mdpi-ai/citelens huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Thermo-Acoustic Waste Heat Recovery through Machine Learning: A Comparative Analysis of Artificial Neural Network–Particle Swarm Optimization, Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System, and Artificial Neural Network Models
Field: AI

Waste heat recovery stands out as a promising technique for tackling both energy shortages and environmental pollution. Currently, this valuable resource, generated through processes like fuel combustion or chemical reactions, is often dissipated into the environment, despite its potential to significantly contribute to the economy. To harness this untapped potential, a traveling-wave thermo-acoustic generator has been designed and subjected to comprehensive experimental analysis. Fifty-two data corresponding to different working conditions of the system were extracted to build ANN, ANFIS, and ANN-PSO models. Evaluation of performance metrics reveals that the ANN-PSO model demonstrates the highest predictive accuracy (R2=0.9959), particularly in relation to output voltage. This research demonstrates the potential of machine learning techniques for the analysis of thermo-acoustic systems. In doing so, it is possible to obtain an insight into nonlinearities inherent to thermo-acoustic systems. This advancement empowers researchers to forecast the performance characteristics of alternative configurations with a heightened level of precision.
Basic counseling skills in psychology and teaching: validation of a short version of the counselor activity self-efficacy scales
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Background: Counseling self-efficacy is a relevant measure to examine trainees’ beliefs about their counseling skills. This study aimed to validate three scales of the revised German version of the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (CASES-R) measuring basic counseling skills. To ascertain the scales’ sensitivity to change, counseling self-efficacy was assessed before and after specific training. Method: The sample comprised 163 university students enrolled either in psychology or education. Students were examined before and after participating in training focusing on basic counseling skills. We applied confirmatory factor analysis and tested internal consistency, convergent validity, and criterion validity. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the CASES-R scales for basic counseling skills. The scales provided acceptable to good internal consistency (α = 0.77 − 0.87). Significant relations with general self-efficacy (r =.23, p <.01) provided first indication for convergent validity. We also found a significant correlation of the CASES-R with positive affect (r =.22), and significant correlations of some subscales with empathetic concern (r =.16 −.21) and mastery goal orientation (r =.16), overall supporting criterion validity. The CASES-R scales proved to be sensitive to change, as participants’ scores were higher after (M = 6.18, SD = 1.05) than before (M = 5.37, SD = 1.16) counseling training (F(1, 309) = 42.27, p <.001). Conclusion: We found support for the proposed factor structure and reliability of the German version of the three CASES-R scales, indicating its suitability for use in basic counseling settings. Future research should further examine the scales’ validity.
The interrelationships between Chinese learners’ trait emotional intelligence and teachers’ emotional support in learners’ engagement
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Background: One noteworthy concern within the realm of education is the level of engagement demonstrated by students. Among the factor that can have a crucial role in this domain is teacher support, especially emotional support which has an impact on several aspects of learners’ education. Furthermore, various studies have investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and learners’ engagement. Methods: Accordingly, this study investigated the possible role of trait EI and the emotional support of teachers and how these constructs may work to associate learners’ engagement. For this objective, a total of 309 Chinese students across different colleges and universities in 5 provinces of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Shaanxi were enrolled. They were 126 females and 183 males, with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years old (Mean = 24.6). Results: The results of this research through running Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) demonstrated that teachers’ emotional support and trait EI both can associate students’ learning engagement. The final measurement model shows that about 73% of changes in learners’ engagement can be associated by their trait EI and teachers’ emotional support. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of emotional support from teachers and the trait of EI in relation to students’ engagement in learning. Both factors were shown to play a significant role in associating student engagement. Moreover, this study could potentially have wider impacts on members of academic teams.
Efficacy and safety of first-line therapy in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose: The numerous first-line treatment regimens for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) necessitate a comprehensive evaluation to inform clinical decision-making. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy and safety of different interventions. Methods: We systematically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and online abstracts from inception to June 1, 2023. NMA was performed to calculate and analyze progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events of grade 3 or higher (≥ 3 AEs). Results: Out of the 10,313 manuscripts retrieved, we included 28 RCTs involving 11,680 patients. Regarding PFS and ORR, the combination of trastuzumab with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was more favorable than dual-targeted therapy. If only using trastuzumab, combination chemotherapy is superior to monochemotherapy in terms of PFS. It is important to note that the addition of anthracycline did not result in improved PFS. For patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-positive diseases, dual-targeted combined with endocrine therapy showed better benefit in terms of PFS compared to dual-targeted alone, but it did not reach statistical significance. The comprehensive analysis of PFS and ≥ 3 AEs indicates that monochemotherapy combined with dual-targeted therapy still has the optimal balance between efficacy and safety. Conclusion: Monochemotherapy (Docetaxel) plus dual-target (Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab) therapy remains the optimal choice among all first-line treatment options for ABC. The combination of trastuzumab with TKIs (Pyrotinib) demonstrated a significant improvement in PFS and ORR, but further data are warranted to confirm the survival benefit.
Prediction of Patient Outcomes in Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma Following Chemoradiotherapy—Comparative Effectiveness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose Imaging
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose: To evaluate the utility and comparative effectiveness of three five-point qualitative scoring systems for assessing response on PET-CT and MRI imaging individually and in combination, following curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Their performance in the prediction of subsequent patient outcomes was also assessed; Methods: Ninety-seven patients with histologically confirmed LACC treated with CRT using standard institutional protocols at a single centre who underwent PET-CT and MRI at staging and post treatment were identified retrospectively from an institutional database. The post-CRT imaging studies were independently reviewed, and response assessed using five-point scoring tools for T2WI, DWI, and FDG PET-CT. Patient characteristics, staging, treatment, and follow-up details including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were collected. To compare diagnostic performance metrics, a two-proportion z-test was employed. A Kaplan–Meier analysis (Mantel–Cox log-rank) was performed. Results: The T2WI (p < 0.00001, p < 0.00001) and DWI response scores (p < 0.00001, p = 0.0002) had higher specificity and accuracy than the PET-CT. The T2WI score had the highest positive predictive value (PPV), while the negative predictive value (NPV) was consistent across modalities. The combined MR scores maintained high NPV, PPV, specificity, and sensitivity, and the PET/MR consensus scores showed superior diagnostic accuracy and specificity compared to the PET-CT score alone (p = 0.02926, p = 0.0083). The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significant differences in the PFS based on the T2WI (p < 0.001), DWI (p < 0.001), combined MR (p = 0.003), and PET-CT/MR consensus scores (p < 0.001) and in the OS for the T2WI (p < 0.001), DWI (p < 0.001), and combined MR scores (p = 0.031) between responders and non-responders. Conclusion: Post-CRT response assessment using qualitative MR scoring and/or consensus PET-CT and MRI scoring was a better predictor of outcome compared to PET-CT assessment alone. This requires validation in a larger prospective study but offers the potential to help stratify patient follow-up in the future.
Transitioning to Success: The Link between E-CTE and College Preparation for Students with Learning Disabilities in the United States
Field: EDUCATION

In recent years, there has been a specific call to not only increase the number of engineering-trained individuals but also to address the lack of diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, including individuals with disabilities. In particular, students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) make up a large portion of all students and are, therefore, a crucial population on which to focus educational and career progression efforts. One potential means of promoting persistence along the STEM pipeline—engineering specifically—is through engineering career and technical education (E-CTE) coursework in high school. Using a nationally representative dataset, we explore how E-CTE participation links to college preparation and transition activities for SWLDs, including math SAT performance, dual credit course participation, college application, and FAFSA completion. Under our more rigorous school fixed-effects models, we find that E-CTE participation is associated with beneficial results across each of our outcomes. The implications are discussed.
MultiWave-Net: An Optimized Spatiotemporal Network for Abnormal Action Recognition Using Wavelet-Based Channel Augmentation
Field: AI

Human behavior is regarded as one of the most complex notions present nowadays, due to the large magnitude of possibilities. These behaviors and actions can be distinguished as normal and abnormal. However, abnormal behavior is a vast spectrum, so in this work, abnormal behavior is regarded as human aggression or in another context when car accidents occur on the road. As this behavior can negatively affect the surrounding traffic participants, such as vehicles and other pedestrians, it is crucial to monitor such behavior. Given the current prevalent spread of cameras everywhere with different types, they can be used to classify and monitor such behavior. Accordingly, this work proposes a new optimized model based on a novel integrated wavelet-based channel augmentation unit for classifying human behavior in various scenes, having a total number of trainable parameters of 5.3 m with an average inference time of 0.09 s. The model has been trained and evaluated on four public datasets: Real Live Violence Situations (RLVS), Highway Incident Detection (HWID), Movie Fights, and Hockey Fights. The proposed technique achieved accuracies in the range of 92% to 99.5% across the used benchmark datasets. Comprehensive analysis and comparisons between different versions of the model and the state-of-the-art have been performed to confirm the model’s performance in terms of accuracy and efficiency. The proposed model has higher accuracy with an average of 4.97%, and higher efficiency by reducing the number of parameters by around 139.1 m compared to other models trained and tested on the same benchmark datasets.
Mid-Term and Long-Lasting Psycho–Cognitive Benefits of Bidomain Training Intervention in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Background: This study investigated whether combining simultaneous physical and cognitive training yields superior cognitive outcomes compared with aerobic training alone in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and whether these benefits persist after four weeks of detraining. Methods: Forty-four people with MCI (11 males and 33 females) aged 65 to 75 years were randomly assigned to an 8-week, twice-weekly program of either aerobic training (AT group, n = 15), aerobic training combined with cognitive games (ACT group, n = 15), or simply reading for controls (CG group, n = 14). Selective attention (Stroop), problem-solving (Hanoi Tower), and working memory (Digit Span) tasks were used to assess cognitive performances at baseline, in the 4th (W4) and 8th weeks (W8) of training, and after 4 weeks of rest (W12). Results: Both training interventions induced beneficial effects on all tested cognitive performance at W4 (except for the number of moves in the Hanoi tower task) and W8 (all p <0.001), with the ACT group exhibiting a more pronounced positive impact than the AT group (p < 0.05). This advantage was specifically observed at W8 in tasks such as the Stroop and Tower of Hanoi (% gain ≈40% vs. ≈30% for ACT and AT, respectively) and the digit span test (% gain ≈13% vs. ≈10% for ACT and AT, respectively). These cognitive improvements in both groups, with the greater ones in ACT, persisted even after four weeks of detraining, as evidenced by the absence of a significant difference between W8 and W12 (p > 0.05). Concerning neuropsychological assessments, comparable beneficial effects were recorded following both training regimens (all p < 0.05 from pre- to post-intervention). The control group did not show any significant improvement in most of the cognitive tasks. Conclusions: The greater mid-term and long-lasting effects of combined simultaneous physical–cognitive training underscores its potential as a cost-effective intervention for the prevention and management of cognitive decline. While these results are valuable in guiding optimal physical and mental activity recommendations for adults with MCI, further neurophysiological-based studies are essential to offer robust support and deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these promising findings.
Patient–physician communication about cancer-related fatigue: a survey of patient-perceived barriers
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is a subjective, distressing, and common sequela of cancer which is often disregarded and underdiagnosed. Fatigue is assessed by self-report requiring communication between patient and physician. In this study, we investigated the patients’ perspective on the patient–physician communication about fatigue. Methods: On average five months after diagnosis 1179 cancer patients, recruited in Germany, completed a survey as part of the LIFT project. The survey included questions on sociodemographic data, fatigue, depression, fatigue management, patient–physician communication, and communication barriers. Data were analyzed descriptively and using logistic regression analyses. Results: Half of the participants reported that their physician had never asked them whether they felt exhausted. Patients undergoing chemo-, radio-, or immunotherapy were more likely to be asked about fatigue, while older age and major depression decreased the likelihood. Sixty-four percent of the patients felt impeded by communication barriers. Common barriers were not knowing who to turn to for fatigue (39%), time constraints (31%), and the fear of being perceived as weak (22%). Almost half of the participants indicated that their physicians were not appreciative and did not deal adequately with fatigue-related questions. Conclusion: This study revealed gaps in the patient–physician communication regarding cancer-related fatigue. Contrary to guideline recommendations a minority of physicians addressed fatigue. On the other hand, cancer patients felt reluctant to bring up this topic due to structural barriers and fears. Physicians should routinely address fatigue and adopt a communication style which encourages patients to likewise state their symptoms and raise their questions. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04921644. Registered in June 2021.
Prediction of positive pulmonary nodules based on machine learning algorithm combined with central carbon metabolism data
Field: ONCOLOGY

Background: Lung cancer causes a huge disease burden, and early detection of positive pulmonary nodules (PPNs) as an early sign of lung cancer is extremely important for effective intervention. It is necessary to develop PPNs risk recognizer based on machine learning algorithm combined with central carbon metabolomics. Methods: The study included 2248 participants at high risk for lung cancer from the Ma'anshan Community Lung Cancer Screening cohort. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) was used to screen 18 central carbon-related metabolites in plasma, recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to select all 42 features, followed by five machine learning algorithms for model development. The performance of the model was evaluated using area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores. In addition, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was performed to assess the interpretability of the final selected model and to gain insight into the impact of features on the predicted results. Results: Finally, the two prediction models based on the random forest (RF) algorithm performed best, with AUC values of 0.87 and 0.83, respectively, better than other models. We found that homogentisic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, hippuric acid, gluconic acid, and succinic acid played a significant role in both PPNs prediction model and NPNs vs PPNs model, while 2-oxadipic acid only played a role in the former model and phosphopyruvate only played a role in the NPNs vs PPNs model. This model demonstrates the potential of central carbon metabolism for PPNs risk prediction and identification. Conclusion: We developed a series of predictive models for PPNs, which can help in the early detection of PPNs and thus reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Early port site and peritoneal metastasis following robot-assisted radical cystectomy: a rare case report
Field: ONCOLOGY

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection is the recommended treatment for managing muscle-invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Early recurrence is observed in only about 4.1% of cases. Port-site metastasis following robot-assisted radical cystectomy is extremely rare. We encountered a challenging and a rare case of bladder cancer that manifested with port-site and peritoneal metastasis within 6 weeks of surgery.
The Pernicious Predictability of State-Mandated Tests of Academic Achievement in the United States
Field: EDUCATION

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictiveness of community and family demographic variables related to the development of student academic background knowledge on the percentage of students who pass a state-mandated, commercially prepared, standardized Algebra 1 test in the state of New Jersey, USA. This explanatory, cross-sectional study utilized quantitative methods through hierarchical regression analysis. The results suggest that family demographic variables found in the United States Census data related to the development of student academic background knowledge predicted 75 percent of schools in which students achieved a passing score on a state standardized high school assessment of Algebra 1. We can conclude that construct-irrelevant variance, influenced in part by student background knowledge, can be used to predict standardized test results. The results call into question the use of standardized tests as tools for policy makers and educational leaders to accurately judge student learning or school quality.
Short-term serial circulating tumor DNA assessment predicts therapeutic efficacy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose We investigated the potential clinical utility of short-term serial KRAS-mutated circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) assessment for predicting therapeutic response in patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected 144 blood samples from 18 patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer that were undergoing initial first-line chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GEM plus nab-PTX). Analysis of KRAS-mutated ctDNA was quantified by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) as mutant allele frequency (MAF). This study investigated pretreatment KRAS-mutated ctDNA status and ctDNA kinetics every few days (days 1, 3, 5 and 7) after initiation of chemotherapy and their potential as predictive indicators. Results Of the 18 enrolled patients, an increase in KRAS-mutated ctDNA MAF values from day 0–7 after initiation of chemotherapy was significantly associated with disease progression (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, positive pretreatment ctDNA status (MAF ≥ 0.02%) (P = 0.585) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) values above the median (P = 0.266) were not associated with disease progression. In univariate analysis, this short-term increase in ctDNA MAF values (day 0–7) was found to be associated with significantly shorter progression free survival (PFS) (hazard ration [HR], 24.234; range, (2.761–212.686); P = 0.0002). Conclusion This short-term ctDNA kinetics assessment may provide predictive information to reflect real-time therapeutic response and lead to effective refinement of regimen in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing systemic chemotherapy.
Exploring the expression and clinical significance of the miR-140-3p-HOXA9 axis in colorectal cancer
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the expression patterns and clinical significance of miR-140-3p and homeobox A9 (HOXA9) in colorectal cancer (CRC) selected by bioinformatic study, while elucidating their potential interplay. Methods: The microRNA expression profiles of paired colorectal cancer and matched normal tissues were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database. Differentially expressed microRNAs and microRNA candidates were filtered and subjected to further analysis. Clinicopathological data, along with paraffin-embedded samples of colorectal tumor tissues were collected to facilitate comprehensive analysis. Expression levels of miR-140-3p and HOXA9 were quantified using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Survival rates were determined using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the COX regression model was utilized to identify independent prognostic factors that impact the overall prognosis. Results: MiR-140-3p was significantly downregulated in colorectal tumors compared to normal tissue, and HOXA9 was identified as a previously unreported potential downstream target. HOXA9 expression was elevated in tumors compared to normal tissues. Reduced miR-140-3p expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, while high HOXA9 expression correlated with both lymph node metastasis and lympho-vascular invasion. Patients with low miR-140-3p and high HOXA9 expression had a poorer prognosis. HOXA9 was identified as an independent risk factor for CRC patient survival. Conclusion: The miR-140-3p-HOXA9 signaling disruption is closely linked to lymph node metastasis and unfavorable prognosis in CRC. This axis shows promise as a clinical biomarker for predicting the CRC patient survival and a potential therapeutic target.