DSpace community: 應用數學與數據科學學系

Extensively Corrected Score Approach for Proportional Odds Mixture Cure Model for Survival Data with Mismeasured Covariates

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 04:05:24 GMT

title: Extensively Corrected Score Approach for Proportional Odds Mixture Cure Model for Survival Data with Mismeasured Covariates

Resilience and Quality of Life in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Serial Mediating Role of Sleep Quality and Depression

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:05:20 GMT

title: Resilience and Quality of Life in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Serial Mediating Role of Sleep Quality and Depression abstract: Objective: To investigate the influence of resilience on quality of life (QoL) in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and to evaluate the mediating roles of sleep quality and depression in the relationship. Setting: Emergency and neurosurgical outpatient departments in regional medical center in northern Taiwan. Participants: A total of 310 adults patients diagnosed with mTBI were recruited between 3 and 12 months postinjury. Design: A cross-sectional observational study using self-report measures and serial-mediation analysis. Main Measures: Participants completed the Resilience Scale for Adults, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Data were analyzed using PROCESS Model 6 with 5000 bootstrap resamples. Results: Resilience was associated with improved QoL, both directly and indirectly through sleep quality and depression. In particular, resilience predicted higher sleep quality and fewer depressive symptoms. Poor sleep quality was associated with greater depressive symptoms, which in turn predicted lower QoL. All direct and indirect pathways in the serial mediation model were significant (P , 0.001), and the model explained 54% of the variance in QoL. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that resilience influences QoL through sleep quality and depression. Enhancing resilience and sleep quality may reduce depressive symptoms and improve overall well-being in patients recovering from mTBI.

The invariant surface area functionals in 3-dimensional CR geometry

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:06:12 GMT

title: The invariant surface area functionals in 3-dimensional CR geometry

Yamabe flow and its soliton on manifolds with boundary

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:06:11 GMT

title: Yamabe flow and its soliton on manifolds with boundary

CR Paneitz operator and its application in CR geoemtry

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:06:08 GMT

title: CR Paneitz operator and its application in CR geoemtry

On the invariant surface area functionals in 3-dimensional CR geometry

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:36 GMT

title: On the invariant surface area functionals in 3-dimensional CR geometry abstract: Cheng, Yang, and Zhang have studied two invariant surface area functionals in 3-dimensional CR manifolds. They deduced the Euler-Lagrange equations of the associated energy functionals when the 3-dimensional CR manifold has constant Webster curvature and vanishing torsion. In this paper, we deduce the Euler-Lagrange equations of the energy functionals in a more general 3-dimensional CR manifold. Moreover, we study the invariant area functionals on the disk bundle, on the Rossi sphere, and on 3-dimensional tori.

New curvature characterization for the weighted Sasaki sphere

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:34 GMT

title: New curvature characterization for the weighted Sasaki sphere abstract: In this paper, we use the shifted cones introduced by Yang and Zhang to classify Sasaki manifolds. This gives a new curvature characterization for the weighted Sasaki sphere.

Convergence rate of the Q-curvature flow

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:31 GMT

title: Convergence rate of the Q-curvature flow abstract: Carlotto, Chodosh and Rubinstein have studied the convergence rate of the Yamabe flow. Inspired by their result, we study the convergence rate of the Q-curvature flow in this paper. In particular, we provide an example of a slowly converging Q6-curvature flow in dimension 6, in constrast to the dimension 2 case, where the convergence rate of the Q-curvature flow is always exponential.

Blow-up phenomena for the equivariant Yamabe equation on manifolds with boundary

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:29 GMT

title: Blow-up phenomena for the equivariant Yamabe equation on manifolds with boundary abstract: In this paper, we consider the compactness of the solutions to the equivariant Yamabe equation on manifolds with boundary. We construct a smooth counterexample showing that the compactness of the set of “lower energy” solutions to the equivariant Yamabe equation fails when the dimension of the manifold is not less than 25.

A flow approach to the problems of prescribing geodesic curvature and T-curvature

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:27 GMT

title: A flow approach to the problems of prescribing geodesic curvature and T-curvature abstract: In this paper, we first consider the problem of prescribing geodesic curvature on a 2-dimensional manifold with boundary when its Euler characteristics is zero. We then consider the problem of prescribing -curvature on a 4-dimensional manifold with boundary. We prove some existence results in both cases by using geometric flow.

Blow-up phenomena for the constant scalar curvature and constant boundary mean curvature equation (after Chen and Wu)

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:25 GMT

title: Blow-up phenomena for the constant scalar curvature and constant boundary mean curvature equation (after Chen and Wu) abstract: In this paper, the compactness of the solutions to the constant scalar curvature and constant boundary mean curvature equation is considered. Chen and Wu constructed a smooth counterexample showing that the compactness of the set of “lower energy” solutions to the above equation fails when the dimension of the manifold is not less than 62. We prove that a smooth counterexample still exists when the dimension of the manifold is not less than 35.

Convergence rate of the weighted conformal mean curvature flow

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:23 GMT

title: Convergence rate of the weighted conformal mean curvature flow

Solitons to the Willmore flow

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:21 GMT

title: Solitons to the Willmore flow abstract: The Willmore flow is the negative gradient flow of the Willmore energy. In this paper, we consider a special kind of solutions to Willmore flow, which we call solitons, and investigate their geometric properties.

Soliton to the higher-order curvature flow on surfaces

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:19 GMT

title: Soliton to the higher-order curvature flow on surfaces

A partial inverse nodal problem for Sturm-Liouville operators on star-shaped graphs.

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:05:28 GMT

title: A partial inverse nodal problem for Sturm-Liouville operators on star-shaped graphs. abstract: In this paper, the authors presented a numerical scheme and experiments for the inverse nodal problem for the Sturm-Liouville operator on star-shaped graphs. Additionally, we investigate the convergence analysis of the approximate solutions and provide error estimates. As an application of the numerical methods, we derive a new uniqueness theorem for the potentials of the Sturm-Liouville operator, based on parts of the nodal set and a constant. A novel aspect of this study is the application of numerical methods to this problem.

Numerical Methods for Partial Inverse Spectral Problems with Frozen Arguments on Star-Shaped Graphs

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:05:24 GMT

title: Numerical Methods for Partial Inverse Spectral Problems with Frozen Arguments on Star-Shaped Graphs abstract: In this paper, the authors investigate a partial inverse spectral problem for Sturm–Liouville operators with frozen arguments on star-shaped graphs. The problem is to reconstruct the potential on one edge from the known potentials on the other edges together with two sequences of eigenvalues from a prescribed spectral set. The proposed approach is constructive. First, the characteristic function associated with the given spectral data is constructed, allowing the unknown potential contribution to be isolated. The potential is then recovered by expanding the resulting expressions in an appropriate Riesz basis and solving a corresponding system of linear equations. Based on established uniqueness results, this procedure yields a constructive numerical algorithm. Numerical examples demonstrate reliable reconstruction for both smooth and piecewise continuous potentials, providing a practical scheme for frozen-argument problems on star graphs.

Psychological Resilience Moderates Autonomous Motivation After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Remote Walking Program

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:05:47 GMT

title: Psychological Resilience Moderates Autonomous Motivation After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Remote Walking Program abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a 12-week remotely delivered walking program based on selfdetermination theory (SDT) improves autonomous exercise motivation in adults with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) versus an active control and whether baseline psychological resilience moderates the treatment effect on motivation. The secondary objective was to examine effects on controlled motivation and resilience. Setting: The study was conducted at outpatient neurosurgery clinics at a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. Participants: Seventy-three adults aged$20 years with mTBI were randomized to the intervention (n 5 38) or active control health education (n 5 35) group. Design: This study was a single-center, single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with concealed block randomization and intention-to-treat analyses. Interventions: A 12-week remote walking program was implemented using a wearable fitness bracelet and weekly LINE messages that support SDT needs. Main measures: The primary outcome was autonomous exercise motivation, measured using the Chinese Sport Motivation Scale-II. Secondary outcomes were controlled motivation and psychological resilience, measured using the Resilience Scale for Adults. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Results: Autonomous motivation did not differ significantly between groups at either postintervention assessment. Controlled motivation increased significantly in the intervention group at 6 months relative to baseline (B 5 1.05, 95% CI 5 0.13–1.97, P 5 .03). No between-group difference was observed in resilience. Baseline psychological resilience significantly moderated the treatment effect on autonomous motivation (B 5 0.05, 95% CI 5 0.01– 0.08, P 5 .018). Controlled motivation exerted no moderation effect. Conclusion: The remote walking program did not increase autonomous motivation on average, but controlled motivation was higher at 6 months. Higher baseline resilience strengthened the program’s effect on autonomous motivation. Screening for resilience and integrating resilience-building components may enhance motivational benefits and support long-term adherence in rehabilitation.

The estimation of the AFT model with measurement errors–the Buckley James approach

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:08:12 GMT

title: The estimation of the AFT model with measurement errors–the Buckley James approach abstract: The Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) model is a widely used framework in survival analysis, providing an intuitive interpretation of the effects of covariates on loglifetime. This paper addresses the estimation problem when covariates are subject to measurement error. We begin by correcting the bias in the estimating function using the traditional approach, assuming no censoring, and then extend the method by computing its conditional expectation given the censoring indicator, in line with the Buckley–James estimation framework. However, the computation requires estimating the distribution of the adjusted lifetime. Since measurement error induces dependence between the adjusted lifetime and censoring time, we propose employing Beran’s estimator to address this complication. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms conventional regression calibration and remains consistent under completely random censoring.

Gender as a moderator of the relationships among body composition, physical activity, basal metabolic rate, and BMI in Taiwanese university students

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:05:56 GMT

title: Gender as a moderator of the relationships among body composition, physical activity, basal metabolic rate, and BMI in Taiwanese university students abstract: Background Early adulthood exhibits rapid weight gain. While body composition, physical activity (PA), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) drive weight regulation, gender complicates these interactions. It remains unclear if gender moderates the associations of these factors with BMI. Clarifying this aids obesity assessment and supports gender-specific health management. Aim This study examined the associations between body composition, PA, and BMR with BMI, and explored whether gender moderates these relationships in Taiwanese university students. Method This cross-sectional study recruited 250 Taiwanese university students (125 males and 125 females, aged 18–24) from various faculties in northern Taiwan using convenience sampling. Body composition, including body fat percentage (BFP), bone mass (BM), muscle mass (MM), and visceral fat level (VFL), along with BMR were measured using dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) under standardized conditions. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Multiple linear regression analyses with interaction terms were utilized to examine associations and the moderating role of gender. Results BFP, BM, MM, VFL, and BMR were significantly correlated with BMI. In the regression model, VFL (β = 0.535, p< .001), BFP (β = 0.436, p < .001), BMR (β = 0.309, p < .001), and gender (B = -0.033, p < .050) showed significant associations with BMI. Notably, gender significantly moderated the relationships between VFL and BMI (B = 0.014, p < .001), and between BMR and BMI (B = 2.29E-04, p = .005). Conclusion Gender, body fat, and BMR were significantly associated with BMI in young adults. Notably, gender moderated the associations of VFL and BMR with BMI, with stronger effects observed in women than in men. These findings indicate that clinicians should consider gender differences when examining the associations between VFL and BMI as well as between BMR and BMI. Consequently, incorporating BFP, VFL, and BMR alongside traditional measures (BW and BMI) is essential to optimize obesity assessment. Furthermore, this study highlights the need for gender-specific strategies to enhance obesity and metabolic health management in university students.

Stability of traveling waves in non-cooperative systems with nonlocal dispersal of equal diffusivities

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:05:50 GMT

title: Stability of traveling waves in non-cooperative systems with nonlocal dispersal of equal diffusivities abstract: In this work, we first prove a stability theorem for traveling waves in a class of non-cooperative reaction-diffusion systems with nonlocal dispersal of equal diffusivities. Our stability criterion is in the sense that the initial perturbation is such that a suitable weighted relative entropy function is bounded and integrable. Then we apply our main theorem to derive the stability of traveling waves for some specific examples of non-cooperative systems arising in ecology and epidemiology.

An easy-to-implement construction for (k,n)-threshold progressive visual secret sharing schemes

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:31:41 GMT

title: An easy-to-implement construction for (k,n)-threshold progressive visual secret sharing schemes abstract: Visual cryptography encrypts the secret image into n shares (transparency) so that only stacking a qualified number of shares can recover the secret image by the human visual system while no information can be revealed without a large enough number of shares. This paper investigates the (k,n)-threshold Visual Secret Sharing (VSS) model, where one can decrypt the original image by stacking at least k shares and get nothing with less than k shares. There are two main approaches in the literature: codebook-based schemes and random-grid-based schemes; the former is the case of this paper. In general, given any positive integers k and n, it is not easy to design a valid scheme for the (k,n)-threshold VSS model. In this paper, we propose a simple strategy to construct an efficient scheme for the (k,n)-threshold VSS model for any positive integers 2\leq k\leq n. The crucial idea is to establish a seemingly unrelated connection between the (k,n)-threshold VSS scheme and a mathematical structure -- the generalized Pascal's triangle. This paper improves and extends previous results in four aspects: Our construction offers a unified viewpoint and covers several known results; The resulting scheme has a progressive-viewing property that means the more shares being stacked together the clearer the secret image would be revealed. The proposed scheme can be constructed explicitly and efficiently based on the generalized Pascal's triangle without a computer. Performance of the proposed scheme is comparable with known results.

Early Detection of Dementia Through Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography in a Taiwanese Cohort

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:06:26 GMT

title: Early Detection of Dementia Through Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography in a Taiwanese Cohort abstract: Background and Objectives: Dementia is an essential neurodegenerative disease with pathologic changes in the central nervous system, but also the retina. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia in an Asian population from Taiwan. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 43 patients with MCI (mean deviation [MD]: −5.05 ± 4.25 dB), 13 patients with mild dementia (MD: −9.03 ± 6.66 dB), and 32 healthy controls (MD: −2.50 ± 2.12 dB). OCT was performed on both eyes of each subject. The diagnostic sensitivity in identifying individuals with cognitive impairment of the Spectralis OCT parameters—such as those of the optic nerve head and macula—was compared across these groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for each parameter was calculated to assess its sensitivity in differentiating between healthy eyes and those of individuals with MCI or mild dementia. Results: Among the parameters evaluated, the Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) nasal inferior region (ACU = 0.720) was the optimal parameter for distinguishing individuals with MCI from healthy controls. However, the highest AUC of 0.861 was achieved through a combination of five parameters. In distinguishing individuals with mild dementia from healthy controls, the BMO-MRW temporal superior region (ACU = 0.764) was the optimal parameter, with an AUC of 0.940 after adjusting for age and MD. Moreover, the condition of the macular nerve fiber layer outer inferior parameter moderately predicted disease progression (AUC = 0.713). Conclusions: Our preliminary data demonstrate that Spectralis OCT shows potential in detecting MCI and mild dementia as well as for assessing disease progression in a Taiwanese population. Additional large-scale longitudinal and multiracial studies are essential to validate these findings.

Exploring the Effects of Cycled Lighting on Sleep Patterns in Premature Infants During Hospitalization

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:06:16 GMT

title: Exploring the Effects of Cycled Lighting on Sleep Patterns in Premature Infants During Hospitalization abstract: Background: Sleep, a fundamental human need and the primary behavioral state of newborns, plays a critical role in brain maturation and development and, in particular, influences the growth of premature infants. However, sleep in premature infants is frequently disturbed and interrupted during their stay in intensive care units, and interventions designed to improve sleep quality during hospitalization have been inadequately investigated. Purpose: This study was designed to examine the impact of cyclic light exposure on sleep quality in premature infants during hospitalization. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted using a repeated measures design on a sample of 68 premature infants born between 28 to 36 weeks of gestation. The experimental group was exposed to cyclic lighting starting at 32 weeks of gestation during their NICU stay, while the control group received standard care. The sleep data were collected using actigraphy, with measurements taken at two time points: pre-intervention (pre-test) and immediately prior to discharge (post-test). Data analysis was conducted using generalized estimating equations. Results: The intervention group reported a significantly greater pre-test / post-test increase in terms of total nighttime sleep duration than the control group (B = 64.52, p = .031). Moreover, the improvement in nighttime sleep efficiency between the two time points in the intervention group (8.92%, p = .032) was significantly greater than in the control group. Conclusion/ Implications for Practice: The findings suggest cyclic lighting enhances both total nighttime sleep duration and sleep efficiency in premature infants, improving sleep quality during hospitalization. These results informs clinical practice through encouraging healthcare providers to prioritize sleep care for hospitalized premature infants. Implementing cyclic lighting may support the development of more-optimal sleep cycles in premature infants, fostering overall infant development and improving quality of care.

Partial Inverse Spectral Problems for Sturm-Liouville Operators with Frozen Arguments on a Star-Shaped Graph

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:06:24 GMT

title: Partial Inverse Spectral Problems for Sturm-Liouville Operators with Frozen Arguments on a Star-Shaped Graph abstract: This paper is devoted to the study of a partial inverse spectral problem for Sturm–Liouville operators with frozen arguments on a star-shaped graph. The potentials are assumed to be known a priori on all edges except one, and the objective is to reconstruct the unknown potential on the remaining edge using a subset of the spectral data. A constructive algorithm for solving this problem is presented, which relies on the Riesz basis property of a system of vector functions.

Construction and comparison of confidence intervals for the proportion of conformance based on the Poisson distribution.

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:06:23 GMT

title: Construction and comparison of confidence intervals for the proportion of conformance based on the Poisson distribution. abstract: 良質率是指產品的品質特性落在規格界限內的比例，是品質管制中一項重要指標。在本研究中，我們假設落在規格界限內的產品個數資料服從卜瓦松分配，並且提出一種建構良質率信賴區間的方法。本研究考慮四種常見的信賴區間：Exact 區間、Wald 區間、具連續性修正的 Wald 區間，以及 Score 區間。透過模擬研究，我們比較這些區間在覆蓋率與區間長度方面的表現。此外，我們亦在特定條件下計算所提出信賴區間的精確信賴係數。最後，以 COVID-19 疫情期間台北捷運年度運量的實際資料為例，說明本方法在評估不同疫情情境下營運損益平衡達成機率上的實用性。

On gamma factors of generic representations of U(2n+1)xRes_E/FGL(r)

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:06:20 GMT

title: On gamma factors of generic representations of U(2n+1)xRes_E/FGL(r) abstract: We develop fundamental properties of the Rankin–Selberg gamma factors for generic representations of U(2n+1)×ResE∕FGL(r) over local fields under a natural assumption on the Archimedean local integrals. In particular, the gamma factors defined by the Rankin–Selberg method are shown to coincide with those defined by the Langlands–Shahidi method.

Developing a new prevention model for pediatric respiratory infection

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:05:55 GMT

title: Developing a new prevention model for pediatric respiratory infection abstract: Pediatric infections are often closely linked to infections in families, schools, and communities, illustrating the importance of developing a holistic model of pediatric respiratory infection prevention. Research purposes were to construct a new preventive model for pediatric respiratory infection prevention and to clarify the relationships among impact factors in this model. Research method was a cross-sectional survey. A structured questionnaire was used to measure model variables, including “parental prevention measures (PPM),” “concern about pediatric vaccination (CPV),” “school precautionary measures (SPM),” and “children’s self-protection practices (CSPP).” Structural equation modeling analysis was performed to test four proposed hypotheses and identify the relationships among these variables. Research participants were 2420 parents with one or more 3-16-yearold children. Results identified five paths in research model. (1) “Parental prevention measures, PPM” directly affects “concerns about pediatric vaccination, CPV” [direct effect: 0.354], “school precautionary measures, SPM” [direct effect: 0.354], and “children’s self-protection practices, CSPP” [direct effect: 0.354]. (2) PPM affects CPV through the mediating effect of SPM (indirect effect: 0.04), resulting in a total effect of 0.394. (3) PPM affects CSPP through the mediating effect of SPM (indirect effect: 0.3), resulting in a total effect of 0.655. All these effects were statistically significant. Results strongly suggested that coordinating prevention strategies between families and schoolteachers is most effective in equipping children with the knowledge and behaviors to avoid infectious disease. Results confirmed that the newly constructed model for preventing pediatric respiratory infection was well fitted as a double mediation model. Further studies are needed to pursue the family-school health education model in the prevention of pediatric infectious disease.

利用問題導向學習法於統計模擬之教學改進

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:21:17 GMT

title: 利用問題導向學習法於統計模擬之教學改進 description: 113教學創新成果獎勵案第1號

Exploring the Mechanisms Linking Work Environment with Nurses’ Physical and Mental Health, Burnout, and Productivity: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:06:08 GMT

title: Exploring the Mechanisms Linking Work Environment with Nurses’ Physical and Mental Health, Burnout, and Productivity: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach abstract: Aim: To test a theoretical model examining the impact of the work environment on nurses' physical and mental health issues, job burnout, and healthcare productivity.Methods: This cross-sectional study employed structural equation modelling to test a theoretical model linking work environment, physical and mental health issues, job burnout, and healthcare productivity. Data were collected from 600 staff nurses using validated self-report questionnaires administered at one medical teaching hospital and two regional hospitals in Taiwan.Results: The work environment was significantly associated with healthcare productivity, nurses' physical and mental health issues, and job burnout. Physical and mental health issues were positively related to job burnout, which, in turn, negatively impacted healthcare productivity. Conclusions: A supportive work environment plays a critical role in promoting nurses' well-being, reducing burnout, and improving productivity. This study advances the understanding of work environment factors that nurse administrators can target for improvement.Impact: Modifying key organisational and interpersonal aspects of the work environment and cultivating a more supportive culture may enhance nurses' well-being, reduce turnover, and improve workforce productivity.Reporting Method: This study adhered to STROBE guidelines for observational studies as per the Equator network.Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution.

Can Symptom-Severity Phenotypes Identify Depression Risk After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury? A Cluster-Based Approach

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:06:04 GMT

title: Can Symptom-Severity Phenotypes Identify Depression Risk After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury? A Cluster-Based Approach abstract: Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects millions worldwide and frequently leads to secondary depression. Early identification of high-risk individuals is critical for targeted mental-health screening in this population. Data-driven phenotyping offers a promising avenue to unmask hidden symptom patterns, but few studies have combined unsupervised clustering of post-concussion profiles with established clinical and psychosocial metrics. We aimed to classify post-concussion symptom-severity profiles in adults with mTBI and to evaluate their association with secondary depression risk, adjusting for Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, psychological resilience, age, sex, and time since injury. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, 249 adults with mTBI (GCS 13-15) were recruited from a tertiary hospital in northern Taiwan. We performed hierarchical clustering using Ward's method with Euclidean distance (with BIC support) to derive three symptom-severity phenotypes from the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire items, then used k-means clustering to assign individuals to these by minizing within-cluster variance. Depression, defined as a Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥ 13, was modeled as an outcome in generalized linear models, adjusting for GCS and psychological resilience. Model discrimination was evaluated via area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Three distinct symptom clusters (mild, moderate, severe) were identified. The severe cluster was characterized by prominent visual symptoms, including light sensitivity and double vision. Compared with the mild cluster, the moderate cluster had 5.06-fold higher depression odds (95% CI [2.08-12.31]; p < .001) and the severe cluster 17.17-fold higher odds (95% CI [5.66-52.14]; p < .001). Higher resilience was independently protective (OR = 0.95, 95% CI [0.93-0.96]; p < .001), as was each additional GCS score (OR = 0.20, 95% CI [0.06-0.62]; p = .005). The full model showed excellent discrimination with an AUC of 88%, 95% CI [0.83-0.92]. Conclusions: Our data-driven approach shows that distinct post-concussion symptom-severity phenotypes, when integrated with GCS and resilience metrics, yields a robust tool for identifying mTBI survivors at high risks of depression. These findings support early, targeted mental-health screening and lay the groundwork for prospective validation and personalized intervention strategies.

Effects of Participation in Volunteer Activities on CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:06:01 GMT

title: Effects of Participation in Volunteer Activities on CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells abstract: Aging populations face health challenges, and volunteering may improve health outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between volunteering, CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, and health indicators in older adults. The sample included 91 participants aged 65 to 75, with 52 reporting prior volunteering involvement. Evaluations comprised the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Blood analyses measured CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and CD34+ lymphocytes. Multiple linear regression assessed variations in CD34+ counts and related metrics among groups, adjusting for confounding factors. Volunteers exhibited enhanced cognitive functioning and lower depression levels compared to non-volunteers, as reflected in GDS scores of 4.29 ± 4.18 versus 8.26 ± 5.09 (p < .001). Furthermore, volunteers had notably elevated CD34+ stem cell and lymphocyte counts, suggesting volunteering positively influences this health marker. Participation in volunteer activities is linked to improved cognitive abilities, reduced depressive symptoms, and heightened CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell levels. Findings underscore the potential health benefits of volunteering for older adults, necessitating further investigation into the mechanisms and enduring effects of volunteerism on health, with CD34+ cell counts identified as a significant biomarker for cognitive and emotional health enhancements in this population

Partial Inverse Spectral Problems for Sturm-Liouville Operators with Frozen Arguments on a Star-Shaped Graph

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:05:12 GMT

The updated network meta-analysis of the therapeutic efficacies of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 04:05:44 GMT

title: The updated network meta-analysis of the therapeutic efficacies of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis abstract: Objectives: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. We aim to investigate the most effective treatments for advanced/nonadvanced stages of lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We searched electronic databases to investigate the treatment efficacies of lung cancer. The network meta‑analysis was used to identify the top five most effective therapeutic strategies. A total of 157 studies were collected with a cumulative total of 164,678 participants. Results: The results showed that the best top five treatments: (1) for advanced lung cancer in response rate, were Chemo + Chemotherapy + Targeted Therapy, Cell therapy + Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy + Radiotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy + Immunotherapy, and Chemotherapy + Chemoradiotherapy with cumulative probabilities 50.5, 49.6, 47.7, 46.0, and 45.6%; (2) for advanced lung cancer in progression‑free survival (PFS) rate, were Targeted + Radiotherapy, Targeted + Others Therapy, Targeted + Targeted Therapy, Immu + Immu + Chemo Therapy, and Chemoradiotherapy with cumulative probabilities 99.5, 82.8, 44.9, 36.5, and 33.6%; (3) for nonadvanced lung cancer in response rate, were Chemoradiotherapy + Immu, Chemoradiotherapy + Targeted therapy, Chemoradiotherapy + Others, Chemotherapy + Surgery, and Radiotherapy + Others with cumulative probabilities 79.1, 74.9, 66.9, 60.4, and 54.2%; (4) for non‑advanced lung cancer in PFS rate, were Chemo + Surgery, Chemoradiotherapy + Targeted, Surgery, Surgery + Radiotherapy, and Chemoradiotherapy + Others with cumulative probabilities 88.3, 86.1, 78.3, 73.1, and 50.8%. Conclusion: We present the latest and most effective therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced or nonadvanced stages of lung cancer.

A Nonparametric Regression Calibration for the Accelerated Failure Time Model With Measurement Error

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:05:53 GMT

title: A Nonparametric Regression Calibration for the Accelerated Failure Time Model With Measurement Error abstract: Accelerated failure time models are appealing due to their intuitive interpretation. However, when covariates are subject to measurement errors, naive estimation becomes severely biased. To address this issue, the regression calibration (RC) approach is a widely applicable and effective method. Traditionally, the RC method requires a good predictor for the true covariate, which can be obtained through parametric distribution assumptions or validation datasets. Consequently, the performance of the estimator depends on the plausibility of these assumptions. In this work, we propose a novel method that utilizes error augmentation to duplicate covariates, facilitating nonparametric estimation. Our approach does not require a validation set or parametric distribution assumptions for the true covariate. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that our approach is more robust and less impacted by heavy censoring rates compared to conventional analyses. Additionally, an analysis of a subset of a real dataset suggests that the conventional RC method may have a tendency to overcorrect the attenuation effect of measurement error.

On the Rankin-Selberg L-factors for SO(5)xGL(2)

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:05:51 GMT

title: On the Rankin-Selberg L-factors for SO(5)xGL(2) abstract: Let π and τ be irreducible smooth generic representations of SO5 and GL2 respectively over a non-archimedean local field. We show that the L- and ε-factors attached to π×π defined by the Rankin–Selberg integrals and the associated Weil–Deligne representation coincide. The proof is obtained by explicating the relation between the Rankin–Selberg integrals for SO5 × GL2 and Novodvorsky’s local integrals for GSp4× GL2.

Stability of monostable traveling waves in diffusive three-species competition systems

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 04:05:51 GMT

title: Stability of monostable traveling waves in diffusive three-species competition systems abstract: In this note, we derive the stability of various monostable traveling waves in two different classes of three-species competition systems. This includes cases of three weak competitors and two-weak-one-strong competitors.

Predicting Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults through Comprehensive Physical Fitness Tests

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 04:05:36 GMT

title: Predicting Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults through Comprehensive Physical Fitness Tests abstract: Background: Sarcopenia is typically assessed through hand grip strength, walking speed, and chair stand tests. However, it has been inadequately examined in terms of other physical fitness (PF) components in community-dwelling older adults. Thus, in this study, we explored factors influencing the risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. In addition, we analyzed the clinicodemographic characteristics of older adults with or without sarcopenia and investigated the effect of sex on their PF. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 745 older adults from a community health promotion program in Taiwan. Their clinicodemographic characteristics were recorded. PF was assessed through various tests, such as hand grip strength evaluation, 8-foot up-and-go test (8-UGT), 2-min step test, and 6-m walk test. PF and factors influencing sarcopenia risk were compared between older adults with sarcopenia (sarcopenia group) and those without it (nonsarcopenia group). A logistic regression model was performed to identify key factors associated with sarcopenia. Its predictive performance was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve. Results: Regardless of sex, the sarcopenia group performed worse in almost all components of PF-for example, upper and lower limb muscular strength and endurance, cardiopulmonary fitness, and balance-than did the nonsarcopenia group. However, for men, no significant between-group difference was observed in flexibility. The logistic regression model indicated age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.107), sex (OR: 2.881), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form scores (OR: 0.690), and performance in 8-UGT (OR: 1.346) as factors influencing the risk of sarcopenia. The model exhibited excellent discriminative ability in predicting sarcopenia, as indicated by an area under the curve value of 0.867 (95% confidence interval: 0.827-0.906; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Older adults without sarcopenia tend to outperform those with sarcopenia in almost all PF measures, regardless of sex. Older age, male sex, low Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form scores, and poor performance in 8-UGT are associated with a high risk of sarcopenia.

Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography for Evaluating Ocular Hypertensive and Glaucoma Suspect Eyes: Real-World Data from Taiwan

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:05:32 GMT

title: Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography for Evaluating Ocular Hypertensive and Glaucoma Suspect Eyes: Real-World Data from Taiwan abstract: Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters for ocular hypertensive (OH) and glaucoma suspect (GS) eyes in an Asian population from Taiwan. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 258 OH (mean deviation [MD]: −1.10 ± 1.75 dB), 380 GS (MD: −1.24 ± 2.63 dB), and 742 normal (MD: −1.47 ± 3.29 dB) eyes. The diagnostic performance of Spectralis OCT parameters, including optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters, was compared among groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of each parameter signified its power to differentiate between normal and OH or GS eyes. Results: In various scanning protocols, circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL)-temporal (AUC = 0.538), macular NFL-outer temporal (AUC = 0.611), and retinal average thickness (RAT)_1.8 (AUC = 0.578) were the best parameters in distinguishing OH eyes from normal eyes. Moreover, minimum rim width (MRW)-mean global (AUC = 0.737), macular NFL-outer temporal (AUC = 0.558), and RAT_2.8 (AUC = 0.543) were the best parameters in distinguishing GS eyes from normal eyes. After adjusting for age and refraction effects, we determined that the AUCs for OH and GS were 0.694 and 0.646, respectively. Conclusions: Our real-world data indicate that Spectralis OCT parameters show some potential for early glaucoma detection and monitoring, but their current diagnostic effectiveness remains limited. When managing OH eyes, caution is required in evaluating macular retinal NFL thickness in addition to the ONH. Bruch’s membrane opening–MRW is a potential objective indicator of ONH changes in GS eyes.

Subsequent psychiatric disorders in attention deficit and hyperactivity receiving speech therapy

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:05:29 GMT

title: Subsequent psychiatric disorders in attention deficit and hyperactivity receiving speech therapy abstract: BACKGROUND Speech and language therapy (ST) might moderate the prognosis in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid with speech delay. This study investigated whether ST in children with ADHD is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent psychiatric disorders. AIM To investigate whether ST in children with ADHD is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent psychiatric disorders. METHODS The population-based National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan was used. Hazards of subsequent psychiatric disorders were compared between those who received ST and a propensity-score matched comparison group by Cox regression analyses. RESULTS Of 11987 children with ADHD identified from the dataset, 2911 (24%) had received ST. The adjusted hazard ratio for any subsequent recorded psychiatric disorder was 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.63-0.82) in children who received ST compared to the matched counterparts. This protective association was only statistically significant in the subgroup that received both medication and behavioral interventions. CONCLUSION ST can moderate the effects of integrated early interventions in ADHD children with speech delay.

Numerical solutions to inverse nodal problems for the Sturm–Liouville operator and their applications.

Mon, 05 May 2025 04:05:16 GMT

title: Numerical solutions to inverse nodal problems for the Sturm–Liouville operator and their applications. abstract: In this paper, we apply numerical methods to study inverse nodal problems for the Sturm–Liouville operator. At first, we find an approximate function of the potential from the nodal points of the ( n + 1 ) -th eigenfunction and three constants via the second kind Chebyshev wavelet method (SCW). We have a sharp condition for uniform convergence of Chebyshev series and an error estimate between the approximate solution and exact solution of the potential. Then, a numerical example is provided to show that the approximate solutions become more accurate and the errors decrease as the values of n increase. Also, we show the comparison of SCW with Bernstein method. Finally, we present an application of numerical solutions to reconstruct the potential from parts of nodal set and its mean value. Compared with some well-known results, the nodal data used here is least.