bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
mHealth-based exercise vs. traditional exercise on pain, functional disability, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Tang Liang , Wang Meng-Ming , Wang He-Xia , He Xiao-Ya , Jiang Yue-Shuai
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to compare the efficacy of mHealth-based exercise interventions with traditional exercise in improving pain intensity, functional disability, and quality of life in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Method

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from their inception to 23 August 2024 were searched in Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Web of Science. Reviewer pairs independently extracted data and evaluated bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Results

Eleven studies, with a total of 800 participants with a mean age of 55.51 ± 6.88 years, were identified. All RCTs were performed from 2013 to 2024. There was no statistically significant difference between mHealth-supported exercise compared with the traditional exercise without mHealth in terms of pain reduction (standard mean differences [SMD] = −0.35; 95%CI: −0.74 to 0.04, P = 0.08), functional disability (SMD = −0.5; 95%CI: −0.1 to 0.01; P = 0.05), and quality of life (SMD = 0.11; 95%CI: −0.26 to 0.48; P = 0.56). However, a statistically significant difference was found between mHealth-supported exercise compared with unsupervised traditional exercise in terms of pain (SMD = −1.03; 95%CI: −1.49 to −0.57; P < 0.001) and functional disability (SMD = −0.89; 95%CI: −1.71 to −0.06; P = 0.04).

Conclusion

mHealth-based exercise was found to be more effective than unsupervised conventional exercise in promoting pain relief and enhancing functional disability in patients with OA. When face-to-face exercise intervention is not feasible, mHealth-based exercise should be considered a viable option in the recovery process for knee OA. Given the significant heterogeneity observed in this study, it is important to exercise caution when extrapolating the results.

Systematic Review Registration:

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42024610393.
Efficient and accurate tobacco leaf maturity detection: an improved YOLOv10 model with DCNv3 and efficient local attention integration
Authors: Shi Yi , Wang Hong , Wang Fei , Wang Yingkuan , Liu Jianjun , Zhao Long , Wang Hui , Zhang Feng , Cheng Qiongmin , Qing Shunhao
Published: January 2025

The precise determination of tobacco leaf maturity is pivotal for safeguarding the taste and quality of tobacco products, augmenting the financial gains of tobacco growers, and propelling the industry’s sustainable progression. This research addresses the inherent subjectivity and variability in conventional maturity evaluation techniques reliant on human expertise by introducing an innovative YOLOv10-based method for tobacco leaf maturity detection. This technique facilitates a rapid and non-invasive assessment of leaf maturity, significantly elevating the accuracy and efficiency of tobacco leaf quality evaluation. In our study, we have advanced the YOLOv10 framework by integrating DCNv3 with C2f to construct an enhanced neck network, designated as C2f-DCNv3. This integration is designed to augment the model’s capability for feature integration, particularly concerning the morphological and edge characteristics of tobacco leaves. Furthermore, the incorporation of the Efficient Local Attention (ELA) mechanism at multiple stages of the model has substantially enhanced the efficiency and fidelity of feature extraction. The empirical results underscore the model’s pronounced enhancement in performance across all maturity classifications. Notably, the overall precision (P) has been elevated from 0.939 to 0.973, the recall rate (R) has improved from 0.968 to 0.984, the mean average precision at 50% intersection over union (mAP50) has advanced from 0.984 to 0.994, and the mean average precision across the 50% to 95% intersection over union range (mAP50-95) has risen from 0.962 to 0.973. This research presents the tobacco industry with a novel rapid detection instrument for tobacco leaf maturity, endowed with substantial practical utility and broad prospects for application. Future research endeavors will be directed towards further optimization of the model’s architecture to bolster its generalizability and to explore its implementation within the realm of actual tobacco cultivation and processing.
Fostering learning engagement: the impact of different interpersonal relationships from the perspective of positive youth development
Authors: Zhu Mengjun , Yao Xing’an , Bin Abu Talib Mansor
Published: January 2025

Learning engagement is a crucial factor affecting the quality of learning and holds significant value in promoting student development and enhancing teaching quality. By using time-lagged data from four schools and considering intentional self-regulation, this study integrates three types of relationships (parent–child, teacher-student, and peer relationships) into the same research framework to examine their impacts on learning engagement and the underlying mechanisms among high school students. The findings reveal that parent-child, teacher-student, and peer relationships all significantly positively affect high school students’ learning engagement. Intentional self-regulation plays a partial mediation effect between parent–child relationship and learning engagement, teacher-student relationship and learning engagement, along with peer relationship and learning engagement. The unique effect of peer relationship on learning engagement is significantly greater than that of teacher-student relationship but is not significantly greater than that of parent-child relationship. To better create a supportive synergy for enhancing students’ learning engagement, it is suggested that families and schools provide consistent learning support within their capabilities.
Integrative and syntactic complexity’s role in decision-making under uncertainty
Authors: Castellón-Flores Alejandra Mitzi , Molina-Perez Edmundo , Molina Isaac , Cortes Pedro Manuel , Sobrino Fernanda , Serra-Barragan Luis
Published: January 2025

This study explores the impact of integrative complexity (IC) and syntactic complexity (SC) on decision-making under uncertainty. The research addresses how cognitive structures contribute to decision quality in ambiguous situations. A modified Ellsberg experiment was conducted using an online platform. Participants were exposed to varying levels of ambiguity, and decision support tools were introduced to assess the influence of IC and SC on decision-making. The manipulation of available information allowed for a controlled analysis of cognitive processing. The findings reveal that IC and SC significantly enhance decision quality. IC facilitates the integration of diverse information, while SC supports the comprehension and management of ambiguity. Both cognitive structures play essential roles in navigating uncertainty. These results underscore the importance of IC and SC in effective decision-making. The findings suggest that fostering these cognitive abilities may improve decision-making skills in uncertain contexts, offering practical implications for training and development in high-stakes environments.
The contributions of language and inhibitory control to false belief reasoning over time
Authors: de Villiers Jill G. , de Villiers Peter
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The role of language in false belief reasoning has been much debated for twenty-five years or more, especially the relative contributions of general language development, complement syntax, vocabulary, and executive function. However, the empirical studies so far have fallen short, in that they generally have too few participants for adequate statistical modeling; they do not include control variables; or they are cross-sectional rather than longitudinal, making inferences about causal direction much more tenuous.

Methods

The present study considers the role of these different variables in the development of false belief reasoning over several months of testing, with 258 children aged three to five years. The children are also from under-resourced communities, broadening the populations that generally contribute such data.

Results

A cross-sectional and a longitudinal regression analysis reveals the contribution of each variable to the children’s success on the false belief measures. Finally, a structural equation model tests the relative contribution of the different potential factors over time, how they interact, and change. The model is an excellent fit to the data. Inhibitory control, complement comprehension and vocabulary all have effects on false belief reasoning at the first time point (T1). However, at T3, the major proximal contribution is the child’s comprehension of complements, though the longitudinal pathways of vocabulary and inhibitory control also pave the way.

Discussion

Our data confirm the specific contribution of complement syntax but also makes clear, as do training studies, that a certain amount of preparedness in vocabulary and in executive function skills is also necessary.
Do delayed responses introduce bias in ecological momentary assessment? Evidence from comparisons between self-reported and objective physical activity
Authors: Schneider Stefan , Toledo Meynard J. , Junghaenel Doerte U. , Smyth Joshua M. , Lee Pey-Jiuan , Goldstein Sarah , Pomeroy Olivia , Stone Arthur A.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Delayed responses are a common yet often overlooked aspect of participant compliance in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) research. This study investigated whether response delays introduce selection bias in the moments captured by EMA.

Methods

Participants (n = 339) self-reported their physical activity behaviors using EMA five times a day over 7 days while wearing a continuous physical activity monitor. The continuous activity monitor data provided an objective reference value to evaluate potential biases in delayed EMA self-reports.

Results

Results showed that participants were significantly more likely to delay EMA responses when they were prompted during higher levels of physical activity, and they subsequently reduced their activity levels, postponing their response until they were in a significantly less active state. There was no significant evidence that response delays systematically biased the levels of EMA reported activities, although delayed responses were associated with significantly more random errors in EMA reports (with small effect sizes).

Discussion

The results suggest that respondents self-select the moments for answering EMA surveys based on their current activity levels, but brief response delays do not translate into marked reductions in the quality of EMA data.
Correlates of mental health of people living with HIV co-infected with SARS-CoV-2: findings from the COVIDHIV study in France
Authors: Yaya Issifou , Amboise Yvenie , Roucoux Guillaume , Yombo-Kokule Lisa , Marcellin Fabienne , Duvivier Claudine , Lacombe Karine , Griffith James W. , Préau Marie , Cheret Antoine , Duracinsky Martin
Published: January 2025

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected vulnerable populations, especially individuals living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The convergence of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 presents unique challenges, exacerbating existing health concerns and magnifying the strain on individuals already grappling with compromised immune systems. This study aimed to investigate the mental well-being repercussions faced by PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 in France.

Methods

COVIDHIV is a French multicenter cohort of PLWHA co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, which collected sociodemographic, clinical, and mental health data. Anxiety and depression symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes at inclusion in the cohort.

Results

Of the 397 participants included, 64.7% were male. The mean age was 51.6 (± 11.8) years. The prevalence of mental health outcomes was 33.5% ([95%CI: 28.5-39.0%]) for anxiety, 21.0% ([16.8-25.9%]) for depression, and 12.2% ([8.9-16.5%]) for PTSD. In multivariable regression adjusted for sex, COVID-19 wave and duration between COVID-19 confirmation and enrolment, age (adjusted odds-ratio (aOR): 0.97 [0.95-0.99]), being professionally active (0.43 [0.25-0.75]), and the number of self-reported symptoms (1.17 [1.11-1.24]) were associated with anxiety. Being professionally active (0.34 [0.18-0.65]), living in a couple (0.52 [0.20-0.98]), number of self-reported symptoms (1.15 [1.08-1.22]), and hospitalization for COVID-19 (3.35 [1.34-8.33]) were associated with depression. The number of self-reported symptoms (1.27 [1.16-1.41]), psychiatric disorders (4.04 [1.48-11.11]), and perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 (4.53 [1.69-14.60]) were associated with PTSD.

Conclusion

The mental health is a challenging issue among the participants and needs to be closely monitored among people already affected by a chronic disease such as HIV. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted support and interventions tailored to address the mental health needs of PLWHA facing the dual burden of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
Internet-delivered emotional awareness and expression therapy for somatic symptom disorder: one year follow-up
Authors: Hallberg Henrik , Maroti Daniel , Lumley Mark A. , Johansson Robert
Published: January 2025

Objective

We examined whether the treatment effects from a previous RCT of Internet-delivered Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (I-EAET) for somatic symptom disorder were maintained 12 months after treatment.

Method

12-month assessments of self-reported somatic symptoms, pain severity, and several secondary outcomes were compared with baseline and post-treatment levels within the I-EAET condition only, given that the waitlist control condition had already received treatment. Twenty-eight out of the original 37 participants (76%) in the I-EAET condition provided follow-up data.

Results

The beneficial effects of I-EAET on somatic symptoms observed at post-treatment were maintained at the 12-month follow-up (d = -0.22, 95% CI: -0.72 to 0.28), as well as for pain intensity (d = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.52 to 0.48). From pre-treatment to 12-month follow-up, there was a medium effect on somatic symptoms (d = 0.74, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.24), and a small, non-significant effect for pain intensity (d = 0.43, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.93). Response rates (at least 50% symptom reduction) at 12-month follow-up were 25% for somatic symptoms, and 12% for pain intensity.

Conclusion

I-EAET seems to have positive long-term effects for somatic symptom disorder. Larger studies with controls and comparisons to other treatments are needed.
STI/HIV risk prediction model development—A novel use of public data to forecast STIs/HIV risk for men who have sex with men
Authors: Ji Xiaopeng , Tang Zhaohui , Osborne Sonya R. , Van Nguyen Thi Phuoc , Mullens Amy B. , Dean Judith A. , Li Yan
Published: January 2025

A novel automatic framework is proposed for global sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and HIV risk prediction. Four machine learning methods, namely, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Random Forest (RF), XG Boost, and Ensemble learning GBM-RF-XG Boost are applied and evaluated on the Demographic and Health Surveys Program (DHSP), with thirteen features ultimately selected as the most predictive features. Classification and generalization experiments are conducted to test the accuracy, F1-score, precision, and area under the curve (AUC) performance of these four algorithms. Two imbalanced data solutions are also applied to reduce bias for classification performance improvement. The experimental results of these models demonstrate that the Random Forest algorithm yields the best results on HIV prediction, whereby the highest accuracy, and AUC are 0.99 and 0.99, respectively. The performance of the STI prediction achieves the best when the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is applied (Accuracy = 0.99, AUC = 0.99), which outperforms the state-of-the-art baselines. Two possible factors that may affect the classification and generalization performance are further analyzed. This automatic classification model helps to improve convenience and reduce the cost of HIV testing.
Humanizing processes after harm part 1: patient safety incident investigations, litigation and the experiences of those affected
Authors: Ramsey Lauren , Sheard Laura , Waring Justin , McHugh Siobhan , Simms-Ellis Ruth , Louch Gemma , Ludwin Katherine , O’Hara Jane K.
Published: January 2025

Background

There is a growing international policy focus on involving those affected by healthcare safety incidents, in subsequent investigations. Nonetheless, there remains little UK-based evidence exploring how this relates to the experiences of those affected over time, including the factors influencing decisions to litigate.

Aims

We aimed to explore the experiences of patients, families, staff and legal representatives affected by safety incidents over time, and the factors influencing decisions to litigate.

Methods

Participants were purposively recruited via (i) communication from four NHS hospital Trusts or an independent national investigator in England, (ii) relevant charitable organizations, (iii) social media, and (iv) word of mouth to take part in a qualitative semi-structured interview study. Data were analyzed using an inductive reflexive thematic approach.

Findings

42 people with personal or professional experience of safety incident investigations participated, comprising patients and families (n = 18), healthcare staff (n = 7), legal staff (n = 1), and investigators (n = 16). Patients and families started investigation processes with cautious hope, but over time, came to realize that they lacked power, knowledge, and support to navigate the system, made clear in awaited investigation reports. Systemic fear of litigation not only failed to meet the needs of those affected, but also inadvertently led to some pursuing litigation. Staff had parallel experiences of exclusion, lacking support and feeling left with an incomplete narrative. Importantly, investigating was often perceived as a lonely, invisible and undervalued role involving skilled “work” with limited training, resources, and infrastructure. Ultimately, elusive “organizational agendas” were prioritized above the needs of all affected.

Conclusions

Incident investigations fail to acknowledge and address emotional distress experienced by all affected, resulting in compounded harm. To address this, we propose five key recommendations, to: (1) prioritize the needs of those affected by incidents, (2) overcome culturally engrained fears of litigation to re-humanize processes and reduce rates of unnecessary litigation, (3) recognize and value the emotionally laborious and skilled work of investigators (4) inform and support those affected, (5) proceed in ways that recognize and seek to reduce social inequities.
Access improvement in healthcare: a 12-step framework for operational practice
Authors: Chen Allen M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Access improvement is a fundamental component of value-based healthcare as it inherently promotes quality by eliminating chokepoints, redundancies, and inefficiencies which could hinder the provisioning of timely care. The purpose of this review is to present a 12-step framework which offers healthcare organizations a practical, thematic-based foundation for thinking about access improvement.

Methods

This study was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. A literature search of prospective peer-reviewed publications was undertaken to identify studies pertaining to healthcare access. Articles published from January 2014 to January 2024 were included. An interpretive synthesis was then presented.

Results

A total of 469 peer-reviewed studies were identified. The most common diseases analyzed were related to general medicine/family practice (N = 75), surgical care (N = 51), health screening (N = 30), mental health (N = 27), cardiovascular disease (N = 17), emergency room/critical care (N = 15), and cancer (N = 7). The remaining 247 studies (53%) did not specifically report on any specialization. The core themes could be broadly categorized into the following: workforce adequacy, patient experience, physical space utilization, template optimization, scheduling efficiency, process standardization, cost transparency, physician engagement, and data analytics. Sixty publications (13%) focused at least in part on equity issues, structural racism, and/or implicit bias; and 25 publications (5%) addressed disparities in education, training, and/or technical literacy. Seventy-three publications (16%) focused either completely or in part on digital health as a means of access improvement.

Conclusion

Based on this systematic review, a 12-step thematically based framework for approaching access improvement in healthcare was developed.
Space psychology: a comprehensive approach to the future of astronaut wellbeing
Authors: Nezami Annahita
Published: January 2025

As humanity embarks on Space Age II, the revival of human space exploration brings unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The commercial spaceflight industry has significantly lowered barriers, enabling government agencies to pursue more ambitious missions to the Moon and Mars in the coming decades. This renewed momentum necessitates a more comprehensive approach to the psychological and wellbeing aspects of human space exploration. Drawing on the authors training as a psychologist and co-founder of digital technology startup, this paper explores how immersive technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR) and advanced interfaces can address some of the unique psychological and social challenges posed by isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments. It highlights the importance of integrating scientific and psychological theories into digital therapies to create comprehensive evidence-based interventions. These interventions aim to significantly improve the quality of life and mission success for future space explorers, offering more than stand-alone one-off solutions. This will require continuous innovation and research in leveraging advanced technologies to meet the evolving demands of human space exploration and habitation.
Rethinking love, independence, and speciesism in assistance dog discourse
Authors: Taş Birkan
Published: January 2025

This paper challenges the prevailing belief that assistance dogs inherently love their roles, arguing that the notion of “unconditional love” in discourses on assistance dog perpetuates a human-centric perspective and reinforces speciesism. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the affective experiences of these working animals and of acknowledging the interdependence between people with disabilities and assistance dogs. The paper has four main objectives: (1) critiquing the concept of unconditional love attributed to assistance dogs, (2) recognizing the physical and affective labor of assistance dogs, (3) highlighting the importance of interdependence over independence, and (4) exploring the intersections of ableism and speciesism in the context of assistance dogs. By examining the role of love as a narrative-framing device, the paper aims to reveal how anthropocentric viewpoints often obscure the exploitation of assistance dogs. Incorporating insights from human-animal studies and disability studies, the paper seeks to enrich sociological research on emotions and power structures, advocating for a shift toward valuing the labor and wellbeing of assistance dogs. This approach challenges the liberal ideology of independence and promotes a more inclusive understanding of interspecies relationships, ultimately enhancing the sociological study of emotions, and intersections between sociology, disability studies, and human-animal studies.
The effects of sex and load on quantifying the bilateral force deficit during an upper body Wingate test
Authors: Antolinez Angie K. , Edwards Philip F. , Holmes Michael W. R. , Button Duane C.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The bilateral deficit (BLD) is a reduction in the amount of force during a bilateral task vs. the total force from the unilateral limbs performing the same task. We quantified the BLD during an upper body Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) and evaluated the influence of sex and load on the BLD in force.

Methods

Eighteen participants performed maximum handgrip strength, voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC), and three 30s WAnTs. In each session they completed the tasks with the dominant-arm, non-dominant arm and with both arms, randomly. WAnT intensities were 3, 4, and 5% body weight (BW). Instantaneous force data was used to calculate the BLD.

Results

Males showed greater (p < .001) BLD of force at 3, 4, and 5% BW than females by −17, −27.6 and −36%, respectively and had a greater (p < .001) BLD of force than females throughout time points 1–10 s, 11–20 s, and 21–30 s by −16, −29 and −35%, respectively. Females showed a difference (p < .001) in BLD of force between loads (−19% at 3%, −10% at 4% and +7% at 5%). Males had an increase (p < .001) in BLD of force from the beginning to the end of the WAnT starting with −18% (1–10 s), −38% (11–20 s) and −40% (21–30 s). WAnT had the highest BLD, followed by MVIC and grip strength.

Discussion

BLD in force is present during WAnTs and the sex-load interaction is important for determining this BLD during this maximal cycling test. Thus, when developing training or rehabilitation programs related to BLD in force, sex, load and exercise type should be taken into consideration.
SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and detection in wild, captive, and domesticated animals in Nebraska: 2021–2023
Authors: Loy Duan Sriyotee , Birn Rachael , Poonsuk Korakrit , Tegomoh Bryan , Bartling Amanda , Wiley Michael R. , Loy John Dustin
Published: January 2025

Widespread surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted across wildlife, captive animals in zoological collections, and domestic cats in Nebraska from 2021 to 2023. The goal of this effort was to determine the prevalence, phylogenetic and spatial distribution characteristics of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants using various diagnostic methodologies that can utilize both antemortem and postmortem samples, which may be required for wildlife such as white-tailed deer. Statewide surveillance testing revealed high variation in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among species, with white-tailed deer identified as the primary reservoir. In 2021, seroprevalence in white-tailed deer was 63.73% (n = 91) and 39.66% (n = 237) in 2022, while virus detection in retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) was 16.35% (n = 483) in 2021 and 3.61% (n = 277) in 2022. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 11 positive samples from 2021. This analysis revealed the presence of four lineages of the Delta variant: AY.100, AY.119, AY.3, and AY.46.4. Conversely, other species showed no virus detection, except domestic cats, which had a low seroprevalence of 2.38% (n = 628) in 2022, indicating minimal exposure. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer and the identification of multiple Delta lineages underscores the need for ongoing surveillance and the importance of using different diagnostic methodologies. These efforts are critical for understanding virus circulation and evolution in wildlife and domestic animals, informing public health strategies, and mitigating the risks of zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging infectious diseases.
Metabolomic profiling and antibacterial efficacy of probiotic-derived cell-free supernatant encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers against canine multidrug-resistant bacteria
Authors: Myo Nay Zin , Kamwa Ratchnida , Jamnong Thitirat , Swasdipisal Busaba , Somrak Papavarin , Rattanamalakorn Phanchompoo , Neatsawang Vipada , Apiwatsiri Prasert , Yata Teerapong , Hampson David J. , Prapasarakul Nuvee
Published: January 2025

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of probiotic-derived cell-free supernatants (CFS) encapsulated within nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Additionally, it aimed to identify specific bioactive compounds that contribute to the reported antibacterial properties by characterizing the metabolite substances present in the CFS using a metabolomic analysis technique.

Methods

Eight strains of lactic acid bacteria including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L22F and L25F), Pediococcus acidilactici (P72N, BF9, BF 14, BYF 20 and BYF 26) and Ligilactobacillus salivarius (BF 12) were selected as probiotic candidates. The inhibitory activity of their cell free supernatant (CFS) was tested against clinical strains of P. aeruginosa and S. pseudintermedius isolated from skin wounds of dogs and cats. An untargeted metabolomic approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identified potential antibacterial metabolites in the CFS. Cell-Free Supernatants-Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (CFS-NLCs) were developed, and their antibacterial activity and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were analysed.

Results

Despite the strong multidrug-resistant nature of the pathogens, CFS displayed a moderate antibacterial activity against most tested strains. The acidic nature of the CFS, combined with bioactive antibacterial metabolites like Kanzonol V and 1-Hexanol, likely contributed to its inhibitory effects against pathogenic bacteria; notably, Kanzonol V was abundant in the CFS of L22F, BF12 and BYF26 (L22F_CFS, BF12_CFS and BYF26_CFS), while 1-Hexanol was particularly enriched in CFS of P72N (P72N_CFS), with both compounds effectively targeting bacterial cell membranes to disrupt cell integrity, leading to bacterial cell death. Other beneficial compounds such as Pyroglutamylleucine, Trigoneoside VIII and 18-Nor-4(19),8,11,13-abietatetraene which are likely to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, were also detected in the CFS. The CFS-NLCs maintained their antibacterial activity and 30–60% dilutions of product completely inhibited the growth of pathogen strains even after three-months storage at room temperature.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that CFS-NLCs could be a promising biotic therapy for treating hospital infections such as canine dermatitis and otitis caused by multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and S. pseudintermedius.
Special Issue on Scheduling Theory and Algorithms for Sustainable Manufacturing
Authors: Dolgui Alexandre , Lemoine David , Restrepo María I. , Werner Frank
Published: January 2025

The following Special Issue was initiated at the 10th IFAC triennial conference MIM 2022 (https://hub [...]
Special Issue “Algorithms for Feature Selection (2nd Edition)”
Authors: Khan Muhammad Adnan
Published: January 2025

This Special Issue focuses on advancing research on algorithms, with a particular emphasis on feature selection techniques [...]
Fingerprinting Indoor Positioning Based on Improved Sequential Deep Learning
Authors: Mao Dongfang , Lin Haojie , Lou Xuyang
Published: January 2025

Accurate indoor positioning is essential for many applications. However, current methods often fall short in complex environments due to signal fluctuations. We propose a new indoor positioning approach, that is, improved sequential deep learning (ISDL), to address this issue. First, we apply sequential classification algorithms to progressively narrow the search space, reducing potential location regions into smaller neighborhoods. Next, we combine a deep neural network (DNN) with Weighted K-Nearest Neighbors (WKNN) to refine the final location prediction. Then, we validate our method using the publicly available UJIndoorLoc dataset, demonstrating superior accuracy compared to existing methods. Specifically, we achieved 95% floor prediction accuracy and reduced the average positioning error to just 7.82 m. By combining sequential classification and the DNN-WKNN hybrid model, we achieve better localization in complex indoor environments. This system offers practical improvements for real-time location-based services and other applications requiring precise indoor positioning.
Organic Manures Integrated with Cover Crops Affect Both Cover Crop and Commercial Crop Performance Including Soil Health: Effect on Cover Crop Growth, Nitrogen Uptake, and Soil Mineral N
Authors: Cottney Paul , Black Lisa , White Ethel , Williams Paul N.
Published: January 2025

Cover crops have many simultaneous roles that enhance the sustainability of agriculture compared to leaving land fallow in arable systems. In high rainfall climates, an important role of cover crops is to sequester nutrients, protecting them from loss to the environment. In many livestock intensive regions, organic manures are applied in autumn with land left fallow over winter and then a cash crop is planted in the spring. This practice of extended fallow, combined with the poorly synchronised application of nutrients to cash crop nutrient demand, further adds to the potential for large losses of nutrients specifically nitrogen (N) to the environment through leaching and volatilization. Therefore, if cover crops could respond to these nutrients through increased biomass growth and nutrient uptake, they could reduce these losses. Therefore, it is important to choose the correct species which grows adequately to deliver these potential benefits. In the region this study is conducted, Northern Ireland, there has been little research to investigate not only what optimum cover crop species are but also what species could respond to additional nutrients in the slurry. This study comprises two experiments, in consecutive years, including a combination of three factors: cover crop species (five species; a mixture and a control representing fallow); pig slurry. Consequently, it was found that with good growing conditions, in the trial year of 2018/19, species such as forage rape and tillage radish could significantly (p < 0.05) increase the amount of N contained in their biomass and the soil (to 15 cm) by 70 and 63%, respectively, in response to slurry. Alternatively, when slurry was applied to fallow land (conventional practice), low amounts (14 and 0% in the two trial years, respectively) of the N from the slurry were detected in weed biomass or retained in the soil. This demonstrates a large loss of N from the system. Thus, the integration of responsive cover crops with slurry is a better practice to abate N loss than conventional practice, if slurry applications can not be delayed.
Vascular Access Device Infections: Current Management Practices and the Role of Multidisciplinary Teams at a Large Hospital in Northern Italy
Authors: Colaneri Marta , Galli Lucia , Offer Martina , Borgonovo Fabio , Scaglione Giovanni , Genovese Camilla , Fattore Rebecca , Schiavini Monica , De Capitani Giovanni , Calloni Maria , Bartoli Arianna , Gidaro Antonio , Cogliati Chiara , Antinori Spinello , Gori Andrea , Foschi Antonella
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Vascular access device (VAD)-associated infections, including catheter-related (CRBSI) and catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSI), present significant challenges in patient care. While multidisciplinary VAD teams (VATs) are equipped with protocols for managing these infections, adherence to these guidelines in real-life practice is inconsistent. This study aims to evaluate the alignment between actual VAD infection management practices and VAT-recommended protocols. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study at Luigi Sacco Hospital (May 2021–October 2023) involving non-ICU adult patients with diagnosed CRBSI or CABSI. VAT experts independently reviewed infection management choices, which were divided into eight specific procedural options. These options included variations in VAD removal, timing of repositioning, and combinations of antimicrobial lock therapy and systemic therapy. Concordance between real-life practices and VAT recommendations was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Results: Of 2419 VAD placements, 146 (6%) developed infections (84 CABSI, 62 CRBSI). Clinicians removed VADs in 66.4% of cases compared to 62.3% per VAT recommendations, with moderate overall agreement (Cohen’s kappa = 0.58). Analysis of the eight management categories revealed moderate to low alignment (unweighted kappa = 0.44, weighted kappa = 0.30) between real-life practices and VAT guidance, with slightly improved concordance in CRBSI cases. Conclusions: Our findings underscore a discrepancy between real-life VAD infection management and VAT-recommended protocols, suggesting a need for clearer, more accessible guidelines and increased multidisciplinary collaboration. Enhanced VAT consultation and simplified protocol dissemination may improve consistency in infection management and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.
Mechanical Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Critical Challenge in the Intensive Care Units
Authors: Stoian Mircea , Andone Adina , Bândilă Sergiu Rareș , Onișor Danusia , Laszlo Sergiu Ștefan , Lupu Gabriela , Danielescu Alina , Baba Dragoș-Florin , Văsieșiu Anca Meda , Manea Andrei , Stoian Adina
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection encountered in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality. We evaluated the causative pathogens involved and their resistance to the major classes of antibiotics in patients with VAP and assessed the differences between patients with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: This study was a single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective analysis involving 122 patients who were hospitalized in the ICU of Târgu Mureș County Clinical Hospital from 1 April 2021, to 1 April 2023. This study compares patients with VAP in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups, examining the clinical progression, duration of ventilation and hospitalization, mortality, pathogen distribution, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Results: A length of stay in the ICU exceeding 11.5 days was associated with the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections (AUC: 0.708, p < 0.001). Similarly, a duration of MV exceeding 196 h was associated with MDR acquisition (AUC: 0.695, p = 0.002). Additionally, a Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) greater than 5 was associated with MDR development (AUC: 0.854, p < 0.001) in the whole group of patients. The most commonly isolated strains were Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Among non-COVID-19 patients, there was a notably higher frequency of MDR Acinetobacter baumannii. A bacterial resistance to carbapenems was found in Acinetobacter spp. (51.6%), Klebsiella spp. (22.6%), and Pseudomonas spp. (25.8%). Conclusions: COVID-19 patients experienced longer ventilation, higher mortality, and an increased risk of developing MDR. Carbapenem resistance was universal in Acinetobacter spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more prevalent among non-COVID-19 patients. The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) strongly correlates with developing MDR pathogens in both patient groups.
Federated Learning Lifecycle Management for Distributed Medical Artificial Intelligence Applications: A Case Study on Post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Complication Prediction Solution
Authors: Jung Min Hyuk , Song InSeo , Lee KangYoon
Published: January 2025

The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has unveiled considerable prospects for delivering efficacious solutions in the medical domain. Nevertheless, existing legal frameworks and concerns regarding data privacy associated with medical information impose substantial constraints on implementing AI solutions in this domain. Federated learning is a paradigm that enables the training of machine learning models in a decentralized manner without transferring data to a central repository, allowing model development while preserving data privacy across medical and other industries. This study provided a comprehensive framework for applying federated learning to AI solutions in the medical domain. It advocates a sustainable learning ecosystem by overseeing federated learning servers and clients and evaluating performance by managing the federated learning lifecycle. To enhance its practical relevance, this framework includes a detailed process for continuous lifecycle management, involving model deployment, aggregation, testing, evaluation, versioning, and real-time monitoring through the FedOps platform, supporting a sustainable solution. In this study, the feasibility of the proposed methodology was verified using a post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) complication–prediction framework. The performance of the solution after transitioning to a federated learning approach was compared with that of an existing centralized solution. The findings indicated no statistically significant difference in performance between the two methodologies. This implies that federated learning can augment data usability and facilitate the integration of AI technologies into the medical domain, where the preservation of data privacy is critically important.
Analysis of Energy Dissipation and Sealing Performance of the Premium Connection in Modal Vibrations
Authors: Yu Yang , Liu Yang , Cao Yinping , Yuan Qingying , Tang Jiarui , Dou Yihua
Published: January 2025

Traditional static analysis cannot effectively explain the issue of the sealing performance of the premium connection being decreased due to the vibration of the tubing, leading to the failure of the connection sealing. In this paper, based on the energy dissipation theory and considering the influence of the micro contact slip of the sealing surface under the vibration of the tubing, a finite element model of the premium connection is established. The natural frequency and vibration mode are obtained through modal analysis experiments, and the accuracy of the finite element model is verified. The results show that the first five natural frequencies are mainly concentrated in the axial direction of the tubing, with the amplitude of the radial vibration mode being small. The vibration mode results are applied to the model as boundary conditions. It is found that an increase in the axial displacement amplitude leads to an increase in the energy dissipation of the sealing surface of the premium connection, which reduces the normal contact pressure and the effective length of the sealing surface, ultimately leading to a decrease in the sealing performance.
Research on the Bearing Load Measurement Method Based on the Fusion of Redundant Strain Data and Jacking Data
Authors: Fang Chengwei , Liu Aihua , Zhu Hanhua , Deng Yibin
Published: January 2025

To improve the accuracy of bearing load measurement in propulsion shafting, a bearing load measurement method based on redundant strain and jacking data fusion is proposed. Firstly, to address the issue of low measurement accuracy in strain gauge methods (SGM), a redundant strain gauge method (RSGM) is introduced to enhance the precision of strain-based measurements. Secondly, synchronize the measurement of strain data during the jacking phase and fuse the measurement data from the jacking phase based on the Bayesian estimation method to enhance the measurement accuracy of the jack-up method (JM). Lastly, the pre-decision results of the two types of measurement data are integrated at the decision level to obtain the final measured load. Simulation experiments have verified the correctness and applicability of the proposed measurement method. The research results indicate that, compared to the SGM, the RSGM offers higher measurement precision; the fusion measurement method can achieve more accurate results than the JM and RSGM under different bearing support conditions and jack-up scenarios.
Identifying the Initial Corrosion Fatigue Failure Based on Dropping Electrochemical Potential
Authors: Pfennig Anja , Simkin Roman
Published: January 2025

The corrosion fatigue of duplex stainless-steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 can be determined by purely alternating axial cyclic load to failure using hour-glass shaped specimens. The experimental setup comprises a corrosion chamber allowing for the circulation of an aquifer electrolyte heated to 369 K simulating a carbon capture and storage as well as geothermal power plant environment. During engineering of a carbon storage site or geothermal power plant, it may be crucial to determine the failure onset of a component beforehand. Therefore, an algorithm with 93.3% reliability was established based on splitting the measured potential values into ten time series with a capacity of ten values. The failure of corrosion fatigue specimens in a geothermal environment correlates to the drop of the curves of the electrochemical potential which is measured simultaneously within the corrosion chamber. Crack initiation was, therefore, successfully derived from the electrochemical potential.
Urinary Proteome and Exosome Analysis Protocol for the Discovery of Respiratory Diseases Biomarkers
Authors: Martelo-Vidal Laura , Vázquez-Mera Sara , Miguéns-Suárez Pablo , Bravo-López Susana Belén , Makrinioti Heidi , Domínguez-Arca Vicente , de-Miguel-Díez Javier , Gómez-Carballa Alberto , Salas Antonio , González-Barcala Francisco Javier , Salgado Francisco Javier , Nieto-Fontarigo Juan José
Published: January 2025

This study aims to develop a protocol for respiratory disease-associated biomarker discovery by combining urine proteome studies with urinary exosome components analysis (i.e., miRNAs). To achieve this, urine was DTT treated to decrease uromodulin, then concentrated and ultracentrifuged. Proteomic analyses of exosome-free urine were performed using LC-MS/MS. Simultaneously, miRNA expression from urine exosomes was measured using either RTqPCR (pre-amplification) or nCounter Nanostring (non-amplication) analyses. We detected 548 different proteins in exosome-free urine samples (N = 5) with high confidence (FDR < 1%), many of them being expressed in different non-renal tissues. Specifically, lung-related proteins were overrepresented (Fold enrichment = 1.31; FDR = 0.0335) compared to whole human proteome, and 10–15% were already described as protein biomarkers for several pulmonary diseases. Urine proteins identified belong to several functional categories important in respiratory pathology. We could confirm the expression of miRNAs previously connected to respiratory diseases (i.e., miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-215-5p) in urine exosomes by RTqPCR. Finally, we detected 333 miRNAs using Nanostring, 15 of them up-regulated in T2high asthma (N = 4) compared to T2low asthma (N = 4) and healthy subjects (N = 4). Therefore, this protocol combining the urinary proteome (exosome free) with the study of urinary exosome components (i.e., miRNAs) holds great potential for molecular biomarker discovery of non-renal and particularly respiratory pathologies.