bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Methodology for Microbial Strain Typing Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Muchaamba Francis , Stephan Roger
Published: June 2024

Timely and accurate detection and characterization of microbial threats is crucial for effective infection and outbreak management. Additionally, in food production, rapid microbe identification is indispensable for maintaining quality control and hygiene standards. Current methods for typing microbial strains often rely on labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive DNA- and sera-serotyping techniques, limiting their applicability in rapid-response scenarios. In this context, the IR Biotyper®, utilizing Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, offers a novel approach, providing specific spectra for fast strain typing within 3 h. This methodology article serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers and technicians aiming to utilize FTIR spectroscopy for microbial strain typing. It encompasses detailed guidelines on sample preparation, data acquisition, and analysis techniques, ensuring the generation of reliable and reproducible results. We highlight the IR Biotyper®’s rapid and accurate discrimination capabilities, showcasing its potential for real-time pathogen monitoring and source-tracking to enhance public health and food safety. We propose its integration as an early screening method, followed by more detailed analysis with whole-genome sequencing, to optimize detection accuracy and response efficiency in microbial surveillance systems.
Exopolysaccharides Synthesized by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ŁOCK 0943: Structural Characteristics and Evaluation of Biological and Technological Properties
Authors: Oleksy-Sobczak Magdalena , Górska Sabina , Piekarska-Radzik Lidia , Ścieszka Sylwia , Klewicka Elżbieta
Published: June 2024

Lactic acid bacteria can synthesize extracellular exopolysaccharides (EPSs) that have versatile physicochemical and biological properties. In this paper, the EPSs synthesized by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ŁOCK 0943 were characterized. Their structure, biological, and technological activity, as well as application potential, were analyzed. Chemical analysis showed that this strain produces mannan and β-1,6-glucan. Their emulsifying, antagonistic, and antioxidant properties, along with their prebiotic potential, were assessed. The analysis of the tested polymers’ ability to create a stable emulsion showed that their emulsifying activity depends mainly on the type of oily substance used. The analysis of the antagonistic activity revealed that these EPSs can inhibit the growth of yeasts (e.g., Candida albicans ATCC 10231) and potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Clostridium acetobutylicum ŁOCK 0831, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212). Moreover, EPSs positively influenced the growth of all tested probiotic bacteria. Furthermore, EPSs can be successfully used as a preservative in cosmetic products. The most effective results were obtained with the use of a 0.05% solution of a chemical preservative (bronopol) and 0.25 mg/mL of the EPSs.
Prediction of Single-Well Production Rate after Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Gas Reservoirs Based on Ensemble Learning Model
Authors: Ye Fan , Li Xiaobo , Zhang Nan , Xu Feng
Published: June 2024

To address the significant challenges in determining the single-well production of tight gas and shale gas after hydraulic fracturing, artificial intelligence (AI) methods were implemented. Machine learning (ML) algorithms such as random forest (RF), extremely randomized trees (ET), lightweight gradient boosting machines (LightGBM), gradient boosting regression (GBR), and linear regression (LR) were utilized in conjunction with reservoir geology, engineering parameters, and production data to develop several foundational models for forecasting the production of unconventional gas wells. The accuracy of these models was evaluated. Based on this, improvements in the models’ predictive accuracy and generalizability were achieved through the ensemble of machine learning models. Furthermore, this paper selected two representative tight and shale gas reservoirs to demonstrate the application of the ensemble model for well production forecasting, and a comparative analysis with actual production data was conducted. For tight gas reservoir A, the blending model achieved an MAE of 0.8419 and an MSE of 1.0930, with an R2 score of 0.8812. For shale gas reservoir B, the blending model achieved an MAE of 1.4841 and an MSE of 3.1629, with an R2 score of 0.9524. The results of the case studies indicate that the ensemble model approach employed in this study has a higher predictive accuracy and reliability than a single machine learning algorithm, and is capable of handling high-dimensional, large-scale, and imbalanced data, offering scientific validation and technical support for the assessment of the well productivity in tight and shale gas wells.
Thermal Transportation in Heat Generating and Chemically Reacting MHD Maxwell Hybrid Nanofluid Flow Past Inclined Stretching Porous Sheet in Porous Medium with Solar Radiation Effects
Authors: Jeelani Mdi Begum , Abbas Amir , Alqahtani Nouf Abdulrahman
Published: June 2024

The emerging concept of hybrid nanofluids has grabbed the attention of researchers and scientists due to improved thermal performance because of their remarkable thermal conductivities. These fluids have enormous applications in engineering and industrial sectors. Therefore, the present research study examines thermal and mass transportation in hybrid nanofluid past an inclined linearly stretching sheet using the Maxwell fluid model. In the current problem, the hybrid nanofluid is engineered by suspending a mixture of aluminum oxide Al2O3  and copper Cu nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. The fluid flow is generated due to the linear stretching of the sheet and the sheet is kept inclined at the angle ζ=π/6 embedded in porous medium. The current proposed model also includes the Lorentz force, solar radiation, heat generation, linear chemical reactions, and permeability of the plate effects. Here, in the current simulation, the cylindrical shape of the nanoparticles is considered, as this shape has proven to be excellent for the thermal performance of the nanomaterials. The governing equations transformed into ordinary differential equations are solved using MATLAB bvp4c solver. The velocity field declines with increasing magnetic field parameter, Maxwell fluid parameter, volume fractions of nanoparticles, and porosity parameter but increases with growing suction parameter. The temperature drops with increasing magnetic field force and suction parameter values but increases with increasing radiation parameter and volume fraction values. The concentration profile increases with increasing magnetic field parameters, porosity parameters, and volume fractions but reduces with increasing chemical reaction parameters and suction parameters. It has been noted that the purpose of the inclusion of thermal radiation is to augment the temperature that is serving the purpose in the current work. The addition of Lorentz force slows down the speed of the fluid and raises the boundary layer thickness, which is visible in the current study. It has been concluded that, when heat generation parameters increase, the temperature field increases correspondingly for both nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids. The increase in the volume fraction of the nanoparticles is used to enhance the thermal performance of the hybrid nanofluid, which is evident in the current results. The current results are validated by comparing them with published ones.
Classification of Grapevine Varieties Using UAV Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: López Alfonso , Ogayar Carlos J. , Feito Francisco R. , Sousa Joaquim J.
Published: June 2024

Classifying grapevine varieties is crucial in precision viticulture, as it allows for accurate estimation of vineyard row growth for different varieties and ensures authenticity in the wine industry. This task can be performed with time-consuming destructive methods, including data collection and analysis in the laboratory. In contrast, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer a markedly more efficient and less restrictive method for gathering hyperspectral data, even though they may yield data with higher levels of noise. Therefore, the first task is the processing of these data to correct and downsample large amounts of data. In addition, the hyperspectral signatures of grape varieties are very similar. In this study, we propose the use of a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify seventeen different varieties of red and white grape cultivars. Instead of classifying individual samples, our approach involves processing samples alongside their surrounding neighborhood for enhanced accuracy. The extraction of spatial and spectral features is addressed with (1) a spatial attention layer and (2) inception blocks. The pipeline goes from data preparation to dataset elaboration, finishing with the training phase. The fitted model is evaluated in terms of response time, accuracy and data separability and is compared with other state-of-the-art CNNs for classifying hyperspectral data. Our network was proven to be much more lightweight by using a limited number of input bands (40) and a reduced number of trainable weights (560 k parameters). Hence, it reduced training time (1 h on average) over the collected hyperspectral dataset. In contrast, other state-of-the-art research requires large networks with several million parameters that require hours to be trained. Despite this, the evaluated metrics showed much better results for our network (approximately 99% overall accuracy), in comparison with previous works barely achieving 81% OA over UAV imagery. This notable OA was similarly observed over satellite data. These results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of our proposed method across different hyperspectral data sources.
Conceptual Model for Integrated Meso-Scale Fire Risk Assessment in the Coastal Catchments in Croatia
Authors: Horvat Bojana , Karleuša Barbara
Published: June 2024

Various factors influence wildfire probability, including land use/land cover (LULC), fuel types, and their moisture content, meteorological conditions, and terrain characteristics. The Adriatic Sea coastal area in Croatia has a long record of devastating wildfires that have caused severe ecological and economic damages as well as the loss of human lives. Assessing the conditions favorable for wildfires and the possible damages are crucial in fire risk management. Adriatic settlements and ecosystems are highly vulnerable, especially during summer, when the pressure from tourist migration is the highest. However, available fire risk models designed to fit the macro-scale level of assessment cannot provide information detailed enough to meet the decision-making conditions at the local level. This paper describes a model designed to assess wildfire risks at the meso-scale, focusing on environmental and anthropogenic descriptors derived from moderate- to high-resolution remote sensing data (Sentinel-2), Copernicus Land Monitoring Service datasets, and other open sources. Risk indices were integrated using the multi-criteria decision analysis method, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), in a GIS environment. The model was tested in three coastal catchments, each having recently experienced severe fire events. The approach successfully identified zones at risk and the level of risk, depending on the various environmental and anthropogenic conditions.
Evaluating the Performance of the Enhanced Ross-Li Models in Characterizing BRDF/Albedo/NBAR Characteristics for Various Land Cover Types in the POLDER Database
Authors: Ding Anxin , Jiao Ziti , Kokhanovsky Alexander , Zhang Xiaoning , Guo Jing , Zhao Ping , Zhang Mingming , Jiang Hailan , Xu Kaijian
Published: June 2024

The latest versions of the Ross-Li model include kernels that represent isotropic reflection of the surface, describe backward reflection of soil and vegetation systems, characterize strong forward reflection of snow, and adequately consider the hotspot effect (i.e., RossThick-LiSparseReciprocalChen-Snow, RTLSRCS), theoretically able to effectively characterize BRDF/Albedo/NBAR features for various land surface types. However, a systematic evaluation of the RTLSRCS model is still lacking for various land cover types. In this paper, we conducted a thorough assessment of the RTLSRCS and RossThick-LiSparseReciprocalChen (RTLSRC) models in characterizing BRDF/Albedo/NBAR characteristics by using the global POLDER BRDF database. The primary highlights of this paper include the following: (1) Both models demonstrate high accuracy in characterizing the BRDF characteristics across 16 IGBP types. However, the accuracy of the RTLSRC model is notably reduced for land cover types with high reflectance and strong forward reflection characteristics, such as Snow and Ice (SI), Deciduous Needleleaf Forests (DNF), and Barren or Sparsely Vegetated (BSV). In contrast, the RTLSRCS model shows a significant improvement in accuracy for these land cover types. (2) These two models exhibit highly consistent albedo inversion across various land cover types (R2 > 0.9), particularly in black-sky and blue-sky albedo, except for SI. However, significant differences in white-sky albedo inversion persist between these two models for Evergreen Needleleaf Forests (ENF), Evergreen Broadleaf Forests (EBF), Urban Areas (UA), and SI (p < 0.05). (3) The NBAR values inverted by these two models are nearly identical across the other 15 land cover types. However, the consistency of NBAR results is relatively poor for SI. The RTLSRC model tends to overestimate compared to the RTLSRCS model, with a noticeable bias of approximately 0.024. This study holds significant importance for understanding different versions of Ross-Li models and improving the accuracy of satellite BRDF/Albedo/NBAR products.
EMA-YOLO: A Novel Target-Detection Algorithm for Immature Yellow Peach Based on YOLOv8
Authors: Xu Dandan , Xiong Hao , Liao Yue , Wang Hongruo , Yuan Zhizhang , Yin Hua
Published: June 2024

Accurate determination of the number and location of immature small yellow peaches is crucial for bagging, thinning, and estimating yield in modern orchards. However, traditional methods have faced challenges in accurately distinguishing immature yellow peaches due to their resemblance to leaves and susceptibility to variations in shooting angles and distance. To address these issues, we proposed an improved target-detection model (EMA-YOLO) based on YOLOv8. Firstly, the sample space was enhanced algorithmically to improve the diversity of samples. Secondly, an EMA attention-mechanism module was introduced to encode global information; this module could further aggregate pixel-level features through dimensional interaction and strengthen small-target-detection capability by incorporating a 160 × 160 detection head. Finally, EIoU was utilized as a loss function to reduce the incidence of missed detections and false detections of the target small yellow peaches under the condition of high density of yellow peaches. Experimental results show that compared with the original YOLOv8n model, the EMA-YOLO model improves mAP by 4.2%, Furthermore, compared with SDD, Objectbox, YOLOv5n, and YOLOv7n, this model’s mAP was improved by 30.1%, 14.2%,15.6%, and 7.2%, respectively. In addition, the EMA-YOLO model achieved good results under different conditions of illumination and shooting distance and significantly reduced the number of missed detections. Therefore, this method can provide technical support for smart management of yellow-peach orchards.
DE-AFO: A Robotic Ankle Foot Orthosis for Children with Cerebral Palsy Powered by Dielectric Elastomer Artificial Muscle
Authors: Mohammadi Vahid , Tajdani Mohammad , Masaei Mobina , Mohammadi Ghalehney Sahel , Lee Samuel C. K. , Behboodi Ahad
Published: June 2024

Conventional passive ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) have not seen substantial advances or functional improvements for decades, failing to meet the demands of many stakeholders, especially the pediatric population with neurological disorders. Our objective is to develop the first comfortable and unobtrusive powered AFO for children with cerebral palsy (CP), the DE-AFO. CP is the most diagnosed neuromotor disorder in the pediatric population. The standard of care for ankle control dysfunction associated with CP, however, is an unmechanized, bulky, and uncomfortable L-shaped conventional AFO. These passive orthoses constrain the ankle’s motion and often cause muscle disuse atrophy, skin damage, and adverse neural adaptations. While powered orthoses could enhance natural ankle motion, their reliance on bulky, noisy, and rigid actuators like DC motors limits their acceptability. Our innovation, the DE-AFO, emerged from insights gathered during customer discovery interviews with 185 stakeholders within the AFO ecosystem as part of the NSF I-Corps program. The DE-AFO is a biomimetic robot that employs artificial muscles made from an electro-active polymer called dielectric elastomers (DEs) to assist ankle movements in the sagittal planes. It incorporates a gait phase detection controller to synchronize the artificial muscles with natural gait cycles, mimicking the function of natural ankle muscles. This device is the first of its kind to utilize lightweight, compact, soft, and silent artificial muscles that contract longitudinally, addressing traditional actuated AFOs’ limitations by enhancing the orthosis’s natural feel, comfort, and acceptability. In this paper, we outline our design approach and describe the three main components of the DE-AFO: the artificial muscle technology, the finite state machine (the gait phase detection system), and its mechanical structure. To verify the feasibility of our design, we theoretically calculated if DE-AFO can provide the necessary ankle moment assistance for children with CP—aligning with moments observed in typically developing children. To this end, we calculated the ankle moment deficit in a child with CP when compared with the normative moment of seven typically developing children. Our results demonstrated that the DE-AFO can provide meaningful ankle moment assistance, providing up to 69% and 100% of the required assistive force during the pre-swing phase and swing period of gait, respectively.
A Novel Dynamic Light-Section 3D Reconstruction Method for Wide-Range Sensing
Authors: Chen Mengjuan , Li Qing , Shimasaki Kohei , Hu Shaopeng , Gu Qingyi , Ishii Idaku
Published: June 2024

Existing galvanometer-based laser-scanning systems are challenging to apply in multi-scale 3D reconstruction because of the difficulty in achieving a balance between a high reconstruction accuracy and a wide reconstruction range. This paper presents a novel method that synchronizes laser scanning by switching the field-of-view (FOV) of a camera using multi-galvanometers. Beyond the advanced hardware setup, we establish a comprehensive geometric model of the system by modeling dynamic camera, dynamic laser, and their combined interaction. Furthermore, since existing calibration methods mainly focus on either dynamic lasers or dynamic cameras and have certain limitations, we propose a novel high-precision and flexible calibration method by constructing an error model and minimizing the objective function. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated by scanning standard components. The results show that the proposed 3D reconstruction system achieves an accuracy of 0.3 mm when the measurement range is extended to 1100 mm × 1300 mm × 650 mm. This demonstrates that for meter-scale reconstruction ranges, a sub-millimeter measurement accuracy is achieved, indicating that the proposed method realizes multi-scale 3D reconstruction and simultaneously allows for high-precision and wide-range 3D reconstruction in industrial applications.
Physical and Economic Water Productivity in Agriculture between Traditional and Water-Saving Irrigation Systems: A Case Study in Southern Italy
Authors: Perelli Chiara , Branca Giacomo , Corbari Chiara , Mancini Marco
Published: June 2024

Water scarcity is a growing social, economic, and political issue, especially in Southern European countries that are becoming even more arid and where different crops can be cultivated only if irrigation is possible. In this context, strategies to enhance water use efficiency are regarded as critical from both an economic and an environmental standpoint. The present work aims to analyse water use efficiency and productivity of processing tomato in Apulia region of Southern Italy. Specifically, the study examines the potential enhancements in economic and physical water productivity through the simulation of the fully coupled FEST-EWB-SAFY model, a hydrological crop model that estimates the optimal water requirements for irrigation using satellite and ground data. The model’s estimates suggest that plants require significantly less water than that provided by conventional irrigation systems. The simulations also suggest that information technology, when combined with irrigation water-saving techniques, can lead to a reduction in water waste, an increase in water productivity, and lower incidence of water costs. Policy interventions should integrate water efficiency into existing regulatory measures and promote better water usage planning through the adoption of smart delivery systems aimed at supplying water only when necessary and at optimal volumes.
The Development of a Rapid, Cost-Effective, and Green Analytical Method for Mercury Speciation
Authors: Ladeira Patrícia Cristina Costa , Augusto Caroline Cristine , Rocha Bruno Alves , Rodrigues Jairo Lisboa , Aguiar Giovanna de Fátima Moreno , Batista Bruno Lemos
Published: June 2024

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal found in various inorganic and organic forms within the environment. Due to its high toxicity, there is global concern regarding human exposure to this element. The combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) is commonly used to analyze the different forms of mercury in a sample due to its high sensitivity and ability to selectively detect mercury. However, the traditional HPLC-ICP-MS methods are often criticized for their lengthy analysis times. In this study, we have refined the conventional approach by transitioning to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ICP-MS). This modification has resulted in significant reductions in runtime as well as reagent and argon usage, thereby offering a more rapid, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method. We successfully adapted an HPLC-ICP-MS method to UHPLC-ICP-MS, achieving the analysis of Hg2+ and MeHg+ within 1 min with a mobile phase consumption of only 0.5 mL and a sample volume of 5.0 µL; this is a major advance compared to HPLC analysis with run times generally between 5 and 10 min. The method’s performance was assessed by analyzing muscle and liver tissue samples (serving as reference material) from fish, demonstrating the versatility of the method in relation to different complex matrices.
Synergistic Effects of Metal–Organic Nanoplatform and Guanine Quadruplex-Based CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines with Different Tumor Antigens
Authors: Li Xia , Ebara Mitsuhiro , Shirahata Naoto , Yamazaki Tomohiko , Hanagata Nobutaka
Published: June 2024

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated cytosine–phosphate–guanosine (CpG) motifs are readily recognized by Toll-like receptor 9 on immune cells, trigger an immunomodulatory cascade, induce a Th1 -biased immune milieu, and have great potential as an adjuvant in cancer vaccines. In this study, a green one-step synthesis process was adopted to prepare an amino-rich metal–organic nanoplatform (FN). The synthesized FN nanoplatform can simultaneously and effectively load model tumor antigens (OVA)/autologous tumor antigens (dLLC) and immunostimulatory CpG ODNs with an unmodified PD backbone and a guanine quadruplex structure to obtain various cancer vaccines. The FN nanoplatform and immunostimulatory CpG ODNs generate synergistic effects to enhance the immunogenicity of different antigens and inhibit the growth of established and distant tumors in both the murine E.G7-OVA lymphoma model and the murine Lewis lung carcinoma model. In the E.G7-OVA lymphoma model, vaccination efficiently increases the CD4+, CD8+, and tetramer+CD8+ T cell populations in the spleens. In the Lewis lung carcinoma model, vaccination efficiently increases the CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cell populations in the spleens and CD3+CD8+, CD3−CD8+, and CD11b+CD80+ cell populations in the tumors, suggesting the alteration of tumor microenvironments from cold to hot tumors.
Intelligent Vehicle Formation System Based on Information Interaction
Authors: Wang Peng , Ouyang Tao , Zhao Shixin , Wang Xuelin , Ni Zhewen , Fan Yuezhen
Published: June 2024

Urban traffic congestion has become an increasingly serious problem, and the transportation industry is gradually becoming a high-energy-consuming industry. Intelligent Transportation System (ITSs) that integrate technologies such as electronic sensing, data transmission, and intelligent control have emerged as a new approach to fundamentally solving transportation problems. As one of the cores of intelligent transportation systems, multi-vehicle formation technology has the advantage of promoting vehicle information interaction, improving vehicle mobility, and enhancing traffic conditions. Due to the high cost and risk of conducting multi-vehicle formation experiments using real vehicles, experimenting with intelligent vehicles has become a viable option. Based on the leader–follower formation strategy, this study designed an intelligent vehicle formation system using the Arduino platform. It utilizes infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and photoelectric encoders to perceive information about the vehicle fleet and the road. Information is aggregated to the master vehicle through ZigBee communication modules. The controller of the master vehicle applies a PID algorithm, combined with a differential steering model, to solve the speed instructions for each vehicle in the fleet. Motion control instructions are then transmitted to each slave vehicle through ZigBee communication modules, enabling the automatic adjustment of the fleet’s traveling speed and spacing. Additionally, a Bluetooth app has been designed for users to monitor and control the movement status of the fleet dynamically in real time. Experimental verification has shown that this research effectively improves intelligent fleets’ capabilities in environmental perception, intelligent decision-making, collaborative control, and motion execution. It also enhances road traffic efficiency and safety, providing new ideas and methods for the development of autonomous driving technology.
Assessing children who are acutely ill in general practice using the National PEWS and LqSOFA clinical scores: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Clark Amy , Cannings-John Rebecca , Carrol Enitan D , Thomas-Jones Emma , Sefton Gerri , Hay Alastair D , Butler Christopher C , Hughes Kathryn
Published: June 2024

Background

Clinical tools are needed in general practice to help identify children who are seriously ill. The Liverpool quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (LqSOFA) was validated in an emergency department and performed well. The National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) has been introduced in hospitals throughout England with hopes for implementation in general practice.

Aim

To validate the LqSOFA and National PEWS in general practice.

Design and setting

Secondary analysis of 6703 children aged <5 years presenting to 225 general practices in England and Wales with acute illnesses, linked to hospital data.

Method

Variables from the LqSOFA and National PEWS were mapped onto study data to calculate score totals. A primary outcome of admission within 2 days of GP consultation was used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive values (NPVs), positive predictive values (PPVs), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

A total of 104/6703 children were admitted to hospital within 2 days (pre-test probability 1.6%) of GP consultation. The sensitivity of the LqSOFA was 30.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21.8% to 41.0%), with a specificity of 84.7% (95% CI = 83.7% to 85.6%), PPV of 3.0% (95% CI = 2.1% to 4.4%), NPV of 98.7% (95% CI = 98.4% to 99.0%), and AUC of 0.58 (95% CI = 0.53 to 0.63). The sensitivity of the National PEWS was 81.0% (95% CI = 71.0% to 88.1%), with a specificity of 32.5% (95% CI = 31.2% to 33.8%), PPV of 1.9% (95% CI = 1.5% to 2.5%), NPV of 99.1% (95% CI = 98.4% to 99.4%), and AUC of 0.66 (95% CI = 0.59 to 0.72).

Conclusion

Although the NPVs appear useful, owing to low pre-test probabilities rather than discriminative ability, neither tool accurately identified admissions to hospital. Unconsidered use by GPs could result in unsustainable referrals.
GPs’ views of prescribing beta- blockers for people with anxiety disorders: a qualitative study
Authors: Archer Charlotte , Kessler David , Wiles Nicola , Chew-Graham Carolyn A , Turner Katrina
Published: June 2024

Background

Between 2003 and 2018, incident prescriptions of beta-blockers for anxiety increased substantially, particularly for young adults. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance for anxiety does not recommend beta-blockers, probably due to a lack of evidence to support such use. Recent reports have highlighted the potential risks of beta-blockers.

Aim

To understand when and why GPs prescribe beta-blockers for people with anxiety.

Design and setting

In-depth interviews with 17 GPs in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Method

Interviews were held by telephone or video call. A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.

Results

Many GPs viewed beta-blockers as ‘low risk’, particularly for young adults. Some GPs viewed beta-blockers as an alternative to benzodiazepines, acting quickly and not leading to dependence. GPs reflected that some patients appeared to want an ‘immediate fix’ to their symptoms, which GPs thought beta-blockers could potentially offer. This is salient in light of substantial waiting lists for talking therapies and delays in antidepressants taking effect. GPs described how some patients seemed more willing to try beta-blockers than antidepressants, as patients did not perceive them as ‘mental health drugs’ and therefore viewed them as potentially more acceptable and less stigmatising. Further, GPs viewed beta-blockers as ‘patient-led’, with patients managing their own dose and frequency, without GP input.

Conclusion

Many GPs believe that beta-blockers have a role to play in the management of anxiety. Given recent increases in the prescribing of these drugs in primary care, there is a need to assess their safety and effectiveness as a treatment for people with anxiety disorders.
Análisis de la producción científica de la Universidad de Salamanca indexada en SCOPUS (2010-2015)
Authors: Medina González Alejandro , Díaz-Redondo Carlos , Rodríguez Bravo Blanca , Frías José Antonio
Published: June 2024

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la producción científica del personal docente e investigador de la Universidad de Salamanca durante el periodo 2010-2015. Sobre la base de dos conjuntos de datos que contienen esta producción y las referencias bibliográficas citadas en ella, se determinaron los siguientes indicadores: a) las áreas de conocimiento más productivas, b) los tipos documentales escogidos para divulgar la investigación; c) el tipo de acceso que presentan, y d) los tipos documentales empleados como referencias bibliográficas, su obsolescencia y su tipo de acceso. Se recurrió a una metodología cuantitativa, con un diseño transversal, empleando la estadística descriptiva para generar y analizar los resultados. Se concluye que las áreas de conocimiento más productivas fueron las Ciencias Físicas y las Ciencias de la Salud; y trabajando en colaboración, las Ciencias de la Salud con las Ciencias de la Vida. El tipo documental predominante es el artículo científico, seguido por las comunicaciones a congresos. La mayor parte de estas publicaciones están en acceso restringido. En las referencias bibliográficas, prima asimismo el artículo científico, seguido por los libros y los capítulos de libros. Estas referencias citadas tienen una vida media comprendida entre 6 y 9 años. Predomina el acceso cerrado y, entre las modalidades de acceso abierto, la vía verde.
Clubes de lectura, mujeres y entornos rurales. Un estudio de caso en el medio rural aragonés
Authors: Agustín-Lacruz Carmen , Morera Gracia Eva
Published: June 2024

Los clubes de lectura promueven la socialización, la participación y el sentido de comunidad y facilitan que las personas interactúen en torno a la experiencia de la lectura compartida. Son prácticas lectoras asociadas a las bibliotecas públicas, muy extendidas en entornos urbanos y rurales, y en general, altamente feminizadas. En los últimos años los clubes de lectura han sido estudiados desde enfoques disciplinares distintos, aunque la investigación académica es todavía incipiente. El objetivo general de este trabajo consiste en identificar las prácticas lectoras desarrolladas en los clubes de lectura en el medio rural aragonés. De forma específica se plantea también: identificar y caracterizar los clubes de lectura activos en los municipios de Aragón, exceptuando aquellos ubicados en las capitales de provincia; conocer y describir las dinámicas de funcionamiento desarrolladas en ellos por las lectoras y también describir y valorar en particular las funciones desarrolladas por las mujeres en los clubes de lectura. La metodología utilizada se ha desarrollado en diferentes etapas: a) Identificación de las fuentes de información; b) Recogida y procesado de información incluyendo el mapeo de los clubes de lectura en el entorno rural y su caracterización detallada y c) el análisis crítico de los datos obtenidos.
واقع تطبيق إدارة الجودة الشاملة وأثرها على الأداء المؤسسي: دراسة ميدانية على الشركات الصناعية العاملة في مدينة سحاب الصناعية في الأردن
Authors: عفانه جهاد عبدالله
Published: June 2024

هدفت الدراسة إلى تعرف واقع تطبيق إدارة الجودة الشاملة، السائد لدى الشركات الصناعية العاملة في مدينة سحاب الصناعية في الأردن، وقياس أثر إدارة الجودة الشاملة على الأداء المؤسسي في تلك الشركات. اعتمدت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وأستعين بقائمة استقصاء تضمنت مجموعة من الفقرات لقياس متغيرات الدراسة، واستخدمت بعض الأساليب الإحصائية عبر برنامج SPSS للتوصل إلى طبيعة العلاقة بين المتغيرات واختبار الفروض. أجريت الدراسة على عينة عمدية مكونة من (21) شركة صناعية، وقد وزعت 160 استبانة، وبلغت نسبة الاستجابة %74، بواقع (118) استبانة تم تحليلها. وتمثلت وحدة التحليل في الموظفين الإداريين على مستوى الإدارة الوسطى والدنيا في شركات مجتمع الدراسة. توصلت الدراسة إلى توافر دليل إحصائي على وجود مستوى مقبول من الاهتمام بأبعاد إدارة الجودة الشاملة منفردة ومجتمعة (التركيز على العميل، منهج العملية ومدخل النظم، اتخاذ القرارات اعتماداً على الحقائق، التحسين المستمر، العلاقة مع الموردين، دعم الإدارة العليا والتزامها، ومشاركة العاملين) لدى الشركات الصناعية محل الدراسة؛ إذ عكست متوسطات تطبيق هذه الأبعاد معدلاً مرتفعاً قياساً بالوسط الفرضي وبترتيب تنازلي، كما ذكر أعلاه، وقد جاء بُعد مشاركة العاملين بمتوسط أقل من التطبيق، وذلك من وجهة نظر الإداريين في تلك الشركات. في حين لم يتوافر دليل إحصائي على وجود مستوى مقبول من الأداء المؤسسي (الجانب المالي، والتشغيلي، والعملاء، والتعلم والنمو ) لدى تلك الشركات. كما خلصت الدراسة إلى وجود أثر ذي دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى دلالة (α ≤ 0.05) لأبعاد إدارة الجودة الشاملة منفردة ومجتمعة على الأداء المؤسسي في الشركات الصناعية المبحوثة.وأظهرت النتائج أن أكبر قيمة لمعامل الارتباط كانت بين بُعدي مشاركة العاملين ومنهج العملية ومدخل النظم ومتغير الأداء المؤسسي. كون موضوع الدراسة لم يحظ - في حدود علم الباحث - بالقدر الكافي من البحث، خاصة في القطاع الصناعي المبحوث، فضلاً عن شمول العينة (21) شركة صناعية، وكذا الشمولية في تناول أبعاد متغيرات الدراسة وعناصرها. تمثلت الحدود المكانية للدراسة في الشركات الصناعية العاملة في مدينة سحاب الصناعية في الأردن، وتمثلت الحدود البشرية في الموظفين الإداريين في الإدارات الوسطى والدنيا في الشركات محل الدراسة ممثلين بمسؤولي إدارات (الجودة، والإنتاج/ العمليات، وسلاسل التوريد).
أسباب ووسائل علاج الفاحشة في ضوء القرآن الكريم
Authors: صلاح يعقوب يوسف
Published: June 2024

تناول بحث «أسباب ووسائل علاج الفاحشة في ضوء القرآن الكريم» الحديث عن مفهوم الفواحش في اللغة والاصطلاح، وكيف استعمل القرآن لفظتي الفاحشة والفحشاء في الدلالة على أمور ينفر منها الذوق السليم، وأنواع الفواحش التي ورد الحديث عنها في القرآن، سواء المتعلقة بالجنس منها أو غيره، ثم عرجت بالحديث عن أسباب الفواحش التي ذكرها القرآن الكريم، من العصيان، واتباع خطوات الشيطان، والهوى، والتقليد، واقتران الفواحش، ثم ختمت البحث ببيان الوسائل العلاجية والوقائية للفواحش من خلال الذكر الحكيم، وكان منها: التربية الإيمانية، وغض البصر، والأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر، ومصاحبة الصالحين، واجتناب مواطن الفواحش. ونتج عن ذلك: أن الفاحشة لا تطلق إلا على الجنس حيث وردت في القرآن، والفحشاء لم تطلق على الجنس إلا في موضع واحد.
سُنَّة (نقص الأرض من أطرافها) وأثرها في ازدهار الدُّول وانهيارها
Authors: عبد السلام مقبل المجيدي
Published: June 2024

القرآن الـمجيد هو المصدر الحقُّ لفهم السُّنَن الإلهيَّة التي يقوم عليها الكون، وتتحكَّم بالحياة، وهذا يقتضي إعمال الفِكر في دراسة الظاهرة القرآنيَّة التي لا يَنْضَب معينُها؛ لذلك تناول هذا البحث سُنَّة نقص الأرض من أطرافها، وهدف إلى التعريف بهذه السُّنَّة، وإبراز مظاهرها وتطبيقاتها، وذِكْر الآثار المترتِّبة على فَهْمِ هذه السُّنَّة، مستخدمًا المنهج التحليليَّ، والاستقرائيَّ في عَرضها، وبيان أثرها في ازدهار الدول وانهيارها حتى تكون الأُمَّة قادرةً على الحفاظ على مكتسباتها الحضاريَّة، حَذِرةً من الوقوع في بَرَاثِن السُّنَن المدمِّرة. وخلص هذا البحث إلى عِدَّة نتائج، أبرزها:
1) تمنح هذه السُّنَّة تفكيرًا عاليًا في التخطيط الاستراتيجي لقيام الحضارات وانهيارها، وتصلح أن تُدرس ضمن فَهْمِ قيام الدول وزوالها.
2) فَهْمُ هذه السُّنَّة يمنح الفرصة لصنَّاع القرار والمهتمين بأمن الأمم أن يضعوا الحلول المناسبة لتأمين أممهم ودُوَلهم.
3) العمق المعنوي الذي جاء به الأسلوب القرآنيُّ في التعبير عن هذه السُّنَّة، فقد عبَّر عنها بألفاظٍ موجزةٍ ذات معانٍ عظيمةٍ.
Melatonergic Signaling Sustains Food Allergy Through FcεRI Recycling
Authors: Wang Youxia , Zhang Xinmei , Hung Ifen , Liu Chunxue , Ren Wenkai , Ge Liangpeng , Wang Hao
Published: June 2024

The prevalence of food allergies is increasing dramatically and causing serious public health concerns. Notably, melatonin metabolism imbalance in patients with food allergies; however, the role of melatonin in food allergies remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that melatonin suppresses food allergy responses and reprograms the gut microbiota of food-allergic mice, while melatonin aggravates food allergy during gut microbiota depletion. Mechanistically, melatonin boosts the degranulation of mast cells by up-regulating the expression of membrane high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (FcεRI). Melatonin increases the mRNA expression of Rabenosyn-5 (a component of factors for endosome recycling and Rab interactions) through melatonin receptor 2 (MT2)–extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling, thereby driving the recycling of FcεRI and elevating the abundance of membrane FcεRI. Likewise, the inhibition of MT2 attenuates melatonin-induced food allergy in mice with gut microbiota depletion. Collectively, our finding provides insights into the pathogenesis of food allergies and provides a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of food allergies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Multifunctional Responsive Core–Shell Microneedles for Dermatosis Treatment
Authors: Luan Xi , Zhang Xiaoxuan , Luan Qichen , Gan Jingjing , Wang Yu , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: June 2024

Microneedles have demonstrated value in targeted treatment of dermatosis. Current investigation aims to enhance the functions and optimize substance delivery to improve therapeutic effects. Here, we present innovative shell–core microneedles with light-pH dual responsiveness for spatiotemporal sequential release of multiple Chinese herb drugs to treat scleroderma. By using a stepwise template-assisted method, we effectively prepare a hydrogel-based core layer containing polydopamine-MXene (P-MXene) loaded with triptolide (TP), and a shell layer composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) encapsulating paeoniflorin (Pae). P-MXene can adsorb the sparingly soluble TP to ensure its encapsulation efficiency and contribute to the synergistic photothermal effect benefitting from its excellent photothermal conversion ability. Besides, PVA can rapidly dissolve upon microneedle piercing into the skin and quickly release the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying Pae, establishing a favorable low-acid subcutaneous environment. In response to pH changes and near-infrared effects, TP is sustainably released from P-MXene and delivered through the swollen pores of the hydrogel. On the basis of these characteristics, we demonstrate that these microneedles could effectively reduce profibrotic key cytokines interleukin-1β and transforming growth factor-β, thereby reducing collagen deposition and decreasing epidermal thickness, ameliorating skin fibrosis and capillary lesion in scleroderma mouse models. These findings highlight the important clinical potential of these microneedles in the treatment of skin diseases.
Cytomegalovirus Primo-Infection, a New Sexually Transmitted Disease? Two Cases Report
Authors: Jeantils Vincent , Bouree Patrice
Published: June 2024

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a well-known and ubiquitous virus that causes damage in pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and babies in the nursery. It is a direct transmission through biologic liquids, asymptomatic in most cases, sometimes with a mononucleosis-like syndrome. It can be diagnosed using a serologic, or much better, a PCR test. Two cases of primary CMV infections are discussed and linked to probable sexual transmission.
Melatonin Against Aging: Could We Stimulate Melatonin Secretion Through Tahajjud?
Authors: Heidari Akram , Fattahi Bafghi Ali , Tabeaie Sayyed Ziaadin , Bani-Asadi Reza , Afkhami Ardakani Mohammad , Barzegar Kazem , Vakili Mahmoud , Heidari Mortaza
Published: June 2024

Background: Islamic instructions suggest waking up near dawn and praying to Allah. This is the time of maximum melatonin secretion, a hormone whose main function is regulating the circadian rhythm. Melatonin secretion declines with age, leading to different clinical consequences. This study investigated the melatonin levels among night vigil prayers, non-prayer late sleepers, and those with regular night sleep. Methods: A questionnaire including information about age, gender, education, and occupation was used to collect the demographic information of the participants. Melatonin was measured with two blood draws (23:00 to 24:00 and 9:00 to 10:00). Results: There was a significant difference between the night vigil prayers’ nocturnal and daily melatonin and the melatonin levels of the other two groups. There was no significant difference in the average daily serum melatonin levels between regular night sleepers and non-praying late sleepers (P=0.306). Moreover, a significant negative relationship was found between age and nocturnal melatonin (r=0.38, P<0.0001) and between age and daily melatonin (r=0.25, P=0.02). Conclusion: Night vigil prayers had higher average nocturnal and daily serum melatonin levels than non-praying late sleepers and regular sleepers. Therefore, waking up at night accompanied by approaching Allah, prayer, supplication, and positive thoughts was related to release in melatonin.
Accuracy of Declared Salt Content on Traffic Light Labelling of Nuts and Seeds in Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Shirani Fatemeh , Khodaei Seyedeh Mahsa , Akbari Mojtba , Eshaghi Razieh , Siavash Mansour , Esfandiari Zahra
Published: June 2024

Background: Regarding the importance of the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and higher consumption of salt among the Iranian population than the level recommended by the World Health Organization, the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the salt mentioned in the traffic light labelling of nuts and seeds. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 53 packaged nuts and seeds, including 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, and 10 samples of pumpkin, pistachios, almond, sunflower, peanut, and watermelon nuts and seeds, respectively, with traffic light labelling, were randomly purchased from several local markets in Isfahan, Iran. The amount of sodium was measured by the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy technique and then multiplied by 2.5 to achieve the amount of salt. Results: Varying levels of traffic light labeling value accuracy were observed in most of the samples. In the almond, pistachio, peanut, and watermelon groups, the average amount of laboratory value had a statistically significant difference with the label value (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the salt content of 82% of the studied samples had discrepancies with the values stated on the traffic light labelling. The presentation of an accurate amount of salt content is essential for promoting healthy eating habits and enabling individuals to make informed choices about their diet. It is recommended that regulatory authorities should review labelling guidelines and enforce stricter compliance to ensure accurate representation of salt content on packaged foods.
PENGARUH STRATEGI KEUNGGULAN BERSAING DAN SISTEM PRODUKSI TERHADAP NILAI TAMBAH USAHA AGROINDUSTRI GULA AREN
Authors: Novia Pangestika Dian , Dasipah Euis , Sukmawati Dety , Dahtiar Agi
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT
This study aims to analyze and prove the factors that influence the added value of the palm sugar industry business. The technique for determining the respondents was carried out by means of a census of 75 units. The analysis technique used is correlation and SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). The results obtained from the Performance of the Strategy of Competitive Advantage in the Palm Sugar Industry Craftsmen in Cisolok District, Sukabumi Regency obtained an achievement level of 78.48% with good criteria. Performance of the Palm Sugar Industry Business Production System craftsmen in Cisolok District, Sukabumi Regency obtained an achievement level of 74.79% good criterion. Demonstration of Value Added Palm Sugar Industry Craftsmen in Cisolok District, Sukabumi Regency obtained an achievement level of 73.25% good criterion. There is a positive correlation between the Competitive Advantage Strategy and the Sugar Production System on the Success of the Palm Sugar Industry Business as indicated by the correlation coefficient r12 = 0.752, which means that the Production System is getting better. the better the Competitive Advantage Strategy. The Competitive Advantage Strategy and Production System have a positive effect on Business Added Value of the Palm Sugar Industry with their respective contributions: 44.15% and 36.73%.
Keywords: Advantage, Production, Value Added
Pengaruh Dosis Kasgot Limbah Hotel Terhadap Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.) Varietas Nauli F1
Authors: Abdullah Rohana , Pratama Junjun , Aisyah Iis
Published: June 2024

This research was conducted in polybags with Andisol soil type in the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Winaya Mukti, Tanjungsari District, Sumedang Regency from June to July 2021. The purpose of this study was to see how the best of hotel food waste BSF frass affected the growth and yield of pakcoy (B. rapa L.). The research utilized a Randomized Block Design with six treatments: A = 0 ton.ha-1 (without BSF frass/control), B= 3 ton.ha-1 cow dung compost, C =1,5 ton.ha-1 BSF frass, D = 3 ton.ha-1 BSF frass, E = 4.5 ton.ha-1 BSF frass, and F = 6 ton.ha-1 BSF frass, all of which are repeated four times.The use of hotel waste BSF frass had a substantial impact on plant height, leaf number, root volume, canopy fresh weight, root fresh weight, canopy dry weight, and root dry weight, according to the findings. Treatment F (6 ton.ha-1) had the best results in terms of plant height, number of leaves, root volume, crown fresh weight, root fresh weight, and canopy dry weight, according to the study's findings. Treatment E (4.5 tons.ha-1) produced the best results in terms of root dry weight.