Browse Articles

Effect of random terms on the shape of dendrites analyzed by the phase-field model

In this study, we focus on random terms with a significant effect on the calculation time and the sidebranch structure of dendrites. We quantitatively evaluate the effect of the random terms on dendrites by changing the term introduced into the evaluation equation, the distribution of the random term, and variance. We introduced the terms: χ and ∇·q. In the phase-field equation, we use χ to represent interfacial noise. In the heat conduction equation, we use ∇·q to represent thermal noise. We compare the results of calculation using only χ with those using only ∇·q and analyze the effect of each random term introduced on the shape of dendrites. In terms of the probability distribution for generating random numbers, the uniform and Gaussian distributions are used for comparison. The magnitude of the noise Fu, which controls the variance of noise, is used with 3 or 4 patterns of values to the extent that the calculation results do not diverge. Each value of Fu differs by a factor of 10. Sidebranch length, contour length, and area are used as indices for evaluating dendrites. The succinonitril is used for comparing the simulation and experimental results for dendrites to design the optimal random number model. On the basis of the introduced terms, we clarify that each term requires a different order of the variance. The probability density function of random numbers does not affect the shape of dendrites. On the other hand, the calculation time which is used the random numbers following the uniform distribution is more than twice as fast as when using random numbers that follow a Gaussian distribution. The variance of a random term has the greatest effect on the shape of dendrites.

Incidental findings on non-contrast abdominal computed tomography in an asymptomatic population: Prevalence, economic and health implications

Introduction Increasing use of low-dose abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans in clinical diagnostics and research offers high sensitivity for kidney stones with minimal radiation exposure. However, due to reduced specificity, incidental findings potentially lead to unnecessary follow-up, financial burden, and psychological distress. Gaps of knowledge remain regarding the prevalence of incidental findings and their financial and psychological consequences. This study investigates the prevalence of incidental findings in asymptomatic participants undergoing low-dose non-contrast CT scans and their economic and psychological sequelae. Methods We conducted a retrospective, multicentric observational study using data from the assessment for the control group of the Swiss Kidney Stone Cohort (SKSC). Low-dose non-contrast CT scans were analyzed for incidental findings, cost and psychological impact. Statistical analyses evaluated participant characteristics, financial and psychological consequences. Results 229 participants underwent low-dose non-contrast CT scans, with 112 correctly completing the psychological questionnaires. The mean age was 42.9 years, and 56.3% were male. Incidental findings were observed in 47.2% (n = 108) of participants, with 16.6% having multiple findings. Kidney-related findings were the most prevalent, accounting for 35% of all findings. Of the incidental findings, 37.9% were classified as “incidentalomas” by the American College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines, and 15.7% of participants had findings that warranted follow-up according to radiology reports. In terms of costs, follow-up procedures, including imaging, consultations, and surgeries, incurred a total expense of 44’988 CHF, averaging 1967 CHF per participant and 2’999 CHF per incidental finding requiring follow-up. Surgical interventions were necessary for three participants, with individual costs reaching up to 35’208 CHF. Psychological assessment revealed that emotional distress and level of concern significantly differed across resilience levels and categories of CT findings. Participants with high resilience demonstrated lower emotional distress and concern, while those with CT findings requiring follow-up exhibited higher distress. Emotional distress was significantly greater in participants with follow-up findings compared to those without. Conclusions Low-dose non-contrast abdominal CT scans often reveal incidental findings. Follow-up tests and procedures incurred significant financial costs, occasionally even leading to unnecessary surgical or non-surgical interventions. Psychological assessments showed increased anxiety in participants requiring follow-up, particularly those with low resilience. Our findings highlight the need for improved management, patient information, and consideration of economic and psychological impacts of incidental findings in clinical research and routine in the future.

Historical availability of arable land affects contemporaneous female labor and health outcomes

We contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying deep-rooted gender norms by exploring the link between the historical availability of arable land and contemporary gender outcomes. We argue that an abundance of arable land in historical times, i.e., pre-industrial period, required more workers in the fields resulting in norms where women worked and contributed from outside the home as well. Consequently, these societies emphasized women’s health due to its positive effect on their productivity in the fields. Moreover, this economic contribution provided women greater bargaining power in the allocation of intrahousehold resources. The historical avail- ability of arable land for a nation is measured as the weighted mean of the shares of its constituent ethnic groups’ ancestral lands suited to cereal agriculture. Consistent with these arguments, we show that countries with more ancestral arable land have higher female labor force participation rates and better health outcomes, measured by maternal mortality ratio and female-male life expectancy gap. We then illustrate the ‘persistence of norm’ mechanism, by showing that ancestral arable land measured at the district level is positively associated with individual-level attitudes regarding women’s participation in the labor market.

Zero-shot performance analysis of large language models in sumrate maximization

Large language models have revolutionized the field of natural language processing and are now becoming a one-stop solution to various tasks. In the field of Networking, LLMs can also play a major role when it comes to resource optimization and sharing. While Sumrate maximization has been a crucial factor for resource optimization in the networking domain, the optimal or sub-optimal algorithms it requires can be cumbersome to comprehend and implement. An effective solution is leveraging the generative power of LLMs for such tasks where there is no necessity for prior algorithmic and programming knowledge. A zero-shot analysis of these models is necessary to define the feasibility of using them in such tasks. Using different combinations of total cellular users and total D2D pairs, our empirical results suggest that the maximum average efficiency of these models for sumrate maximization in comparison to state-of-the-art approaches is around 58%, which is obtained using GPT. The experiment also concludes that some variants of the large language models currently in use are not suitable for numerical and structural data without fine-tuning their parameters.

Correction: Farmland increases Indian crested porcupine occupancy in Parsa-Koshi complex, Nepal

Features of drug addiction treatment programs in Atlantic Canada that help (or not) with access and retention: A qualitative study

Access to government-funded addiction treatment programs can reduce harms experienced by people who use substances (PWUS). There is some research on what features (e.g., policies and practices) of treatment programs help or do not help with access; however, not much is known about program directors’ and physicians’ perspectives of these features in Atlantic Canada. One-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with program directors and physicians working in government-funded addiction treatment programs in Atlantic Canada in 2021. Interview questions focused on perspectives of program features that helped or not with access and retention, including perspectives on changes due to COVID-19. Data were coded and analyzed using grounded theory techniques to develop themes and subthemes. Fourteen individuals were interviewed. They identified several features that helped (e.g., quick access) or did not help (e.g., wait times) with access and retention. Participants shared some features that changed due to COVID-19, including some that helped (e.g., virtual services) and did not (e.g., limited program spaces). Participants suggested changes that could support access and retention, including better linkages to mental health supports. This paper highlights program directors’ and physicians’ perspectives on how program features inform access and retention in Atlantic Canada. Findings on changes made during COVID-19 point to the need to maintain the changes that were helpful and implement additional changes to better support access for more PWUS. To support the implementation and sustainability of these changes, more resources must be invested.

The impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines compliance in a teaching hospital in Ghana

Background Inappropriate use of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) is noted to be a major contributor of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally, including Ghana. This study sought to assess the impact of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions on SAP guideline compliance and other surgical outcomes including SSI and length of hospital stay. Method This was a nine-month quasi-experimental (before- and after-intervention) study. Four months’ medical records of 150 obstetric and gynecological surgery patients were collected both before (baseline) and after the implementation of AMS interventions in a teaching hospital in Ghana. The interventions included education on the hospital SAP guidelines and feedback of the baseline survey results to the surgical team. An adapted data collection sheet was used to collect medical records of the included patients. A descriptive analysis was performed, a Pearson’s chi-square test and a two-sample Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney U) rank-sum test were used to assess the impact of the interventions. Results Most (n = 220/300, 73.33%) of the patients were between the ages of 24–44 years, and the commonest surgery was an emergency caesarean section (n = 92/300, 30.67%). After the AMS interventions, there was a significant improvement in guideline compliance due to appropriate antibiotic choice (p = 0.001). duration (p < 0.001), and the volume of consumption of SAP (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the timing of administration (p = 0.636), SSI rate (p = 0.054), and the length of hospital stay (p = 0.161). Conclusion Our study showed positive impact of the two AMS interventions on SAP guideline compliance based on the choice and duration of prescription, and reduction of the volume of antibiotic utilization, but not on the timing of administration. This did not worsen the SSI rate and patient length of stay. Hospitals in Ghana and beyond are encouraged to optimize SAP use and prevent rising AMR rates by implementing appropriate educational programmes and dissemination of audit findings.

Pilot study of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers reveals inflammatory changes in patients with paranoid schizophrenia

Abstract Paranoid schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with both positive and negative symptoms. Currently, the role of peripheral and central inflammation is increasingly suspected as possible factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This retrospective, monocentric pilot study investigated 35 patients (15/35 female) diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after exclusion of possible underlying neuroinflammatory disorders to assess for inflammatory changes of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and associated signs of neurodegeneration. Kappa free light chains (KFLC), a panel of 21 cyto- and chemokines, and neurofilament light chains (NFL) as surrogate parameters for neuro-inflammation and -degeneration were determined in patients with paranoid schizophrenia as well as age- and sex-matched inflammatory (n = 35) and non-inflammatory controls (n = 40). Patients with paranoid schizophrenia exhibited significantly higher intrathecal synthesized fractions of KFLC than non-inflammatory controls. KFLC-positive patients with paranoid schizophrenia had significantly higher NFL concentrations in CSF than KFLC-negative patients according to Reiber´s diagram. NFL concentrations in CSF of patients with paranoid schizophrenia were associated with illness duration, frequency of psychotic episodes, and amount of antipsychotic treatment attempts. This pilot study highlights inflammatory changes in the CSF among a specific subgroup of patients with paranoid schizophrenia, positively correlating with elevated NFL levels in CSF.

Exposure to respirable desert dust entering indoors prompts quick oxidative-stress and inflammatory responses in the airways of chronic heart failure patients

Leveraging a novel nanocomposite for enhanced drilling fluid efficiency

Sentiment analysis for deepfake X posts using novel transfer learning based word embedding and hybrid LGR approach

Pechini derived multifunctional MgO based chromate nanocomposites for superior brilliant green dye adsorption

Comparison of consistency between wireless and conventional wired monitoring systems in gastrointestinal endoscopy

Association between air pollution and type II diabetes in Italy from clinical data and population-weighted exposure at the municipality level

Constructing pH-sensitive silica-sulfide hafnium dot nanotherapeutics for synergistically enhanced chemoradiotherapy

Automatic strip layout design in progressive dies using the grouping genetic algorithm

Abstract One of the most challenging topics in progressive die design is strip layout design. In the present study, a new method is presented for the automatic strip layout design for progressive dies using the Grouping Genetic Algorithm. A two-objective function is used in the optimization process. The first objective is minimizing the number of stations, and the second is achieving torque equilibrium. The proposed algorithm considers both the minimum number of stations and torque equilibrium simultaneously and is capable of balancing the die torque by adding additional stations (either active or idle) as needed. A software is developed in C# in the Solidworks environment to carry out the algorithm. The inputs to the software are the punch shapes and the constraints between the punches. The output is the strip layout design of sheet metal parts. The performance of the present algorithm is compared with the methods of other researchers and the results indicate that the proposed algorithm performance is improved in the tested cases.

Adapting foundation models for rapid clinical response: intracerebral hemorrhage segmentation in emergency settings

Redox metabolic disruptions in the honey bee brain following acute exposure to the pyrethroid deltamethrin

Abstract Deltamethrin is a widely used pyrethroid insecticide that has detrimental effects on the redox homeostasis of honey bee (Apis mellifera) brains. The decline of pollinating insect populations, including honey bee colonies, is a growing global concern. This problem results in serious ecological and economic concerns as well as veterinary- and animal health-related issues. In addition, exposure to agricultural pesticides is one of the major contributing factors. Adult worker honey bees were exposed to three sublethal concentrations of orally administered deltamethrin (1.975, 3.95, and 7.9 ng/bee/day; corresponding to LD50/40, LD50/20, and LD50/10) for 48 h. In this study, various redox markers, including glutathione concentrations, antioxidant enzyme activities, total antioxidant capacity, hydrogen peroxide concentrations and lipid peroxidation products, were monitored in brain homogenate samples from honey bees. The results revealed significant changes related to the glutathione system, as indicated by decreases in the GSH/GSSG ratio and GSH concentration in all treatment groups. The activities of the monitored enzymes, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and xanthine oxidase (XO), were significantly decreased, highlighting the altered function of the enzymatic antioxidant defense system. Moreover, pronounced lipid peroxidation was detected in the highest-dose group, as indicated by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; however, H2O2 levels were unchanged, suggesting the effective activation of ROS-scavenging adaptation mechanisms. The present study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of deltamethrin toxicity in honey bees, suggesting that redox metabolism is negatively affected. Understanding the exact mechanism of action may contribute to the identification of new possibilities for effective intervention in cellular metabolic processes in the future through the targeted use of novel protective feed additives or other methods, which are of particular importance for animal health as well as for this field of veterinary medicine.

Imidacloprid soil drenches indirectly weaken the selection and predatory ability of the coccinellid predator Propylea japonica (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

SCAPS simulation and design of highly efficient CuBi2O4-based thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) with hole and electron transport layers

Abstract The continued rise in global temperatures and climate change has increased the demand for renewable energy sources. Recent developments in thin-layer photovoltaic cells have improved power output, affordability, and overall efficiency, spurred by the growing demand for renewable energy sources. In this study, numerical simulations of solar cells utilizing (SCAPS-1D) were employed to examine the efficiency of a CuBi2O4-based thin-film solar cell (TFSC). The CuBi2O4 absorber layer, known for its stability and optimal bandgap, was integrated with a Cu2O hole transport layer (HTL), CdS buffer layer, and TiO2 electron transference layer (ETL). Numerous constraints, including layer thickness, bandgap, and carrier concentration, were augmented to enhance the photovoltaic characteristics, such as fill factor (FF), open-circuit voltage (Voc), efficiency (η) and short-circuit current density (Jsc). The study differentiates itself with a device structure constructed from Au/Cu2O/CuBi2O4/CdS/TiO2/FTO, which has impressive characteristics such as an open-circuit voltage of 1.2 V, a short-circuit current density of 32.85 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 88.42%, and an efficiency of 34.98% at lower defect density, although this efficiency exceeds the theoretical limit established by Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction solar cells, it is essential to recognize that limit does not consider real-world constraints such as nonradiative recombination. The reported power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 32.56% was obtained under idealized simulation conditions, characterized by minimal bulk and interfacial defect densities. These findings not only affirm the promise of CuBi2O4 as an eco-friendly, low-cost absorber material but also underscore the importance of accounting for both intrinsic and extrinsic defect mechanisms in simulation-driven photovoltaic design.