bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mediating role of resilience and interaction anxiousness in the effects of physical activity on mobile phone addiction among Chinese college students
Authors: Wu Jinlong , Xiao Wen , Liu Bowen , Yu Jingxuan , Zheng Kangyong , Shi Qiuqiong , Ren Zhanbing
Published: April 2024

Background

Recent studies have shown that regular physical activity (PA) can positively influence mobile phone addiction (MPA) behaviors in college students. However, it remains unknown whether this effect is mediated by other factors. Evidence suggests that resilience and interaction anxiousness may be candidate mediators that partly explain the positive effect of PA on MPA. This study aims to explore the impact of PA on MPA through a mediation model, and the role of resilience and interaction anxiousness in this relationship.

Methods

The participants were 590 college students (272 males; mean age = 19.67) who completed a psychosocial battery, including the international physical activity questionnaire—short form (IPAQ-SF), the connor - davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), the interaction anxiousness scale (IAS), and the mobile phone addiction index (MPAI). Correlations of variables were computed using Pearson’s test. Mediation models were tested using SPSSS PROCESS macro with the regression bootstrapping method.

Results

PA were negatively associated with MPA behavior (r=-.21, p < 0.01). Resilience and interaction anxiousness moderated the relationship between PA and MPA. More importantly, PA could also influence MPA through the chain-mediating effects of resilience and interaction anxiousness.

Conclusion

It is essential to improve resilience and reduce interaction anxiousness to reduce MPA problems through regular engagement in PA among college students.
Promising directions for human-robot interactions defined by older adults
Authors: Ostrowski Anastasia K. , Zhang Jenny , Breazeal Cynthia , Park Hae Won
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Older adults are engaging more and more with voice-based agent and social robot technologies, and roboticists are increasingly designing interactions for these systems with older adults in mind. Older adults are often not included in these design processes, yet there are many opportunities for older adults to collaborate with design teams to design future robot interactions and help guide directions for robot development.

Methods: Through a year-long co-design project, we collaborated with 28 older adults to understand the key focus areas that older adults see promise in for older adult-robot interaction in their everyday lives and how they would like these interactions to be designed. This paper describes and explores the robot-interaction guidelines and future directions identified by older adults, specifically investigating the change and trajectory of these guidelines through the course of the co-design process from the initial interview to the design guideline generation session to the final interview. Results were analyzed through an adapted ethnographic decision tree modeling approach to understand older adults’ decision making surrounding the various focus areas and guidelines for social robots.

Results: Overall, over the course of the co-design process between the beginning and end, older adults developed a better understanding of the robot that translated to them being more certain of their attitudes of how they would like a robot to engage with them in their lives. Older adults were more accepting of transactional functions such as reminders and scheduling and less open to functions that would involve sharing sensitive information and tracking and/or monitoring of them, expressing concerns around surveillance. There was some promise in robot interactions for connecting with others, body signal monitoring, and emotional wellness, though older adults brought up concerns around autonomy, privacy, and naturalness of the interaction with a robot that need to be further explored.

Discussion: This work provides guidance for future interaction development for robots that are being designed to interact with older adults and highlights areas that need to be further investigated with older adults to understand how best to design for user concerns.
Developing oral health services for people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage: a case study from Southwest England
Authors: Paisi Martha , Withers Lyndsey , Anderson Rebecca , Doughty Janine , Griffiths Lisa , Jameson Ben , Murphy Elizabeth , Musa Afsha , Nelder Abigail , Rogers Shona , Witton Robert
Published: April 2024

People experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) have disproportionately high levels of dental disease and tooth loss but have limited access to dental care. This paper presents an evidence-based case study of co-designing, implementing, evaluating and refining a community dental clinic for people experiencing SMD in the Southwest of England. It shares challenges, lessons, and solutions. Tailored interventions that coordinate flexible and responsive care are important for facilitating dental access for individuals experiencing SMD. Participatory approaches can deliver a range of impacts both on research and service development. No single fixed model of co-design can be applied in service development, and the choice will vary depending on local context, available resources and joint decision making. Through co-design, vulnerable populations such as those with SMD can shape dental services that are more acceptable, appropriate and responsive to their needs. This approach can also ensure long-term sustainability by bridging treatment pathway development and commissioning.
Audio-visual-olfactory immersive digital nature exposure for stress and anxiety reduction: a systematic review on systems, outcomes, and challenges
Authors: Lopes Marilia K. S. , Falk Tiago H.
Published: April 2024

Evidence supporting the benefits of immersive virtual reality (VR) and exposure to nature for the wellbeing of individuals is steadily growing. So-called digital forest bathing experiences take advantage of the immersiveness of VR to make individuals feel like they are immersed in nature, which has led to documented improvements in mental health. The majority of existing studies have relied on conventional VR experiences, which stimulate only two senses: auditory and visual. However, the principle behind forest bathing is to have one stimulate all of their senses to be completely immersed in nature. As recent advances in olfactory technologies have emerged, multisensory immersive experiences that stimulate more than two senses may provide additional benefits. In this systematic literature review, we investigate the multisensory digital nature setups used and their psychological and psychophysiological outcomes; particular focus is placed on the inclusion of smells as the third sensory modality. We searched papers published between 2016 and April 2023 on PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore. Results from our quality assessment revealed that the majority of studies (twelve) were of medium or high quality, while two were classified as low quality. Overall, the findings from the reviewed studies indicate a positive effect of including smells to digital nature experiences, with outcomes often comparable to conventional exposure to natural environments. The review concludes with a discussion of limitations observed in the examined studies and proposes recommendations for future research in this domain.
Learning control for body caudal undulation with soft sensory feedback
Authors: Schwab Fabian , El Arayshi Mohamed , Rezaei Seyedreza , Sprumont Hadrien , Allione Federico , Mucignat Claudio , Lunati Ivan , Verrelli Cristiano Maria , Jusufi Ardian
Published: April 2024

Soft bio-mimetic robotics is a growing field of research that seeks to close the gap with animal robustness and adaptability where conventional robots fall short. The embedding of sensors with the capability to discriminate between different body deformation modes is a key technological challenge in soft robotics to enhance robot control–a difficult task for this type of systems with high degrees of freedom. The recently conceived Linear Repetitive Learning Estimation Scheme (LRLES)–to be included in the traditional Proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control–is proposed here as a way to compensate for uncertain dynamics on a soft swimming robot, which is actuated with soft pneumatic actuators and equipped with soft sensors providing proprioceptive information pertaining to lateral body caudal bending akin to a goniometer. The proposed controller is derived in detail and experimentally validated, with the experiment consisting of tracking a desired trajectory for the bending angle envelope while continuously oscillating with a constant frequency. The results are compared vis a vis those achieved with the traditional PID controller, finding that the PID endowed with the LRLES outperforms the PID controller (though the latter has been separately tuned) and experimentally validating the novel controller’s effectiveness, accuracy, and matching speed.
SDSS J075217.84 + 193542.2: X-ray weighing of a secondary BH
Authors: Titarchuk Lev , Seifina Elena
Published: April 2024

Precise measurements of black hole (BH) masses are necessary to understand the coevolution of these sources and their host galaxies. Sometimes in the center of a galaxy, there is not one but two BHs. The BH duality of the quasar nucleus SDSS J075217.84 + 193542.2 (herein referred to as SDSS J0752) was recently proposed based on the observed strict periodicity of optical emission from the source. We tested this assumption using X-ray observations obtained using Swift/XRT (2008–2010). We fitted the SDSS J075217 spectrum using a Comptonization model and discovered soft X-ray variability in the 0.3–10-keV energy range. We pursued a scenario in which two supermassive BHs at the center of SDSS J0752 form a pair, and the less massive (secondary) BH periodically crosses/punctures the disk around the more massive (primary) BH. We associated these periodic crossings with tidal disruptions of the disk and, as a consequence, with an increase in X-rays observed as a flare in SDSS J0752. During such an X-ray flare event (2008–2010), we discovered a change in the source spectral states and the photon index saturation at the Γ ∼ 3 level with mass accretion rate Ṁ. For BH mass scaling, we used OJ 287, M101 ULX–1, and HLX–1 ESO 243–49 as reference sources and found that MSDSS = 9 × 107 solar masses, assuming that dSDSS = 500 Mpc. Thus, we obtained a lower limit to a BH mass due to the unknown inclination. In addition, we used the virial mass of the secondary BH based on Hα-line measurements, and we estimated the inclination of the binary at SDSS J0752, i = 80°, using a scaling technique.
Determining the Public Health Impact of Climate Change: A National Study Using a Health Impact Assessment Approach in Wales
Authors: Green Liz , Ashton Kathryn , Edmonds Nerys , Fletcher Michael , Azam Sumina , Hughes Karen , Wheater Phil , Bellis Mark A.
Published: April 2024

Objective: Climate change is recognised as the biggest threat to global health of the 21st century and impacts on health and wellbeing through a range of factors. Due to this, the need to take action in order to protect population health and wellbeing is becoming ever more urgent.

Methods: In 2019, Public Health Wales carried out a comprehensive mixed-method Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of climate change. Unlike other risk assessments, it appraised the potential impact of climate change on health and inequalities in Wales through participatory workshops, stakeholder consultations, systematic literature reviews and case studies.

Results: The HIA findings indicate potential impacts across the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. For example, air quality, excess heat/cold, flooding, economic productivity, infrastructure, and community resilience. A range of impacts were identified across population groups, settings, and geographical areas.

Conclusion: These findings can inform decision-makers to prepare for climate change plans and policies using an evidence-informed approach. The work has demonstrated the value of a HIA approach by mobilising a range of evidence through a transparent process, resulting in transferrable learning for others.
The eTEP/eTEP-TAR Repair of Ventral Hernias a Study From One Center/ One Surgeon—The First Five Years of Experience
Authors: Radu Victor G. , Cucu Diana Teodora
Published: April 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is analyze the outcomes of retro-muscular repair techniques for ventral hernias performed by a single surgeon in a renowned hernia surgery center.

Method: This study involved 197 patients who underwent surgery between May 2016 and December 2021 under the care of a single surgeon (VR). Respecting the indication/contraindications of the eTEP procedure, 197 of 212 patients with ventral hernias underwent eTEP/eTEP-TAR surgery during this period. The cohort consisted of diverse hernia types, including median, lateral, and multiple-site defects. The safety of this approach was evaluated based on postoperative occurrences, where the number of complications accounted for 5% of the cases.

Results of the study indicated that there was a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients following the procedure. The assessment, which measured postoperative pain, normal activity, and aesthetics on a 0–10 scale, showed improvement at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery compared to the preoperative level. However, after a mean of 51.11 months, only one case of recurrence was reported. This recurrence occurred on top of the mesh, 18 months after the initial operation. The follow-up period lasted between 24 and 90 months. Patient monitoring was conducted either in person or over the phone, focusing on quality of life, postoperative pain, and the occurrence of recurrence. In conclusion, the laparo-endoscopic retro-muscular repair of ventral hernias, whether primary or incisional, has shown to yield excellent results in medium and long-term follow-up. The eTEP technique combines the benefits of the Rives-Stoppa technique (considered the gold standard in open ventral hernia repair) with the advantages of minimally invasive surgery.
On the Relative Kinematics and Control of Dual-Arm Cutting Robots for a Coal Mine
Authors: Liu Peng , Zhou Haochen , Qiao Xinzhou , Zhu Yan
Published: April 2024

There is an unbalanced problem in the traditional laneway excavation process for coal mining because the laneway excavation and support are at the same position in space but they are separated in time, consequently leading to problems of low efficiency in laneway excavation. To overcome these problems, an advanced dual-arm tunneling robotic system for a coal mine is developed that can achieve the synchronous operation of excavation and the permanent support of laneways to efficiently complete excavation tasks for large-sized cross-section laneways. A dual-arm cutting robot (DACR) has an important influence on the forming quality and excavation efficiency of large-sized cross-section laneways. As a result, the relative kinematics, workspace, and control of dual-arm cutting robots are investigated in this research. First, a relative kinematic model of the DACR is established, and a closed-loop control strategy for the robot is proposed based on the relative kinematics. Second, an associated workspace (AW) for the DACR is presented and generated, which can provide a reference for the cutting trajectory planning of a DACR. Finally, the relative kinematics, closed-loop kinematic controller, and associated workspace generation algorithm are verified through simulation results.
An Ice Protection System Based on Phased Piezoelectric Transducers
Authors: Ameduri Salvatore , Concilio Antonio , Brindisi Angela , Galasso Bernardino
Published: April 2024

This study focuses on a system constituted of two piezoelectric transducers installed on a slat representative element, with ice protection purposes. The waves generated by these actuators can cause, in fact, shear actions between the slat panel and the ice accretion, with the final effect of breaking and detaching it. A property of the system is, however, the possibility of regulating the phase between the excitation signals of the two transducers. This capability can be exploited to produce local advantageous wave interference with a consequent amplification of the shear actions. Benefits can be obtained in terms of: (1) reduction of needed power; (2) recovery of signal intensity losses due to distance, geometric, and mechanic discontinuities; (3) recovery of non-optimal functionality due to off-design conditions. The work starts with an overview of the impact of the ice on the aeronautic and other sectors. Then, attention is paid to the systems currently used to protect aircraft, with a specific focus on ultrasounds generated by piezoelectric transducers. The concept proposed in this work is then presented, illustrating the main components and the working modality. On this basis and considering the specific nature of the physical phenomenon, the modeling approach was defined and implemented. At first, the impact of some critical parameters, such as the temperature and the thickness of the ice, was investigated. Then, the impact of the phase delay parameter was considered, estimating the increase of magnitude potentially reachable by means of optimal tuning. Finally, a preliminary experimental campaign was organized and a comparison with the numerical predictions was performed.
Research on Maximum Power Control of Direct-Drive Wave Power Generation Device Based on BP Neural Network PID Method
Authors: Fan Xinyu , Meng Hao
Published: April 2024

Ocean wave energy is a new type of clean energy. To improve the power generation and wave energy conversion efficiency of the direct-drive wave power generation system, by addressing the issue of large output errors and poor system stability commonly associated with the currently used PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) control methods, this paper proposes a maximum power control method based on BP (back propagation) neural network PID control. Combined with Kalman filtering, this method not only achieves maximum power tracking but also reduces output ripple and tracking error, thereby enhancing the system’s control quality. This study uses a permanent magnet linear generator as the power generation device, establishes a system dynamics model, and predicts the main frequency of irregular waves through the Fast Fourier Transform method. It designs a desired current tracking curve that meets the maximum power strategy. On this basis, a comparative analysis of the control accuracy and stability of three control methods is conducted. The simulation results show that the BP neural network PID control method improves power generation and exhibits better accuracy and stability.
Computational Mechanics for Turbofan Engine Blade Containment Testing: Fan Case Design and Blade Impact Dynamics by Finite Element Simulations
Authors: Tuninetti Víctor , Sepúlveda Héctor
Published: April 2024

The harsh environment during airplane take-off and flights with complex operating conditions require a high dynamic and impact resistance capability of airplane engines. The design, development, and performance evaluation of new turbofan engines are generally performed through numerical simulations before a full-scale model or prototype experiment for certification. Simulations of fan blade containment tests can reduce trial–error testing and are currently the most convenient and inexpensive alternative for design; however, certification failure is always a risk if the calibration of material models is not correctly applied. This work presents a three-dimensional computational model of a turbofan for designing new engines that meet the certification requirements under the blade containment test. Two calibrated Johnson–Cook plasticity and damage laws for Ti64 are assessed in a simulation of a turbofan blade containment test, demonstrating the ability of the models to be used in the safe design of aircraft engine components subjected to dynamic impact loads with large deformations and adequate damage tolerance.
Spectral Profiling (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and Machine Learning for the Recognition of Milk from Different Bovine Breeds
Authors: Spina Anna Antonella , Ceniti Carlotta , De Fazio Rosario , Oppedisano Francesca , Palma Ernesto , Gugliandolo Enrico , Crupi Rosalia , Raza Sayed Haidar Abbas , Britti Domenico , Piras Cristian , Morittu Valeria Maria
Published: April 2024

The Podolica cattle breed is widespread in southern Italy, and its productivity is characterized by low yields and an extraordinary quality of milk and meats. Most of the milk produced is transformed into “Caciocavallo Podolico” cheese, which is made with 100% Podolica milk. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is the technique that, in this research work, was applied together with machine learning to discriminate 100% Podolica milk from contamination of other Calabrian cattle breeds. The analysis on the test set produced a misclassification percentage of 6.7%. Among the 15 non-Podolica samples in the test set, 2 were misclassified and recognized as Podolica milk even though the milk was from other species. The correct classification rate improved to 100% when the same method was applied to the recognition of Podolica and Pezzata Rossa milk produced by the same farm. Furthermore, this technique was tested for the recognition of Podolica milk mixed with milk from other bovine species. The multivariate model and the respective confusion matrices obtained showed that all the 14 Podolica samples (test set) mixed with 40% non-Podolica milk were correctly classified. In addition, Pezzata Rossa milk produced by the same farm was detected as a contaminant in Podolica milk from the same farm down to concentrations as little as 5% with a 100% correct classification rate in the test set. The method described yielded higher accuracy values when applied to the discrimination of milks from different breeds belonging to the same farm. One of the reasons for this phenomenon could be linked to the elimination of the environmental variable. However, the results obtained in this work demonstrate the possibility of using FTIR to discriminate between milks from different breeds.
Diagnosis of Canine Tumours and the Value of Combined Detection of VEGF, P53, SF and NLRP3 for the Early Diagnosis of Canine Mammary Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Ning-Yu , Zheng Hui-Hua , Yu Chao , Ye Yan , Xie Guang-Hong
Published: April 2024

The average life of a dog is generally maintained at ten to fifteen years, and tumours are the predominant reason that leads to the death of dogs, especially canine mammary carcinoma. Therefore, early diagnosis of tumours is very important. In this study, tumor size, morphology, and texture could be seen through general clinical examination, tumor metastasis could be seen through imaging examination, inflammatory reactions could be seen through hematological examination, and abnormal cell morphology could be seen through cytological and histopathological examination. In the 269 malignant cases and 179 benign cases, we randomly selected 30 cases each, and an additional 30 healthy dogs were selected for the experiment (healthy dogs: dogs in good physical condition without any tumor or other diseases). We used RT-qPCR and ELISA to determine the relative expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor protein P53 (P53), serum ferritin (SF), and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in 30 healthy dogs, 30 dogs with benign mammary tumours, and 30 dogs with malignant mammary tumours. In the results, the same expression trend was obtained both in serum and tissues, and the expression of the four markers was the highest in malignant mammary tumours, with highly significant differences compared with the benign and healthy/paracancerous groups. By plotting the ROC curves, it was found that the results of combined tests were better than a single test and the combination of the four markers was the best for the early diagnosis. In conclusion, this can assist the clinical early diagnosis to a certain extent, and also provides some references and assistance for the development of tumor detection kits in clinical practice.
Administration Routes and Doses of the Attenuated African Swine Fever Virus Strain PSA-1NH Influence Cross-Protection of Pigs against Heterologous Challenge
Authors: Vlasov Mikhail , Sindryakova Irina , Kudryashov Dmitriy , Morgunov Sergey , Kolbasova Olga , Lyska Valentina , Zhivoderov Sergey , Pivova Elena , Balyshev Vladimir , Namsrayn Sanzhi , Sevskikh Timofey , Sereda Alexey , Kolbasov Denis
Published: April 2024

African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal hemorrhagic disease of Suidae, i.e., domestic pigs and wild boars, caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The development of cross-protective vaccines against ASF is imperative for effective disease control, particularly in regions where ASF is endemic, potentially featuring multiple circulating ASFV isolates. The investigation of non-hemadsorbing naturally attenuated isolates and laboratory recombinant strains with a deletion in the EP402R gene has attracted interest. Our study aimed to assess the impacts of various administration routes and doses of the naturally attenuated ASFV-PSA-1NH (immunotype IV, genotype I) isolate on the manifestation of clinical signs of ASF and the level of protection against the heterologous ASFV-Stavropol 01/08 strain (seroimmunotype VIII, genotype II). The results demonstrated that the intranasal administration of a low dose of ASFV-PSA-1NH to pigs minimized the clinical signs of ASF and established a high level of protection against the heterologous strain ASFV-Stavropol 01/08. Despite the challenges in standardizing the dosage for intranasal administration, this approach appears as a viable alternative in ASF vaccination.
Online-Assisted Survey on Antibiotic Use by Pet Owners in Dogs and Cats
Authors: Rocholl Clara , Zablotski Yury , Schulz Bianka
Published: April 2024

The aim of the study was two-fold: first, to collect data on the use of antibiotics in Germany for dogs and cats and, second, their owners’ experiences and opinions. Using an anonymous online survey, dog and cat owners were asked about the last antibiotic administration in their pet. The inclusion criterion was any antibiotic administration within the last year. A total of 708 questionnaires from 463 dogs and 245 cats could be evaluated. Diarrhea was reported as the most common reason for antibiotic administration in dogs (18.4%). Wound infection/abscess/bite injury was the second most common reason in dogs (16.0%). In cats wound infection/abscess/bite injury was the most common reason (23.3%), followed by dental treatment (21.2%) and upper respiratory tract infections (16.7%). The most common antibiotics used systemically in both species were amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (32.5%), amoxicillin (14.8%), metronidazole (6.9%), and doxycycline (6.8%). While efficacy (99.9%) and tolerability (94.8%) were rated as most important for the choice of antibiotics, costs (51.6%) were cited as predominantly unimportant. First-line antibiotics were used significantly more often than critically important antibiotics. The majority of animal owners show awareness for avoidance of antibiotic resistance and the use of critically important antibiotics.
Association between Empirical Anti-Pseudomonal Antibiotics and Progression to Thoracic Surgery and Death in Empyema: Database Research
Authors: Shiroshita Akihiro , Tochitani Kentaro , Maki Yohei , Terayama Takero , Kataoka Yuki
Published: April 2024

Evidence on the optimal antibiotic strategy for empyema is lacking. Our database study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of empirical anti-pseudomonal antibiotics in patients with empyema. We utilised a Japanese real-world data database, focusing on patients aged ≥40 diagnosed with empyema, who underwent thoracostomy and received intravenous antibiotics either upon admission or the following day. Patients administered intravenous vasopressors were excluded. We compared thoracic surgery and death within 90 days after admission between patients treated with empirical anti-pseudomonal and non-anti-pseudomonal antibiotics. Cause-specific hazard ratios for thoracic surgery and death were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, with adjustment for clinically important confounders. Subgroup analyses entailed the same procedures for patients exhibiting at least one risk factor for multidrug-resistant organisms. Between March 2014 and March 2023, 855 patients with empyema meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Among them, 271 (31.7%) patients received anti-pseudomonal antibiotics. The Cox proportional hazards models indicated that compared to empirical non-anti-pseudomonal antibiotics, empirical anti-pseudomonal antibiotics were associated with higher HRs for thoracic surgery and death within 90 days, respectively. Thus, regardless of the risks of multidrug-resistant organisms, empirical anti-pseudomonal antibiotics did not extend the time to thoracic surgery or death within 90 days.
Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens: New Weapons to Fight Them
Authors: Huber Charlotte A.
Published: April 2024

In high-income countries, degenerative diseases are the primary cause of death [...]
Use of the Naturally Occurring Bacteriophage Grouping Model for the Design of Potent Therapeutic Cocktails
Authors: Glonti Tea , Goossens Michael , Cochez Christel , Green Sabrina , Gorivale Sayali , Wagemans Jeroen , Lavigne Rob , Pirnay Jean-Paul
Published: April 2024

The specificity of phages and their ability to evolve and overcome bacterial resistance make them potentially useful as adjuncts in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The goal of this study was to mimic a natural grouping of phages of interest and to evaluate the nature of their proliferation dynamics with bacteria. We have, for the first time, transferred naturally occurring phage groups directly from their sources of isolation to in vitro and identified 13 P. aeruginosa and 11 K. pneumoniae phages of 18 different genera, whose host range was grouped as 1.2–17%, 28–48% and 60–87%, using a large collection of P. aeruginosa (n = 102) and K. pneumoniae (n = 155) strains carrying different virulence factors and phage binding receptors. We introduced the interpretation model curve for phage liquid culturing, which allows easy and quick analysis of bacterial and phage co-proliferation and growth of phage-resistant mutants (PRM) based on qualitative and partially quantitative evaluations. We assayed phage lytic activities both individually and in 14 different cocktails on planktonic bacterial cultures, including three resistotypes of P. aeruginosa (PAO1, PA14 and PA7) and seven K. pneumoniae strains of different capsular serotypes. Based on the results, the natural phage cocktails designed and tested in this study largely performed well and inhibited PRM growth either synergistically or in proto-cooperation. This study contributes to the knowledge of phage behavior in cocktails and the formulation of therapeutic phage preparations. The paper also provides a detailed description of the methods of working with phages.
Analysis of Toxic Effects of Fluoride on Ovine Follicular Granulosa Cells Using RNA-Seq
Authors: Ma Tian , Liu Wanruo , Jiang Didi , Zhang Guolin , Zhao Xingxu , Zhang Yong , Li Zongshuai
Published: April 2024

Fluoride is abundant in the environment and is an essential trace element in living organisms. However, prolonged excessive fluoride intake can lead to fluorosis, which poses a threat to the reproductive health of animals and humans. Although previous research has mainly focused on animal models, the impact of fluoride on ovine follicular granulosa cells (GCs) has not been comprehensively elucidated. This study employed RNA-Seq technology to elucidate the toxic effects of fluoride on ovine follicular GCs and its mechanism of action. Culturing primary ovine follicular GCs in vitro and subjecting them to fluoride treatment revealed 3218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 2278 upregulated and 940 downregulated. Significantly, this study unveiled fluoride’s induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cells, triggering a cascade involving the PERK pathway factor ATF4, leading to cell death via DDIT3/CHOP activation and the subsequent upregulation of CHAC1, ATF3, ERO1α, and TRIB3. These findings provide crucial insights into the toxicity of fluoride in ovine, offering a foundation for mitigating fluoride-related losses in the farming industry.
Numerical Analysis of Mice Carotid Arteries’ Response Emphasizing the Importance of Material Law Constants’ Validation
Authors: Sobczyk Bartosz , Chróścielewski Jacek , Wilde Krzysztof
Published: April 2024

In this paper, a detailed validation of the passive material properties of mice carotid arteries and constants of the Fung and Holzapfel hyperelastic material laws is conducted by means of static nonlinear FEM analyses. The response of the carotid arteries in an inflation test is studied here for the following mouse models: wild-type, mdx, sgcd−/−, Eln+/+, Eln+/−, Fbln5+/+, and Fbln5−/−. All FEM computations are conducted on models that have been preliminarily checked for their reliability. The results of the calculations, namely, the relation between the internal pressure and the artery outer diameter, are verified against experimental responses and the applicability of the laws is assessed. New sets of Holzapfel constitutive relation constants are proposed for Eln+/+ and Fbln5−/− mice. Finally, the problem of carotid artery buckling is also discussed. The buckling pressures of the arteries are predicted using FEM models and nonlinear static analyses. These values are compared with the reference experimental results, which allow for further validation of the constitutive relations. The research emphasizes that computations and numerical methods enable an accurate description of bioengineering processes and behaviors but only if the models used are appropriately validated.
Iterative Learning with Adaptive Sliding Mode Control for Trajectory Tracking of Fast Tool Servo Systems
Authors: Xu Xiuying , Liu Pengbo , Lu Shuaishuai , Wang Fei , Yang Jingfang , Xiao Guangchun
Published: April 2024

To address the tracking control problem of the periodic motion fast tool servo system (FTS), we propose a control method that combines adaptive sliding mode control with closed-loop iterative learning control. Adaptive sliding mode control enhances the system’s robustness to external non-repetitive disturbances, and exponential gain iterative learning control compensates for the influence of periodic disturbances such as cutting force. The experimental results show that the proposed iterative learning controller based on adaptive sliding mode control can effectively eliminate the influence of various interference factors, achieve accurate tracking of the FTS system’s motion trajectory within a limited number of iterations, and ensure the stability of the system, which has the advantages of a fast convergence speed, high tracking accuracy, and strong robustness.
Study of the Targeted Regulation of Rice Drying Characteristics and Quality
Authors: Li Jinquan , Yi Xiaokang , Jin Yi
Published: April 2024

As the pre-process of storage and processing, rice drying is a key link to ensuring grain quality. A scientific and reasonable drying process can maintain grain quality and realize grain loss reduction, energy savings, and emission reduction. By establishing the response surface (RSM) regression model, the relationship between various experimental factors and quality indicators was analyzed, and the reasons for the results were explained. The optimized parameter combination was a hot air temperature of 43.14 °C, hot air humidity of 48.00%, initial moisture content of 23.80%, hot air velocity of 0.70 m/s, and hysteresis ratio of 3.55. Under this parameter combination, the drying characteristics (net drying time = 157.61 min, germination rate = 94.15%), processing quality (burst waist increase rate = 3.48%, whole rice rate = 70.458%), and nutritional quality (fatty acid value = 20.93 mg, resistant starch concentration = 195.26 μg/g, protein content change = 8.53 g/100 g, fat content change = 2.37 g/100 g) of rice after drying improved. The relative error between the validation results and the optimized results was 4.68%, indicating that the optimized process parameters can improve the efficiency and quality of rice drying. According to the regression model, the process reference chart with the process retrieval and prediction function was drawn, and the corresponding high-quality control scheme was given, providing a reference for the parameter settings of actual drying operations. The optimized drying process parameter combination effectively reduced the moisture gradient inside rice grains, drying stress, and the occurrence of cracks, thereby improving the appearance, quality and nutritional value of rice after drying. Moreover, the process reference chart can provide a reference for the actual preliminary processing technology of rice after production and a theoretical basis for an in-depth exploration of the mechanism of changes in rice quality.
Numerical Simulation of a Submerged Floating Tunnel: Validation and Analysis
Authors: Li Hao , Cheng Xiaohui , Pan Hua
Published: April 2024

The dynamic response analysis of submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) under seismic action is a complex two-way fluid–structure coupling problem that requires expertise in structural dynamics, fluid mechanics, and advanced computational methods. The coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) method is a promising method for solving fluid–structure interaction problems, but its application to SFTs is not well established. Therefore, it is crucial to verify the accuracy and reliability of the CEL method in fluid–structure coupling simulations. This study verified the applicability of the CEL method for simulating one-way and two-way fluid–structure coupling cylindrical flow problems, and then applied the CEL method for the analysis of a shaking table test of a model SFT. A comparison of results obtained with the CEL method with those obtained in a previous indoor model test of an SFT demonstrates the agreement between the results of the CEL method and the overall trend of the experimental results, indicating the reliability of the method for the seismic analysis of SFTs. Moreover, the analysis of the dynamic response characteristics of SFTs under seismic conditions provides data support and a technological means for the seismic design of SFTs.
Analysis of Stakeholder Requirements for the Development of Swallowing Health Management Services
Authors: Kim Minjae , Kim Jinwon , Lee Yejin , Kim Hyanghee , Lee Sang-Eok , Choi Seong Hee , Nam Seok In , You Heecheon
Published: April 2024

An investigation of comprehensive service requirements and their importance across various stakeholders is needed to develop systematic swallowing healthcare services. The present study examined the service requirements and their importance in developing comprehensive swallowing healthcare services from diverse stakeholders, including healthy seniors, individuals at risk, patients, guardians, and medical professionals, within the context of dysphagia. A series of survey-based interviews with 35 participants from the 5 stakeholder groups identified a comprehensive array of requirements pertinent to swallowing healthcare. Subsequently, a larger survey of 125 participants was administered using a 7-point Likert scale to evaluate the perceived importance of the identified requirements. A total of 46 distinct requirements were identified across the prevention/screening, evaluation/diagnosis, and treatment/training stages of swallowing healthcare. Accessibility, customization, usability, practicality, and information availability were features commonly identified across the three stages. Evaluation of the importance of these requirements yielded ratings ranging from 5.0 to 6.6. Significantly higher ratings were found for requirements associated with the evaluation/diagnosis and treatment/training stages, underscoring the stakeholder groups’ pronounced preference for services directed at these specific stages of the healthcare continuum. The study offers insights into the multifaceted requirements of stakeholders in swallowing healthcare, emphasizing the necessity for personalized, easily accessible, and comprehensive services. These findings serve as a foundational framework on targeted interventions and tailored services designed to address the diverse requirements of stakeholders for swallowing healthcare.
How Has the Concept of Air Traffic Complexity Evolved? Review and Analysis of the State of the Art of Air Traffic Complexity
Authors: Pérez Moreno Francisco , Gómez Comendador Víctor Fernando , Delgado-Aguilera Jurado Raquel , Zamarreño Suárez María , Antulov-Fantulin Bruno , Arnaldo Valdés Rosa María
Published: April 2024

Air traffic complexity is an indicator that allows air traffic controllers to understand the airspace situation. Controllers need support tools to reduce their workload. For this reason, complexity is a parameter that is being studied more and more, as it makes it possible to know a large amount of information about air traffic. In this article, we perform a bibliometric analysis in the field of air traffic complexity. Through Web of Science (WoS), a collection of complexity-related articles from 2001 to 2022 is compiled. Subsequently, the bibliometric analysis itself is performed. Then, a summary of five main contributions is presented, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the contributions, and thus the topic. The results of the bibliometric analysis show that future air traffic complexity indicators should consider aircraft trajectories but also take into account other aspects, such as regulations. In addition, future complexity indicators should introduce artificial intelligence predictions to foresee areas of conflict in airspace but taking into account the main limitations, such as uncertainty of the air traffic trajectories. This study helps in the study of complexity due to being able to know previous studies in a summarised form and being able to draw conclusions on future lines.
Machine Learning Forecast of Dust Storm Frequency in Saudi Arabia Using Multiple Features
Authors: Alshammari Reem K. , Alrwais Omer , Aksoy Mehmet Sabih
Published: April 2024

Dust storms are significant atmospheric events that impact air quality, public health, and visibility, especially in arid Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to develop dust storm frequency predictions for Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam by integrating meteorological and environmental variables. Our models include multiple linear regression, support vector machine, gradient boosting regression tree, long short-term memory (LSTM), and temporal convolutional network (TCN). This study highlights the effectiveness of LSTM and TCN models in capturing the complex temporal dynamics of dust storms and demonstrates that they outperform traditional methods, as evidenced by their lower mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) values and higher R2 score. In Riyadh, the TCN model demonstrates its remarkable performance, with an R2 score of 0.51, an MAE of 2.80, and an RMSE of 3.48, highlighting its precision, adaptability, and responsiveness to changes in dust storm frequency. Conversely, in Dammam, the LSTM model proved to be the most accurate, achieving an MAE of 3.02, RMSE of 3.64, and R2 score of 0.64. In Jeddah, the LSTM model also exhibited an MAE of 2.48 and an RMSE of 2.96. This research shows the potential of using deep learning models to improve the accuracy and reliability of dust storm frequency forecasts.
Display Conventions for Octagons of Opposition
Authors: Makinson David
Published: April 2024

As usually presented, octagons of opposition are rather complex objects and can be difficult to assimilate at a glance. We show how, under suitable conditions that are satisfied by most historical examples, different display conventions can simplify the diagrams, making them easier for readers to grasp without the loss of information. Moreover, those conditions help reveal the conceptual structure behind the visual display.
Continuous Anode Slurry Production in Twin-Screw Extruders: Effects of the Process Setup on the Dispersion
Authors: Meza Gonzalez Juan Fernando , Nirschl Hermann , Rhein Frank
Published: April 2024

Screw design in the extrusion process has an important effect on the distribution of material through the extruder, resulting in partially filled sections in the processing zone. Accordingly, the local accumulation of material in the extruder leads to variations in material strain conditions and also influences the local residence time of the material in a given screw section. This work evaluates particle dispersion in anode slurry considering three different screw arrangements. The particle size distribution is considered as a quality parameter representing the microstructure of the battery slurry components and their distribution. Numerical simulation of the material flow behavior through a laboratory extruder was performed to investigate the filling ratios and resulting shear rates for different screw designs and process conditions. The importance of process parameters and a suitable screw configuration to achieve specific particle sizes in battery slurry is discussed.
Welding Challenges and Quality Assurance in Electric Vehicle Battery Pack Manufacturing
Authors: Stavropoulos Panagiotis , Sabatakakis Kyriakos , Bikas Harry
Published: April 2024

Electric vehicles’ batteries, referred to as Battery Packs (BPs), are composed of interconnected battery cells and modules. The utilisation of different materials, configurations, and welding processes forms a plethora of different applications. This level of diversity along with the low maturity of welding designs and the lack of standardisation result in great variations in the mechanical and electrical quality of the joints. Moreover, the high-volume production requirements, meaning the high number of joints per module/BP, increase the absolute number of defects. The first part of this study focuses on associating the challenges of welding application in battery assembly with the key performance indicators of the joints. The second part reviews the existing methods for quality assurance which concerns the joining of battery cells and busbars. Additionally, the second part of this paper identifies the general trends and the research gaps for the most widely adopted welding methods in this domain, while it renders the future directions.
Design Optimization and Tradeoff Analysis of an Actuated Continuum Probe for Pulmonary Nodule Localization and Resection
Authors: McCullough Madison D. , Muller Marie , Egan Thomas M. , Buckner Gregory D.
Published: April 2024

Pulmonary nodules are abnormal tissue masses in the lungs, typically less than 3.0 cm in diameter, commonly detected during imaging of the chest and lungs. While most pulmonary nodules are not cancerous, surgical resection may be required if growth is detected between scans. This resection is typically performed without the benefit of intraoperative imaging, making it difficult for surgeons to confidently provide appropriate margins. To enhance the efficacy of wedge resection, researchers have developed a modified ultrasound imaging approach that utilizes both multiple scattering (MS) and single scattering (SS) to enhance the accuracy of margin delineation. Clinical deployment of this novel ultrasound technology requires a highly maneuverable ultrasound probe, ideally one that could be deployed and actuated with minimal invasiveness. This study details the design optimization and tradeoff analysis of an actuated continuum probe for pulmonary nodule localization and resection. This device, deployed through intercostal ports, would enable the intraoperative imaging and precise mapping of nodules for improved margin delineation and patient outcomes. To achieve this objective, multiple objective genetic algorithms (MOGAs) and a design of experiments (DOE) study are used to explore the design space and quantify key dimensional relationships and their effects on probe actuation.