bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Target detection based on generalized Bures–Wasserstein distance
Authors: Huang Zhizhong , Zheng Lin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractRadar target detection with fewer echo pulses in non-Gaussian clutter background is a challenging problem. In this instance, the conventional detectors using coherent accumulation are not very satisfactory. In contrast, the matrix detector based on Riemannian manifolds has shown potential on this issue since the covariance matrix of radar echo data during one coherent processing interval(CPI) has a smooth manifold structure. The Affine Invariant (AI) Riemannian distance between the cell under test (CUT) and the reference cells has been used as a statistic to achieve improved detection performance. This paper uses the Bures–Wasserstein (BW) distance and Generalized Bures–Wasserstein (GBW) distance on Riemannian manifolds as test statistics of matrix detectors, and propose relevant target detection method. Maximizing the GBW distance is formulated as an optimization problem and is solved by the Riemannian trust-region (RTR) method to achieve enhanced discrimination for target detection. Our evaluation of simulated data and measured data show that the matrix detector based on GBW distance leads to a significant performance gain over existing methods.
Rural women and ecotourism: modeling entrepreneurial behavior in Iran
Authors: Aghdasi Sahar , Omidi Najafabadi Maryam , Farajollah Hosseini Seyed Jamal 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFars province, as one of the most susceptible ecotourism regions of Iran, has paid attention to the establishment of ecotourism residences with the priority of rural women through ecotourism entrepreneurial training in recent years. In this regard, the present study investigates the effective factors on entrepreneurial behavior with Fars rural women ecotourism approach in Iran. The participants of the study were 431 of rural women in Fars and 205 were decided by Cochran formula. It is inferred from the results that step-by-step procedure of changing norms towards the acceptance of rural women entrepreneurs as well as the acceptance of ecotourism culture through the establishment of local and regional institutions and organizations in a context of family support with strong bonds of commitment, solidarity, environmental and infrastructural foundations will lead to a strong desire to constitute ecotourism residence by rural women.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for infection with influenza, SARS-CoV-2 or respiratory syncytial virus in the season 2022/2023 in a large German primary care centre
Authors: Quarg C. , Jörres R. A. , Engelhardt S. , Alter P. , Budweiser S. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
In 2022/2023, Influenza A and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) reappeared in hospitalized patients, which was in parallel to ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infections. The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of these infections during the same time.

Methods
We included patients of all ages with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Influenza A/B, RSV, or SARS-CoV-2 virus hospitalized in the neurological, internal or paediatric units of the RoMed Hospital Rosenheim, Germany, between October 1st 2022 and February 28th 2023.

Results
A total of 906 patients were included (45.6% female; median age 68.0 years; 21.9% Influenza A, 48.2% SARS-CoV-2, 28.3% RSV). Influenza B (0.2%) and co-infections (1.5%) played a minor role. In patients aged ≥ 18 years (n = 637, 71%), Influenza A, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV groups differed in age (median 72, 79, 76 years, respectively; p < 0.001). Comorbidities, particularly asthma and COPD, were most prevalent for RSV. 103 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (16.3% Influenza A, 15.3% SARS-CoV-2, 19.2% RSV; p = 0.649), 56 died (6.8% Influenza A, 9% SARS-CoV-2, 11.1% RSV; p = 0.496). RSV showed the highest frequencies of low-flow oxygen supplementation for admission and stay. Differences in the length of stay were minor (median 7 days). Conversely, in patients aged < 18 years (n = 261, 28,8%), 19.5%, 17.6% and 60.2% were in the Influenza A, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV groups, respectively; 0.4% showed Influenza B and 2.3% co-infections. 17 patients were admitted to ICU (3.9% Influenza A, 9.6% RSV, 0% SARS-CoV-2); none died. RSV showed the highest frequencies of high- and low-flow oxygen supplementation, SARS-CoV-2 the lowest.

Conclusion
When comparing infections with Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV in the winter 2022/2023 in hospitalized adult patients, rates of ICU admission and mortality were similar. RSV showed the highest frequencies of obstructive airway diseases, and of oxygen supplementation. The latter was also true in children/adolescents, in whom RSV dominated. Thus, in the situation of declining importance of SARS-CoV-2, RSV showed a disease burden that was relatively higher than that from Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 across ages, and this might be relevant for the seasons coming.
Disulfidptosis-related signatures for prognostic and immunotherapy reactivity evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Jiajing , Luo Zeminshan , Fu Ruizhi , Zhou Jinghong , Chen Shubiao , Wang Jianjie , Chen Dewang , Xie Xiaojun 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world and a nonnegligible health concern on a worldwide scale. Disulfidptosis is a novel mode of cell death, which is mainly caused by the collapse of the actin skeleton. Although many studies have demonstrated that various types of cell death are associated with cancer treatment, the relationship between disulfidptosis and HCC has not been elucidated.

Methods
Here, we mainly applied bioinformatics methods to construct a disulfidptosis related risk model in HCC patients. Specifically, transcriptome data and clinical information were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A total of 45 co-expressed genes were extracted between the disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and the differential expression genes (DEGs) of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) in the TCGA database. The LIHC cohort was divided into two subgroups with different prognosis by k-mean consensus clustering and functional enrichment analysis was performed. Subsequently, three hub genes (CDCA8, SPP2 and RDH16) were screened by Cox regression and LASSO regression analysis. In addition, a risk signature was constructed and the HCC cohort was divided into high risk score and low risk score subgroups to compare the prognosis, clinical features and immune landscape between the two subgroups. Finally, the prognostic model of independent risk factors was constructed and verified.

Conclusions
High DRGs-related risk score in HCC individuals predict poor prognosis and are associated with poor immunotherapy response, which indicates that risk score assessment model can be utilized to guide clinical treatment strategy.
Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of goat ovarian aging
Authors: Xu Dejun , Song Shuaifei , Wang Fuguo , Li Yawen , Li Ziyuan , Yao Hui , Zhao Yongju , Zhao Zhongquan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process, and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging, especially in goats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.

Results
For the first time, we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of over 27,000 ovarian cells from newborn, young and aging goats, and identified nine ovarian cell types with distinct gene-expression signatures. Functional enrichment analysis showed that ovarian cell types were involved in their own unique biological processes, such as Wnt beta-catenin signalling was enriched in germ cells, whereas ovarian steroidogenesis was enriched in granulosa cells (GCs). Further analysis showed that ovarian aging was linked to GCs-specific changes in the antioxidant system, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Subsequently, we identified a series of dynamic genes, such as AMH, CRABP2, THBS1 and TIMP1, which determined the fate of GCs. Additionally, FOXO1, SOX4, and HIF1A were identified as significant regulons that instructed the differentiation of GCs in a distinct manner during ovarian aging.

Conclusions
This study revealed a comprehensive aging-associated transcriptomic atlas characterizing the cell type-specific mechanisms during ovarian aging at the single-cell level and offers new diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for age-related goat ovarian diseases.
Theoretical conceptions for a holistic, transdisciplinary approach to contemporary landscape
Authors: Dorado María Isabel Alba 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn recent years the concept of landscape has undergone rapid expansion. This expansion, however, has not been accompanied by a parallel development in the definition of theoretical and methodological principles, nor has it achieved sufficient consensus for its application in scientific and/or administrative fields. The range of divergent ideas that currently persist and coexist around the concept of landscape, and which are biased towards disciplinary specificities, have given rise not only to terminological imprecision, but also to a lack of standardisation of study, evaluation, management and planning methodologies. This article aims to provide an overview of the different acceptations that have been developed in relation to the concept of landscape from the second half of the 20th century to the present day, with a view towards contributing to the conceptual and disciplinary plurality that exists regarding landscape as an entity. This study, however, also attempts to transcend this analysis by advancing towards the definition of a conceptual framework on which to redefine the concept of landscape by considering the multiplicity of dimensions that may be attributable to this concept and advocating a holistic, transdisciplinary, open, integrative approach to these dimensions.
Sense-based user interface platform for behavioral pattern analysis of young children
Authors: Lee Sangmin , Jang Jaehwan , Lee Young Tack , Kim Min-gu 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper presents a system integration of a sense-based user interface (SUI) platform, comprised of flexible pressure and humidity sensor arrays with a commercial inertial measurement unit (IMU), to analyze behavioral patterns of young children. The pressure sensors utilize a sensor array created using flexible inkjet printing, with each sensor using a piezoresistive sensing layer. The humidity sensors employ an interdigitated capacitive sensor based on a polyimide humidity-sensitive layer and are also manufactured using the flexible inkjet printing technique. To achieve a wide measurement area, both the pressure and humidity sensors are expanded into 5 × 5 and 5 × 10 sensor arrays, respectively. Also, commercial IMU, including accelerometer/gyroscope sensors, is employed. Finally, the SUI platform is in the form of a cuboidal block model, with an IMU and circuits embedded within the block. Multilayered pressure and humidity sensor arrays are installed on the external surface of the block. Collected data from each sensor are visualized through heatmaps and 3D motion representation to create a platform that integrates fine-grained behavior as well as global behavior information of young children. This research would provide a foundation for the development of SUI technology, especially aimed at individuals who have difficulty with conventional forms of input–output devices.
Study of amur cork tree bark extract-dyed paper under artificial UVA irradiation
Authors: Luo Yanbing , Zhang Xiujuan , Ren Mengjia , Wei Yanfei 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Some ancient Chinese paper artifacts dyed with amur cork tree bark extracts are currently preserved to different extents in museums and libraries worldwide. As traditional natural plant dyes, the long-term performance of the amur cork tree bark extract-dyed handmade paper has been questioned under a preserved environment. The photodegradation process of the extract-dyed papers was examined under accelerating artificial UVA irradiation conditions according to China national standard-paper and board- accelerated aging (exposure to light). Changes during aging were analyzed by optical observation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), pH, and tensile strength and folding endurance tests. The results showed that the main components from extracted dyes played an important role in affecting the photodegradation properties of dyed paper. The changes in surface color, pH, morphology and mechanical properties after the artificial UVA accelerated degradation tests revealed that a suitable concentration of the extract dyes for maintaining the long-term irradiation stability of the paper is important.
Coherent amplification of the Okhotsk high, Korean trough, and northwestern Pacific subtropical high during heavy rainfall over Japan in August 2021
Authors: Kuramochi Masaya , Ueda Hiroaki , Inoue Tomoshige , Honda Meiji , Takaya Koutarou 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn August 2021, rain front stagnation in Japan resulted in prolonged and disastrous rainfall across the entire country. During the heavy rainfall period, the large-scale atmospheric field over the East Asian–western North Pacific region was characterized by meridional tripolar circulation anomalies: the Okhotsk high (OH), the trough over the Korean Peninsula (Korean trough), and the northwestern Pacific subtropical high (NWPSH). Simultaneously, tropical convective activity was enhanced over the eastern Indian Ocean and suppressed over the tropical western–central Pacific. This study investigates the dynamic mechanism of linkage of the extratropical tripolar anomalies and the effects of tropical convective modulation using a reanalysis dataset, a cutoff low detection scheme, the potential vorticity inversion method, and numerical experiments. Upper-tropospheric blocking over eastern Siberia connected to the surface OH is conducive to the stagnation of synoptic depressions, including cutoff lows and troughs, over the Korean Peninsula, contributing to the development and maintenance of the quasi-stationary Korean trough. Rossby waves emanating from the Korean trough excite an anticyclonic anomaly over the northwestern Pacific. This upper-level anomalous anticyclone acts to enhance the surface NWPSH through zonal heat transport, accompanied by a northward tilting structure with height. Simultaneously, the tropical intraseasonal oscillation is amplified over the Indo–western Pacific Ocean sector under the negative-phase Indian Ocean dipole and multi-year La Niña conditions. The combination of enhanced convection over the eastern Indian Ocean and suppressed convection across the tropical western–central Pacific reinforces the NWPSH. The anomalous circulation associated with the extratropical tripolar pattern and concurrent tropical heat forcing causes more moisture transport, convergence, and anomalous ascent, which contribute to heavy rainfall in Japan. These results suggest that the dynamically correlated amplification of tropical and extratropical circulation anomalies plays a crucial role in precipitation variability in East Asia.
Innovative solutions for disease management
Authors: Carmina Dafni , Benfenati Valentina , Simonelli Claudia , Rotolo Alessia , Cardano Paola , Grovale Nicoletta , Mangoni di S. Stefano Lorenza , de Santo Tiziana , Zamboni Roberto , Palermo Vincenzo , Muccini Michele , De Seta Francesco 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is a driver for emerging big data technologies for healthcare including digital platforms for data collection, systems for active patient engagement and education, therapy specific predictive models, optimized patient pathway models. Powerful bioelectronic medicine tools for data collection, analysis and visualization allow for joint processing of large volumes of heterogeneous data, which in turn can produce new insights about patient outcomes and alternative interpretations of clinical patterns that can lead to implementation of optimized clinical decisions and clinical patient pathway by healthcare professionals.With this perspective, we identify innovative solutions for disease management and evaluate their impact on patients, payers and society, by analyzing their impact in terms of clinical outcomes (effectiveness, safety, and quality of life) and economic outcomes (cost-effectiveness, savings, and productivity).As a result, we propose a new approach based on the main pillars of innovation in the disease management area, i.e. progressive patient care models, patient-centric approaches, bioelectronics for precise medicine, and lean management that, combined with an increase in appropriate private-public-citizen-partnership, leads towards Patient-Centric Healthcare.
ÉPOP (traditional starter culture): a complex composition of plant resources prepared by the Misings of Assam, Northeast India
Authors: Mili Rajiv , Sundriyal R. C. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEthnic practices with relation to starter culture reflect a region-specific traditions; therefore, documentation of such knowledge is key to improvise basic understanding as how traditions, cultures, and processes are linked to local dietary systems, food and nutrition security, and social connection. Considering this, the present study aims to investigate the Mising ethnic tribal group, Assam state in Northeast India, with a focus to investigate mode of starter culture making for preparing local beverage along with plant species being used, time of collection, procedure of making starter culture, and how it is preserved. The community maintains an agrarian culture and is closely associated with forest-based natural resources. This group of people consumes various foods prepared from wild plants and crops along with meat and fish. Apong is one of the most important components of their culture, used as a beverage made up of rice by using starter culture locally known as ÉPOP. Detailed process of making of starter culture was documented. A total of 31 plant species varying from 22 families belonging to both flowering and non-flowering plants were recorded used by the community. Eight species also comprised market potential for diverse uses besides being used in starter culture preparation. The source of the collected resources varied from fallow land to forest, with the highest collection concentration in the forest (35.5%), mostly collected in the afternoon (51.61%) to ensure a quality of the plant material. The collected plant materials are mixed with soaked glutinous rice and made into starter cultures of different sizes that have a shelf life of 6 months. The study highlights that use of starter culture is consistent and harmless with distinct flavor and taste that apt to local appetite. Conserving community knowledge on starter culture making, however, requires appropriate policy planning and action line. The investigation not only increases our understanding on local food tradition but also has potential for applications in fermented food industry and thus opens up a new line of research in future.
Interpreting the Significance of Changes in Health-Related Quality-of-Life Scores
Authors: Osoba D , Rodrigues G , Myles J , Zee B , Pater J 
Published: December 2023

PURPOSE To determine the significance to patients of changes in health-related quality-of-life (HLQ) scores assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30). PATIENTS AND METHODS A subjective significance questionnaire (SSQ), which asks patients about perceived changes in physical, emotional, and social functioning and in global quality of life (global QL) and the QLQ-C30 were completed by patients who received chemotherapy for either breast cancer or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In the SSQ, patients rated their perception of change since the last time they completed the QLQ-C30 using a 7-category scale that ranged from "much worse" through "no change" to "much better." For each category of change in the SSQ, the corresponding differences were calculated in QLQ-C30 mean scores and effect sizes were determined. RESULTS For patients who indicated "no change" in the SSQ, the mean change in scores in the corresponding QLQ-C30 domains was not significantly different from 0. For patients who indicated "a little" change either for better or for worse, the mean change in scores was about 5 to 10; for "moderate" change, about 10 to 20; and for "very much" change, greater than 20. Effect sizes increased in concordance with increasing changes in SSQ ratings and QLQ-C30 scores. CONCLUSION The significance of changes in QLQ-C30 scores can be interpreted in terms of small, moderate, or large changes in quality of life as reported by patients in the SSQ. The magnitude of these changes also can be used to calculate the sample sizes required to detect a specified change in clinical trials.
Evaluating long-term antibody responses to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the Pakistani population
Authors: Hussain Shakir , Naseer Fouzia , Kanani Fatima , Aijaz Javeria 
Published: December 2023

Background & Objective: Nearly 80 million of the Pakistani population received two doses of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine, against SARS-CoV-2, and 2.6 million people received heterologous booster doses up to February 2022. Our objective was to evaluate the increase of antibody titers in persons vaccinated with Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 following two doses of BBIBP-CorV.
Methods: Serum specimens from forty-three participants were collected 4-8 weeks following two doses of BBIBP-CorV at the Indus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi. A second set of serum specimens were collected 2-12 months after Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 booster dose administration. Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA, Abbott Alinity Quant), and the pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assay were performed on all specimens. The latter assay was reported as log half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50), calculated using a nonlinear regression algorithm (log [inhibitor] versus normalized response variable slope) in Graph Pad Prism 9. A paired sample t-test was used to ascertain the statistical significance of the difference in means of antibody titers obtained before and after the booster vaccine doses.
Results: Mean log10 values obtained with CMIA before and after the booster dose were 2.90 AU/mL and 3.87 AU/mL respectively, while the corresponding log10 IC50 values obtained through pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assay were 2.45 and 2.80. These differences were statistically significant with CMIA (p = <0.00001), but not with pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assay (p = 0.06318.).
Conclusion: A heterologous booster dose with Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine following two doses of BBIBP results in increased total antibody titers, though neutralizing antibody titers may start to wane a few months after the booster dose.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.2(ICON).8951
How to cite this: Hussain S, Naseer F, Kanani F, Aijaz J. Evaluating long-term antibody responses to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the Pakistani population. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(2):S28-S34. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.2(ICON).8951
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.