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Railway point devices act as actuators that provide different routes to trains by driving switchblades from the current position to the opposite one. Point failure can significantly affect railway operations, with potentially disastrous consequences. Therefore, early detection of anomalies is critical for monitoring and managing the condition of rail infrastructure. We present a data mining solution that utilizes audio data to efficiently detect and diagnose faults in railway condition monitoring systems. The system enables extracting mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCCs) from audio data with reduced feature dimensions using attribute subset selection, and employs support vector machines (SVMs) for early detection and classification of anomalies. Experimental results show that the system enables cost-effective detection and diagnosis of faults using a cheap microphone, with accuracy exceeding 94.1% whether used alone or in combination with other known methods.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the item-level psychometrics of the Ascertain Dementia Eight-Item Informant Questionnaire (AD-8) by examining its dimensionality, rating scale integrity, item fit statistics, item difficulty hierarchy, item-person match, and precision. We used confirmatory factor analysis and the Rasch rating scale model for analyzing the data extracted from the proxy versions of the 2019 and 2020 National Health and Aging Trends Study, USA. A total of 403 participants were included in the analysis. The confirmatory factor analysis with a 1-factor model using the robust weighted least squares (WLSMV) estimator indicated a unidimensional measurement structure ( χ 2 = 41.015, df = 20, p = 0.004; root mean square error of approximation = 0.051; comparative fit index = 0.995; Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.993;). The findings indicated that the AD-8 has no misfitting items and no differential item functioning across sex and gender. The items were evenly distributed in the item difficulty rating (range: −2.30 to 0.98 logits). While there were floor effects, the AD-8 revealed good reliability (Rasch person reliability = 0.67, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89). The Rasch analysis reveals that the AD-8 has excellent psychometric properties that can be used as a screening assessment tool in clinical settings allowing clinicians to measure dementia both quickly and efficiently. To summarize, the AD-8 could be a useful primary screening tool to be used with additional diagnostic testing, if the patient is accompanied by a reliable informant.

This work presents digital imaging technology as a tool for studying artists’ brushstroke patterns and painting techniques. Digital imaging analysis performed using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) and three-dimensional (3D) scanning was used to observe the morphological textures of brushstrokes formed on the painted surface; this provided a “digital fingerprint” to indicate an individual artist’s specific characteristics. A model specimen was produced to examine the relationship between paint and painting tools. For painting tools, twelve types of brushes were chosen from the artist’s studio. The results revealed distinctive features among the different types of brushes. The model specimen was then further compared with the artist’s works and a replicated painting was also produced for comparison with one of the original works. The overall result provided information about similar patterns corresponding to the types of brushes the artist used for the model specimen and paintings. Distinctive painting pattern features were detected in the replica, although it was painted using the same material and type of brush.

This study examines the differences in sports learning among Generation Z based on digital literacy, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Media Richness Theory (MRT). As non-face-to-face sports learning—including online lectures, remote coaching, and virtual reality—rapidly expands, digital literacy has become a key factor influencing learning outcomes and equity. Data were collected from Generation Z adults engaged in sports learning through platforms including YouTube, social networking services, online lecture platforms, and mobile applications. Participants were classified into low (n = 87)-, medium (n = 80)-, and high (n = 70)-digital-literacy groups. A 32-item questionnaire adapted from prior studies assessed digital literacy (4 items), four UTAUT constructs (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions; 16 items), and three media richness dimensions (multiple channels, immediacy of feedback, and personalness; 12 items). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable model fit (χ2 = 779.013, df = 436, p < 0.001, NFI = 0.914, IFI = 0.960, TLI = 0.954, CFI = 0.960, SRMR = 0.037, RMSEA = 0.058), reliability (all ω and α > 0.70), and convergent/discriminant validity (all AVE > 0.50; C.R. > 0.70). Group comparisons indicated that higher digital literacy was linked to higher scores in technology acceptance and media richness perceptions (F = 40.364–64.150, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.257–0.354) These findings indicate that intra-generational differences in digital literacy shape technology use and media experience in sports learning, highlighting the need to enhance media richness and systematically develop learners’ digital literacy to improve digital sports education’s effectiveness and equity. But causal inferences are limited by the cross-sectional design.

Medical plastic-appliance-based healthcare services, especially in dentistry, generate tremendous amounts of plastic waste. Given the physiological features of our mouth, it is desirable to substitute dental care plastics with viscoelastic and antimicrobial bioplastics. Herein, we develop a medical-grade and sustainable bioplastic that is viscoelastic enough to align the tooth positions, resists microbial contamination, and exhibits recyclable life cycles. In particular, we devise a molecular template involving entanglement-inducing and antimicrobial groups and prepare a silk fibroin-based dental care bioplastic. The generated compactly entangled structure endows great flexibility, toughness, and viscoelasticity. Therefore, a satisfactory orthodontic outcome is accomplished, as demonstrated by the progressive alignment of male rabbit incisors within the 2.5 mm range. Moreover, the prepared bioplastic exhibits resistance to pathogenic colonization of intraoral microbes such as Streptococcaceae and Veillonellaceae . Because the disentanglement of entangled domains enables selective separation and extraction of the components, the bioplastic can be recycled into a mechanically identical one. The proposed medical-grade and sustainable bioplastic could potentially contribute to a green healthcare future. Medical plastic-appliance-based healthcare services, especially in dentistry, generate large amounts of plastic waste. Here, the authors address this issue by developing a medical-grade and sustainable bioplastic that is viscoelastic enough to align the tooth positions, resists microbial contamination, and exhibits recyclable life cycles.

We isolated 5 highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4.b viruses from wild waterfowl feces in South Korea during November 2022. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed novel genotypes produced by reassortment with Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses. Enhanced surveillance will be required to improve prevention and control strategies.

Pathogenic conversion of Th17 cells into multifunctional helper T cells or Th1 cells contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases; however, the mechanism regulating the plasticity of Th17 cells remains unclear. Here, we found that Th17 cells expressed latent TGF-β1 in a manner dependent on autocrine TGF-β1. By employing IL-17-producing cell-specific Tgfb1 conditional knockout and fate-mapping systems, we demonstrated that TGF-β1-deficient Th17 cells are relatively susceptible to becoming IFN-γ producers through IL-12Rβ2 and IL-27Rα upregulation. TGF-β1-deficient Th17 cells exacerbated tissue inflammation compared to TGF-β1-sufficient Th17 cells in adoptive transfer models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and colitis. Thus, TGF-β1 production by Th17 cells provides an essential autocrine signal for maintaining the stability and regulating the pathogenicity of Th17 cells in vivo. Autoimmune disease: Transforming growth factor keeps subset of T cells in check A protein secreted by pro-inflammatory immune cells acts on the same secreting cells to prevent their conversion into pathogenic drivers of autoimmune disease. A team in South Korea led by Byung-Seok Kim from Incheon National University and Yeonseok Chung from Seoul National University showed that T helper 17 (Th17) cells, a subset of T helper cells defined by their production of a signaling molecule known as interleukin 17, express a protein called transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) that maintains the stability of Th17 in a self-regulating manner. Without the ability to produce TGF-β1, the cells tend to convert into a form that fuel disease-associated inflammation in mouse models of multiple sclerosis and colitis. Therapeutic blockade of this conversion process could help treat diseases linked to Th17 cell–mediated autoimmunity.

Background Surgery can correct congenital heart defects, but disease management in low- and middle-income countries can be challenging and complex due to a lack of referral system, financial resources, human resources, and infrastructure for surgical and post-operative care. This study investigates the experiences of caregivers of children with CHD accessing the health care system and pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods A qualitative study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Ethiopia. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 caregivers of 10 patients with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery. We additionally conducted chart reviews for triangulation and verification. Interviews were conducted in Amharic and then translated into English. Data were analyzed according to the principles of interpretive thematic analysis, informed by the candidacy framework. Results The following four observations emerged from the interviews: (a) most patients were diagnosed with CHD at birth if they were born at a health care facility, but for those born at home, CHD was discovered much later (b) many patients experienced misdiagnoses before seeking care at a large hospital, (c) after diagnosis, patients were waiting for the surgery for more than a year, (d) caregivers felt anxious and optimistic once they were able to schedule the surgical date. During the care-seeking journey, caregivers encountered financial constraints, struggled in a fragmented delivery system, and experienced poor service quality. Conclusions Delayed access to care was largely due to the lack of early CHD recognition and financial hardships, related to the inefficient and disorganized health care system. Fee waivers were available to assist low-income children in gaining access to health services or medications, but application information was not readily available. Indirect costs like long-distance travel contributed to this challenge. Overall, improvements must be made for district-level screening and the health care workforce.

One of the most unrevealed pieces of information about solar F-corona is its polarization. We propose the possibility of measuring the degree of linear polarization (DF) of the F-corona along the radial distance from the Sun using the signal of two filters installed on the COronal Diagnostic EXperiment (CODEX), which will be mounted on board the International Space Station in December 2023. By analyzing the signal and noise of CODEX with Monte-Carlo simulations, we can derive DF with a 1.4 nm-width narrow bandpass filter centered at 393.55 nm and a 10 nm-width broad bandpass filter centered at 393.5 nm by stacking six images and integrating over 1R⊙ × 1R⊙. The DF measured by CODEX will help reduce the uncertainty of the K-coronal polarization (pBK), a main target of the mission, as well as to provide a better understanding of the F-corona.