Browse Articles

Accurate identification of oxygen desaturation status in COPD by using classifier ensemble

The accurate identification of oxygen desaturation (OD) status plays critical role in the clinic diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a common disease related to the lungs and respiratory tract of the human body. This paper focuses on a specific type of OD status, i.e., exercise-induced oxygen desaturation (EIOD) status in COPD, and try to further improve the performance of EIOD status identification. We propose a new and effective EIOD status identification method by using classifier ensemble strategy. In the proposed method, five different features of each data point from the time series of SpO2 and pulse are extracted and then combined to form the discriminative feature of the corresponding data point; then, multiple base classifiers with different balanced training subsets are trained and then integrated by using AdaBoost Algorithm. The comparative computational results on the 6-min walk test (6MWT) of the recruited participants show that the proposed method achieved the best global performance with AUC (Area Under Curve) value of 0.8532, indicating that the proposed method can be effectively used for the identification of EIOD and could assist the clinic diagnosis of COPD.

NT5E (CD73) as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target associated with immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma

Kids’ real-world arithmetic skills don’t transfer to the classroom

Enantiocontrolled Cyclization to Form Chiral 7- and 8-Membered Rings Unified by the Same Catalyst Operating with Different Mechanisms

Feasting on fish. Specialized function of pre-colonial pottery of the Cerritos mound builders of southern Brazil

Some of the oldest coastal pottery in South America is found in the Pampas region of southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. In the region’s extensive estuarine systems pre-colonial indigenous groups built earthen mounds, known as Cerritos, from ca. 4700 BP. The Cerritos have multifunctional purposes, and while pottery was widely used, its role in the economic or ritual life of the mound builders remains uncertain. Intriguingly, molecular and isotopic characterization of food residues from Cerritos ceramics shows that vessels were used for either cooking estuarine fish, or plant products. Microbial-derived lipids were predominantly associated with the latter, suggesting that plants were fermented, presumably to make alcoholic beverages. We suggest that dispersed communities were drawn to the mounds seasonally to exploit and celebrate the return of migrating fish. This finding is supported by the diversity of stable isotope values of human remains recovered from Cerritos and sheds new light on the lifeways of these pre-colonial groups.

Demonstration of two qubit entangling gates in a 2D ring resonator based coupler architecture

Diving into Unknown Waters: Water-Soluble Clickable Au₁₃ Nanoclusters Protected with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes for Bio-Medical Applications

Effectiveness of a Social Cognitive Theory-based health education intervention on depression (SCODESS) among mothers of children with cancer in Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia—A quasi-experimental study

Background Mothers caring for children with cancer often experience depression, affecting maternal and family well-being. Prior studies suggest that theory-based health education can significantly reduce this depression. Objectives This study aimed to develop, validate, implement, and evaluate the effects of a Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)-based health education intervention on depression (SCODESS), as well as cancer-related knowledge, self-efficacy, perceived stress, coping skills, and social support among mothers of children with cancer at University Hospitals in Klang Valley. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted with mothers from two University Hospitals in Klang Valley, Selangor. The intervention group is Hospital Pakar Kanak-Kanak Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HPKK UKM) and the control group is the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). A total of 95 participants were included (50 intervention, 45 control). The intervention comprised online health education videos delivered over one week, and the control group received a poster. Data were collected at baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2), and at two months post-intervention (T3). The effects of SCODESS intervention were analysed using Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis. Results The baseline response rate was 60.53% with a 2.17% loss to follow-up at T2 and 7.60% at T3. The GEE analysis showed no significant effects of SCODESS intervention on depression scores at T2 (p = 0.909) and T3 (p = 0.622) compared to the control group at baseline. However, statistically significant increases were observed in cancer-related knowledge scores at T2 (β = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.21, 9.20, p = 0.002) and T3 (β = 1.18, 95%CI: 0.65, 1.70, p<0.001), and in the problem-focused coping scores at T2 (β = 2.50, 95% CI 0.42, 4.58, p-value = 0.018), and T3 (β = 2.42, 95% CI 0.13, 4.72, p-value = 0.038) in the intervention group compared to the control group at baseline. No significant intervention effects were observed on other outcomes. Discussion This study validated the applicability of SCT-based intervention on depression scores among mothers of children with cancer. The SCODESS intervention did not significantly reduce depression scores but significantly increased cancer-related knowledge and problem-focused coping scores. As a potential preventive strategy for depression, the content of the SCODESS intervention should be revisited, emphasizing cancer-related knowledge and problem-focused coping as crucial components. It is recommended that tailored interventions focusing on these areas be offered to every mother of children with cancer, whether they are in the ward, clinic, or daycare.

Publisher Correction: Hand cooling induces changes in the kinetics of oxygen uptake

Higher education students’ perceptions of ChatGPT: A global study of early reactions

The paper presents the most comprehensive and large-scale global study to date on how higher education students perceived the use of ChatGPT in early 2024. With a sample of 23,218 students from 109 countries and territories, the study reveals that students primarily used ChatGPT for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles, with a few using it for professional and creative writing. They found it useful for simplifying complex information and summarizing content, but less reliable for providing information and supporting classroom learning, though some considered its information clearer than that from peers and teachers. Moreover, students agreed on the need for AI regulations at all levels due to concerns about ChatGPT promoting cheating, plagiarism, and social isolation. However, they believed ChatGPT could potentially enhance their access to knowledge and improve their learning experience, study efficiency, and chances of achieving good grades. While ChatGPT was perceived as effective in potentially improving AI literacy, digital communication, and content creation skills, it was less useful for interpersonal communication, decision-making, numeracy, native language proficiency, and the development of critical thinking skills. Students also felt that ChatGPT would boost demand for AI-related skills and facilitate remote work without significantly impacting unemployment. Emotionally, students mostly felt positive using ChatGPT, with curiosity and calmness being the most common emotions. Further examinations reveal variations in students’ perceptions across different socio-demographic and geographic factors, with key factors influencing students’ use of ChatGPT also being identified. Higher education institutions’ managers and teachers may benefit from these findings while formulating the curricula and instructions/regulations for ChatGPT use, as well as when designing the teaching methods and assessment tools. Moreover, policymakers may also consider the findings when formulating strategies for secondary and higher education system development, especially in light of changing labor market needs and related digital skills development.

The panel threshold analysis of digitalization on manufacturing industry’s green total factor productivity

Nanoscale Manipulation of Single-Molecule Conformational Transition through Vibrational Excitation

Prevalence and correlates of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among women of reproductive age with delayed conception in urban and peri-urban low to mid-socioeconomic neighborhoods of Delhi, India: A cross-sectional study

Introduction One in six people of reproductive age experience infertility in their lifetime. Infertility can have significant impacts on mental health. Psychological distress is a broad term encompassing emotional suffering and mental health discomfort that can include symptoms of anxiety and depression but is not limited to these conditions. We investigated the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress and their associated risk factors among women of reproductive age with delayed conception. Methods A total of 1530 women were recruited from community settings in Northern India. Quantitative data were collected using a 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) which is an ultra-brief self-report questionnaire consisting of a 2-item depression scale (PHQ-2) and a 2-item anxiety scale (generalized anxiety depression-2). Data were collected between July 2020 and August 2021. Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarise the characteristics and prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for psychological distress. Results We obtained responses from all 1,530 women using these scales. Over half (54.31%) of participants had psychological distress, of whom 38.10% were experiencing mild distress, 10.59% moderate distress, and 5.62% severe distress. Additionally,16.07% of participants reported symptoms of anxiety and 20% reported symptoms of depression. Factors associated with psychological distress were: (i) a higher total number of children that women intended to have in their lifetime, (ii) longer duration of trying to get pregnant (> 18 months), (iii) continuous effort trying to achieve pregnancy, (iv) women’s perception that conception is taking long, (v) social isolation, (vi) being emotionally or verbally abused by husband and family members, and (vii) having other co-morbidities such as hypertension, irregular menstrual cycles, irregular bleeding between regular cycles, abnormal vaginal discharge or pain during sex. Conclusion This study demonstrates the high mental health burden faced by women with delayed conception in low- to mid-socioeconomic neighbourhoods of North India including high levels of anxiety and depression. To better support individuals and couples achieve their reproductive goals, we advocate for the integration of psychosocial interventions to improve mental health outcomes and promote the well-being of those facing delays in achieving pregnancy. Specifically, addressing social isolation, fostering supportive networks, combating violence towards women, and incorporating fertility counselling and group-based psychosocial interventions within community and healthcare settings are needed to alleviate mental health symptoms among women who have difficulties in conceiving. However, the successful implementation of these recommendations may be challenged by the availability of the state’s healthcare resources, necessitating tailored strategies with contextual adaptations.

Cognitive analysis and path construction of Chinese students’ mathematics cognitive process based on CDA

Atomically Dispersed Ta–O–Co Sites Capable of Mitigating Side Reaction Occurrence for Stable Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Experimental assessment of damage and microplastic release during cyclic loading of clear aligners

The widespread adoption of clear aligners in orthodontic treatments in recent years has necessitated a more precise examination of the mechanical properties of the devices currently available in orthodontics. Recent studies indicate that aligners, when exposed to the forces exerted during swallowing, undergo fatigue-like phenomena, leading to chip formation and cracks. The cumulative damage results in a compromised fit between the tooth and aligner, which is crucial for the effective execution of orthodontic treatment. Additionally, the formation of chips poses a potential risk to patients, as there is a possibility of inadvertently ingesting microplastics that become detached from the aligner over time. This study attempts to assess the release of microplastics from the aligners subjected to cyclic compressive loading. Three different aligners (Essix Ace, Ghost Aligner and Invisalign) are tested to simulate swallowing conditions over the aligner usage period. The mechanical performance is studied in terms of the energy absorbed by the aligner, which shows that the Essix Ace has a stable energy absorption behaviour, while the energy absorbed by the Invisalign is significantly higher than their counterparts. Ghost Aligner did not perform well in the cyclic compression tests. The microplastics (MPs) released by the aligners are examined under an optical microscope. A dimensional analysis based on k-means image segmentation and edge detection algorithm is developed to analyse the MPs. The dimensional analysis of the MPs revealed that the ingestion of the MPs released by all the three aligners does not pose a health risk.

Trends of climate variability and its association with farmers’ perceptions of climate change in Gassera district, southeastern Ethiopia

Fossil bird skull suggests Antarctic waterfowl survived Cretaceous mass extinction

Standardized Approach for Diversification of Complex Small Molecules via Aryl Thianthrenium Salts

Does management support drive sustained agile usage? a serial mediation model and cIPMA perspective

Agile software development is immensely popular in the industry, but most teams struggle to sustain its use. Human factors like management support, agile training, agile mindset, and team resilience are often neglected, hindering long-term success. However, research has not explored their underlying mechanisms in depth. Therefore, this study examines if management support impacts the sustained usage of agile methodologies within software development teams. It subsequently investigates the individual and serial mediating effects of agile training, the agile mindset, and team resilience on this relationship. Additionally, it compares the importance and performance of management support, agile training, the agile mindset, and team resilience in infusing agile practices. Finally, it determines these antecedents’ necessity for the enduring success of agile application. Data collected from 391 agile software development professionals using a structured questionnaire. Partial-least-squares structural equation modelling, importance-performance map analysis and necessary condition analysis were used to investigate relationships. The findings underscore the pivotal role of management support in infusing agile practices. Agile training, mindset, and team resilience emerge as critical mediators, with a strong serial mediation effect. While management support is paramount, its practical implementation falls short within teams. All four antecedents are found to be necessary for optimal agile sustainment. Thus, this study significantly advances theoretical understanding by introducing a serial mediation model that elucidates their mechanisms in impacting agile infusion. It extends prior organisational-level findings to the team-level. The study’s quantitative verification of qualitative findings strengthens their generalisability to a broader spectrum of teams. It pioneers in expounding the constructs’ relative importance, performance and necessity, to offer actionable insights for agile practitioners. Finally, it provides methodological guidance to apply importance performance map analysis and necessary condition analysis in agile software development research.