bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the quality of life for physical therapists: insights from a cross-sectional study
Authors: Al Ali Rahaf Eid , Alrowaishd Sahab A. , Abu Thyab Elaf Z. , Almarzuqi Raghad K. , Al Awaji Manal I. , Aldhahi Monira I. , Ibrahim Zizi M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Physical Therapy profession is known for its demanding physical requirements. This increases the risk of attrition and work-related accidents and disorders that affect physical therapists’ quality of life and work performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical activity level and other contributing factors on quality of life of physical therapists.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among practicing physical therapists (n = 258). The International Physical Activity Questionnaires-Short Form was used to measure physical activity levels and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire short form was used to measure the quality of life among physical therapists. Data was collected through a self-administered online survey using Microsoft Forms.

Results

The eligible participants were 258 out of 297. The highest percentage of physical therapists had a moderate physical activity level (45.35%) and the median for overall quality of life score was 63.27(52.73–73.59). There was a significant positive correlation between physical activity and age with overall quality of life score (rs = 0.41, p < 0.001; rs = 0.13, p < 0.036) respectively and a significant negative correlation between body mass index and overall quality of life score (rs = −0.13, p < 0.04).

Conclusion

The results obtained revealed that physical therapists mostly have moderate physical activity level and relatively good perceived quality of Life. Furthermore, our study identified significant correlations between physical activity, age, body mass index, and the overall quality of life among practicing physical therapists.
Treatment seeking for gambling disorder in nationwide register data – observations around a major shift in legislation
Authors: Håkansson Anders , Karlsson Anna , Widinghoff Carolina
Published: March 2024

Background

Treatment seeking for gambling disorder is known to be low and there has been a lack of longitudinal research regarding treatment opportunities. The present study aimed to assess possible changes in treatment uptake after a formal introduction of gambling disorder in social services and health care legislations, by using register data, including patient characteristics with respect to socio-demographics and comorbidities.

Methods

Nationwide register data were collected for the years 2005–2019, describing diagnoses in specialized out-patient health care and in in-patient hospital care. Numbers and characteristics of patients with gambling disorder were followed longitudinally. Also, a new legislation for treatment by public institutions was introduced in 2018, and data were compared for the years before and after the shift in legislation, both nationally, for each of the three major urban regions, and for the rest of the country. Comparisons were made with respect to concurrent mental health comorbidities, age and gender.

Results

The number of out-patient gambling disorder diagnoses increased over time, but without any significant step changes around the shift in legislation. Over time, patients were younger, became more likely to have gambling disorder as their primary diagnosis, and less likely to have mental health comorbidities, whereas gender distribution did not change. Among the smaller group of patients diagnosed in in-patient settings, mental health comorbidity increased over time. Despite gradual changes over time, no changes in demographics were seen around the actual shift in legislation, although the psychiatric comorbidity appeared to increase after this change.

Conclusion

After the introduction of gambling disorder in the responsibility of social services and health care settings in Sweden, the number of patients diagnosed with gambling disorder increased only modestly. Likely, further implementation of gambling disorder treatment is required in the health care services. Also, longer longitudinal studies are needed in order to understand to what extent patients not seeking health care treatment are received by municipal social services or remain outside the treatment system.
Cross-sectional study of pharmacovigilance knowledge, attitudes, and practices based on structural equation modeling and network analysis: a case study of healthcare personnel and the public in Yunnan Province
Authors: Qin Dan , Li Fan , Yang Jian
Published: March 2024

Background

This study focuses on understanding pharmacovigilance knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in Yunnan Province, employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and network analysis. It aims to evaluate the interplay of these factors among healthcare personnel and the public, assessing the impact of demographic characteristics to inform policy and educational initiatives.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yunnan, targeting healthcare personnel and the public. Data collection was through questionnaires, with subsequent analysis involving correlation matrices, network visualization, and SEM. The data analysis utilized SPSS 27.0, AMOS 26.0, and Gephi software for network analysis.

Results

This study evaluated pharmacovigilance KAP among 209 public participants and 823 healthcare personnel, uncovering significant differences. Public respondents scored averages of 4.62 ± 2.70 in knowledge, 31.99 ± 4.72 in attitudes, and 12.07 ± 4.96 in practices, while healthcare personnel scored 4.38 ± 3.06, 27.95 ± 3.34, and 7.75 ± 2.77, respectively. Statistically significant correlations across KAP elements were observed in both groups, highlighting the interconnectedness of these factors. Demographic influences were more pronounced among healthcare personnel, emphasizing the role of professional background in pharmacovigilance competency. Network analysis identified knowledge as a key influencer within the pharmacovigilance KAP network, suggesting targeted education as a vital strategy for enhancing pharmacovigilance engagement.

Conclusion

The research reveals a less-than-ideal state of pharmacovigilance KAP among both healthcare personnel and the public in Yunnan, with significant differences between the two groups. SEM and network analysis confirmed a strong positive link among KAP components, moderated by demographics like age, occupation, and education level. These insights emphasize the need to enhance pharmacovigilance education and awareness, thereby promoting safer drug use.
Feasibility, functionality, and user experience with wearable technologies for acute exacerbation monitoring in patients with severe COPD
Authors: Iorio Olivia C. , Coutu Felix-Antoine , Malaeb Dany , Ross Bryan A.
Published: March 2024

Background: The increasing interest in remote patient monitoring technologies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires a phased and stepwise investigative approach, which includes high-risk clinical subgroups who stand to benefit most from such innovations.

Methods: Patients aged > 40 with spirometry-confirmed COPD presenting with a current acute exacerbation (ECOPD) were recruited from a tertiary centre Day Hospital in this prespecified feasibility study. Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, skin temperature, and daily activity and overnight sleep quality parameters were collected remotely by a wearable biometric wristband and ring for 21 consecutive days. “Total ambulatory wear time” and “percent of useable data” for eligible vital sign parameters were calculated. Correlation and agreement between cardiorespiratory vital sign data were performed using Spearman’s correlation rho and the Bland-Altman test, respectively. User experience was measured with end-of-study System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires.

Results: Nine participants (mean age 66.8 ± 8.4 years, 22% female, mean FEV1 1.4L (34.1% predicted), with “severe” (56%) or “very severe” (44%) COPD) experiencing a current ECOPD were included. Wear time was 94% (wristband) and 88.2% (ring) of the total ambulatory study period. Wristband-obtained data (every 1 min, artefact-free) revealed 99.2% and 98.6% of all heart rate and temperature data, respectively, was useable, whereas only 17.6% of all respiratory rate data was useable. Ring-obtained data (every 5 min, “average” and “good” quality) revealed 84.5% of all heart rate data was useable. Cross-sectional analyses with nurse-obtained vital signs revealed correlation coefficients of 0.56 (p = 0.11) and 0.81 (p = 0.0086) for wristband-obtained and ring-obtained heart rate, respectively, and only 0.15 (p = 0.74) for wristband-obtained respiratory rate, without evidence of systematic/proportional bias. Longitudinal heart rate and respiratory rate inter-device analyses demonstrated correlations of 0.86 (p < 0.001) and 0.65 (p < 0.001), respectively. Finally, end-of-study SUS scores were 86.4/100 (wristband) and 89.2/100 (ring).

Conclusion: Older adults with severe/very severe COPD experiencing a current ECOPD were capable of autonomous physiological data collection/upload/transmission from their home environment over several weeks using sophisticated wearable biometric technology, with favourable user experiences. Cross-sectional and longitudinal comparative results call into question the paradigm of single sets of infrequent/interval vital sign checks as the current “gold-standard” in frontline clinical practice.
Current status of the adjustable transobturator male system (ATOMSTM) for male stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Roth Ingunn , Tzelves Lazaros , Hjelle Karin M. , Moen Christian Arvei , Esperto Francesco , Somani Bhaskar K. , Beisland Christian
Published: March 2024

Male stress urinary incontinence is a debilitating condition, which can occur after prostate surgery. In persistent cases, surgery is indicated and a number of options are available. This includes one of the male slings, Adjustable transobturator male system (ATOMSTM, A.M.I, Austria). There are now an increasing number of studies published. This review provides an overview of the current status of this implant device including technical considerations, surgical outcomes and potential advantages and disadvantages compared to alternatives such as the artificial urinary sphincter.
Fast Algorithm for High-Throughput Screening Scheduling Based on the PERT/CPM Project Management Technique
Authors: Levner Eugene , Kats Vladimir , Yan Pengyu , Che Ada
Published: March 2024

High-throughput screening systems are robotic cells that automatically scan and analyze thousands of biochemical samples and reagents in real time. The problem under consideration is to find an optimal cyclic schedule of robot moves that ensures maximum cell performance. To address this issue, we proposed a new efficient version of the parametric PERT/CPM project management method that works in conjunction with a combinatorial subalgorithm capable of rejecting unfeasible schedules. The main result obtained is that the new fast PERT/CPM method finds optimal robust schedules for solving large size problems in strongly polynomial time, which cannot be achieved using existing algorithms.
Study on the Hole-Forming Performance and Opening of Mulching Film for a Dibble-Type Transplanting Device
Authors: Zhao Xiaoshun , Hou Zhuangzhuang , Zhang Jizong , Yu Huali , Hao Jianjun , Liu Yuhua
Published: March 2024

In order to improve the quality of transplanting devices and solve the problems of the poor effect on soil moisture conservation and more weeds easily growing due to the high mulching-film damage rate with an excessive number of hole openings, we developed a dibble-type transplanting device consisting of a dibble-type transplanting unit, a transplanting disc, and a dibble axis. The ADAMS software Adams2020 (64bit) was used to simulate and analyze the kinematic track of the transplanting device. The results of the analysis show that, when the hole opening of the envelope in the longitudinal dimension was the smallest, the transplanting characteristic coefficient was 1.034, the transplanting angle was 95°, and the transplanting frequency had no influence. With the help of the ANSYS WORKBENCH software Ansys19.2 (64bit), an analysis of the process of the formation of an opening in the mulching film and a mechanical simulation of this process were completed. The results indicate that, when the maximum shear stress of the mulching film was the smallest, the transplanting characteristic coefficient was 1.000, the transplanting frequency was 36 plants·min−1, and the transplanting angle was 95°. In addition, the device was tested in a film-breaking experiment on a soil-tank test bench to verify the hole opening in the mulching film. The bench test showed that, when the longitudinal dimension was the smallest, the transplanting characteristic coefficient was 1.034, the transplanting frequency was 36 plants·min−1, and the transplanting angle was 95°. When the lateral dimension was the smallest, the transplanting characteristic coefficient was 1.034, the transplanting frequency was 36 plants·min−1, and the transplanting angle was 90°. The theoretical analysis, kinematic simulation, and soil-tank test results were consistent, verifying the validity and ensuring the feasibility of the transplanting device. This study provides a reference for the development of transplanting devices.
A Glimpse into the Genetic Heritage of the Olive Tree in Malta
Authors: Miazzi Monica Marilena , Pasqualone Antonella , Zammit-Mangion Marion , Savoia Michele Antonio , Fanelli Valentina , Procino Silvia , Gadaleta Susanna , Aurelio Francesco Luigi , Montemurro Cinzia
Published: March 2024

The genetic diversity of the ancient autochthonous olive trees on the Maltese islands and the relationship with the wild forms growing in marginal areas of the island (57 samples), as well as with the most widespread cultivars in the Mediterranean region (150 references), were investigated by genetic analysis with 10 SSR markers. The analysis revealed a high genetic diversity of Maltese germplasm, totaling 84 alleles and a Shannon information index (I) of 1.08. All samples from the upper and the lower part of the crown of the Bidni trees belonged to the same genotype, suggesting that there was no secondary top-grafting of the branches. The Bidni trees showed close relationships with the local wild germplasm, suggesting that the oleaster population played a role in the selection of the Bidni variety. Genetic similarities were also found between Maltese cultivars and several Italian varieties including accessions putatively resistant to the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which has recently emerged in the Apulia region (Italy) and has caused severe epidemics on olive trees over the last decade.
Potential of Limestonevirus Bacteriophages for Ecological Control of Dickeya solani Causing Bacterial Potato Blackleg
Authors: Kmoch Martin , Vacek Josef , Loubová Věra , Petrzik Karel , Brázdová Sára , Ševčík Rudolf
Published: March 2024

Pectinolytic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, specifically Dickeya solani, are known to cause potato blackleg. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mixture of two bacteriophages from the genus Limestonevirus in controlling Dickeya solani in both greenhouse and field trials. The potential of bacteriophages for ecological potato control was also assessed. The phages φDs3CZ and φDs20CZ were isolated from soil in the Czech Republic between 2019 and 2021. They were applied preventively and curatively as a solution on artificially wounded and inoculated seed tubers immediately prior to planting. The phage-treated variant showed a highly significant reduction in the extent of D. solani infection compared to the untreated control in both the greenhouse and field trial. The effect of the phages depended on the concentration of the solution, the rate of tuber injury, and the sequence of application. When applied preventively, the phages caused a significantly higher reduction in the rate of blackleg symptoms (86.7% and/or 87.1%) compared to the curative application (54.6 and/or 36.6%). Phages φDs3CZ and φDs20CZ showed potential for use in biological potato control against Dickeya solani.
Transcriptome Data Analysis Applied to Grapevine Growth Stage Identification
Authors: Altimiras Francisco , Pavéz Leonardo , Pourreza Alireza , Yañez Osvaldo , González-Rodríguez Lisdelys , García José , Galaz Claudio , Leiva-Araos Andrés , Allende-Cid Héctor
Published: March 2024

In agricultural production, it is fundamental to characterize the phenological stage of plants to ensure a good evaluation of the development, growth and health of crops. Phenological characterization allows for the early detection of nutritional deficiencies in plants that diminish the growth and productive yield and drastically affect the quality of their fruits. Currently, the phenological estimation of development in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is carried out using four different schemes: Baillod and Baggiolini, Extended BBCH, Eichhorn and Lorenz, and Modified E-L. Phenological estimation requires the exhaustive evaluation of crops, which makes it intensive in terms of labor, personnel, and the time required for its application. In this work, we propose a new phenological classification based on transcriptional measures of certain genes to accurately estimate the stage of development of grapevine. There are several genomic information databases for Vitis vinifera, and the function of thousands of their genes has been widely characterized. The application of advanced molecular biology, including the massive parallel sequencing of RNA (RNA-seq), and the handling of large volumes of data provide state-of-the-art tools for the determination of phenological stages, on a global scale, of the molecular functions and processes of plants. With this aim, we applied a bioinformatic pipeline for the high-throughput quantification of RNA-seq datasets and further analysis of gene ontology terms. We identified differentially expressed genes in several datasets, and then, we associated them with the corresponding phenological stage of development. Differentially expressed genes were classified using count-based expression analysis and clustering and annotated using gene ontology data. This work contributes to the use of transcriptome data and gene expression analysis for the classification of development in plants, with a wide range of industrial applications in agriculture.
YOLOv7-GCA: A Lightweight and High-Performance Model for Pepper Disease Detection
Authors: Yue Xuejun , Li Haifeng , Song Qingkui , Zeng Fanguo , Zheng Jianyu , Ding Ziyu , Kang Gaobi , Cai Yulin , Lin Yongda , Xu Xiaowan , Yu Chaoran
Published: March 2024

Existing disease detection models for deep learning-based monitoring and prevention of pepper diseases face challenges in accurately identifying and preventing diseases due to inter-crop occlusion and various complex backgrounds. To address this issue, we propose a modified YOLOv7-GCA model based on YOLOv7 for pepper disease detection, which can effectively overcome these challenges. The model introduces three key enhancements: Firstly, lightweight GhostNetV2 is used as the feature extraction network of the model to improve the detection speed. Secondly, the Cascading fusion network (CFNet) replaces the original feature fusion network, which improves the expression ability of the model in complex backgrounds and realizes multi-scale feature extraction and fusion. Finally, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is introduced to focus on the important features in the images and improve the accuracy and robustness of the model. This study uses the collected dataset, which was processed to construct a dataset of 1259 images with four types of pepper diseases: anthracnose, bacterial diseases, umbilical rot, and viral diseases. We applied data augmentation to the collected dataset, and then experimental verification was carried out on this dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the YOLOv7-GCA model reduces the parameter count by 34.3% compared to the YOLOv7 original model while improving 13.4% in mAP and 124 frames/s in detection speed. Additionally, the model size was reduced from 74.8 MB to 46.9 MB, which facilitates the deployment of the model on mobile devices. When compared to the other seven mainstream detection models, it was indicated that the YOLOv7-GCA model achieved a balance between speed, model size, and accuracy. This model proves to be a high-performance and lightweight pepper disease detection solution that can provide accurate and timely diagnosis results for farmers and researchers.
Comparative Analysis of How the Fecal Microbiota of Green-Winged Saltator (Saltator similis) Diverge among Animals Living in Captivity and in Wild Habitats
Authors: Zitelli Larissa Caló , Breyer Gabriela Merker , Torres Mariana Costa , Menetrier Luiza de Campos , Varela Ana Paula Muterle , Mayer Fabiana Quoos , Cruz Cláudio Estêvão Farias , Siqueira Franciele Maboni
Published: March 2024

The microbiota’s alteration is an adaptive mechanism observed in wild animals facing high selection pressure, especially in captive environments. The objective of this study is to compare and predict the potential impact of habitat on the fecal bacterial community of Saltator similis, a songbird species that is a victim of illegal trafficking, living in two distinct habitats: wild and captivity. Nine wild and nine captive S. similis were sampled, and total bacterial DNA was obtained from the feces. Each DNA sample was employed to the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rDNA following high-throughput sequencing. The most predominant phyla in all songbirds, irrespective of habitat, were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Interestingly, a microbiota profile (phylogenetic and abundance relationship) related to habitat was identified. The genera “Candidatus Arthromitus”, Acinetobacter, Kocuria, and Paracoccus were exclusively identified in animals living in captivity, which can be a potential biomarker associated with birds in captive environments. This study presents the first description of the fecal bacterial community composition of S. similis living two different lifestyles. Finally, our results suggest that the lifestyle of S. similis birds significantly impacts the composition of the fecal microbiota. The animals living in captivity showed dysbiosis in the microbiota, with some bacteria genera being indicated as biological markers of environmental behavior. Thus, the present research provides a new concept of life quality measure for songbirds.
Retinal Structure of Poecilia sphenops: Photoreceptor Mosaics, Synaptic Ribbon Patterns, and Glial Cell Expressions
Authors: Mokhtar Doaa M. , Albano Marco , Alonaizan Rasha , Attaai Abdelraheim
Published: March 2024

The specific arrangement and distribution of photoreceptors in the retina can vary among different fish species, with each species exhibiting adaptations related to its habitat, behavior, and visual requirements. Poecilia sphenops, a diurnal fish, was the focus of this study. The retinas of a total of eighteen Molly fish were investigated utilizing light and electron microscopy. The retina exhibited a square mosaic pattern of the inner segments of cones. This pattern comprised double cones positioned along the sides of a square, with two types of single cones situated at the center and corners of the square arrangement across the entire retina. The corner cones were slightly shorter than the central ones. Additionally, the outer plexiform layer contained both cone pedicles and rod spherules. The rod spherule consisted of a single synaptic ribbon arranged in a triad or quadrat junctional arrangement within the invaginating free ends of the horizontal and bipolar cell processes. On the other hand, cone pedicles have more than one synaptic ribbon in their junctional complex. The inner nuclear layer consisted of the amacrine, bipolar, Müller, and horizontal cell bodies. Müller cell processes, expressing GFAP, extended across all retinal layers, segmenting the deeper retina into alternating fascicles of optic axons and ganglion cells. The outer and inner plexiform layers showed many astrocyte cell processes expressing GFAP. In conclusion, the current study is the first record of the retinal structures of Molly fish. This study illustrated the mosaic arrangement of photoreceptors and GFAP expression patterns of astrocytes and Müller cells. The presence of three cone types, coupled with a sufficient number of rods, likely facilitates motion awareness for tasks like finding food and performing elaborate mating ceremonies.
Differences in the Behavioral Parameters of Young Zebu and Composite Bulls Kept on Non-Forested or in Integrated Crop–Livestock–Forestry Systems
Authors: Moraes Mariana Jucá , Castilho Erick Fonseca de , Balieiro Júlio Cesar de Carvalho , Bernardi Alberto Carlos de Campos , Barreto Andréa do Nascimento , Pinho Lívia Ferreira , Ramos Giovanna Galhardo , Azevedo Gabriela Novais , Zanetti Letícia Krügner , Garcia Alexandre Rossetto
Published: March 2024

The behavior of ruminants can influence their productive efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of young zebu and composite bulls kept in pasture production systems, either in a crop-livestock-forest integration or without afforestation. The work was carried out in São Carlos, Brazil (21°57′42″ S, 47°50′28″ W), in a high-altitude tropical climate, from March to July, 2022. Forty young bulls were evaluated, being 20 Nelore (Bos indicus) (342.5 ± 36.6 kg BW; 16.9 ± 1.8 months) and 20 Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus × 3/8 Bos indicus) (338.4 ± 39.8 kg BW; 19.1 ± 1.9 months), equally distributed in full-sun (FS) and integrated crop–livestock–forestry (ICLF) production systems. Behavior was monitored uninterruptedly by an acoustic sensor and accelerometer attached to a collar, and complemented by direct visual assessment, in two one-day campaigns per month. Serum cortisol concentration was assessed monthly. Statistical analyses were conducted using a general linear model at a 5% significance level (SAS, version 9.4). The ICLF system had a milder microclimate and favored thermal comfort. Natural shading influenced grazing, resting, and rumination time. The Canchim bulls were more active when moving and grazing (p < 0.05), even at the hottest times of the day. In turn, the Nelore bulls spent more time resting at all times (p < 0.001), which was shown to be an adaptive strategy in response to environmental stimuli. The Canchim bulls had a longer rumination time than the Nelore bulls (p < 0.001), due to their longer grazing time. The frequency of water and mineral mixture intake did not differ between genotypes, regardless of the production system (p > 0.05). There was no difference in the serum cortisol concentrations of the Nelore and Canchim bulls kept in FS or ICLF (p = 0.082). Thus, young bulls of the different genotypes showed different behaviors, regardless of whether they were kept on pasture without afforestation or in an integrated crop–livestock–forestry system.
Minding the Minds: A Primer on Cognitive Challenge for Marine Mammals in Human Care
Authors: Jaakkola Kelly
Published: March 2024

The past several decades have witnessed significant improvement in the physical welfare of marine mammals in zoos and aquariums. Over that same time period, research has revealed complex cognitive abilities in at least some of these species, yet there has been comparatively little attention paid to addressing their cognitive welfare per se. Studies primarily conducted with terrestrial animals have suggested that providing appropriate cognitive challenges in managed care settings can improve animal well-being. As a step toward facilitating this practice with marine mammals, this paper discusses factors relevant for creating appropriate cognitive challenges, outlines the three major categories of cognitive challenge that have been utilized with marine mammals, along with the logistical pros and cons of each, and calls on organizations that care for marine mammals to cultivate a bias for action with respect to providing cognitive care.
Effects of Dietary Supplementations of Vitamin C, Organic Selenium, Betaine, and Pomegranate Peel on Alleviating the Effect of Heat Stress on Growing Rabbits
Authors: Abu Hafsa Salma H. , Centoducati Gerardo , Hassan Ayman A. , Maggiolino Aristide , Elghandour Mona M. M. Y. , Salem Abdelfattah Z. M.
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological activity and sustainable biorefinery development of vitamin C, organic selenium, betaine, and pomegranate peel on the performance, cecal fermentation, and antioxidant status of growing rabbits to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress. A total of 105 male rabbits at 35 days old with an average weight of 752.55 ± 27.56 g were randomly assigned to five groups (21 rabbits in each). The experimental dietary groups included a control group fed a basal diet without additives (control group) and four treated groups, A, B, C, and D, fed a basal diet supplemented with either a 1000 mg vitamin C/kg diet, a 25 mg organic selenium/kg diet, a 1000 mg betaine/kg diet, or a 20 g pomegranate peel/kg diet, respectively. No negative group (not heat-stressed) was included in the trial. Rabbits given A, B, C, and D supplements showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in growth performance, nutrient digestion, concentration of total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic, and propionic acids, and total bacterial count, and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in NH3-N concentration, Enterococcus, coliforms, and E. coli counts in the cecum of rabbits. Total protein, albumin, globulin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups supplemented with A, B, C, and D supplements compared to those in the control group. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in groups supplemented with A, B, C, and D supplements compared to those in the control group. In conclusion, the finding showed that the supplementation of vitamin C, organic selenium, betaine, and pomegranate peel played a significant role in alleviating heat stress and had a further beneficial impact on rabbit performance, cecal fermentation and microbiota, and antioxidant status. However, betaine supplementation had a superior positive effect on the nutritional and physiological profile of heat-stressed rabbits.
Mobile Robot for Security Applications in Remotely Operated Advanced Reactors
Authors: Sharma Ujwal , Medasetti Uma Shankar , Deemyad Taher , Mashal Mustafa , Yadav Vaibhav
Published: March 2024

This review paper addresses the escalating operation and maintenance costs of nuclear power plants, primarily attributed to rising labor costs and intensified competition from renewable energy sources. The paper proposes a paradigm shift towards a technology-centric approach, leveraging mobile and automated robots for physical security, aiming to replace labor-intensive methods. Focusing on the human–robot interaction principle, the review conducts a state-of-the-art analysis of dog robots’ potential in infrastructure security and remote inspection within human–robot shared environments. Additionally, this paper surveys research on the capabilities of mobile robots, exploring their applications in various industries, including disaster response, exploration, surveillance, and environmental conservation. This study emphasizes the crucial role of autonomous mobility and manipulation in robots for diverse tasks, and discusses the formalization of problems, performance assessment criteria, and operational capabilities. It provides a comprehensive comparison of three prominent robotic platforms (SPOT, Ghost Robotics, and ANYmal Robotics) across various parameters, shedding light on their suitability for different applications. This review culminates in a research roadmap, delineating experiments and parameters for assessing dog robots’ performance in safeguarding nuclear power plants, offering a structured approach for future research endeavors.
Detection of Safety Signs Using Computer Vision Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Yaohan , Song Zeyang , Zhang Lidong
Published: March 2024

Safety signs serve as an important information carrier for safety standards and rule constraints. Detecting safety signs in mines is essential for automatically early warning of unsafe behaviors and the wearing of protective equipment while using computer vision techniques to realize advanced safety in the AI and IoT era. This work aims to propose an improved YOLOV4-tiny safety signs detection model applying deep learning to detect safety signs in mines. The dataset employed in this study was derived from coal mines and analogous environments, comprising a total of ten types of safety signs. It was partitioned into training, validation, and test sets following a distribution ratio of (training set + validation set) to test set = 9:1, with the training set to validation set ratio also set at 9:1. Then the attention mechanism ECANet was introduced into the model, which strengthened the network’s learning of places that need attention. Moreover, the Soft-NMS algorithm was used to retain more correct prediction frames and optimize the detection model to further improve the detection accuracy. The Focal Loss function was introduced to alleviate the problem of category imbalance in one-stage safety signs detection. Experimental results indicate that the proposed model achieved a detection precision of 97.76%, which is 7.55% and 9.23% higher than the YOLOV4-tiny and Faster RCNN algorithms, respectively. Besides, the model performed better in the generalization because it avoided the over-fitting phenomenon that occurred in the YOLOV4-tiny and the Faster RCNN. Moreover, the advantages of the improved model were more prominent when detecting small target areas and targets under dim conditions in coal mines. This work is beneficial for the intelligent early warning system with surveillance cameras in coal mines.
Experimentally Determined Force Density Spectra for Admittance-Based Vibration Predictions along Railways
Authors: Tappauf Benedikt , Alten Karoline , Legenstein Marianne , Ofner Marlene , Flesch Rainer
Published: March 2024

The planning application and approval process of railway tracks is generally accompanied by a vibration immission assessment. Starting with the source spectrum, which is ideally obtained through measurements, the German guideline VDI 3837 recommends a series of multiplications using transfer spectra which account for the various subdomains of the wave propagation path, such as the effect of the superstructure, the free field propagation, the soil-structure coupling and the transmission inside buildings. Typically, these one-third octave spectra are an average over empirical reference values. While simplified empirical relations are prone to a large variance, the use of artificial vibration sources allows the actual vibration transmission behavior from the tracks to the immission points to be quantified. Using so-called transfer admittances, also known as transfer mobilities, which account for all dynamic interactions along the transmission path (track, tunnel structures, foundations, structural properties), together with force density spectra for relevant rail vehicles, the authors investigate the practical application of the method presented in Report No. 0123 of the Federal Transit Administration (2018) for the frequency range 5–200 Hz. The article demonstrates how such force density spectra were obtained for the most common train types in the Austrian rail network at two different track sections using artificial vibration sources. Furthermore, practical aspects are discussed and a recently developed approximation method for estimating line transfer admittances from point transfer admittances using simplified models is introduced.
Treatment Trends and Hybrid Methods for the Removal of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Water—A Review
Authors: Loganathan Paripurnanda , Kandasamy Jaya , Ratnaweera Harsha , Vigneswaran Saravanamuthu
Published: March 2024

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) encompass a diverse group of engineered chemicals extensively manufactured and utilized in various facets of human life. They exhibit widespread distribution in aquatic environments due to their prevalent usage and resistance to degradation. Recognized for their toxicity to both humans and animals and a major public health concern, various techniques have been employed to eliminate them from water sources. However, these methods have shown limitations in efficiently and cost-effectively removing PFASs, particularly in the presence of other water contaminants, which are often present at much higher concentrations than PFASs. This review critically discusses these methods, presenting their respective advantages and limitations. This review illustrates that, rather than solely depending on individual methods as often presented in previous reviews, a combination of techniques has shown greater effectiveness in PFAS removal, owing to their synergistic effects. Hybrid methods capable of practical integration for efficient PFAS removal include adsorption coupled with oxidation, membrane separation combined with oxidation, and the integration of adsorption with membrane separation and incineration. In these hybrid approaches, one technique extracts PFASs from contaminated water and concentrates them, while the other degrades the extracted PFASs. The review presents strategies to enhance the performance of these hybrid methods.
Product States of Infinite Tensor Product of JC-algebras
Authors: Jamjoom Fatmah B. , Algamdei Fadwa M.
Published: March 2024

The objective of our study is to generalize the results on product states of the tensor product of two JC-algebras to infinite tensor product JC-algebras. Also, we characterize the tracial product state of the tensor product of two JC-algebras, and the tracial product state of infinite tensor products of JC-algebras.
Effect of Conformal Coating on Electrochemical Migration Behavior of Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor for Automotives Based on Water Drop Test
Authors: Yoo Young-Ran , Won Seokyeon , Kim Young-Sik
Published: March 2024

A large amount of multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) is mounted inside a printed circuit board (PCB) constituting electronic components. The use of MLCC in electric vehicles and the latest mobile phones is rapidly increasing with the latest technology. Environments in which electronic components are used are becoming more diverse and conformal coatings are being applied to protect mounted components from these environments. In particular, MLCCs in electronic components mainly have voltage applied. They might be used in environments where humidity exists for various reasons. In a humid environment, electrochemical migration (ECM) will occur, with the cathode and anode on the surface of the MLCC encountering each other. This can result in product damage due to a short circuit. In this study, the effects of voltage, NaCl concentration, and distance between electrodes on a non-mount MLCC, surface mount MLCC, and solder pad pattern were evaluated using a water drop test (WDT). Based on the analysis of the effects of the presence of conformal coating, applied voltage, concentration of NaCl, and the distance between electrodes, a mechanism model for ECM behavior in MLCCs was proposed.
Comprehensive Characterization of Blue Wire NiTi File Failure: A Comparative Analysis of Cyclic Fatigue and Torsional Resistance Properties
Authors: Barakat Reem M. , Almohareb Rahaf A. , Algahtani Fahda N. , Altamimi Amal A. , Alfuraih Jenan I. , Bahlol Lena S. , Jamleh Ahmed
Published: March 2024

This study compared the fatigue resistance and elemental composition of two blue heat-treated nickel–titanium (NiTi) files used in root canal preparation as follows: Tia Tornado Blue (TTB) and Race Evo (RE) file systems. For cyclic fatigue testing, the two systems were tested where each file was rotated inside an artificial metal canal submerged in either sodium hypochlorite or saline solution until fracture. Time to fracture was recorded. For torsional fatigue testing, the file tip was secured while the file was allowed to rotate at a fixed rate until fracture. Torque at failure was recorded. The two experiments were performed at simulated body temperature and the length of fractured segments was measured. Statistical analysis was carried out with a significance level (p-value) set at 5%. The mean cycles to fracture for RE were superior to that of TTB irrespective of the solution used (p < 0.05). TTB’s cyclic fatigue resistance decreased in NaOCl (p < 0.0001). RE demonstrated lower torque at failure (p = 0.002). All files were fractured at comparable lengths (p = 0.218). Although RE is considered more resistant to cyclic fatigue, it showed inferior torsional resistance compared with TTB. The NaOCl negatively affected the TTB’s cyclic fatigue resistance.
High-Performance Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol to 4-Aminophenol over Pt Nanoparticles Supported on Co-Al LDH Nanosheets
Authors: Xu Chenzhe , Qiu Yue , Yang Xiaoting , Gao Zifei , Wang Zheng , Liu Cai , Sun Yanran , Ma Juanjuan , Liu Lin
Published: March 2024

In this study, a Pt@Co-Al LDH hybrid structure was fabricated by assembling the metal precursor PtCl62− with the exfoliated LDH nanosheets followed by in situ reduction by NaBH4. The morphology, composition and microstructure of the hybrid were characterized by FESEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS and BET techniques. Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with an average particle size of 3.1 nm were successfully and uniformly loaded on the surface of LDH nanosheets. The catalytic activity of the Pt@Co-Al LDH hybrid was tested for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, which is one of the most frequent pollutants in wastewater effluent from the pharmaceutical and textile industries. The hybrid displays superior catalytic activity and stability in the reduction of 4-NP under environmental conditions with NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The hybrid can be recovered in a simple way and still shows high catalytic activity after five reuses.
Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate with Novel Genetic Alterations Characterized by Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Zara Rozalen Alexandra , Martin Jose Manuel , Rajendran Rithika , Jain Maneesh , Nava Victor E.
Published: March 2024

Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate (DAP) is an uncommon variant of prostate cancer associated with aggressive disease and poor outcome. It presents most frequently as a mixed tumor combined with acinar adenocarcinoma. Although the histopathological features of DAP are well known, its genomic characteristics are still evolving, prompting the suggestion that all DAP would benefit from molecular analysis with the purpose of improving tumor recognition, genetic classification, and, ultimately, personalized therapy. Herein, we report a case of DAP with novel genetic alterations (BCOR P1153S, ERG M219I, KDR A750E, POLE S1896P, and RAD21 T461del).
Real-World Evidence of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Survival: Canadian Perspective
Authors: Agulnik Jason , Kasymjanova Goulnar , Pepe Carmela , Friedmann Jennifer , Small David , Sakr Lama , Wang Hangjun , Spatz Alan , Sultanem Khalil , Cohen Victor
Published: March 2024

Background: The effect of COVID-19 on treatment outcomes in the literature remains limited and is mostly reported either as predictive survival using prioritization and modeling techniques. We aimed to quantify the effect of COVID-19 on lung cancer survival using real-world data collected at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study of patients diagnosed between March 2019 and March 2022. We compared three cohorts: pre-COVID-19, and 1st and 2nd year of the pandemic. Results: 417 patients were diagnosed and treated with lung cancer at our centre: 130 in 2019, 103 in 2020 and 184 in 2021. Although the proportion of advanced/metastatic-stage lung cancer remained the same, there was a significant increase in the late-stage presentation during the pandemic. The proportion of M1c (multiple extrathoracic sites) cases in 2020 and 2021 was 57% and 51%, respectively, compared to 31% in 2019 (p < 0.05). Median survival for early stages of lung cancer was similar in the three cohorts. However, patients diagnosed in the M1c stage had a significantly increased risk of death. The 6-month mortality rate was 53% in 2021 compared to 47% in 2020 and 29% in 2019 (p = 0.004). The median survival in this subgroup of patients decreased significantly from 13 months in 2019 to 6 months in 2020 and 5 months in 2021 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study is, to our knowledge, the largest single-institution study in Canada looking at lung cancer survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study looks at overall survival in the advanced/metastatic setting of NSCLC during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have previously reported on treatment pattern changes and increased wait times for NSCLC patients during the pandemic. In this study, we report that the advanced/metastatic subgroup had both an increase in the 6-month mortality rate and worsening overall survival during this same time period. Although there was no statistical difference in the proportion of patients with advanced disease, there was a concerning trend of increased M1c disease in cohorts 2 and 3. The higher M1c disease during the COVID-19 pandemic (cohorts 2 and 3) likely played a crucial role in increasing the 6-month mortality rate and leading to a reduced overall survival of lung cancer patients during the pandemic. These findings are more likely to be better identified with longer follow-up.
The Role of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsidic Antigen and Krebs von den Lungen 6 Serum Levels in Predicting COVID-19 Pneumonia Outcome
Authors: Sanduzzi Zamparelli Stefano , Fucci Vincenzo , Rea Gaetano , Perna Francesco , Bocchino Marialuisa , Sanduzzi Zamparelli Alessandro
Published: March 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a significant threat worldwide, with severe cases leading to hospitalization and death. This study aims to evaluate the potential use of serum nucleocapsid antigen (NAg) and Krebs von den Lungen-6 glycoprotein (KL-6) as biomarkers of severe COVID-19 and to investigate their correlation with clinical, radiological, and biochemical parameters. Methods: This retrospective study included 128 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to a Neapolitan hospital in Italy between October 2020 and July 2021. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, including serum levels of NAg and KL-6. The Chung et al. Computed Tomography Severity Score (TSS) was used to assess the severity of pneumonia, and outcomes were classified as home discharge, rehabilitation, and death. Statistical analyses were performed to compare Group I (home discharge and rehabilitation) and Group II (death, sub-intensive care, and ICU stay) based on demographic data, laboratory parameters, and TSS. Results: Group II patients showed worse outcomes with higher levels of NAg, KL-6, and inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and adrenomedullin. TSS was also significantly higher in Group II, with a positive correlation between TSS and NAg and KL-6 levels. Group I patients had higher values of hemoglobin (Hb) and platelets (PLT), while Group II patients had higher values of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), D-Dimer, and glycemia. No significant difference was observed in gender distribution. Conclusions: Serum NAg and KL-6 levels are potential biomarkers of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, with higher levels indicating greater inflammation and organ damage. NAg may help identify infected patients at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and ensure their admission to the most appropriate level of care. KL-6 may help predict interstitial lung damage and the severity of clinical features. Further studies are needed to establish a decision-making cut-off for these biomarkers in COVID-19.