bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-Administration of Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Adults’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs
Authors: Houle Sherilyn K. D. , Johal Ajit , Roumeliotis Paul , Roy Bertrand , Boivin Wendy
Published: April 2024

Vaccination rates against both influenza and COVID-19 fall short of targets, especially among persons at risk of influenza complications. To gain insights into strategies to boost influenza vaccine coverage, we surveyed 3000 Canadian residents aged ≥ 18 years and examined their knowledge and receipt of co-administered influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. During the 2022–2023 influenza season, 70% of respondents reported being aware the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines could be co-administered, but only 26.2% (95% CI, 23.6% to 28.8%) of respondents received them together. The most common reason for not getting the vaccines together was receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine before the annual influenza vaccine was available (reported by 34.5% [31.2% to 37.7%]). Lack of interest in co-administration was reported by 22.6% (20.8% to 24.3%); of this group, 20.8% (17.1% to 24.5%) reported seeing no benefit in receiving the two vaccines together and 17.2% (13.5% to 20.9%) were concerned about compounded adverse effects from the two vaccines. These results support the willingness of most Canadians to receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time. Co-administration is a viable strategy to improve uptake of influenza vaccines, especially if health professionals proactively offer education and co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 (or other) vaccines as appropriate to clinical need.
Revisiting Poincaré Sphere and Pauli Algebra in Polarization Optics
Authors: Tudor Tiberiu , Voitcu Gabriel
Published: April 2024

We present one of the main lines of development of Poincaré sphere representation in polarization optics, by using largely some of our contributions in the field. We refer to the action of deterministic devices, specifically the diattenuators, on the partial polarized light. On one hand, we emphasize the intimate connection between the Pauli algebraic analysis and the Poincaré ball representation of this interaction. On the other hand, we bring to the foreground the close similarity between the law of composition of the Poincaré vectors of the diattenuator and of polarized light and the law of composition of relativistic admissible velocities. These two kinds of vectors are isomorphic, and they are “imprisoned” in a sphere of finite radius, standardizable at a radius of one, i.e., Poincaré sphere.
Effect of Carbon Nanofiber Distribution on Mechanical Properties of Injection-Molded Aramid-Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene
Authors: Takayama Tetsuo , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Yuasa Yuuki , Jiang Quan
Published: April 2024

The mechanical recycling of discarded plastic products as resources for environmental preservation has recently gained research attention. In this context, it is necessary to use waste materials for fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTP). Glass and carbon fibers are often damaged by shear and compression during melt-forming processes. To achieve a sustainable society, it is necessary for thermal recycling to produce minimal to no residue and for mechanical recycling to maintain the length of fibers used in FRTP to preserve their performance as a reinforcing agent. Aramid fibers (AFs) do not shorten during the melt-molding process, and their composites have excellent impact strength. On the other hand, plastics reinforced with glass or carbon fibers are reported to have a superior strength and modulus of elasticity compared to aramid fibers. This study investigates the dispersion of a carbon nanofiber (CNF), a whisker, as the third component in aramid-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP/AF). The results and discussion sections demonstrate how the dispersion of CNF in PP/AF can enhance the mechanical properties of injection-molded products without compromising their impact resistance. The proposed composition will have excellent material recyclability and initial mechanical properties compared to glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.
Data-Driven Method for Vacuum Prediction in the Underwater Pump of a Cutter Suction Dredger
Authors: Chen Hualin , Yuan Zihao , Wang Wangming , Chen Shuaiqi , Jiang Pan , Wei Wei
Published: April 2024

Vacuum is an important parameter in cutter suction dredging operations because the equipment is underwater and can easily fail. It is necessary to analyze other parameters related to the vacuum to make real-time predictions about it, which can improve the construction efficiency of the dredger under abnormal working conditions. In this paper, a data-driven method for predicting the vacuum of the underwater pump of the cutter suction dredger (CSD) is proposed with the help of big data, machine learning, data mining, and other technologies, and based on the historical data of “Hua An Long” CSD. The method eliminates anomalous data, standardizes the data set, and then relies on theory and engineering experience to achieve feature extraction using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Then, six machine learning methods were employed in this study to train and predict the data set, namely, lasso regression (lasso), elastic network (Enet), gradient boosting decision tree (including traditional GBDT, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM)), and stacking. The comparison of the indicators obtained through multiple rounds of feature number iteration shows that the LightGBM model has high prediction accuracy, a good running time, and a generalization ability. Therefore, the methodological framework proposed in this paper can help to improve the efficiency of underwater pumps and issue timely warnings in abnormal working conditions.
Optimising Portfolio Risk by Involving Crypto Assets in a Volatile Macroeconomic Environment
Authors: Bányai Attila , Tatay Tibor , Thalmeiner Gergő , Pataki László
Published: April 2024

Portfolio diversification is an accepted principle of risk management. When constructing an efficient portfolio, there are a number of asset classes to choose from. Financial innovation is expanding the range of instruments. In addition to traditional commodities and securities, other instruments have been added. These include cryptocurrencies. In our study, we seek to answer the question of what proportion of cryptocurrencies should be included alongside traditional instruments to optimise portfolio risk. We use VaR risk measures to optimise the process. Diversification opportunities are evaluated under normal return distributions, thick-tailed distributions, and asymmetric distributions. To answer our research questions, we have created a quantitative model in which we analysed the VaR of different portfolios, including crypto-diversified assets, using Monte Carlo simulations. The study database includes exchange rate data for two consecutive years. When selecting the periods under examination, it was important to compare favourable and less favourable periods from a macroeconomic point of view so that the study results can be interpreted as a stress test in addition to observing the diversification effect. The first period under examination is from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021, and the second from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022. Our research results ultimately confirm that including cryptoassets can reduce the risk of an investment portfolio. The two time periods examined in the simulation produced very different results. An analysis of the second period suggests that Bitcoin’s diversification ability has become significant in the unfolding market situation due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Compliant Contact Force Control for Aerial Manipulator of Adaptive Neural Network-Based Robust Control
Authors: Fang Qian , Mao Pengjun
Published: April 2024

Aerial manipulators expand the application scenarios of manipulators into the air. To complete various operations, the contact force between the aerial manipulator and the target must be precisely controlled. In this study, we first established the mathematical models of the multirotor and the manipulator separately. Their mutual influence is regarded as each other’s disturbance, and the overall linkage mechanism is established through analysis. Then, a robust sliding mode control strategy is developed for accurate trajectory tracking. The controller is derived from Lyapunov theory, which can ensure the stability of the closed-loop system. To compensate for the effect of system uncertainty, an adaptive radial basis function neural network is devised to approximate the part of the controller containing the model information. In addition, an impedance controller is designed to convert force control into position control to make the manipulator contact with the target compliantly. Finally, the simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed method can guarantee the accuracy of the contact force and has good robustness.
Relationship between Height and Exposure in Multispectral Vegetation Index Response and Product Characteristics in a Traditional Olive Orchard
Authors: Perna Carolina , Pagliai Andrea , Lisci Riccardo , Pinhero Amantea Rafael , Vieri Marco , Sarri Daniele , Masella Piernicola
Published: April 2024

The present research had two aims. The first was to evaluate the effect of height and exposure on the vegetative response of olive canopies’ vertical axis studied through a multispectral sensor and on the qualitative and quantitative product characteristics. The second was to examine the relationship between multispectral data and productive characteristics. Six olive plants were sampled, and their canopy’s vertical axis was subdivided into four sectors based on two heights (Top and Low) and two exposures (West and East). A ground-vehicle-mounted multispectral proximal sensor (OptRx from AgLeader®) was used to investigate the different behaviours of the olive canopy vegetation index (VI) responses in each sector. A selective harvest was performed, in which each plant and sector were harvested separately. Product characterisation was conducted to investigate the response of the products (both olives and oils) in each sector. The results of Tukey’s test (p > 0.05) showed a significant effect of height for the VI responses, with the Low sector obtaining higher values than the Top sector. The olive product showed some height and exposure effect, particularly for the olives’ dimension and resistance to detachment, which was statistically higher in the upper part of the canopies. The regression studies highlighted some relationships between the VIs and product characteristics, particularly for resistance to detachments (R2 = 0.44–0.63), which can affect harvest management. In conclusion, the results showed the complexity of the olive canopies’ response to multispectral data collection, highlighting the need to study the vertical axis to assess the variability of the canopy itself. The relationship between multispectral data and product characteristics must be further investigated.
Large Span Sizes and Irregular Shapes Target Detection Methods Using Variable Convolution-Improved YOLOv8
Authors: Gao Yan , Liu Wei , Chui Hsiang-Chen , Chen Xiaoming
Published: April 2024

In this work, an object detection method using variable convolution-improved YOLOv8 is proposed to solve the problem of low accuracy and low efficiency in detecting spanning and irregularly shaped samples. Aiming at the problems of the irregular shape of a target, the low resolution of labeling frames, dense distribution, and the ease of overlap, a deformable convolution module is added to the original backbone network. This allows the model to deal flexibly with the problem of the insufficient perceptual field of the target corresponding to the detection point, and the situations of leakage and misdetection can be effectively improved. In order to solve the issue that small target detection is susceptible to image background and noise interference, the Sim-AM (simple parameter-free attention mechanism) module is added to the backbone network of YOLOv8, which enhances the attention to the underlying features and, thus, improves the detection accuracy of the model. More importantly, the Sim-AM module does not need to add parameters to the original network, which reduces the computation of the model. To address the problem of complex model structures that can lead to slower detection, the spatial pyramid pooling of the backbone network is replaced with focal modulation networks, which greatly simplifies the computation process. The experimental validation was carried out on the scrap steel dataset containing a large number of targets of multiple shapes and sizes. The results showed that the improved YOLOv8 network model improves the AP (average precision) by 2.1%, the mAP (mean average precision value) by 0.8%, and reduces the FPS (frames per second) by 5.4, which meets the performance requirements of real-time industrial inspection.
Cluster-Based Pairwise Contrastive Loss for Noise-Robust Speech Recognition
Authors: Lee Geon Woo , Kim Hong Kook
Published: April 2024

This paper addresses a joint training approach applied to a pipeline comprising speech enhancement (SE) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) models, where an acoustic tokenizer is included in the pipeline to leverage the linguistic information from the ASR model to the SE model. The acoustic tokenizer takes the outputs of the ASR encoder and provides a pseudo-label through K-means clustering. To transfer the linguistic information, represented by pseudo-labels, from the acoustic tokenizer to the SE model, a cluster-based pairwise contrastive (CBPC) loss function is proposed, which is a self-supervised contrastive loss function, and combined with an information noise contrastive estimation (infoNCE) loss function. This combined loss function prevents the SE model from overfitting to outlier samples and represents the pronunciation variability in samples with the same pseudo-label. The effectiveness of the proposed CBPC loss function is evaluated on a noisy LibriSpeech dataset by measuring both the speech quality scores and the word error rate (WER). The experimental results reveal that the proposed joint training approach using the described CBPC loss function achieves a lower WER than the conventional joint training approaches. In addition, it is demonstrated that the speech quality scores of the SE model trained using the proposed training approach are higher than those of the standalone-SE model and SE models trained using conventional joint training approaches. An ablation study is also conducted to investigate the effects of different combinations of loss functions on the speech quality scores and WER. Here, it is revealed that the proposed CBPC loss function combined with infoNCE contributes to a reduced WER and an increase in most of the speech quality scores.
The Molecular Identification and Comprehensive Analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Yan Kai , Li Changfu , Wang Weiyu , Guo Juan , Wang Haifeng
Published: April 2024

Industrial wastewater typically contains many organic and inorganic pollutants and is also contaminated by various microorganisms. Microbial species in industrial wastewater have not been extensively investigated. In this experiment, a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain was isolated for the first time from industrial wastewater containing a high concentration of sulfate and phosphate. Mass spectrometry, genetic analysis, and biochemical identification were conducted to understand the genetic and biochemical characteristics of this Klebsiella pneumoniae strain recovered from industrial wastewater. Growth experiments revealed that it exhibited an excellent growth rate in nutrient broth. Further analyses showed that the strain was sensitive to most antibiotics but resistant to chloramphenicol and nitrofurantoin. It also exhibited significant resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam and cefotaxime/clavulanic acid. Resistance gene experiments indicated the presence of gyrA, OqxB, and ParC genes associated with antibiotic resistance in the isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. Proteomics uncovered the following three proteins related to drug resistance: the multi-drug resistant outer membrane protein MdtQ, the multi-drug resistant secretion protein, and the modulator of drug activity B, which are coexistent in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Proteomics and bioinformatics analyses further analyzed the protein composition and functional enrichment of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae from a high concentration in sulfate and phosphate industrial wastewater provides a new direction for further research on the characteristics and drug resistance traits of industrial wastewater microorganisms and the potential risks they may pose when released into the environment.
The Punishable Child in Sweden—The Tidö Agreement from a Children’s Rights Perspective
Authors: Sundhall Jeanette , Hillén Sandra
Published: April 2024

The discourse that has so far dominated in Sweden, and which has manifested itself in various legislation concerning children who commit crimes, is going to change soon. We argue that this discourse is set to be replaced by one that does not consider the subordinate position of children as a result of their age but rather equates them with adults, thus making invisible the power imbalance between children and adults. In this article, we analyze a political document, the Tidö Agreement, and its articulations on youth criminality. We consider the Tidö Agreement to be an important tool in the process of social change, and we carry out this discussion in connection to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which became law in Sweden in 2020. By using a discourse theory perspective, we examine the articulations in the Tidö Agreement and discuss how these articulations can reproduce or challenge the current discourses by fixing meaning in certain ways. For instance, the word “child” is ambiguous, and its identity changes depending on how it is positioned in relation to other words in a concrete articulation. In this article, we discuss how this word is used in some contexts but avoided in others, and what consequenses this has.
Children’s Rights to and in Sport: A Comparative Analysis of Organizational Policies in the Scandinavian Countries
Authors: Agergaard Sine , Redelius Karin , Strandbu Åse
Published: April 2024

It has long been stated that children have the rights to protection from, e.g., abuse and to the provision of age-appropriate leisure, play, and recreational activities along with participation in all matters that concerns them. Yet, the full range of children’s rights to and in sport has not yet been explored in detail. To do so, it is relevant to turn to the Scandinavian countries, which are praised for promoting children’s rights and well-being, with organized sport forming part of the daily lives of many children and youths. In this paper, we examine the organizational policies in Scandinavian sport in order to develop foundational knowledge about how the range of children’s rights to and in sport may be supported. Comparing key policy documents of the major sports confederations in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, these analyses identify great variety in the following: 1. when and how children’s rights to and in sport have been made explicit in the three countries; 2. whether the emphasis is on protection and/or provision of sport to children and youths or their participation in shaping sporting activities; 3. the degree to and ways in which such rights are regulated. In sum, our findings reflect a disparity between organizational policies in the three countries, with a more liberal and individualistic approach to public policy in the Danish context, providing some explanation of the only recent development in and scattered enaction of regulations to support children’s rights to and in sports. Furthermore, we identify that political attention has mainly been drawn to the protection and provision of sports to children and youths, while their participation in shaping sport is a shared challenge for sport confederations in the Scandinavian countries and beyond.
Teacher Motivation: Exploring the Integration of Technology and Didactics in the Narratives of Future Teachers
Authors: Gómez-Trigueros Isabel María , Ruiz-Bañuls Mónica , Esteve-Faubel José Maria , Mareque León Francisco
Published: April 2024

Different theories addressing the motivational process in educational practice highlight the importance of the teacher’s perspective in the effective integration of technologies as pedagogical–didactic tools in the classroom. The current study consists of a manifest content analysis applying a non-experimental, cross-sectional, qualitative research design. A longitudinal study was conducted through semi-structured individual interviews over three academic years (2020–2023) with a sample of 36 teacher-training students, including undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Valencian Community. The results obtained reveal the participants’ perceptions of the motivations for using technology in their self-learning process, highlighting the positive value they attribute to these tools as resources to motivate their future students. The narratives compiled highlight the relationship between the use of technology and improved academic performance in teacher training. Furthermore, they underline the need to incorporate educational models that not only foster digital skills but also provide solid pedagogical training in this area.
Uncommon Causes of Interlobular Septal Thickening on CT Images and Their Distinguishing Features
Authors: Donuru Achala , Torigian Drew , Knollmann Friedrich
Published: April 2024

Interlobular septa thickening (ILST) is a common and easily recognized feature on computed tomography (CT) images in many lung disorders. ILST thickening can be smooth (most common), nodular, or irregular. Smooth ILST can be seen in pulmonary edema, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and lymphangitic spread of tumors. Nodular ILST can be seen in the lymphangitic spread of tumors, sarcoidosis, and silicosis. Irregular ILST is a finding suggestive of interstitial fibrosis, which is a common finding in fibrotic lung diseases, including sarcoidosis and usual interstitial pneumonia. Pulmonary edema and lymphangitic spread of tumors are the commonly encountered causes of ILST. It is important to narrow down the differential diagnosis as much as possible by assessing the appearance and distribution of ILST, as well as other pulmonary and extrapulmonary findings. This review will focus on the CT characterization of the secondary pulmonary lobule and ILST. Various uncommon causes of ILST will be discussed, including infections, interstitial pneumonia, depositional/infiltrative conditions, inhalational disorders, malignancies, congenital/inherited conditions, and iatrogenic causes. Awareness of the imaging appearance and various causes of ILST allows for a systematic approach, which is important for a timely diagnosis. This study highlights the importance of a structured approach to CT scan analysis that considers ILST characteristics, associated findings, and differential diagnostic considerations to facilitate accurate diagnoses.
Assessment of the State of the Landscaping System in the City of Aktobe, the Republic of Kazakhstan, under Conditions of Man-Made Load Using Remote Sensing
Authors: Khamit Altynbek , Utarbayeva Nurlygul , Shumakova Gulnur , Makhambetov Murat , Abdullina Akzhunus , Sergeyeva Aigul
Published: April 2024

The growth of a city causes a complex of problems related to the increase in the pollution of the urban environment and the shortcomings in its improvement. The territory of the modern city is characterized by the highest man-made loads on the natural environment. The main problems are the low level of green areas, as well as the reduction in trees in many areas, which does not allow the city residents to live comfortably. Currently, Earth remote sensing methods using the vegetation index (NDVI) are one of the dominant means of assessing the condition. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to assess the ecological condition of the green zone in the city of Aktobe. To solve this problem, complex assessment was carried out, including statistical data analysis and the processing of satellite images by calculation of the NDVI for green areas and their mapping. The article analysis lies in the field of development and landscaping of the urban environment of Aktobe. A description of the current state of the system of green areas in the city was provided. On the basis of the data of remote sensing of the earth, the spatial features of the separate classes of the total phytomass of green plants within the city of Aktobe and the spatial features of the territorial zones of the city were determined during the differentiation of green plantings. A study of the dynamics of changes in the vegetation cover index (NDVI) during 2010, 2016, and 2023 allowed us to identify trends in the development of green spaces and their changes over time due to city growth and other factors. The data obtained as a result of the research can be used in the justification of urban planning decisions, landscape planning of the ecological infrastructure of the city, and optimization of landscaping systems.
GIS-Based Model Parameter Enhancement for Urban Water Utility Networks
Authors: Orgoványi Péter , Karches Tamás
Published: April 2024

Water utilities are like arteries for the urban environment and, in order to satisfy water demand, extensive design and operation work applying modeling tools is required. An effective tool can be operated but only if the input, such as real-world consumption data, is built into the system. This study aims to present a GIS-based technique to align the consumption data to a simplified network topology. This study investigates four distinct methods, revealing noteworthy outcomes. The geocoding of consumption locations facilitates their seamless integration with model nodes through geospatial methods. Additionally, effective water consumption allocation is achieved by delineating influence ranges around each node. When comparing the zoning based on the street approach and the arithmetic average with the benchmark manual range of influence approach, substantial errors appear of approximately 190% and 230%, respectively. Addressing the impracticality of the manual method, especially for larger networks, this study advocates for the use of Thiessen polygons to delineate influence areas. In conclusion, this study presents a holistic approach to aligning consumption data with simplified network topologies for enhanced water utility modeling.
Binding of Natural Antibodies Generated after COVID-19 and Vaccination with Individual Peptides Corresponding to the SARS-CoV-2 S-Protein
Authors: Timofeeva Anna M. , Sedykh Sergey E. , Litvinova Ekaterina A. , Dolgushin Sergey A. , Matveev Andrey L. , Tikunova Nina V. , Nevinsky Georgy A.
Published: April 2024

The rapid development of vaccines is a crucial objective in modern biotechnology and molecular pharmacology. In this context, conducting research to expedite the selection of a potent immunogen is imperative. The candidate vaccine should induce the production of antibodies that can recognize the immunogenic epitopes of the target protein, resembling the ones found in recovered patients. One major challenge in vaccine development is the absence of straightforward and reliable techniques to determine the extent to which the spectrum of antibodies produced after vaccination corresponds to antibodies found after recovery. This paper describes a newly developed method to detect antibodies specific to immunogenic epitopes of the target protein in blood plasma and to compare them with antibody spectra generated post vaccination. Comparing the antibody pool generated in the human body after recovering from an infectious disease with the pool formed through vaccination can become a universal method for screening candidate vaccines. This method will enable the identification of candidate vaccines that can induce the production of antibodies similar to those generated in response to a natural infection. Implementing this approach will facilitate the rapid development of new vaccines, even when faced with a pandemic.
Therapeutic Vaccines for HPV-Associated Cervical Malignancies: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alouini Souhail , Pichon Chantal
Published: April 2024

Importance: Despite widespread prophylactic vaccination, cervical cancer continues to be a major health problem with considerable mortality. Currently, therapeutic vaccines for HPV-associated cervical malignancies are being evaluated as a potential complement to the standard treatment. Objective: The present systematic review was conducted on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effects of therapeutic vaccines on the treatment of patients with cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) of Grades 2 and 3. Evidence Review: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. Only articles in English published up until 31 January 2024 were selected. Also, reference lists of the selected original papers and recent review articles were manually searched for additional sources. Data on study characteristics were extracted from the selected articles. Data on outcomes of interest were synthesized, and vaccine efficacy endpoints (histological lesion regression, clinical response, and overall survival) were selected as the basis for grouping the studies. Findings: After screening 831 articles, nine RCTs with 800 participants were included, of which seven studies with 677 participants involved CIN2 and CIN3 and examined lesion regression to ≤CIN1 as the efficacy endpoint. Results of two of these studies were deemed to have a high risk of bias, and another one did not contain statistical analyses. Results of the other four studies were quantitively synthesized, and the pooling of p-values revealed a significant difference between the vaccine and placebo groups in terms of lesion regression (p-values of 0.135, 0.049, and 0.034 in RCTs, yielding a combined p-value of 0.010). The certainty of the evidence was rated as moderate. Patients with advanced cervical cancers were studied in two RCTs with 123 participants. Clinical response and overall survival were taken as endpoints, and the results were reported as not significant. The certainty of the evidence of these results was rated as very low, mainly due to the very small number of events. All studies reported good tolerance for the vaccines. Conclusions and Relevance: The results indicate the potential for therapeutic vaccines in the regression of CIN2 and CIN3 lesions. Moreover, a potential gap in evidence is identified regarding the very low number of RCTs in patients with advanced cervical cancer.
Path Tracking and Anti-Roll Control of Unmanned Mining Trucks on Mine Site Roads
Authors: Wang Ruochen , Wan Jianan , Ye Qing , Ding Renkai
Published: April 2024

Aiming to address the tracking accuracy and anti-rollover problem of the unmanned mining truck path tracking process under the complex unstructured road conditions in mining areas, a coordinated control strategy for path tracking and anti-rollover based on topology theory is proposed. Moreover, optimal equilibrium weights are assigned to path tracking control and anti-rollover control to ensure that the path tracking accuracy of the mining vehicle can be effectively improved in a safe and stable driving state. Regarding the path tracking problem, a lateral preview error model is established, and a path tracking controller is designed using LQR (linear quadratic regulator) control theory. In the design of the anti-rollover controller, the effects of understeer and trip-type rollover on the stability of the vehicle are taken into account, and the ideal transverse swing angular velocity and trip-type rollover evaluation index are introduced for controller design, which reduce the effects of the curves and roadway excitation on the mining truck and improve the rollover motion. Based on a joint simulation using Trucksim and Simulink and the construction of a hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform for verification, the single control strategy and coordinated control strategy are compared and analyzed. The final simulation results show that the tracking error, yaw velocity, and center of mass side deviation angle are optimized by 45%, 32.5%, and 20%, respectively. Therefore, the Extension theory-based coordinated controller satisfies the complex road conditions in the mining area and improves the tracking accuracy to the maximum extent while ensuring the safety and smoothness of vehicle driving and exhibiting good adaptability and robustness.
Profile of Irish female GPs and factors affecting long-term commitment: a descriptive study
Authors: Keenan Ivana , Cullen Laura , Hogan Gabrielle , O’Herlihy Noirin , McCarthy Ciara , Collins Claire
Published: April 2024

Background

Over the past two decades, many countries have reported an increased percentage of female staff in the general practice workforce. Considering the importance of general practice workforce planning, it is necessary to investigate the current working patterns of female GPs.

Aim

To describe the female GP workforce in Ireland and to investigate factors that may affect their long-term commitment to general practice.

Design & setting

Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted with female GPs in Ireland.

Method

A ‘membership survey’ was emailed to 1985 female GPs in November 2021. In total, 345 female GPs responded, providing a response rate of 17.4%.

Results

The study revealed that a majority of the female GP workforce in Ireland worked in the position of the GP principal (62.3%), but also provided out-of-hours services (64.3%), and undertook caring responsibilities (84.1%). In total, 41.2% of the responders disclosed having at least one paid additional role, mainly in the field of academia and teaching. Most female GPs worked fewer than eight clinical sessions a week (80.5%). GPs who held General Medical Services (GMS) contracts (72.8%) were significantly more likely to work more clinical sessions a week and had been longer employed in general practices (>5 years) than GPs who did not have GMS contracts.

Conclusion

Irish female GPs demonstrated a significant adjustment of their working patterns, including reducing their number of clinical sessions and balancing between additional roles, to ensure their long-term commitment to general practice. Current practices and vision on GP roles must be recognised and supported to allow for adequate workforce planning.
La mosquée Djumʿa de Bouroudjird
Authors: SIROUX M.
Published: April 2024

Pendant six siècles, la mosquée Djum'a de Bouroudjird demeura dans son état initial (fig. 8), exemple typique de la mosquée iranienne au début de sa carrière. Fondé au IVe s. H. ou au début du Ve, Xe s. ap. J.-C. (sur l’emplacement d’un ancien monument), cet édifice que nous pensons préseldjukide attendit le règne de Chah Abbas le Grand (fin Xe, début XIe s. H. — fin xvie, début XVIIe ap. J.-C.) pour recevoir des embellissements qui en changèrent complètement l’allure. Entre temps, à une époque indéterminée, des annexes entourèrent la cour (le vestige de la salle du puits), et au VIIIe s. H. un décor peint sur plâtre orna le sanctuaire.

Après l’édification du programme du Xe s. H. (eïwan , salles de prière , entrée ouest, salle d’ablutions, et peut-être* entrée est et hammam) quelques améliorations de détail (porte datée de Chah Sulaiman) ne changeront rien jusqu’au début de la période qadjare. A ce moment l’aspect actuel prend corps : de nouvelles façades, les minarets, de grosses réparations et agrandissements furent d’abord effectués, suivis peu après de la construction de la mosquée souterraine, d’une nouvelle salle pour le puits. Plus tardivement encore (sous Nasir-ad-Din ?) eurent lieu les démolitions de parties safawides (salle d’ablutions ouest) et la curieuse réfection de la coupole.

Comme on a pu en juger au cours de cette rapide étude, certaines idées ont dû être avancées, les unes étayées par des faits concrets, les autres par des probabilités architecturales : quoi qu’il en soit, la conclusion essentielle demeure, la Djum'a de Bouroudjird est une mosquée iranienne primitive s’ajoutant à la liste déjà longue de ces monuments.
A política de educação no Rio Grande do Norte e a contribuição de assistentes sociais na educação básica
Authors: Montefusco Carla , Souza Iris de Lima
Published: April 2024

Projetos, programas e ações políticas e pedagógicas são planejados, na esfera do governo, para colocar em prática medidas que viabilizem a garantia do acesso à educação para os cidadãos. Mesmo assim, nem sempre esse planejamento é materializado continuamente e satisfatoriamente, gerando impasses e desafios que distanciam as pessoas do acesso e da permanência à educação pública e de qualidade. Apresentar ideias sobre a política de educação no Rio Grande do Norte (RN) e como o profissional de serviço social pode contribuir na educação desse estado, é o objetivo deste trabalho. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa, objetivos exploratórios, descritivos e explicativos, e procedimentos de pesquisa bibliográfico e documental. Assim como em outros estados do Brasil, as políticas de educação no RN passeiam por estradas com diferentes bifurcações que nem sempre as levam ao alcance de resultados que distanciem a desigualdade e a segregação social e educacional.
Superior Anti-arrhythmogenic Effect of Combined Conditioning with Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Ubiquinol in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Aged Rats
Authors: Mokhtari Behnaz , Jessri Amirhossein , Ghaffari Samad , Badalzadeh Reza
Published: April 2024

Purpose: Lethal ventricular arrhythmias are a significant clinical concern following reperfusion therapies in elderly patients with myocardial infarction. The combination of multi-target therapies to achieve optimal anti-arrhythmogenesis and improve the chances of successful translation for patient benefit has prompted considerable interest. This study examined the anti-arrhythmic effect of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)/ubiquinol combination treatment following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in aged rats, with an emphasis on the role of oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO). Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=30, 22-24 months old, 400-450 g) were randomized into five groups with or without IR and/or NMN and ubiquinol, either alone or in combination. NMN (100 mg/kg/48 hours) was administered intraperitoneally for 28 days before IR, and ubiquinol (30 mg/kg) was injected intravenously at early reperfusion. Electrocardiographic signals were recorded during the ischemia and the first 30 minutes of reperfusion. Two hours after reperfusion, myocardial hemodynamic and LDH release were measured, and the left ventricle samples were obtained to evaluate oxidative stress markers and NO levels. Results: NMN/ubiquinol combination treatment significantly minimized the occurrence and severity of IR-induced arrhythmias, improved myocardial function, and reduced LDH release (P<0.05). It also decreased MDA content, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) activities, and enhanced NO formation (P<0.05). This combined treatment showed greater efficacy than the single treatments. Conclusion: This study revealed the anti-arrhythmic effect of NMN/ubiquinol combination treatment in IR-treated aged rats, which may be associated with reduced oxidative stress and increased NO formation. This combinational approach deserves more investigation due to its potential to confer better anti-arrhythmic effect during aging.
The Effect of Eight Weeks of Interval Training and Caffeine Supplementation on Glycemic Indices of Type 2 Diabetic Men
Authors: Babaei Bonab Solmaz , Ameghani Akram , Fattahpour Marandi Morteza , Jamali Gharakhanlou Bahram
Published: April 2024

Background. Type 2 diabetes, as the most common metabolic disease, is a chronic and progressive disorder that causes permanent complications and increases cardiovascular diseases, brain vessels, peripheral vessels, and mortality in affected people. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of interval training and caffeine supplementation on glycemic indices in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods. The current research was a semi-experimental study. As a pilot research, 50 people were selected trough an available and targeted manner, among men with type 2 diabetes (with a history of more than one year) referring to Salamat and Sheikh Al-Rais Specialist clinics, Tabriz, Iran In the period of 2020-2021. 32 people met the inclusion criteria and entered into the study. Participants in the study were simple randomly divided into four homogenous groups of 8 including; Placebo, caffeine, exercise and exercise + caffeine were divided. Drug interventions and intermittent exercises were performed for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected during two stages (pre-test and post-test) to measure serum levels of glucose, insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR index. The data were analyzed using repeated analysis of variance, Bonferroni post hoc and independent t tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results. The results showed that the levels of the glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR in the three intervention groups significantly decreased compared to those in the placebo group (P=0.001). Furthermore, the results of post hoc test showed that the combined group of interval training + caffeine, compared to the caffeine group, had double effects on the changes in studied indices (P=0.001). Conclusion. A combination of interval training and caffeine supplementation may have been adopted as an effective method to improve and treat symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.
Compilation and Validation of a Comprehensive Model of Performance Audit in the Field of Health Using a Fuzzy Delphi Method
Authors: Esmati Beyrami Hojjat , Mottaghi Aliasghar , Badavar Nahandi Younes , Mohammady Ahmad
Published: April 2024

Background. Measuring the efficiency, effectiveness and economic efficiency in the public sector and accordingly allocating resources based on the accepted indicators leads to an increase in public welfare. This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive model of performance audit in the field of health. Methods. This study was carried out using a mixed methods approach. Data in the qualitative section was collected by non-probability sampling method and conducting in-depth interviews with 16 experts and senior managers in the field of performance auditing. In the quantitative section, using Cochran’s formula, the sample size was estimated as 384 individuals. Data was collected using a questionnaire, the fuzzy Delphi method, and the partial least squares (PLS) regression in the MAXQDA 2020 software. The collected data was validated through a questionnaire to obtain the final research model. Results. Findings of this study indicated that the following indicators played a vital role in better implementation of performance audits in the field of health: staff empowerment, employing expert and efficient human resources, developing appropriate rules and regulations, managing internal organizational goals, organizing the organization, exercising control over internal policies, economic factors within the organization, laying the foundation for the implementation of performance audits, and organizational productivity. Conclusion. According to the results of the present study, the extracted performance audit indicators can be used to evaluate and improve the quality of performance audit in various areas of health sector.
A Comparative Study of the Coverage of the Concept of Successful Aging in the Health Programs of Iran and Selected Countries
Authors: Gholamzadeh Nikjoo Raana , Matlabi Hossein , Mazrooei Ziba
Published: April 2024

Background. Successful aging is the feeling of inner satisfaction and happiness of the person from his/her current and past life. Implementation of this concept in societies requires attention in macro plans and policies. This study, therefore, aimed to study the coverage of the concept of successful aging in the health programs of Iran and selected countries. Methods. In this comparative study, the literature was first reviewed. To this end, the internal websites were searched and the documents and circulars of the Ministry of Health along with the developed and implemented programs regarding the elderly were extracted. Then, the components highlighted in each program were identified. Finally, the elements and components of the coverage of the concept of successful aging in the health programs of Iran was investigated with other selected countries in this field and the existing gaps were compared. Results. Elements and components of the successful aging in all programs were determined after examining the country's health programs. The sub-components of health promotion, provision of appropriate health services, as well as medical and treatment services were highlighted in most of the country's health program packages; however, the sub-components of disease prevention, long-term care, adherence of the elderly to the application of provided services, social support, education and literacy, income, insurance and social support, as well as employment were not taken into consideration in any of the programs. The health programs of the two countries (i.e., Canada and the United States) out of all other examined countries were highly compatible with the components of successful aging in the framework developed by the World Health Organization. Conclusion. Since no importance was attached to the components such as prevention of diseases, long-term care, and adherence of the elderly to the application of provided services, it was recommended that the health policy makers should fill the existing gap by following the examples of successful old age programs in the selected countries. Moreover, it was found absolutely necessary to provide components such as social support, education and literacy, insurance and employment, as well as inter-sectoral conflict at the welfare, education, economy, and finance ministerial levels.
Mathematical model of the rational organization of the information flows processing in aircraft delivery system
Authors: B.I. Moroz , A.S. Kruhlyk , D.M. Moroz , A.A. Martynenko
Published: April 2024

The growing interest in unmanned aircrafts, quadcopters and other flying vehicles determines the need for dispatching incoming information flows from multiple users for the delivery of cargo by these flying vehicles. The issue of dispatching message flows is closely related to the choice of a model for the rational organization of processing such flows. Analyzing the latest research and publications in this area, I would like to point the work of B. P. Knysh " The method of the time distribution for the goods shipment by the means of unpiloted aerial vehicles based on a priority." But the such priority mass service system can guarantees that the only highest priority goods will be delivered in time. The purpose of this work is to describe a conceptual model of information flow pro-cessing in aircraft delivery systems using the discipline for the rational organization of information processing based on several characteristics. There are provides mathemati-cal model that allows determining the main characteristic of the service - function of the waiting time for processing of a message received in the data processing system(DPS) at the time t.