bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Shine Muscat Grape Berry Detection and Grape Cluster Compactness Estimation for Assessment of Grape Quality Based on Instance Segmentation Methods
Authors: Kim EungChan , Lee Chang-Hyup , Park Seongmin , Hong Suk-Ju , Kim Sang-Yeon , Kim Ghiseok
Published: October 2023

Highlights

Mask R-CNN ResNet-101 was analyzed to have the highest detection accuracy for grape berries.

Grape cluster compactness is one of the important factors that determines the quality of grapes.

Indicator DGC was used to intuitively calculate the compactness of grape cluster.

An average error of 1.6 mm occurred with the verification of diameter estimation algorithm.

Abstract. Consumption and cultivation of grapes are constantly increasing because they are known as alkaline foods, which relieve fatigue by accelerating carbohydrate metabolism in the human body. Among these grapes, a Shine Muscat doesn’t have the bitter taste of ordinary grapes, has low acidity, and has a crunchy texture, which results in growing interest in modern society. As the consumption of Shine Muscat increases, an automated process to save labor and time becomes essential. Particularly, one challenge that needs to be solved is the determination of grape quality based solely on visual evaluations by experts, which can result in inconsistent pricing for consumers. In this study, an algorithm was adopted to detect the grape berries from a bunch of single grapes by acquiring RGB images of the harvested Shine Muscat. Mask R-CNN, a convolutional neural network-based image segmentation technique, was used with various backbones to compare and evaluate the performance of each model. Results showed that Mask R-CNN ResNet 101 had the highest AP (Average Precision) value of 0.961 among all models. In addition, indexes such as the size (diameter) of each grape berry, the area of the grape on the image, and the area of the empty space that are required to find the compactness of the grape cluster are obtained. In particular, it was analyzed that the average error value (mm) and percent error (%) of the diameter estimation algorithm developed in this study were 1.60 mm and 4.79%, respectively. Keywords: Keywords., Density of Grape Cluster (DGC), Diameter estimation, Grape berry, Grape cluster compactness, Mask R-CNN, Object detection.
Corn Yield Increase Under Constant Fertilizer Did Not Reduce Nitrate Export
Authors: Clifford Chelsea Connair , Waring Emily R. , Pederson Carl H. , Helmers Matthew J.
Published: October 2023

Highlights

Corn yields increased from 1989 to 2021 in Iowa experimental plots at nitrogen fertilizer rates consistently just above current recommendations.

Increased corn yields did not result in a decrease in drainage nitrate exports.

Findings required long-term (>10 years) experiments and monitoring.

Abstract. Aquatic problems from the export of nutrients, especially nitrate, from row crops are recalcitrant in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin and globally severe. Previous studies have proposed to reduce these problems in part by improving crop yields, particularly corn, leaving less nitrate surplus to export. Simultaneous increases in fertilizer application rates and grain yields in recent decades have made testing this notion with large-scale agricultural statistics difficult. This experiment in Iowa featured a corn-soybean rotation with corn fertilized with nitrogen at a nearly consistent rate from 1989 to 2021. Corn yields increased at a rate not statistically distinguishable from the surrounding county’s (144 vs. 148 kg ha-1 yr-1), but drainage nitrate concentration and loading remained flat overall, oscillating with precipitation. Results suggest that increasing corn yield, and thereby partial factor productivity, with standard shifts in cultivars over time, cannot alone solve the U.S. Corn Belt’s nitrate surplus problem, supporting previous recommendations for active and multi-layered conservation efforts. Five- to ten-year positive and negative sub-trends in nitrate export within the longer dataset reaffirm the importance of truly long-term experiments and monitoring to accurately assess the impacts of management. Keywords: Keywords., Corn, Loading, Nitrate, Water quality, Yield.
Wind Tunnels and Their Uses to Study Variables Affecting Precision Applications of Agricultural Sprays
Authors: Womac Alvin Ray , Ozkan Erdal , Zhu Heping , Kochendorfer John , Jeon Hongyoung , Eswarachandra Nataraj
Published: October 2023

Highlights

Wind tunnels were extensively used to study precision applications of agricultural sprays.

Use of wind tunnels significantly contributed to the broad-reaching impact of precision applications.

Wind tunnels provide controlled conditions to study a plethora of wide ranging spray variables.

Abstract.The objective of this study was to review publications that were representative of wind tunnels and their uses to study variables affecting precision applications of agricultural sprays. Precision application involved the deliberate engineering of sprayers for accurate formation and dispersal of droplets and sprays to enhance spray deposits on targeted crop, foliage, or pest for increased agricultural production with reduced adverse effects to neighboring ecology and the environment. Categorical themes of wind tunnel uses were (1) spray atomization, (2) adjuvant effects, (3) spray drift, (4) spray, air movement, crop foliage interactions, (5) UAV applications, (6) airflow around sprayer, and (7) spray test methods and collections. A discovery was that nozzle design had more impact on droplet size than spray formulation, which emphasized the importance of spray nozzle selection for atomization, and that air induction (AI) venturi nozzles consistently provided reduced spray drift potential. On occasion, some adjuvants marketed as drift reduction agents acted in an opposite manner and decreased droplet size. Wind tunnel use for spray drift had the broadest range of variables studied among conceptual applications and included various nozzles, boom height, product active ingredients, adjuvants, and other variables. Deposits decreased in foliage from upper, middle, to lower foliage heights and decreased with increased wind speed. Low wind turbulence in the canopy did not contribute to deposition. Foliage deposition depended more on droplet size and local ambient winds. Canopy porosity limited the droplet size to less than 100 µm for contribution to deposits internal to the foliage. Wind tunnel use for UAV applications was mostly focused on spray drift for UAV variables such as rotor configurations and payload for mounted or tethered UAV. An ultimate recommendation was to use AI nozzles, reduce application speed, and to use a suitable adjuvant – which was similar to other applications. Contrasting results for the impact of airflow around sprays were reported for vortices around fan spray discharge of a nozzle versus a 4-nozzle boom study that found no differences in velocity and turbulence fields due to the presence or no presence of spray discharge. Spray test methods and collections determined in wind tunnels primarily focused on collection efficiencies for a wide range of spray collectors. Collection efficiencies varied with collector and droplet size. Keywords: Keywords.,Boom sprayer,Droplet size,Droplet trajectory,Nozzle classification,Spray deposit,Spray drift,Spray nozzles.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MANUFACTURING STRATEGY OF SPARE PARTS: A CASE STUDY
Authors: El Mola Khaled M. S. Gad
Published: October 2023

Managing supplementary parts for plants and machines plays a major role in accomplishing the needed system availability in a cost-effective manner. Today’s industrial demands require mature technology that is strong in terms of capital and bulk-production oriented. However, the idleness of these machines and equipment due to unavailability of spare parts is a major problem and barrier to effective systems availability. This study aims to develop an effective manufacturing strategy for spare parts. A case study was conducted at a General Water Desalination Establishment in Saudi Arabia to select the right strategy to reduce the total downtime and total maintenance costs of equipment. The results showed the importance of creating a production plan that suits an organization’s ability to manage the supply chain for customers and ensure the company remains competitive within its market. Identification of critical spare parts of equipment for maintenance operations is one of the key decision-making activities to obtain lower downtime for equipment and inventory costs. Therefore, decision-makers should apply the best method and use accurate criteria to analyze and rank the spare parts based on criticality. The strategies proposed in the present study assure that these important parts are available for maintenance and repair of the plant and machinery when required at an optimum cost.
EVALUATION OF FOOD PRESENTATIONS USING PICTURE FUZZY ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS
Authors: Yasli Fatma , Ekincek Sema
Published: October 2023

Preparation of food is one of the basic activities that people perform throughout their lives for pleasure as well as survival. Food can be considered within the framework of gastronomy, which is defined as "the art of quality eating and drinking". There is fierce competition in the food and beverage sector for the privilege of being preferred by customers for products offered. It is vital for restaurants to have menus that are unique and consist of innovative recipes. Creative chefs are at the forefront of creating and presenting these menus. However, scoring and evaluating chefs’ products is a cognitive, multi-perspective, and complicated process. In this study, for the first time in the literature, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was used to evaluate gastronomy products. Five food presentations that received full points in the final exam of the Korean Cuisine Practical Course at a gastronomy education institution were evaluated. The evaluation criteria for the students’ food presentations were presentation, creativity of the name, taste, and fusion balance of the product (the combination of different cultures in the product). The Picture Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used, and the performance ranking of the food presentations, which the judges could not determine by their direct evaluation, was revealed. The study provides an easy-to-implement and fair assessment methodology for both scoring of food presentations in educational institutions and for highly competitive cooking competitions. The developed methodology can be applied to many different evaluations of culinary products.
SELECTION OF ELECTRICITY TARIFF DESIGNS FOR DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS USING ANALYTIC NETWORK PROCESS
Authors: Nair Vinod , Nair Usha
Published: October 2023

In electricity distribution networks, tariff designs set the interface between the users and network operators or service providers. Tariff designs provide the reference base for tariff schedules covering multiple categories of network users. It is widely accepted that electric utility rate designs have subjective and objective multi-criteria dependencies. Based on utility rate making literature, subcriteria for selection of tariff designs can be listed under the economic, technological, and social criteria. In this study, two widely used electricity tariff designs, volumetric or energy charges and capacity or demand charges are considered. In addition, real-time pricing and a hybrid tariff design that combines energy and capacity charges with critical peak pricing are also included in the comparison. Performance evaluation of these tariff designs on quantifiable parameters relating to economic aspects is carried out using the Tariff Design and Analysis Tool. Literature on electricity tariff designs and pricing provides the metadata on performance relating to qualitative criteria covering mainly the technological and social aspects. A synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative criteria evaluations was done by developing a Benefits-Opportunities-Costs-Risks (BOCR) model in the Analytic Network Process (ANP), a Multi-Criteria Decision Making methodology. A quantitative assessment of inconsistencies in evaluation and synthesis of the model using a consistency index shows that the developed ANP framework for tariff design selection is a valid approach. The developed BOCR model in ANP shows that the hybrid tariff design of Energy and Capacity charges with Coincident Peak Pricing is the best alternative. A sensitivity analysis shows that the ranking is variable when the BOCR priorities change.
Meaningful Work when Work Won’t Love You Back: Sociological Imagination and Reflective Teaching Practice
Authors: Baer Andrea
Published: October 2023

abstract: This essay explores the tension between pursuing meaningful work in instruction librarianship and the realities of working in a society in which many jobs provide little fulfillment or pleasure, or, as the journalist Sarah Jaffe puts it, “Work won’t love you back.” Drawing on a recent conference keynote by Anne Helen Petersen, C. Wright Mills’s conception of sociological imagination, and an ecological model of teacher agency, I propose that one way librarians can sustain their teaching practices and preserve their well-being is by actively investigating how social structures and relationships influence their teaching roles.
Tunable plasmon refractive index sensor and a slow-light device optimized by an improved genetic algorithm based on a MIM waveguide
Authors: Shi Qiang , Qi Yunping , Zhang Shu , Zhou Zihao , Wen Yujiao , Wang Xiangxian
Published: October 2023

A structure is proposed in this article consisting of a stub metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide coupled with an embedded T-shaped square ring resonator (ETSRR). The transmission characteristics and magnetic field distribution of the design are analyzed in detail using the finite element method (FEM). Furthermore, the geometric parameters are optimized using an improved genetic algorithm to enhance device performance. The proposed structure is therefore an ideal candidate for realizing a refractive index sensor and slow-light device, with potential applications in various fields such as sensing and communication. Moreover, our study provides valuable insights to the design of surface plasmon polarition (SPP) waveguides with computer assistance.
Sub-terahertz nearfields for electron-pulse compression
Authors: Mazor Yarden , Kfir Ofer
Published: October 2023

The advent of ultrafast science with pulsed electron beams raised the need to control the temporal features of the electron pulses. One promising suggestion is the nano-selective quantum optics with multi-electrons, which scales quadratically with the number of electrons within the coherence time of the quantum system. Terahertz (THz) radiation from optical nonlinear crystals is an attractive methodology to generate the rapidly varying electric fields necessary for electron compression, with the advantage of an inherent temporal locking to laser-triggered electrons, such as in ultrafast electron microscopes. Longer (picosecond-) pulses require a sub-THz field for their compression. However, the generation of such low frequencies requires pumping with energetic optical pulses and their focusability is fundamentally limited by their mm-wavelength. This work proposes electron-pulse compression with sub-THz fields directly in the vicinity of their dipolar origin, thereby avoiding mediation through radiation. We analyze the merits of nearfields for compression of slow electrons, particularly in challenging regimes for THz radiation, such as small numerical apertures, micro-joule-level optical pump pulses, and low frequencies. This scheme can be implemented within the tight constraints of electron microscopes and reach fields of a few kV/cm below 0.1 THz at high repetition rates. Our paradigm offers a realistic approach for controlling electron pulses spatially and temporally in many experiments, opening the path of flexible multi-electron manipulation for analytic and quantum sciences.
Towards efficient broadband parametric conversion in ultra-long Si3N4 waveguides
Authors: Ayan Arman , Liu Junqiu , Kippenberg Tobias J. , Brès Camille-Sophie
Published: October 2023

Broadband continuous-wave parametric gain and efficient wavelength conversion is an important functionality to bring on-chip. Recently, meter-long silicon nitride waveguides have been utilized to obtain continuous-traveling-wave parametric gain, establishing the great potential of photonic-integrated-circuit-based parametric amplifiers. However, the effect of spiral structure on the performance and achievable bandwidth of such devices have not yet been studied. In this work, we investigate the efficiency-bandwidth performance in up to 2 meter-long waveguides engineered for broadband operation. Moreover, we analyze the conversion efficiency fluctuations that have been observed in meter-long Si3N4 waveguides and study the use of temperature control to limit the fluctuations.
High-efficiency static speckle-suppression method based on a combination of beam splitting cavity and liquid-core fiber
Authors: Mao Haolei , zhou Weilong , Gao Wenya , Cao Yujia , Le Zichun
Published: October 2023

Current static speckle suppression methods have an extremely large system size and unsatisfactory performance. This study proposes a device called beam-splitting cavity (BSC) and establishes a model of speckle suppression based on the combination of BSC and a liquid-core fiber. Subsequently, a passive static speckle suppression system is constructed and the key factors affecting the speckle contrast are studied. Consequently, the speckle contrast was reduced from 30.2% to 3.1%, which is below the human-eye speckle-discrimination limit (<4%). The scheme consists entirely of passive optical elements, which are more applicable to projectors than the traditional static and dynamic speckle-suppression methods.
Zika virus diversity in mice is maintained during early vertical transmission from placenta to fetus, but reduced in fetal bodies and brains at late stages of infection
Authors: Evans Alyssa B. , Winkler Clayton W. , Anzick Sarah L. , Ricklefs Stacy M. , Sturdevant Dan E. , Peterson Karin E.
Published: October 2023

Since emerging in French Polynesia and Brazil in the 2010s, Zika virus (ZIKV) has been associated with fetal congenital disease. Previous studies have compared ancestral and epidemic ZIKV strains to identify strain differences that may contribute to vertical transmission and fetal disease. However, within-host diversity in ZIKV populations during vertical transmission has not been well studied. Here, we used the established anti-interferon treated Rag1-/- mouse model of ZIKV vertical transmission to compare genomic variation within ZIKV populations in matched placentas, fetal bodies, and fetal brains via RNASeq. At early stages of vertical transmission, the ZIKV populations in the matched placentas and fetal bodies were similar. Most ZIKV single nucleotide variants were present in both tissues, indicating little to no restriction in transmission of ZIKV variants from placenta to fetus. In contrast, at later stages of fetal infection there was a sharp reduction in ZIKV diversity in fetal bodies and fetal brains. All fetal brain ZIKV populations were comprised of one of two haplotypes, containing either a single variant or three variants together, as largely homogenous populations. In most cases, the dominant haplotype present in the fetal brain was also the dominant haplotype present in the matched fetal body. However, in two of ten fetal brains the dominant ZIKV haplotype was undetectable or present at low frequencies in the matched placenta and fetal body ZIKV populations, suggesting evidence of a strict selective bottleneck and possible selection for certain variants during neuroinvasion of ZIKV into fetal brains.
Health service improvement using positive patient feedback: Systematic scoping review
Authors: Lloyd Rebecca , Munro James , Evans Kerry , Gaskin-Williams Amy , Hui Ada , Pearson Mark , Slade Mike , Kotera Yasuhiro , Day Giskin , Loughlin-Ridley Joanne , Enston Clare , Rennick-Egglestone Stefan
Published: October 2023

Background

Healthcare services regularly receive patient feedback, most of which is positive. Empirical studies suggest that health services can use positive feedback to create patient benefit. Our aim was to map all available empirical evidence for how positive patient feedback creates change in healthcare settings.

Methods

Empirical studies in English were systematically identified through database searches (ACM Digital Library, AMED, ASSIA, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO), forwards and backwards citation, and expert consultation. We summarise the characteristics of included studies and the feedback they consider, present a thematic synthesis of qualitative findings, and provide narrative summaries of quantitative findings.

Results

68 papers were included, describing research conducted across six continents, with qualitative (n = 51), quantitative (n = 10), and mixed (n = 7) methods. Only two studies were interventional. The most common settings were hospitals (n = 27) and community healthcare (n = 19). The most common recipients were nurses (n = 29). Most outcomes described were desirable. These were categorised as (a) short-term emotional change for healthcare workers (including feeling motivated and improved psychological wellbeing); (b) work-home interactional change for healthcare workers (such as improved home-life relationships); (c) work-related change for healthcare workers (such as improved performance and staff retention). Some undesirable outcomes were described, including envy when not receiving positive feedback. The impact of feedback may be moderated by characteristics of particular healthcare roles, such as night shift workers having less interaction time with patients. Some factors moderating the change created by feedback are modifiable.

Conclusion

Further interventional research is required to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of receiving positive feedback in creating specific forms of change such as increases in staff retention. Healthcare managers may wish to use positive feedback more regularly, and to address barriers to staff receiving feedback.
Resting-state EEG dynamics help explain differences in response control in ADHD: Insight into electrophysiological mechanisms and sex differences
Authors: Kember Jonah , Stepien Lauren , Panda Erin , Tekok-Kilic Ayda
Published: October 2023

Reductions in response control (greater reaction time variability and commission error rate) are consistently observed in those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous research suggests these reductions arise from a dysregulation of large-scale cortical networks. Here, we extended our understanding of this cortical-network/response-control pathway important to the neurobiology of ADHD. First, we assessed how dynamic changes in three resting-state EEG network properties thought to be relevant to ADHD (phase-synchronization, modularity, oscillatory power) related with response control during a simple perceptual decision-making task in 112 children/adolescents (aged 8–16) with and without ADHD. Second, we tested whether these associations differed in males and females who were matched in age, ADHD-status and ADHD- subtype. We found that changes in oscillatory power (as opposed to phase-synchrony and modularity) are most related with response control, and that this relationship is stronger in ADHD compared to controls. Specifically, a tendency to dwell in an electrophysiological state characterized by high alpha/beta power (8-12/13-30Hz) and low delta/theta power (1-3/4-7Hz) supported response control, particularly in those with ADHD. Time in this state might reflect an increased initiation of alpha-suppression mechanisms, recruited by those with ADHD to suppress processing unfavourable to response control. We also found marginally significant evidence that this relationship is stronger in males compared to females, suggesting a distinct etiology for response control in the female presentation of ADHD.
Public perspective toward extended community pharmacy services in sub-national Saudi Arabia: An online cross-sectional study
Authors: Alghamdi Khalid S. , Petzold Max , Ewis Ashraf A. , Alsugoor Mahdi H. , Saaban Khalid , Hussain-Alkhateeb Laith
Published: October 2023

Background

In many developed countries, the scope of community pharmacy services has extended to include advanced applications. Unlike traditional practices that focus on pharmaceutical sales, extended community pharmacy services (ECPSs) are patient-centred and typically offered by specialised healthcare centres, which improve public health, reduce pressure imposed on healthcare professionals, and rationalise health system expenditures. However, based on the findings of several studies, community pharmacies (CPs) only provide marginalised services. Public reviews are thus crucial to effectively utilise such services. This study explored CPs use among the Saudi public in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to ECPSs.

Materials and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey of a non-probability sample between October and December 2021. Numerical and graphical descriptive statistics were employed with an additional analytical assessment using binary logistic regression to determine the association between participant characteristics and the barriers to ECPSs use.

Results

A total of 563 individuals participated in this study, approximately 33% of which revealed CPs as the first place they visit for medication concerns. Most individuals were not aware of medication therapy management and health screening services (77% and 68%, respectively). Pharmacy clinics offering private counselling and receiving patient electronic medical records were unknown to the participants (78% and 63%, respectively). A substantial proportion of the cohort considered lack of privacy (58%) and inadequate communication with community pharmacists (56%) as key barriers to the use of ECPSs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the underdeveloped infrastructure of CPs was significantly associated with almost all factors.

Conclusion

Most services and facilities were found to be underutilised. Positive public attitudes were associated with concerns regarding privacy and cost of services. Consistent with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting CPs and increasing the public awareness of ECPSs have significant implications on public health.
Social affective behaviors among female rats involve the basolateral amygdala and insular cortex
Authors: Djerdjaj Anthony , Rieger Nathaniel S. , Brady Bridget H. , Carey Bridget N. , Ng Alexandra J. , Christianson John P.
Published: October 2023

The ability to detect, appraise, and respond to another’s emotional state is essential to social affective behavior. This is mediated by a network of brain regions responsible for integrating external cues with internal states to orchestrate situationally appropriate behavioral responses. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the insular cortex are reciprocally connected regions involved in social cognition and prior work in male rats revealed their contributions to social affective behavior. We investigated the functional role of these regions in female rats in a social affective preference (SAP) test in which experimental rats approach stressed juvenile but avoid stressed adult conspecifics. In separate experiments, the BLA or the insula were inhibited by local infusion of muscimol (100ng/side in 0.5μL saline) or vehicle prior to SAP tests. In both regions, muscimol interfered with preference for the stressed juvenile and naive adult, indicating that these regions are necessary for appropriate social affective behavior. In male rats, SAP behavior requires insular oxytocin but there are noteworthy sex differences in the oxytocin receptor distribution in rats. Oxytocin (500nM) administered to the insula did not alter social behavior but oxytocin infusions to the BLA increased social interaction. In sum, female rats appear to use the same BLA and insula regions for social affective behavior but sex differences exist in contribution of oxytocin in the insula.
SimpliPyTEM: An open-source Python library and app to simplify transmission electron microscopy and in situ-TEM image analysis
Authors: Ing Gabriel , Stewart Andrew , Battaglia Guiseppe , Ruiz-Perez Lorena
Published: October 2023

Introducing SimpliPyTEM, a Python library and accompanying GUI that simplifies the post-acquisition evaluation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, helping streamline the workflow. After an imaging session, a folder of image and/or video files, typically containing low contrast and large file size 32-bit images, can be quickly processed via SimpliPyTEM into high-quality, high-contrast.jpg images with suitably sized scale bars. The app can also generate HTML or PDF files containing the processed images for easy viewing and sharing. Additionally, SimpliPyTEM specifically focuses on in situ TEM videos, an emerging field of EM involving the study of dynamic processes whilst imaging. The package allows fast data processing into preview movies, averages, image series, or motion-corrected averages. The accompanying Python library offers many standard image processing methods, all simplified to a single command, plus a module to analyse particle morphology and population. This latter application is particularly useful for life sciences investigations. User-friendly tutorials and clear documentation are included to help guide users through the processing and analysis. We invite the EM community to contribute to and further develop this open-source package.
Urban vs. rural differences in psychiatric diagnoses, symptom severity, and functioning in a psychiatric sample
Authors: Forrest Lauren N. , Waschbusch Dan A. , Pearl Amanda M. , Bixler Edward O. , Sinoway Lawrence I. , Kraschnewski Jennifer L. , Liao Duanping , Saunders Erika F. H.
Published: October 2023

Objective

Identifying whether certain groups of people experience elevated rates or severities of psychiatric symptoms provides information to guide healthcare allocation. People living in urban areas have higher rates of some psychiatric disorders relative to people living in rural settings, however, it is unclear if psychiatric severity is more elevated in urban vs. rural settings. This study investigates the urban vs. rural differences in rates of psychiatric disorders and severity of psychiatric symptoms.

Method

A cohort of patients (63% women, 85% White) presenting to an outpatient psychiatric treatment center in the U.S. completed patient-reported outcomes at all clinic visits as part of standard care. Rurality was determined by municipality population density. Sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, trauma exposure, psychiatric symptom severity, functioning, and suicidality were compared by rural vs. urban municipality.

Results

There were virtually no differences between patients living in rural vs. urban municipalities on rates of psychiatric disorders, severity of psychiatric symptoms, functional impairment, and suicidality (ps≥.09). The only difference was that patients living in rural municipalities had higher exposure to serious accidents than patients living in urban municipalities (p < .01); exposure to nine other traumatic events did not differ between groups (p≥.07).

Conclusions

People living in urban and rural municipalities have a similar need for mental health treatment. Access to care may be one explanatory factor for the occasional rural-urban differences in rates of psychiatric disorders. In other words, if people living in rural areas can access care, their symptom presentations appear unlikely to differ from those of people living in urban areas.
IoT based battery energy monitoring and management for electric vehicles with improved converter efficiency
Authors: Samikannu Ravi , Yahya Abid , Tariq Muhammad Usman , Asim Muhammad , Babar Muhammad
Published: October 2023

Given the recent trends in the MPPT converters in PV systems, which have been researched extensively to improve design, modified closed-loop converter technology based on SoC is presented here. This paper aims to provide detailed information on the modern-day solar Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller and Battery Management System (BMS). Most MPPT controller examination researched in the past is suitable only for fixed-rated battery capacity, which limits the converter capability and applications. The proposed paper uses the distributed energy management control technique to dispatch multi-battery charging based on the State of Charge (SoC). The converter construction is modified here as per the prerequisite of the model. The system hardware is developed and tested using Atmega2560 low power RISC based high-performance microcontroller. The batteries’ SoC level and State of Health (SoH) are calculated using embedded sensors and communication platforms through the IoT platform and Global System Monitoring (GSM) technology. The GSM and IoT technology ensure that the different batteries are monitored periodically, and any irregularities are immediately addressed through the distributed energy management control technique. This ensures a safe, reliable, and effective charging of multiple batteries with increased accuracy, thereby maximizing battery life and reducing operational costs.
Anti-proliferative effect of Cannabidiol in Prostate cancer cell PC3 is mediated by apoptotic cell death, NFκB activation, increased oxidative stress, and lower reduced glutathione status
Authors: Li Jie , Gu Tengfei , Hu Shengping , Jin Baiye
Published: October 2023

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer diagnosed in men in the world today. Almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas and develop from gland cells. We used the PC3 prostate cancer cell line, which is well studied and derived from a bone metastasis of a grade IV prostatic adenocarcinoma. Cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychoactive constituent of cannabis, is a cannabinoid with anti-tumor properties but its effects on prostate cancer cells are not studied in detail. Here, we found cannabidiol decreased prostate cancer cell (PC3) viability up to 37.25% and induced apoptotic cell death in a time and dose-dependent manner. We found that CBD activated the caspases 3/7 pathways and increased DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, we observed an increase of pro-apoptotic genes Bax, an increased level of reactive oxygen species, lower reduced glutathione level, and altered mitochondrial potential in response to CBD treatment leading to lower cellular ATP. Overall, our results suggest that CBD may be effective against prostate cancer cells.
Evolution as a result of resource flow in ecosystems: Ecological dynamics can drive evolution
Authors: Salahshour Mohammad
Published: October 2023

To see how the flow of energy across ecosystems can derive evolution, I introduce a framework in which individuals interact with their peers and environment to accumulate resources, and use the resources to pay for their metabolic costs, grow and reproduce. I show that two conservation principles determine the system’s equilibrium state: conservation of resources- a physical principle stating that in the equilibrium, resource production and consumption should balance, and payoff equality- an economic principle, stating that the payoffs of different types in equilibrium should equal. Besides the equilibrium state, the system shows non-equilibrium fluctuations derived by the exponential growth of the individuals in which the payoff equality principle does not hold. A simple gradient-ascend dynamical mean-field equation predicts the onset of non-equilibrium fluctuations. As an example, I study the evolution of cooperation in public goods games. In both mixed and structured populations, cooperation evolves naturally in resource-poor environments but not in resource-rich environments. Population viscosity facilitates cooperation in poor environments but can be detrimental to cooperation in rich environments. In addition, cooperators and defectors show different life-history strategies: Cooperators live shorter lives and reproduce more than defectors. Both population structure and, more significantly, population viscosity reduce lifespan and life history differences between cooperators and defectors.
Trophodynamics of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Antarctic Peninsula: Ontogenetic changes in diet composition and prey fatty acid profiles
Authors: Pérez-Pezoa Karina , Cárdenas César A. , González-Aravena Marcelo , Gallardo Pablo , Rivero Alí , Arriagada Vicente , Demianenko Kostiantyn , Zabroda Pavlo , Santa Cruz Francisco
Published: October 2023

The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) is the largest notothenioid species in the Southern Ocean, playing a keystone role in the trophic web as a food source for marine mammals and a top predator in deep-sea ecosystems. Most ecological knowledge on this species relies on samples from areas where direct fishing is allowed, whereas in areas closed to fishing, such as the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), there are still key ecological gaps to ensure effective conservation, especially regarding our understanding of its trophic relationships within the ecosystem. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of the feeding behavior of Antarctic toothfish caught in the northern tip of the AP, during two consecutive fishing seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21). Stomach content was analyzed according to size-classes, sex and season. Macroscopic morphological analysis was used to identify prey, whereas DNA analysis was used in highly digested prey items. Fatty acid analysis was conducted to determine the prey’s nutritional composition. The diet mainly consisted of Macrouridae, Cephalopoda, Anotopteridae, and Channichthyidae. Other prey items found were crustaceans and penguin remains; however, these were rare in terms of their presence in stomach samples. Sex had no effect on diet, whereas size-class and fishing season influenced prey composition. From 27 fatty acid profiles identified, we observed two different prey groups of fishes (integrated by families Anotopteridae, Macrouridae and Channichthyidae) and cephalopods. Our results revealed a narrow range of prey items typical of a generalist predator, which probably consumes the most abundant prey. Understanding the diet and trophic relationships of Antarctic toothfish is critical for a better comprehension of its role in the benthic-demersal ecosystem of the AP, key for ecosystemic fisheries management, and relevant for understanding and predicting the effect of climate change on this species.
The influence of school climate on teachers’ job satisfaction: The mediating role of teachers’ self-efficacy
Authors: Fang Jie , Qi Zhanyong
Published: October 2023

Improving the job satisfaction of vocational education teachers (VET) is necessary for maintaining the stability of the vocational education teaching force and is an essential support for enhancing the professional attractiveness and ensuring the quality of VET. Unlike previous studies, firstly, in terms of groups, the particular group of teachers in this study focuses on VET, which in reality is often overlooked compared to other groups of teachers due to the low level of recognition of vocational education (VE) in China. Secondly, this phenomenon is more prominent and less researched regionally in economically underdeveloped areas due to the uneven and disparate economic development between the East and West of China. In terms of sample size, previous studies have lacked large samples, making it difficult to obtain convincing and realistic results. Finally, most previous studies considered teachers’ job satisfaction (TJS) in terms of external or internal factors alone. However, this study considers a combination of the external factor of the school climate (SC) in which VET works and the internal factor of teachers’ self-efficacy (TSE) to explore the relationship with TJS and its impact. Based on data from a survey of 1035 teachers in China, a structural equation model estimation method was used to explore and analyze the impact of SC and TSE on their TJS and the specific role of the relationship. The research found that VET-perceived SC is positively predicting TJS; VET-perceived SC is positively predicting TSE; TSE is positively predicting TJS; TSE significantly mediates the relationship between SC and TJS. This study provides a theoretical perspective that integrates the external organizational influences of SC and introduces the internal psychological factor of TSE as a mediating variable to understand TJS. In practice, it helps raise the importance of VET and provides empirical data and intellectual support to the relevant government departments in improving TJS.
Did a bot eat your homework? An assessment of the potential impact of bad actors in online administration of preference surveys
Authors: Gonzalez Juan Marcos , Grover Kiran , Leblanc Thomas W. , Reeve Bryce B.
Published: October 2023

Background

Online administration of surveys has a number of advantages but can also lead to increased exposure to bad actors (human and non-human bots) who can try to influence the study results or to benefit financially from the survey. We analyze data collected through an online discrete-choice experiment (DCE) survey to evaluate the likelihood that bad actors can affect the quality of the data collected.

Methods

We developed and fielded a survey instrument that included two sets of DCE questions asking respondents to select their preferred treatments for multiple myeloma therapies. The survey also included questions to assess respondents’ attention while completing the survey and their understanding of the DCE questions. We used a latent-class model to identify a class associated with perverse preferences or high model variance, and the degree to which the quality checks included in the survey were correlated with class membership. Class-membership probabilities for the problematic class were used as weights in a random-parameters logit to recover population-level estimates that minimizes exposure to potential bad actors.

Results

Results show a significant proportion of respondents provided answers with a high degree of variability consistent with responses from bad actors. We also found that a wide-ranging selection of conditions in the survey screener is more consistent with choice patterns expected from bad actors looking to qualify for the study. The relationship between the number of incorrect answers to comprehension questions and problematic choice patterns peaked around 5 out of 10 questions.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the need for a robust discussion around the appropriate way to handle bad actors in online preference surveys. While exclusion of survey respondents must be avoided under most circumstances, the impact of “bots” on preference estimates can be significant.
New distance measure for comparing protein using cellular automata image
Authors: F. Souza Luryane , B. de B. Pereira Hernane , M. da Rocha Filho Tarcisio , A. S. Machado Bruna , A. Moret Marcelo
Published: October 2023

One of the first steps in protein sequence analysis is comparing sequences to look for similarities. We propose an information theoretical distance to compare cellular automata representing protein sequences, and determine similarities. Our approach relies in a stationary Hamming distance for the evolution of the automata according to a properly chosen rule, and to build a pairwise similarity matrix and determine common ancestors among different species in a simpler and less computationally demanding computer codes when compared to other methods.
The development and evaluation of a mHealth, community education and navigation intervention to improve clinical breast examination uptake in Segamat Malaysia: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Schliemann Désirée , Jamil Aminatul Saadiah Abdul , Mohan Devi , Tan Min Min , Cardwell Christopher R. , Ismail Roshidi , Taib Nur Aishah , Su Tin Tin , Donnelly Michael
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) screening uptake in Malaysia is low and a high number of cases present at a late stage. Community navigation and mobile health (mHealth) may increase screening attendance, particularly by women from rural communities. This randomized controlled study evaluated an intervention that used mHealth and community health workers to educate women about BC screening and navigate them to clinical breast examination (CBE) services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Women aged 40–74 years, from Segamat, Malaysia, with a mobile phone number, who participated in the South East Asian Community Observatory health survey, (2018) were randomized to an intervention (IG) or comparison group (CG). The IG received a multi-component mHealth intervention, i.e. information about BC was provided through a website, and telephone calls and text messages from community health workers (CHWs) were used to raise BC awareness and navigate women to CBE services. The CG received no intervention other than the usual option to access opportunistic screening. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate between-group differences over time in uptake of screening and variable influences on CBE screening participation.

Results

We recruited 483 women in total; 122/225 from the IG and 144/258 from the CG completed the baseline and follow-up survey. Uptake of CBE by the IG was 45.8% (103/225) whilst 3.5% (5/144) of women from the CG who completed the follow-up survey reported that they attended a CBE during the study period (adjusted OR 37.21, 95% CI 14.13; 98.00, p<0.001). All IG women with a positive CBE attended a follow-up mammogram (11/11). Attendance by IG women was lower among women with a household income ≥RM 4,850 (adjusted OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.20; 0.95, p = 0.038) compared to participants with a household income <RM 4,850.

Conclusion

The results suggested that the bespoke multicomponent mHealth intervention may be used to address the significant public health problem of low uptake of BC screening in rural Malaysia.
Acute thermal stress increased enzyme activity and muscle energy distribution of yellowfin tuna
Authors: Liu Hongyan , Yang Rui , Fu Zhengyi , Yu Gang , Li Minghao , Dai Shiming , Ma Zhenhua , Zong Humin
Published: October 2023

Heat is a powerful stressor for fish living in natural and artificial environments. Understanding the effects of heat stress on the physiological processes of fish is essential for better aquaculture and fisheries management. In this experiment, a heating rod was used to increase the temperature at 2°C/h to study the changes of energy allocation (CEA) and energy metabolity-related enzyme activities, including pepsin, trypsin, amylase, lipase, acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, glutamic oxalic aminotransferase and energy reserve (Ea), energy expenditure (ETS), in juvenile yellowfin tuna cells under acute temperature stress. The results showed that the Ea of juvenile yellowfin tuna muscles in response to high temperature (34°C) was significantly lower than that of the control (28°C), and it also increased ETS. At 6 h, CEA decreased slightly in the high-temperature group, but, the difference in CEA between 24 h and 0 h decreased. After heat stress for 6 h, the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) increased, indicating that the metabolic rate was accelerated. After heat stress for 24 h, the activity of ALT decreased, indicating that with time elapsed, the activities of some protein metabolizing enzymes increased, and some decreased. In this study, digestive enzymes, trypsin and lipase increased gradually. After heat stress, Ea and Ec change significantly. Yellowfin tuna muscles use lipids in response to sharp temperature increases at high temperatures, red muscles respond to temperature changes by increasing energy in the early stages, but not nearly as much, and white muscles reduce lipids.