bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical analysis of bridge combined fixation system as a novel treatment for the fixation of type A3 distal femoral fractures
Authors: Liu Jianke , Huang Zhaozhao , Qi Yubin , Long Yuntao , Zhang Yanhui , Liu Na , Zuo Guilai , Wang Wen
Published: November 2023

Background

To compare the biomechanical parameters of AO/OTA type A3 distal femoral fractures fixed bilaterally with a bridge combined fixation system (BCFS) and lateral locking compression plate + locking reconstruction plate (LCP + LRP).

Methods

Twelve A3 distal femoral fracture models with medial cortical defects of the distal femur were created using synthetic femoral Sawbones. BCFS and LCP + LRP were used for bilateral fixation, with six in each group. Axial compression and torsion tests were performed on the two groups of fracture models to determine their stiffness during axial compression and the Torsional stiffness during torsion tests. Axial compression failure tests were performed to collect the vertical loads of the ultimate failure tests.

Results

In the test conducted on the fixed type A3 distal femoral fracture models, the axial stiffness in the BCFS group (group A) (1,072.61 ± 113.5 N/mm) was not significantly different from that in the LCP + LRP group (group B) (1,184.13 ± 110.24 N/mm) (t = 1.726, P = 0.115), the Torsional stiffness in group A (3.73 ± 0.12 N.m/deg) was higher than that in group B (3.37 ± 0.04 N.m/deg) (t = 6.825, P < 0.001),and the ultimate failure test of type A3 fracture model showed that the vertical load to destroy group A fixation (5,290.45 ± 109.63 N) was higher than that for group B (3,978.43 ± 17.1 N) (t = 23.28, P < 0.05). Notably, intertrochanteric fractures occurred in groups A and B.

Conclusions

In the fixation of type A3 distal femoral fractures, the anti-axial compression of the BCFS group was similar to that of the LCP + LRP group, but the anti-torsion was better.
Treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage with prolonged use of subfascial epidural drain and antibiotics in patients of thoracic myelopathy after posterior decompression surgery
Authors: Zhai Jiliang , Guo Shigong , He Da , Zhao Yu
Published: November 2023

Background

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) is a prevalent and vexing complication associated with spine surgery. No standard protocol is available guiding CSFL management, especially for thoracic CSFL. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of prolonged use of subfascial epidural drain and antibiotics to treat CSFL after posterior thoracic decompression surgery.

Methods

Fifty-six patients with an average age of 52.3 years (24–76 years), who underwent thoracic decompression with CSFL (group A) and 65 patients with an average age of 54.9 years (25–80 years) without CSFL (group B) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients in group A had prolonged use of subfascial drainage and antibiotics and patients in group B were treated with conventional methods. The surgical results and rate of wound related complications was compared between the two groups.

Results

The average subfascial drainage time was 7.0 ± 2.7 days (2–16 days) and 3.8 ± 1.4 days (2–7 days) in group A and B, respectively. Higher occupation rate (>49%), presence of dural ossification and higher MRI grade (>2) were more likely to presented with CSFL. In group A, four patients (7.1%) presented with deep wound infection and were successfully managed with wound debridement or intravenous antibiotics. In group B, one patient (1.5%) had a superficial wound infection and was treated with antibiotics. No patients presented with wound dehiscence, wound exudation or CSF fistulation.

Conclusion

The occupation rate of ossified mass and presence of dural ossification were the major risk factors of CSFL. No significant difference in infection rates was observed between the patients in group A and B.
Molecular survey and phylogenetic analysis of Bartonella sp., Coxiella sp., and hemoplamas in pudu (Pudu puda) from Chile: first report of Bartonella henselae in a wild ungulate species
Authors: Hidalgo-Hermoso Ezequiel , Sepúlveda-García Paulina , Cabello Javier , Celis Sebastian , Valencia Carola , Ortiz Carolina , Kemec Ignacio , Moreira-Arce Dario , Orsola Miguel , Canales Nivia , Garnham Antonio , Vera Frank , Muller Ananda
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Recent evidence shows a high diversity of infectious agents in wildlife that represent a threat to human, domestic, and wild animal health. In Chile, wild populations of the most common cervid species, pudu (Pudu puda), have been reported as hosts for novel pathogens such as Mycoplasma ovis-like and a novel ecotype of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A better understanding of the epidemiology of this group and other intracellular bacteria that might have cervids as hosts would enlighten their population relevance. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of Bartonella spp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Coxiella burnetii in pudus from Chile.

Methods

The DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 69 wild free-ranging and 30 captive pudus from Chile. A combination of real-time (nouG gene for Bartonella and IS1111 element for C. burnetii) and conventional PCR (16S rRNA for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. and rpoB, gltA, and ITS for Bartonella spp.) was used for pathogen screening and molecular characterization.

Results

DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 10.1% [95% CI (5.2–18.2%)] samples, hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 1.7% [95% CI (0.08–10.1%)], and C. burnetii in 1.0% [95% CI (0.05–6.3%)] samples. Two sequenced samples were identified as Mycoplasma ovis-like, and one free-ranging pudu was positive for C. burnetii. While one captive and two free-ranging pudus were positive for Bartonella henselae, one wild pudu was co-positive for B. henselae and Bartonella sp., similar to Bartonellae identified in ruminants.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. henselae in wild ungulate species, and C. burnetii and Bartonella spp. in wild ungulate species in South America. Further research will be necessary to evaluate the potential role of pudu as reservoirs of infection and identify the sources for disease transmission among humans and wild and domestic animals.
Dynamics of the nasopharyngeal microbiome of apparently healthy calves and those with clinical symptoms of bovine respiratory disease from disease diagnosis to recovery
Authors: Centeno-Martinez Ruth Eunice , Klopp Rebecca N. , Koziol Jennifer , Boerman Jacquelyn P. , Johnson Timothy A.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a multifactorial disease complex in which bacteria in the upper respiratory tract play an important role in disease development. Previous studies have related the presence of four BRD-pathobionts (Mycoplasma bovis, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida, and Mannheimia haemolytica) in the upper respiratory tract to BRD incidence and mortalities in the dairy and beef cattle industry, but these studies typically only use one time point to compare the abundance of BRD-pathobionts between apparently healthy and BRD-affected cattle. The objective of this study was to characterize the longitudinal development of the nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiome from apparently healthy calves, and in calves with clinical signs of BRD, the microbiota dynamics from disease diagnosis to recovery.

Methods

Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from all calves immediately after transport (day 0). If a calf was diagnosed with BRD (n = 10), it was sampled, treated with florfenicol or tulathromycin, and sampled again 1, 5, and 10 days after antibiotic administration. Otherwise, healthy calves (n = 20) were sampled again on days 7 and 14. Bacterial community analysis was performed through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

Results

The NP microbiome of the healthy animals remained consistent throughout the study, regardless of time. The NP microbiota beta diversity and community composition was affected by tulathromycin or florfenicol administration. Even though BRD-pathobionts were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in BRD-affected animals, no difference was observed in their relative abundance between the BRD-affected and apparently healthy animals. The abundance of BRD-pathobionts was not predictive of disease development while the relative abundance of BRD pathobionts was unique to each BRD-affected calf. Interestingly, at the end of the study period, the genera Mycoplasma was the most abundant genus in the healthy group, while Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus in the animals that recovered from BRD.

Discussion

This study highlights that injected antibiotics seem to improve the NP microbiome composition (higher abundance of Lactobacillus and lower abundance of Mycoplasma), and that the relative abundance of BRD-pathobionts differs between individual calves but is not strongly predictive of BRD clinical signs, indicating that additional factors are likely important in the clinical progression of BRD.
Evaluation of Soil Suppressiveness of Various Japanese Soils against the Soybean Cyst Nematode Heterodera glycines and Its Relation with the Soil Chemical and Biological Properties
Authors: Yang Yanyan , Wu Junnan , Perry Roland N. , Toyota Koki
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the suppressive potential of different soils on soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) and to estimate the suppressive mechanism. Fifteen soils (designated as soil A to O) from different agricultural fields with varying organic inputs were added with SCN-infested soil and grown with a green soybean variety. The SCN density in the soil at 6 weeks of soybean growth was markedly different depending on the soils used, indicating a different level of disease suppressiveness. No significant correlation was observed between the SCN density and any of the soil physicochemical and biological characteristics tested. Then, to estimate a suppression mechanism, F-soil that showed the lowest density of SCN was added to the SCN-infested soil with or without streptomycin to kill bacteria and grown with soybean. SCN density was not increased by the addition of streptomycin, indicating that soil bacteria may not be involved in the suppressiveness of F-soil. In total, 128 fungal strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of F-soil and inoculated in a combination or singly in the SCN-infested soil. After repeated screenings, five strains were selected since the SCN density was consistently decreased by them. Sequence analysis showed that they were closest to Clonostachys rosea, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Cylindrodendrum alicantinum. All five strains significantly reduced the mobility of second-stage juveniles (J2). Further, C. rosea a2, A. niger a8, and F. oxysporum a25 significantly decreased hatching. Overall, the present study demonstrated that soil fungi played an important role in SCN suppression in F-soil.
iTRAQ-Based Phosphoproteomic Analysis Exposes Molecular Changes in the Small Intestinal Epithelia of Cats after Toxoplasma gondii Infection
Authors: Zhai Bintao , Meng Yu-Meng , Xie Shi-Chen , Peng Jun-Jie , Liu Yang , Qiu Yanhua , Wang Lu , Zhang Jiyu , He Jun-Jun
Published: November 2023

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, has the ability to invade and proliferate within most nucleated cells. The invasion and destruction of host cells by T. gondii lead to significant changes in the cellular signal transduction network. One important post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins is phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, which plays a crucial role in cell signal transmission. In this study, we aimed to investigate how T. gondii regulates signal transduction in definitive host cells. We employed titanium dioxide (TiO2) affinity chromatography to enrich phosphopeptides in the small intestinal epithelia of cats at 10 days post-infection with the T. gondii Prugniuad (Pru) strain and quantified them using iTRAQ technology. A total of 4998 phosphopeptides, 3497 phosphorylation sites, and 1805 phosphoproteins were identified. Among the 705 differentially expressed phosphoproteins (DEPs), 68 were down-regulated and 637 were up-regulated. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that the DE phosphoproteins were involved in various cellular processes, including actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cell necroptosis, and MHC immune processes. Our findings confirm that T. gondii infection leads to extensive changes in the phosphorylation of proteins in the cat intestinal epithelial cells. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the interaction between T. gondii and its definitive host.
Correspondence of Somatic Cell Counts in Bulk-Tank Milk to Prevalence of Subclinical Mastitis in Sheep Flocks
Authors: Fthenakis George C.
Published: November 2023

The objective of the present study was to propose thresholds of somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk indicative of the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in a flock. A retrospective analysis was performed on data from a longitudinal survey of subclinical mastitis in Greece, in which the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in 12 flocks sampled four times throughout a milking period was evaluated by collecting milk samples from individual ewes for bacteriological and cytological testing; further, cell counts in the bulk-tanks of the farms were also measured during the visits. Four cohorts were created: A, with cell counts in the bulk-tank milk between 0.100 × 106 and 0.400 × 106 cells mL−1, B, with cell counts between 0.400 × 106 and 650 × 106 cells mL−1, C, with cell counts between 0.650 × 106 and 900 × 106 cells mL−1, and D, with SCC between 0.900 × 106 and 1.450 × 106 cells mL−1. There was a significant positive correlation between prevalence of the infection in the flocks and somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk on the same sampling occasion (p < 0.0001). There was also evidence of significant differences between the four cohorts in the mean prevalence rate of the infection (p < 0.0001). Ninety-five percent confidence intervals of the prevalence of subclinical mastitis according to the somatic cell counts in the bulk-tank milk were calculated as follows: for cohort A, 8.7% to 12.1%, for B, 12.4% to 19.4%, for C, 22.5% to 30.8% and for D, 27.3% to 45.3%. The information that may be thus obtained can be useful in guiding the implementation of various health management procedures for mastitis control in sheep flocks, with no need to perform milk sample collection from ewes and subsequent laboratory examinations.
A Novel Batch Streaming Pipeline for Radar Emitter Classification
Authors: Park Dong Hyun , Seo Dong-Ho , Baek Jee-Hyeon , Lee Won-Jin , Chang Dong Eui
Published: November 2023

In electronic warfare, radar emitter classification plays a crucial role in identifying threats in complex radar signal environments. Traditionally, this has been achieved using heuristic-based methods and handcrafted features. However, these methods struggle to adapt to the complexities of modern combat environments and varying radar signal characteristics. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a novel batch streaming pipeline for radar emitter classification. Our pipeline consists of two key components: radar deinterleaving and radar pattern recognition. We leveraged the DBSCAN algorithm and an RNN encoder, which are relatively light and simple models, considering the limited hardware resource environment of a military weapon system. Although we chose to utilize lightweight machine learning and deep learning models, we designed our pipeline to perform optimally through hyperparameter optimization of each component. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed model and pipeline through experimental validation and analysis. Overall, this paper provides background knowledge on each model, introduces the proposed pipeline, and presents experimental results.
Study on Catastrophe Information Characteristics of Strain-Structural Plane Slip Rockburst in Deep Tunnels
Authors: Guo Jiaqi , Zhu Zihui , Zhang Hengyuan , Sun Feiyue , He Benguo
Published: November 2023

Rigid structural planes encountered during construction have an obvious influence on rockburst intensity and occurrence mechanism. The high-intensity rockburst induced by the structural plane poses a great threat to the safety construction of the tunnel. A novel 3D discrete element numerical analysis method for rockburst is proposed with the help of the bonded block model and multi-parameter rockburst energy index. According to this method, the influence of multivariate information characteristics such as stress, energy, fracture, and rockburst proneness index on the surrounding rock during the strain-structural plane slip rockburst in deep tunnels is systematically investigated. The results are drawn as follows: The results show that from the analysis of multivariate information characteristics of strain-structural plane slip rockburst, the rock between the plane and tunnel is a typical rockburst risk area. The dip angle, length, and relative distance of the structural plane have a significant influence on the multivariate catastrophe information characteristics of the surrounding rock: As the dip angle increases, the fracture propagation range within the risk rock expands, but the rockburst intensity and the occurrence range gradually decrease; as the length increases, the fracture propagation range, rockburst intensity and occurrence range within the risk rock increase slightly; as the relative distance increases, the fracture propagation range and rockburst intensity gradually weaken, and the occurrence range of rockburst first increases and then decreases. Using the “11.28” strain-structural plane slip rockburst case as a basis, engineering validation research was conducted. The simulation results are found to be essentially consistent with the rockburst condition on the field, validating the rationality and applicability of the novel rockburst analysis method proposed in this paper.
A Simplified Analysis Method for Seismic Response of Pile Foundation
Authors: Xie Yunfei , Yuan Chenyang , Bai Weifeng
Published: November 2023

A simplified analysis method based on three-dimensional finite element analysis is proposed for the dynamic response of pile foundations under the action of vertically propagating SV waves. This method considers the impact of upper structure inertia force and free field deformation on the internal force of the pile separately. The former is considered using the Equivalent Base Shear Method, while the latter is analyzed using a finite element response acceleration method for underground structures. This study selected three seismic waves and their average values as loads to calculate the dynamic response of pile raft foundations. Through trial calculations, the seismic effect reduction coefficient range (0.35–0.4) of the representative values of the horizontal seismic inertia force corresponding to the upper structure was obtained. The error between the peak shear stress of the pile top obtained by the quasi-static method and the time history analysis results was less than 10%. The research results indicate that the proposed simplified analysis method can accurately obtain the peak shear stress and its distribution pattern of the pile body under horizontal seismic action while significantly improving the analysis efficiency. This method has high accuracy and efficiency in conducting seismic design comparison and analysis of multiple foundation schemes.
Sensorless HSPMSM Control of an Improved SMC and EKF Based on Immune PSO
Authors: Meng Keqilao , Liu Qing , Zhang Zhanqiang , Wu Huijuan , Feng Haining , Kang Taifeng
Published: November 2023

Here, for controlling a high-speed flywheel permanent magnet synchronous motor (HSPMSM), a position sensorless control method for estimation of motor rotor position and speed is proposed to address the problems faced by mechanical position sensors of high cost, large size, and poor interference immunity. The extended Kalman filter (EKF) has difficulty obtaining the optimal covariance matrix when performing state estimation. Therefore, the particle swarm algorithm (PSO) with an immune mechanism is used to optimize the covariance matrix of the EKF. However, the EKF algorithm makes the system less robust due to its delay effect. Based on the traditional sliding mode control rate, the exponential convergence law is improved, and the continuous function sat(s) is used instead of the symbolic function sgn(s). This improves the convergence law and proves the asymptotic stability of the designed sliding mode variable structure controller based on Lyapunov’s stability theorem. Then, the novel control law is applied to the sliding mode surface (SMS). An ordinary sliding mode controller (OSMC) using a linear sliding mode controller (LSMC), a global sliding mode controller (GSMC) using a global sliding mode surface (GSMS), and an integral sliding mode controller (ISMC) using an integral sliding mode surface (ISMS) are designed for improving control. Joint simulation in MATLAB and Simulink verifies that the optimized EKF based on the immune PSO can improve precision and accuracy for controlling the electronic rotor position and speed. Comparing the new sliding mode controller with a traditional PI controller reveals that the proposed system has stronger resistance to load disturbance and better robustness.
Comprehensive Analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae Culture Identification and Antibiogram: Implications for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns from Sputum Samples in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Ruby , Wali Saima , Pari Bakht
Published: November 2023

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram-negative pathogen, poses a significant threat as a cause of community- and hospital-acquired infections worldwide. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, particularly in nosocomial settings, has further complicated the management of these infections. This study aimed to investigate the culture identification and antibiogram of K. pneumoniae isolated from sputum samples collected in various districts in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 16 sputum samples were collected from patients at the Mardan Medical Complex. Standard microbiological techniques were employed to identify K. pneumoniae, and the antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method, following CLSI guidelines. Among the confirmed K. pneumoniae isolates, approximately 50% were found to be multidrug-resistant. The results indicated resistance to several antibiotics, including vancomycin (30 g), amikacin (30 g), chloramphenicol (30 g), amoxicillin (30 g), and ticarcillin (75 g), while being susceptible to meropenem (10 g), piperacillin (100 g), and tazobactam (110 g). A bioinformatics analysis was also conducted to gain deeper insights into the resistance patterns and potential clustering of isolates. This comprehensive study provides valuable information on the epidemiological trends and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of K. pneumoniae in the region. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs to combat the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance. Understanding the resistance landscape of K. pneumoniae can guide healthcare professionals in selecting appropriate antibiotics and improving patient outcomes. These data can contribute to the formulation of local antibiotic policies and assist clinicians in making rational choices for antibiotic therapy.
Liver and Plasma Fatty Acid Characterization in Cultured Brown Trout at Distinct Reproductive Stages
Authors: Madureira Tânia Vieira , Santos Diana , Simões Tiago , Lemos Marco F. L. , Rocha Eduardo
Published: November 2023

Fatty acids are energy sources, and their profiles are used as biomarkers of metabolic status and physiological changes in fish. Within this context, the main aim of this study was to identify the fatty acids that best discriminate the reproductive status of male and female farmed brown trout. The fatty acid composition in liver and plasma samples from the adults of both sexes was monitored along four distinct reproductive stages, namely the spawning capable (December), regressing (March), regenerating (July), and developing (November) stages. Irrespective of the sex and stage, the most representative fatty acids were palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1 n-9), arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3). There were no significant sex differences in fatty acid classes in the liver and plasma. Despite this, there were several changes in individual fatty acid levels between the sexes. In the liver, both males and females showed high monounsaturated fatty acid and low polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels during the regressing and regenerating stages. At spawning capable and developing stages, a reverse profile was noted. The plasma profiles were mainly influenced by changes in saturated fatty acids and PUFAs in males and by PUFA in females. Based on the most representative fatty acids, four patterns were established for female plasma samples, one for each reproductive stage. This scenario suggests that female plasma samples are promising for the discrimination of gonadal reproductive status, and this potential can be further explored in aquaculture and environmental monitoring studies.
Morphological and Functional Principles Governing the Plasticity Reserve in the Cerebellum: The Cortico-Deep Cerebellar Nuclei Loop Model
Authors: Mitoma Hiroshi , Kakei Shinji , Tanaka Hirokazu , Manto Mario
Published: November 2023

Cerebellar reserve compensates for and restores functions lost through cerebellar damage. This is a fundamental property of cerebellar circuitry. Clinical studies suggest (1) the involvement of synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar cortex for functional compensation and restoration, and (2) that the integrity of the cerebellar reserve requires the survival and functioning of cerebellar nuclei. On the other hand, recent physiological studies have shown that the internal forward model, embedded within the cerebellum, controls motor accuracy in a predictive fashion, and that maintaining predictive control to achieve accurate motion ultimately promotes learning and compensatory processes. Furthermore, within the proposed framework of the Kalman filter, the current status is transformed into a predictive state in the cerebellar cortex (prediction step), whereas the predictive state and sensory feedback from the periphery are integrated into a filtered state at the cerebellar nuclei (filtering step). Based on the abovementioned clinical and physiological studies, we propose that the cerebellar reserve consists of two elementary mechanisms which are critical for cerebellar functions: the first is involved in updating predictions in the residual or affected cerebellar cortex, while the second acts by adjusting its updated forecasts with the current status in the cerebellar nuclei. Cerebellar cortical lesions would impair predictive behavior, whereas cerebellar nuclear lesions would impact on adjustments of neuronal commands. We postulate that the multiple forms of distributed plasticity at the cerebellar cortex and cerebellar nuclei are the neuronal events which allow the cerebellar reserve to operate in vivo. This cortico-deep cerebellar nuclei loop model attributes two complementary functions as the underpinnings behind cerebellar reserve.
A Study on the Driving Factors of Carbon Neutralization Behavior in Construction Enterprises Based on a Structural Equation Model
Authors: Yin Xiaohong , Song Jun , Liu Qiang
Published: November 2023

The carbon-neutral behavior of building construction companies is a key issue in carbon-neutral research worldwide. However, little is known about the willingness of construction firms to segregate and recycle construction waste. After studying a large amount of literature, this study finally focused on combining various statistical methods based on constructing a structural equation model of the drivers of carbon-neutral behaviors of construction enterprises to collect and analyze the attitudes and opinions of building construction enterprises on resource utilization management. The results of the study show that the willingness of construction enterprises to manage the separate disposal and utilization of construction waste is mainly influenced by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk drivers. The degree of influence was 0.36 for perceived usefulness, 0.26 for perceived risk, and 0.24 for perceived ease of use, with increasing project revenue having the greatest influence on firms’ willingness; resource cost having the least degree of influence on firms’ willingness; and subjective norms and perceived behavioral control having a non-significant influence on behavioral intentions. It further suggests that an increase in project revenue and a decrease in project cost may motivate construction firms to implement carbon-neutral projects. This study may provide a theoretical framework and research direction for construction enterprises to formulate policies for the classification and disposal of construction waste and recycling management.
Parental Home Safety Practices for Domestic Accident Prevention: How Prepared Were Parents for COVID-19 Confinement? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Papachristou Eirini , Deftereos Savas , Asimakidou Maria , Bekiaridou Konstantina , Foutzitzi Soultana , Defteraiou Soteria , Oikonomou Panagoula , Gogoulis Ioannis , Nikolaou Christina , Aggelidou Maria , Sinopidis Xenophon , Romanidis Konstantinos , Tsaroucha Alexandra , Kambouri Katerina
Published: November 2023

(1) Background: Children are susceptible to home injuries. How prepared parents were to protect their children from accidents before and during the COVID-19 quarantine is uncertain. (2) Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study in Greece between November and December 2021. We asked parents to complete an anonymous questionnaire voluntarily. Questions focused on accident-preventive measures taken at home during the COVID-19 quarantine. (3) Results: A greater proportion of parents took protective measures for a safer home before the lockdown than during the quarantine, while an interesting percentage of parents never utilized preventive measures for their children. Slightly more than half (58.6%) of parents did not seem to worry about a possible increase in domestic accidents during the quarantine. It was observed that those who had one or two children took more protective measures than those with more than two children. Older parents seemed to explain to their children how to access emergency services more often. Mothers stayed at home with the children more often, and their education affected the presence of some of the assessed measures. In our logistic regression modeling, parental concern about accidents was more related to the incidence of an accident during the pandemic and attendance at seminars. (4) Conclusions: Although the COVID-19 lockdowns disorganized family life, parents were aware of the importance of their parenting role in creating a safe environment for children, but according to the study, there is room for improvement.
Sequential Irreversible Electroporation for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ong Daniel Yuxuan , Pua Uei
Published: November 2023

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease, with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) having a dismal prognosis. For patients with LAPC, gemcitabine-based regimens, with or without radiation, have long been the standard of care. Irreversible electroporation (IRE), a non-thermal ablative technique, may potentially prolong the survival of patients with LAPC. In this article, the authors present a case of LAPC of the uncinate process (biopsy proven pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma) with duodenal invasion. The patient had a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy but was found to have stable disease. He then underwent intra-operative IRE with cholecystectomy, Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy. He subsequently underwent percutaneous IRE 13 months post open IRE. The patient also completed peptide receptor radionuclide therapy and has been started on Lanreotide. Following combination therapy, the pancreatic tumor showed significant reduction in size, with patient survival at 53 months post-diagnosis at the time of writing.
Improved Ship Detection with YOLOv8 Enhanced with MobileViT and GSConv
Authors: Zhao Xuemeng , Song Yinglei
Published: November 2023

In tasks that require ship detection and recognition, the irregular shapes of ships and complex backgrounds pose significant challenges. This paper presents an advanced extension of the YOLOv8 model to address these challenges. A lightweight visual transformer, MobileViTSF, is proposed and combined with the YOLOv8 model. To address the loss of semantic information that arises from inconsistent scales in the detection of small ships, a layer intended for the detection of small targets is introduced to lead to improved fusion of deep and shallow features. Furthermore, the traditional convolution (Conv) blocks are replaced with GSConv blocks, and a novel GSC2f block is designed for fewer model parameters and improved detection performance. Experiments on a benchmark dataset suggest that this new model can achieve significantly improved accuracy for ship detection with fewer model parameters and a reduced model size. A comparison with several other state-of-the-art methods shows that higher accuracy can be obtained for ship detection with this model. Moreover, this new model is suitable for edge computing devices, demonstrating practical application value.
Autonomous Vehicle Decision-Making with Policy Prediction for Handling a Round Intersection
Authors: Li Xinchen , Guvenc Levent , Aksun-Guvenc Bilin
Published: November 2023

Autonomous shuttles have been used as end-mile solutions for smart mobility in smart cities. The urban driving conditions of smart cities with many other actors sharing the road and the presence of intersections have posed challenges to the use of autonomous shuttles. Round intersections are more challenging because it is more difficult to perceive the other vehicles in and near the intersection. Thus, this paper focuses on the decision-making of autonomous vehicles for handling round intersections. The round intersection is introduced first, followed by introductions of the Markov Decision Process (MDP), the Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) and the Object-Oriented Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (OOPOMDP), which are used for decision-making with uncertain knowledge of the motion of the other vehicles. The Partially Observable Monte-Carlo Planning (POMCP) algorithm is used as the solution method and OOPOMDP is applied to the decision-making of autonomous vehicles in round intersections. Decision-making is formulated first as a POMDP problem, and the penalty function is formulated and set accordingly. This is followed by an improvement in decision-making with policy prediction. Augmented objective state and policy-based state transition are introduced, and simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for collision-free handling of round intersections by the ego vehicle.
Agritourism Accommodation and the Revaluation of the Local Agrifood Product in the Context of Global Change
Authors: Cors-Iglesias Martí , Armesto-López Xosé Antón , Gómez-Martín María Belén
Published: November 2023

Faced with the current challenges of the climate emergency and global change, the revaluation of local products, their knowledge, consumption, and distribution is emerging as one of the strategic actions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint. Agritourism, as an activity that values everything that is related to the agricultural heritage and that enables direct contact between visitor and farmer, contributes to positioning and strengthening the local agrifood product in tourist destination areas and becomes another link in the production chains, promoting direct sales and the short distribution circuit of the products. This research aims to measure the presence of the local agrifood product in the context of agritourism developed in the Western Catalan Pyrenees (Spain). To do this, it analyses the presence of the local product and the ways used to incorporate it into the travel experience. It explores (through interviews) the opinions of the owners of agritourism farms/businesses in relation to the repercussions of the producer–consumer connection through food. To reach this goal, secondary sources are reviewed—bibliographical, statistics, and web pages—and a total of 26 interviews are carried out. In terms of the results, we highlight that in the Western Catalan Pyrenees, about 70% of agritourism accommodations include local products in their offer. Additionally, the professional project is strengthened by including the agrifood product in the offer’s structure through catering and/or direct sale, generating positive dynamics among the rest of the producers in the area. However, only a small percentage of agritourism accommodations fully diversify their project with the production, consumption, and distribution of their own and local food. A total of four different profiles of agritourism are identified regarding agrifood products.
Effect of N Content on the Microstructure and Impact Properties of Normalized Vanadium Micro-Alloyed P460NL1 Steel
Authors: Li Xinliang , Fan Huibing , Wang Qiuming , Wang Qingfeng
Published: November 2023

In this work, the effect of nitrogen doping on vanadium micro-alloyed P460NL1 steel is studied in terms of microstructures and impact toughness. As the nitrogen content increased from 0.0036% to 0.0165%, the number of V (C,N) particles increased. The fine precipitates of V (C,N) effectively pin the prior austenite grain boundary, resulting in the refinement of the austenite grain. The intragranular and intergranular V-containing coarse particles enhanced the nucleation of intragranular ferrite and the grain boundaries of polygonal ferrite during air cooling. Accordingly, the proportion of heterogeneously nucleated ferrite increased, and the grain size of ferrite decreased. Notably, the size of the pearlite microstructure decreased, and the bainite microstructure appeared with a high doping of N. With the increase in N content, the impact toughness of vanadium micro-alloyed P460NL1 steel was enhanced. This can be attributed to the refinement of ferrite and the reduction in pearlite, which, in turn, was ascribed to the increase in nitrogen.
Changes in Uterine Metabolome Associated with Metritis Development and Cure in Lactating Holstein Cows
Authors: de Oliveira Eduardo B. , Monteiro Hugo F. , Pereira Jessica M. V. , Williams Deniece R. , Pereira Richard V. , Silva Del Rio Noelia , Menta Paulo R. , Machado Vinicius S. , Lima Fabio S.
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to identify alterations in the vaginal discharge (VD) metabolome and potential biomarkers to predict metritis development and a cure in dairy cows. This prospective cohort study was conducted on two dairies located in CA and TX. Vaginal discharge was evaluated and collected using the Metricheck® device. Cows were examined for metritis at 4, 7, and 9 days in milk (DIM). Cows with a fetid, watery, and reddish-brown uterine discharge were classified as having metritis and randomized to receive ceftiofur (n = 10) or remain untreated (n = 7). A cure was defined as the absence of a fetid, watery, reddish-brown uterine discharge at 14 d after enrollment. Vaginal discharge samples were collected from 86 cows within 6 h after parturition, at 4 and 7 DIM, at metritis diagnosis, and at 4 and 7 days after metritis diagnosis. Cows with metritis (MET; n = 17) were paired with counterparts without metritis (HTH) of a similar DIM and parity (n = 34). The uterine metabolome was evaluated using untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). Metabolomic data were analyzed using the MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Data were log-transformed and auto-scaled for normalization. Univariate analyses, including the fold-change, were performed to identify the metabolites linked to metritis development and its cure and principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed to explain metabolite variance between animals developing or not developing metritis and being cured or not being cured of metritis. Comparing HTH with MET cows at calving, 12 metabolites were upregulated, and one was downregulated. At four and seven DIM, 51 and 74 metabolites, respectively, were altered between MET and HTH cows. After metritis development, three and five metabolites were upregulated in cows that were cured and in cows that received treatment and were cured, respectively. In all scenarios, the metabolites lignoceric, malic, and maleic acids, ornithine, and hypotaurine, which are associated with arginine/aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and taurine/purine metabolism, were upregulated in HTH cows. Metritis was associated with changes in the uterine metabolome. Cows not being cured of metritis had changes in the uterus metabolome independent of receiving ceftiofur or remaining untreated. Metabolome analysis may be an important tool to understand the vaginal discharge changes during postpartum and the dynamics of metritis development and cures and help to identify biomarkers to predict metritis being cured.
Preparation and Mechanical Properties of UV-Curable Epoxy Acrylate/Modified Aramid Nanofiber Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Wang Ying , Sun Zhenxing , Yin Peixu , Qu Rongjun , Zhang Ying , Sun Changmei
Published: November 2023

In order to enhance the mechanical properties of UV-curable epoxy acrylate (EA)-based coatings, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate modified aramid nanofibers (T-ANFs) were synthesized and used as nanofillers to prepare EA/T-ANF nanocomposite films. The morphology of T-ANFs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The chemical structure of T-ANFs was analyzed via infrared spectroscopy, confirming successful grafting of methyl methacryloyloxy groups onto the surface of aramid nanofibers (ANFs). Real-time infrared spectroscopy was employed to investigate the influence of ANFs and T-ANFs on the photopolymerization kinetics of the EA film. The results revealed that the addition of ANFs and T-ANFs led to a decrease in the photopolymerization rate during the initial stage but had little impact on the final double bond conversion, with all samples exhibiting a conversion rate of over 83%. The incorporation of ANFs improved the tensile strength of the films while significantly reducing their Young’s modulus. In contrast, the addition of T-ANFs led to a substantial increase in both tensile stress and Young’s modulus of the films. For instance, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the 0.1 wt% of T-ANF film increased by 52.7% and 41.6%, respectively, compared to the pure EA film. To further study the dispersion morphology and reinforcement mechanism, the cross-sectional morphology of the films was characterized by scanning electron microscopy.
Assessing the Potential Role of Cats (Felis catus) as Generators of Relevant SARS-CoV-2 Lineages during the Pandemic
Authors: Gomez-Romero Ninnet , Basurto-Alcantara Francisco Javier , Velazquez-Salinas Lauro
Published: November 2023

Several questions regarding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly elucidated. One of these questions is the possible evolutionary impact of SARS-CoV-2 after the infection in domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of cats as generators of relevant SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the pandemic. A total of 105 full-length genome viral sequences obtained from naturally infected cats during the pandemic were evaluated by distinct evolutionary algorithms. Analyses were enhanced, including a set of highly related SARS-CoV-2 sequences recovered from human populations. Our results showed the apparent high susceptibility of cats to the infection SARS-CoV-2 compared with other animal species. Evolutionary analyses indicated that the phylogenomic characteristics displayed by cat populations were influenced by the dominance of specific SARS-CoV-2 genetic groups affecting human populations. However, disparate dN/dS rates at some genes between populations recovered from cats and humans suggested that infection in these two species may suggest a different evolutionary constraint for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the branch selection analysis showed evidence of the potential role of natural selection in the emergence of five distinct cat lineages during the pandemic. Although these lineages were apparently irrelevant to public health during the pandemic, our results suggested that additional studies are needed to understand the role of other animal species in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic.
Training Load Is Correlated with Changes in Creatine Kinase and Wellness over a 12-Week Multi-Stage Preparatory Training Block for a Major Competition in International Boxers
Authors: McCabe Dáithí , Martin Damian , McMahon Gerard
Published: November 2023

Background: There are no published data on the training-load magnitude or distribution in elite international-level boxers preparing for a major competition nor on the training load’s relationship with objective and subjective training markers. Methods: Twelve elite boxers (eight males and four females) preparing for the 2018 Commonwealth Games were monitored during training for 12 weeks. The training load (TL), change in creatine kinase (ΔCK), and wellness variables were measured daily but were amalgamated into average weekly values over the 12-week period for weekly comparisons. The relationships between the TL, ΔCK, and wellness variables were also assessed. Results: The significant (p < 0.001) main effects of the week with large and moderate effect sizes were noted for the TL and ΔCK, respectively, with weeks 9 and 12 in the competition-specific and taper phases showing the greatest differences, respectively. For wellness, only the muscle condition showed a significant change over time (p < 0.001). There were significant (p < 0.05) small–moderate correlations between the TL, ΔCK, and wellness variables. Conclusions: This is the first study to describe the weekly training loads and responses to training of elite international boxers across a 12-week pre-competition training period in preparation for a major competition. The findings within this study report that elite international boxers have high chronic training loads that change between training blocks to put emphasis on different qualities. Monitoring the indirect muscle damage through CK may provide further information on the internal training responses in boxers.