Browse Articles

A clinically accessible small multimodal radiology model and evaluation metric for chest X-ray findings

Genre-aware user profiling using duration count matrices: A novel approach to enhancing content recommendation systems

Recommender systems play a vital role in enhancing the user experience and facilitating content discovery on online platforms. However, conventional approaches often struggle to capture users’ evolving preferences over time, leading to suboptimal performance as recommended videos frequently do not align with users’ interests. To address this issue, this study introduces an innovative method that leverages watch-time duration to analyze long-term user behavior and generate personalized recommendations. The proposed Duration Count Matrix (DCM) technique includes two key components: User Profiling (DCM-UP) and User Similarity (DCM-US). DCM-UP constructs dynamic user profiles based on engagement with content, while DCM-US quantifies user similarity through collaborative filtering, enabling the system to predict user-to-user behavior and personalize recommendations. This innovative system, DCM-UP, utilizes matrix-based representations of users and items, dynamically updates profiles, and adapts to changing preferences over time, thus providing a more accurate reflection of user interests. Additionally, DCM-US facilitates the identification of user similarities by analyzing user-item generalizations. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed techniques was evaluated on a real-world dataset obtained from JAWWY, the Saudi Telecom Company. The study’s results clearly demonstrated that the DCM approach significantly outperformed existing state-of-the-art methods across various performance metrics, including precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy. This highlights the superiority of the DCM technique in capturing and predicting long-term user behavior for more accurate and personalized recommendations.

Enhancing soil fertility through Biochar using slaughter-house waste as a feedstock

A robust and omnidirectional-sensitive electronic antenna for tactile-induced perception

Advantages evaluation of integrating administrative and functional zones based on Island political location potential theory: A case study of the Zhoushan Archipelago New Area in China

Administrative division adjustment is a new reform method and policy tool designed to align with local economic foundations and revitalize the development potential of administrative districts. However, it lacks systematic and quantifiable theories and methods. In response, we propose the Political Location Potential (PLP) model based on production functions, which is specifically applicable to islands. Using the Zhoushan Archipelago New Area as a case study, we analyze the efficiency and mechanisms behind the establishment of China’s first archipelago new area. The PLP model consists of two key components: horizontal production resource allocation capability and vertical administrative management authority. The PLP of Zhoushan City has increased from 0.007 in 2008 to 0.066 in 2022, with a relative potential energy of 2.853, 3.717 and 1.449 during the critical stages of 2010–2014, 2008–2013 and 2013–2018, respectively. Competitive comparative advantage and land-island connectivity capability have significant direct and indirect effects on the PLP of the island, but the impact effect shows a lag effect, with a lag period of 3–5 years. The theory and model of the PLP offer strong explanatory power for the effects of integrating administrative and functional zones, providing a fresh analytical perspective for local administrative division planning.

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on clinical parameters in atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia

790,000 years of millennial-scale Cape Horn Current variability and interhemispheric linkages

Abstract Millennial-scale variations in the strength and position of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current exert considerable influence on the global meridional overturning circulation and the ocean carbon cycle. The mechanistic understanding of these variations is still incomplete, partly due to the scarcity of sediment records covering multiple glacial-interglacial cycles with millennial-scale resolution. Here, we present high-resolution current strength and sea surface temperature records covering the past 790,000 years from the Cape Horn Current as part of the subantarctic Antarctic Circumpolar Current system, flowing along the Chilean margin. Both temperature and current velocity data document persistent millennial-scale climate variability throughout the last eight glacial periods with stronger current flow and warmer sea surface temperatures coinciding with Antarctic warm intervals. These Southern Hemisphere changes are linked to North Atlantic millennial-scale climate fluctuations, plausibly involving changes in the Atlantic thermohaline circulation. The variations in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system are associated with atmospheric CO2 changes, suggesting a mechanistic link through the Southern Ocean carbon cycle.

Psychometric validation of the Malay CMNI-30: A study among male healthcare professionals in Malaysia

Masculinity norms significantly influence men’s health behaviors and outcomes, yet existing instruments to measure these norms often lack cultural adaptability. This study addresses this gap by validating the Malay version of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-30) to assess masculinity norms among Malay men. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 438 male healthcare professionals in Malaysia. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that the final model, consisting of 26 items across multiple factors, demonstrated strong fit indices (χ²/df =  1.72, CFI =  0.931, TLI =  0.911, RMSEA =  0.042, SRMR =  0.052). However, certain factors, such as ‘self-reliance’ (Raykov’s rho =  0.270) and ‘violence’ (Raykov’s rho =  0.431), exhibited lower reliability, reflecting cultural nuances in their interpretation. The study concludes that the Malay CMNI-30 is a valid and culturally relevant tool for assessing masculinity norms in this context. Practical applications include using this tool to identify gender-related barriers to health-seeking behaviors and inform gender-sensitive public health interventions. Future research should validate this instrument across diverse populations to enhance its generalizability and utility.

Multiview stereo reconstruction of UAV remote sensing images based on adaptive propagation with multiregional refinement

Dynamic coding and sequential integration of multiple reward attributes by primate amygdala neurons

Abstract The value of visual stimuli guides learning, decision-making, and motivation. Although stimulus values often depend on multiple attributes, how neurons extract and integrate distinct value components from separate cues remains unclear. Here we recorded the activity of amygdala neurons while two male monkeys viewed sequential cues indicating the probability and magnitude of expected rewards. Amygdala neurons frequently signaled reward probability in an abstract, stimulus-independent code that generalized across cue formats. While some probability-coding neurons were insensitive to magnitude information, signaling ‘pure’ probability rather than value, many neurons showed biphasic responses that signaled probability and magnitude in a dynamic (temporally-patterned) and flexible (reversible) value code. Specific amygdala neurons integrated these reward attributes into risk signals that quantified the variance of expected rewards, distinct from value. Population codes were accurate, mutually transferable between value components, and expressed differently across amygdala nuclei. Our findings identify amygdala neurons as a substrate for the sequential integration of multiple reward attributes into value and risk.

Active surveillance for Theileria orientalis and the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in three Missouri beef herds

Theileria orientalis is a protozoan hemoparasite of cattle vectored by the rapidly emerging invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis). Theileria-associated bovine anemia (TABA) is easily mistaken for bovine anaplasmosis, which can lead to delayed diagnosis in areas where bovine anaplasmosis is endemic and TABA is newly emerging. Our objective was to surveil for infestation of cattle by H. longicornis and infection with T. orientalis on three Missouri cow-calf operations in counties where H. longicornis is known to be established. A total of 147 apparently healthy adult cows from 3 herds were inspected for ticks. Whole blood was collected for T. orientalis and Anaplasma marginale quantitative PCR and was also used for immediate preparation of blood smears and measurement of packed cell volumes. A total of 527 ticks were collected from the cows and taxonomically identified to the species level. Eighteen H. longicornis, including 9 adult females and 9 nymphs, were collected from 16 cows (Farm A, 2 cows; Farm B, 4 cows; Farm C, 10 cows). Intraerythrocytic T. orientalis organisms were presumptively identified on blood smears from 10 cows. Quantitative PCR screening of blood samples with primers designed to amplify all T. orientalis genotypes detected 11 positive samples (Farm A, 7 cows; Farm B, 3 cows; Farm C, 1 cow). Positive samples were re-tested with probes specific for the Ikeda, Chitose, and Buffeli genotypes, which detected the Chitose genotype in 10 samples and the Ikeda genotype in 1 sample. Detection of T. orientalis with concurrent infestation of cows by H. longicornis within these 3 herds, along with collection of H. longicornis from vegetation on the premises, supports local tick-borne transmission of this emerging pathogen.

Association of the digital clock drawing test with amyloid and tau PET biomarkers in low age risk adults

AI-based detection and classification of anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries using coronary CT angiography images

Abstract Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare cardiac condition that can lead to ischemia or sudden cardiac death, yet it is often overlooked or falsely classified in routine coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Here, we developed, validated, externally tested, and clinically evaluated a fully automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool for detecting and classifying AAOCA in 3D-CCTA images. The discriminatory performance of the different models achieved an AUC ≥ 0.99, with sensitivity and specificity ranging 0.95-0.99 across all internal and external testing datasets. Here, we present an AI-based model that enables fully automated and accurate detection and classification of AAOCA, with the potential for seamless integration into clinical workflows. The tool can deliver real-time alerts for potentially high-risk AAOCA anatomies, while also enabling the analysis of large 3D-CCTA cohorts. This will support a deeper understanding of the risks associated with this rare condition and contribute to improving its future management.

Correction: A novel SfaNI-like restriction-modification system in Caldicellulosiruptor extents the genetic engineering toolbox for this genus

Impacts of land use and water level fluctuation on soil aggregates and nitrogen and carbon in newly formed reservoir buffer strips

Th1 polarization in Bordetella pertussis vaccine responses is maintained through a positive feedback loop

Analyzing anomalous events in passageways with high-frequency ship signals

Passageways are critical gateways in maritime trade, providing efficient routes for global commerce. This means that disruptions such as natural disasters or human error at these crucial points can significantly impact numerous economies across various facets of trade. Thus, real-time monitoring of such events and their impact on different vessel types is crucial for developing timely mitigation strategies, policies, and penalties. This paper proposes a novel framework for analyzing anomalous events in passageways using Automated Information System (AIS). This framework enables monitoring of affected vessels and quantifies the impact in terms of the number of vessels, dwell and idle times, and the emergence of new routes. To demonstrate its potential, we applied the proposed framework to the Suez Canal blockage in March 2021. Results revealed distinct phases during the event, with each phase impacting average dwell times. Additionally, the analysis identified the emergence of passageway event-driven routes utilized by vessels to bypass the blockage. These findings highlight the ability of the proposed framework to capture previously obscured information compared to existing indicators and port analysis methods. To further demonstrate its generalizability, the methodology was also applied to two other passageways: the Bosporus Strait, following the policy implemented in February 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following the disruption caused by the Houthi attacks beginning in the last quarter of 2023.

Feasibility of de-escalating axillary surgery in patients with clinical N2–3, pathological N0 breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Endosomal chloride/proton exchangers need inhibitory TMEM9 β-subunits for regulation and prevention of disease-causing overactivity

Abstract The function of endosomes critically depends on their ion homeostasis. A crucial role of luminal Cl−, in addition to that of H+, is increasingly recognized. Both ions are transported by five distinct endolysosomal CLC chloride/proton exchangers. Dysfunction of each of these transporters entails severe disease. Here we identified TMEM9 and TMEM9B as obligatory β-subunits for endosomal ClC-3, ClC-4, and ClC-5. Mice lacking both β-subunits displayed severely reduced levels of all three CLCs and died embryonically or shortly after birth. TMEM9 proteins regulate trafficking of their partners. Surprisingly, they also strongly inhibit CLC ion transport. Tonic inhibition enables the regulation of CLCs and prevents toxic Cl− accumulation and swelling of endosomes. Inhibition requires a carboxy-terminal TMEM9 domain that interacts with CLCs at multiple sites. Disease-causing CLCN mutations that weaken inhibition by TMEM9 proteins cause a pathogenic gain of ion transport. Our work reveals the need to suppress, in a regulated manner, endolysosomal chloride/proton exchange. Several aspects of endosomal ion transport must be revised.

Economic freedom index effects on inbound tourism in European countries: A spatial analysis

Despite the significance of economic freedom in tourism dynamics, especially from a spatial standpoint, its nuanced influence remains unexplored mainly in current research. To fill this gap, our study introduces a novel spatial panel data analysis to investigate how various components of the economic freedom index affect tourist arrivals in 41 European countries from 2005 to 2018. By employing this innovative approach, we uncover the complex interdependencies between economic freedom and tourism and highlight the significance of regional economic characteristics on the tourism sector’s health. Our findings reveal that a one percent increase in GDP per capita of neighboring nations corresponds to a 0.4 percent increase in tourist arrivals to the home country. In comparison, a similar rise in neighboring countries’ prices leads to a 0.4 percent decrease in inbound tourists. Most economic freedom variables, including the Business Freedom Index, Investment Freedom Index, Labor Freedom Index, Trade Freedom Index, and Government Integrity Index, demonstrate statistically significant positive effects. However, a one percent increase in the Monetary Freedom Index of neighboring countries results in a 0.747 percent reduction in homebound tourists. Notably, enhancements in the country’s and neighboring countries’ Investment Freedom Index and Government Integrity Index contribute to increased arrivals. This research contributes to the broader understanding of economic policies’ impact on tourism, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to leverage economic freedom for tourism development. The application of a spatial panel data approach marks a significant methodological advancement in tourism studies, opening new avenues for analyzing economic influences on tourism at a regional level.