bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-term effects of high-resolution (1-km) ambient PM2.5 and PM10 on hospital admission for pulmonary tuberculosis: a case-crossover study in Hainan, China
Authors: Zhu Pan-Pan , Gao Yi , Zhou Gui-Zhong , Liu Rui , Li Xiao-Bo , Fu Xian-Xian , Fu Jian , Lin Feng , Zhou Yuan-Ping , Li Li
Published: September 2023

Introduction

There is limited evidence regarding particulate matter (PM)’s short-term effects on pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) hospital admission. Our study aimed to determine the short-term associations of the exposure to ambient PM with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and < 10 μm (PM10) with hospital admission for PTB in Hainan, a tropical province in China.

Methods

We collected individual data on patients hospitalized with PTB, PM2.5, PM10, and meteorological data from 2016 to 2019 in Hainan Province, China. Conditional logistic regression models with a time-stratified case-crossover design were used to assess the short-term effects of PM2.5 and PM10 on hospital admission for PTB at a spatial resolution of 1 km  ×  1 km. Stratified analyses were performed according to age at admission, sex, marital status, administrative division, and season of admission.

Results

Each interquartile range (IQR) increases in the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with 1.155 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.041–1.282) and 1.142 (95% CI: 1.033–1.263) hospital admission risks for PTB at lag 0–8 days, respectively. The stratified analyses showed that the effects of PM2.5 and PM10 were statistically significant for patients aged ≥65 years, males, married, and those residing in prefecture-level cities. Regarding seasonal differences, the associations between PM and hospital admission for PTB were statistically significant in the warm season but not in the cold season. The effect of PM2.5 was consistently stronger than that of PM10 in most subgroups.

Conclusion

Short-term exposure to PM increases the risk of hospital admission for PTB. The potential impact of PM with smaller aerodynamic diameter is more detrimental. Our findings highlight the importance of reducing ambient PM level to alleviate the burden of PTB.
From coarse to fine: a deep 3D probability volume contours framework for tumour segmentation and dose painting in PET images
Authors: Zhang Wenhui , Ray Surajit
Published: September 2023

With the increasing integration of functional imaging techniques like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) into radiotherapy (RT) practices, a paradigm shift in cancer treatment methodologies is underway. A fundamental step in RT planning is the accurate segmentation of tumours based on clinical diagnosis. Furthermore, novel tumour control methods, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose painting, demand the precise delineation of multiple intensity value contours to ensure optimal tumour dose distribution. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have made significant strides in 3D image segmentation tasks, most of which present the output map at a voxel-wise level. However, because of information loss in subsequent downsampling layers, they frequently fail to precisely identify precise object boundaries. Moreover, in the context of dose painting strategies, there is an imperative need for reliable and precise image segmentation techniques to delineate high recurrence-risk contours. To address these challenges, we introduce a 3D coarse-to-fine framework, integrating a CNN with a kernel smoothing-based probability volume contour approach (KsPC). This integrated approach generates contour-based segmentation volumes, mimicking expert-level precision and providing accurate probability contours crucial for optimizing dose painting/IMRT strategies. Our final model, named KsPC-Net, leverages a CNN backbone to automatically learn parameters in the kernel smoothing process, thereby obviating the need for user-supplied tuning parameters. The 3D KsPC-Net exploits the strength of KsPC to simultaneously identify object boundaries and generate corresponding probability volume contours, which can be trained within an end-to-end framework. The proposed model has demonstrated promising performance, surpassing state-of-the-art models when tested against the MICCAI 2021 challenge dataset (HECKTOR).
Evaluating the association of COVID-19 restrictions on discharge planning and post-discharge outcomes in the community hospital and Singapore regional health system
Authors: Chia Shermain , Xia Jiawen , Kwan Yu Heng , Lim Zhui Ying , Tan Chuen Seng , Low Sher Guan , Xu Bangyu , Loo Yu Xian , Kong Lai Yee , Koh Chee Wai , Towle Rachel Marie , Lim Su Fee , Yoon Sungwon , Seah Sharna Si Ying , Low Lian Leng
Published: September 2023

Objectives

The COVID-19 is a global health issue with widespread impact around the world, and many countries initiated lockdowns as part of their preventive measures. We aim to quantify the duration of delay in discharge to community from Community Hospitals, as well as quantify adverse patient outcomes post discharge pre and during lockdown period.

Design and methods

We conducted a before-after study comparing the length of stay in Community Hospitals, unscheduled readmissions or Emergency Department attendance, patients' quality of life using EQ5D-5l, number and severity of falls, in patients admitted and discharged before and during lockdown period.

Results

The average length of stay in the lockdown group (27.77 days) were significantly longer than that of the pre-lockdown group (23.76 days), p = 0.003. There were similar proportions of patients with self-reported falls post discharge between both groups. Patients in the pre-lockdown group had slightly better EQ-5D-5l Index score at 0.55, compared to the lockdown study group at 0.49. Half of the patients in both groups were referred to Community Care Services on discharge.

Conclusion

Our study would help in developing a future systematic preparedness guideline and contingency plans in times of disease outbreak and other similar public health emergencies.
Productivity, water and nitrogen utilization of intensified dryland farming with annual forages on the Chinese Loess plateau
Authors: Deng Jianqiang , Zhang Zhixin , Usman Samaila , Yang Xianlong , An Dong , Shen Yuying
Published: September 2023

Understanding the relationships of productivity performance and water utilization and soil nitrogen dynamics after annual forage planting during the fallow period (F) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; W) mono-cropping is critically important for maintaining sustainable livestock and grain production in semiarid regions. We used 2 years (2017–2019) of data to investigate soil nitrogen dynamics, production, water utilization, and fallow efficiency when forage rape (Brassica campestris L.; R) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.; V) were planted in a 3-month summer fallow of the W-F-W-F cropping system. Three cropping systems were comprised of winter wheat-summer fallow-winter wheat-summer fallow (W-F-W-F), winter wheat-forage rape-winter wheat-forage rape (W-R-W-R), and winter wheat-forage rape-winter wheat-common vetch (W-R-W-V). The results showed that the annual forage planting decreased the average NO3−-N content by 54.8% compared with the W-F-W-F cropping system. Compared with the W-F-W-F cropping system, planting annual forage in summer fallow increased the average system forage production by 4.93 t ha−1. Local total annual precipitation can meet crop-water requirements, and the limiting factor for agricultural production was the drought due to the uneven seasonal distribution of precipitation. In comparison to the W-F-W-F cropping system, annual forage planting decreased the average available soil moisture storage by 50.3 mm above the 80 cm soil layer. Compared with that in the W-R-W-R (23.21 t ha−1) and W-F-W-F (30.25 t ha−1) cropping systems, the crop productivity in the W-R-W-V cropping system (33.23 t ha−1) was relatively stable and high because the reduction in subsequent winter wheat yield (2.96 t ha−1) was adequately offset by the forage yield (5.15 t ha−1). Adding forage rape to the W-F-W-F cropping system decreased system crop-water productivity (CWP) by 40.9%. However, the CWP, precipitation use efficiency (PUE), and soil nitrate in the W-R-W-V cropping system increased by 30.4, 30.1, 110.9, and 82.0%, respectively, compared with those in the W-R-W-R cropping system. Therefore, the W-R-W-V cropping system is recommended for better water and fertility management as well as grain and forage production in semiarid regions. However, further study is required to involve drought years for better evaluation of the effect of long-term precipitation variability on the crop productivity.
Can small-scale farming systems serve as an economic engine in the former homelands of South Africa?
Authors: Mathinya V. N. , Franke A. C. , van de Ven G. W. J. , Giller K. E.
Published: September 2023

Small-scale farming plays a critical role in the food security of Africa. An analysis of households in two former homelands provided critical insights into the future of small-scale farming in South Africa. From a survey of 132 households, 57 from Emmaus in the uKhahlamba local municipality in KwaZulu Natal Province and 75 from Thaba Nchu in the Mangaung Metropolitan municipality of the Free State province, indicators of food and nutrition security, income, and the relative contributions of on-farm versus off-farm sources to household welfare were calculated to determine if small-scale farming could drive the economy of these areas. Results revealed stark differences at household and regional levels and were attributed to the importance of crops vs. livestock toward household welfare and the proximity of the regions to urban centers. This was demonstrated by more reliance on arable farming in Emmaus, unlike Thaba Nchu, where a nearby city allowed diversification of income portfolios. In both regions, labor constraints outweighed land limitations. It is, therefore, unlikely that increasing arable land of small-scale farmers alone will stimulate arable farming. On-farm production and consumption did not guarantee nutrition and food security. Currently, small-scale farming did not serve as an engine for economic growth in the communities and formed a small part of the income of most households. However, sustainable intensification of farm production is a plausible pathway for the small number of households for whom farming forms an important part of their income. These households have the potential to engage in more commercial activities if farming and policies can be aligned. A critical knowledge gap is how, under what context, and which forms of agricultural interventions may complement rural development efforts and contribute to the rural economy.
The treatment of tuberculosis in the upper thoracic spine using the small incision technique through the third rib
Authors: Ma Jibin , Zhang Zepei , Lan Jie , Tian Jiwei , Chen Fulin , Miao Jun
Published: September 2023

Background

The complex anatomical structure of the upper thoracic spine makes it challenging to achieve surgical exposure, resulting in significant surgical risks and difficulties. Posterior surgery alone fails to adequately address and reconstruct upper thoracic lesions due to limited exposure. While the anterior approach offers advantages in fully exposing the anterior thoracic lesions, the surgical procedure itself is highly intricate. Although there exist various anterior approaches for the upper thoracic spine, the incidence of upper thoracic spine lesions is relatively low. Consequently, there are limited reports on the treatment and reconstruction of upper thoracic spine lesions using the third rib small incision approach in the context of upper thoracic tuberculosis.

Methods

We collected data from four patients with upper thoracic tuberculosis who were admitted to our department between July 2017 and November 2022. The treatment for upper thoracic tuberculosis involved utilizing the third rib small incision approach, which included two cases of thoracic 3–4 vertebral tuberculosis, one case of thoracic 4 vertebral tuberculosis, and one case of thoracic 5 vertebral tuberculosis. Among the patients, three were positioned in the left lateral position, while one was positioned in the right lateral position. Prior to admission, all four patients received a two-week course of oral medication, consisting of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. After the surgical procedure, they continued receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment for a duration of 12 months.

Results

The average duration of the surgical procedure was 150 min, with an average blood loss of 500 ml. One patient exhibited symptoms of brachial plexus injury, which gradually improved after careful observation. All patients experienced primary wound healing, and no complications such as pulmonary infection, respiratory failure, or other adverse events were observed. Additionally, one patient showed elevated transaminase levels, leading to a modification in the anti-tuberculosis drug regimen from quadruple therapy to triple therapy.

Conclusion

The treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis through the third rib small incision technique is a very good surgical approach, which has the advantages of safety and effectiveness.
Temat niepłynności mówienia w pisemnych narracjach
autobiograficznych osób jąkających się
Authors: Karsznia-Sobczak Alicja
Published: September 2023

This article regards written autobiographical narratives of people who stutter. The collected material was analysed using both the quantitative and the qualitative method. The aim of the research was to determine whether the issue of stuttering is touched upon in autobiographical narratives of people who stutter. If so, what portion of the narrative is dedicated to the theme of non-fluency of speech. The conducted analyses permitted the verification of the hypotheses posed. It was concluded that the ones including the theme of stuttering were predominant among the narratives collected. Stuttering is present both as a separate thread and as part of other thematic threads. Threads where the issue of non-fluency of speech was taken up most frequently can be distinguished in the analysed narratives.

Keywords: stuttering – autobiographical narratives – autobiography – written statement – non-fluency of speech – thematic analysis.
Zjawisko echolalii w wypowiedziach pacjenta z zaburzeniami
neurogenno-psychicznymi
Authors: Szelenbaum Marta
Published: September 2023

The subject of this paper is the phenomenon of echolalia occurring in the speech of a patient with neurogenic-psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the echolalic utterances of the research participant after surgery for a tumour of the left cerebral hemisphere in 2011 and subsequent tumour recurrences. A paranoid syndrome the patient was diagnosed with occurred in 1985. The author analysed echolalic behaviour on the basis of a set of 100 echolalic utterances obtained by observing the subject in his close surroundings. The paper includes theoretical aspects of echolalia and its determinants. The discussion of my research results includes, among other things, the specification of the evocative stimuli that trigger echolalia, its functions, and the sources of the evoked content.

Keywords: echolalia – delayed echolalia – immediate echolalia – formal thought disorder – schizophasia.
Parkosz, Unicode i Junicode
Authors: Bień Janusz
Published: September 2023

Jakub Parkosz, also known as Parkoszowic, is the author of the first proposal of Polish spelling. In order to account for all the phonemes of Polish, some new letters were proposed. As his proposal was not widely accepted, the letters have not become available with the standard fonts, which makes it difficult to quote and discuss the proposal. Fortunately, the letters have recently been added to the Junicode font by its creator, Peter Baker.

Keywords: Jakub Parkosz – history of Polish language – spelling – Unicode – fonts – Junicode.
Czy można poprawnie ubrać płaszcz?
Authors: Markowski Andrzej
Published: September 2023

This article discusses the change in the normative qualification of the verb ubrać/ubierać (‘to dress’) in the sense ‘to wear’. This meaning, and hence collocations such as ubrać płaszcz, ubrać sukienkę, ubrać kapelusz have been consistently evaluated as linguistic errors, which is evidenced by both dictionary entries and prescriptive advice. Looking into the scope of usage of this type of expressions – their commonness in speech and writing among Poles of various social classes from southern and western Poland – enforces a consideration of whether this meaning of the verb ubrać/ubierać should not be included into the group of regionalisms accepted as a norm of regional usage. As a sidenote, the emerging question is whether there actually are any normatively unaccepted regionalisms or the unacceptance should be ascribed only to dialecticisms in general language.

Keywords: regionalism – linguistic correctness – linguistic advice – normativity.
Parlamentarna kontrola budżetu państwa jako mit o kontroli fiskalnej
Authors: Kuca Grzegorz
Published: September 2023

The aim of the article is to analysis the issues of parliamentary control of the state budget and to identify the problems associated with the implementation of this control. In particular, the role of the Sejm is discussed in terms of preliminary control (ex ante) concerning the compliance of the bill on the budget with the law, current control (ex dure) consisting in assessing the implementation of the budget law, and subsequent control involving in assessing the implementation (ex post) of the state budget. The analysis made it possible to show that proper implementation of parliamentary budgetary control will be impossible without a reform of the system of public finances involving ensuring the preparation of independent macroeconomic forecasts as a basis for the preparation of draft state financial plans, reducing the number of organizational and legal forms of public financial management, abandoning the reporting of public debt in two different ways, and changing the rules of discharge. From this point of view, efforts should be made to give this control this rank so that it does not remain a myth of fiscal control.
Sąd Najwyższy jako organ władzy sądowniczej powołany do opiniowania projektów aktów normatywnych
Authors: Gudowska-Natanek Elżbieta
Published: September 2023

The Supreme Court is a special authority of the judicial power that executes defined tasks, not only the essential ones, arising from the Constitution, concerning an exercise the administration of justice and supervision of common and military courts regarding judgments but also a number of others included in the lower-level acts. The article analyzes one of its statutory tasks consisting in issuing opinions on draft laws and other normative acts on the basis of which courts adjudicate and operate, as well as other draft laws to the extent that they affect matters within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The purpose of this study is to consider the task assigned to the Supreme Court and in connection with this answer the question whether the principle of cooperation of powers expressed in the preamble of the Constitution is reflected in the legislative process, especially when the subject of legislative work are fundamental legal acts concerning the functioning of the judiciary.
Parlamentarne partie polityczne w Polsce wobec problemu zmiany klimatu w latach 2005–2019 (perspektywa sieci społecznych)
Authors: Swacha Piotr
Published: September 2023

The aim of the article was to define the attitude of Polish parliamentary political parties towards the issue of climate change in the years 2005–2019. Discourse Network Analysis, used in the study, allowed to identify the most frequently co-occurring concepts expressed by different parties over the past fifteen years, as well as, to present the affiliation networks between the parties. The postulates regarding climate policy proposed by Polish election committees were gradually modified in the analyzed period. The gradual convergence of pro-climate positions of Polish parliamentary parties is visible over time, while the structure of anti-climate positions becoming less coherent. However, there is still a visible difference in the approach to climate protection between the centrist and left-wing parties and those identifying themselves as right-wing.
Problemy współczesnego parlamentaryzmu bułgarskiego – zagadnienia instytucjonalne i funkcjonalne
Authors: Wojnicki Jacek
Published: September 2023

The article is dedicated to the problems of contemporary Bulgarian parliamentarism, both in the institutional and functional dimension. First, the evolution of the position of the Bulgarian parliament since 1878 will be presented, albeit in a cursory way, then the current constitutional regulations, before moving on to contemporary issues. The main research question is to what extent the problems of dysfunction of the Bulgarian parliamentarism result from structural reasons and to what extent from functional ones. Several research methods were used in the work – legal and institutional analysis, historical and descriptive analysis as well as a comparative and systemic method.
Debata parlamentarna w procesie stanowienia prawa – z technologii polityki
Authors: Nieć Mateusz
Published: September 2023

The article analyses the duration of parliamentary debate in the lawmaking process in the period when Poland was governed by populist groups (2015–2019). These groups (the United Right) are critical of the modern idea of parliamentary democracy, and populist parties treat a debate in the Parliament as a political technique rather than an important political and ethical value. Formally, contemporary populism does not deny the Parliament but lowers its rank and clearly instrumentalises it, which is manifested in the practice of limiting discussion, not taking up talks, and imposing the majority’s will. At the same time, the Parliament reflects the real attitude of populist groups to the political opposition and their attempts at its political annihilation.
Total Mixed Ration Silages Based on Forage Cactus and Xerophile Legumes as Alternatives for Ruminants
Authors: Rodrigues Rosane , Lopes Rosilda , Santos Francisco Naysson , Santos Edson Mauro , Perazzo Alexandre , Zanine Anderson , Silva Raphael , Silva Eduarda , Olivera-Viciedo Dilier , Rocha Michel , Teixeira Maciel , Santos Antônio Marcos , Veron Kevin , Miranda Bruno Eduardo , Ferreira Daniele
Published: September 2023

This study aims to evaluate the fermentative profile, fermentative losses, microbial populations, aerobic stability, chemical composition, and in situ degradability of total mixed ration silages based on forage cactus associated with xerophytic legumes. The treatments consisted of four total mixed ration silages based on forage cactus and concentrate (TMRC), associated with legumes such as Gliricidia sepium (TMRG), Leucaena (TMRL), and Senna obtusifolia (TMRS). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) among the evaluated treatments for the pH and NH3-N (% of total N) variables. The pH values remained within the ideal range, from 4.2 to 4.4, and the NH3-N content ranged from 2.21 to 0.85%. The dry matter recovery for the evaluated treatments averaged 89%. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts ranged from 5.0 to 6.3 log CFU/g among the evaluated silages, with TMRC presenting the lowest count at 5 log CFU/g in comparison with the total mixed ration silages associated with legume plants. All of the total mixed ration silages associated with legumes presented an average mold count of 3.3 log CFU/g. Yeast populations were observed only for TMRG at 5 log CFU/g. A higher aerobic stability was observed for TMRC, followed by TMRG and then TMRS. In conclusion, the total mixed ration silages associated with G. sepium and S. obtusifolia can be recommended based on their fermentation and nutritional value.
The Efficacy of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Producing Luteovulum sphaeroides Strains on Saline Soil Fertility, Nutrient Uptakes, and Yield of Rice
Authors: Khuong Nguyen Quoc , Dung Nguyen Thi Thuy , Thu Le Thi My , Quang Le Thanh , Xuan Ly Ngoc Thanh , Phong Ngo Thanh
Published: September 2023

Saline soils negatively affect and cause serious problems for rice cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) capable of secreting 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to reduce soil salinity, improve soil fertility, and enhance rice growth and yield. A two-factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Factor one was the salinity of the irrigated water, and factor two was the supplementation of the ALA-producing PNSB. The results indicated that watering with saline water above 3‰ led to decreases in plant growth and rice yield compared to the treatments watered with tap water. Application of either an individual strain or the mixture of W01, W14, and W22 ameliorated soil properties and increased total NPK uptake, whereas treatments supplied with the mixed strains reduced total Na uptake (9.50 mg Na pot−1). Supplying the W01, W14, and W22 strains individually or in a mixture enhanced the plant height by 3.51–5.45% and rice grain yield by 14.7–26.2%, compared with those of the control treatment. From the study, the combination of the L. sphaeroides W01, W14, and W22 strains is promising for application in saline or salt-contaminated regions to aid the damages caused by salinity on cultivars there, especially rice. Furthermore, this is a biological approach to ease an environmental problem and improve crop performance, which is supposed to be a trend in the sustainable agriculture.
Life Stages and Phylogenetic Position of the New Scale-Mite of the Genus Neopterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Robert’s Tree Iguana
Authors: Fajfer Monika , Skoracki Maciej
Published: September 2023

A new pterygosomatid mite species, Neopterygosoma robertmertensi sp. n. (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) was collected from two specimens of Liolaemus robertmertensi (Liolaemidae) from Argentina. This new species is described based on active stages: adults (female and male) and juveniles (deutonymphs, protonymphs, and larvae) and quiescent stages (nymphchrysalis, deutochrysalis and imagochrysalis). The changes in morphological characters that occur during the ontogeny of N. robertmertensi have been analyzed in detail. A difference in larval sex morphology was observed for the first time in the family Pterygosomatidae (female larvae differ from male larvae in terms of the shape and size of the idiosoma and the position of the genital area). This new mite species is most similar to N. cyanogasteri but can be distinguished by the presence of different leg chaetotaxy patterns of genua IV and femora IV, four to six genital setae, three to five dorsomedial setae, and two to three ventromedial setae. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 120 morphological characters of all Neopterygosoma spp. and four outgroup species using the maximum parsimony approach. The results indicated that this species is nested within mites of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma associated with host species of the section chiliensis of Liolaemus s. str. An updated diagnosis of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma and an identification key for all species of this genus has been provided.
Genomic Epidemiology and Evolution of Fowl Adenovirus 1
Authors: Jakab Szilvia , Bali Krisztina , Homonnay Zalán , Kaszab Eszter , Ihász Katalin , Fehér Enikő , Mató Tamás , Kiss István , Palya Vilmos , Bányai Krisztián
Published: September 2023

Fowl adenovirus 1 (FAdV-1) is the main cause of gizzard erosion in chickens. Whole genome sequencing and sequence analyses of 32 FAdV-1 strains from a global collection provided evidence that multiple recombination events have occurred along the entire genome. In gene-wise phylogenies, only the adenoviral pol gene formed a tree topology that corresponded to whole genome-based phylogeny. Virus genetic features that were clearly connected to gizzard erosion were not identified in our analyses. However, some genome variants tended to be more frequently identified from birds with gizzard erosion and strains isolated from healthy birds or birds with non-specific pathologies tended to form common clusters in multiple gene phylogenies. Our data show that the genetic diversity is greater, and the evolutionary mechanisms are more complex within FAdV-1 than previously thought. The implications of these findings for viral pathogenesis and epidemiology await further investigation.
Antimicrobial Peptide Conjugated on Graphene Oxide-Containing Sulfonated Polyetheretherketone Substrate for Effective Antibacterial Activities against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kumar Selvaraj Rajesh , Hu Chih-Chien , Vi Truong Thi Tuong , Chen Dave W. , Lue Shingjiang Jessie
Published: September 2023

In the present study, the antimicrobial peptide nisin was successfully conjugated onto the surface of sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK), which was decorated with graphene oxide (GO) to investigate its biofilm resistance and antibacterial properties. The PEEK was activated with sulfuric acid, resulting in a porous structure. The GO deposition fully covered the porous SPEEK specimen. The nisin conjugation was accomplished using the crosslinker 1–ethyl–3–(3–dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) through a dip-coating method. The surface micrographs of the SPEEK-GO-nisin sample indicated that nisin formed discrete islets on the flat GO surface, allowing both the GO and nisin to perform a bactericidal effect. The developed materials were tested for bactericidal efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The SPEEK-GO-nisin sample had the highest antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone diameter of 27 mm, which was larger than those of the SPEEK-nisin (19 mm) and SPEEK-GO (10 mm) samples. Conversely, no inhibitory zone was observed for the PEEK and SPEEK samples. The surface micrographs of the bacteria-loaded SPEEK-GO-nisin sample demonstrated no bacterial adhesion and no biofilm formation. The SPEEK-nisin and SPEEK-GO samples showed some bacterial attachment, whereas the pure PEEK and SPEEK samples had abundant bacterial colonies and thick biofilm formation. These results confirmed the good biofilm resistance and antibacterial efficacy of the SPEEK-GO-nisin sample, which is promising for implantable orthopedic applications.
Video-Restoration-Net: Deep Generative Model with Non-Local Network for Inpainting and Super-Resolution Tasks
Authors: Zheng Yuanfeng , Yan Yuchen , Jiang Hao
Published: September 2023

Although deep learning-based approaches for video processing have been extensively investigated, the lack of generality in network construction makes it challenging for practical applications, particularly in video restoration. As a result, this paper presents a universal video restoration model that can simultaneously tackle video inpainting and super-resolution tasks. The network, called Video-Restoration-Net (VRN), consists of four components: (1) an encoder to extract features from each frame, (2) a non-local network that recombines features from adjacent frames or different locations of a given frame, (3) a decoder to restore the coarse video from the output of a non-local block, and (4) a refinement network to refine the coarse video on the frame level. The framework is trained in a three-step pipeline to improve training stability for both tasks. Specifically, we first suggest an automated technique to generate full video datasets for super-resolution reconstruction and another complete-incomplete video dataset for inpainting, respectively. A VRN is then trained to inpaint the incomplete videos. Meanwhile, the full video datasets are adopted to train another VRN frame-wisely and validate it against authoritative datasets. We show quantitative comparisons with several baseline models, achieving 40.5042 dB/0.99473 on PSNR/SSIM in the inpainting task, while during the SR task we obtained 28.41 dB/0.7953 and 27.25/0.8152 on BSD100 and Urban100, respectively. The qualitative comparisons demonstrate that our proposed model is able to complete masked regions and implement super-resolution reconstruction in videos of high quality. Furthermore, the above results show that our method has greater versatility both in video inpainting and super-resolution tasks compared to recent models.
Expanded Scene Image Preprocessing Method for the Shack–Hartmann Wavefront Sensor
Authors: Chen Bo , Jia Jingjing , Zhou Yilin , Zhang Yirui , Li Zhaoyi
Published: September 2023

Due to the influence of atmospheric turbulence, the detector, and background noise, the subaperture image of an extended scene Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor will have a low signal-to-noise ratio, which will introduce errors to the offset estimation and reduce the accuracy of the slope measurement. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a cross-correlation subaperture image preprocessing method, which uses the generalized Anscombe transform to convert the Gauss–Poisson noise into Gaussian noise and introduces residual feedback on the basis of BM3D to achieve the efficient denoising of subaperture images. The simulation results show that compared with the three commonly used denoising algorithms, the proposed method improves the relative error of the subaperture offset calculation by 51.96% and the corresponding Zernike coefficient of distorted reconstruction wavefront by 85.56%, which realizes the improvement in the detection accuracy on the basis of effectively retaining image details.
Generating Image Descriptions of Rice Diseases and Pests Based on DeiT Feature Encoder
Authors: Ma Chunxin , Hu Yanrong , Liu Hongjiu , Huang Ping , Zhu Yikun , Dai Dan
Published: September 2023

We propose a DeiT (Data-Efficient Image Transformer) feature encoder-based algorithm for identifying disease types and generating relevant descriptions of diseased crops. It solves the scarcity problem of the image description algorithm applied in agriculture. We divided the original image into a sequence of image patches to fit the input form of the DeiT encoder, which was distilled by RegNet. Then, we used the Transformer decoder to generate descriptions. Compared to “CNN + LSTM” models, our proposed model is entirely convolution-free and has high training efficiency. On the Rice2k dataset created by us, the model achieved a 47.3 BLEU-4 score, 65.0 ROUGE_L score, and 177.1 CIDEr score. The extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and the strong robustness of our model. It can be better applied to automatically generate descriptions of similar crop disease characteristics.
The Design of a High-Intensity Deuteron Radio Frequency Quadrupole Accelerator
Authors: Wei Tianhao , Lu Yuanrong , Wang Zhi , Han Meiyun , Xia Yin , Morris Austin
Published: September 2023

This paper presents the design of a high-intensity 10 mA deuteron RFQ accelerator that generates a 2.1 MeV beam in a continuous wave (CW) mode. The operation frequency is 162.5 MHz. The results of beam dynamics simulations demonstrate excellent output beam quality, achieving a transmission efficiency of 98.63%. The beam tracking results indicate that the RFQ is capable of managing errors within reasonable tolerances. In addition, the RF electromagnetic design and optimization are based on an RFQ model. Multiphysics simulations are then performed for the CW mode. Vacuum calculations suggest that the RFQ requires four 1200 L/s vacuum pumps and one 440 L/s ion pump to attain a vacuum pressure of 10−6 Pa.
Analyzing the Alignment between AI Curriculum and AI Textbooks through Text Mining
Authors: Yang Hyeji , Kim Jamee , Lee Wongyu
Published: September 2023

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is permeating education worldwide, reflecting societal changes driven by advancements in computing technology and the data revolution. Herein, we analyze the alignment between core AI educational curricula and textbooks to provide guidance on structuring AI knowledge. Text mining techniques using Python 3.10.3 and frame-based content analysis tailored to the computing field are employed to examine a substantial amount of text data within educational curriculum textbooks. We comprehensively examine the frequency of knowledge incorporated in AI curricula, topic structure, and practical tool utilization. The degree to which keywords are reflected in curriculum textbooks and in the textbook characteristics are determined using Term Frequency (TF) and Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) analysis, respectively. The topic structure distribution is derived by Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling and the trained model is visualized using PyLDAvis. Furthermore, the variation in vertical content range or level is investigated by content analysis, considering the tools used to teach similar AI knowledge. Lastly, the implications for AI curriculum structure are discussed in terms of curriculum composition, knowledge construction, practical application, and curriculum utilization. This study provides practical guidance for structuring curricula that effectively foster AI competency based on a systematic research methodology.
COVID-19 and Changes in the Model of Physical Fitness and Body Composition of Young Tennis Players
Authors: Blagus Rok , Hadzic Vedran , Fernandez Garcia Angel Ivan , Leskosek Bojan , Narang Benjamin J. , Filipcic Ales
Published: September 2023

This retrospective study aimed to estimate the differences between selected indicators of physical fitness and body composition in young tennis players during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021) and their values as predicted using the pre-pandemic trend (2015–2019). Data were collected from selected boys (mean ± SD; 13.2 ± 1.7 years) and girls (13.1 ± 1.9 years) during annual tests. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models for males and females, separately, to predict body composition and physical fitness test scores, adjusting for age and pre-pandemic trends in the data. Compared with expected values, body fat mass increased in boys (2020: 0.68; 0.44–0.92, 2021: 1.08; 0.72–1.43), whereas muscle mass decreased (2020: −0.22; −0.34–−0.10, 2021: −0.28; −0.46–−0.10) throughout the pandemic. Interestingly, boys’ age-adjusted squat jump test scores improved relative to their expected scores during COVID-19 (2020: 0.19; 0.00–0.38, 2021: 0.35; 0.06–0.63). No other differences between predicted and measured values were noted across the observation period. The results of this study suggest that the sustained reduction in sports activity caused by the pandemic may have negatively affected the body composition of athletes; however, this did not affect selected performance indicators.
Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Influence of Saline Soils on Frozen Wall Formation
Authors: Bublik Sergey , Semin Mikhail , Levin Lev , Brovka Andrey , Dedyulya Ivan
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the impact of salinity on the thermophysical properties of soils during artificial freezing. It focuses on analyzing heat and mass transfer in saline soils for constructing a frozen wall around a mineshaft at a potash salt deposit. The presence of salts in the groundwater near the contact point with water-protective strata is common in these deposits. Experimental studies were conducted on clay, chalk, and sand to understand the effect of salinity on the freezing temperature, unfrozen water content, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of wet soil. These findings were used to simulate heat and mass transfer in saline soils using a one-dimensional model. The technique of circumferential averaging was introduced to account for the thermal impact of freeze pipes. The results indicate that higher soil salinity leads to a faster decrease in soil temperature under freezing conditions, although this dependence is weak for clay. This study also revealed that an increase in initial salinity results in a reduction in the thickness of the frozen wall. It was found that, for chalk and sand, there exists a range of initial salinity during which the frozen wall’s thickness is almost independent of the initial salinity.
Disease Severity Index in Parkinson’s Disease Based on Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Araújo Suellen M. , Nery Sabrina B. M. , Magalhães Bianca G. , Almeida Kelson James , Gaspar Pedro D.
Published: September 2023

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition whose prevalence has significantly increased. This work proposes the development of a severity index to classify patients from symptoms, mainly motor ones, using an Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN) trained by the Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) algorithm. The FOX Insight database was used, which offers data in the form of questionnaires answered by patients or caregivers from all over the world, with information regarding this pathology. After pre-processing the data, a set of 597 questionnaires containing 28 defined questions was selected. The symptoms were individually analyzed after mapping and divided into four classes. In class 1, most symptoms were not present. In class 2, the presence of certain symptoms demonstrated early milestones of the disease. In class 3, symptoms related to the patient’s mobility, in particular pain, stand out among the most reported. In class 4, the intense presence of all symptoms is observed. To test the tool, data were used from some of these patients, who answered the same questionnaire at different times (simulating medical appointments). The presented severity index to classify patients allowed identifying the current stage of the disease allowing the follow-up. This AI-based decision-support tool can help medical professionals to predict the evolution of Parkinson’s disease, which can result in longer life quality of patients, in terms of symptoms and medication requirements.
Effects of Pseudo-Weight Resistance Training Using Mixed-Reality Technology on Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Nekar Daekook M. , Lee Dong-Yeop , Hong Ji-Heon , Kim Jin-Seop , Kim Seong-Gil , Nam Yeon-Gyo , Yu Jae-Ho
Published: September 2023

The present study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of pseudo-weight resistance training using mixed-reality (MR) technology for shoulder muscle activation in healthy individuals. Thirty-two healthy students aged 20~35 years participated in this preliminary study and were divided into two groups. Participants in the MR group received 30 min of training three times a week for 4 weeks using a customized MR-based pseudo-weight resistance training system. Those in the control group performed the same exercises using a conventional training program. Muscle activation of the deltoids, upper trapezius, infraspinatus, and supraspinatus were measured before and after the intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in middle deltoid, upper trapezius, and supraspinatus muscle activation in the MR group (p < 0.05), while the control group showed a significant difference in the anterior and middle deltoid, upper trapezius, and supraspinatus (p < 0.05). Regarding the between-group comparison, no statistically significant difference was observed for all six muscles (p > 0.05). Without any superiority of physical weight resistance training in the pseudo-weight training program, an MR-based pseudo-weight resistance training system can potentially be used for muscle-strengthening training, especially for early rehabilitation programs. However, further study using a large sample size with a long experimental duration is needed for more evidence of the presented technology and its use in home training.
Development of Simplified Seedling Transplanting Device for Supporting Efficient Production of Vegetable Raw Materials
Authors: Han Luhua , Xiang Daqian , Xu Qianqian , Du Xuewu , Ma Guoxin , Mao Hanping
Published: September 2023

Efficient greenhouse production has a great supporting role in the development of vegetable agricultural and sideline product processing. In this paper, a simplified automatic transplanting device was designed and evaluated in a laboratory. The device mainly consists of a seedling pick-up gripper, a transplanting manipulator, two conveyors and a control system. The flexible multi-pin gripper was designed to effectively grasp, hold, and release seedlings. Through a combination innovation of the linear modules, the transplanting manipulator was designed to move the seedling gripper to the desired working position. The conveyors were the pallet-type double-row chain transmission system for automatic feeding of plug trays and growth pots. The control system was developed to coordinate each of the aforementioned function units. The multi-factor orthogonal and transplanting performance experiments were carried out under the standard seedling agronomy. The results showed that the transplanting frequency and the pick-up depth significantly affected the transplanting quality. When the transplanting frequency was 15 plants/min, the tightened spring force was 1.2 N, and the pick-up penetration depth was 35 mm, the optimum effects of automatic transplanting seedlings could be achieved. The maximum success in transplanting seedlings was 95.47% for local vegetable crops. The developed prototype could realize less waste of seedling resources at the farm level.
Research on the Accumulated Plastic Strain of Expansive Soil under Subway Loading
Authors: Zhu Lei , Guo Ying , Cheng Gan , Liu Xiangyang
Published: September 2023

Expansive soil near Hefei Xinqiao International Airport was selected as the research focus. The effects of different loading modes on the dynamic strain of the saturated remodeled expansive soil was investigated by indoor dynamic triaxial tests and the effect of three factors, intermittent loading ratio, static deviatoric stress, and cyclic stress ratio, on the accumulated plastic strain of saturated remodeled expansive soil under intermittent subway cyclic loading was analyzed. Finally, the corresponding accumulated plastic strain calculation model was established based on the test results. The research results show that the loading modes do not affect the overall development mode of the strain and, under intermittent loading, the strain tends to be more stable. Under intermittent loading, when the number of cycles is the same, the larger the intermittent loading ratio, the smaller the accumulated plastic strain. The effect of static deviatoric stress and cyclic stress ratio on strain accumulation is significant. Based on the hyperbolic model, an accumulated plastic strain calculation model related to the number of cycles of remolded expansive soil under the load of the Hefei subway was proposed, which has a certain reference significance for the design, safety assessment, and safe operation of the Hefei subway.