MCNS: Mining Causal Natural Structures Inside Time Series via A Novel Internal Causality Scheme

Causal inference permits us to discover covert relationships of various variables in time series. However, in most existing works, the variables mentioned above are the dimensions. The causality between dimensions could be cursory, which hinders the comprehension of the internal relationship and the benefit of the causal graph to the neural networks (NNs). In this paper, we find that causality exists not only outside but also inside the time series because it reflects a succession of events in the real world. It inspires us to seek the relationship between internal subsequences. However, the challenges are the hardship of discovering causality from subsequences and utilizing the causal natural structures to improve NNs. To address these challenges, we propose a novel framework called Mining Causal Natural Structure (MCNS), which is automatic and domain-agnostic and helps to find the causal natural structures inside time series via the internal causality scheme. We evaluate the MCNS framework and impregnation NN with MCNS on time series classification tasks. Experimental results illustrate that our impregnation, by refining attention, shape selection classification, and pruning datasets, drives NN, even the data itself preferable accuracy and interpretability. Besides, MCNS provides an in-depth, solid summary of the time series and datasets.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

The Reliability and Validity of an Assessment Tool for Developmental Dyslexia in Chinese Children

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder in children. It refers to the phenomenon in which children with normal intelligence lag significantly behind their peers in reading ability. In China, there is no unified standard for the assessment of dyslexia due to the use of simplified and traditional Chinese characters in different regions. This study was aimed at analyzing the reliability and validity of the self-developed Chinese dyslexia assessment tool named Chinese Reading Ability Test (CRAT), which was suitable for students of grade 3 to 5 in primary school. We randomly selected three primary schools in Shantou city of China, including two in the central district and one in the surrounding district. A total of 1492 students of grades 3 through 5 were recruited. We assessed the reliability of CRAT by test–retest reliability and internal consistency. The validity assessment was realized by discriminant validity, content validity and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). For reliability, the test–retest correlation coefficient of the total score of the CRAT was 0.671. The difference between the test–retest was not statistically significant. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the CRAT was 0.75. For validity, the correlation coefficient between the score of each subscale and the total score of the scale ranged from 0.29 to 0.73. The indexes of the three structural equation models all meet the standard (p > 0.05, χ2/df < 2.00, RMSEA < 0.05, GFI > 0.90, AGFI > 0.90, NFI > 0.90, CFI > 0.90 and IFI > 0.90). The fitting effects of the models were good. The CRAT has sufficient reliability and validity which could be used for the assessment and auxiliary diagnosis of Chinese Dyslexia in primary school students of grade 3 to 5

Emotional and Cognitive Responses and Behavioral Coping of Chinese Medical Workers and General Population during the Pandemic of COVID-19

Background: The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) might affect the psychological health of population, especially medical workers. We aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional and cognitive responses and behavioral coping among Chinese residents. Methods: An online investigation was run from 5 February to 25 February 2020, which recruited a total of 616 Chinese residents. Self-designed questionnaires were used to collect demographic information, epidemic knowledge and prevention of COVID-19 and characteristics of medical workers. The emotional and cognitive responses were assessed via the Symptom Check List-30 (SCL-30) and Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Behavioral coping was assessed via Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Results: In total, 131 (21.3%) medical workers and 485 (78.7%) members of the general public completed the structured online survey. The structural equation models showed that emotional response interacted with cognitive response, and both emotional response and cognitive response affected the behavioral coping. Multivariate regression showed that positive coping enhanced emotional and cognitive responses, while negative coping reduced emotional and cognitive responses. The emotional response (depression, anxiety and photic anxiety) scores of the participants were higher than the norm (all p < 0.001); in particular, the panic scores of members of the general public were higher than those of medical workers (p < 0.05), as well as the cognitive response (paranoia and compulsion). Both positive and negative coping scores of the participants were lower than the norm (p < 0.001), and the general public had higher negative coping than medical workers (p < 0.05). Conclusion: During the preliminary stage of COVID-19, our study confirmed the significance of emotional and cognitive responses, which were associated with behavioral coping and significantly influenced the medical workers and the general public’s cognition and level of public health emergency preparedness. These results emphasize the importance of psychological health at times of widespread crisis

Resistance-capacitance gas sensor based on fractal geometry

An important component of any chemiresistive gas sensor is the way in which the resistance of the sensing film is interrogated. The geometrical structure of an electrode can enhance the performance of a gas-sensing device and in particular the performance of sensing films with large surface areas, such as carbon nanotubes. In this study, we investigated the influence of geometrical structure on the performance of gas sensors, combining the characteristics of carbon nanotubes with a novel gas sensor electrode structure based on fractal geometry. The fabricated sensors were tested with exposure to nitric oxide, measuring both the sensor resistance and capacitance (RC) of the sensor responses. Experimental results showed that the sensors with fractal electrode structures had a superior performance over sensors with traditional geometrical structures. Moreover, the RC characteristics of these fractal sensors could be further improved by using different test frequencies that could aid in the identification and quantification of a target gas

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Lung Cancer in Shenzhen, 2008–2018

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in China. The incidence trend and geographical distribution of lung cancer in southern China have not been reported. The present study explored the temporal trend and spatial distribution of lung cancer incidence in Shenzhen from 2008 to 2018. The lung cancer incidence data were obtained from the registered population in the Shenzhen Cancer Registry System between 2008 and 2018. The standardized incidence rates of lung cancer were analyzed by using the joinpoint regression model. The Moran’s I method was used for spatial autocorrelation analysis and to further draw a spatial cluster map in Shenzhen. From 2008 to 2018, the average crude incidence rate of lung cancer was 27.1 (1/100,000), with an annual percentage change of 2.7% (p < 0.05). The largest average proportion of histological type of lung cancer was determined as adenocarcinoma (69.1%), and an increasing trend was observed in females, with an average annual percentage change of 14.7%. The spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated some sites in Shenzhen as a high incidence rate spatial clustering area. Understanding the incidence patterns of lung cancer is useful for monitoring and prevention

A 3D-Printed Microfluidic Device for qPCR Detection of Macrolide-Resistant Mutations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is a common respiratory infection generally treated with macrolides, but resistance mutations against macrolides are often detected in mycoplasma pneumoniae in China. Rapid and accurate identification of mycoplasma pneumoniae and its mutant type is necessary for precise medication. This paper presents a 3D-printed microfluidic device to achieve this. By 3D printing, the stereoscopic structures such as microvalves, reservoirs, drainage tubes, and connectors were fabricated in one step. The device integrated commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tubes as PCR chambers. The detection was a sample-to-answer procedure. First, the sample, a PCR mix, and mineral oil were respectively added to the reservoirs on the device. Next, the device automatically mixed the sample with the PCR mix and evenly dispensed the mixed solution and mineral oil into the PCR chambers, which were preloaded with the specified primers and probes. Subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was carried out with the homemade instrument. Within 80 min, mycoplasma pneumoniae and its mutation type in the clinical samples were determined, which was verified by DNA sequencing. The easy-to-make and easy-to-use device provides a rapid and integrated detection approach for pathogens and antibiotic resistance mutations, which is urgently needed on the infection scene and in hospital emergency departments

Association between Serum Level of Multiple Trace Elements and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk: A Case–Control Study in China

We investigated the associations between multiple serum trace element levels and risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 185 ESCC patients and 191 healthy individuals were recruited in our study. The concentration of 13 trace elements (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd and Pb) in serum was determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Logistic regression and the Probit extension of Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models was established to explore the associations and the cumulative and mixed effects of multiple trace elements on ESCC. Three elements (Zn, Se and Sr) displayed a negative trend with risk for ESCC, and a significant overall effect of the mixture of Al, V, Mn, Ni, Zn, Se and Sr on ESCC was found, with the effects of V, Ni and Sr being nonlinear. Bivariate exposure–response interactions among these trace elements indicated a synergistic effect between Zn and Se, and an impactful difference of V combined with Ni, Sr or Zn. Our results indicate that Ni, V, Al, Mn, Zn, Se and Sr are associated with ESCC risk, providing additional evidence of the complex effects of trace elements disorder during the etiology of EC development

Evidence of ultra-low-k dielectric material degradation and nanostructure alteration of the Cu/ultra-low-k interconnects in time-dependent dielectric breakdown failure

Ultra-low-k time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) is one of the most important reliability issues in Cu/low-k technology development due to its weaker intrinsic breakdown strength compared to SiO2 dielectrics. With continuous technology scaling, this problem is further exacerbated for Cu/ultra-low-k interconnects. In this letter, the TDDB degradation behavior of ultra-low-k dielectric in Cu/ultra-low-k interconnects will be investigated by a method consisting of a combination of Raman with Fourier transform infrared vibrational microscopes. In TDDB tests on Cu/low-k interconnect, it was found that intrinsic degradation of the ultra-low-k dielectric would first occur under electrical field stress. Upon further electrical field stress, the ultra-low-k dielectric degradation would be accelerated due to Ta ions migration from the Ta/TaN barrier bi-layer into the ultra-low-k dielectrics. In addition, no out-diffusion of Cu ions was observed in our investigation on Cu/Ta/TaN/ SiCOH structures.Published versio

Ефект депресії серед студентів тхеквондо і його зв'язок з негативними подіями з-за COVID-19

Background and Study Aim. The aim of this research was to examine The effect of depression among taekwondo students and its relationship with negative events due to COVID-19 in Mazandaran University. Material and Methods. This research was conducted on the appropriate sample of 116 Taekwondo students from Mazandaran university, being 18-24 years old. The applied measure instruments were - Adolescent Perceived Events Scale, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Confrontation with Stressing Situation Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, Children's Depression Rating Scale-demonstrated satisfactory reliability. The data was processed using descriptive parameters, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and hierarchy regression analysis & SPSS23 software. Results. Achieved results didn’t show that predictor variables (common automatic thoughts, the sense of general self-efficiency, confrontation strategies and perceived support of family, coach and team peers) are the cause of the common negative events due to COVID-19 and depression relations of Taekwondo students in the middle period of adolescence. Conclusions.  On contrary, the results have emphasized the fact that mutual relations of common negative events and depression of Taekwondo students, in this young category, can be explained using independent variables (unwilling unconscious negative thoughts, confrontation focused on feelings, as well as support of family, coach and team peers).Предпосылки и цель исследования. Целью этого исследования было изучить влияние депрессии среди студентов тхэквондо и ее связь с негативными событиями из-за COVID-19 в Университете Мазандарана.Материал и методы. Это исследование проводилось на соответствующей выборке из 116 студентов тхэквондо из Университета Мазандарана в возрасте от 18 до 24 лет. Применяемые инструменты измерения: шкала воспринимаемых событий подростками, автоматический опросник мыслей, общая шкала самоэффективности, опросник по конфронтации со стрессовой ситуацией, опросник социальной поддержки, шкала оценки депрессии у детей - продемонстрировали удовлетворительную надежность. Данные обрабатывались с использованием описательных параметров, коэффициента корреляции Пирсона, иерархического регрессионного анализа и программного обеспечения SPSS23.Результаты. Достигнутые результаты не показали, что переменные-предикторы (общие автоматические мысли, чувство общей самоэффективности, стратегии конфронтации и предполагаемая поддержка семьи, тренера и коллег по команде) являются причиной общих негативных событий, связанных с COVID-19 и депрессией, отношения студентов тхэквондо в среднем молодежном возрасте.Выводы. Напротив, результаты подчеркнули тот факт, что взаимоотношения общих негативных событий и депрессии у студентов тхэквондо в этой молодой категории можно объяснить с помощью независимых переменных (нежелательные бессознательные негативные мысли, конфронтация, сосредоточенная на чувствах, а также поддержка семьи, тренера и атлетов по команде).Передумови та мета дослідження. Метою цього дослідження було вивчити вплив депресії серед студентів тхеквондо і її зв'язок з негативними подіями з-за COVID-19 в Університеті Мазандаран.Матеріал і методи. Це дослідження проводилося на відповідній вибірці з 116 студентів тхеквондо з Університету Мазандаран у віці від 18 до 24 років. Застосовувані інструменти вимірювання: шкала сприймаються подій підлітками, автоматичний опитувальник думок, загальна шкала самоефективності, опитувальник по конфронтації зі стресовою ситуацією, опитувальник соціальної підтримки, шкала оцінки депресії у дітей - продемонстрували задовільну надійність. Дані оброблялися з використанням описових параметрів, коефіцієнта кореляції Пірсона, ієрархічного регресійного аналізу та програмного забезпечення SPSS23.Результати. Досягнуті результати не показали, що змінні-предиктори (загальні автоматичні думки, почуття загальної самоефективності, стратегії конфронтації і передбачувана підтримка сім'ї, тренера і колег по команді) є причиною загальних негативних подій, пов'язаних з COVID-19 і депресією, ставлення студентів тхеквондо в середньому молодіжному віці.Висновки. Навпаки, результати підкреслили той факт, що взаємини загальних негативних подій і депресії у студентів тхеквондо в цій молодій категорії можна пояснити за допомогою незалежних змінних (небажані несвідомі негативні думки, конфронтація, зосереджена на почуттях, а також підтримка сім'ї, тренера і атлетів по команді)