bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explainable Machine Learning Models for Identification of Food-Related Lifestyle Factors in Chicken Meat Consumption Case in Northern Greece
Authors: Chiras Dimitrios , Stamatopoulou Marina , Paraskevis Nikolaos , Moustakidis Serafeim , Tzimitra-Kalogianni Irini , Kokkotis Christos
Published: September 2023

A consumer’s decision-making process regarding the purchase of chicken meat is a multifaceted one, influenced by various food-related, personal, and environmental factors that interact with one another. The mediating effect of food lifestyle that bridges the gap between consumer food values and the environment, further shapes consumer behavior towards meat purchase and consumption. This research introduces the concept of Food-Related Lifestyle (FRL) and aims to identify and explain the factors associated with chicken meat consumption in Northern Greece using a machine learning pipeline. To achieve this, the Boruta algorithm and four widely recognized classifiers were employed, achieving a binary classification accuracy of up to 78.26%. The study primarily focuses on determining the items from the FRL tool that carry significant weight in the classification output, thereby providing valuable insights. Additionally, the research aims to interpret the significance of these selected factors in the decision-making process using the SHAP model. Specifically, it turns out that the freshness, safety, and nutritional value of chicken meat are essential considerations for consumers in their eating habits. Additionally, external factors like health crises and price fluctuations can have a significant impact on consumer choices related to chicken meat consumption. The findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of consumer preferences, enabling the food industry to align its offerings and marketing efforts with consumer needs and desires. Ultimately, this work demonstrates the potential of AI in shaping the future of the food industry and informs strategies for effective decision-making.
Advances in Ghost Imaging of Moving Targets: A Review
Authors: Shi Moudan , Cao Jie , Cui Huan , Zhou Chang , Zhao Tianhua
Published: September 2023

Ghost imaging is a novel imaging technique that utilizes the intensity correlation property of an optical field to retrieve information of the scene being measured. Due to the advantages of simple structure, high detection efficiency, etc., ghost imaging exhibits broad application prospects in the fields of space remote sensing, optical encryption transmission, medical imaging, and so on. At present, ghost imaging is gradually developing toward practicality, in which ghost imaging of moving targets is becoming a much-needed breakthrough link. At this stage, we can improve the imaging speed and improve the imaging quality to seek a more optimized ghost imaging scheme for moving targets. Based on the principle of moving target ghost imaging, this review summarizes and compares the existing methods for ghost imaging of moving targets. It also discusses the research direction and the technical challenges at the current stage to provide references for further promotion of the instantiation of ghost imaging applications.
Mental Stress Classification Based on Selected Electroencephalography Channels Using Correlation Coefficient of Hjorth Parameters
Authors: Hag Ala , Al-Shargie Fares , Handayani Dini , Asadi Houshyar
Published: September 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals offer invaluable insights into diverse activities of the human brain, including the intricate physiological and psychological responses associated with mental stress. A major challenge, however, is accurately identifying mental stress while mitigating the limitations associated with a large number of EEG channels. Such limitations encompass computational complexity, potential overfitting, and the prolonged setup time for electrode placement, all of which can hinder practical applications. To address these challenges, this study presents the novel CCHP method, aimed at identifying and ranking commonly optimal EEG channels based on their sensitivity to the mental stress state. This method’s uniqueness lies in its ability not only to find common channels, but also to prioritize them according to their responsiveness to stress, ensuring consistency across subjects and making it potentially transformative for real-world applications. From our rigorous examinations, eight channels emerged as universally optimal in detecting stress variances across participants. Leveraging features from the time, frequency, and time–frequency domains of these channels, and employing machine learning algorithms, notably RLDA, SVM, and KNN, our approach achieved a remarkable accuracy of 81.56% with the SVM algorithm outperforming existing methodologies. The implications of this research are profound, offering a stepping stone toward the development of real-time stress detection devices, and consequently, enabling clinicians to make more informed therapeutic decisions based on comprehensive brain activity monitoring.
An Experimental Study on the Bond–Slip Relationship between Rebar and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Grouted in Bellows
Authors: Wang Zhongling , Zheng Xiaohong , Wang Qiqi , Wang Qian
Published: September 2023

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)-filled duct connection is an innovative solution for joining assembled structures, in which the anchorage performance of the rebar and UHPC filled in bellows plays a critical role in determining the overall connection effectiveness. To establish a reliable anchorage length and a bond–slip relationship between rebar and UHPC within a bellow, a total of 16 specimens were conducted, and pullout tests were carried out. Two parameters were considered, including the diameter ratio (D/d), representing the proportion of the diameter of the bellow D to the diameter of the steel bar d, and anchorage length (L). By analyzing the failure modes, load versus deflection curves, and steel strain data, the influences of the diameter ratio and anchorage length on the anchorage performance were discussed. The test results showed that the failure mode changed from rebar pullout to rebar breakage as the anchorage length increased from 3 d to over 10 d. The reliable anchorage length of the rebar was recommended to be at least 10 d with a diameter ratio (D/d) of 2.4. Moreover, a fitting bond–slip model was proposed based on the experimental bond–slip curves between the rebar and UHPC interface within the bellows with high precision. These findings constitute a crucial basis for the comprehensive stress analysis of assembled structures connected using UHPC grouted in bellows.
Enhancing Construction Project Workflow Reliability through Observe–Plan–Do–Check–React Cycle: A Bridge Project Case Study
Authors: Javanmardi Ashtad , He Chuanni , Hsiang Simon M. , Abbasian-Hosseini S. Alireza , Liu Min
Published: September 2023

This research aims to determine the appropriate level of effort required for each step of the Observe–Plan–Do–Check–React (OPDCA) cycle to improve the workflow reliability of a construction project. Empirical data on detailed weekly meeting minutes over 18 weeks and the planned and actual starting and finish times of 475 activities were collected from a bridge construction case project. The information theory approach was utilized to measure the information gained from discussions pertaining to the OPDCA cycle during weekly planning meetings. Cooperative game theory and the Shapley notation of fairness were used to compute the contribution of each OPDCA step to workflow reliability. Results showed that “Observe”, “Plan”, “Do”, “Check”, and “reAct”, contributed 18%, 23%, 23%, 24%, and 12% to observed variations in workflow reliability measured by the percent plan complete (PPC). Also, findings revealed that synergy exists between the “Check” step and other steps in the OPDCA cycle. The methodology developed in this paper has potential implications for engineering managers. The method can be generalized to help project managers find the balance between planning and control efforts to improve workflow. It also provides proven techniques for continuous improvement during project execution to facilitate project success. Furthermore, at the organizational level, the developed method can help higher-level managers make informed investment decisions for employees’ training and development to improve performance in future projects.
Role of Electronic and Steric Effects on Ruthenium Catalysts with Bulky NHC Ligands and Relationship with the Z-Selectivity in Olefin Metathesis
Authors: Diaz-González Valentina , Paredes-Gil Katherine
Published: September 2023

Recently, sterically demanding N-heterocyclic cyclometalated ruthenium were reported as efficient Z-selective catalysts for cross-metathesis, showing a different reactivity in the function of the auxiliary ligand and the bulky ligand. To understand the origin of this behavior, we carried out density functional (M06-L) calculations to explore the reaction mechanism and insight from the energetic contributions into the determinant step. We emphasize the differences that occur when the 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dipp) and 2,6-diisopentylphenyl (Dipep) are employed. The results show that the barrier energies, ΔG‡, increase when the bulky ligand is greater, using nitrate as an auxiliary ligand, while the opposite behavior is obtained when pivalate is the auxiliary ligand. This tendency has its origin in the low reorganization energy and the less steric hindrance (%Vbur) obtained in catalysts that involve nitrate ligand and Dipep group. Moreover, by scrutinizing the energy decomposition analysis (EDA), it is found that the electronic contributions are also dominant and are not uniquely the steric effects that control the Z-selectivity.
Multiple Roles of the RUNX Gene Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Potential Clinical Implications
Authors: Krajnović Milena , Kožik Bojana , Božović Ana , Jovanović-Ćupić Snežana
Published: September 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers in humans, characterised by a high resistance to conventional chemotherapy, late diagnosis, and a high mortality rate. It is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in hepatocarcinogenesis to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes. The Runt-related (RUNX) family of transcription factors (RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3) participates in cardinal biological processes and plays paramount roles in the pathogenesis of numerous human malignancies. Their role is often controversial as they can act as oncogenes or tumour suppressors and depends on cellular context. Evidence shows that deregulated RUNX genes may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis from the earliest to the latest stages. In this review, we summarise the topical evidence on the roles of RUNX gene family members in HCC. We discuss their possible application as non-invasive molecular markers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and development of novel treatment strategies in HCC patients.
The Reliability of Salivary Cortisol Compared to Serum Cortisol for Diagnosing Adrenal Insufficiency with the Gold Standard ACTH Stimulation Test in Children
Authors: Ciancia Silvia , van den Berg Sjoerd A. A. , van den Akker Erica L. T.
Published: September 2023

The ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) stimulation test is the gold standard for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI), performed with ACTH high dose (HDT) or low dose (LDT). As salivary cortisol has been proposed as an alternative to serum cortisol, our aim was to evaluate the reliability of salivary cortisol compared to serum cortisol for diagnosing AI in children. Data were collected retrospectively. Salivary and serum cortisol values derived by 80 ACTH stimulation tests were obtained (39 F, 36 M; median age 11.5 years, IQR 6.9). Sampling was performed at baseline and after 30 and 60 min from ACTH administration during the HDT, and at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 min after the stimulation for the LDT. A serum cortisol level > 420 nmol/L ruled out AI. The correlation coefficients between serum and salivary cortisol for the HDT (n = 24) were 0.80 at t0, 0.48 at t30 and 0.75 at t60. All patients were adrenal sufficient. In 41% of the LDT, peak serum cortisol indicated insufficient adrenal function. The correlation coefficients between serum and salivary cortisol were 0.59 at t0 and 0.33 at the peak. For a cut-off of salivary cortisol < 15 nmol/L, sensitivity was 73.9% and specificity 69.6%. Our data do not support salivary cortisol as a valid alternative to serum cortisol during LDT. Regarding the HDT, results are more encouraging, however, further studies are needed.
Interactions between the DNA Damage Response and the Telomere Complex in Carcinogenesis: A Hypothesis
Authors: Torres-Montaner Antonio
Published: September 2023

Contrary to what was once thought, direct cancer originating from normal stem cells seems to be extremely rare. This is consistent with a preneoplastic period of telomere length reduction/damage in committed cells that becomes stabilized in transformation. Multiple observations suggest that telomere damage is an obligatory step preceding its stabilization. During tissue turnover, the telomeres of cells undergoing differentiation can be damaged as a consequence of defective DNA repair caused by endogenous or exogenous agents. This may result in the emergence of new mechanism of telomere maintenance which is the final outcome of DNA damage and the initial signal that triggers malignant transformation. Instead, transformation of stem cells is directly induced by primary derangement of telomere maintenance mechanisms. The newly modified telomere complex may promote survival of cancer stem cells, independently of telomere maintenance. An inherent resistance of stem cells to transformation may be linked to specific, robust mechanisms that help maintain telomere integrity.
Microstructure and Texture Evolution of a Dynamic Compressed Medium-Entropy CoCr0.4NiSi0.3 Alloy
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhang Weiqiang , Chen Lijia , Li Feng , Zhao Hui , Wang Xin , Zhou Ge
Published: September 2023

Focal research has been conducted on medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) that exhibit a balanced combination of strength and plasticity. In this study, the microstructure, dynamic mechanical properties, and texture evolution of an as-cast medium-entropy CoCr0.4NiSi0.3 alloy were investigated through dynamic compression tests at strain rates ranging from 2100 to 5100 s−1 using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar in order to elucidate the underlying dynamic deformation mechanism. The results revealed a significant strain rate effect with dynamic compressive yield strengths of 811 MPa at 2100 s−1, 849 MPa at 3000 s−1, 919 MPa at 3900 s−1, and 942 MPa at 5100 s−1. Grains were dynamically refined from 19.73 to 3.35 μm with increasing strain rates. The correlation between adiabatic temperature rise induced by dynamic compression and dynamic recrystallization was examined, revealing that the latter is not associated with adiabatic heating but rather with phase transition triggered by the dynamic stress during compression. The proportion of Σ3n (1 ≤ n ≤ 3) grain boundaries in deformation specimens increases with increasing strain rates during dynamic compression. The formation of specific three-node structures enhances both strength and plasticity by impeding crack propagation and resisting higher mechanical stress. In the as-cast state, significant anisotropy was observed in the MEA. As strain rates increased, it transited into a stable {111}<112> F texture. The exceptional dynamic properties of strength and plasticity observed in the as-cast state of the MEA can be attributed to a deformation mechanism involving a transition from dislocation slip to the formation of intricate arrangements, accompanied by interactions encompassing deformation nanotwins, stacking faults, Lomer–Cottrell locks, stair-rods, and displacive phase transformations at elevated strain rates.
Differences in the Proteolytic System of Lactic Acid Bacteria Affect the Release of DPP-IV Inhibitory Peptides from Whey Proteins
Authors: Olvera-Rosales Laura Berenice , Cruz-Guerrero Alma Elizabeth , Jaimez-Ordaz Judith , Pérez-Escalante Emmanuel , Quintero-Lira Aurora , Ramírez-Moreno Esther , Contreras-López Elizabeth , González-Olivares Luis Guillermo
Published: September 2023

This work analyzed the antidiabetic activity of peptides from whey proteins after hydrolysis by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Streptococcus thermophilus SY-102, emphasizing the differences between the proteolytic systems of both bacteria. Peptide fractions from whey proteins may have biological functions, such as antidiabetic functions, which inhibit the DPP-IV enzyme, and lactic acid bacteria could release them. A whey solution of 10% was fermented with selected lactic acid bacteria in monoculture and coculture, analyzing kinetic parameters and the proteolytic profile, using the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid technique for free amino groups’ determination and Tris-tricine polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An in vitro inhibition assay of the DPP-IV enzyme was used. The kinetic parameters showed a faster duplication rate in the monoculture with L. rhamnosus GG than in the co-culture, which was related to lactic acid production. Co-culture does not have the highest production of free amino groups and peptides. Still, peptide fractions with lower molecular weight (<2 kDa) were found and showed a high DPP-IV inhibitory capacity that was maintained from the middle of the fermentation to the end (55.4%). In comparison, the monoculture of L. rhamnosus GG increased from 0 to 63.3%. This demonstrates that the proteolytic capacity and the proteolytic system of each lactic acid bacteria determine the structure of the released peptides.
Clinical Decision Support System to Detect the Occurrence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Pediatric Intensive Care
Authors: Rambaud Jerome , Sajedi Masoumeh , Al Omar Sally , Chomtom Maryline , Sauthier Michael , De Montigny Simon , Jouvet Philippe
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a severe care-related disease. The Centers for Disease Control defined the diagnosis criteria; however, the pediatric criteria are mainly subjective and retrospective. Clinical decision support systems have recently been developed in healthcare to help the physician to be more accurate for the early detection of severe pathology. We aimed at developing a predictive model to provide early diagnosis of VAP at the bedside in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center study at a tertiary-care pediatric teaching hospital. All patients treated by invasive mechanical ventilation between September 2013 and October 2019 were included. Data were collected in the PICU electronic medical record and high-resolution research database. Development of the clinical decision support was then performed using open-access R software (Version 3.6.1®). Measurements and main results: In total, 2077 children were mechanically ventilated. We identified 827 episodes with almost 48 h of mechanical invasive ventilation and 77 patients who suffered from at least one VAP event. We split our database at the patient level in a training set of 461 patients free of VAP and 45 patients with VAP and in a testing set of 199 patients free of VAP and 20 patients with VAP. The Imbalanced Random Forest model was considered as the best fit with an area under the ROC curve from fitting the Imbalanced Random Forest model on the testing set being 0.82 (95% CI: (0.71, 0.93)). An optimal threshold of 0.41 gave a sensitivity of 79.7% and a specificity of 72.7%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 9% and a negative predictive value of 99%, and with an accuracy of 79.5% (95% CI: (0.77, 0.82)). Conclusions: Using machine learning, we developed a clinical predictive algorithm based on clinical data stored prospectively in a database. The next step will be to implement the algorithm in PICUs to provide early, automatic detection of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Deep Learner System Based on Focal Color Retinal Fundus Images to Assist in Diagnosis
Authors: Zou Yanli , Wang Yujuan , Kong Xiangbin , Chen Tingting , Chen Jiangna , Li Yiqun
Published: September 2023

Retinal diseases are a serious and widespread ophthalmic disease that seriously affects patients’ vision and quality of life. With the aging of the population and the change in lifestyle, the incidence rate of retinal diseases has increased year by year. However, traditional diagnostic methods often require experienced doctors to analyze and judge fundus images, which carries the risk of subjectivity and misdiagnosis. This paper will analyze an intelligent medical system based on focal retinal image-aided diagnosis and use a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize, classify, and detect hard exudates (HEs) in fundus images (FIs). The research results indicate that under the same other conditions, the accuracy, recall, and precision of the system in diagnosing five types of patients with pathological changes under color retinal FIs range from 86.4% to 98.6%. Under conventional retinopathy FIs, the accuracy, recall, and accuracy of the system in diagnosing five types of patients ranged from 70.1% to 85%. The results show that the application of focus color retinal FIs in the intelligent medical system has high accuracy and reliability for the early detection and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and has important clinical applications.
Ultrasonographic Presentation and Anatomic Distribution of Lung Involvement in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Vermant Marie , Kalkanis Alexandros , Goos Tinne , Cypers Heleen , De Crem Nico , Neerinckx Barbara , Taelman Veerle , Verschueren Patrick , Wuyts Wim A.
Published: September 2023

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic auto-immune disease, typically affecting the joints, which can also present with lung involvement (pleuritis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary nodules, etc.). Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an upcoming tool in the detection of these pulmonary manifestations. Methods: We performed a 72-window LUS in 75 patients presenting to the outpatient rheumatology clinic and describe the abnormalities (presence of B-lines (vertical comet-tail artefacts), pleural abnormalities, pleural effusions, and subpleural nodules) on lung ultrasound. We created a topological mapping of the number of B-lines per intercostal zone. Results: We observed pleural effusions, pleural abnormalities, and pleural nodules in, respectively, 1.3%, 45.3%, and 14% of patients. There were 35 (46.7%) patients who had less than 5 B-lines, 15 (20%) patients who had between 5 and 10 B-lines, 11 (14.6%) between 10 and 20, 10 (13.3%) between 20 and 50, 1 (1.3%) between 50 and 100, and 3 (4%) of patients who had more than 100 B-lines. Conclusions: LUS in patients with RA shows an array of abnormalities ranging from interstitial syndromes to pleural abnormalities, subpleural nodules, and pleural effusions. Hotspots for the presence of B-lines are situated bilaterally in the posterior subscapular regions, as well as the anterior right mid-clavicular region.
Enhancing the Evidence with Algorithms: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Forensic Medicine
Authors: Piraianu Alin-Ionut , Fulga Ana , Musat Carmina Liana , Ciobotaru Oana-Roxana , Poalelungi Diana Gina , Stamate Elena , Ciobotaru Octavian , Fulga Iuliu
Published: September 2023

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various fields has ushered in a new era of multidisciplinary progress. Defined as the ability of a system to interpret external data, learn from it, and adapt to specific tasks, AI is poised to revolutionize the world. In forensic medicine and pathology, algorithms play a crucial role in data analysis, pattern recognition, anomaly identification, and decision making. This review explores the diverse applications of AI in forensic medicine, encompassing fields such as forensic identification, ballistics, traumatic injuries, postmortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, and more. Results: A thorough review of 113 articles revealed a subset of 32 papers directly relevant to the research, covering a wide range of applications. These included forensic identification, ballistics and additional factors of shooting, traumatic injuries, post-mortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, sexual assaults/rape, crime scene reconstruction, virtual autopsy, and medical act quality evaluation. The studies demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of employing AI technology in various facets of forensic medicine and pathology. Conclusions: The integration of AI in forensic medicine and pathology offers promising prospects for improving accuracy and efficiency in medico-legal practices. From forensic identification to post-mortem interval estimation, AI algorithms have shown the potential to reduce human subjectivity, mitigate errors, and provide cost-effective solutions. While challenges surrounding ethical considerations, data security, and algorithmic correctness persist, continued research and technological advancements hold the key to realizing the full potential of AI in forensic applications. As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in the future of forensic medicine and pathology.
Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Endurance Sports: A Review of Pathophysiology, Symptoms, and Nutritional Management
Authors: Ribichini Emanuela , Scalese Giulia , Cesarini Alessandra , Mocci Chiara , Pallotta Nadia , Severi Carola , Corazziari Enrico Stefano
Published: September 2023

Strenuous exercise can be associated with “Exercise Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome” (Ex-GIS), a clinical condition characterized by a series of gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances that may impact the physical and psychological performance of athletes. The pathophysiology comprises multi-factorial interactions between the GI tract and the circulatory, immune, enteric, and central nervous systems. There is considerable evidence for increases in the indices of intestinal damage, permeability, and endotoxemia associated with impaired gastric emptying, slowing of small intestinal transit, and malabsorption of nutrients. Heat stress and racing mode seem to exacerbate these GI disturbances. GI symptomatology that derives from strenuous exercise is similar to that of IBS and other GI functional disorders defined in the Rome IV Criteria. To manage Ex-GIS, the exercise modality, state of dehydration, environmental temperature, concomitant therapies, and self-managed diet should be evaluated, and if risk elements are present, an attempt should be made to modify them. Multiple strategies can be successively adopted to manage Ex-GIS. Nutritional and behavioral interventions appear to be the principal ones to avoid symptoms during the exercise. The aim of this review will be to explore the pathophysiology, clinical aspect, and current literature on behavioral and nutritional strategies to manage Ex-GIS, regarding a gluten-free diet and low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet.
Multiscale Entanglement Renormalization Ansatz: Causality and Error Correction
Authors: Pomarico Domenico
Published: September 2023

Computational complexity reduction is at the basis of a new formulation of many-body quantum states according to tensor network ansatz, originally framed in one-dimensional lattices. In order to include long-range entanglement characterizing phase transitions, the multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA) defines a sequence of coarse-grained lattices, obtained by targeting the map of a scale-invariant system into an identical coarse-grained one. The quantum circuit associated with this hierarchical structure includes the definition of causal relations and unitary extensions, leading to the definition of ground subspaces as stabilizer codes. The emerging error correcting codes are referred to logical indices located at the highest hierarchical level and to physical indices yielded by redundancy, framed in the AdS-CFT correspondence as holographic quantum codes with bulk and boundary indices, respectively. In a use-case scenario based on errors consisting of spin erasure, the correction is implemented as the reconstruction of a bulk local operator.
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Production Costs and Competitiveness of the Brazilian Chicken Meat Chain
Authors: Belarmino Luiz Clovis , Pabsdorf Margarita Navarro , Padula Antônio Domingos
Published: September 2023

Sanitary requirements, geopolitical crises, and other factors that increase price volatility have an impact on the organization of markets and changes in investment policies and business strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the trade of chicken meat, due to the drastic reduction in the circulation of goods, interrupted the supply of production chains, changed consumption habits, and made it difficult to reorganize business due to the slow resumption of operations by suppliers of inputs and in distribution logistics. The magnitude of these impacts has not been studied despite the high relevance of this economic dimension and the managerial implications for sector governance and trade management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the production costs and competitiveness of the Brazilian chicken meat production chain. The methodology consisted of the detailed collection of information and data on private and social prices carried out using the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) method. The competitiveness coefficients and policy effects in the Brazilian broiler production chain before (2015) and during (2022) the COVID-19 pandemic were quantified and compared. Generally, the significant increases in the production costs of chicken meat (30.49%) caused a decrease in total factor productivity (−19.54%), a reduction in gross revenue, and lower tax collection. The pandemic has reduced the profitability of the chicken production chain in Brazil by 32.31%, reduced the competitiveness of exports, and worsened other economic indicators of the production chain. To the best of our knowledge, no other study has investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the competitiveness of the Brazilian chicken meat production chain. The PAM method allows for prices paid and received to be updated in real terms in projects representative of Brazil, the world leader in exports. This information is important for both national and international stakeholders. Additionally, this model is applicable to other meats traded in the international market, as it provides greater precision in business management and can estimate the impacts of risks on the availability or quality of food and health crises with robust results.
Performance Evaluation of Single-Carrier and Orthogonal Frequency Divison Multiplexing-Based Autoencoders in Comparison with Low-Density Parity-Check Encoder
Authors: Tan HP Nguyen , Le Thanh Bang , To Thanh-Nha , Pham Hoang-Lai , Dinh Viet-Hai , Nguyen Tien-Thanh , Khuc Bang
Published: September 2023

Recently, the growing demands for ultra-high speed applications require more advanced and optimal data transmission techniques. Wireless autoencoders have gained significant attention since they provide global optimization of the transceiver structure. This article explores the application of autoencoders to enhance the performance of wireless communication systems. It provides the performance evaluation of the systems using single-carrier and OFDM-based autoencoders under the conditions of AWGN and fading channels. Then, in terms of the BLER metric, the wireless systems with autoencoders are compared with conventional systems using LDPC coding and quadrature amplitude modulation for various configurations. Simulation results indicate that for high-modulation orders (QAM-64 or QAM-256), communication systems employing autoencoders provide superior performance compared to systems using LDPC channel encoding in regions with a low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. Specifically, a gain of 1–2 dB in signal power is obtained for single-carrier autoencoders and 0.3–2 dB is obtained for OFDM-based autoencoders. Therefore, wireless communication systems utilizing autoencoders can be considered as a promising candidate for future wireless communication systems.
Effects of Operating Conditions on the Oxygen Removal Performance of the Deoxo Chamber in the Water Electrolysis System
Authors: Kwon Sooin , Eom Seongyong , Choi Gyungmin
Published: September 2023

Although the production of high-quality hydrogen from electrolysis systems is essential, research in this area is limited. In this study, we investigate the effect of operating conditions on the change in oxygen concentration through computational analysis for optimizing the deoxo chamber of a water electrolysis system. The test results of the water electrolysis system are simulated, and the oxygen concentration of the deoxo chamber is calculated through computational fluid dynamics analysis according to various conditions, such as the pressure, temperature, and flow rate. The O2 removal performance is significantly affected by the operating pressure and temperature, with an increase in both leading to a decrease in the O2 concentration in the water electrolysis system. Furthermore, we confirm that the change in the flow rate into the chamber has a minor effect on the change in the oxygen removal performance when the inlet flow rate was 1–1.5 kg/h and the length diameter ratio of the chamber is 38.4.
Review of Out-of-Plane Strengthening Techniques of Unreinforced Masonry Walls
Authors: Thomoglou Athanasia K. , Jagadesh P. , Voutetaki Maristella E.
Published: September 2023

When a seismic load is applied horizontally or laterally on unreinforced masonry walls (URM), the walls behave in two different ways, viz., in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OoP). This review beneficially provides a literature overview of the most cited research papers on Scopus, and the database is evaluated with VOSviewer software for scientometric analysis. This review paper delves into the practical applications of various types of reinforcement for masonry walls, specifically focusing on four commonly used systems: externally bonded strengthening techniques using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), steel-reinforced grout (SRG), fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM), and textile-reinforced mortars (TRM). The main objective of the paper is to explore the efficacy of these reinforcement techniques in strengthening masonry walls, and to provide a comprehensive overview of their respective advantages and limitations. A further detailed study of the extent of the literature is performed about the effect of the different strengthening systems on the mechanical properties of different categories of masonry walls like a cement block, stone, and clay brick are described and categorized. The efficiency of OoP strengthening can depend on various factors, such as the types of masonry units, the rendering mortar, the type of strengthening system, the bond between the different materials interfaces, the geometry of the wall, and the loading conditions. By utilizing the practical method of Dematel (Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) analysis, this review can delve deeply into the impact of various factors and precisely identify the crucial components of the cause-and-effect connection. The results indicate that the bond between material interfaces is the critical factor. This meticulous and structured review offers valuable perspectives for researchers and engineers, showcasing current research trends and presenting potential avenues for future exploration.
Effects of Fermented Cottonseed Meal Substitution for Fish Meal on Intestinal Enzymatic Activity, Inflammatory and Physical-Barrier-Related Gene Expression, and Intestinal Microflora of Juvenile Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)
Authors: Wang Zhanzhan , Liao Shuling , Wang Jun , Wang Yun , Huang Zhong , Yu Wei , Huang Xiaolin , Lin Heizhao , Luo Maoyan , Cheng Zhenyan , Zhou Chuanpeng
Published: September 2023

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) substitution for fish meal on intestinal enzymatic activity, inflammatory and physical-barrier-related gene expression, and intestinal microflora of juvenile golden pompano. The 375 golden pompanos were divided into 15 groups of 25 fish each, with three replicates for each experimental group. The fish were fed five experimental diets (0 (FM), 12.5% (CSM12.5), 25% (CSM25), 50% (CSM50), and 100% (CSM100) substitution levels) for 8 weeks. The fish were reared and fed the experimental diets under a natural-day light cycle. Compared with the control group, the activities of AMY (amylase) enzymes in the CSM12.5 group and all other groups were elevated (p < 0.05). The CSM25 group exhibited a considerable up-regulation of IL-10 (Interleukin-10) expression relative to the FM group (p < 0.05). With an increase in dietary FM substitution with FCSM from 0 to 25%, the relative expressions of NF-κB (Nuclear factor kappa-B), IL-1β (Interleukin-1 beta), and IL-8 (Interleukin-8) were down-regulated. In this study, the relative expressions of ZO-1 (zonula occluden-1) and Occludin were up-regulated, and those of Claudin-3 and Claudin-15 significantly up-regulated, when the FCSM substitution ratio was 25%. The results of high-throughput sequencing of the intestinal microflora showed that ACE indices the lowest in the CSM25 group, which was significantly different from those in the CSM100 group (p < 0.05). The CSM50 group had the highest Shannon and Simpson indices and the highest community diversity. In addition, replacing a high percentage of fish meal with FCSM can negatively affect the intestinal flora of fish. In this study, the 25% substitution ratio improved nutrient absorption, reduced intestinal inflammation, improved intestinal physical barrier damage, did not affect intestinal microecology, and had no adverse effects on fish. However, substitution of a high proportion of FM with FCSM negatively affects the intestinal microflora and nutrient absorption capacity of fish.
How Do Different Dietary Carbohydrate/Lipid Ratios Influence Intestinal Morphology and Glycolipid Metabolism Capacity in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂)
Authors: Yang Xuanyi , Guo Xinwei , Dong Xiaohui , Yang Qihui , Liu Hongyu , Zhang Shuang , Tan Beiping , Chi Shuyan
Published: September 2023

Levels of dietary carbohydrates and lipids have important effects on the growth, health, and glycolipid metabolizing capacity of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂). This experiment evaluated the effect of carbohydrate to lipid ratios (CHO:L ratio) on growth, serum biochemical indices, intestinal morphology and activity of digestive enzymes, and the ability to metabolize carbohydrates and lipids in the hybrid grouper. Six iso-nitrogenous (500 g/kg) and iso-energetic (190 MJ/kg) feeds with CHO:L ratios of 0.82, 1.03, 1.28, 1.58, 1.94, and 2.27 were formulated. The 720 groupers with an initial body weight of 7.76 ± 0.08 g were sorted into 24 fiberglass buckets of 30 fish each. Feed was delivered twice daily at 8:00 and 16:00 to apparent satiety for 56 days. The results showed that the growth performance of the groupers was not significantly affected by the diet. Based on the specific growth rate (SGR), the optimal CHO:L ratio was 1.72 for the groupers by the second-order polynomial regression model. The intestinal trypsin and lipase, and the hepatic trypsin activities of the groupers showed a maximum in the 1.58 group. The intestinal muscle thickness in the 1.94 group and the villus length in the 1.58 group were significantly greater than in the 0.82, 1.03, 1.28, and 2.27 groups. The glycogen synthase, pyruvate kinase, and hexokinase activities of the liver were significantly higher in the 1.58 group than in the 0.82 and 2.27 groups. The hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase, adipose triglyceride lipase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase of the liver showed significantly higher activities in the 1.58 group than those in the 0.82 and 1.03 groups. These results showed that based on the SGR of the groupers, the best CHO:L ratio was 1.72. An appropriate dietary CHO:L ratio can reduce the lipid deposition of the fish body, liver, and muscle, as well as improve the intestinal morphology and activities of liver carbohydrate and lipid metabolism enzymes.
The Scholarship behind the Eyes in La pícara Justina (1605)
Authors: Soage Javier
Published: September 2023

This article studies the fictionalisation of the eyes and their potential in La pícara Justina (The Spanish Jilt) (1605), a picaresque novel by the licentiate López de Úbeda. To this end, a collection of passages is discussed in the light of physiognomic and medical–humanistic sources close to the author’s context, which makes it clear that he was at least familiar with the technical literature as well as with the learned circles next to the court. The article also attempts to explain certain elusive passages concerning (or having suggested any connection to) the eyes, with an emphasis on the turn of phrase ‘ojos médicos’ and its assumed link to the Menippean ‘sight from afar’ and the phenomenon of the so-called ‘médicos chocarreros’.
Acupotomy in Korean Medicine Doctors: A Preliminary Survey on Experiences, Perceptions, and Clinical Usage Status
Authors: Jun Hyungsun , Yoon Sang-Hoon , Ryu Myungseok , Chae Hyocheong , Chu Hongmin , Leem Jungtae , Kim Tae-Hun
Published: September 2023

Acupotomy is a widely used medical intervention in traditional East Asian medicine, and efforts are being made to improve its effectiveness and safety. As a first step toward establishing more standardized procedural guidelines, a survey was conducted to explore the current clinical practice status and perceived adverse events (AEs) by Korean Medicine (KM) practitioners. The survey was developed via expert consensus and included information on clinical usage, perception, and the AEs experienced. The largest acupotomy society in Korea, which consists of 185 KM doctors, participated in an online survey conducted in September 2021. Of the 185 KM doctors, 107 (57.8%) responded. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases accounted for 80.8% of suggested indications by KM doctors. Regarding the detailed procedure, there were considerable discrepancies between KM doctors. The most frequent acupotomy-related AEs observed by KM practitioners were bruises (77.3%), fatigue (57.7%), pain (51.8%), and hematoma (51.8%). Only 1.8% of the respondents answered that they had experienced severe AEs. Survey respondents answered that the use of imaging devices during acupotomy and the development of clinical practice guidelines are the most necessary policy requirements for promoting the use and ensuring the safety of acupotomy. To the best of our knowledge, this study marks the initial exploration into the KM physicians’ clinical usage status, AEs experienced, and their requests for standardized guidelines and expanded health insurance coverage concerning acupotomy. Further research should include qualitative studies to assess patient experience and prospective observational studies to examine the effects of operator skills and treatment modalities on AEs and adherence.
Response of Dahlia Photosynthesis and Transpiration to High-Temperature Stress
Authors: Liu Jing-Jing , Zhang Ying-Chan , Niu Shan-Ce , Hao Li-Hong , Yu Wen-Bin , Chen Duan-Fen , Xiang Di-Ying
Published: September 2023

The high temperature may cause difficult growth or bloom in the summer, which is the key problem limiting the cultivation and application of dahlia. The photosynthetic physiological mechanisms of dahlia under high temperature stress were studied to provide a theoretical basis for expanding the application range of cultivation and annual production. Two dahlia varieties, ‘Tampico’ and ‘Hypnotica Tropical Breeze’, were used as test materials and were treated for 1 d or 2 d at temperatures of 35/30 °C or 40/35 °C (day/night: 14 h/10 h) and then recovered at 25/20 °C for 7 d. A 25/20 °C treatment was used as the control. The results are as follows: (1) High-temperature stress resulted in the chlorophyll (Chl) content, Fv/Fm, transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and water potential decreasing significantly, and the Chl content, Tr, and stomatal density of ‘Tampico’ were higher than those of ‘Hypnotica Tropical Breeze’ during the same period. (2) After the two dahlia varieties were treated with high-temperature stress and recovered at 25/20 °C for 7 d, the plant morphology and various physiological indices under the 35/30 °C treatment gradually returned to normal, with ‘Tampico’ in better condition than ‘Hypnotica Tropical Breeze’. (3) Both dahlia varieties could not withstand the stress of 40/35 °C for 2 days.
Cross-Attention-Guided Feature Alignment Network for Road Crack Detection
Authors: Xu Chuan , Zhang Qi , Mei Liye , Chang Xiufeng , Ye Zhaoyi , Wang Junjian , Ye Lang , Yang Wei
Published: September 2023

Road crack detection is one of the important issues in the field of traffic safety and urban planning. Currently, road damage varies in type and scale, and often has different sizes and depths, making the detection task more challenging. To address this problem, we propose a Cross-Attention-guided Feature Alignment Network (CAFANet) for extracting and integrating multi-scale features of road damage. Firstly, we use a dual-branch visual encoder model with the same structure but different patch sizes (one large patch and one small patch) to extract multi-level damage features. We utilize a Cross-Layer Interaction (CLI) module to establish interaction between the corresponding layers of the two branches, combining their unique feature extraction capability and contextual understanding. Secondly, we employ a Feature Alignment Block (FAB) to align the features from different levels or branches in terms of semantics and spatial aspects, which significantly improves the CAFANet’s perception of the damage regions, reduces background interference, and achieves more precise detection and segmentation of damage. Finally, we adopt multi-layer convolutional segmentation heads to obtain high-resolution feature maps. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, we conduct experiments on the public CRACK500 dataset and compare it with other mainstream methods. Experimental results demonstrate that CAFANet achieves excellent performance in road crack detection tasks, which exhibits significant improvements in terms of F1 score and accuracy, with an F1 score of 73.22% and an accuracy of 96.78%.
Development of a Virtual Reality Escape Room Game for Emotion Elicitation
Authors: Oliveira Inês , Carvalho Vítor , Soares Filomena , Novais Paulo , Oliveira Eva , Gomes Lisa
Published: September 2023

In recent years, the role of emotions in digital games has gained prominence. Studies confirm emotions’ substantial impact on gaming, influencing interactions, effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Combining gaming dynamics, Virtual Reality (VR) and the immersive Escape Room genre offers a potent avenue through which to evoke emotions and create a captivating player experience. The primary objective of this study is to explore VR game design specifically for the elicitation of emotions, in combination with the Escape Room genre. We also seek to understand how players perceive and respond to emotional stimuli within the game. Our study involved two distinct groups of participants: Nursing and Games. We employed a questionnaire to collect data on emotions experienced by participants, the game elements triggering these emotions, and their overall user experience. This study demonstrates the potential of VR technology and the Escape Room genre as a powerful means of eliciting emotions in players. “Escape VR: The Guilt” serves as a successful example of how immersive VR gaming can evoke emotions and captivate players.