bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Analysis of Stabilization of a Horse’s Third Metacarpal Bone Fracture for Prediction of the Possibility of Bone Union
Authors: Słowiński Jakub , Roszak Maciej , Krawiec Karina , Henklewski Radomir , Jamroziak Krzysztof
Published: September 2024

Horses have been companions of people for thousands of years. Areas in which humans use these animals include, for example, transport, participation in sports competitions, or during rehabilitation (hippotherapy). Unfortunately, injuries such as lower limb fracture very often require euthanasia due to the significant difficulties in conducting fracture therapy/repair. Therefore, there are still many possibilities for the improvement of existing treatments. The aim of the study was to conduct a numerical analysis enabling the prediction of bone union of the third metacarpal bone of a horse. The loading conditions and type of fracture were based on a pony weighing 120 kg; however, research on a live animal was not the purpose of this study. Numerical studies were carried out for three different methods of stabilization using bone plates in the Ansys program (lateral, anterior, and lateral–anterior stabilization). An algorithm based on the Carter model was used to predict bone union, while linear-coupled models were used to describe the behaviour of materials. The authors also performed dynamic analyses in the Abaqus/Explicit program to determine the maximum speed at which the horse could move so that the fracture would not deepen. For dynamic analyses, the authors used nonlinear models—Johnson–Cook in the case of the 316L surgical steel material and cortical bone. Material failure was described using the Johnson–Cook failure model for steel and the limit strain model for cortical bone. A series of numerical simulations allowed to determine the direction of bone union building, and the most favourable case of stabilization was determined.
An Intelligent Real-Time Driver Activity Recognition System Using Spatio-Temporal Features
Authors: Kidu Thomas , Song Yongjun , Seo Kwang-Won , Lee Sunyong , Park Taejoon
Published: September 2024

With the rapid increase in the number of drivers, traffic accidents due to driver distraction is a major threat around the world. In this paper, we present a novel long-term recurrent convolutional network (LRCN) model for real-time driver activity recognition during both day- and nighttime conditions. Unlike existing works that use static input images and rely on major pre-processing measures, we employ a TimeDistributed convolutional neural network (TimeDis-CNN) layer to process a sequential input to learn the spatial and temporal information of the driver activity without requiring any major pre-processing effort. A pre-trained (CNN) layer is applied for robust initialization and extraction of the primary spatial features of the sequential image inputs. Then, a long short-term memory (LSTM) network is employed to recognize and synthesize the dynamical long-range temporal information of the driver’s activity. The proposed system is capable of detecting nine types of driver activities: driving, drinking, texting, smoking, talking, controlling, looking outside, head nodding, and fainting. For evaluation, we utilized a real vehicle environment and collected data from 35 participants, where 14 of the drivers were in real driving scenarios and the remaining in non-driving conditions. The proposed model achieved accuracies of 88.7% and 92.4% for the daytime and nighttime datasets, respectively. Moreover, the binary classifier’s accuracy in determining whether the driver is non-distracted or in a distracted state was 93.9% and 99.2% for the daytime and nighttime datasets, respectively. In addition, we deployed the proposed model on a Jetson Xavier embedded board and verified its effectiveness by conducting real-time predictions.
Intelligent Pottery Wheel Machine Design: Enhancing Pottery Throwing Quality and Efficiency
Authors: Wang Yilun , Liu Xunchen , Fu Lijuan , Mu Bo , Chen Mingzhang , Wu Hailin , Dong Kang , Sun Xuejie
Published: September 2024

The pottery wheel machine is an essential piece of equipment in ceramics manufacturing. This paper presents the design of an intelligent pottery wheel machine aimed at addressing the issues of low clay material utilization and the challenges of pottery throwing operations. Traditional techniques require exceptional craftsmanship and proficient mechanical operation, and existing pottery wheel machines still demand attention to equipment usage and clay material knowledge. The intelligent pottery wheel machine integrates central positioning, automatic clay feeding, and clay storage. The pull mechanism stores and precisely feeds clay, regulating usage and minimizing excess. The automated settings of the clay storage and power push system replace the need for manual assessment of clay density and quality, ensuring balanced and high-quality clay extrusion. The continuous feeding setting allows for automatic addition of clay, saving replenishment time and reducing the labor intensity of adding clay. The lifting mechanism ensures that the clay body remains centered, avoiding repeated manual adjustments and allowing users to focus on creating pottery rather than spending excessive time mastering the centering technique. The machine’s lightweight, modular design reduces clay waste, making the process more sustainable. By saving clay materials and improving throwing efficiency, it enhances the success rate of throwing.
One-Dimensional Creep Consolidation Model for Peat Soil
Authors: Peng Bo , Feng Ruiling , Wu Lijian , Wang Pengcheng , Shi Xuming
Published: September 2024

Peat soil exhibits significant creep deformation, and its consolidation law differs from that of soft soil. This study examines the strain characteristics of peat soils during three stages of consolidation using indoor one-dimensional creep consolidation tests. The results showed that the rebound deformation after the primary consolidation stage and the secondary consolidation stage is equivalent to the deformation seen during the primary consolidation stage, about 1.003 times. However, once the deformation stabilizes, the rebound deformation decreases to 0.32–0.85 times that of the deformation observed during the primary consolidation stage. The elastic and time-independent plastic strains of the peat soil showed two-stage linear changes with lnσz′. When the load was greater than the pre-consolidation pressure, the deformation modulus increases by approximately 2.10 and 1.56 times, respectively. On this basis, this study, for the first time, defines the creep rate according to the strain rate in the tertiary consolidation stage in the strain versus the time curve (εz~t). Based on the timeline, a one-dimensional creep consolidation model is established that can accurately predict the strain during the consolidation of the peat soil foundation. The results reveal distinct strain behaviors during each stage and improve the theoretical basis for the study of creep.
Trackerless 3D Freehand Ultrasound Reconstruction: A Review
Authors: Adriaans Chrissy A. , Wijkhuizen Mark , van Karnenbeek Lennard M. , Geldof Freija , Dashtbozorg Behdad
Published: September 2024

Two-dimensional ultrasound (2D US) is commonly used in clinical settings for its cost-effectiveness and non-invasiveness, but it is limited by spatial orientation and operator dependency. Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) overcomes these limitations by adding a third dimension and enhancing integration with other imaging modalities. Advances in deep learning (DL) have further propelled the viability of freehand image-based 3D reconstruction, broadening clinical applications in intraoperative and point-of-care (POC) settings. This review evaluates state-of-the-art freehand 3D US reconstruction methods that eliminate the need for external tracking devices, focusing on experimental setups, data acquisition strategies, and reconstruction methodologies. PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore were searched for studies since 2014 following the PRISMA guidelines, excluding those using additional imaging or tracking systems other than inertial measurement units (IMUs). Fourteen eligible studies were analyzed, showing a shift from traditional speckle decorrelation towards DL-based methods, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Variability in datasets and evaluation methods hindered a comprehensive quantitative comparison, but notable accuracy improvements were observed with IMUs and integration of contextual and temporal information within CNNs. These advancements enhance freehand 3D US reconstruction feasibility, though variability limits definitive conclusions about the most effective methods. Future research should focus on improving precision in complex trajectories and adaptability across clinical scenarios.
Applicability of Bispectral Analysis to Causality Determination within and between Ensembles of Unstable Plasma Waves
Authors: Stauber Renaud , Koepke Mark
Published: September 2024

Turbulence implies nonlinear wave–wave coupling, and determining cause and effect of either is important to understand mixing responsible for enhanced number, momentum, or energy (NME) transport. To explain the identification of parent and daughter modes via a look-up table, we sketch the framework of bispectral analysis without repeating the mathematical formalism of earlier bispectrum researchers. We then apply this technique to a test signal and plasma fluctuation data from the WVU-Q machine, where the inhomogeneous energy density-driven spectrum exhibited a degree of coupling to lower frequencies that was absent in the case of the related, single-eigenmode, current-driven spectrum.
Audio-Vestibular Evaluation of Pediatric Pseudo-Conductive Hearing Loss: Third Window Syndromes
Authors: Ertugrul Gorkem , Comert Aycan , Aykul Yagcioglu Aysenur
Published: September 2024

Conductive hearing loss caused by external or middle ear problems prevents the transmission of sound waves from the external auditory canal to the cochlea, and it is a common condition, especially in pediatric patients aged 1–5 years. The most common etiological factors are otitis media and cerumen during childhood. In some patients, external and middle ear functions and structures may be normal bilaterally despite the air-bone gap on the audiogram. This condition, which is often a missed diagnosis in children, is defined as a pseudo-conductive hearing loss (PCHL) caused by third window syndromes (TWSs) such as semicircular canal dehiscence, inner ear malformations with third window effect, and perilymphatic fistula. In this review of the literature, the authors emphasize the pitfalls of pediatric audio-vestibular evaluation on TWSs as well as the key aspects of this evaluation for the differential diagnosis of PCHL brought on by TWSs. This literature review will provide audiologists and otologists with early diagnostic guidance for TWSs in pediatric patients.
I-Symmetric Spaces and the π-Images of Metric Spaces
Authors: Liu Fang , Zhou Xiangeng , Liu Li , Lin Shou
Published: September 2024

Symmetric spaces and sn-symmetric spaces, as a generalization of metric spaces, have many important properties and have been widely discussed. We consider characterizations and mapping properties of sn-symmetric spaces under ideal convergence. I-symmetric spaces and I-sn-symmetric spaces are defined and studied. These not only generalize some classical results on symmetric spaces but also provide new directions to study generalized metric spaces using the notion of ideal convergence. As an application of I-sn-symmetric spaces, some relevant properties of statistical convergence are obtained. Some unanswered questions in this field are raised.
Detection of Hate Speech, Racism and Misogyny in Digital Social Networks: Colombian Case Study
Authors: Moreno-Sandoval Luis Gabriel , Pomares-Quimbaya Alexandra , Barbosa-Sierra Sergio Andres , Pantoja-Rojas Liliana Maria
Published: September 2024

The growing popularity of social networking platforms worldwide has substantially increased the presence of offensive language on these platforms. To date, most of the systems developed to mitigate this challenge focus primarily on English content. However, this issue is a global concern, and therefore, other languages, such as Spanish, are involved. This article addresses the task of identifying hate speech, racism, and misogyny in Spanish within the Colombian context on social networks, and introduces a gold standard dataset specifically developed for this purpose. Indeed, the experiment compares the performance of TLM models from Deep Learning methods, such as BERT, Roberta, XLM, and BETO adjusted to the Colombian slang domain, then compares the best TLM model against a GPT, having a significant impact on achieving more accurate predictions in this task. Finally, this study provides a detailed understanding of the different components used in the system, including the architecture of the models and the selection of functions. The best results show that the BERT model achieves an accuracy of 83.6% for hate speech detection, while the GPT model achieves an accuracy of 90.8% for racism speech and 90.4% for misogyny detection.
Analysis of Highway Vehicle Lane Change Duration Based on Survival Model
Authors: Zhao Sheng , Huang Shengwen , Wen Huiying , Liu Weiming
Published: September 2024

To investigate highway vehicle lane-changing behavior, we utilized the publicly available naturalistic driving dataset, HighD, to extract the movement data of vehicles involved in lane changes and their proximate counterparts. We employed univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models alongside random survival forest models to analyze the influence of various factors on lane change duration, assess their statistical significance, and compare the performance of multiple random survival forest models. Our findings indicate that several variables significantly impact lane change duration, including the standard deviation of lane-changing vehicles, lane-changing vehicle speed, distance to the following vehicle in the target lane, lane-changing vehicle length, and distance to the following vehicle in the current lane. Notably, the standard deviation and vehicle length act as protective factors, with increases in these variables correlating with longer lane change durations. Conversely, higher lane-changing vehicle speeds and shorter distances to following vehicles in both the current and target lanes are associated with shorter lane change durations, indicating their role as risk factors. Feature variable selection did not substantially improve the training performance of the random survival forest model based on our findings. However, validation set evaluation showed that careful feature variable selection can enhance model accuracy, leading to improved AUC values. These insights lay the groundwork for advancing research in predicting lane-changing behaviors, understanding lane-changing intentions, and developing pre-emptive safety measures against hazardous lane changes.
The Effect of High Pressure on Levilactobacillus brevis in Beer—Inactivation and Sublethal Injury
Authors: Nasiłowska Justyna , Sokołowska Barbara , Woszczyk Marzena , Bucka-Kolendo Joanna , Wojtczak Adrian
Published: September 2024

Beer, with its low pH, presence of hop acids, alcohol content, and limited nutrient availability, presents a hostile environment for most bacteria. However, Levilactobacillus brevis remains a significant spoilage organism in the brewing industry. This study examines the impact of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the inactivation and sublethal injury of Lb. brevis KKP 3574 in beer and wort. The results indicate that applying HHP at 400 MPa for 5 min effectively inactivates Lb. brevis, achieving up to a 7 log CFU/mL reduction in bacterial counts in beer, with no detectable sublethal injuries in beer samples. In contrast, in 10% wort, a sublethal injury level of 1.1 log CFU/mL was observed following the same HHP treatment. Furthermore, this study reveals a differential response of Lb. brevis cells depending on their growth phase; cells in the logarithmic growth phase are more susceptible to HHP, showing greater reduction in viability compared to those in the stationary phase. The survival dynamics of sublethally injured cells during refrigerated storage are also explored, with no regeneration observed in beer samples treated at pressures of 400 MPa or higher. These findings underscore the potential of HHP as a robust method for enhancing the microbiological safety and stability of beer while minimizing the risk of spoilage due to sublethally injured bacterial cells. This study provides crucial insights into optimizing HHP parameters to ensure product quality in the brewing industry.
Study on the Technology of Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Embryo Production in Chongming Goats
Authors: Wu Xiangli , Li Dongxu , Chen Ying , Wu Yangsheng , Abudureyimu Gulimire , Zhang Wei , Deng Kelu , Huang Zhen , Lin Jiapeng , Wang Liqin
Published: September 2024

The application of laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and in vitro production of embryos (IVEP) technologies has opened up a new path for purebred breeding and breed improvement in goats. However, due to the complexity of the procedures and multiple influencing factors, these technologies have not been widely adopted in goat production. This study explores factors affecting the efficiency of LOPU in goats by comparing the use of controlled internal drug release (CIDR) for estrus synchronization, conventional FSH versus long-acting recombinant ovine FSH (R-FSH) for superovulation, and the timing of LOPU at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h of follicular development. The metrics evaluated included the recovery rate of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), the average number of ovarian follicles, the average number of COCs, and the average number of available COCs. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of LOPU was significantly higher with two doses of R-FSH compared to the conventional FSH superovulation protocol and the control group (p < 0.05), with two doses of R-FSH providing a higher LOPU efficiency than one dose (p < 0.05). Using CIDR for estrus synchronization showed no significant difference in LOPU efficiency compared to the non-CIDR group. Similarly, the efficiency of LOPU showed no significant difference between the hormone treatments at 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h. By exploring and optimizing the factors influencing LOPU, we ultimately established a LOPU technology system for goats that meets the production needs of small ruminants.
Simulated High Throughput Sequencing Datasets: A Crucial Tool for Validating Bioinformatic Pathogen Detection Pipelines
Authors: Espindola Andres S.
Published: September 2024

The validation of diagnostic assays in plant pathogen detection is a critical area of research. It requires the use of both negative and positive controls containing a known quantity of the target pathogen, which are crucial elements when calculating analytical sensitivity and specificity, among other diagnostic performance metrics. High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) is a method that allows the simultaneous detection of a theoretically unlimited number of plant pathogens. However, accurately identifying the pathogen from HTS data is directly related to the bioinformatic pipeline utilized and its effectiveness at correctly assigning reads to their associated taxa. To this day, there is no consensus about the pipeline that should be used to detect the pathogens in HTS data, and results often undergo review and scientific evaluation. It is, therefore, imperative to establish HTS resources tailored for evaluating the performance of bioinformatic pipelines utilized in plant pathogen detection. Standardized artificial HTS datasets can be used as a benchmark by allowing users to test their pipelines for various pathogen infection scenarios, some of the most prevalent being multiple infections, low titer pathogens, mutations, and new strains, among others. Having these artificial HTS datasets in the hands of HTS diagnostic assay validators can help resolve challenges encountered when implementing bioinformatics pipelines for routine pathogen detection. Offering these purely artificial HTS datasets as benchmarking tools will significantly advance research on plant pathogen detection using HTS and enable a more robust and standardized evaluation of the bioinformatic methods, thereby enhancing the field of plant pathogen detection.
Dysfunction of the NMDA Receptor in the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and/or the Pathomechanisms of Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia
Authors: Okubo Ruri , Okada Motohiro , Motomura Eishi
Published: September 2024

For several decades, the dopamine hypothesis contributed to the discovery of numerous typical and atypical antipsychotics and was the sole hypothesis for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, neither typical nor atypical antipsychotics, other than clozapine, have been effective in addressing negative symptoms and cognitive impairments, which are indices for the prognostic and disability outcomes of schizophrenia. Following the development of atypical antipsychotics, the therapeutic targets for antipsychotics expanded beyond the blockade of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors to explore the partial agonism of the D2 receptor and the modulation of new targets, such as D3, 5-HT1A, 5-HT7, and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Despite these efforts, to date, psychiatry has not successfully developed antipsychotics with antipsychotic properties proven to be superior to those of clozapine. The glutamate hypothesis, another hypothesis regarding the pathophysiology/pathomechanism of schizophrenia, was proposed based on clinical findings that N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, such as phencyclidine and ketamine, induce schizophrenia-like psychotic episodes. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) revealed that approximately 30% of the risk genes for schizophrenia (the total number was over one hundred) encode proteins associated with glutamatergic transmission. These findings supported the validation of the glutamate hypothesis, which was inspired by the clinical findings regarding NMDAR antagonists. Additionally, these clinical and genetic findings suggest that schizophrenia is possibly a syndrome with complicated pathomechanisms that are affected by multiple biological and genetic vulnerabilities. The glutamate hypothesis has been the most extensively investigated pathophysiology/pathomechanism hypothesis, other than the dopamine hypothesis. Studies have revealed the possibility that functional abnormalities of the NMDAR play important roles in the pathophysiology/pathomechanism of schizophrenia. However, no antipsychotics derived from the glutamatergic hypothesis have yet been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia or treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Considering the increasing evidence supporting the potential pro-cognitive effects of glutamatergic agents and the lack of sufficient medications to treat the cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia, these previous setbacks cannot preclude research into potential novel glutamate modulators. Given this background, to emphasize the importance of the dysfunction of the NMDAR in the pathomechanism and/or pathophysiology of schizophrenia, this review introduces the increasing findings on the functional abnormalities in glutamatergic transmission associated with the NMDAR.
Injectable Tannin-Containing Hydroxypropyl Chitin Hydrogel as Novel Bioactive Pulp Capping Material Accelerates Repair of Inflamed Dental Pulp
Authors: Zhou Linfang , Shi Wenjie , Zhang Xinye , Liu Ming , Zhang Lu , Jiang Xulin , Chen Zhi
Published: September 2024

Conventional pulp capping materials have limited anti-inflammatory capacity. It is necessary to develop more effective pulp capping material for the treatment of inflamed pulps. Tannic acid (TA) is a natural, water-soluble polyphenol with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a tannin-containing hydroxypropyl chitin hydrogel (HPCH/TA hydrogel) as an innovative pulp capping material. The physicochemical properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized. The effects of HPCH/TA hydrogel as a pulp capping material were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of HPCH/TA hydrogel was explored. The HPCH/TA hydrogel demonstrated favorable temperature sensitivity, injectability, and antibacterial properties. In vitro, the HPCH/TA hydrogel effectively promoted the proliferation of human dental pulp cells and inhibited interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α expression, possibly by suppressing the nuclear factor kappa-B pathway. In vivo, on the fourth day after capping, the HPCH/TA hydrogel group showed lower inflammatory scores compared to the control and iRoot BP Plus (commercial pulp capping material) group. By the sixth week, complete reparative dentin formation was observed in the HPCH/TA hydrogel group, with no difference in thickness compared to the iRoot BP Plus group. Collectively, the HPCH/TA hydrogel holds promise as a bioactive pulp capping material for promoting the repair of inflamed pulp in vital pulp therapy.
The Influence of Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Pawluk Hanna , Tafelska-Kaczmarek Agnieszka , Sopońska Małgorzata , Porzych Marta , Modrzejewska Martyna , Pawluk Mateusz , Kurhaluk Natalia , Tkaczenko Halina , Kołodziejska Renata
Published: September 2024

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence is rising rapidly. Acute ischemic stroke is a subtype of stroke that accounts for the majority of stroke cases and has a high mortality rate. An effective treatment for stroke is to minimize damage to the brain’s neural tissue by restoring blood flow to decreased perfusion areas of the brain. Many reports have concluded that both oxidative stress and excitotoxicity are the main pathological processes associated with ischemic stroke. Current measures to protect the brain against serious damage caused by stroke are insufficient. For this reason, it is important to investigate oxidative and antioxidant strategies to reduce oxidative damage. This review focuses on studies assessing the concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers and the level of antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and their impact on the clinical prognosis of patients after stroke. Mechanisms related to the production of ROS/RNS and the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke are presented, as well as new therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the effects of ischemia and reperfusion.
An Enhanced Retroviral Vector for Efficient Genetic Manipulation and Selection in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Triller Jana , Prots Iryna , Jäck Hans-Martin , Wittmann Jürgen
Published: September 2024

Introducing genetic material into hard-to-transfect mammalian cell lines and primary cells is often best achieved through retroviral infection. An ideal retroviral vector should offer a compact, selectable, and screenable marker while maximizing transgene delivery capacity. However, a previously published retroviral vector featuring an EGFP/Puromycin fusion protein failed to meet these criteria in our experiments. We encountered issues such as low infection efficiency, weak EGFP fluorescence, and selection against infected cells. To address these shortcomings, we developed a novel retroviral vector based on the Moloney murine leukemia virus. This vector includes a compact bifunctional EGFP and Puromycin resistance cassette connected by a 2A peptide. Our extensively tested vector demonstrated superior EGFP expression, efficient Puromycin selection, and no growth penalty in infected cells compared with the earlier design. These benefits were consistent across multiple mammalian cell types, underscoring the versatility of our vector. In summary, our enhanced retroviral vector offers a robust solution for efficient infection, reliable detection, and effective selection in mammalian cells. Its improved performance and compact design make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications involving precise genetic manipulation and characterization in cell-based studies.
Investigation of Chlorhexidine and Chitosan Gel-Based Coatings for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Associated Infections Following Quality by Design Approach
Authors: Kanti S P Yamini , Mukhtar Mahwash , Cseh Martin , Orosz László , Burián Katalin , Ambrus Rita , Jójárt-Laczkovich Orsolya , Csóka Ildikó
Published: September 2024

Intravascular catheter-associated infections pose a significant threat to the health of patients because of biofilm formation. Hence, it is imperative to exploit cost-effective approaches to improve patient compliance. With this aim, our present study reported the potential of an antimicrobial polymeric gel coating of chitosan (CS) and chlorhexidine (CHX) on the marketed urinary catheters to minimize the risk of biofilm formation. The study involved the implementation of the Quality by Design (QbD) approach by identifying the critical parameters that can affect the coating of the catheter’s surface in any possible way. Later, design of experiments (DoE) analysis affirmed the lack of linearity in the model for the studied responses in a holistic manner. Moreover, in vitro studies were conducted for the evaluation of various parameters followed by the antibiofilm study. The coating exhibited promising release of CHX in the artificial urinary media together with retention of the coating on the catheter’s surface. Therefore, this study aims to emphasize the importance of a systematic and quality-focused approach by contributing to the development of a safe, effective, and reliable catheter coating to enhance intravascular catheter safety.
Origami-Inspired Vacuum-Actuated Foldable Actuator Enabled Biomimetic Worm-like Soft Crawling Robot
Authors: Xu Qiping , Zhang Kehang , Ying Chenhang , Xie Huiyu , Chen Jinxin , E Shiju
Published: September 2024

The development of a soft crawling robot (SCR) capable of quick folding and recovery has important application value in the field of biomimetic engineering. This article proposes an origami-inspired vacuum-actuated foldable soft crawling robot (OVFSCR), which is composed of entirely soft foldable mirrored origami actuators with a Kresling crease pattern, and possesses capabilities of realizing multimodal locomotion incorporating crawling, climbing, and turning movements. The OVFSCR is characterized by producing periodically foldable and restorable body deformation, and its asymmetric structural design of low front and high rear hexahedral feet creates a friction difference between the two feet and contact surface to enable unidirectional movement. Combining an actuation control sequence with an asymmetrical structural design, the body deformation and feet in contact with ground can be coordinated to realize quick continuous forward crawling locomotion. Furthermore, an efficient dynamic model is developed to characterize the OVFSCR’s motion capability. The robot demonstrates multifunctional characteristics, including crawling on a flat surface at an average speed of 11.9 mm/s, climbing a slope of 3°, carrying a certain payload, navigating inside straight and curved round tubes, removing obstacles, and traversing different media. It is revealed that the OVFSCR can imitate contractile deformation and crawling mode exhibited by soft biological worms. Our study contributes to paving avenues for practical applications in adaptive navigation, exploration, and inspection of soft robots in some uncharted territory.
A Cost-Effective and Easy-to-Fabricate Conductive Velcro Dry Electrode for Durable and High-Performance Biopotential Acquisition
Authors: Guo Jun , Wang Xuanqi , Bai Ruiyu , Zhang Zimo , Chen Huazhen , Xue Kai , Ma Chuang , Zang Dawei , Yin Erwei , Gao Kunpeng , Ji Bowen
Published: September 2024

Compared with the traditional gel electrode, the dry electrode is being taken more seriously in bioelectrical recording because of its easy preparation, long-lasting ability, and reusability. However, the commonly used dry AgCl electrodes and silver cloth electrodes are generally hard to record through hair due to their flat contact surface. Claw electrodes can contact skin through hair on the head and body, but the internal claw structure is relatively hard and causes discomfort after being worn for a few hours. Here, we report a conductive Velcro electrode (CVE) with an elastic hook hair structure, which can collect biopotential through body hair. The elastic hooks greatly reduce discomfort after long-time wearing and can even be worn all day. The CVE electrode is fabricated by one-step immersion in conductive silver paste based on the cost-effective commercial Velcro, forming a uniform and durable conductive coating on a cluster of hook microstructures. The electrode shows excellent properties, including low impedance (15.88 kΩ @ 10 Hz), high signal-to-noise ratio (16.0 dB), strong water resistance, and mechanical resistance. After washing in laundry detergent, the impedance of CVE is still 16% lower than the commercial AgCl electrodes. To verify the mechanical strength and recovery capability, we conducted cyclic compression experiments. The results show that the displacement change of the electrode hook hair after 50 compression cycles was still less than 1%. This electrode provides a universal acquisition scheme, including effective acquisition of different parts of the body with or without hair. Finally, the gesture recognition from electromyography (EMG) by the CVE electrode was applied with accuracy above 90%. The CVE proposed in this study has great potential and promise in various human–machine interface (HMI) applications that employ surface biopotential signals on the body or head with hair.
Bidirectional and Cross-Hemispheric Modulations of Face-Selective Neural Activity Induced by Electrical Stimulation within the Human Cortical Face Network
Authors: Angelini Luna , Jacques Corentin , Maillard Louis , Colnat-Coulbois Sophie , Rossion Bruno , Jonas Jacques
Published: September 2024

A major scientific objective of cognitive neuroscience is to define cortico-cortical functional connections supporting cognitive functions. Here, we use an original approach combining frequency-tagging and direct electrical stimulation (DES) to test for bidirectional and cross-hemispheric category-specific modulations within the human cortical face network. A unique patient bilaterally implanted with depth electrodes in multiple face-selective cortical regions of the ventral occipito-temporal cortex (VOTC) was shown 70 s sequences of variable natural object images at a 6 Hz rate, objectively identifying deviant face-selective neural activity at 1.2 Hz (i.e., every five images). Concurrent electrical stimulation was separately applied for 10 seconds on four independently defined face-selective sites in the right and left VOTC. Upon stimulation, we observed reduced or even abolished face-selective neural activity locally and, most interestingly, at distant VOTC recording sites. Remote DES effects were found up to the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) in both forward and backward directions along the VOTC, as well as across the two hemispheres. This reduction was specific to face-selective neural activity, with the general 6 Hz visual response being mostly unaffected. Overall, these results shed light on the functional connectivity of the cortical face-selective network, supporting its non-hierarchical organization as well as bidirectional effective category-selective connections between posterior ‘core’ regions and the ATL. They also pave the way for widespread and systematic development of this approach to better understand the functional and effective connectivity of human brain networks.
Examining the Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Tourism’s Impact on the Mental Well-Being of Long-Term Care Facility Residents: Perspectives on Presence and Flow
Authors: Chang Yu-Chia , Yang Cheng-Chia
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the mechanisms of virtual reality (VR) tourism’s impact on the well-being of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). It aims to understand how presence and flow during VR experiences can enhance well-being. This experimental study used a quantitative approach with structured questionnaires to investigate VR experiences among LTCF residents in Taiwan. After obtaining ethical approval, 145 eligible participants from four LTCFs completed a full five-week VR tourism experience. Data collection took place from June to November 2022. This study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with Smart PLS software to analyze the causal relationships between latent variables. The results confirm that the more vivid the virtual reality image (β = 0.240, p < 0.05), the more immersive the experience (β = 0.267, p < 0.05), the greater the ability to control the experience (β = 0.465, p < 0.001), and the greater the ability to stimulate curiosity during the experience (β = 0.290, p < 0.05), the greater the sense of presence. Increased presence leads to user engagement and a state of flow (β = 0.556, p < 0.001), which is essential for personal hedonia (β = 0.453, p < 0.001) and eudaimonia (β = 0.220, p < 0.001). This study elucidates the mechanisms through which VR tourism experiences enhance well-being among LTCF residents, emphasizing the critical roles of presence and flow in promoting both hedonic and eudaimonic dimensions of well-being.
The Impact of Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Burnout Levels on Turnover Intention and the Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience
Authors: Turunç Ömer , Çalışkan Abdullah , Akkoç İrfan , Köroğlu Özlem , Gürsel Güney , Demirci Ayhan , Hazır Köksal , Özcanarslan Neslihan
Published: September 2024

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between burnout levels among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, turnover intention, and the mediating role of psychological resilience. Methods: This survey design was used to collect data from 228 ICU nurses from hospitals in Turkey. The study utilized self-report questionnaires to measure burnout levels, turnover intention, and psychological resilience. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. Results: In the study, a positive relationship between burnout and turnover intention and burnout and psychological resilience is significant (p ≤ 0.001). However, psychological resilience was not found to have a mediating role, indicating that other factors or variables may play a more substantial role in the relation found between burnout and turnover intention. Also, the research model’s Standardized Root Mean Square Residual is expected to be less than 0.10 for the model to have an acceptable fit. Conclusion: The findings suggest that levels of burnout among ICU nurses may have significant consequences on turnover intention. However, promoting resilience cannot help diminish the negative effects of burnout on turnover intention. The findings highlight the importance of burnout levels in nursing by synthesizing findings from the previous literature. Then, focusing on the concepts of turnover intention and psychological resilience, it explains the importance of these concepts in the Intensive Care Unit nurses and their relationships with each other.
Factorial Experiments of Soil Conditioning for Earth Pressure Balance Shield Tunnelling in Water-Rich Gravel Sand and Conditioning Effects’ Prediction Based on Particle Swarm Optimization–Relevance Vector Machine Algorithm
Authors: Nong Xingzhong , Bai Wenfeng , Chen Jiandang , Zhang Lihui
Published: September 2024

The high permeability of gravel sand increases the risk of water spewing from the screw conveyor during earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling. The effectiveness of soil conditioning is a key factor affecting EPB shield tunnelling and construction safety. In this paper, using polymer, a foaming agent, and bentonite slurry as conditioning additives, the permeability coefficient tests of conditioned gravel sand are carried out under different injection conditions based on the factorial experiment design. The interactions between different concentrations of conditioning additives are analyzed. A prediction model for soil conditioning during shield tunneling based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and relevance vector machine (RVM) algorithms is proposed to accurately and efficiently obtain the soil conditioning parameters in the water-rich gravel sand layer. The experimental results indicate that the improvement effect of the foaming agent on the permeability of the conditioned gravel sand gradually diminishes with the growing concentration of bentonite slurry. Under conditions of high polymer concentration, further increasing the concentration of bentonite slurry and foaming agent has a weak impact on the permeability coefficient when the concentration of bentonite slurry exceeds 10%. The significance of main effects, first-order interactions, and second-order interaction on the permeability of conditioned gravel sand are as follows: polymer concentration (A) > foaming agent concentration (B) > bentonite slurry concentration (C) > first-order interactions (A × B, A × C, B × C) > second-order interaction (A × B × C). The first-order interaction mainly manifests as a synergistic effect, while the second-order interaction primarily exhibits an antagonistic effect. Case studies show that the maximum relative error between predicted and experimental values is less than 3%. A field application of shield tunneling demonstrates the good performance of real-time optimization of soil conditioning parameters based on the PSO–RVM algorithm. This research provides a new method for evaluating the effectiveness of soil conditioning in the water-rich gravel sand layer.
RETRACTED: Amran et al. A Review on Building Design as a Biomedical System for Preventing COVID-19 Pandemic. Buildings 2022, 12, 582
Authors: Amran Mugahed , Makul Natt , Fediuk Roman , Borovkov Aleksey , Ali Mujahid , Zeyad Abdullah M.
Published: September 2024

The journal retracts the review article A Review on Building Design as a Biomedical System for Preventing COVID-19 Pandemic [...]
Critical Factors Driving Construction Project Performance in Integrated 5D Building Information Modeling
Authors: Sun Hui , Khoo Terh Jing , Esa Muneera , Mahdiyar Amir , Li Jiguang
Published: September 2024

Timeliness, budget consciousness, and quality are critical to the success of a project, and become increasingly challenging with increased project complexity. Five-dimensional building information modeling (BIM) integrates cost and schedule data with a 3D model, and enhances project management by addressing budgeting, timelines, and visualization simultaneously. However, a comprehensive assessment of 5D BIM’s impact on key performance indicators is currently lacking. This research aims to identify the critical factors influencing the adoption of 5D BIM and its impact on key project performance indicators. A thorough systematic literature review and qualitative analysis were conducted to achieve this goal. Relevant articles from the past decade (2014–2023) were examined from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, of which 222 were selected and screened using PRISMA procedures. This research found consistent and rapid updating of keywords, highlighting the dynamic evolution of 5D BIM and its expanding applications in the construction industry. Thirty critical factors affecting the adoption of 5D BIM were identified and categorized into the following six groups based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework: technology, organization, environment, operator, project, and government policy. The 15 factors driving construction project performance in integrated 5D BIM were divided into cost, time, and quality performance based on key performance indicators. This review offers innovative insights into 5D BIM adoption, and can aid stakeholders in developing effective 5D BIM implementations.
Composition, Structure and Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Dispersedly Reinforced with Sisal Fiber
Authors: Shcherban’ Evgenii M. , Stel’makh Sergey A. , Beskopylny Alexey N. , Meskhi Besarion , Efremenko Innessa , Shilov Alexandr A. , Vialikov Ivan , Ananova Oxana , Chernil’nik Andrei , Elshaeva Diana
Published: September 2024

The application of geopolymer composites in the construction of environmentally sustainable buildings and low-carbon structures has generated considerable interest, presenting an alternative and eco-friendly approach to composite materials. The purpose of this research is to develop a new composition of geopolymer concrete, dispersedly reinforced with sisal fiber, and investigate its structure and physical and mechanical properties. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed compositions, the fresh properties of the geopolymer concrete mixture—density and slump—and the properties of the hardened composite, namely, the compressive strength, flexural strength and water absorption, were studied. The most rational composition of the alkaline activator was established, and sisal fiber (SF) was protected from alkaline degradation by adding styrene-acrylic copolymer at an amount of 5% and microsilica at an amount of 3% to the concrete mixture. It was determined that the most optimal SF content was 1.0%. The compressive strength exhibited a maximum increase of 12.8%, the flexural strength showed a significant increase of 76.5%, and the water absorption displayed a decrease of 10.3%. The geopolymer fiber-reinforced concrete developed in this study is an environmentally friendly replacement for traditional types of concrete with cement binders and can be used for the manufacture of small architectural forms and landscaping elements.
Eco-Efficient Mortars for Sustainable Construction: A Comprehensive Approach
Authors: Reis Rui , Camões Aires , Ribeiro Manuel , Malheiro Raphaele
Published: September 2024

Cement production is responsible for approximately 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Despite our efforts, we have not been able to find a competitive substitute that is both reliable and environmentally friendly. The easiest way to solve the issue is to rationalize resources and try to minimize their use by replacing them with other materials. The current market shortage and reduced initial strength have limited the availability of blends that contain a significant amount of fly ash. Given the current economic, political, and environmental circumstances, it is predicted that a solution may be ternary blends with cement, fly ash, and MTK. Despite being “ancient” materials, there have been no recent global performance assessments. In this context, an investigation was carried out with ternary blend mortars. A significant volume of cement has been replaced with fly ash and metakaolin. The results show that these blends’ performance is promising because they offer a wide range of possibilities for replacing cement, maintaining or even improving its properties. MTK and fly ash’s synergies significantly enhance mechanical performance and durability. Furthermore, the global sustainability analysis shows that ternary blends are 36% more efficient than binary blends of cement and fly ash or metakaolin.