bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current evidence and future perspectives in the exploration of sleep-related eating disorder–a systematic literature review
Authors: Vasiliu Octavian
Published: May 2024

Sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) is a non-REM parasomnia with potentially significant negative effects on general health (dangerous activities during night eating episodes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome, for example). Although the history of SRED encompasses more than six decades, public awareness and even the awareness of the mental health specialists of this disorder is very limited, a phenomenon that hinders the development of research in this field. Therefore, a systematic review based on PRISMA 2020 guidelines explored the available evidence for SRED found in four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration, Google Scholar, and Clarivate/Web of Science). A number of 94 primary and secondary reports were retrieved, investigating aspects regarding the risk factors, epidemiology, clinical data and differential diagnosis, epidemiology, structured evaluation, and treatment of SRED. Based on the results of these reports, Z-drugs, but also certain benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and psychostimulants may trigger the onset of SRED. Psychiatric and neurologic disorders have also been associated with SRED, either as risk factors or comorbid conditions. Cerebral glucose metabolism dysfunctions, neurotransmitter dysfunctions, and genetic factors have been invoked as pathogenetic contributors. Structured assessment of SRED is possible, but there is a dearth of instruments dedicated to this purpose. Data on the prevalence and treatment of SRED exist, but good-quality epidemiological studies and clinical trials are still missing. In conclusion, future research is expected to address the shortcomings of SRED exploration by creating the conditions for better quality and larger group clinical research. The need for such investigation is granted by the importance of this pathology and its negative functional consequences.
Short-term effects of temperature-related indices on emergency ambulance dispatches due to mental and behavioral disorders in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Yin Ziming , Jingesi Maidina , Yin Zhao , Chen Siyi , Huang Suli , Cheng Jinquan , Li Xiaoheng , Liu Ning , Wang Peng , Yin Ping , Jiang Hongwei
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The precise associations between temperature-related indices and mental and behavioral disorders (MBDs) have yet to be fully elucidated. Our study aims to ascertain the most effective temperature-related index and assess its immediate impact on emergency ambulance dispatches (EADs) due to MBDs in Shenzhen, China.

Methods

EADs data and meteorological data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, in Shenzhen were collected. Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs) were utilized to examine the non-linear and lagged effects of temperature-related indices on EADs due to MBDs. The Quasi Akaike Information criterion (QAIC) was used to determine the optimal index after standardizing temperature-related indices. After adjusting for confounding factors in the model, we estimated the immediate and cumulative effects of temperature on EADs due to MBDs.

Results

The analysis of short-term temperature effects on EADs due to MBDs revealed Humidex as the most suitable index. Referring to the optimal Humidex (3.2th percentile, 12.00°C), we observed a significant effect of Humidex over the threshold (34.6th percentile, 26.80°C) on EADs due to MBDs at lag 0–5. The cumulative relative risks for high temperature (90th percentile, 41.90°C) and extreme high temperature (99th percentile, 44.20°C) at lag 0–5 were 1.318 (95% CI: 1.159–1.499) and 1.338 (95% CI: 1.153–1.553), respectively. No significant cold effect was observed on EADs due to MBDs.

Conclusion

High Humidex was associated with more EADs due to MBDs in subtropical regions. Health authorities should implement effective measures to raise public awareness of risks related to high temperature and protect vulnerable populations.
Moving towards health promoting schools: effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding heart attack, and CPR knowledge in high school students in Lebanon
Authors: Abdelkhalik Mohamad , Boutros Eliannore , Trad Khalid , Arafat Oulyana , Alyousfi Mohamad Nihad , Bouclaous Carmel
Published: May 2024

Background

Health promoting schools (HPS) prioritize the health of students and community. One important target of HPS is noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including prevention of heart attacks, due to their burden on healthcare.

Objective

This study assesses the effectiveness of an educational intervention to promote knowledge of signs and symptoms, beliefs and attitudes towards heart attack, and promote knowledge of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods

The intervention consisted of a 6-minute educational video between a pre-and post-survey. Among other questions, the survey included the Calgary Charter on Health literacy scale, the acute coronary syndrome response index questionnaire, and items assessing knowledge of CPR.

Results

A total of 401 high school students participated (58.9% females). Few students had adequate baseline knowledge of heart attack symptoms (22%) and CPR (7%). The sample showed moderate level of health literacy (12 ± 2.7). Chest pain was the most identified symptom (95%) while abdominal pain was the least identified (14.25%). The intervention significantly increased knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards heart attack, and knowledge of CPR (p < 0.001). Following the intervention, 83.2% of students demonstrated sufficient knowledge of heart attack symptoms, and 45% exhibited adequate knowledge of CPR. Variables predictive of better attitude, in other words higher confidence in recognizing and reacting to symptoms of heart attack, included having higher health literacy and prior knowledge of risk factors (p < 0.05). Needing help reading medical instructions sometimes predicted worse belief in their capacity to act if they experienced or witnessed a heart attack [score (p < 0.05)]. It was also predictive of worse attitude towards heart attack (OR = 0.18).

Conclusion

High school students in Lebanon lack appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward heart attack, and lack CPR qualifications. Scale up of this educational initiative, along with training of teachers and school personnel, can be used as part of a holistic HPS program aimed at raising awareness of heart attack and first responder preparedness.
A large and feasible national survey representative of population exposure to outdoor gamma radiation in urban areas
Authors: Carpentieri Carmela , Maiorana Andrea , Ampollini Marco , Antignani Sara , Caprio Mario , Carelli Vinicio , Cordedda Carlo , Di Carlo Christian , Bochicchio Francesco
Published: May 2024

Background

Although data on outdoor gamma radiation are available for many countries, they have generally been obtained with measurements performed in undisturbed environments instead of in urban areas where most of the population lives. Only one large national survey, with on-site measurements in urban areas, has been identified worldwide, probably due to high costs (e.g., personnel and instrumentation) and difficulties in selecting measuring points.

Methods

A campaign of outdoor gamma radiation measurements has been carried out in the entire Italian territory. All measurement points were selected at the infrastructures of an Italian telecommunications company as representatives of all the possible situations of outdoor exposure to gamma radiation for population in urban areas. Ten replicates of portable gamma (X) detectors carried out all the measurements.

Results

Approximately 4,000 measurements have been performed. They are distributed across 2,901 Italian municipalities, accounting for 75% of the Italian population. The national population-weighted mean of the gamma ambient dose equivalent rate (ADER) is 117 nSv h−1, and it ranges from 62 to 208 nSv h−1 and from 40 to 227 nSv h−1 for 21 regions and 107 provinces, respectively. The average variability at the municipal level, in terms of the coefficient of variation (CV) is 21%, ranging from 3 to 84%. The impact of land coverage and the distance from a building on the outdoor gamma radiation level was assessed with complementary measurements, leading to differences ranging from −40 to 50% and to 50%, respectively.

Conclusion

A representative campaign of outdoor gamma dose rate measurements has been performed in Italy, only in urban areas, to assess the exposure effect due to outdoor gamma radiation on the population. It is the largest national campaign in urban areas worldwide, with a total of 3,876 on-site measurements. The land coverage and the distance from surrounding buildings were recognized to strongly affect outdoor gamma radiation levels, leading to high variability within small areas. The collaboration with a company that owns a network of facilities on a national territory as dense as the residing population made this survey feasible and affordable. Other countries might adopt this methodology to conduct national surveys in urban environments.
Semi-supervised active learning using convolutional auto- encoder and contrastive learning
Authors: Roda Hezi , Geva Amir B.
Published: May 2024

Active learning is a field of machine learning that seeks to find the most efficient labels to annotate with a given budget, particularly in cases where obtaining labeled data is expensive or infeasible. This is becoming increasingly important with the growing success of learning-based methods, which often require large amounts of labeled data. Computer vision is one area where active learning has shown promise in tasks such as image classification, semantic segmentation, and object detection. In this research, we propose a pool-based semi-supervised active learning method for image classification that takes advantage of both labeled and unlabeled data. Many active learning approaches do not utilize unlabeled data, but we believe that incorporating these data can improve performance. To address this issue, our method involves several steps. First, we cluster the latent space of a pre-trained convolutional autoencoder. Then, we use a proposed clustering contrastive loss to strengthen the latent space's clustering while using a small amount of labeled data. Finally, we query the samples with the highest uncertainty to annotate with an oracle. We repeat this process until the end of the given budget. Our method is effective when the number of annotated samples is small, and we have validated its effectiveness through experiments on benchmark datasets. Our empirical results demonstrate the power of our method for image classification tasks in accuracy terms.
How does the media contribute to the rise of hate crimes against foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong? An unfair problem frame and agenda setting
Authors: Chen Zhuoli
Published: May 2024

Hate crimes are widespread in Hong Kong society. Foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong also experience unfair agenda-setting by the media due to their dual economic and social disadvantages, and the media tries to portray them in a hostile social role. At the same time, the media creates negative social images of minority groups through news coverage, which leads to an increase in social hate crimes against them. This study used WiseSearch, a Chinese newspaper collection and analysis platform, to explore how Hong Kong news media use news themes and content to create a negative image of Hong Kong foreign domestic helpers in order to understand the media origins of hate crimes against Hong Kong foreign domestic helpers. Ultimately, the study found that local news media in Hong Kong are more inclined to cover the legal disputes of foreign domestic helpers in the agenda-setting process. In addition, they are more likely to associate foreign domestic helpers with “fear” rather than “rest assured.” The study also found that because of the news value orientation, Hong Kong media tended to treat foreign domestic helpers as outsiders and less sympathetically when writing news stories.
Cereal-Legume Mixed Residue Addition Increases Yield and Reduces Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Fertilized Winter Wheat in the North China Plain
Authors: Raseduzzaman Md , Gaudel Gokul , Ali Md Razzab , Timilsina Arbindra , Bizimana Fiston , Aluoch Stephen Okoth , Li Xiaoxin , Zhang Yuming , Hu Chunsheng
Published: May 2024

Incorporating crop residues into the soil is an effective method for improving soil carbon sequestration, fertility, and crop productivity. Such potential benefits, however, may be offset if residue addition leads to a substantial increase in soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study aimed to quantify the effect of different crop residues with varying C/N ratios and different nitrogen (N) fertilizers on GHG emissions, yield, and yield-scaled emissions (GHGI) in winter wheat. The field experiment was conducted during the 2018–2019 winter wheat season, comprising of four residue treatments (no residue, maize residue, soybean residue, and maize-soybean mixed residue) and four fertilizer treatments (control, urea, manure, and manure + urea). The experiment followed a randomized split-plot design, with N treatments as the main plot factor and crop residue treatments as the sub-plot factor. Except for the control, all N treatments received 150 kg N ha−1 season−1. The results showed that soils from all treatments acted as a net source of N2O and CO2 fluxes but as a net sink of CH4 fluxes. Soybean residue significantly increased soil N2O emissions, while mixed residue had the lowest N2O emissions among the three residues. However, all residue amendments significantly increased soil CO2 emissions. Furthermore, soybean and mixed residues significantly increased grain yield by 24% and 21%, respectively, compared to no residue amendment. Both soybean and mixed residues reduced GHGI by 25% compared to maize residue. Additionally, the urea and manure + urea treatments exhibited higher N2O emissions among the N treatments, but they contributed to significantly higher grain yields and resulted in lower GHGI. Moreover, crop residue incorporation significantly altered soil N dynamics. In soybean residue-amended soil, both NH4+ and NO3− concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Conversely, soil NO3− content was notably lower in the maize-soybean mixed residue amendment. Overall, our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how different residue additions from different cropping systems influence soil N dynamics and GHG emissions, offering valuable insights into effective agroecosystems management for long-term food security and soil sustainability while mitigating GHG emissions.
How the Management and Environmental Conditions Affect the Weed Vegetation in Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) Fields
Authors: Dorner Zita , Kovács Endre Béla , Iványi Dóra , Zalai Mihály
Published: May 2024

Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) is a versatile crop with global significance; it is primarily cultivated for its small elliptical seeds, which are used as bird feed and for human consumption. This crop is adapted to various climates and soils, so it can be grown successfully in Hungary. However, challenges such as weed control, climate change impacts, and soil factors require strategic management for sustained success in canary grass cultivation. Our study investigated the impact of management and environmental (as seasonal and soil) factors on pre-harvest weed vegetation in canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary between 2017 and 2020. In addition to showing the weed vegetation of the canary grass, the aim of our work was to promote more effective weed management of canary grass by revealing correlations between soil, seasonality, and management variables, influencing weed diversity and coverage. Using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlation tests, we tested significant variables, providing insights into the complex interactions affecting weed composition. A redundancy analysis (RDA) further unveiled the relationships between explanatory variables and weed species’ composition. The findings offer valuable information for effective weed management strategies in canary grass cultivation. Our comprehensive study on canary grass fields in Southeast Hungary sheds light on significant factors influencing weed composition and abundance. The average weed coverage was 10.8%, with summer annuals and creeping perennials being the most prevalent life forms. Echinochloa crus-galli, Cirsium arvense, Xanthium italicum, and Setaria viridis were among the dominant species. ANCOVAs revealed the impact of soil, management, and seasonal factors on weed cover, species richness, diversity, and yield levels. Soil properties like texture, pH, and nitrogen content showed varying effects on weed parameters. The vintage effect, tillage systems, and farming practices also played crucial roles. The redundancy analysis highlighted the influence of the year, soil sulfur content, and winter preceding crops on weed composition. In conclusion, the herbaceous vegetation in the studied area is dominated by summer germinating and creeping perennial species. Despite slight differences in average coverage and occurrence, a well-defined set of significant species is evident. Multicollinearity among variables suggests limitations to further increase the number of variables that can be included in the analysis. The ANCOVAs showed that the soil, seasonal, and farming variables significantly influence overall weed vegetation and crop yield, with a lesser impact on species richness and diversity. The reduced RDA model highlights the strong influence of the year on species’ composition, emphasizing the inherent factors during canary grass cultivation that are challenging to modify through farming practices.
Whole-Genome Evolutionary Analyses of Non-Endosymbiotic Organelle-Targeting Nuclear Genes Reveal Their Genetic Evolution in 12 Representative Poaceae Species
Authors: Yu Yanan , Yu Yue , Dong Yuefan , Li Guo , Li Ning , Liu Bao , Wang Tianya , Gong Lei , Zhang Zhibin
Published: May 2024

Chloroplasts and mitochondria, descendants of ancient prokaryotes via endosymbiosis, occupy a pivotal position in plant growth and development due to their intricate connections with the nuclear genome. Genes encoded by the nuclear genome but relocated to or being functional within these organelles are commonly referred as organelle-targeting nuclear genes (ONGs). These genes are essential for maintaining cytonuclear coordination, thereby determining the stability of the life cycle. While molecular function and cytonuclear coordination of some endosymbiosis-derived ONGs (E-ONGs) have been extensively studied, the evolutionary history and characteristics from a more widespread range of non-endosymbiosis-derived ONGs (NE-ONGs) remain largely enigmatic. In this study, we focused on 12 representative species within the Poaceae family to systematically identify NE-ONGs and investigated their evolutionary history and functional significance on a phylogenetic timescale. Upon aligning these 12 species’ evolutionary histories, we observed the following phenomena: (i) an exploration of NE-ONGs between the BOP and PACMAD clades unveiled dynamic compositions, potentially influencing their photosynthetic divergence; (ii) the majority of the abundant species-specific NE-ONGs exist in a single-copy status, and functional enrichment analysis further underscored their specialized roles, which could be crucial for species adaptation; and (iii) comparative analyses between plasmid- and mitochondria-related NE-ONGs (pNE-ONGs and mNE-ONGs) revealed a prevalence of pNE-ONGs, indicating tighter control for chloroplast function in Poaceae. In summary, this study offers novel insights into the cytonuclear co-evolutionary dynamics in Poaceae speciation and draws attention to crop improvement by using NE-ONGs.
Effects of Transportation on Blood Indices, Oxidative Stress, Rumen Fermentation Parameters and Rumen Microbiota in Goats
Authors: Li Rui , Wang Lizhi , Chen Binlong , Zhang Yi , Qi Pei
Published: May 2024

The objective of this experiment was to delve into the impacts of transportation on goats. Sixteen healthy goats were selected as experimental animals; these goats were transported at a speed ranging from 35 to 45 km/h for 20 h. The changes in the physiological indexes, blood physiological indexes, biochemical indexes, rumen fermentation indexes, and rumen microbial structure composition of goats before and after transportation were measured. The results showed that after transportation, the contents of IgM, IgA, IgG, and Thyroxine decreased very significantly, while the contents of propionic acid, Hemoglobin and Epinephrine significantly increased, and the contents of VFA, acetic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, LPS, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Major Acute Phase Protein, protein carbonyl, and cortisol increased very significantly. There was no significant difference in α-diversity and β-diversity, and the relative abundance of rumen microorganisms was not significantly different at either phylum or genus levels. The experimental findings revealed that continuous transportation for a duration of 20 h can induce a severe stress response in goats, leading to compromised immune function, diminished antioxidant capacity, escalated inflammatory response, and altered rumen fermentation indices. However, the experiment did not reveal any significant impact on the structure and composition of the rumen microbiota.
Influence of Monochromatic Light during Incubation on the Production and Metabolism of Low-Temperature Broiler Chicks
Authors: Sampaio Stéfane , Oliveira Rodrigo , Borges Kelly , Gouveia Alison , Silva Julia , Santos Adelir , Carrijo Murilo , Santos Fabiana , Araújo Neto Francisco , Gomide Ana , Minafra Cibele
Published: May 2024

The use of artificial lighting during the incubation phase is a tool that has been studied with the aim of increasing the production rates and hatchability. Using this, this study aims to investigate the effects of the luminous incidence of white and red monochromatic light on the production and metabolism of broiler chicks subjected to low temperatures. A total of 315 eggs of Ross 708 heavy breeders were used. The eggs were distributed randomly, with 35 eggs per tray, totaling 105 eggs per incubator. The treatments were the following: incubation without the use of light; the use of white monochromatic light; and the use of red monochromatic light. The lamps used were of the LED type. The samples were distributed in the factorial completely randomized experimental design with position effect on the tray. Candling, egg weighing, calculating the probability of survival and egg weight loss were performed. Temperatures were recorded using a thermographic camera. At birth, three chicks per tray were euthanized for evaluation: weight with and without yolk residue, gastrointestinal tract biometry, and blood and liver biochemistry. Analyses were performed using the R computational program. It was observed that there was a significant effect of the treatments on the levels of calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, amylase, glucose, urea and glutamate pyruvate transaminase on the biochemical profile of the blood and on the thermographic temperatures of the eggs; the experiment was kept at low temperatures resulting in thermal stress, with an average temperature of 34.5 °C. Therefore, the use of red and white monochromatic light in the artificial incubation process for brown-colored eggs is not recommended, because in the post-hatching phase, it promoted the metabolism dysregulation on the blood biochemical profile to control the differentiation in the wavelength of traditional incubation.
The First Report of a Water Mite Unionicola (Trombidiformes: Unionicolidae) Infection in Filopaludina spp. (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) from Thailand with a Description of a New Species of Unionicola (Polyatax) kasetbangkhenensis sp. nov.
Authors: Rachprakhon Phuphitchan , Trivalairat Poramad , Trivalairat Krittiya , Wiroonpan Pichit , Purivirojkul Watchariya
Published: May 2024

Two species of gastropods, Filopaludina sumatrensis polygramma and F. martensi martensi, were found infested with water mites of the genus Unionicola in Bangkok and Nonthaburi provinces, Thailand. Morphological studies on these water mites, based on the characteristics of their genital acetabular and female genital fields, identified them as a new member of subgenus Polyatax. Unionicola (Polyatax) kasetbangkhenensis sp. nov. was named after the first location where this parasitic water mite was discovered. This species is distinguished from others by the pattern of their female genital field, with their anterior acetabular plates each bearing two acetabula and a short thick spine on the inner margin. Additionally, it differs from other species by the structure of the spines in its pedipalps and legs, as well as in the shapes of its coxal plates.
Impact of 5–20% Hydroponic Wheat Sprouts Inclusion on Growth and Metabolic Parameters of Growing Ewes
Authors: Min Li , Tuo Yong , Li Dagang , Zang Changjiang , Amat Guzalnur , Zhang Zhijun , Guo Tongjun
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of varying proportions (5–20%) of hydroponic wheat sprouts in the diet of growing four-month-old Hu ewes on their productive performance, metabolic profiles, rumen fermentation, and alterations in microflora. Compared with the control group (CON), the optimum final weight of ewes has been presented in the group of substitution 15% (S15) of the basal diet with hydroponic wheat sprouts. Furthermore, 1–30 d the average daily gain (ADG), 31–60 d ADG, and average feed intake were both significantly improved in S15 compared with CON (p < 0.05). Feeding hydroponic wheat sprouts can significantly increase high-density lipoprotein and interleukin-2 (p < 0.05) accompanied by the numerical increase of the content of interferon-γ, suggesting its positive effect on ewes’ health and immune systems. In this process, it is noteworthy that feeding hydroponic wheat sprouts results in an increase in relative abundance of Olsenella, Limosilactobacillus, Shuttleworthia, and Prevotella_7, and a decrease in relative abundance of Succinimonas, Pseudobutyrivibrio, and Anaerovibrio in the rumen of growing ewes. It implies that the response of rumen microflora adapted to the change of dietary ingredients, as well as the relationship between rumen microflora changes and the improvement of productive performance and immune system in growing ewes. Considering the usage cost and application effect, S15 of the basal diet with hydroponic wheat sprouts could be the appropriate application solution for growing ewes.
Simulation Approaches Used for Management and Decision Making in the Beef Production Sector: A Systematic Review
Authors: Awasthi Tek Raj , Morshed Ahsan , Williams Thomas , Swain Dave L.
Published: May 2024

Simulation models are used in various areas of agriculture to better understand the system and assist in decision making. In the beef production sector, a variety of simulation research focusing on various dimensions of the system is available. However, an overview of the available research is lacking. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to provide an overview of simulation studies of beef production and create an understanding of the simulation approaches used. Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Central research databases were used to search the relevant articles, with the last search conducted in June 2023. Studies that developed or used simulation strategies and used beef cattle as a primary focus of the study were included. The 105 studies included in this review were examined thoroughly to record the authors, year of publication, country of study, type of study, focus area of the study, simulated scenarios, validation methods, and software programs used. There has been growing research interest in simulating beef production systems worldwide, with most studies conducted in North America and Europe. Among these studies, the majority (84.76%, n = 89) are biophysical or bioeconomic study types and use deterministic approaches (n = 42). Additionally, most studies have a whole-farm scope (38.09%, n = 40) and focus on productivity (51.43%, n = 54). Since only less than half of the studies mentioned the validation techniques and software programs used, there is a need to improve the availability of this information to ensure that the models are adopted effectively in decision making.
A Comparative Analysis of the Cytotoxic and Vascular Activity Effects of Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Venoms Using a Chick Embryo Model
Authors: Bekešová Barbora , Petrilla Vladimír , Polláková Magdaléna , Andrejčáková Zuzana , Vlčková Radoslava , Dyba Barbara , Sopková Drahomíra , Petrillová Monika , Petrovová Eva , Legáth Jaroslav
Published: May 2024

Crotalus snakebites induce various toxicological effects, encompassing neurological, myotoxic, and cytotoxic symptoms, with potentially fatal outcomes. Investigating venom toxicity is essential for public health, and developing new tools allows for these effects to be studied more comprehensively. The research goals include the elucidation of the physiological consequences of venom exposure and the assessment of toxicity using animal models. Chicken embryos serve as valuable models for assessing venom toxicity through the chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST) and the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, particularly useful for evaluating vascular impacts. C. adamanteus venom application resulted in higher embryotoxicity and morphological abnormalities, such as Siamese twins. The CAM assay demonstrated the hemorrhagic effects of venom, varying with venom type and concentration. The irritant potential of both venom types was classified as slight or moderate depending on their concentration. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was performed to receive information about organ toxicity. The results show that both venoms induced changes in the whole embryo, heart, and liver weights, but the C. adamanteus venom was identified as more toxic. Specific venom concentrations affected AChE activity in embryonic tissues. These findings underscore the embryotoxic and vasoactive properties of Crotalus venoms, providing valuable insights into their mechanisms of toxicity and potential applications in biomedicine.
Mouldable Collagen–Tricalciumphosphate Is a Safe Carrier for Local Antibiotics—Short-Term Results in Revision Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Hanusrichter Yannik , Gebert Carsten , Frieler Sven , Moellenbeck Burkhard , Dudda Marcel , Wessling Martin , Theil Christoph
Published: May 2024

Background: Improving local antibiotic delivery is a promising approach to improve infection control and potentially shorten systemic treatment in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study investigates the use of an antibiotic-loaded, mouldable collagen–tricalciumphosphate composite in treatment of hip PJI. Methods: 124 application cases in 79 patients were included from a referral centre; systemic adverse infects, local complications, and infection control were analysed. Results: In most cases, either vancomycin or meropenem were used. Pathogens were previously known in 82 (66%) cases with polymicrobial infection in 20 (25%) patients. There were no cases of hypercalcaemia. Acute kidney injure was present in 14 (11%) cases. Chronic kidney failure persisted in two cases. During a mean follow-up of 12 (SD 9.3; range 3–35) months, implant survival was achieved in 73 (92%) patients; revision due to PJI was performed in 19 cases. Conclusion: Mouldable collagen–tricalciumphosphate composite bone substitute as a local antibiotic carrier in revision hip arthroplasty appears to be a valid option for local antibiotic delivery without systemic complications. Implant survival of 92% supports the hypothesis that local antibiotic therapy is an important component in the treatment of PJI.
Fast Gaussian Filter Approximations Comparison on SIMD Computing Platforms
Authors: Rybakova Ekaterina O. , Limonova Elena E. , Nikolaev Dmitry P.
Published: May 2024

Gaussian filtering, being a convolution with a Gaussian kernel, is a widespread technique in image analysis and computer vision applications. It is the traditional approach for noise reduction. In some cases, performing the exact convolution can be computationally expensive and time-consuming. To address this problem, approximations of the convolution are often used to achieve a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, such as with running sums, Bell blur, Deriche approximation, etc. At the same time, modern computing devices support data parallelism (vectorization) via Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) and can process integer numbers faster than floating-point approaches. In this paper, we describe several methods for approximating a Gaussian filter, implement the SIMD and quantized versions, and compare them in terms of speed and accuracy. The experiments were performed on central processing units with a x86_64 architecture using a family of SSE SIMD extensions and an ARMv8 architecture using the NEON SIMD extension. All the optimized approximations demonstrated 10–20× speedup while maintaining the accuracy in the range of 1 × 10−5 or higher. The fastest method is a trivial Stack blur with a relatively high error, so we recommend using the second-order Vliet–Young–Verbeek filter and quantized Bell blur and running sums as more accurate and still computationally efficient alternatives.
How Does the Built Environment Affect Mechanical Parking Space Planning: A Case Study in Xi’an City
Authors: Wang Yuejiao , Li Weijia
Published: May 2024

Mechanical parking lots and spaces are known as the “energy saver” of urban space because of their small footprint, high efficiency, and environmental protection. However, the location and number of mechanical parking lots and space planning have become an important part of effectively exerting the function of mechanical parking lots. In order to explore the planning problem of mechanical parking lots, this study used the gradient boosting decision tree–Shapley additive explanations (GBDT-SHAPs) to measure the non-linear impact of the urban built environment on the mechanical parking spaces ratio and extract the optimal threshold of key variables. The results show that land use mix and distance to Bell Tower (CBD) are two key variables affecting mechanical parking space planning, and both have a non-linear relationship with the built environment. The threshold values are 0.83 and 7 km. The results will provide urban and transport planners with strategies for planning mechanical parking lots and spaces.
Research on the Outburst–Rockburst Coupling Disaster Law Based on True Triaxial Unloading Tests
Authors: Shan Lei , Xiao Fukun , Liu Gang , Xie Kai
Published: May 2024

The coal and gas outburst and rockburst coupling disaster is becoming increasingly serious due to deep mining. To clarify the mechanism inducing the outburst–rockburst coupling disaster, a true triaxial single-sided unloading mechanical test was conducted with the aid of a true triaxial solid–thermal–gas coupling test device, an industrial computed tomography (CT) system, and an acoustic emission system. Through this test, the mechanical characteristics, meso crushing characteristics, and acoustic characteristics in the disaster formation process were obtained. Additionally, the outburst–rockburst coupling instability disaster law was verified by numerical simulation. The results demonstrated that the stress unloading degree of the coal body was negatively correlated with the initial gas pressure in the outburst–rockburst coupling disaster. The time domain parameter count and energy of acoustic emission exhibited a “bimodal” distribution pattern in the instability stage. The rockburst would occur when the peak value was in a “low-count and high-energy” state, while coal and gas outburst would occur when the peak value was in a “high-count and low-energy” state. The meso slice revealed that gas degradation promoted the development of microcracks in the coal body, and the penetration of cracks resulted in the main cracks of structural instability during rockburst. The coal and gas outburst was mainly attributed to the “cross” shear failure pattern of the coal body. These research findings may lay a foundation for the effective prevention and control of outburst–rockburst coupling disasters.
User Assessment of a Customized Taekwondo Athlete Performance Cyber–Physical System
Authors: Cunha Pedro , Barbosa Paulo , Ferreira Fábio , Silva Tânia , Martins Nuno , Soares Filomena , Carvalho Vítor
Published: May 2024

This study outlines the assessment of the cyber–physical system SPERTA, which was designed to evaluate the real-time performance of Taekwondo athletes. The system conducts performance analyses focusing on speed, acceleration, strength, and identifying and quantifying the athlete’s movements. The research involved administering an online questionnaire to athletes and coaches to evaluate the system’s acceptance and usability. The methodology included using a questionnaire with open and closed questions to assess participant satisfaction and system usability. The results showed a positive response to the system, with participants emphasizing its reliability and ease of use. An analysis of the responses revealed a strong internal consistency, as indicated by the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which enhances the research instrument’s reliability. Additionally, the analysis of open-ended questions was conducted through thematic analysis to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ experiences and perceptions of the system. These results highlight the effectiveness of the SPERTA system as a valuable tool for the real-time performance evaluation of Taekwondo athletes, providing insights for future improvements and the development of more effective training techniques.
Research on the Movement of Overlying Strata in Shallow Coal Seams with High Mining Heights and Ultralong Working Faces
Authors: Fu Yuping , Li Chuantian , He Yongliang
Published: May 2024

To study the roof movement and ground pressure evolution characteristics of an ultralong working face in a shallow coal seam with a high mining height, the Shangwan Coal Mine in the Shendong mining area was used as the research background, and the physical and mechanical parameters of the surrounding rock were determined through rock mechanics experiments. A physical simulation model was built considering the 7 m mining height of the 12301 fully mechanized working face of the Shangwan Coal Mine to simulate and study the evolutions of the movement, fracture and collapse of the coal seam, direct roof, and basic roof and overlying strata during the mining process. The mechanical characteristics of the support, mechanism of roof collapse, and changes in the working resistance of the support were analysed and simulated. The research results indicate that when mining at a height of 7 m, the direct roof and basic roof strata collapse in layers; the basic roof strata collapse backwards, the rock block arrangement is more irregular, and the range of the basic roof that can form structural rock layers extends higher. After the basic roof rock fractures, it cannot form a masonry beam structure and can only form a cantilever beam structure. The periodic fracture of the cantilever beam causes periodic pressure on the working face. These research results are of great significance for planning the further mining of shallow coal seams with high mining heights and ultralong working faces in the Shendong mining area, as well as for improving the control of overlying strata.
A Deep Learning Approach to Predict Supply Chain Delivery Delay Risk Based on Macroeconomic Indicators: A Case Study in the Automotive Sector
Authors: Gabellini Matteo , Civolani Lorenzo , Calabrese Francesca , Bortolini Marco
Published: May 2024

The development of predictive approaches to estimate supplier delivery risks has become vital for companies that rely heavily on outsourcing practices and lean management strategies in the era of the shortage economy. However, the literature that presents studies proposing the development of such approaches is still in its infancy, and several gaps have been found. In particular, most of the current studies present approaches that can only estimate whether suppliers will be late or not. Moreover, even if autocorrelation in data has been widely considered in demand forecasting, it has been neglected in supplier delivery risk predictions. Finally, current approaches struggle to consider macroeconomic data as input and rely mostly on machine learning models, while deep learning ones have rarely been investigated. The main contribution of this study is thus to propose a new approach that for the first time simultaneously adopts a deep learning model able to capture autocorrelation in data and integrates several macroeconomic indicators as input. Furthermore, as a second contribution, the performance of the proposed approach has been investigated in a real automotive case study and compared with those studies resulting from approaches that adopt traditional statistical models and models that do not consider macroeconomic indicators as additional inputs. The results highlight the capabilities of the proposed approach to provide good forecasts and outperform benchmarks for most of the considered predictions. Furthermore, the results provide evidence of the importance of considering macroeconomic indicators as additional input.
Pressure Fluctuation and Flow-Induced Noise of the Fin and Rudder in a Water Tunnel
Authors: Qu Duo , Li Yanfei , Li Ruibiao , Chen Yunhui , Zhang Yongou
Published: May 2024

The flow field and radiated noise resulting from water flowing through a fin and rudder were analyzed in this study. A hydrodynamic experiment was conducted in a water tunnel to measure the pressure fluctuations affecting a fin and rudder, and then the experimental data and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results were compared and analyzed. The discussion presented herein focuses on the zero angle of attack and the Reynolds number based on a maximum width of the fin and rudder ranging from 3.6 × 106 to 9.7 × 106. Furthermore, a numerical model was developed using the LES turbulence model and Lighthill’s acoustic analog theory to predict the flow-induced noise generated by the fin and rudder. The test data reveal that the pressure fluctuation decreases as frequency increases, and the average rate of decrease is obtained for frequencies up to 5.0 kHz. Additionally, as flow velocity increases, the overall sound pressure level of flow-induced noise also increases. The relationship between the sound power radiated by the fin and rudder and the flow velocity approximately follows a power law with an exponent of seven, and the noise radiated on both sides is greater than that radiated in the direction of flow. The findings presented in this paper have practical implications for designing quieter rudders and optimizing the noise performance of underwater vehicles and ships, thereby addressing concerns regarding the impact of anthropogenic noise on marine life and ecosystems.
Numerical and Analytical Estimation of the Wind Speed Causing Overturning of the Fast-Erecting Crane—Part II
Authors: Augustyn Marcin , Barski Marek
Published: May 2024

The currently presented work is a continuation of the previous one, where the estimation of the forces induced by the wind flow acting on the fast-erecting crane. In that work, the values of the aerodynamic forces were determined experimentally and numerically for the sectional models of the tower and jib. Next, the obtained results were compared with the appropriate standards. Now, the main aim is to determine the critical wind speed causing the overturning of the whole structure. At the very beginning, the numerical analysis of the simplified model of the crane on the real scale is studied. The computations are performed with the use of the ANSYS FLUENT R22. The simulations are performed for three different wind profiles, namely: urban terrain, village terrain, and open terrain. Moreover, the various geometric configurations of the crane in the wind direction are studied. The k-ε model of turbulent flow is exploited. The obtained critical values of the wind speed are confronted with those that are obtained from standards and estimations based on the results obtained from previous investigations performed for sectional models. The influence of the load carried by the crane is also taken into consideration in the overturning of the structure.
Multimodal Attention-Based Instruction-Following Part-Level Affordance Grounding
Authors: Qu Wen , Guo Lulu , Cui Jian , Jin Xiao
Published: May 2024

The integration of language and vision for object affordance understanding is pivotal for the advancement of embodied agents. Current approaches are often limited by reliance on segregated pre-processing stages for language interpretation and object localization, leading to inefficiencies and error propagation in affordance segmentation. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a unique task, part-level affordance grounding, in direct response to natural language instructions. We present the Instruction-based Affordance Grounding Network (IAG-Net), a novel architecture that unifies language–vision interactions through a varied-scale multimodal attention mechanism. Unlike existing models, IAG-Net employs two textual–visual feature fusion strategies, capturing both sentence-level and task-specific textual features alongside multiscale visual features for precise and efficient affordance prediction. Our evaluation on two newly constructed vision–language affordance datasets, ITT-AFF VL and UMD VL, demonstrates a significant leap in performance, with an improvement of 11.78% and 0.42% in mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) over cascaded models, bolstering both accuracy and processing speed. We contribute to the research community by releasing our source code and datasets, fostering further innovation and replication of our findings.
Enhanced Scheduling of AI Applications in Multi-Tenant Cloud Using Genetic Optimizations
Authors: Kwon Seokmin , Bahn Hyokyung
Published: May 2024

The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is increasingly integrating with diverse sectors such as smart logistics, FinTech, entertainment, and cloud computing. This expansion has led to the coexistence of heterogeneous applications within multi-tenant systems, presenting significant scheduling challenges. This paper addresses these challenges by exploring the scheduling of various machine learning workloads in large-scale, multi-tenant cloud systems that utilize heterogeneous GPUs. Traditional scheduling strategies often struggle to achieve satisfactory results due to low GPU utilization in these complex environments. To address this issue, we propose a novel scheduling approach that employs a genetic optimization technique, implemented within a process-oriented discrete-event simulation framework, to effectively orchestrate various machine learning tasks. We evaluate our approach using workload traces from Alibaba’s MLaaS cluster with over 6000 heterogeneous GPUs. The results show that our scheduling improves GPU utilization by 12.8% compared to Round-Robin scheduling, demonstrating the effectiveness of the solution in optimizing cloud-based GPU scheduling.