Search

Background: Happiness is crucial for human wellbeing. Nursing students encounter distinct challenges such as stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion, which can negatively impact their mental health. Cultural and societal factors also influence happiness. Objective: This study conducted a comparative analysis of Big Five personality traits and emotional regulation (ER) as predictors of happiness among nursing students in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included 739 nursing students from Jordan and Saudi Arabia who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. The instruments utilized in this study were the short version of the Big Five Inventory for assessing personality, Oxford Happiness Inventory for measuring happiness levels, and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire for evaluating ER. To identify the predictors of student happiness, stepwise regression analysis was conducted, and cross‐country comparisons were made using a "pool analysis" method. Results: The findings indicated that 62.1% of the participants reported moderate levels of happiness, whereas 36.0% reported high levels. There were significant differences in happiness levels between Jordan and Saudi Arabia (p = 0.003), with Jordanian students reporting lower happiness levels. In Saudi Arabia, there were significant variations based on age (p = 0.049) and academic year (p = 0.013). Multiple regression analysis revealed that higher agreeableness, extraversion, and conscientiousness were positively associated with happiness while openness had a weak association. Conversely, higher Neuroticism, being in Jordan, and being male were negatively associated with happiness. Nominal regression analysis indicated that extraversion and agreeableness are significant predictors of higher levels of happiness, whereas neuroticism is associated with lower levels of happiness. Furthermore, males and non‐Saudis were more likely to report lower levels of happiness. Conclusion: This study revealed notable determinants of happiness among nursing students in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. ER, Big Five personality traits, and demographic factors play influential roles. Overall, the robust regression model emphasized the dependability of these findings, providing valuable insights for nursing education and interventions aimed at improving student wellbeing. From a practical standpoint, these findings can guide the development of personalized mental health support programs and interventions designed to enhance the happiness and wellbeing of nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most controversial and basic construction in Dempster–Shafer theory is Dempster's combination rule. We analyze this concept through the conditioning with respect to a random set introduced in the paper. The paper has two parts. In Part 1, we describe the basic constructions in Dempster–Shafer theory considering multivalued mappings (random sets), the axiomatic approach proposed by G. Shafer, and the transferable belief model (TBM). We also introduce generalized credal sets as an extension of TBM and the theory of imprecise probabilities. After that, we introduce the conditioning w.r.t. a random set with various kinds of prior information and successive conditioning, and analyze, when this conditioning coincides with Dempster's rule. We show that the successive conditioning can be described by the intersection of generalized credal sets in the case of vacuous prior information and unknown interaction among random sets. Part 2 is devoted to the description of a new class of combination rules constructed by conditioning w.r.t. random sets, and by linear combinations of such rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Several researchers have called for schools to interpret universal screening results using posterior probabilities. Following this recommendation could require schools to move away from direct‐route, single‐measure screening unless base rates of risk fall within a narrow range. In this descriptive study, we investigated two questions surrounding the feasibility of adopting a probability‐based approach in schools. First, how many districts had base rates of risk that would allow educators to classify all students using a single screener? Second, to what extent would yearly fluctuation in base rates require planned flexibility in screening procedures? We used public state test data to estimate base rates of risk for each district in Florida, Oregon, and Wisconsin across four school years. Districts' base rates of risk were rarely within the required range for a single screener to classify all students based on posterior probabilities. Many districts had base rates conducive to direct route screening in at least 1 year but very few had base rates in the required zone across the 4 years. Using posterior probabilities to make screening decisions may require more changes to existing practices than simply interpreting screening results as probabilities. Additional research to promote the use of this approach in schools is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have focused on identifying the optimal seismic and energy upgrading interventions, among different alternatives, for poorly performing existing buildings. Most of such studies use detailed methodologies to assess the seismic and energy performance of buildings, which are time and computationally demanding, making it nearly unfeasible for practitioners and decision-makers to use them, rendering practice-oriented approaches extremely needed. To overcome the current limitations of more research-oriented methods, this study employs different available simplified approaches, namely SPO2FRAG, cloud-based capacity spectrum method and the Italian seismic risk classification guidelines (Sismabonus), to estimate some of the variables considered when using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to select the optimal combined retrofitting strategy, among a set of different options. To this end, a case-study school building was selected and four seismic retrofitting solutions, combined with three energy-based interventions, were identified. The performance of the building, in its as-built and retrofitted conditions, was analysed considering both simplified and detailed approaches for the estimation of two of the seismic-related variables, namely annual probability of failure and expected annual losses. Such simplified and refined estimates were used as MCDM input, comparing the ranking of retrofitting combined alternatives obtained in both cases, demonstrating the suitability of the proposed simplified methodology for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the complete convergence for the partial sum of the moving average process { X n = ∑ i = − ∞ ∞ a i Y i + n , n ≥ 1 } is established under some mild conditions, where { Y i , − ∞ < i < ∞ } is a sequence of extended negatively dependent and identically distributed random variables that is stochastically dominated by a random variable Y under a sub-linear expectation (Ω , H , E ̂) , and { a i , − ∞ < i < ∞ } is an absolutely summable sequence of real numbers. These conclusions promote and improve the corresponding results of moving the average process under extended negatively dependent random variables from the traditional probability space to the sub-linear expectation space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we utilize the contrast function of the integrated diffusion process to derive parameter contrast estimators for the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross integrated diffusion process and discuss the asymptotic properties of the estimators using the mixing properties of the process. We first give the tail probability exponential inequality of the mixing long-span high-frequency data. Then, applying this inequality, we prove the strong consistency of the contrast estimators for the drift parameters and diffusion parameter of the CIR integrated diffusion process. In order to obtain these asymptotic properties, we require relatively low order r of the negative power moment E | X t − 1 | r of the diffusion process. In the existing literature, r > 9 is required in order to obtain weak consistency of the estimators. However, in our theorems, only r > 2 is required for the strong consistency of the diffusion parameter estimator, while r > 4 for the strong consistency of the drift parameter estimators. In the simulation analysis, we use the Euler discretization algorithm and the Milstein discretization algorithm, and the results show that the optimal sampling interval is around n − 1 / 3 . We use the daily log price data of the CSI 300 Index to estimate the CIR integrated diffusion model and construct a Bootstrap prediction model for the log price. The results show that the model has a good predictive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General biased data frequently arises in various observational studies, either naturally or by design. The data is not representative of the target population, highlighting the importance of developing methods that address general biased data. This article primarily focuses on the estimation of treatment effects with general biased data. By employing the inverse probability weighting technique, a unified semiparametric estimating equation is constructed to derive an unbiased estimator. The large sample properties of the resulting estimator are established under some mild regularity conditions. Simulation studies and applications to the Oscar data and the heart transplant survival data are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses random hypergraphs with varying hyperedge sizes, admitting large hyperedges with size tending to infinity, and heavy-tailed limiting hyperedge size distributions. The main result describes a threshold for the random hypergraph to be connected with high probability, and shows that the average hyperedge size suffices to characterise connectivity under mild regularity assumptions. Especially, the connectivity threshold is in most cases insensitive to the shape and higher moments of the hyperedge size distribution. Similar results are also provided for related random intersection graph models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In low- and middle-income countries with limited death registration statistics, adult mortality rates are commonly estimated through sibling survival histories (SSH). In full SSH, respondents are asked about either the age, or the age and time of death, of each of their siblings in turn. Full SSH allow direct mortality estimation but can be time-consuming to collect. In this study, we introduce a new indirect estimation method using summary SSH, requiring only a limited set of questions to produce recent mortality estimates. Methods: We developed a set of 192 microsimulations representing a wide range of fertility and mortality patterns, and reconstructed summary SSH within these simulations as if they had been collected from adults aged 15–49. For each age group of respondents, we calculated coefficients that convert the proportion of adult siblings who died in the previous 5 years into age-specific mortality rates. We then evaluated the performance of this new method with real data, using 154 Demographic and Health Surveys. Results: The new indirect method provides mortality rates that are consistent with direct estimates from full SSH. Across all DHS, the mean absolute percentage error in the risk of dying in adulthood (ages 15–49) is 6% for both men and women. In all but one survey, 95% confidence intervals around the direct and indirect estimates overlap. As with direct estimates of adult mortality from SSH, the indirect estimates remain, however, lower than those of the Population Division of the United Nations. Conclusions: Summary questions on sibling survival can be included in censuses and rapid turn-around surveys for the measurement of recent adult mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources–based power systems are increasing rapidly every year with higher chances of destabilization and low power quality due to harmonics, subharmonics, and interharmonics. The elimination of the root causes of these harmonics is difficult because harmonics are generated at different levels due to various electronic components. However, the accurate estimation of power signal harmonic can be done and eliminated with a counter signal. Therefore, in this paper, the evolutionary mating heuristic is implied to accurately estimate the parameters of power signal harmonics. The proposed heuristic was tested under multiple scenarios to accurately estimate the phase and amplitude parameters of power signal harmonics at various noise levels. The tuning of the evolutionary mating heuristic is carried out for encountering predator probability and crossover probability Epp <0.8, Cp <0.9. The simulation analysis depicts that the best fitness achieved by the proposed heuristic for noise levels (no) 104, 78, 52, 26, and 13 dB are 2.8169e−11, 9.6969e−09, 3.7703e−06, 1.3501e−03, and 2.8624e−02, respectively, for iteration I = 1249. The comparative analysis shows that the proposed heuristic performance is significantly better than other heuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractLet G be a finite group with automorphism group Aut(G) and g∈G . For any subgroup H of Aut(G) , define a map ξH:G→C by ξH(g)=|{(x,α)∈G×H:[x,α]=g}| , where [x,α]:=x−1α(x) is called the autocommutator of x and α in G. In this paper, we show that ξH is a character of G when H is any subgroup of Aut(G) containing Inn(G) and H=Autcent(G) , where Inn(G) is the inner automorphism group of G and Autcent(G) is the group of all the central automorphisms of G. In these cases expressions for ξH are also obtained in terms of irreducible characters of G. Our results generalize a classical result of Frobenius regarding the number of solutions of the commutator equation in finite groups. As applications of our results, we compute g-autocommuting probabilities of some finite groups and obtained certain bounds for g-autocommuting probability of G in terms of commuting and autocommuting probabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In opportunistic network, the regular connectivity of nodes and their individual conditions significantly influence message transmission. To address this, we propose an improved spray and wait routing algorithm based on stable transmission capacity evaluation of nodes (referred to as STCESW), which is derived from traditional Prophet and spray and wait algorithms but surpasses them. STCESW incorporates network models that consider node connection stability and transmission capacity, aiming to enhance the update and punishment formulas for node delivery probability. Furthermore, it combines the residual message buffer size of nodes with the angle between motion directions of nodes to determine more efficient and extensive message spraying in the network. The simulation results clearly indicate that STCESW significantly outperforms the other three enhanced algorithms in both SPMBM and RWP. It demonstrates its robust performance in terms of delivery probability, showing an increase ranging from 2% to 87% across diverse node buffer sizes or simulation time intervals. Additionally, it compromises slightly on delivery latency while maintaining relatively stable message latency and buffer time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple graphical displays such as icon arrays and tree diagrams have been proposed for communicating health risks and supporting informed decisions. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) uses tree diagrams to communicate the chances of different cervical cancer screening results, but their effectiveness has not been compared to icon arrays. We conducted a well-powered longitudinal experiment involving 3,100 UK women eligible for cervical screening (25–64 years) to examine the effectiveness of icon arrays to communicate possible cervical screening results, relative to the UK NHS’s tree diagram and to a numerical-only format. We also examined whether the presence (vs. absence) of explanatory text referring to different types of results (i.e. distinguishing between HPV positive results with vs. without abnormal cervical cells) moderated effects of presentation format. Presentation format did not affect verbatim or gist knowledge of probabilities at initial assessment (i.e. immediately after participants viewed the displays), but icon arrays were associated with better gist knowledge of absolute magnitudes than tree diagrams and numerical-only formats at 1-month follow-up. Participants exposed to icon arrays also perceived lower likelihood of adverse screening results and reported stronger screening intentions at initial assessment. For displays without explanatory text, icon arrays were also associated with more positive user evaluations and less negative affective reactions than tree diagrams at initial assessment. Overall, our findings suggest that icon arrays support enduring knowledge of approximate magnitudes of probabilities and are better suited than tree diagrams for communicating possible screening results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-duplex relay (FDR) has attracted considerable interest in enhancing the performance of relay networks by utilizing resources more efficiently. In this paper, we propose a framework for full-duplex random relay networks (FDRRNs), where relay nodes equipped with full-duplex (FD) capability are randomly distributed within a finite two-dimensional region. We first derive the outage probability of an FDRRN and then identify the potential relay location that minimizes the outage probability. Furthermore, we introduce a low-complexity relay selection algorithm that selects the relay node nearest to the potential relay location. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed relay selection algorithm achieves performance comparable to that of the max-min relay selection algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliability analysis can become intricate when addressing issues related to nonlinear implicit models of complex structures. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of such reliability analyses, this paper presents a surrogate model based on an adaptive AdaBoost algorithm. This model employs an adaptive method to determine the optimal training sample set, ensuring it is as evenly distributed as possible on both sides of the failure curve and fully contains the information it represents. Subsequently, with the integration and iterative characteristics of the AdaBoost algorithm, a simple binary classifier is iteratively applied to build a high-precision alternative model for complex structural fault diagnosis to cope with multiple failure modes. Then, the Monte Carlo simulation technique is employed to meticulously assess the failure probability. The accuracy and stability of the proposed method's iterative convergence process are validated through three numerical examples. The findings of the study illuminate that the proposed method is not only remarkably precise but also exceptionally efficient, capable of addressing the challenges related to the reliability evaluation of complex structures under multi-failure mode. The method proposed in this paper enhances the application of mechanical structures and facilitates the utilization of complex mechanical designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) in preventing HIV is well-established, yet their use in clinical practice remains low. Healthcare providers, especially those in primary and emergency care settings, play a crucial role in adopting and implementing these prevention strategies. We conducted a statewide survey with 519 healthcare providers in Texas to assess their knowledge, practices, and barriers related to prescribing PrEP and nPEP. Methods: The survey collected data on demographics, clinical experience, practice type, awareness of recommended guidelines, knowledge of PrEP and nPEP, prescribing practices, and challenges encountered to prescribe these medications. We used multiple regression analysis to identify factors associated with PrEP and nPEP prescribing behavior. Results: While most providers were familiar with CDC and/or USPSTF-recommended PrEP guidelines, fewer had adequate knowledge of nPEP. Key challenges identified by providers included concerns about cost (48%), limited time (40% for PrEP and 51% for nPEP), and insufficient education or training (40% for PrEP and 35% for nPEP). Providers who were more familiar with the recommended guidelines and had greater experience in sexual health assessment were more likely to prescribe both PrEP and nPEP. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for enhanced education and training to boost providers' knowledge and confidence in prescribing PrEP and nPEP. It also underscores the importance of addressing cost-related barriers and simplifying care processes to better integrate these HIV prevention strategies into primary and emergency care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pandemic outbreaks have emerged as a significant global threat, with the potential to cause waves of infections that challenge public health systems and disrupt societal norms. Understanding the underlying behavior of disease transmission can be of great use in the design of informed and timely public health policies. It is very common for many contagious diseases not to have actual incidence but rather incidence in a given subgroup. For example, in Spain, as of 28 March 2022, the incidence of COVID-19 in people under 60 years of age is not registered. Methods: This work provides a Bayesian methodology to model the incidence of any infectious disease in the general population when its cases are only registered in a specific subgroup of that population. The case study used was the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with data for 52 Spanish provinces during the period of 1 January 2020 to 29 August 2022. Results: Explicitly, two multilevel models were proposed, one for people over or of 60 years of age and the other for people under 60 years of age. Performance of the models was 5.9% and 12.7% MAPE, respectively. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the data and the complexity and uncertainty in the propagation of COVID-19, the models were able to fit the data well and predict incidence with very low MAPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Europe's aging population presents challenges such as a shrinking labor force, pressure on health services, and increased demand for long-term care. This study assesses the functional profile, depressive symptoms, and quality of life of older adults in the Central Alentejo region of Portugal. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample of 868 older adults in Portuguese long-term care facilities across the Évora district. A structured questionnaire collected sociodemographic data, elderly nursing core set patient information, a health questionnaire with nine responses, and WHO Quality of Life Assessment (short version) scores. Results: Nearly half of the participants needed assistance with care. Women (OR = 1.46) and those with cognitive impairment (OR = 10.83) had higher impaired functionality, while education (OR = 0.52) and being overweight (OR = 0.52) were inversely related to functional dependence. Quality of life scores ranged from 56.4 (physical) to 66.6 (environmental). Moderate depressive symptoms were found in 17.1% of participants, with 9% having moderately severe to severe symptoms. Higher dependence doubled the likelihood of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.18). Discussion and Conclusions: High rates of depression and functional dependence correlate with a low perception of quality of life, highlighting the need for research to promote and protect the health of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The frozen section intra-operative consultation is a pathology procedure that provides real-time evaluations of tissue samples during surgery, enabling quick and informed decisions. In the pre-analytical phase, errors related to sample collection, transport, and identification are common, and tools like failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis help identify and prevent risks. This study aims to enhance patient safety and diagnostic quality by analyzing risks and optimizing sample management. Materials and Methods: The failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis was conducted by a multidisciplinary team to analyze the workflow of frozen section sample handling from collection in the operating theater to acceptance at the pathology lab. Six steps were identified, each assigned tasks and responsibilities, with risks assessed through the risk priority number, calculated from severity, occurrence, and detectability. Severity was classified based on the WHO framework, ranging from "No Harm" to "Death", to prioritize risks effectively. Results: The study identified 12 failure modes across 11 sub-processes, prioritized by risk. Key failures included missing patient identification, incorrect sample retrieval, missing labels, misdirected samples, and samples sent to the wrong lab. Discussion: Pre-analytical errors in pathology pose risks to diagnosis and patient care, with most errors occurring in this phase. A multidisciplinary team identified key issues, such as sample mislabeling and delays due to staff unavailability, and implemented corrective actions, including improved signage, staff re-training, and sample tracking systems. Monitoring and regular checks ensured ongoing adherence to protocols and reduced the risks of misidentification, transport delays, and procedural errors. Conclusions: The frozen section intra-operative consultation is vital in surgical pathology, with the pre-analytical phase posing significant risks due to potential errors in sample handling and labeling. Failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis has proven effective in identifying and prioritizing these failures, despite resource demands, by allowing corrective actions that enhance patient safety and healthcare quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: In the literature, few instruments have been identified to measure the stigma of health professionals toward people with mental illness. In Brazil, until 2021, the literature did not indicate the validation of an instrument or the construction of an instrument for this purpose. Considering this gap, this study aimed to validate and estimate the reliability of the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes Scale, version 4 (MICA-4) for the Brazilian context, examining the psychometric properties through the analysis of its internal consistency and factor structure. Methods: Psychometric testing was completed in a sample of health professionals from Primary HealthCare Units. Reliability analysis was conducted in SPSS v23. Cronbach's Alpha and item total correlation were used. The dimensionality of the MICA was explored using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in Mplus 8.2. Results: A total of 195 health professionals participated in the research. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.68 and according to the reliability analysis, items 10 and 12 of the original version were deleted, resulting, therefore, in 14 items. In addition, we demonstrated that it is possible to have only two factors instead of five factors, which is the number of factors in the original version of the MICA-4. Conclusions: This validated instrument for the Brazilian context can serve as an important tool in understanding the phenomenon of the stigma of health professionals toward people with mental illness and, consequently, in promoting anti-stigma strategies in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on diachronic and synchronic collexeme analyses, this paper investigated preferences of interpersonal metaphor of modality, which is realized by explicit subjective orientation, explicit objective orientation and implicit objective orientation, in academic disciplines of Corpus of Contemporary American English or COCA. The findings demonstrate that explicit subjective orientation is generally avoided by academic writers in later phases of COCA and more rarely used in natural sciences than in social and human sciences. Explicit objective orientation that denotes low modal value of probability, i.e., possible, and median value of obligation, i.e., important and necessary, is insensitive to both three phases and academic disciplines in COCA. Implicit objective orientation, inclusive of significantly attracted possibility and importance, employs probability and obligation that denote median value of probability and high value of obligation respectively to mask the subjective judgments of scholars regarding the proposition under scrutiny. This research is significant in shedding light on the use of interpersonal metaphor of modality in academic writings across disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential evolution (DE) has attracted widespread attention due to its outstanding optimization performance and ease of operation, but it cannot avoid the dilemmas of premature convergence or stagnation when faced with complex optimization problems. To reduce the probability of such difficulties for DE, we sort out the factors that influence the balance between global exploration and local exploitation in the DE algorithm, and we design a novel DE variant (abbreviated as PISRDE) by integrating the corresponding influence factors through a periodic intervention mechanism and a systematic regulation mechanism. The periodic intervention mechanism divides the optimization operations of PISRDE into routine operation and intervention operation, and it balances global exploration and local exploitation at the macro level by executing the two operations alternately. The systematic regulation mechanism treats the involved optimization strategies and parameter settings as an organic system for targeted design, to balance global exploration and local exploitation at the meso or micro level. To evaluate and verify the optimization performance of PISRDE, we employ seven DE variants with excellent optimization performance to conduct comparison experiments on the IEEE CEC 2014 and IEEE CEC 2017 benchmarks. The comparison results indicate that PISRDE outperforms all competitors overall, and its relative advantage is even more significant when dealing with high-dimensional and complex optimization problems. Schematic design philosophy of PISRDE [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cochlear synaptopathy is a disorder where auditory perceptual impairments, such as speech perception in noise and tinnitus, may not be accurately reflected by audiometric thresholds, even if the audiogram appears normal. It is proposed that the connections between hair cells and the auditory nerve are more susceptible to sound and aging damage than the cochlea's hair cells. Cochlear synaptopathy can be present in ears with normal audiograms and undamaged hair cells, leading to hidden hearing loss. This study aims to construct electrophysiological and behavioral auditory parameters associated with persons exposed to loudness and having normal audiograms and auditory complaints to identify hidden hearing loss. Results: A case–control study was done with forty participants with a documented history of exposure to loud sounds and various auditory complaints, compared to a control group of forty persons who had all been confirmed to have normal audiograms. The chosen behavioral core tests comprised the speech intelligibility in noise test (SPIN), gaps detection in noise (GIN test), and pitch pattern sequence test (PPS). The electrophysiological measures utilized in the study were the auditory brainstem response test (ABR) and electrocochleography (ECochG). The SPIN, PPS, and GIN test results demonstrated statistically significant disparities between the control and case groups. The amplitude ratio of wave I to wave V in ABR and the ratio of EcochG AP to SP demonstrated a statistically significant variance between the two groups. The SPIN test exhibited the highest AUC, signifying its superior diagnostic capability in identifying hidden hearing loss. Conclusion: The present study has shown that the SPIN, as a behavioral test, and the EcochG AP amplitude measure, as an electrophysiological test, provide the greatest auditory diagnostic capability for identifying cochlear synaptopathy. Wave I amplitude in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and the SP/AP ratio in electrocochleography (EcochG) are promising non-behavioral measures of cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is a guideline-recommended care for musculoskeletal pain taught in various undergraduate programs. Visual feedback through force-sensing tables can improve modulation of SMT force–time characteristics and, potentially, students' confidence, both factors important for clinical competence and patient outcomes. However, it is unclear if a link exists between students' confidence and ability in SMT force–time modulation. We aim to investigate this relationship and whether it was moderated by experience. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited first- to third-year Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College students. Participants provided information about their confidence in performing SMT using different impulse forces of 200N, 400N, and 800N with a pre-established pre-load and a time-to-peak force < 150ms. SMT impulse forces of 200N, 400N, and 800N were targeted on a Human Analogue Mannequin positioned prone on a force-sensing table. We described the confidence levels and SMT force–time characteristics and assessed their association using linear mixed models. We re-ran the models interacting with SMT experience. The order of the three SMT impulse forces was randomly performed. Participants and outcome assessors were blinded to force–time characteristics recordings. Results: One-hundred-and-forty-nine participants provided usable data. Participants were confident in delivering 200N and 400N impulse forces. However, confidence decreased for 800N forces. Accordingly, participants performed impulse forces close to the 200N and 400N but had difficulty accurately modulating to 800N forces. A positive association was found between confidence and the ability to modulate their force–time characteristics, especially keeping the same pre-load force, keeping the time to peak force < 150ms, and providing the 800N impulse force. This association was not moderated by experience. Conclusions: Students were more confident in their abilities to perform lower SMT forces but lacked confidence in their abilities to perform higher (800N) forces. This aligned with their skills, as many struggled to apply 800N force. However, students who had higher confidence levels generally performed better overall. There was substantial variability in SMT force–time characteristics, which may have implications for adverse events and patient satisfaction. Some of this variability could be attributed to students' confidence. Thus, further investigations are necessary in undergraduate settings to implement and optimize these findings. Registration: https://osf.io/6f7d5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A causal relationship exists between salt intake and hypertension, stroke, and kidney disease. However, whether or not reduced salt intake slows progression of renal diseases has been intensely debated. Methods: In this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial, we examined the impact of a low salt diet on renal function, blood pressure, and other metabolic parameters. Herein, 194 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 1 to 3 were randomized in low salt (intervention) and control groups. The intervention group was provided a low salt diet (1.5 g/day) for 3 months. The control group consumed their usual diet, and daily food intake was recorded in the control group. Renal function tests, 24-h urinary sodium excretion, urinary protein, serum calcium, phosphorus, and electrolyte levels were recorded monthly. Results: After 3 months, the mean reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the control group (mean reduction in eGFR, −3.011 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −5.367, −0.656, P =.013). Blood pressure (BP) decreased significantly in both groups; systolic and diastolic BP reduction at 3 months was significantly greater in the intervention group (systolic BP mean reduction −6.57/−4.29 mmHg; 95% CI = −10.24, −2.89) and diastolic BP mean reduction −6.95, −1.64 mmHg) compared with the control group (systolic BP mean reduction −0.58/−2.63 mmHg; 95%, CI = −4.33, 3.17 and diastolic BP mean reduction −5.34, −0.08 mmHg). The mean reduction in 24-h urine sodium excretion was greater in the intervention group, reaching a significant level at month 2 (−14.45 mmol/day; 95% CI = −27.63, −1.22). Conclusion: Overall, salt restriction can help slow the progression of renal insufficiency and results in statistically significant and clinically important reductions in BP among patients with CKD. ClinicalTrials.Gov Identifier: NCT05716386 on 28/01/2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal colic is characterized by severe pain that is highly disabling. Gabapentin, an antiepileptic medication, is often recommended as a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain. However, its effectiveness in managing somatic pain, which is defined as the result of activity by pain receptors in the deep tissues, such as renal colic pain, is not as well-established. Method: A phase 3 randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the adjuvant analgesic effects of gabapentin on acute renal colic pain. Eligible patients participated in the study via random allocation to the control or gabapentin groups using the block randomization method. All patients received a shared regimen of ketorolac and rescue morphine as the conventional analgesic treatment for renal colic pain. Gabapentin was added as an adjuvant analgesic for the gabapentin group. Result: A total of 63 individuals with an average age of 41.35 ± 13.08, were enrolled and completed the study. At the time of admission, there were no significant differences between the baseline characteristics of two groups, with exception of weight. The gabapentin group showed a significantly higher percentage of patients with pain severity of less than 5 after 60 and 90 min, as well as a significantly lower percentage of morphine rescue requirement and total morphine intake (mg) and mg/kg. Conclusion: In cases of acute renal colic, gabapentin significantly decreases both the amount of morphine required and the degree of pain, indicating that it may be a useful adjutant to standard analgesic regimens. Treatment regimens that include gabapentin may help individuals manage their pain and become less reliant on opioids. Clinical Trial Registration: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/56066 , identifier: IRCT20200322046833N2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) is a significant obstetric challenge affecting maternal health and well-being. Genetic factors, including mutations in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and elevated homocysteine levels, are increasingly recognized as contributors to URPL, though their precise roles remain complex. This study aimed to comprehensively explore these factors. Objectives: This study examines the links between MTHFR gene polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C), plasma homocysteine levels, and URPL. It also aims to create a predictive model for URPL based on these factors. Design: A case-control study with Vietnamese women who had at least one pregnancy between January 2017 and June 2020, recruited from Medlatec Hospital and Hanoi Medical University. Participants included URPL cases (n = 128) and controls (n = 126). Methods: Participants were selected based on specific criteria. Main analyses identified the optimal multivariable logistic regression model for predicting URPL using Bayesian Model Averaging, with the optimal model chosen based on the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC) and posterior probability. A nomogram for clinical risk prediction was developed based on parameters from the optimal model. Results: URPL cases exhibited significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels (11.73 ± 6.08 µmol/L) compared to controls (7.64 ± 1.78 µmol/L), correlating with increased URPL risk (OR: 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41–1.96; p < 0.001). The MTHFR C677T variant showed strong associations with URPL, particularly the CT genotype (OR: 6.07, 95% CI: 3.00–12.93; p < 0.001) and TT genotype (OR: 14.62, 95% CI: 2.85–114.77; p = 0.003). Similarly, the A1298C variant demonstrated elevated URPL risk with the AC genotype (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.34–5.78; p = 0.007) and CC genotype (OR: 12.43, 95% CI: 3.17–64.22; p = 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides insights into the complex interplay of MTHFR gene mutations, elevated homocysteine levels, and URPL. Genetic testing and biomarker assessment may play a crucial role in customizing risk assessment and management strategies for women at risk of URPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose the linearly adaptive cross entropy loss function. This is a novel measure derived from the information theory. In comparison to the standard cross entropy loss function, the proposed one has an additional term that depends on the predicted probability of the true class. This feature serves to enhance the optimization process in classification tasks involving one-hot encoded class labels. The proposed one has been evaluated on a ResNet-based model using the CIFAR-100 dataset. Preliminary results show that the proposed one consistently outperforms the standard cross entropy loss function in terms of classification accuracy. Moreover, the proposed one maintains simplicity, achieving practically the same efficiency to the traditional cross entropy loss. These findings suggest that our approach could broaden the scope for future research into loss function design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the gender gap in faculty promotion at the University of Geneva. After building a new measure of research quality that has no gender bias (i.e. men and women have, on average, the same level of research quality after we control for disciplines), we find that conditional on research quality, discipline and place where the PhD was obtained, women are 11 percent less likely to get promoted. The gender gap is almost three times larger for promotion from assistant to associate professor, suggesting that the mechanism at play is stronger for junior faculty. The gender gap is explained by the fact that an equal increase in research quality leads to a smaller increase in women's probability of promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study conditional monotone cumulants and additive convolution in the shuffle-algebraic approach to non-commutative probability. We describe c-monotone cumulants as an infinitesimal character and identify the c-monotone additive convolution as an associative operation in the set of pairs of characters in the dual of a double tensor Hopf algebra. In this algebraic framework, we understand previous results on c-monotone cumulants and prove a combinatorial formula that relates c-free and c-monotone cumulants. We also identify the notion of t-Boolean cumulants in the shuffle-algebraic approach and introduce the corresponding notion of t-monotone cumulants as a particular case of c-monotone cumulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How many copies of a fixed odd cycle, C2 m + 1 ${C}_{2m+1}$, can a planar graph contain? We answer this question asymptotically for m ∈{2 , 3 , 4 } $m\in \{2,3,4\}$ and prove a bound which is tight up to a factor of 3/2 for all other values of m $m$. This extends the prior results of Cox and Martin and of Lv, Győri, He, Salia, Tompkins, and Zhu on the analogous question for even cycles. Our bounds result from a reduction to the following maximum likelihood question: which probability mass μ $\mu $ on the edges of some clique maximizes the probability that m $m$ edges sampled independently from μ $\mu $ form either a cycle or a path? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resurgence is a transient recovery of a previously extinguished target response following a worsening of reinforcement conditions for an alternative response. Laboratory studies with nonhuman animals typically assess resurgence in free‐operant situations where subjects can freely emit responses. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether resurgence would be observed in a discrete‐trial procedure where only a single response could occur in each trial, using rats as subjects. The experiment consisted of three phases, and each session ended after 200 trials. All trials began with the insertion of target and alternative levers and ended once a response was emitted. In Phase 1, both target and alternative responses were reinforced with a probability of .25. In Phase 2, the target response was extinguished while still reinforcing the alternative response with a probability of .25. Finally, resurgence was tested by placing the alternative response on extinction. All rats showed robust resurgence in this highly constrained discrete‐trial situation. We also found that the latencies of resurged target responses differed from those in Phase 1. Overall, the present discrete‐trial procedure could produce reliable resurgence as with typical free‐operant procedures and has several potential benefits for studying resurgence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binary logistic regression is one of the most widely used statistical tools. The method uses odds, log odds, and odds ratios, which are difficult to understand and interpret. Understanding of logistic regression tends to fall down in one of three ways: (1) Many students and researchers come to believe that an odds ratio translates directly into relative probabilities. (2) Alternatively, they learn that coefficients tell us whether the variables make the outcome more or less likely, without knowing how to interpret changes in the odds. (3) They may be instructed in how to calculate predicted probabilities, but the additional steps are too complicated for them to follow. Our key aim is to highlight and correct the common mistake of confusing differences in odds with relative risks. Simply reporting the odds ratio is unhelpful, however, so we describe an easy method of estimating probabilities for both binary and continuous variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose–response relationships are important in assessing the efficacy and potency of compounds, which can usually be characterized by a 4-parameter logistic (4-PL) model estimating EC50, slope factor, lower asymptote, and upper asymptote. EC50, the concentration of a compound that induces a response halfway between the baseline and maximum, is a key quantity to evaluate compound potency. For multi-donor dose–response data, it is often of interest to estimate the overall EC50 (i.e. the average EC50 of the population of donors) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). A few multi-donor EC50 estimation methods have been proposed in the literature. Jiang and Kopp-Schneider (2014) systematically compared the meta-analysis approach and the nonlinear mixed-effects approach and concluded that the meta-analysis approach is simple and robust to summarize EC50 estimates from multiple experiments, especially suited in the case of a small number of experiments, while the nonlinear mixed-effects approach has the issue of convergence failures probably due to overparameterization. In this article, we propose a modification of the nonlinear mixed-effects approach by using the stochastic approximation expectation-maximization (SAEM) algorithm to estimate model parameters and using multiple starting points to search for globally optimal values, which can substantially alleviate the issue of convergence failures even for small number of donors (e.g. n = 3), and achieve a smaller absolute median bias and better coverage probability of 95% confidence interval than the meta-analysis approach when the number of donors is not too small (e.g. n ≥ 7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) on repeat victimisation among applicants. By analysing all ‘Right to Ask’ applications to Avon & Somerset Constabulary in 2021, the study investigates the extent of prior domestic abuse victimisation and the influence of disclosure decisions on subsequent reports. The findings reveal that 80% of applicants had prior victimisation records, and disclosures were made in 53% of the cases. The probability of subsequent abuse reports increased significantly for those with prior victimisation when disclosures were made, highlighting the need for robust support mechanisms post-disclosure. The study complements debate around the theoretical tension between empowerment and responsibilisation within DVDS and calls for enhanced support systems and rigorous outcome evaluations. These results suggest that while DVDS aims to protect victims, its effectiveness in reducing victimisation requires further empirical validation and comprehensive support strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The future wireless communication networks (beyond 5G) are intended to provide seamless connectivity, higher data rates, and lower latency. The intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) promises extended network coverage. The non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technique provides higher spectral efficiency and supports a larger number of users. In general, the cell‐edge users far from the base station are affected by severe fading, which may result in an outage. To overcome this issue, we propose an IRS‐aided device‐to‐device (D2D)‐enabled two cells coordinated NOMA system in which a common cell‐edge user acts as D2D receiver. The cell‐edge user receives the signals from near users, IRSs, and both base stations to achieve better diversity. We analyze the outage probability of cell‐edge user, while all the fading channels are assumed Nakagami‐ m and obtain a closed‐form expression at higher signal‐to‐noise ratios. We develop an algorithm to find the ergodic capacity of the cell‐edge user. We validate the mathematical expressions with simulation results and see a substantial improvement in outage performance over the existing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, limited studies have evaluated the development of cultural awareness, sensitivity, skills, communication and competence among nursing students using different models and curricula. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new internationally developed curriculum for transcultural nursing education. Methods: This mixed methods study was conducted on nursing students (n = 83) who attended a transcultural nursing course from 2021 to 2022 during the fall semester. A paired samples test was used to compare total scores, and the related-samples Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare subscale scores. Results: The vast majority (94.0%) of the participants mentioned Islam as their religion. Turkish was the mother tongue of 91.6% of them, while 10.8% were able to speak English and 6.0% were able to speak Kurdish fluently. The mean score for the achievement of cultural competence subdimension posttest was significantly greater (p < 0.001). Posttest mean scores for challenges and barriers in providing culturally competent care subdimensions were significantly lower (p = 0.003). The mean score on the culturally sensitive communication subdimension pretest was 21.00 ± 4.76, and the mean score on the posttest increased to 23.02 ± 6.05, which was a statistically significantly greater difference (p = 0.024). According to the qualitative results of our study, five main themes were analyzed: transcultural nursing as an opportunity, transcultural nursing as a didactic process, transcultural nursing as a professional field, transcultural care as a safe environment, and transcultural care as an obligation. Conclusions: In this study, after a semester of continuing education, nursing students developed respect for cultural diversity, cultural competence, and culturally sensitive communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis is a common condition that increases the risk of fracture and mortality. In Taiwan, clinical guidelines recommend pharmaceutical therapy for patients with a T-score of ≤ − 2.5; however, Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) only covers these medications for those with a history of fragility fractures. This gap in coverage necessitates a discussion of out-of-pocket treatment options. To address this, we provided an integrated care program with patient education and shared decision-making by nurse case managers specializing in osteoporosis. We evaluated whether education by nurse case managers influences patients with a T-score ≤ − 2.5, who are not covered by the NHI, to choose out-of-pocket pharmaceutical therapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who underwent bone density scanning at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2021. We identified 4,462 patients with a T-score of ≤ − 2.5 who were ineligible for NHI-covered anti-osteoporotic therapy and analyzed trends in out-of-pocket medication use. Since the integrated care program began in 2018, we evaluated whether education by nurse case managers between 2018 and 2021 influenced patients' decisions to pay out-of-pocket for therapy. After the implementation of the integrated care program, we identified 2,910 patients with a T-score ≤ -2.5 who were ineligible for NHI-covered anti-osteoporotic therapy. Of these, 640 opted for out-of-pocket treatment, while 2,270 chose conservative care. After a 1:1 propensity score match based on age and sex, logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of nurse case manager education on these decisions. Results: Between 2014 and 2021, 888 of the 4,462 patients chose out-of-pocket pharmaceutical therapy. Before the implementation of the integrated care program and patient education by nurse case managers (2014–2017), 16% of the patients opted to pay out-of-pocket for anti-osteoporotic therapy. After the program was implemented (2018–2021), the rate increased significantly to 22% (P < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that a history of osteoarthritis (adjusted odds ratio = 1.576; P = 0.009) and education provided by the nurse case managers (adjusted odds ratio = 5.044; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with choosing out-of-pocket therapy. Conclusions: Education from nurse case managers significantly increased the likelihood of patients choosing out-of-pocket anti-osteoporotic therapy in our hospital, thereby bridging the gap between clinical guidelines and NHI reimbursement criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential lane‐changing collision risks that may arise between vehicles during lane changes and those in the original lane, a model for vehicle lane‐changing collision risk is constructed specifically for this scenario, and a research analysis is conducted. First, based on vehicle trajectory data, a sample set capturing the relationships between vehicles traveling in a straight line and those changing lanes laterally is extracted and built. Interpolation methods are then applied to fill in missing values, outliers are eliminated, and data noise is smoothed during preprocessing. After preprocessing, a total of 468 vehicle pairs and 265,392 data points are obtained. Second, a real‐time collision time model is established based on the preprocessed data, and collision risk probabilities are calculated accordingly. Then, the collision risks are classified into four levels based on whether the vehicle on the side actually changes lanes and the severity of the collision risks. Finally, a light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) learning method is adopted to predict the risk levels and analyze the main factors that significantly impact the severity of collision risks. The results indicate that the longitudinal distance between the target vehicle and the preceding vehicle is the most critical influencing factor, followed by the speed of the target vehicle itself, and then the speed difference between the target vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The influence of other factors is relatively similar and does not have a significant impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe door-in-the-face (DITF) technique consists of making a large request with a high probability of rejection and immediately after being rejected, making a second moderate request which subsequently has a higher probability of being accepted than when this later request is directly addressed. In this study, we examined the influence of adding a guilt cue after the rejection of the initial large request. Participants in the street were asked to buy raffle tickets for a humanitarian organization. In the DITF condition, participants were first asked to volunteer to help the organization each weekend during the winter. In the DITF with guilt, after the refusal of the first request, participants received a guilt-ridden argument about people’s altruism. It was reported that more compliance was found in the DITF condition than in the control condition and that more compliance was observed in the DITF + Guilt cue condition than in the traditional DITF condition. These findings supported the assumption that adding a guilt cue after the rejection of the first request increased compliance and suggested that further cues could be examined in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a stochastic two predators–one prey system with ratio‐dependent functional response under regime switching. The stochastic extinction of species and the existence of ergodic stationary distribution for the system are established, and the transition probability of the solution converging to the stationary distribution also is obtained. To illustrate our theoretical results, the numerical examples and simulations are presented. Our findings also demonstrate that the stationary distribution and extinction of species for the stochastic two predators–one prey system are affected by random perturbations, leading to an imbalance in ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the benefits of sonication for improving periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are well-documented, its potential therapeutic effect against bacterial biofilm remains unstudied. This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a novel nanoparticle ultrasonication process on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial biofilm formation in a PJI rat model. Methods: This novel ultrasonication process was designed to remove attached bacterial biofilm from implant and peri-articular tissues, without damaging native tissues or compromising implant integrity. Twenty-five adult Sprague–Dawley rats underwent a surgical procedure and were colonized with intra-articular MRSA, followed by the insertion of a titanium screw. Three weeks after the index surgery, the animals received a second procedure during which the screws were explanted, and soft tissue was sampled. The intraoperative use of the nanoparticle sonication treatment was employed to assess the device's safety, while ex vivo treatment on the retrieved tissue and implants was used to evaluate its efficacy. Results: Clinical and histological assessments did not indicate any macro- or micro-damage to the host tissue. Sonication of the retrieved tissues demonstrated an average bacterial removal of 2 × 103 CFU/mL and 1 × 104 CFU/gram of tissue. Compared to the standard-of-care group (n = 10), implants treated with sonication (n = 15) had significantly lower remaining bacteria, as indicated by crystal violet absorbance measurements (P = 0.012). Conclusions: This study suggests that nanoparticle sonication technology can successfully remove attached bacterial biofilms from explanted orthopedic hardware and the joint capsule, without negatively affecting native tissue. The study provides initial results supporting the potential of nanoparticle sonication as an adjuvant treatment option during a DAIR (debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention) procedure for PJI, paving the way for future clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new probability distribution called the mixture symmetric gamma (MSG) distribution, which is defined as a mixture of two symmetric gamma distributions. Its statistical properties and applications are explored. We first examine its mathematical properties, including the possible shapes of the corresponding probability density function, as well as the moments, and the moment‐generating function. We then look at parameter estimation using various frequentist and Bayesian methods, such as moment estimation, maximum likelihood method, least‐squares method, and Bayesian approaches. In addition, the prediction of future observations under the MSG model is extensively covered, considering both frequentist and Bayesian perspectives, including median prediction, best unbiased prediction, and Bayesian prediction. A comprehensive simulation study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimation and prediction techniques. Finally, the practical applicability of the MSG model is demonstrated through the analysis of four real‐world datasets. It is shown to outperform several well‐known competing models in terms of goodness‐of‐fit. The results highlight the inherent simplicity, efficiency, robustness, and intuitive interpretability of the MSG distribution, making it a compelling choice for modeling data with a symmetric pattern, with potential applications in diverse domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to analyze the historical trends of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) burden in the elderly from 1990 to 2021 and forecast future trends up to 2051. Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were utilized. Age-standardized rates (ASR) for incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were computed to quantify temporal trends. A Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model was employed to project future trends. Results: From 1990 to 2021, the global number of elderly IBD increased from 573,500 to 1,278,190. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) rose from 8.01 to 8.77 per 100,000, while the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) slightly decreased from 118.14 to 117.29 per 100,000. Death number increased from 14,400 to 33,490, but the age-standardized mortality rate decreased from 3.21 to 2.84 per 100,000. DALYs increased from 324,100 to 683,750, with the age-standardized DALYs rate declining from 68.78 to 60.88 per 100,000. Significant geographical variations were observed, with high Socio-demographic Index regions showing the highest burden. Projections suggest that by 2051, elderly IBD prevalence number may reach 2,316,000, with ASIR and ASPR potentially rising after 2035 and 2042, respectively. Deaths and DALYs are projected to increase to 75,000 and 1,401,000 respectively, despite continued declines in ASRs. Conclusion: The absolute burden of IBD in the elderly population is projected to increase substantially by 2051, despite decreasing ASRs. These findings underscore the need for tailored healthcare strategies and resource allocation to address the growing challenge of elderly IBD globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research to date suggests that physical activity (PA) can buffer menopausal symptoms and support well-being, but there is limited evidence on the link between PA and menopausal symptoms in the United Kingdom, and no study has assessed how PA affects well-being through menopausal symptoms and three psychosomatic factors (i.e. depression, anxiety and stress). Objectives: This study investigated whether PA affects well-being through menopausal symptoms and psychosomatic factors. This study focuses on how PA influences working women with menopause. Design: A cross-sectional design based on the STROBE (i.e. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist was adopted. Methods: The participants were 324 working women in England. An online self-reported questionnaire was utilised to gather data through Qualtrics. The data were analysed with path analysis through structural equation modelling, and sensitivity analyses were performed to avoid or reduce statistical bias. Results: PA had a negative effect on menopausal symptoms (β = −0.21; p < 0.001) but a positive effect on well-being (β = 0.19; p < 0.001). Menopausal symptoms had a negative indirect effect on well-being, but PA had a positive indirect effect on well-being through menopausal symptoms and the three psychosomatic factors. Conclusion: PA was positively associated with well-being but negatively associated with menopausal symptoms. Menopausal symptoms may lower well-being through anxiety, depression and stress, but PA can be associated with better well-being through depression, anxiety and stress. Plain language summary: The influence of physical activity on well-being through menopausal symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress Why was the study done? Studies have assessed the potential influence of physical activity on menopausal symptoms among women, but no study in the United Kingdom has examined this relationship. Although the positive effect of physical activity on well-being is well researched and documented, no study has explored how it is mediated by menopausal symptoms and psychosomatic factors (i.e. stress, anxiety, and depression). Evaluation of this potential mediation is needed to improve stakeholders' understanding of the best ways to manage menopause at work. What did the researchers do? The researchers designed an online survey and used Qualtrics to distribute it among 324 working women with menopause in England. They used the appropriate statistical analysis technique to ascertain how the effect of physical activity on well-being is mediated by menopausal symptoms and the psychosomatic factors. What did the researchers find? Women who reported higher physical activity experienced fewer menopausal symptoms. Women with higher physical activity reported better well-being through fewer menopausal symptoms and lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical activity may help to improve well-being among working menopausal women by lowering menopausal symptoms, stress, anxiety, and depression. What do the findings mean? Working women can maintain well-being and experience less menopausal symptoms, stress, anxiety, and depression if they participate in physical activities. Organizations can manage menopause by rolling out workplace programmes encouraging employees to regularly participate in physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) are critical components in low-light-level sensing and photonic quantum information applications. For these, it is often necessary that a full characterization of the SPAD is performed, for which a key metric is the afterpulse probability. This study provides a detailed comparison of the common synchronized and non-synchronized methods used to measure afterpulse probability. Measurements on a single SPAD reveal inconsistencies between the afterpulse probabilities obtained by the two methods. By re-deriving the equations from first principles, the discrepancy is traced to the analysis approach for the non-synchronized experiment. An improved analysis approach is presented, leading to better agreement between the non-synchronized and synchronized methods. The study also provides guidance on the experimental conditions required for the valid application of both methods, along with a detailed analysis of the limitations of the non-synchronized method under high photon flux. These findings offer a more accurate approach for characterizing afterpulse probability and for reconciling the results of two methods, which enables better quantification of SPAD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayesian inference gets its name from Bayes's theorem , expressing posterior probabilities for hypotheses about a data generating process as the (normalized) product of prior probabilities and a likelihood function. But Bayesian inference uses all of probability theory, not just Bayes's theorem. Many hypotheses of scientific interest are composite hypotheses , with the strength of evidence for the hypothesis dependent on knowledge about auxiliary factors, such as the values of nuisance parameters (e.g., uncertain background rates or calibration factors). Many important capabilities of Bayesian methods arise from use of the law of total probability, which instructs analysts to compute probabilities for composite hypotheses by marginalization over auxiliary factors. This tutorial targets relative newcomers to Bayesian inference, aiming to complement tutorials that focus on Bayes's theorem and how priors modulate likelihoods. The emphasis here is on marginalization over parameter spaces—both how it is the foundation for important capabilities, and how it may motivate caution when parameter spaces are large. Topics covered include the difference between likelihood and probability, understanding the impact of priors beyond merely shifting the maximum likelihood estimate, and the role of marginalization in accounting for uncertainty in nuisance parameters, systematic error, and model misspecification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we analyze the local certification of unitary quantum channels, which is a natural extension of quantum hypothesis testing. A particular case of a quantum channel operating on two systems corresponding to product states at the input, is considered. The goal is to minimize the probability of the type II error, given a specified maximum probability of the type I error, considering assistance through entanglement with auxiliary systems. Our result indicates connection of the local certification problem with a product numerical range of unitary matrices. We show that the optimal local strategy does not need usage of auxiliary systems and requires only single round of one-way classical communication. Moreover, we compare local and global certification strategies and show that typically local strategies are optimal, yet in some extremal cases, where global strategies make no errors, local ones may fail miserably. Finally, some application for local certification of von Neumann measurements are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial barrel labels generally have low visual contrast, uneven lighting, and cluttered background, making it challenging to accurately locate text regions. This paper proposes a text detection network to solve the inaccurate localization problem based on DBNet. First, a convolutional attention mechanism is applied to the feature extraction network to get more valuable text feature maps. Then, a dual‐branch convolutional feature module is proposed in the feature pyramid to enrich contextual information. Besides, during the probability map generation stage, using a feature remodeling enhancement module to further distinguish text and text boundaries. This paper designs comparative experiments on ILTD, ICDAR2015 and MSRA‐TD500 datasets, achieve F‐measure of 92.3%, 86.0% and 84.1%, which are 2.2%, 2.3%, and 1.9% higher than DBNet, respectively. They demonstrate that our proposed method exhibits competitive performance and strong robustness. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting regularities and probabilities from the environment is a fundamental and critical ability in an ever-changing surrounding. Previous findings showed that people are highly efficient in learning these regularities and that emotional stimuli are better learned than neutral ones. Yet, the generality and the underlying mechanism of this benefit are poorly understood. Here, participants viewed a stream of images with negative and neutral valence. Unbeknownst, the items recurred in regularity as triplets. Then, to assess learning, a surprised familiarity test was conducted. The results of Experiment 1, using two sets of stimuli, found better statistical learning for negative triplets than for neutral triplets. Experiment 2 revealed similar benefits even when only a single negative item was in the triplet at the second or third position, suggesting the advantage is not cumulative. We speculated that the predictability of the negative items is driving the effect. Consequently, Experiment 3 confirmed that the memory for neutral items preceding negative items was better than for neutral items preceding neutral items. Together, these findings provide novel insights into the mechanism of how the learning of incidental temporal associations is influenced by negative stimuli and the role of predictability in the negative valence benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]