MethodsXPub Date : 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103408
Vani Hiremani , Raghavendra M. Devadas , Preethi , R. Sapna , T. Sowmya , Praveen Gujjar , N. Shobha Rani , K.R. Bhavya
{"title":"Federated learning for crop yield prediction: A comprehensive review of techniques and applications","authors":"Vani Hiremani , Raghavendra M. Devadas , Preethi , R. Sapna , T. Sowmya , Praveen Gujjar , N. Shobha Rani , K.R. Bhavya","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The demand for food all over the world requires the implementation of advanced technologies to improve agricultural productivity. Federated Learning (FL) as a decentralized approach to machine learning facilitates collaborative model training on different data sources while maintaining privacy—making it highly applicable technology for sensitive agricultural data. This paper offers a systematic overview of the recent knowledge on the application of FL towards the prediction of crop yield and other agricultural uses. We discussed the mathematical basis of FL, the variety of machine learning models used, the types of used agricultural data, and the major performance metrics. The paper presents real-world applications and lists the current limitations, including communication overhead, data heterogeneity, and interpretability issues. Lastly, we introduce open research directions to inform the development of FL in precision agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 103408"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144213011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103413
Suyash S. Satpute , Amol C. Adamuthe , Pooja Bagane
{"title":"Stock portfolio optimization using hill climbing and simple human learning optimization algorithms as a decision support system","authors":"Suyash S. Satpute , Amol C. Adamuthe , Pooja Bagane","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103413","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The goal of this research is to develop a decision support system for stock portfolio optimization using hill climbing and SHLO algorithms based on fundamental analysis of stocks. Portfolio optimization involves constructing a portfolio that maximizes returns while minimizing risk. The novelty in methodology is ‘hybridizing’ nature-inspired algorithms for optimized portfolio selection with two independent modules: intrinsic value of stocks and financial health analysis. This integrated approach aids decision-making by considering multiple dimensions of stock performance. Custom datasets are designed for each input module using historical fundamental data. The DSS output presents an optimized portfolio. Comparison for different risk profiles shows that as risk increases, returns of optimized portfolios decrease from 55 % to 24 %. Results for keeping other inputs the same for varying cardinality show that as cardinality increases, returns decrease. The results show that fundamentally undervalued portfolios outperform growth portfolios by a considerable margin. We conclude that optimized portfolios with varying constraints, >80 % of the time, outperform US market indices.</div><div>Key contributions include:<ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Developed a decision support system using intrinsic value and financial health analysis.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Novel fitness function for optimization using hill climbing and SHLO.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Integrated module outputs with hill climbing and SHLO for portfolio optimization.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 103413"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144280863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-31eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103411
Sandhiya Priyadarshini D, Tony P Jose
{"title":"Interconnected pathways of social competence and resilience among foster care adolescents: Self-esteem acts as a potential mediator.","authors":"Sandhiya Priyadarshini D, Tony P Jose","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Foster care adolescents frequently experience heightened emotional and behavioral challenges. Although prior research has explored the link between social competence and resilience, the interplay of these factors specifically among foster care adolescents warrants further investigation. This study examined the relationships between self-esteem, social competence, and resilience in a sample of 200 adolescents residing in foster care homes. We hypothesized that self-esteem would mediate the connection between social competence and resilience. Participants were assessed using standardized measures of self-esteem, social competence, and resilience. The results indicated significant positive correlations among all three variables. Statistical analyses confirmed that self-esteem partially mediated the association between social competence and resilience. Social competence had both direct and indirect effects on resilience through its influence on self-esteem. The model accounted for 5.8 % of the variance in self-esteem and 23.7 % of the variance in resilience, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these constructs. These findings imply that interventions targeting these constructs may enhance well-being in foster care adolescents.•Data were collected using standardized psychological scales.•Correlational and mediation analyses examined relationships, focusing on self-esteem's mediating role.•This study emphasizes the need for interventions that target these constructs to improve well-being in foster care adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103411"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177162/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating sentiment analysis models: A comparative analysis of vaccination tweets during the COVID-19 phase leveraging DistilBERT for enhanced insights.","authors":"Renuka Agrawal, Mehuli Majumder, Ishita Yadav, Nandini Taneja, Safa Hamdare, Preeti Hemnani","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103407","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103407","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates public sentiment toward COVID-19 vaccinations by analyzing Twitter data using advanced machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Recognizing social media as a valuable source for gauging public opinion during health crises, the research aims to inform policies on content moderation and misinformation control.•Comparative Analysis of Embedding Techniques and ML Models: The study evaluates two embedding techniques-TF-IDF and Word2Vec-across five ML models: LinearSVC, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), XGBoost, and AdaBoost.•The models were tested using two training-testing splits (70-30 and 80-20) to assess their performance on noisy, unlabeled, and imbalanced sentiment data.•Utilization of DistilBERT for Pseudo-Labeling: To enhance labeling accuracy, DistilBERT was employed for pseudo-labeling, capturing semantic nuances often missed by traditional ML techniques. This approach enabled more effective sentiment classification of tweets. The findings underscore the effectiveness of automated annotation, hybrid modeling, and embedding strategies in analyzing unstructured social media data. Such approaches provide valuable insights for public health applications, particularly in understanding vaccine hesitancy and shaping communication strategies. The study highlights the potential of integrating advanced NLP techniques to better comprehend and respond to public sentiments during pandemics or similar emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103407"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12171565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-30eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103399
Duaa Salem Jawhar, Amer Hayat Khan, Khurshid Alam
{"title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol of impact of pharmacist-led antibiotic stewardship audit-feedback intervention.","authors":"Duaa Salem Jawhar, Amer Hayat Khan, Khurshid Alam","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103399","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rise of resistance to antibiotic agents continues to present a substantial challenge to healthcare systems. In response, antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) have been widely endorsed as a core strategy to promote the responsible use of antimicrobials and to curb the progression of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pharmacist-led audit and feedback interventions hold significant promise due to pharmacists' clinical expertise and direct role in optimizing antimicrobial prescribing. However, despite their potential, the current body of evidence evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacist-led audit and feedback within ASPs remains limited and fragmented. A clearer understanding of their impact is essential to inform policy decisions, support broader implementation, and enhance the overall effectiveness of stewardship efforts. This protocol has been registered with the PROSPERO under the registration number CRD420251036088. The review will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.A comprehensive search will be carried out across four major databases, and studies will be selected based on clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias in the included studies will be assessed using Cochrane riak of bias assessment tools. Publication bias will be examined using funnel plots and Egger's test. For the quantitative synthesis, a random-effects model will be employed.•This protocol outlines a rigorous plan for conducting a high-quality meta-analysis examining the impact of pharmacist-led audit and feedback interventions within antibiotic stewardship programs.•It details the full methodological framework, from topic selection through to the statistical approaches planned for data synthesis.•By publicly sharing our protocol through an academic publishing platform, we aim to promote transparency, invite constructive input, and contribute to raising the methodological standards for meta-analyses in the domain of antibiotic stewardship.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103399"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-29eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103381
Hendra H Dukalang, Bambang Widjanarko Otok, Purhadi
{"title":"Modified partial least square structural equation model with multivariate adaptive regression spline: Parameter estimation technique and applications.","authors":"Hendra H Dukalang, Bambang Widjanarko Otok, Purhadi","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103381","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) struggles with nonlinear relationships between latent variables, leading to biased results. To address this limitation, this study proposes a new model, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines Partial Least Square (MARSPLS), which is based on Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) using the PLS-SEM framework. The innovation lies in its ability to capture nonlinear and interaction effects between latent variables by leveraging the flexibility of MARS while retaining the latent structure estimation through PLS. The article elaborates the steps of Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to estimate values of MARSPLS parameters. The model is evaluated using both simulated and empirical data on e-wallet behavioural intention from 385 Indonesian respondents. Results show that MARSPLS with interaction achieves superior predictive accuracy, as indicated by higher R² value 54.08 % and lower AIC, AICc, and RMSE values. The primary characteristics of the recommended method involve the following:•A novel approach to PLS-SEM that assumes the relationship between latent is nonlinear or unknown.•The model involves four exogenous and one endogenous latent variable, without moderation and mediation effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173681/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-29eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103404
Matthieu Reffienna, Adéla Foudhaïli, Colin Sidre, Damien Vitiello, Jonathan Messika
{"title":"Early mobilization after lung transplantation: A scoping review protocol.","authors":"Matthieu Reffienna, Adéla Foudhaïli, Colin Sidre, Damien Vitiello, Jonathan Messika","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103404","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After lung transplantation, rehabilitation is part of patients' standard of care, playing a crucial role in enhancing functional capacity and quality of life. Although early rehabilitation in the intensive care unit has been reported in few studies, it is not yet widely standardized in clinical practice. As a result, rehabilitation protocols are often initiated several weeks after surgery, potentially leaving a gap in early postoperative management. While the benefits of early mobilization in critically ill patients are well documented, limited data exist on mobilization strategies initiated immediately in the intensive care unit following lung transplantation. Understanding the feasibility, benefits, and potential barriers to early mobilization in this population would enhance future post-transplant recovery care. Studies evaluating an early mobilization (<7d) protocol initiated in the intensive care unit for adult lung transplant recipients will be included. Studies assessing protocols initiated later (>7d) in the recovery process will be excluded. A comprehensive search will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, PEDro, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PROSPERO, as well as relevant gray literature sources. No language or date restrictions will be applied. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers.•The main question is: what evidence exists regarding the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of early mobilization interventions for LTx recipients in critical care settings?</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103404"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173691/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144326131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-28eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103390
Paulo Pereira, Luis Valenca Pinto, Miguel Inacio, Damia Barcelo
{"title":"A method to map lake ice temperature in urban environments.","authors":"Paulo Pereira, Luis Valenca Pinto, Miguel Inacio, Damia Barcelo","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103390","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103390","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lakes supply a wide range of ecosystem services, including recreation activities. They are very important in urban areas, and in the northern latitudes, recreation activities are relevant in winter when the lake is frozen. To ensure the safety of activities, it is important that the temperature of lake ice be monitored. In this work, we developed a methodological framework to assess ice temperature in lakes during the winter using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The steps followed were: 1) UAV mission planning, 2) field data collection, 3) mission reconstruction, 4) data extraction, and 5) statistical and spatial analysis. The method developed in this work can be useful for local authorities to assess and monitor ice lake temperature during the winter and ensure the safety of these areas for recreation. The method can be applied to lakes located in different environments.•A new framework was developed to assess and monitor lake temperatures during the winter.•High resolution thermal Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was used to assess lake temperature.•The method can be helpful for local authorities to ensure urban lakes' safety for winter recreation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103390"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-28eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103403
Alexandra Sybertz, Richard Ottermanns, Martina Roß-Nickoll
{"title":"MIXCOP-Implementation of a model to assess the time-dependent effects of mixed pesticides on a collembolan population.","authors":"Alexandra Sybertz, Richard Ottermanns, Martina Roß-Nickoll","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103403","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A new simulation model has been created by merging three model approaches, including soil exposure prediction, effect estimation and a population model.•The aim is to use the overall model to better assess the effects of pesticides on soil organisms.•The model is called MIXCOP (pesticide MIXtures and their effects on a COllembolan Population) and simulates a population of <i>Folsomia candida</i> in a vertical soil column.•MIXCOP allows to calculate a time- and movement-dependent exposure for the individual animals, as well as the resulting effects. Effects on both adult organisms and juvenile organisms are taken into account. The modular structure including the individual assumptions are explained in more detail.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103403"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144326134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MethodsXPub Date : 2025-05-28eCollection Date: 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2025.103388
Musa Al-Yaman, Dana Alswaiti, Adham Alsharkawi, Majid Al-Taee
{"title":"A cost-effective modular laboratory solution for industrial automation and applied engineering education.","authors":"Musa Al-Yaman, Dana Alswaiti, Adham Alsharkawi, Majid Al-Taee","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2025.103388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2025.103388","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In today's digital landscape, affordable Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) for industrial automation and applied engineering education are essential, as traditional setups are often too costly for many institutions and individuals. In this paper, a cost-effective, modular PLC lab was designed and developed to enable hands-on learning in industrial automation. The lab accommodates ten pairs of trainees, allowing for simultaneous experimentation using modular simulation kits tailored for various applications, such as traffic light systems, elevators, and automated filling systems. Trainees can prepare, test, and verify their code on these kits in real-time, enhancing their hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers. Each kit offers a set of features, including an integrated input/output interface that supports a variety of input types (e.g., switches, sensors, and push buttons) and output options (e.g., lights, motors, and actuators). This well-rounded setup is specifically designed to meet the educational and training objectives of the lab, promoting an interactive learning environment that develops essential automation skills and builds trainee confidence in applying PLC technology across real-world scenarios.•Offers a cost-effective PLC solution for industrial automation and engineering education, addressing the high cost of traditional systems.•Provides a scalable PLC lab setup developed to facilitate hands-on learning and practical experience in industrial automation, enabling simultaneous experimentation and collaborative learning.•Aligns with educational objectives, fostering an interactive, hands-on environment that builds essential automation skills, by enabling real-code preparation, testing and verification.</p>","PeriodicalId":18446,"journal":{"name":"MethodsX","volume":"14 ","pages":"103388"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12171526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}