bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiparametric stations for real-time monitoring and long-term assessment of natural hazards
Authors: Ferrari Elisa , Massa Marco , Lovati Sara , Di Michele Federica , Rizzo Andrea Luca
Published: June 2024

The present work would like to illustrate a new concept of multiparametric stations to characterize the crustal fluids-tectonic interaction in specific geological contexts. The dynamics of crustal fluids in relation to tectonics is a complex and sometimes intricate issue. Several factors act and mutually influence themselves, so that in each tectonic and geological context they follow a specific behavior, and a comprehensive cause-effect rule is hard to find. Changes in water chemistry and levels and in soil flux regimes (e.g., CO2, CH4, radon) are just a few examples well documented in the literature as being pre-, co- and post-seismic modifications as well as being markers of the local tectonic stress acting in the crust. A regional study combined with a long-lasting multiparametric monitoring is needed to prepare to a seismic sequence in a given place. The field infrastructure was set up starting from the end of 2021, and multiparametric stations have been installed in correspondence of active seismogenic sources initially located in Northern Italy. Data are transmitted in real-time and archived in an ad hoc developed relational database. Monitoring is mainly focused on groundwater parameters (water level, temperature, and electrical conductivity) of aquifers showing distinct degrees of confinement and lithologies. Sites are also equipped of meteorological sensors (pressure, temperature, rain, humidity, wind speed and direction), radon sensors and surface and borehole seismic stations providing accelerometric and velocimetric data. A mud volcano field is also monitored and holds the installation of a permanent CO2 soil flux station. A statistical analysis working flow is also proposed for a preliminary evaluation of the acquired time-series. In particular, a couple of tools to detect, and thus filter, anthropogenic and meteorological effects on a groundwater level series is described. We wish to provide a model of approach to analogous study cases in other potentially seismic areas.
Edge–end collaborative secure and rapid response method for multi-flow aggregated energy dispatch service in a distribution grid
Authors: Shi Zhan
Published: June 2024

With a high proportion of distributed source–grid–load–storage resources penetrating into the distribution network, multi-flow aggregated energy dispatch is essential to enhance renewable energy consumption capacity and maintain grid stability. However, intelligent energy dispatch has stringent requirements for low latency and security, which necessitates the development of secure and rapid response methods. In this paper, we combine the edge–end collaboration with container microservices architecture and propose a container and microservice empowered edge–end collaborative secure and rapid response framework for multi-flow aggregated energy dispatch service in a distribution grid. Then, a container selection optimization problem is formulated to minimize the total microservices execution delay. To cope with the dynamic environment such as electromagnetic interference, noise, and workload variation, we propose a microservice container selection algorithm based on an enhanced ant colony with empirical SINR and delay performance awareness. The proposed algorithm benefits from the local and global integrated pheromone updating methods and the empirical performance-based dynamic pheromone and heuristic information updating mechanism. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing methods in average service execution delay and convergence speed.
The effect of continuous electronic fetal monitoring on mode of delivery and neonatal outcome among low-risk laboring mothers at Debre Markos comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Kebede Tirusew Nigussie , Abebe Kidist Ayalew , Chekol Moges Sisay , Moltot Kitaw Tebabere , Mihret Muhabaw Shumye , Fentie Bezawit Melak , Sibhat Yared Alem , Tizazu Michael Amera , Beshah Solomon Hailemeskel , Taye Birhan Tsegaw
Published: June 2024

Background

Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFM) has been widely used in obstetric practice for over 40 years to improve perinatal outcomes. Its popularity is growing in Ethiopia and other sub-Saharan African countries to reduce high perinatal morbidity and mortality rates. However, its impact on delivery mode and perinatal outcomes in low-risk pregnancies remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of continuous EFM on delivery mode and neonatal outcomes among low-risk laboring mothers at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A prospective follow-up study was conducted from November 20, 2023, to January 10, 2024. All low-risk laboring mothers meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Data were collected via pretested structured questionnaires and observation, then analyzed using Epi-data 4.6 and SPSS. The incidences of cesarean delivery and continuous EFM were compared using the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test.

Results

The study found higher rates of instrumental-assisted vaginal delivery (7% vs. 2.4%) and cesarean sections (16% vs. 2%) due to unsettling fetal heart rate patterns in the continuous EFM group compared to the intermittent auscultation group. However, there were no differences in immediate neonatal outcomes between the groups.

Conclusion

When compared to intermittent auscultation with a Pinard fetoscope, the routine use of continuous EFM among low-risk laboring mothers was associated with an increased risk of cesarean sections and instrumental vaginal deliveries, without significantly improving immediate newborn outcomes. However, it is important to note that our study faced significant logistical constraints due to the limited availability of EFM devices, which influenced our ability to use EFM comprehensively. Given these limitations, we recommend avoiding the routine use of continuous EFM for low-risk laboring mothers to help reduce the rising number of operative deliveries, particularly cesarean sections. Our findings should be interpreted with caution, and further research with adequate resources is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
Modeling of the habitat suitability of European sprat (Sprattus sprattus, L.) in the Adriatic Sea under several climate change scenarios
Authors: Palermino Antonio , De Felice Andrea , Canduci Giovanni , Biagiotti Ilaria , Costantini Ilaria , Centurelli Michele , Menicucci Samuele , Gašparević Denis , Tičina Vjekoslav , Leonori Iole
Published: June 2024

The Mediterranean Sea represents the lower latitudinal limit of the European sprat range, where it is considered a sentinel species favoring temperate–cold temperatures. Sprattus sprattus is a plankton feeder that plays an important ecological role in contributing to the transfer of energy from lower to higher trophic levels, but climate-driven increases in sea temperatures may reduce the suitability of the pelagic habitat and threaten the tropho-dynamic role of sprat in areas such as the Adriatic Sea. The latter is an enclosed basin characterized by shallow waters and high annual temperature variations. Here, to investigate present and future habitat suitability areas for sprat, we applied four species distribution models (SDMs) using fishery-independent data collected from 2004 to 2021, along with remotely sensed and modeled environmental variables. A set of nine environmental predictors was tested, and the resulting best model was averaged in an ensemble model approach. The best ensemble models revealed good to high accuracy (sensitivity and specificity ≥ 0.8). The sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentration emerged as the main explanatory variables in predicting the potential habitat of sprats, followed by bathymetry. The resulting probability of occurrence maps revealed that the species is bounded in the northern Adriatic Sea, where a longitudinal shift of high-suitability habitats from inshore to deeper and colder waters was detected between early and late summer. Future projections under IPCC representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios 4.5 (intermediate emission) and 8.5 (high emission-warm) underline small changes along with a gain of new areas in late summer in the short-term period up to 2050. Conversely, the temperature increase projected for the end of the century is predicted to cause a loss of suitable habitat area for sprats of up to 88% under a high emission-warm scenario relative to current habitat occupancy throughout the basin.
Genomic characterization revealing the high rate of tet(X4)-positive Escherichia coli in animals associated with successful genetic elements
Authors: Shao Li , Wu Changbu , Li Chengjuan , He Ruowen , Chen Guanping , Sun Dandan , Yang Yanxian , Feng Yu , Zhang Guili , Yan Bin , Dai Min , Tian Guo-Bao , Zhong Lan-Lan
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The rapid spread of plasmid-mediated tet(X4) conferring high tigecycline resistance poses a significant threat to public health. Escherichia coli as the most common pathogen which carries tet(X4) has been widely disseminated in China. Thus, comprehensive investigations are required to understand the mechanism of transmission of tet(X4)-positive E. coli.

Methods

In this study, a total of 775 nonduplicate samples were collected in Guangdong, China from 2019 to 2020. We screened for tet(X4)-positive E. coli by PCR amplification and species identification. Furthermore, we analyzed the phylogenetics and genetic context of tet(X4)-positive E. coli through whole-genome sequencing and long-reads sequencing.

Results

Overall, 146 (18.84%) tet(X4)-positive E. coli were isolated, comprising 2 isolates from humans and 144 isolates from pigs. The majority of tet(X4)-positive E. coli exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics but all of them were susceptible to amikacin and colistin. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ST877, ST871, and ST195 emerged as the predominant sequence types in tet(X4)-positive E. coli. Further analysis revealed various genetic environments associated with the horizontal transfer of tet(X4). Notably, a 100-kbp large fragment insertion was discovered downstream of tet(X4), containing a replicon and a 40-kbp gene cluster for the bacterial type IV secretion system.

Discussion

The high colonization rate of tet(X4)-positive E. coli in animals suggests that colonization as a key factor in its dissemination to humans. Diverse genetic context may contribute to the transfer of tet(X4). Our findings underline the urgent need for controlling the spread of plasmid-mediated tigecycline resistance.
Probiotics for oral health: a critical evaluation of bacterial strains
Authors: Beattie Rachelle E.
Published: June 2024

Oral health is critical for total body health and well-being; however, little improvement in oral health status has occurred in the U.S. over the past 20 years. Tooth decay and gum disease remain highly prevalent, with more than 90% and 50% of adults suffering from these conditions, respectively. To combat this lack of improvement, alternative approaches to dental care are now being suggested. One such alternative therapy is probiotics for oral care. In the oral cavity, probiotic strains have been shown to reduce levels of oral pathogens, inhibit the formation of dental caries, and reduce the levels of bacteria that cause halitosis. However, as the oral care probiotic market expands, many products contain bacterial species and strains with no documented health benefits leading to confusion and mistrust among consumers and clinicians. This confusion is enhanced by the regulatory status of probiotic products which puts the onus of safety and efficacy on the manufacturer rather than a central regulatory body. The overarching goal of this review is to provide consumers and clinicians with documented evidence supporting (or refuting) the health benefits of oral care probiotics marketed for sale in the United States. This includes defining what constitutes an oral care probiotic product and a strain level analysis of candidate probiotics from the genera Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus. Additionally, prebiotics and postbiotics will be discussed. Finally, a set of considerations for consumers and clinicians is provided to empower probiotic product decision making. Together, this review will improve understanding of oral care probiotics marketed in the US for dental professionals and consumers.
Methods for negating the impact of zinc contamination to allow characterization of positive allosteric modulators of glycine receptors
Authors: Gallagher Casey I. , Bishop David P. , Lockwood Thomas E. , Rawling Tristan , Vandenberg Robert J.
Published: June 2024

Zinc is a ubiquitous contaminant in many buffers, purified products and common labware that has previously been suggested to impact on the results of functional GlyR studies and may inadvertently cause the effectiveness of some GlyR modulators to be over-estimated. This could greatly impact the assessment of potential drug-candidates and contribute to the reduced effectiveness of compounds that reach clinical stages. This is especially true for GlyR modulators being developed for pain therapeutics due to the changes in spinal zinc concentrations that have been observed during chronic pain conditions. In this study we use two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology to evaluate the metal chelators tricine and Ca-EDTA, and show that tricine produces inhibitory effects at GlyRα1 that are not mediated by zinc. We also utilized the zinc insensitive W170S mutation as a tool to validate metal chelators and confirm that zinc contamination has not impacted the examination of lipid modulators previously developed by our lab. This study helps to further develop methods to negate the impact of contaminating zinc in functional studies of GlyRs which should be incorporated into future studies that seek to characterize the activity of novel modulators at GlyRs.
Obesity-associated inflammation countered by a Mediterranean diet: the role of gut-derived metabolites
Authors: Florkowski Melanie , Abiona Esther , Frank Karen M. , Brichacek Allison L.
Published: June 2024

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically worldwide and has become a critical public health priority. Obesity is associated with many co-morbid conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Although the physiology of obesity is complex, a healthy diet and sufficient exercise are two elements known to be critical to combating this condition. Years of research on the Mediterranean diet, which is high in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, and olive oil, have demonstrated a reduction in numerous non-communicable chronic diseases associated with this diet. There is strong evidence to support an anti-inflammatory effect of the diet, and inflammation is a key driver of obesity. Changes in diet alter the gut microbiota which are intricately intertwined with human physiology, as gut microbiota-derived metabolites play a key role in biological pathways throughout the body. This review will summarize recent published studies that examine the potential role of gut metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and lipopolysaccharide, in modulating inflammation after consumption of a Mediterranean-like diet. These metabolites modulate pathways of inflammation through the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, toll-like receptor 4 signaling, and macrophage driven effects in adipocytes, among other mechanisms.
Firearm screening in pediatric patients
Authors: Kandeepan Aarani , Lee Jessica , Bagdure Dayanand , Garber Nan , Day Jenni , Holloway Adrian , Lichenstein Richard , Slattery Joseph , Wolfe Alexa , Wadsworth Jenna , Moss Julianne , Davie Nicole , Foster Cortney
Published: June 2024

Introduction

In the United States, firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents 1–19 years of age. Although many pediatricians believe addressing firearm safety is important and have guidance from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, few routinely screen and counsel on firearm safety. The goal of this project was to screen all patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department, pediatric floor, and pediatric intensive care unit for the presence of firearms in the home, firearm storage practices, and whether they had previously received any firearm counseling by medical professionals.

Methods

A 13-item survey was administered to each participant. Items included demographic information, willingness to answer questions about firearms, practice of asking questions about firearms, previous counseling from medical professionals about the presence of firearms in the home and the presence of firearm in their personal home as well as storage practices.

Results

A total of 200 parents responded to the survey. Of those that responded to the survey, 171 (85.5%) did not have a firearm in the home and 28 (14%) did have a firearm in the home. 75% (n = 21) had never had a medical provider discuss firearm safety with them. 100% had never been asked by another parent about the presence of a firearm in their home when a child came over for a playdate. 39% (n = 11) of parents with a firearm in the home had asked other parents whether they have a firearm in the home where their child goes to play.

Discussion

Findings from our study highlight a significant lack of screening of our pediatric patients both in the inpatient and outpatient settings, with the majority reporting that they had never been asked by a medical provider about firearm safety. In addition, three quarters of parents with a firearm in the home reported that they did not mind answering questions about firearms yet none had been asked by other parents about firearms. Thus, although firearm possession and safety is considered to be a sensitive topic, many parents are willing to discuss it with their health care providers and other parents.
Maximizing the symmetry of Maxwell’s equations
Authors: Reggia James A.
Published: June 2024

Maxwell’s equations can be successfully extended to electromagnetic fields having three complex-valued components rather than their usual three real-valued components. Here the implications of interpreting the imaginary-valued components as extending into time rather than space are explored. The complex-valued Maxwell equations remain consistent with the original Maxwell equations and the experimental results that they predict. Further, the extended equations predict novel phenomena such as the existence of electromagnetic waves that propagate not only through regular space but also through a separate temporal space (time) that is implied by the three imaginary components of the fields. In a vacuum, part of these imaginary valued waves propagates through time at the same rate as an observer stationary in space. While the imaginary valued field components are not directly observable, analysis indicates that they should be indirectly detectable experimentally based on secondary effects that occur under special circumstances. Experimental investigation attempting to falsify or support the existence of complex valued electromagnetic fields extending into time is merited due to the substantial theoretical and practical implications involved.
Weed detection and recognition in complex wheat fields based on an improved YOLOv7
Authors: Wang Kaixin , Hu Xihong , Zheng Huiwen , Lan Maoyang , Liu Changjiang , Liu Yihui , Zhong Lei , Li Hai , Tan Suiyan
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The precise detection of weeds in the field is the premise of implementing weed management. However, the similar color, morphology, and occlusion between wheat and weeds pose a challenge to the detection of weeds. In this study, a CSCW-YOLOv7 based on an improved YOLOv7 architecture was proposed to identify five types of weeds in complex wheat fields.

Methods

First, a dataset was constructed for five weeds that are commonly found, namely, Descurainia sophia, thistle, golden saxifrage, shepherd’s purse herb, and Artemisia argyi. Second, a wheat weed detection model called CSCW-YOLOv7 was proposed to achieve the accurate identification and classification of wheat weeds. In the CSCW-YOLOv7, the CARAFE operator was introduced as an up-sampling algorithm to improve the recognition of small targets. Then, the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) network was added to the Extended Latent Attention Networks (ELAN) module in the backbone network and the concatenation layer in the feature fusion module to enhance important weed features and suppress irrelevant features. In addition, the contextual transformer (CoT) module, a transformer-based architectural design, was used to capture global information and enhance self-attention by mining contextual information between neighboring keys. Finally, the Wise Intersection over Union (WIoU) loss function introducing a dynamic nonmonotonic focusing mechanism was employed to better predict the bounding boxes of the occluded weed.

Results and discussion

The ablation experiment results showed that the CSCW-YOLOv7 achieved the best performance among the other models. The accuracy, recall, and mean average precision (mAP) values of the CSCW-YOLOv7 were 97.7%, 98%, and 94.4%, respectively. Compared with the baseline YOLOv7, the improved CSCW-YOLOv7 obtained precision, recall, and mAP increases of 1.8%, 1%, and 2.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the parameters were compressed by 10.7% with a 3.8-MB reduction, resulting in a 10% decrease in floating-point operations per second (FLOPs). The Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) visualization method suggested that the CSCW-YOLOv7 can learn a more representative set of features that can help better locate the weeds of different scales in complex field environments. In addition, the performance of the CSCW-YOLOv7 was compared to the widely used deep learning models, and results indicated that the CSCW-YOLOv7 exhibits a better ability to distinguish the overlapped weeds and small-scale weeds. The overall results suggest that the CSCW-YOLOv7 is a promising tool for the detection of weeds and has great potential for field applications.
Response of winter wheat genotypes to salinity stress under controlled environments
Authors: Ehtaiwesh Amal , Sunoj V. S. John , Djanaguiraman Maduraimuthu , Prasad P. V. Vara
Published: June 2024

This study was conducted in controlled environmental conditions to systematically evaluate multi-traits responses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to different salinity levels. Responses were assessed at the germination to early seedling stage (Experiment 1). Seeds of different genotypes (n=292) were subjected to three salinity levels (0 [control], 60, and 120 mM NaCl). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that among studied traits seedling vigor index (SVI) contributed more towards the diverse response of genotypes to salinity stress. Based on SVI, eight contrasting genotypes assumed to be tolerant (Gage, Guymon, MTS0531, and Tascosa) and susceptible (CO04W320, Carson, TX04M410211) were selected for further physio-biochemical evaluation at the booting stage (Experiment 2) and to monitor grain yield. Higher level of salinity (120 mM NaCl) exposure at the booting stage increased thylakoid membrane damage, lipid peroxidation, sugars, proline, and protein while decreasing photosynthesis, chlorophyll index, starch, and grain yield. Based on grain yield, the assumed magnitude of the genotypic response shown in Experiment 1 was not analogous in Experiment 2. This indicates the necessity of individual screening of genotypes at different sensitive growth stages for identifying true salinity-tolerant and susceptible genotypes at a particular growth stage. However, based on higher grain yield and its least percentage reduction under higher salinity, Guymon and TX04M410211 were identified as tolerant, and Gage and CO04W320 as susceptible at the booting stage, and their biparental population can be used to identify genomic regions for booting stage-specific salinity response.
Evolution of ambiguity tolerance research a scientometric and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Rubiales-Núñez José , Rubio Andres , Araya-Castillo Luis , Moraga-Flores Hugo
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The present study conducts a retrospective bibliometric analysis to examine the quantifiable and qualitative evolution of the concept of tolerance to ambiguity (TA) over time. Additionally, a scientometric analysis using quantitative methods on scientific measurements and trends aims to profile and identify the concept, as well as its development in research themes. The relevance of this study is underscored by the growing interest and development of research on TA, particularly in fields like entrepreneurship where psychological factors are significant.

Methods

The research includes highly relevant literature, such as Budner and Frenkel-Brunswick, which define TA as a predisposition to perceive ambiguous situations as desirable and as a personality variable centered on the emotional and perceptual domain, respectively. Data was obtained from the eight indices comprising the main Web of Science collection, covering research from 1975 to December 2022. A total of 378 articles were identified.

Results

The analysis reveals that scientific production peaked in 2022 with 45 articles. In terms of citations, 7,773 were found, with the highest concentration in 2022, totaling 1,203 citations. This indicates a significant increase in research interest and output related to TA.

Discussion

The study highlights the growing exploration of the concept of TA, emphasizing its importance across multiple disciplines in dealing with uncertainty. The research demonstrates that TA significantly influences decision-making and adaptability, highlighting its value in business and educational settings. By analyzing leading publications, authors, and research centers, the study shows the diversity of approaches to understanding TA, indicating a promising direction for future research.
Metacognition as a transdiagnostic factor across eating disorders: a latent profile analysis study
Authors: Aloi Matteo , Carcione Antonino , Lo Coco Gianluca , Rania Marianna , Carbone Elvira Anna , de Filippis Renato , Segura-Garcia Cristina , Liuzza Marco Tullio
Published: June 2024

Background

Metacognition is a crucial aspect of understanding and attributing mental states, playing a key role in the psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs). This study aims to explore the diverse clinical profiles of metacognition among patients with EDs using latent profile analysis (LPA).

Method

A total of 395 patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ED (116 AN-R, 30 AN/BP, 100 BN, 149 BED) participated in this study. They completed self-report measures assessing metacognition, eating psychopathology, depression, emotional dysregulation, personality traits, and childhood adversities. LPA and Welch ANOVAs were conducted to identify profiles based on metacognition scores and examine psychological differences between them. Logistic regression models were employed to explore associations between personal characteristics and different profiles.

Results

A 3-class solution had a good fit to the data, revealing profiles of high functioning (HF), intermediate functioning (IF), and low functioning (LF) based on levels of metacognitive impairments. Participants in the IF group were older and had a higher BMI than those in the HF and LF groups. Individuals with BN were largely categorized into HF and LF profiles, whereas participants with BED were mainly included in the IF profile. Participants in the LF group reported an impaired psychological profile, with high levels of depression, emotional dysregulation, childhood adversity, and personality dysfunction. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed significant associations between metacognitive profiles and emotional and neglect abuse, emotion dysregulation, and detachment.

Conclusion

This exploratory study unveils distinct metacognitive profiles in EDs, providing a foundation for future research and targeted interventions. In this light, metacognitive interpersonal therapy could be a valid and effective treatment for EDs, as suggested by the initial promising results for these patients.
Applications of large language models in psychiatry: a systematic review
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Soffer Shelly , Charney Alexander W. , Landi Isotta , Nadkarni Girish N. , Klang Eyal
Published: June 2024

Background

With their unmatched ability to interpret and engage with human language and context, large language models (LLMs) hint at the potential to bridge AI and human cognitive processes. This review explores the current application of LLMs, such as ChatGPT, in the field of psychiatry.

Methods

We followed PRISMA guidelines and searched through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, up until March 2024.

Results

From 771 retrieved articles, we included 16 that directly examine LLMs’ use in psychiatry. LLMs, particularly ChatGPT and GPT-4, showed diverse applications in clinical reasoning, social media, and education within psychiatry. They can assist in diagnosing mental health issues, managing depression, evaluating suicide risk, and supporting education in the field. However, our review also points out their limitations, such as difficulties with complex cases and potential underestimation of suicide risks.

Conclusion

Early research in psychiatry reveals LLMs’ versatile applications, from diagnostic support to educational roles. Given the rapid pace of advancement, future investigations are poised to explore the extent to which these models might redefine traditional roles in mental health care.
Estimating cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults using the international physical activity questionnaire
Authors: Sewell Kelsey R. , Peiffer Jeremiah J. , Markovic Shaun J. , Brown Belinda M.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Non-exercise estimates of cardiorespiratory fitness hold great utility for epidemiological research and clinical practice. Older adults may yield the greatest benefit from fitness estimates due to limited capacity to undergo strenuous maximal exercise testing, however, few of the previously developed non-exercise equations are suitable for use in older adults. Thus, the current study developed a non-exercise equation for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults derived from the widely used International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial. Participants were community-dwelling, cognitively unimpaired older adults aged 60–80 years (n = 92). They completed the IPAQ and underwent maximal exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. Stepwise linear regression was used to determine the equation in a randomly selected, sex-balanced, derivation subset of participants (n = 60), and subsequently validated using a second subset of participants (n = 32).

Results

The final equation included age, sex, body mass index and leisure time activity from the IPAQ and explained 61% and 55% of the variance in the derivation and validation groups, respectively (standard error of estimates = 3.9, 4.0). Seventy-seven and 81% of the sample fell within ±1SD (5.96 and 6.28 ml·kg−1·min−1) of measured VO2peak for the derivation and validation subgroups. The current equation showed better performance compared to equations from Wier et al. (2006), Jackson et al. (1990), and Schembre & Riebe (2011), although it is acknowledged previous equations were developed for different populations.

Conclusions

Using non-exercise, easily accessible measures can yield acceptable estimates of cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, which should be further validated in other samples and examined in relation to public health outcomes.
Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice related to brucellosis among livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alghafeer Mohammed H. , Aldhukair Ebrahim F. , Alzahrani Abdullah H. , Alsaedi Abdullah S. , Almutairi Omar N. , Aloliky Abdulsalam A. , Almutairi Masaad Saeed , Thabit Abrar K.
Published: June 2024

Background

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection that is endemic in Saudi Arabia and associated with clinical and economic impacts. Several studies from countries endemic for brucellosis evaluated the knowledge and attitude of livestock farmers regarding brucellosis. However, no such study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of livestock farmers and meat handlers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, where participants were interviewed in-person in Arabic in livestock markets between September–December 2023. Convenient sampling was utilized. The questionnaire included basic demographics and questions to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward personal protection and protection of the animals from brucellosis. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously validated survey and included 59 questions. Providing at least one correct answer to a certain question indicated a good knowledge about this item or a safe practice. The participants were divided into: farmers (shepherds working for the animal owners), commercial animal owners (those who rent a stockyard in the livestock market and employ farmers to sell their animals), and private animal owners (owners of private farms from which they sell their animals).

Results

545 participants were interviewed (n = 291 farmers, n = 118 commercial animal owners, n = 113 private animal owners, and n = 23 animal slaughterhouse workers). >90% have heard of brucellosis. Lack of education and short experience (<5 years) of working with livestock were negatively associated with good knowledge of brucellosis symptoms and transmission (OR, 0.30; 95%CI, 0.10–0.94; p = 0.038 and OR, 0.23; 95%CI, 0.08–0.62; p = 0.004, respectively). Taking sick animals to the veterinarian was reported by 61.2%, whereas 36.4% follow safe practices when disposing of aborted fetuses. While 34% consume raw milk, only 10% consume rare/medium-rare meat. 51.2% acknowledged the need for more information on brucellosis.

Conclusion

This study revealed the need to augment the knowledge of people working with animals, particularly those with no school education and those with short work experience, via providing educational visits or materials or through veterinarians. This should help them identify human and animal brucellosis symptoms and increase the knowledge on how to protect oneself and animals from this disease.
AFE-YOLOv8: A Novel Object Detection Model for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Scenes with Adaptive Feature Enhancement
Authors: Wang Shijie , Zhang Zekun , Chao Qingqing , Yu Teng
Published: June 2024

Object detection in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) scenes is a challenging task due to the varying scales and complexities of targets. To address this, we propose a novel object detection model, AFE-YOLOv8, which integrates three innovative modules: the Multi-scale Nonlinear Fusion Module (MNFM), the Adaptive Feature Enhancement Module (AFEM), and the Receptive Field Expansion Module (RFEM). The MNFM introduces nonlinear mapping by exploiting the property that deformable convolution can dynamically adjust the shape of the convolution kernel according to the shape of the target, and it effectively enhances the feature extraction capability of the backbone network by integrating multi-scale feature maps from different mapping branches. Meanwhile, the AFEM introduces an adaptive fusion factor, and through the fusion factor, it adaptively integrates the small-target features contained in the feature maps of different detection branches into the small-target detection branch, thus enhancing the expression of the small-target features contained in the feature maps of the small-target detection branch. Furthermore, the RFEM expands the receptive field of the feature maps of the large- and medium-scale target detection branches through stacked convolution, so as to make the model’s receptive field cover the whole target, and thereby learn more rich and comprehensive features of the target. The experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed model compared to the baseline in detecting objects of various scales. On the VisDrone dataset, the proposed model achieves a 4.5% enhancement in mean average precision (mAP) and a 5.45% improvement in average precision at an IOU threshold of 0.5 (AP50). Additionally, ablation experiments conducted on the challenging DOTA dataset showcase the model’s robustness and generalization capabilities.
Design and Evaluation of Face Mask Filtration: Mechanisms, Formulas, and Fluid Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Pisapia Francesca , Rees David , Rasekh Manoochehr
Published: June 2024

The global adoption of face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) has spurred extensive research into their filtration efficacy. This study begins by elucidating various mechanisms of particle penetration and comparing filtration efficiency formulas with experimental data from prior studies. This is compared to the filtration efficiency experimental measurement developed in our previous study. Moreover, it delves into fluid dynamics simulations to examine different turbulent airflow models. Specifically, it contrasts the airflow velocity distribution of the k-ω and k-ε turbulent flow models with that of a quadrant-based average velocity model developed within this research. Furthermore, the study conducts fluid dynamic simulations to assess airflow profiles for six distinct medical and non-medical face masks. The results underscore substantial disparities among the simulations, emphasising the criticality of employing accurate fluid dynamics models for evaluating airflow patterns during diverse respiratory activities such as breathing, coughing, or sneezing, thereby enhancing environmental health in the realm of infectious disease prevention.
Multi-Tag Fusion Localization Method Based on Geometric Constraints
Authors: Liu Zhuojun , Qin Wengang , Li Zexing , Zhou Guofeng
Published: June 2024

In environments where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are unavailable, our proposed multi-tag fusion localization method offers a robust solution for the precise positioning of vehicles or robots. During our research, we observed variations in the positioning information estimated from tags located at different positions within the same frame. Our goal was to extract reliable positioning information from this noisy data. By constructing geometric constraints, our method introduces an outlier factor to quantify the differences between tags. After effectively eliminating outliers, we enhanced the Kalman filter framework to accommodate the fusion of data from two or more tags, with the outlier factor dynamically adjusting the observation noise during the fusion process. The experimental results demonstrate that, even under the influence of motion and obstacles, our method maintains position errors within a 3 cm range and orientation errors within 3°. This indicates that our method possesses high positioning accuracy and stability.
GC-STCL: A Granger Causality-Based Spatial–Temporal Contrastive Learning Framework for EEG Emotion Recognition
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Siming , Jin Bo , Wei Xiaopeng
Published: June 2024

EEG signals capture information through multi-channel electrodes and hold promising prospects for human emotion recognition. However, the presence of high levels of noise and the diverse nature of EEG signals pose significant challenges, leading to potential overfitting issues that further complicate the extraction of meaningful information. To address this issue, we propose a Granger causal-based spatial–temporal contrastive learning framework, which significantly enhances the ability to capture EEG signal information by modeling rich spatial–temporal relationships. Specifically, in the spatial dimension, we employ a sampling strategy to select positive sample pairs from individuals watching the same video. Subsequently, a Granger causality test is utilized to enhance graph data and construct potential causality for each channel. Finally, a residual graph convolutional neural network is employed to extract features from EEG signals and compute spatial contrast loss. In the temporal dimension, we first apply a frequency domain noise reduction module for data enhancement on each time series. Then, we introduce the Granger–Former model to capture time domain representation and calculate the time contrast loss. We conduct extensive experiments on two publicly available sentiment recognition datasets (DEAP and SEED), achieving 1.65% improvement of the DEAP dataset and 1.55% improvement of the SEED dataset compared to state-of-the-art unsupervised models. Our method outperforms benchmark methods in terms of prediction accuracy as well as interpretability.
Local Environment and Migration Paths of the Proton Defect in Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Studied by Ab Initio Calculations and Muon-Spin Spectroscopy
Authors: Marinopoulos A. G. , Vilão R. C. , Alberto H. V. , Gil J. M. , Vieira R. B. L. , Lord J. S.
Published: June 2024

The local binding and migration behavior of the proton defect in cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is studied by first-principles calculations and muon-spin spectroscopy (μSR) measurements. The calculations are based on density-functional theory (DFT) supplemented with a hybrid-functional approach with the proton defect embedded in quasi-random supercells of 10.3 mol% yttria content, where the yttrium–zirconium substitutional defects are charge compensated by oxygen vacancies. Representative migration pathways for the proton comprising both transfer and bond reorientation modes are analysed and linked to the underlying microstructure of the YSZ lattice. The μSR data show the evolution of the diamagnetic fraction corresponding to the muon-isotope analogue with an activation energy of diffusion equal to 0.17 eV. Comparisons between the calculations and the experiment allow an assessment of the character of the short-range migration of the proton particle in cubic YSZ.
Identification of miRNAs and Their Target Genes Associated with Sunitinib Resistance in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Armesto María , Nemours Stéphane , Arestín María , Bernal Iraide , Solano-Iturri Jon Danel , Manrique Manuel , Basterretxea Laura , Larrinaga Gorka , Angulo Javier C. , Lecumberri David , Iturregui Ane Miren , López José I. , Lawrie Charles H.
Published: June 2024

Sunitinib has greatly improved the survival of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients in recent years. However, 20–30% of treated patients do not respond. To identify miRNAs and genes associated with a response, comparisons were made between biopsies from responder and non-responder ccRCC patients. Using integrated transcriptomic analyses, we identified 37 miRNAs and 60 respective target genes, which were significantly associated with the NF-kappa B, PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathways. We validated expression of the miRNAs (miR-223, miR-155, miR-200b, miR-130b) and target genes (FLT1, PRDM1 and SAV1) in 35 ccRCC patients. High levels of miR-223 and low levels of FLT1, SAV1 and PRDM1 were associated with worse overall survival (OS), and combined miR-223 + SAV1 levels distinguished responders from non-responders (AUC = 0.92). Using immunohistochemical staining of 170 ccRCC patients, VEGFR1 (FLT1) expression was associated with treatment response, histological grade and RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) score, whereas SAV1 and BLIMP1 (PRDM1) were associated with metachronous metastatic disease. Using in situ hybridisation (ISH) to detect miR-155 we observed higher tumoural cell expression in non-responders, and non-tumoural cell expression with increased histological grade. In summary, our preliminary analysis using integrated miRNA-target gene analyses identified several novel biomarkers in ccRCC patients that surely warrant further investigation.
The Role of the Immune System in the Course of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: The Current State of Knowledge
Authors: Wrońska Karolina , Hałasa Maciej , Szczuko Małgorzata
Published: June 2024

The process of thyroid autoimmunization develops against the background of genetic predispositions associated with class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DR), as well as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), and forkhead transcription box protein P3 (FOXP3). Environmental factors, such as vitamin D deficiency, Zn, Se, and Mg, as well as infections, chronic stress, pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, medications, intestinal dysbiosis, and malnutrition, also play an important role. The first stage of autoimmunization involves the accumulation of macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as plasma cells. In the second stage, the mutual interactions of individual cells in the immune system lead to a decrease in the level of CD8+ in favor of CD4+, which intensifies the synthesis of T lymphocyte derivatives, especially Th1, Th17, Tfh, and Tc, reducing the level of Treg. Consequently, the number of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL10 and IL2 decreases, and the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, Il-12, Il-17, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ, and TNF-α increases. The latter two especially trigger the pyroptosis process involving the inflammasome. Activation of the inflammasome by IL-β and IL-18 produced by macrophages is one of the mechanisms of pyroptosis in the course of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, involving Gram-negative bacteria and NLRC4. In the next step, the apoptosis of thyroid cells is initiated by the intensification of perforin, granzyme, and proteoglycan synthesis by Tc and NK cells. The current findings raise many possibilities regarding interventions related to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines produced by both T and B lymphocytes. Furthermore, since there is currently no effective method for treating thyroid autoimmunity, a summary of the review may provide answers regarding the treatment of not only Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but also other autoimmune diseases associated with autoimmunity.