Matrix Analysis Research Articles

Differential Thermal Analysis of a Wood-gypsum Composite

Statement of the problem. An increase in the range of production of products and structures based on gypsum binders with the addition of various fillers that improve some of the technological properties of the resulting composites is a promising direction in building materials science. The paper proposes the development of a technology for creating decorative slabs for interior decoration, reinforced with sawdust. Taking into account the increased requirements for thermal protection of buildings (SNiP 23-02-03), the issue of reducing the average density and increasing the thermal resistance of heat-shielding (heat-insulating and wall) for interior decoration is relevant. A decrease in density can be achieved, for example, by porousizing a gypsum product, but this requires carbonates and solutions of acids or salts with the formation of a porous agent in the form of CO2, which is not economically and environmentally friendly enough, so it was decided to introduce pine sawdust into the gypsum composite for decorative boards. In this case, it is necessary to conduct an experiment to identify the effect of adding sawdust on the fire safety of the composite as a whole. Results. In the course of the work, the results of a differential thermal analysis of a gypsum matrix with the addition of sawdust were obtained. It has been established that at an increase above 490 °C, sawdust filler is completely subject to destruction with the formation of coke residue and slight pore formation due to weight loss (judging by the thermogravimetric curve) due to the release of volatile substances, and only CaSO4 inversion occurs near the gypsum part. Conclusions. Thus, when studying the effect of thermal action on the structure and properties of materials by differential scanning calorimetry, it was revealed that exo- and endothermic processes, characteristic of both wood materials and gypsum, are superimposed during kinetic changes. Therefore, a fire hazard does not occur.

Spectral analysis for a class of weighted non-p.c.f. Sierpinski-like networks

Abstract Much information about the structural properties and relevant dynamical aspects of a network can be encoded by the eigenvalues of its normalized Laplacian matrix, particularly those related to random walks. This paper presents a study of the normalized Laplacian spectra and their applications for a class of weighted non-p.c.f. Sierpi'nski-like networks with a non-uniformly bounded distribution of vertex degrees. Utilizing the spectral decimation technique alongside a theoretical matrix analysis supported by symbolic and numerical computations, we analytically obtain all the eigenvalues, as well as multiplicities.
We then apply the derived spectra to derive the analytical expressions for Kemeny's constant and the number of spanning trees in the networks under consideration, and calculate the asymptotic growth constant characterizing the network, demonstrating the effectiveness of our normalized Laplacian spectra computation.

Pengaruh Training & Development, Collectivism Based Organizational Culture, dan Career Development Terhadap Work Performance dengan Organizational Commitment Sebagai Variabel Mediasi

This study aims to investigate the impact of Training & Development (T&D), Career Development (CD), and Collectivism-based Organizational Culture (COC) on Organizational Commitment (OC) and Work Performance (WP) at the Communication and Information Office (Kominfo) of South Tangerang City. The majority of respondents are female (56.9%), within the productive age range (25–40 years), and have a medium tenure (4–12 years), reflecting a workforce profile that is capable of supporting digital transformation and public service delivery. Descriptive analysis shows that respondents hold positive views on TD, CD, COC, OC, and WP, with a focus on skill development, group support, and individual contributions to the organization’s shared goals. The study employs the PLS-SEM method to test the validity, reliability, and relationships between variables. The results indicate that all indicators meet the criteria for validity and reliability. The inner model analysis shows that T&D and COC have a positive impact on OC, while CD has a positive impact on WP. Organizational Commitment mediates the relationship between T&D, COC, and WP, but does not mediate the relationship between CD and WP. Based on the Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA), the main recommendation is to improve the TD program, which, despite its high importance, still shows low performance. Meanwhile, CD and OC already exhibit good performance and should be maintained. These findings emphasize the need for more consistent and effective training programs to optimize work performance.

Microstructure, XRD characteristics and tribological behavior of SiC–graphite reinforced Cu-matrix hybrid composites

Abstract This study’s main goal is to investigate how the properties of pure copper are impacted by the addition of silicon carbide–graphite reinforcement. Here in this research a powder metallurgy procedure is used to make copper matrix composites with different amounts of silicon carbide–graphite reinforcement (2 %, 5 %, 8 %, and 10 %) by weight. The microstructure, phases present, wear analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis were all thoroughly examined, while scanning electron microscopy was used for imaging the microstructure of materials. The absence of any intermediate phases between the reinforcing materials and the copper matrix, according to X-ray diffraction data, suggests a strong interfacial interaction between them. A microstructural analysis of the copper matrix indicated a consistent dispersion of silicon carbide–graphite. The amount of reinforcement employed was found to have an impact on the wear characteristics of these copper matrix composites. Notably, the softness of graphite caused the hardness to drop when it was added. The 5 % reinforcement composite material outperformed the other evaluated composite materials in terms of wear rate, which was calculated in term of specific wear rate by using a pin-on-disc testing machine. This implies that this specific composite could be useful for tribological applications.

Improving handwashing practices among school food handlers in Malaysia: a behavioural antecedents’ approach to intervention design

PurposeThe adoption of proper handwashing behaviour among food handlers could significantly reduce food safety risks and contribute to better public health outcomes, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Training alone may not be adequate to improve food safety behaviour. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a needs assessment to identify the important variables that could enhance handwashing behaviour among school food handlers.Design/methodology/approachUsing an extended Health Action Model (HAM) as a framework, a survey and direct observation were conducted on a total of 211 food handlers from schools in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The food handlers were assessed on their handwashing knowledge, belief, norm, motivation, habit strength, behavioural intention and behaviour. Data analysis was carried out using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) software (v3.0), followed by the importance performance matrix analysis (IPMA).FindingsFindings revealed that norm and knowledge significantly influenced belief, which ultimately affects the food handlers’ intention to perform handwashing practices (p = 0.001). The IPMA revealed self-efficacy as a priority variable for improving handwashing behaviour.Practical implicationsThe study identifies key factors to prioritise for improving handwashing behaviour among school food handlers. This will aid in creating targeted food safety programmes with tailored messages for the intended audience.Originality/valueAlthough the use of theoretical framework to predict safe food handling behaviours has received considerable attention in literature, most researchers utilise self-report approach. This paper is the first to use actual observed handwashing behavioural data to model an extended HAM.Highlights(1)Needs assessment using an extended HAM.(2)Prioritising self-efficacy can improve handwashing practices.(3)Norm, knowledge and belief influence food handlers’ intention to perform handwashing.(4)Having the right intention may not necessarily transform into behaviour.

A CROW/MZI-based switch for silicon photonics applications

In this work, the authors propose the design of an electro-optical silicon-photonics hitless switch that follows wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) conditions in terms of channel bandwidth, shape factor, and free spectral range. Through a careful step-by-step design, the authors study a switch device composed of a coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) structure merged with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) modulator. The MZI modulator controls the coupling to the CROW and hence turns the switch on and off. The traditional matrix analysis of the CROW structure is modified to accommodate the MZI modulator section. The proposed switch requires a chip area of less than 0.01225 mm2. The switch transmission satisfies WDM requirements with a channel-free spectral range of 100 GHz, channel flat-top response with a passband for the through/drop ports of 64.6 GHz/33 GHz, and a shape factor of 0.76/0.6. Besides, the switch transmission features an insertion loss for the through/drop ports of 0.23/1 dB, a switching speed of 100 GHz, and a competitive switch-on/off ratio of 33 dB.

Effect of Individuals Task Conflict on Employees Creativity in Private Medical Hospitals of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

As the concept of individuals’ task conflict was a buzzing topic in field of management sciences and has been considered as an integral part of the organization while recent studies have shown that its crucial for creativity of employees’. Therefore, the aim of this research study is to determine the effect of individual task conflict on employees’ creativity in private hospitals of Nangarhar, Afghanistan. The data has collected from a sample who selected from rest of population with a stratified random sampling technique with adopted questionnaires. For determining the effect of individuals’ task conflict on employees’ creativity the statistical analysis descriptive statistics, correlation matrix and regression analysis have been used and pointed out that; there is strong and positive association between individual task conflict and employees’ creativity. Besides, regression analysis has shown that employees’ creativity is dependent on having a task relevant conflict. On the other hand, can said that; individual task conflict has effect on employees’ creativity. The details based on data has shown that; there is 0.731 or 73.1% association between individual task conflict and employees’ creativity with having 0.01 significant value. Furthermore, the beta value of regression analysis declared that 1% consideration on individual task conflict could positively increase the employees’ creativity 0.738 times with 0.01 significant level. Conclusively, the task conflict is one of key indicators for better employees’ creativity, and The findings of current study were same with past studies conducted by various authors in different times and areas (Lu, Zhou & Leung, 2009; Khan et al., 2020; Pelled, Eisenhardt, & Xin, 1999; Mumford & Gustafson, 1988; De Dreu, 2006; Farh et al., 2010; Xie et al., 2014).

Comparative Analysis of Smart Building Solutions in Europe: Technological Advancements and Market Strategies

This paper provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of smart building solution providers within Europe, emphasizing the technological advancements and market strategies employed by companies selected for the study. As energy efficiency becomes a critical focus due to rising global energy demands and climate change concerns, smart building technologies have emerged as pivotal in optimizing energy use and enhancing occupant comfort. This study examines 19 products from 15 prominent manufacturers, categorized into six product categories: smart thermostats, smart valves, HVAC control, data acquisition and energy management software, smart home ecosystems, and home energy management systems. Using a comparative assessment matrix and SWOT analysis, the paper evaluates these products across five key areas: service impacts, market penetration, investment topics, business models, and value propositions. Findings highlight a strong focus of manufacturers in energy efficiency and comfort services, while identifying opportunities for improvement in energy flexibility and health integration. This analysis aims to guide stakeholders in strategic planning and decision-making, offering insights into the current and future landscape of the smart building solutions market.

Mobilization of subcutaneous fascia contributes to the vascularization and function of acellular adipose matrix via formation of vascular matrix complex.

Regenerative biomaterials are commonly used for soft-tissue repair in both pre-clinical and clinical settings, but their effectiveness is often limited by poor regenerative outcomes and volume loss. Efficient vascularization is crucial for the long-term survival and function of these biomaterials in vivo. Despite numerous pro-vascularization strategies developed over the past decades, the fundamental mechanisms of vascularization in regenerative biomaterials remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed matrix-tracing, vessel-tracing, cell-tracing, and matrix analysis techniques, etc. to investigate the vascularization process of acellular adipose matrix (AAM) implants in a murine model. Here, we show that the mobilization of subcutaneous fascia contributes to the vascularization in AAM implants. Tracing techniques revealed that the subcutaneous fascia migrates to encase the AAM implants, bringing along fascia-embedded blood vessels, thus forming a vascular matrix complex (VMC) on the implant surface. Restricting fascia mobilization or removing fascia tissue significantly reduced AAM vascularization and hindered the regenerative process, leading to implant collapse at a later stage. Notably, VMC exhibited a dynamic matrix remodeling process closely aligned with implant vascularization. Our findings highlight the crucial role of subcutaneous fascia mobility in facilitating the vascularization of AAM implants, offering a novel direction and target for guaranteeing long-term survival and function of regenerative biomaterials in vivo.

Enhanced Real-Time Object Detection using YOLOv7 and MobileNetv3

Object detection serves as a crucial element in computer vision, increasingly relying on deep learning techniques. Among various methods, the YOLO series has gained recognition as an effective solution. This research enhances object detection by merging YOLOv7 with MobileNetv3, known for its efficiency and feature extraction. The integrated model was tested using the COCO dataset, which contains over 164,000 images across 80 categories, achieving a mAP score of 0.61. Additionally, confusion matrix analysis confirmed its accuracy, especially in detecting common objects such as 'person' and 'car' with minimal misclassifications. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed model to address the complexities of real-world scenarios, highlighting its applicability in various scientific and industrial domains.

Numerical stability analysis of shock-capturing methods for strong shocks II: high-order finite-volume schemes

The shock instability problem commonly arises in flow simulations involving strong shocks, particularly when employing high-order shock-capturing schemes, limiting their application in hypersonic flow simulations. In the current study, the shock instability problem of the fifth-order finite-volume WENO scheme is investigated. To this end, the matrix stability analysis method for the fifth-order scheme is established. Such an analysis method is capable of providing quantitative insights into the stability of shock-capturing and helping elucidate the mechanism causing shock instabilities. Results from the stability analysis and numerical experiments reveal that even dissipative solvers, which are generally believed to be capable of capturing strong shocks stably, also suffer from the shock instability problem when the spatial accuracy is increased to the fifth-order. Further investigation indicates that this is because the quadratic polynomial degenerated from the WENO reconstruction is not applicable for reconstructing variables on the faces near the numerical shock structure. Moreover, the shock instability problem of the fifth-order scheme is demonstrated to be a multidimensional coupled problem. To capture strong shocks stably, it is necessary to have sufficient dissipation on both transverse faces and normal faces in the vicinity of strong shocks. The spatial location of the perturbation leading to instability is also clarified by the proposed matrix analysis and numerical experiments, revealing that the instability arises from the numerical shock structure for the fifth-order scheme. Additionally, the local characteristic decomposition is demonstrated to be helpful to mitigate shock instabilities in high-order cases. Based on these conclusions and the core idea of the MR-WENO scheme, a shock-stable high-order scheme, the MR-WENO-SD scheme, is proposed. Equipped with the hybrid HLLC/HLL solver, this scheme is capable of capturing strong shocks stably while maintaining high-order accuracy. A series of numerical experiments demonstrate its stability and resolution capabilities.

Deep Learning-Based Detection of Abdominal Diseases Using YOLOv9 Models and Advanced Preprocessing Techniques

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative tool in medical imaging, enabling automated diagnosis and analysis across various domains. While significant advancements have been made in abdominal imaging, many studies struggle to achieve robust detection of diseases. The complexity and variability in abdominal structures present unique challenges for traditional machine learning models, necessitating the adoption of more advanced object detection frameworks. Motivated by these challenges, this study focuses on leveraging the YOLOv9 object detection architecture to enhance the identification of abdominal diseases using the TEKNOFEST 2022 Abdomen Dataset. Advanced preprocessing techniques, including CLAHE (Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization) and Gaussian noise augmentation, were applied to improve image contrast and model robustness. The dataset was processed into YOLO-compatible formats, and multiple training configurations were evaluated using YOLOv9c and YOLOv9s variants. These configurations included variations in batch size, optimizer type (SGD and Adam), dropout rate, and frozen layers. Among the configurations tested, the YOLOv9s model with 32 batch size, SGD optimizer, and a 35% dropout rate demonstrated the best performance, achieving a Recall of 0.7698, Accuracy of 0.7698, and F1 Score of 0.8228. The highest mAP50 of 0.9385 was observed with the YOLOv9c model trained using the Adam optimizer and a 35% dropout rate. Confusion matrix analysis revealed strong detection capabilities for conditions like acute cholecystitis and abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study highlights the potential of YOLOv9 models in medical imaging and emphasizes the importance of high-resolution datasets and advanced feature extraction techniques for improving diagnostic accuracy in abdominal disease detection. These findings lay a foundation for the development of reliable and efficient AI-driven diagnostic tools.

Pengembangan Potensi Wisata Pasar Kampung Melayu Berbasis Kearifan Lokal

Pasar Kampung Melayu is a form of rural economy that has strong relevance in preserving traditional nuanced values ​​and culture with environmental characteristics that are still beautiful and sustainable which has tourism potential. This research aims to find strategies and potential in managing the Pasar Kampung Melayu by considering the ecological, economic and socio-cultural conditions of the community. Data collection was carried out through interviews and surveys on research objects and analyzed using SWOT analysis with the IFAS-EFAS approach, TOWS matrix analysis and Cartesian SWOT diagrams. The results of the research show that the Kampung Melayu Market is in the Growth Quadrant I by implementing the S-O strategy with strategic priorities of maintaining environmental beauty, the use of darham coins, and typical Malay culinary delights, maintaining supporting appearances and continuous promotional activities so that the Pasar Kampung Melayu remains a constant axis new economy.

Diagnosis of the Skin Cancer by Vision Transformers

Skin cancer, one of the most frequent cancers, requires early identification for efficient treatment and better survival. Early diagnosis relies on precise and quick skin lesion categorization into benign and malignant categories. This work uses Vision Transformers (ViTs) to classify skin cancer photos by modeling long-range relationships and capturing complicated visual patterns. ViTs, originally created for natural language processing, have showed great potential in picture classification tasks because to their self-attention processes, outperforming CNNs. A public collection of 270 skin lesion images—240 malignant and 30 benign—was used in this study. Preprocessing included scaling and normalizing the dataset to 384x384x3 and splitting it into 80% training and 20% testing sets. Transfer learning optimised a pre-trained ViT model for this job. To improve accuracy and avoid overfitting, hyperparameters were carefully selected for network training. Parallel computing accelerated training to 30 minutes and 20 seconds. Vision Transformers classify medical images well, according to the study. The ViT model outperformed numerous other methods with 98.15% accuracy on the test set. A confusion matrix analysis showed great sensitivity in detecting malignant lesions and low misclassification of benign patients. These findings show that ViTs can capture detailed medical picture aspects, making them useful for dermatological diagnoses. This study shows that Vision Transformers can improve diagnosis accuracy and lays the groundwork for their use in other medical imaging fields. In the battle against skin cancer and other illnesses that need early diagnosis, ViTs' scalability, efficiency, and precision are important. Future research might integrate ViTs with other deep learning architectures to improve robustness and flexibility. This study adds to the data supporting sophisticated AI in medical diagnostics and lays the groundwork for automated, reliable, and efficient healthcare solutions.

Mining versatile feruloyl esterases: phylogenetic classification, structural features, and deep learning model

Feruloyl esterases (FEs, EC 3.1.1.73) play a crucial role in biological synthesis and metabolism. However, the identification of versatile FEs, capable of catalyzing a wide range of substrates, remains a challenge. In this study, we obtained 2085 FE sequences from the BRENDA database and initiated with an enzyme similarity network analysis, revealing three main clusters (1–3). Notably, both cluster 1 and cluster 3 included the characterized FEs, which exhibited significant differences in sequence length. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of these clusters unveiled a correlation between phylogenetic classification and substrate promiscuity, and enzymes with broad substrate scope tended to locate within specific branches of the phylogenetic tree. Further, molecular dynamics simulations and dynamical cross-correlation matrix analysis were employed to explore structural dynamics differences between promiscuous and substrate-specific FEs. Finally, to expand the repertoire of versatile FEs, we employed deep learning models to predict potentially promiscuous enzymes and identified 38 and 75 potential versatile FEs from cluster 1 and cluster 3 with a probability score exceeding 90%. Our findings underscore the utility of integrating phylogenetic and structural features with deep learning approaches for mining versatile FEs, shedding light on unexplored enzymatic diversity and expanding the repertoire of biocatalysts for synthetic applications.Graphical

P-532. Pediatric Perspectives of PrEP

Abstract Background Thousands of teens are diagnosed annually with HIV-1 in the U.S. despite the 2018 approval of PrEP for adolescents by the FDA, highlighting the need for research on pediatric PrEP prescribing practices. Research in this area is scant and chiefly focuses on patient barriers to accessing PrEP. Our study explores barriers to prescribing for pediatric providers.Table 1:Characteristics of Provider Respondents Methods We performed an online survey of medical providers from pediatrics, family medicine (FM) and internal medicine/pediatrics. A 5-point Likert scale (0-4) assessed comfort in providing adolescent sexual health care, including discussions around sexual activity, gender identity, sexual orientation, STIs, and PrEP. Potential barriers to PrEP prescription were explored. Unweighted proportions of responses were compared by provider characteristics, and logistic regression described the association between provider characteristics and the likelihood of having prescribed PrEP. Correlation matrix analysis identified strong relationships between item measure responses, identifying provider characteristics which associated with one another.Table 2:Comparing Comfort and Familiarity in Different Aspects of Sexual Health Care Between Pediatrics and Family Medicine Results 158 providers responded. Comparison of pediatric and FM providers found large differences in comfort with sexual health care. FM providers were more familiar with PrEP overall (3.42 to 1.53, 76.4% difference) and prescribing PrEP (3.37 to 0.70, 131.2%). FM providers were also more comfortable discussing sexual orientation (3.45 to 3.01, 13.62%), gender identity (3.32 to 2.72, 19.87%) and providing treatment for STIs (3.72 to 3.19, 15.34%). Logistic regression found that FM providers were 32 times more likely to prescribe PrEP than pediatric providers. Correlation analysis revealed that parental knowledge of a provider-patient conversation about sex decreased provider comfort in discussing sexual orientation and gender identity.Table 3:Multivariable Associations Between Provider Characteristics and Likelihood of Having Prescribed PrEP Conclusion Pediatric providers were less comfortable than FM providers in matters related to sexual health, sexual identity, and gender identity, including PrEP. FM providers, who routinely see adults, were significantly more likely to prescribe PrEP than pediatric providers. Parental knowledge of patient-provider discussions of sex may decrease provider comfort with discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity.Table 4:Correlation Stratified by Parental Knowledge of Patient-Provider Conversation About Sex Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Bioaccumilation of Heavy Metals in Fish Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822), from Kayamkulam Estuary

Accumulation of Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg in water, gills, liver and muscles of fish Liza parsia were analyzed from the four different sites along the Kayamkulam Backwater. The results showed that the highest concentration of as was found in liver tissues followed by gills. Gill tissues of the fish had a higher accumulation of Cu followed by liver and muscles. Higher accumulation of cadmium was observed in gills followed by liver tissue. Pb accumulation was found to be higher in liver as well as in gills followed by muscles. Accumulations of heavy metals in fish organs showed a seasonal fluctuation. The concentration of the detected metals was highest during warmer months, while the lowest values were observed during colder months. The organ specific comparison of heavy metals level indicated that the highest concentration was found in liver tissues. The lowest concentration was detected in muscle because muscle is not an active tissue in the accumulation of heavy metals. Pearson correlation matrix analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between the accumulation of heavy metals in water and tissues of the fish sample.

Research on Rotor Dynamic Characteristics of High Speed Aviation Piston Pump

The high-speed aviation piston pump plays a vital role in hydraulic systems in the aviation field. Extremely complex force situations happen during running operations due to the coupling between multiple components, as a result of the overall dynamic characteristics being complex and changeable, which brings great difficulties and challenges to its performance optimization. Taking the high-speed aviation piston pump as the research object, a mechanical balance equation of the piston based on the dynamic balance method was proposed. The reaction force of the swashplate and the influence of rotational speed and outlet pressure on it were modeled. Through the balance of the system and the component subsystem, the load of the support bearing of the piston pump under different working conditions is analyzed, as well as the influence of the rotational speed and the outlet pressure on the bearing stiffness by the quasi-static method. In addition, the discrete model of the piston pump spindle and the discrete model of the rotor system are established. The accuracy of the model is verified by the finite element method. The maximum error of the spindle discrete model is 6.13%, and the maximum error of the rotor system discrete model is 15.28%. The transfer matrix analysis shows that the working condition parameters have little effect on the critical speed of the spindle and rotor system, and the outlet pressure has a more significant effect than the speed. The research results provide a theoretical basis and analysis method for the dynamic analysis and structural optimization of the high-speed aviation piston pump.

Importance and fitness of family medicine milestone project from America to Taiwan

BackgroundThe six core competencies of ACGME - patient care (PC), medical knowledge (MK), systems-based practice (SBP), practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI), professionalism (PROF), and interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) - represent domains in which physicians must ultimately demonstrate competence. Although the ACGME’s six core competencies have been applied in Taiwan with the milestone project, the application of the six core competences in the Family Medicine milestones for residency training have not yet been established.MethodsWe recruited 61 family medicine physicians from 25 hospitals from four major geographic areas for a Delphi round one survey and 72 physicians from 27 hospitals for a Delphi round two survey. With 5-point scales, the Cronbach’s alphas for both importance and fitness were 0.98 in round one. In round two, the Cronbach’s alphas were 0.86 and 0.83 for importance and fitness. The mode and quartile deviation in Delphi method, importance-performance analysis (IPA), and importance-performance matrix analysis (IPMA) were used for three stages IPA process.ResultsIn IPA, a total of 72.7% (16/22) of the sub-competencies exhibited high importance and fitness, with a mean score ≥ 4.7; the exceptions were PC-1 (cares for acutely ill or injured patients), MK-2 (critical thinking skills in patient care), SBP-1 (cost-conscious medical care), PBLI-3 (improves systems), PROF-3 (humanism/cultural proficiency), and ICS-4 (utilizes technology). In IPMA, the performance value of six core competencies for FMM-Taiwan was 92.6 when considering the importance and fitness indices of the 22 sub-competencies.ConclusionsThe accordance of the ACGME’s milestones to Taiwan was acceptable to good and related milestones could been developed for residency training.

Novel cycloviruses identified by mining human blood metagenomic data show close relationship to those from animals.

The family Circoviridae includes the genera Circovirus and Cyclovirus. Cycloviruses have been found in serum samples from chronic HBV, HCV, or HIV-infected individuals as well as asymptomatic blood donors. However, research on cycloviruses is relatively limited. We used viral metagenomics to mine, analyze, and visualize the human blood virome, successfully identifying three new genomes, each encoding Rep and Capsid proteins. These proteins are crucial for viral replication and host-cell interaction: the Rep protein is involved in initiating viral genome replication, while the Capsid protein plays a key role in the assembly of new virions and the virus's ability to interact with host immune systems. Distance matrix and phylogenetic analyses show that these cycloviruses share high sequence similarity with viruses found in both humans and animals across different regions of Africa. This finding not only confirms the presence of previously uncharacterized cycloviruses in human blood, but also provides insight into their potential role in host transmission and their ecological significance. Further research is needed to explore the functional roles of these cycloviruses in viral pathogenesis, particularly how they may influence host immunity and contribute to chronic infections. Additionally, studies investigating the host range and mechanisms of cross-species transmission will be essential to understanding the broader implications of cycloviruses in human and animal health.