotionally sensitive, so a BCI device that adaptively tunes toward patient’s psychological effects, could provide the foundation for refining the BCI applications. This paper focuses on the collection and realization of the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals data of humans, obtained as a response to different psychological effects of sound stimuli. Filtration and preprocessing of the dataset are achieved using the frequency-based distribution of EEG signals. Different machine learning tools and techniques are evaluated and applied to abstracted powerbands of psychological signals. The experimental results show that the proposed system predicts mental states with an average accuracy of 74.26\%. Moreover, an automated BCI system is developed to control an electric-powered wheelchair (EPW) while responding to the user’s mental state with a contingency mechanism. The results show that such a system could be designed to make BCI systems more reliable, safe, adaptable, and emotion-responding for sensitive paralytic patients. The system also shows a satisfactory True Positive Rate (TPR) and False Positive Rate (FPR) with an average time of 8.4 seconds to generate the interpretable brain signal from the user.
Face-to-face communication and production networks: Evidence from first trans-Siberian flights
Authors: Tanaka Kiyoyasu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Face-to-face communication (FFC) helps to coordinate production networks between suppliers and manufacturers. However, the significance of FFC in production networks is not empirically clear. This paper uses the new opening of nonstop passenger flights between Tokyo and Europe over Siberian routes from 1986 as an exogenous decline in FFC costs for Japanese firms. Estimating the impact of nonstop trans-Siberian flights on Japan’s exports in intermediate inputs for 1980–1989, I find the significantly positive impact of nonstop flights on exports from Japan to European destinations; 7 more nonstop flights increased the exports by 26%. The results are robust to changes in flight networks such as indirect passenger and freight flights. I show evidence to suggest that the opening of nonstop flights increased the exports mainly through a reduction in FFC costs, rather than other trade barriers. Thus, FFC plays a critical role in shaping production networks.
JEL Classification: F14, F15, R4
Minimising the societal costs of manure management: Modelling the optimal strategy and location for nutrient recycling
Authors: Vingerhoets Ruben , Spiller Marc , Ravi Rahul , de Pue David , Vlaeminck Siegfried , Buysse Jeroen , Meers Erik 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Nutrient leaching from agriculture significantly impacts livestock-dominated regions, surpassing local tipping points. Current nutrient policies are insufficient and cost-inefficient. We addressed this by combining spatial damage internalization with model-based manure and fertilization strategy optimisation. Our findings emphasize the need for additional manure treatment in sensitive regions to lower societal costs. Despite reducing societal costs, greenhouse gas emissions doubled, and private costs tripled, highlighting conflicts between environmental, climate, and economic goals.
Export diversification in Africa's landlocked countries: governance vs geography
Authors: Stephane MORTONGAR NGARTORI , NKOA François Colins 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyse the effects of governance and/or geography on export diversification in Africa's landlocked countries (ALDCs). To do so, we used panel data over the period 1996–2021. The Driscoll-Kraay (1998) method is used for the estimations. The results show that for governance, only the political stability variable has a significant effect on export diversification in the presence of the geography variables. However, with regard to the geographical variables, proximity to the large international market and population size have positive and significant effects on export diversification, whereas the remoteness of access to the sea variable and the natural resource rents variable have negative and significant effects on export diversification in the ALDCs in the presence of the governance variables. We can conclude that in the ALDCs, geography prevails over governance in line with the institutions versus geography debate, as it is the geographical variables that best explain export diversification compared to the governance variables.
Impact of Cytochrome P450 2C19 Polymorphism on Ischemic Stroke Prognosis
Authors: Tan Dongmei , Su Jianfen , Tang Yukuan , Huang Chen , Fu Xihua 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Stroke is the leading cause of mortality and impairment in China. Genetic variations in cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) have been associated with the occurrence and outcomes of ischemic stroke (IS). We aimed to explore the correlation between CYP2C19 polymorphism and IS morbidity and prognosis.
Methods
We retrospectively enrolled 157 patients with IS who were admitted to the Affiliated Panyu Centra Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between April 2021 and March 2022 and underwent long-term antiplatelet therapy. A total of 142 inpatients without IS or coronary heart disease were enrolled as controls. Telephone follow-ups were conducted for the IS group, and the modified Rankin Scale was used to assess prognosis. We explored the association between CYP2C19 genotype and IS by using multivariate logistic regression to analyze variables influencing disease occurrence and prognosis.
Results
Significant differences were identified in the occurrence rates of CYP2C19*2 GG/GA and *3 GG/GA genotypes between the IS (P = 0.014, 0.006, respectively) and control groups (P = 0.006, 0.009, respectively). A notable disparity was observed in the allelic frequency of CYP2C19*3 G(A) (P = 0.005). IS morbidity was considerably greater in the intermediate metabolizer (IM) group than in the extensive metabolizer group (P < 0.001). Hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and CYP2C19 IM were independent risk factors of IS (P < 0.001). No variation was observed in the CYP2C19 genotype between the good and poor prognosis groups (P = 0.893).
Conclusion
CYP2C19 polymorphism was related to IS morbidity but had no significant correlation with prognosis.
Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multi-planar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
Authors: Ishizuka Kyohei , Nozawa Satoshi , Watanabe Daichi , Ishihara Takuma , Yamada Kazunari , Iwai Chizuo , Akiyama Haruhiko 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to determine the index of the sacral vertebrae fusion period in children and adolescents to diagnose the lesion around the sacral spine accurately.
Methods
Patients aged 0–40 years who underwent computed tomography (CT), including the sacrum, for abdominal disorders, trauma, etc., between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively examined. There were 402 eligible sacra (385 patients: 206 women and 179 men). We evaluated bony fusion at six parts of the sacral vertebrae (anterior or posterior of each intervertebral and both side lateral masses). The predicted probability of bony fusion obtained from the logistic regression model is depicted graphically by sex.
Results
The association between bony fusion in each vertebral segment and age was evaluated using a logistic regression model with a Huber–White robust sandwich estimator, including the patient as a clustering variable. Bony fusion of the sacral bodies of S1/S2 was slowest, with 80% of patients achieving bony fusion at 28.7 and 24.6 years of age for men and women, respectively. Compared to men, women exhibited earlier fusion of the intervertebral segments of the sacral vertebrae; however, no significant difference between the sexes in terms of eventual bony fusion at the lateral mass was observed, while the initiation of bony fusion occurred earlier in women.
Conclusion
The predicted probability of bony fusion could aid pediatricians, orthopedists, radiologists, and other physicians in understanding the normal development of the sacral spine and accurately diagnosing the lesion around the sacral spine.
Does the fishing pressure induce fish to mature early? An evaluation of the reproductive biology of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) from the Malabar Coast of India
Authors: Mahesh V. , Asokan P. K. , Najmudeen T. M. , Vinod K. , Kalavathi N. R. , Zacharia P. U. , Vijisha M. , Gopalan P. V. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

In fisheries management, a comprehensive comprehension of the reproductive biology of fish species is imperative, with specific emphasis on factors such as sexual maturation, the dynamics of the reproductive cycle, and the quantitative assessment of fecundity. To elucidate the reproductive dynamics of Nemipterus japonicus captured along the Malabar coast, encompassing parameters such as the sex ratio, sexual maturation, fecundity, and reproductive periodicity, a rigorous investigation was conducted spanning the period from 2017 to 2021. Sampled individuals of N. japonicus exhibited total lengths ranging from 5.5 to 35.2 cm. The exponent value (b = 2.991) observed in this current study exhibited a high degree of proximity to 3, indicative of an isometric growth pattern. The collective sex ratio stood at 1:1.3, signifying a higher prevalence of females than males. Attainment of 50% sexual maturation (Lm50) occurred at a total length of 15 cm for males and 15.5 cm for females which is earlier than the reported length. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index exhibited elevated values from September to December, reaching their zenith in October. The study ascertained N. japonicus matured significantly earlier than in the last decade and the spawning season shifted to lower temperature months for better reproductive output along the south-west coast of India.
The Role of Self-Compassion in Mental Health Among Early Adulthood with ADHD Symptoms: A Network Psychometric Approach
Authors: Heng Hui , Zheng Yingcan , Zheng Fangfang , Su Hong , Tang Lili , Zhao Yunxuan , He Ying , Yang Guoyu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background: Previous research has primarily approached the interconnections between attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, self-compassion and mental health from a variable-centered perspective. However, few studies have explored how ADHD symptoms interacts with self-compassion and mental health at the symptom level. This study aims to construct a symptom network that elucidates the complex relationships among ADHD symptoms, self-compassion and mental health. It seeks to explore the bridging symptoms within this network, thereby informing the development of effective intervention strategies.
Methods: The sample included 948 college students in early adulthood (ages 18-24 years). Participants completed questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms (ASRS, WURS), personality (CBF-PI-B), self-compassion (SCS), life satisfaction (SWLS), and demographic information. We visualized the symptom network using the “qgraph” package and computed the expected influence of each node to identify bridge symptoms.
Results: The study discovered that among college students in early adulthood, 6.5% exhibited symptoms exceeding the ADHD threshold. Specifically, the prevalence rate for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms were 12.8% and 7.1%, respectively. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was found between neuroticism and the following symptoms: Isolation (r = 0.72), Self-judgment (r = 0.65), and Overidentification (r = 0.72). The assessment of Bridge Expected Influence finds six bridge symptoms within the symptom network - Neuroticism, Inattention, Overidentification, Self-judgment, Oppositional/Defiant Behavior, and Isolation - each significantly impacting the network.
Conclusion: This study employed network analysis to elucidate the relationship between self-compassion, mental health, and ADHD at the symptom level. The results indicate a consistent association between neuroticism and negative self-compassion within the ADHD population. Additionally, neuroticism and oppositional/defiant behaviors in childhood were found to potentially influence ADHD symptoms in adulthood, while self-compassion emerged as a promising intervention particularly effective for inattentive types, but further research is needed to test its effectiveness. particularly effective for inattentive types, although further research is required to confirm its efficacy.
Enhanced Pediatric Thyroid Ultrasound Image Segmentation Using DC-Contrast U-Net
Authors: Peng Bo , Lin Wu , Zhou Wenjun , Bai Yan , Luo Anguo , Xie Shenghua , Yin Lixue 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The examination methods for the thyroid include laboratory tests and imaging studies. Although laboratory and imaging examinations are relatively straightforward, their effectiveness in detecting early clinical symptoms of the thyroid may be limited, especially in children due to the shorter growth time of the pediatric thyroid. Therefore, this constitutes a crucial foundational work. However, accurately determining the position and size of the thyroid in children is a challenging task. Accuracy depends on the experience of the ultrasound operator in current clinical practice, leading to subjective results. Even among experts, there is significant variation in thyroid identification. In addition, the effective use of ultrasound machines also relies on the experience of the ultrasound operator in current clinical practice.
Clarifying Professional Competencies in Incident and Emergency Managers: A Qualitative Study
Authors: moradi Hekmat allahe , Rambod Masoume , Rezaee Rita , Marzaleh Milad Ahmadi , Peyravi Mahmoudreza , Dewey Rebecca Susan , Amini Mitra 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Today's incident and emergency managers required to havare e multiple professional competencies to correctly and efficiently manage incidents amid the increasing complexity of the environment. This qualitative study aimed to explain the professional competencies needed to be based on the emergency managers’ duties in disaster management scene.
Methods
A qualitative‌‌ study was conducted on 18 Iranian incident and emergency managers using face-to-face, semi-structured, and in-depth interviews. Data were collected using purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s approach, through MAXQDA software, version 2020).
Results
Data analysis led to the identification of 5 main categories and 18 subcategories. The 5 main categories included thinking skills (strategic thinking, critical thinking); professional disaster management skills (knowledge and experience, planning, organizing, decision-making, leadership, research power, risk management); effective communication (collaboration, interpersonal communication, intersectoral communication); personal qualities (demographic characteristics, physical traits, personality); and ethics and familiarity with the law (organizational ethics, professional ethics, law, and policy).
Conclusion
This study identified a wide range of professional competencies needed by incident and emergency managers. As managers do not acquire all these specialized and technical skills during their studies, they must receive training to respond to and manage disasters in emergencies. Furthermore, programs can be included in the managers' training and continuing professional development curricula to improve competence in this field. These crucial competencies are recommended for inclusion in the design of educational programs, the continuing professional development of incident and emergency managers, and the indicators of job performance in this field in Iran.
Site adaptation of NASA-POWER reanalysis solar radiation products for tropical climates in Ghana using bias correction for clean energy application
Authors: Quansah Alfred Dawson , Boakye Patrick , Quansah David Ato , Mensah Lena Dzifa , Junior Prince Asilevi , Quansah Emmanuel , Mensah Patrick 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Solar radiation measurements are needed to simulate a diverse range of clean energy application systems for optimization. However worldwide, whereas radiometric measurement stations are scarce and mostly sparsely distributed, satellite and reanalysis products are available, though with resolution problems. Therefore in the absence of in-situ measurements, we developed a bias-corrected long-term solar radiation database for Ghana in West Africa, using reanalysis products retrieved from NASA’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) archives available at \(0.5^\circ \times 0.5^\circ\) spatial resolution by Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) matching technique, with reference to a synthetic solar radiation database developed from sunshine duration measurements at 22 stations, in order to site-adapt the reanalysis products. From the results, the POWER products were improved by overall minimization in mean residual difference of -1.02–1.4 ± 0.07 kWhm− 2day− 1 to -0.85–1.2 ± 0.12 kWhm− 2day− 1 after bias correction, with a 9%, 27%, and 17% increase in smaller RD ranges of -0.5–0.5, -0.2–0.2, and − 0.1–0.1 kWhm− 2day− 1 respectively. Also, the Mean Bias Error (MBE) range minimized from − 0.51–0.6 ± 0.3 kWhm− 2day− 1 to -0.35–0.2 ± 0.1 kWhm− 2day− 1 with 17 stations showing residual differences in correlation coefficients greater than zero, indicative of higher correlation after bias correction. Overall, spatiotemporal characteristics are preserved, and the improvement is in acceptable margins for engineering application.
Prevalence of and Risk factors associated with hypertension: a community based- cross sectional study in Ndorwa West Health Sub District, Kabale district, southwestern Uganda
Authors: Tamu John Bosco Munezero , Mfitumukiza Valence , Okafor Christiana Nkiru , Mandera Immaculate , Kabami Jane , Arineitwe Edward Bwengye , Namuyibwa Lydia , Izo Herbert , Baikaitwoha Everd , Okonkwo Uchenna Prosper 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Globally, one billion people have hypertension (HT), it kills 9.4 million people annually. Prevalence is higher in developed countries and is rapidly rising in developing countries, and approximately 31.5% of Ugandans have HT.
Objective
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with HT among adults aged 25–65 years in the Ndorwa West HSD, Kabale District.
Methods
A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 381 adults aged 25–65 years in Ndorwa West HSD, using a modified WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Chi-square tests with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and p-values less than 0.05, were used to assess the association between hypertension and associated factors. Odds Ratios (OR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) estimated the risk.
Results
The prevalence of HT and pre-HT in Ndorwa HSD was 28.3% and 45.7%, respectively. 61.8% (n = 243) were females and 36.1% (n = 142) were males with a mean age of 48.18 years and standard deviation of 11.5 years. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25.92 kg/m2 and the standard deviation was 3.69 kg/m2. Only Age (p = 0.010, OR = 1.81(1.14–2.87) and level of education (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with hypertension. age ≥ 45years increased the likelihood of developing HT by 0.81 times. Behavioral factors associated with HT included awareness of the BP status (p = 0.010, OR = 0.53(CI: 0.32–0.87),use of fats/oil for cooking (p = 0.02, OR = 1.73 (CI: 1.09–2.75)), reduced salt intake (p = 0.001, OR = 0.075(CI:0.01–0.55)), and overweight and obesity (BMI) level ( p = 0.010, OR = 1.77 (CI 1.12–2.80)). BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 increased the likelihood of developing HT by 0.77 times.
Conclusion
The prevalence of HT and pre-HT in this rapidly transitioning rural–urban population was high. The risk of CVDs is about 16 folds higher among pre-HT compared to no HT and doubles for every 10-mmHg increase in BP. Hence, the considerable risk and burden of HT and related CVDs that require a dire need to adopt strategies to prevent and control hypertension based on the identified associated risk factors in Ndorwa HSD.
Unravelling the heterogeneity of farms irrigation practices on Mediterranean perennial agricultural systems for the optimization of water resource management
Authors: Pierre Rouault , Dominique Courault , Fabrice Flamain , Debolini Marta 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

In the Mediterranean region, the quantity of water utilized for agricultural purposes ranges from 50 to 70%. Among the most water-demanding agricultural sectors are arboriculture and perennial crops. Orchards are particularly reliant on irrigation, a dependency that has been further intensified by climate change and the resulting reduction in water resources. This study aims to classify farms at the watershed scale according to their irrigation water consumption, and starting from this classification we aim to propose a method for estimating water consumption for irrigation at large scale and for heterogeneous land covers. The classification employed a variety of statistical methods to ensure robust results, including machine learning and regression approaches. Each method was applied independently, and the most common class allocation was retained. The study was conducted in the Ouvèze-Ventoux basin in south-eastern France, using data from various sources at both field and watershed scales. The data obtained from 21 farms provided accurate information on irrigation water usage, which was validated by data from the watershed's water manager. The benchmark analysis identified farms with high irrigation rates with 90% accuracy. Within these heavily irrigated orchards, a second benchmark identified heavily irrigated plots with 68% precision. Maps estimating water consumption were created at the watershed and municipal scales. The estimated total irrigation water use closely matched the actual consumption, with only a 14% deviation. This methodology offers an accessible estimation of water consumption at the watershed scale, without the need to rely on crop models. Moreover, the methodology accurately identifies areas with high irrigation demand based on actual irrigation practices.