Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) are formed to finance and deliver large infrastructural projects that may not be entirely feasible by governments alone. This study investigates the intricate role of financial risks, subsidies, and bidding criteria in the context of PPPs in India, and their relationship to the amount and extent of investments made by private partners. Studies have claimed that the success of PPP projects is determined by the type of funding, the nature of risk undertaken by investors, and the bidding criteria used by a government to attract investors. However, there is sparse literature on these variables impacting the private investment in these projects. Thus, in an attempt to address this gap, we collated data from the World Bank for a ten-year period (i.e., 2009 to 2019) for the study variables, and used regression to analyze the hypotheses, while adopting both SPSS 24 and PROCESS Macro. This study disapproved some commonly held notions of risk relationships, such as the government using “viability gap” funding to attract private investment, and that “leverage” does not moderate the relationship between risk assumed and private investment, thereby contributing to the literature on private investment in PPPs as impacted by several factors. This study is among the first to recognize and elaborate on financial risk relationships, specifically in the context of Indian PPPs. These findings are significant for both private and public participants in terms of financial considerations in PPP projects, especially within the ambits of emerging markets. Full article

Early diagnosis of infections in young infants remains a clinical challenge. Young infants are particularly vulnerable to infection, and it is often difficult to clinically distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection in young infants, and the incidence of associated bacteremia has decreased in the recent decades. Host RNA expression signatures have shown great promise for distinguishing bacterial from viral infections in young infants. This prospective study included 121 young infants admitted to four pediatric emergency care departments in the capital region of Denmark due to symptoms of infection. We collected whole blood samples and performed differential gene expression analysis. Further, we tested the classification performance of a two-gene host RNA expression signature approaching clinical implementation. Several genes were differentially expressed between young infants with UTI without bacteremia and viral infection. However, limited immunological response was detected in UTI without bacteremia compared to a more pronounced response in viral infection. The performance of the two-gene signature was limited, especially in cases of UTI without bloodstream involvement. Our results indicate a need for further investigation and consideration of UTI in young infants before implementing host RNA expression signatures in clinical practice. Full article

The use of machine learning algorithms in healthcare can amplify social injustices and health inequities. While the exacerbation of biases can occur and be compounded during problem selection, data collection, and outcome definition, this research pertains to the generalizability impediments that occur during the development and post-deployment of machine learning classification algorithms. Using the Framingham coronary heart disease data as a case study, we show how to effectively select a probability cutoff to convert a regression model for a dichotomous variable into a classifier. We then compare the sampling distribution of the predictive performance of eight machine learning classification algorithms under four stratified training/testing scenarios to test their generalizability and their potential to perpetuate biases. We show that both extreme gradient boosting and support vector machine are flawed when trained on an unbalanced dataset. We then show that the double discriminant scoring of type 1 and 2 is the most generalizable with respect to the true positive and negative rates, respectively, as it consistently outperforms the other classification algorithms, regardless of the training/testing scenario. Finally, we introduce a methodology to extract an optimal variable hierarchy for a classification algorithm and illustrate it on the overall, male and female Framingham coronary heart disease data. Full article

The purpose of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with hearing impairment, stratified by cardiovascular risk level. This cross-sectional study covers 1857 hearing-impaired individuals selected among 10,674 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years of age) in Japan. We investigate the association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline stratified by cardiovascular risk level, by assessing self-reported hearing impairment and hearing aid use, absolute cardiovascular risk, cognitive function, and potential confounding factors. The association between hearing impairment severity and increased cardiovascular risk, and the benefit of hearing aid use in preventing cognitive decline, were examined in a binomial logistic regression analysis, with the presence of cognitive decline as the objective variable. In the low cardiovascular risk group, hearing aid users had a lower odds ratio for decline in executive function than non-users (odds ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.39–0.98). However, there was no significant association between hearing aid use and cognitive decline in the high cardiovascular risk group (p > 0.05). Among older adults with hearing impairment, hearing aid use was associated with the maintenance of executive function in individuals of low cardiovascular risk. Full article

Real-time prediction of hull girder loads is of great significance for the safety of ship structures. Some scholars have used neural network technology to investigate hull girder load real-time prediction methods based on motion monitoring data. With the development of deep learning technology, a variety of recurrent neural networks have been proposed; however, there is still a lack of systematic comparative analysis on the prediction performance of different networks. In addition, the real motion monitoring data inevitably contains noise, and the effect of data noise has not been fully considered in previous studies. In this paper, four different recurrent neural network models are comparatively investigated, and the effect of different levels of noise on the prediction accuracy of various load components is systematically analyzed. It is found that the GRU network is suitable for predicting the torsional moment and horizontal bending moment, and the LSTM network is suitable for predicting the vertical bending moment. Although filtering has been applied to the original noise data, the prediction accuracy still decreased as the noise level increased. The prediction accuracy of the vertical bending moment and horizontal bending moment is higher than that of the torsional moment. Full article

 Remote and hybrid modes of instruction were employed as alternatives to in-person instruction as part of early mitigation efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the impact of a public school district’s instructional mode on cumulative incidence and transmission in the surrounding community by employing a generalized estimating equations approach to estimate the association with weekly COVID-19 case counts by zip code in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, from August to December 2020. Remote instruction only (RI) was employed by 7 of 20 school districts; 13 used some non-remote instruction (NRI) (2–15 weeks). Weekly incidence increased in all zip codes from August to peak in late fall before declining. The zip code cumulative incidence within NRI school districts was higher than in those offering only RI (risk ratio = 1.12, p = 0.01; risk difference = 519 per 100,000, 95% confidence interval (123–519)). The mean effect for NRI on emergent cases 2 weeks after mode exposure, controlling for Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), was significant only for high SVI zip codes 1.30, p < 0.001. NRI may be associated with increased community COVID-19 incidence, particularly in communities with high SVI. Vulnerable communities may need more resources to open schools safely.  Full article

So far, the cellular origin of glioblastoma (GBM) needs to be determined, with prevalent theories suggesting emergence from transformed endogenous stem cells. Adult neurogenesis primarily occurs in two brain regions: the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Whether the proximity of GBM to these neurogenic niches affects patient outcome remains uncertain. Previous studies often rely on subjective assessments, limiting the reliability of those results. In this study, we assessed the impact of GBM’s relationship with the cortex, SVZ and SGZ on clinical variables using fully automated segmentation methods. In 177 glioblastoma patients, we calculated optimal cutpoints of minimal distances to the SVZ and SGZ to distinguish poor from favorable survival. The impact of tumor contact with neurogenic zones on clinical parameters, such as overall survival, multifocality, MGMT promotor methylation, Ki-67 and KPS score was also examined by multivariable regression analysis, chi-square test and Mann–Whitney-U. The analysis confirmed shorter survival in tumors contacting the SVZ with an optimal cutpoint of 14 mm distance to the SVZ, separating poor from more favorable survival. In contrast, tumor contact with the SGZ did not negatively affect survival. We did not find significant correlations with multifocality or MGMT promotor methylation in tumors contacting the SVZ, as previous studies discussed. These findings suggest that the spatial relationship between GBM and neurogenic niches needs to be assessed differently. Objective measurements disprove prior assumptions, warranting further research on this topic. Full article

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the most successful orthopedic surgeries; nevertheless, many of these surgeries are the causes of failure, and among them, periprosthetic fractures are one of the major causes of revision. Our study focuses on periprosthetic hip fractures with two different stem designs. The aim of the study was to analyze the obtained results, focusing on the features of periprosthetic stem fractures observed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed periprosthetic fractures occurring between 2010 and 2023, involving Alloclassic^® or CLS^® uncemented femoral stems. We analyzed demographic data, proximal femur morphology, and the fracture type. Results: We identified 97 patients. Considering the proximal femur morphology, we found that there was statistically significant prevalence of Dorr A proximal femur morphology in the CLS^® group and of Dorr C in the Alloclassic^® group. Considering the distribution of the fracture pattern, we reported a non-statistically significant prevalence of the fracture pattern with stable stems in the CLS^® group. Conclusions: The choice of the prosthetic design of the femoral stem is a crucial element when planning total hip arthroplasty. However, we found a non-statistically significant difference between the two stems considered, raising questions about the real role of stem design as a primary determinant of periprosthetic hip fractures. Full article

The global ecological decline resulting from urban development presents a significant challenge for numerous regions striving to reconcile conservation efforts with developmental needs. This study explores the relationship between ecosystem service value (ESV) and habitat quality (HQ) under various scenarios to elucidate prospective development trajectories. This study utilized the PLUS model to simulate land use patterns in the Chengdu metropolitan area across four distinct development scenarios. Furthermore, it employed the equivalent factor method and the Invest model to quantify ESV and HQ values, and investigated the coupling coordination between ESV and HQ for each city using a coupling coordination model (CCM). The findings are as follows: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, land use in the Chengdu metropolitan area primarily expanded through the development of construction land. (2) Concurrently, ESV demonstrated a fluctuating trend characterized by an initial decline succeeded by an upsurge, culminating under the Development–Ecological Balance Scenario. Likewise, HQ displayed a similar fluctuating pattern with an initial decline succeeded by an increase, reaching its zenith under the Ecological Dominance Scenario. (3) The coupling coordination between ESV and HQ exhibited variability across cities and scenarios. Ultimately, this study offers a distinctive perspective on evaluating the interplay between urban development and conservation, providing valuable insights for promoting sustainable development in other regions. Full article

The surge in global utilization of petroleum-based plastics, which notably heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, has substantially increased its harm to ecosystems. Considering the escalating environmental impact, a pivotal shift towards bioplastics usage is imperative. Exploring and implementing bioplastics as a viable alternative could mitigate the ecological burden posed by traditional plastics. Macroalgae is a potential feedstock for the production of bioplastics due to its abundance, fast growth, and high cellulose and sugar content. Researchers have recently explored various methods for extracting and converting macroalgae into bioplastic. Some of the key challenges in the production of macroalgae bioplastics are the high costs of large-scale production and the need to optimize the extraction and conversion processes to obtain high-quality bioplastics. However, the potential benefits of using macroalgae for bioplastic production include reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions, using healthier materials in various life practices, and developing a promising area for future research and development. Also, bioplastic provides job opportunities in free enterprise and contributes to various applications such as packaging, medical devices, electronics, textiles, and cosmetics. The presented review aims to discuss the problem of petroleum-based plastic, bioplastic extraction from macroalgae, bioplastic properties, biodegradability, its various applications, and its production challenges. Full article

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has garnered significant attention due to its unconditional security based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. While QKD has been demonstrated by various groups and commercial QKD products are available, the development of a fully chip-based QKD system, aimed at reducing costs, size, and power consumption, remains a significant technological challenge. Most researchers focus on the optical aspects, leaving the integration of the electronic components largely unexplored. In this paper, we present the design of a fully integrated electrical control chip for QKD applications. The chip, fabricated using 28 nm CMOS technology, comprises five main modules: an ARM processor for digital signal processing, delay cells for timing synchronization, ADC for sampling analog signals from monitors, OPAMP for signal amplification, and DAC for generating the required voltage for phase or intensity modulators. According to the simulations, the minimum delay is 11ps, the open-loop gain of the operational amplifier is 86.2 dB, the sampling rate of the ADC reaches 50 MHz, and the DAC achieves a high rate of 100 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first design and evaluation of a fully integrated driver chip for QKD, holding the potential to significantly enhance QKD system performance. Thus, we believe our work could inspire future investigations toward the development of more efficient and reliable QKD systems. Full article

In the practical application of hydraulic rotating machinery, it is essential to thoroughly explore drag reduction and rheological characteristics of drag-reducing additives to optimize machinery efficiency and reduce equipment consumption. This paper combines simulation and experimental approaches to investigate the drag-reduction performance and rheological properties of drag-reducing additives. Numerical simulations are initially conducted to investigate the shear-thinning properties of drag-reducing fluid and explore variations in drag-reduction rate. Turbulent phenomena characteristics are described by analyzing turbulent statistical quantities. Subsequently, the rheological behaviors of polyethylene oxide (PEO), cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), and their mixed solutions under different conditions are scrutinized using a rotational rheometer. The findings indicate that the drag reduction effect amplifies as the rheological index n and characteristic time λ decrease. The numerical simulations show a maximum drag reduction rate of 20.18%. In rheological experiments, a three-stage viscosity variation is observed in single drag-reducing additives: shear thickening, shear thinning, and eventual stabilization. Composite drag-reducing additives significantly reduce the apparent viscosity at low shear rates, thereby strengthening the shear resistance of the system. Full article

Clarifying the spatiotemporal distribution and influencing factors of mosque architecture in China’s Hehuang region has significant positive implications for the overall protection and development of the region’s architectural cultural heritage. This study utilizes field surveys and acquires POI data of traditional mosques built before 1993 in the region to analyze the distribution characteristics of mosques, aiming to explore future development trends of these religious structures. It also investigates the influencing factors, with the goal of emphasizing the primary and secondary factors affecting mosque distribution. The study finds the following: (1) Mosques are generally centered around the Huangshui Valley, displaying a “central clustering, peripheral dispersal” distribution pattern, forming a spatial structure of “two cores, one belt, multiple points”, with distinct differentiation and overall uneven distribution. (2) Mosques are primarily situated at elevations between 2147 and 2764 m; on slopes less than 15°, in sunny and gentle slopes; within 20 km from rivers; within 14 km from roads; in areas receiving 400–500 mm annual rainfall; and within temperature ranges of 5.54–10.22°C. (3) The study also finds that the spatial distribution of mosques is profoundly influenced by both natural geographical factors and human environmental factors. The better the natural location, the larger and denser the population, the richer the cultural resources, the higher the level of economic development, and the greater the concentration of Hui people, the more numerous and concentrated the mosques. (4) Population factors are the dominant factors for the clustered distribution of traditional mosques in the Hehuang area. Since the construction of mosques in the region is closely related to the number of Hui people and the proportion of Muslim adherents, areas with a high concentration of mosques also have relatively larger populations of Hui people. Temperature, precipitation, altitude, rivers, and roads are foundational factors for traditional mosques in the Hehuang area, influencing mosque distribution as external factors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep and mental health are closely linked, with sleep deprivation increasing the risk of mental health problems in college students. This study aimed to analyze the role of sleep in the mental health status of a sample of Italian freshmen, considering various mental health outcomes and potential interactions between sleep and other relevant factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, academic experiences, and mental health history. Methods: All freshmen from a medium-sized Italian university were invited to participate in a multidimensional online survey (n = 3756). Sleep quality was assessed through questions on average hours of sleep per night and on satisfaction of perceived sleep quality. Mental health outcomes included psychophysical well-being, psychological distress, substance use, and problematic internet use. Statistical analysis involved multivariate analysis of variance, followed by pairwise comparisons. Results: The sample (n = 721) exhibited low levels of well-being and a high prevalence of psychological distress (52.1%). Approximately one-third of students (n = 258) were dissatisfied with their sleep quality, and one-fourth (n = 186) reported inadequate sleep (less than 7 hours per night). More specifically, 24.4% of students slept on average six hours per night, and 1.4% slept five hours or less. Satisfaction with perceived sleep quality significantly influenced well-being, psychological distress, and cannabis use (η_p² = 0.02). Interaction effects were observed between satisfaction with sleep quality and drop-out intentions (η_p² = 0.01), as well as between satisfaction with sleep quality and history of mental health diagnosis (η_p² = 0.02), both of which were significant for psychological distress and cannabis use. Conclusions: This study highlights the influence of perceived sleep quality on academic distress among college freshmen, particularly those with higher intentions of leaving university and with a history of mental health diagnosis. Full article

Phase synchronization serves as an effective method for analyzing the synchronization of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals among brain regions and the dynamic changes of the brain. The purpose of this paper is to study the construction of the functional brain network (FBN) based on phase synchronization, with a special focus on neural processes related to human balance regulation. This paper designed four balance paradigms of different difficulty by blocking vision or proprioception and collected 19-channel EEG signals. Firstly, the EEG sequences are segmented by sliding windows. The phase-locking value (PLV) of core node pairs serves as the phase-screening index to extract the valid data segments, which are recombined into new EEG sequences. Subsequently, the multichannel weighted phase lag index (wPLI) is calculated based on the new EEG sequences to construct the FBN. The experimental results show that due to the randomness of the time points of body balance adjustment, the degree of phase synchronization of the datasets screened by PLV is more obvious, improving the effective information expression of the subsequent EEG data segments. The FBN topological structures of the wPLI show that the connectivity of various brain regions changes structurally as the difficulty of human balance tasks increases. The frontal lobe area is the core brain region for information integration. When vision or proprioception is obstructed, the EEG synchronization level of the corresponding occipital lobe area or central area decreases. The synchronization level of the frontal lobe area increases, which strengthens the synergistic effect among the brain regions and compensates for the imbalanced response caused by the lack of sensory information. These results show the brain regional characteristics of the process of human balance regulation under different balance paradigms, providing new insights into endogenous neural mechanisms of standing balance and methods of constructing brain networks. Full article

When we take into account how the boundaries between human, animal, and environmental health are inextricably linked and increasingly intertwined, it comes as no surprise that the One Health approach has assumed an unprecedented level of importance over the past decade [1]. [...] Full article

The release of cyanide from cyanogenic precursors is the central core of the plant defences based on the cyanogenesis process. Although cyanide is formed as a coproduct of some metabolic routes, its production is mostly due to the degradation of cyanohydrins originating from cyanogenic glycosides in cyanogenic plants and the 4-OH-ICN route in Brassicaceae. Cyanohydrins are then hydrolysed in a reversible reaction generating cyanide, being both, cyanohydrins and cyanide, toxic compounds with potential defensive properties against pests and pathogens. Based on the production of cyanogenic-derived molecules in response to the damage caused by herbivore infestation, in this review, we compile the actual knowledge of plant cyanogenic events in the plant–pest context. Besides the defensive potential, the mode of action, and the targets of the cyanogenic compounds to combat phytophagous insects and acari, special attention has been paid to arthropod responses and the strategies to overcome the impact of cyanogenesis. Physiological and behavioural adaptations, as well as cyanide detoxification by β-cyanoalanine synthases, rhodaneses, and cyanases are common ways of phytophagous arthropods defences against the cyanide produced by plants. Much experimental work is needed to further understand the complexities and specificities of the defence–counter-defence system to be applied in breeding programs. Full article

In this paper, we consider the time-fractional Black–Scholes model with deterministic, time-varying coefficients. These time parametric constituents produce a model with greater flexibility that may capture empirical results from financial markets and their time-series datasets. We make use of transformations to reduce the underlying model to the classical heat transfer equation. We show that this transformation procedure is possible for a specific risk-free interest rate and volatility of stock function. Furthermore, we reverse these transformations and apply one-dimensional optimal subalgebras of the infinitesimal symmetry generators to establish invariant solutions. Full article

Fractional integro-differential equations (FIDEs) of both Volterra and Fredholm types present considerable challenges in numerical analysis and scientific computing due to their complex structures. This paper introduces a novel approach to address such equations by employing a Cubic B-spline collocation method. This method offers a robust and systematic framework for approximating solutions to the FIDEs, facilitating precise representations of complex phenomena. Within this research, we establish the mathematical foundations of the proposed scheme, elucidate its advantages over existing methods, and demonstrate its practical utility through numerical examples. We adopt the Caputo definition for fractional derivatives and conduct a stability analysis to validate the accuracy of the method. The findings showcase the precision and efficiency of the scheme in solving FIDEs, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for addressing a wide array of practical problems. Full article

Orthogonal chirp division multiplexing (OCDM) offers a promising modulation technology for shallow water underwater acoustic (UWA) communication systems due to multipath fading resistance and Doppler resistance. To handle the various channel distortions and interferences, obtaining accurate channel state information is vital for robust and efficient shallow water UWA communication. In recent years, deep learning has attracted widespread attention in the communication field, providing a new way to improve the performance of physical layer communication systems. In this paper, the pilot-based channel estimation is transformed into a matrix completion problem, which is mathematically equivalent to the image super-resolution problem arising in the field of image processing. Simulation results show that the deep learning-based method can improve the channel distortion, outperforming the equalization performed by traditional estimator, the performance of Bit Error Rate is improved by 2.5 dB compared to the MMSE method in OCDM system. At the 7.5 to 20 dB region, it achieves better bit error rate performance than OFDM systems, and the bit error rate is reduced by approximately 53% compared to OFDM when the SNR value is 20, which is very useful in shallow water UWA channels with multipath extension and severe time-varying characteristics. Full article

Rotary kiln has been widely used in hazardous waste treatment because of its strong adaptability to raw materials, high productivity, and simple processing technology. However, the formation of deposits reduces its performance period and profitability. This study characterized the deposit mineralogy and thermodynamically and experimentally investigated its formation mechanism. The results show that the main phases of the deposit are magnetite, monolithic iron, olivine, and yellow feldspar. They indicate that the deposit formation process was accompanied by the participation of alkaline and iron oxides. The intermediate product Ca₂SiO₄ can promote the generation of low melting point phases, such as CaFeSiO₄ and Ca₂Al₂SiO₇, which are the main phases of deposit materials. Additionally, the reduction intermediate product FeO facilitated the generation of a liquid ferrous mixture (Fe₃O₄-FeO and Fe₃O₄-FeO-Fe mixture), which in turn further promoted the growth of the initial deposit phase. The solid deposit formed and attached to the kiln inner wall, along with a decrease in temperature. These results are expected to provide an idea or approach for fundamentally solving the problem of deposits in the rotary kiln. Full article

To inhibit the deep conversion of partial oxidation products (POX-products) in C-H bonds’ functionalization utilizing O₂, 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin cobalt(II) and 5-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin copper(II) were immobilized on the surface of hybrid silica to conduct relay catalysis on the surface. Fluorocarbons with low polarity and heterogeneous catalysis were devised to decrease the convenient accessibility of polar POX-products to catalytic centers on the lower polar surface. Relay catalysis between Co and Cu was designed to utilize the oxidation intermediates alkyl hydroperoxides to transform more C-H bonds. Systematic characterizations were conducted to investigate the structure of catalytic materials and confirm their successful syntheses. Applied to C-H bond oxidation, not only deep conversion of POX-products was inhibited but also substrate conversion and POX-product selectivity were improved simultaneously. For cyclohexane oxidation, conversion was improved from 3.87% to 5.27% with selectivity from 84.8% to 92.3%, which was mainly attributed to the relay catalysis on the surface excluding products. The effects of the catalytic materials, product exclusion, relay catalysis, kinetic study, substrate scope, and reaction mechanism were also investigated. To our knowledge, a practical and novel strategy was presented to inhibit the deep conversion of POX-products and to achieve efficient and accurate oxidative functionalization of hydrocarbons. Also, a valuable protocol was provided to avoid over-reaction in other chemical transformations requiring high selectivity. Full article