bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The feasibility, safety and short-term clinical efficacy of laparoscopic resection rectopexy with natural orifice specimen extraction surgery for the treatment of complete rectal prolapse
Authors: Chen Shihan , Liang Yanyang , Tang Ruixue , Zhang Jixin , Yuan Shouxin , Xie Shuang , Wang Quanhui , Zhang Chunxu
Published: July 2024

Purpose There have been few reports that have focused on the combination of the laparoscopic approach and natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) surgery for complete rectal prolapse (CRP). The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility, safety and short-term clinical efficacy of NOSE surgery with those of conventional laparoscopic resection rectopexy in the treatment of CRP.Methods In a group of 45 patients selected between January 2019 and October 2023, 28 patients underwent conventional laparoscopic resection rectopexy (LRR), and 17 patients underwent transanal NOSE laparoscopic resection rectopexy (NOSE-LRR). Preoperative and postoperative clinical variables of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed.Results The mean operation time was longer in the NOSE-LRR group than in the LRR group (150.29 min versus 134.18 min, p < 0.001). The NOSE-LRR group had less postoperative pain than did the LRR group (median VAS score of 4 versus 5 on the first day after surgery, p = 0.004; median VAS score of 2 versus 3 on the third day after surgery, p = 0.003). The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the NOSE-LRR group (7 days versus 9 days, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in the incontinence score and constipation score was observed in both groups after surgery (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the postoperative constipation score or incontinence score between the two groups.Conclusion LRR combined with the NOSE technique leads to a shorter length of hospital stay and less postoperative pain in patients with CRP than in patients who undergo traditional LRR but with a longer operation time. The novel NOSE method is feasible and safe for use in patients with CRP.
Study on surface roughness and fatigue property of abrasive waterjet peened aluminum alloy
Authors: Lv Zhe , Hou Rongguo , Xue Bing , Xu Jingpei , Sun Haocheng
Published: July 2024

Surface treatment is crucial for the component to function properly in many practical working situations. As an alternative of shot peening, abrasive waterjet peening is an advantageous method to improve various mechanical properties such as hardness, fatigue resistance, corrosion stability, etc. of the component surface. In order to investigate the surface roughness and its effect on fatigue performance in abrasive waterjet peening, simulation and experimental works on aluminum specimens were conducted in this study. Two different surface roughness indices and their dependencies on various processing parameters were analyzed. Fatigue performances of specimens under different processing conditions were also evaluated. The results indicated that shot velocity is the most influential factor on surface roughness under the involved conditions. Higher surface roughness induced by intense shot intensity will negatively affect the fatigue performance of the processed specimen.
Implications of Data Leakage in Machine Learning Preprocessing: A Multi-Domain Investigation
Authors: Bouke Mohamed Aly , Zaid Saleh Ali , Abdullah Azizol
Published: July 2024

Data leakage during machine learning (ML) preprocessing is a critical issue where unintended external information skews the training process, resulting in artificially high-performance metrics and undermining model reliability. This study addresses the insufficient exploration of data leakage across diverse ML domains, highlighting the necessity of comprehensive investigations to ensure robust and dependable ML models in real-world applications. Significant discrepancies in model performance due to data leakage were observed, with notable variations in F1 scores and ROC AUC values for the Breast Cancer dataset. The Tic-Tac-Toe Endgame dataset analysis revealed the varying impact on models like Ridge, SGD, GaussianNB, and MLP, underscoring the profound effect of data leakage. The German Credit Scoring dataset showed slight enhancements in recall and F1 scores for models like DT and GB without data leakage, indicating reduced overfitting. Additionally, models such as PassiveAggressive, Ridge, SGD, GaussianNB, and Nearest Centroid exhibited shifts in performance metrics, highlighting the intricate response to data leakage. The study also revealed raw data leakage rates, such as 6.79% for Spambase and 1.99% for Breast Cancer. These findings emphasize meticulous data management and validation to mitigate leakage effects, which is crucial for developing reliable ML models.
An evaluation of commercialised health interventions to promote physical activity in the workplace in Malaysia.
Authors: Singh Jasveen Kaur Grewachan , Nambiar Prof.Dr.Nisha
Published: July 2024

This evaluation aims to assess the impact of a commercialised health intervention designed to encourage physical activity within the workplace in Malaysia. The intervention was implemented in various organisations across different industries. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to collect data on the intervention's impact on employees' physical activity levels and their perceptions of the program. The results suggest that the commercialised health program had a positive effect by increasing physical activity among employees in the workplace. The intervention included initiatives such as fitness challenges, group exercise sessions, and educational workshops on the importance of physical activity. Participants reported a significant increase in their overall physical activity levels, with a majority engaging in regular exercise both during and outside of working hours. Moreover, participants expressed higher levels of motivation, improved well-being, and increased job satisfaction due to their participation in the intervention. However, some challenges were identified during the implementation process. These included difficulties in sustaining participation over time, limited engagement from certain employee groups, and the need for ongoing support and encouragement from management. In conclusion, the commercialised health intervention demonstrated its potential to effectively promote physical activity in the workplace in Malaysia. It had a positive impact on employees' physical activity levels and was associated with various positive outcomes, including increased motivation and job satisfaction. To ensure the sustainability of such interventions, it is crucial to address the identified challenges and provide ongoing support and encouragement to employees. Further investigations are required to explore the long-term effects and scalability of similar interventions in different workplace settings.
Under the Covert Norm: A Qualitative Study on the Role of Residency Culture on Burnout
Authors: Armas-Neira Mónica , Jaimes-Jiménez Ithandehui , Turnbull Bernardo , Vargas-Lara Alma , López-Covarrubias Adara , Negrete-Meléndez Jatsiri , Mimiaga-Morales Manuel , Oca-Mayagoitia Sandra Montes , Monroy-Ramírez Lilia
Published: July 2024

Purpose: Burnout has become a major concern within healthcare. Medical residents comprise a notorious at-risk population with around half of its population affected. While previous work highlights the role of organizational risk factors as the main contributors to occupational burden, research on culture in medicine as a potential organizational risk factor is limited. The main objective of this qualitative study was to explore the expressions of the cultural norm from the medical residents’ perspective to set the stage for future high-impact interventions.
Methods: Data were gathered from 87 semi-structured interviews with residents in Mexico City and analyzed through a grounded theory lens.
Results: The analysis uncovered harmful customary practices within medical residency culture. A distorted hierarchical system was responsible for promoting abusive power dynamics that fed into a ‘covert norm’ that continually infringed on formal regulations. This system is partly sustainable due to poor reporting mechanisms and self-perpetuating behaviors through normalization and violent enforcement.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that burnout was independently associated with and occurred in the context of covert conventions that defy guidelines. Further studies are needed to assess proper organizational interventions that reject covert sociocultural normative conformity for a more humanistic side of medical culture.
Application of Statistical and Artificial Neural Network(s) on Selected Features of RSRW Data to Nowcast Severe Thunderstorm
Authors: Bhattacharya Sonia , W(Bhattacharyya) Himadri Chakrabarty
Published: July 2024

Severe thunderstorm is one of the extreme natural calamities. In the present study, different weather parameters such as- moisture difference, adiabatic lapse rate and wind shear have been chosen to forecast severe thunderstorm. Here, moisture difference at 5 different geo-potential heights of atmosphere, dry adiabatic lapse rate at 5 different geo-potential heights of atmosphere, and vertical wind shear at 3different geo-potential heights of atmosphere that is, total 13 weather parameters have been chosen for prediction purpose. Here, the Naïve Bayes method, Multi Layer Perceptron, and K-Nearest Neighbor method have been considered. Radial Basis Function Network (RBFN) has been introduced here which produce far better result in comparison with other methodologies. Applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on these weather parameters 3variables of adiabatic lapse rates and 3 variables of vertical wind shear have been selected as determinant factor. Again Naïve Bayes method, Multi Layer Perceptron and K-Nearest Neighbor methodologies have been applied on the chosen predicators. This gives better outcome than before, but application of Radial Basis Function Network gives most accurate results among other methodologies. The RBFN gives more than 96% accurate forecast for both squall days and no squall days. Moreover this study has a lead time of 10–12 hours which is very much important to take necessary precaution to save life and property.
Upper Miocene volcanic ash layers from central Italy: looking for the missing eruption.
Authors: Roverato Matteo , Farina Federico , Lupi Matteo , Ovtcharova Maria , Montanari Alessandro , Bonini Marco , Montanari Domenico
Published: July 2024

The Mediterranean region has been characterized by intense explosive volcanism since the Eocene. These eruptions ejected tephra, including fine grained ash, which were thrown into the air and dispersed over wide areas to later be deposited as ash layers, many of which are preserved in some continental and marine sedimentary basins. Their study provides crucial insights into past volcanic activity, yet, for many of such ash layers, the understanding of their sources remains challenging. The presence of many ash layers across central Italy is widely recognized in literature although not uniquely associated with a specific volcanic source. We investigate in detail upper Tortonian (∼7.6 Ma) ash layers sampled from three different localities, from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic coast of Italy, comparing our results with others already described in the literature. Electron microprobe geochemical analyses on biotite crystals, U-Pb ID-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS geochronological dating and trace elements / Lu-Hf isotope analyses on zircons permitted us to expand our knowledge of these ancient ash deposits. Several potential volcanic centers were active during the late Tortonian, including the Massif Central (France), the Valencia trough (Spain), the Betics-Rif orogen (Spain-Morocco), and eastern Carpathians (Romania)and Capraia island (Italy). Through detailed radioisotopic dating and geochemical comparisons, we narrow down the possible source to the Upper Miocene Capraia island volcano (Tuscan archipelago), located in the northern Tyrrhenian basin.
Key stakeholders’ perspectives of illicit drug use and associated harms in the Northern Territory of Australia
Authors: Brickley Bryce , Moore Samuel , Tari-Keresztes Noemi , Brand Anthea , Bower Madeleine , Bonson Jason G. , McEntee Alice , Bartram Ashlea J. , Bovopoulos Nataly , McPhie Skye , Martin Craig , Wright Cassandra , Bowden Jacqueline , Smith James A.
Published: July 2024

Background
In the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, there are significant evidence gaps about illicit drug use and harms, despite having established monitoring and reporting systems. This paper reports on illicit drug use, associated harms, contributing factors, service needs and priorities in the NT from the perspective and experiences of key stakeholders engaged in providing services for, or advocating on behalf of, people who use illicit drugs in the NT.
Methods
Face-to-face and online qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders across urban and remote locations in the NT. Key stakeholders were service providers, including acute and primary care clinicians, representatives of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, lived experience advocates, peak body representatives and public health executives. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Results
Four researchers interviewed 21 participants across urban (62%), and remote areas (38%) of the NT. Themes identified were: 1) Illicit drug use and harms are diverse and distinct; 2) Client support needs are complex and influenced by co-morbidities, socio-demographic and cultural factors; 3) Priority population sub-groups need targeted strategies; 4) Local service strengths can be further developed and enhanced; 5) Local services need better resourcing; 6) Invest in progressive legislative and policy reforms; and 7) Improve routine monitoring and evaluation.
Conclusions
Key stakeholders described illicit drug use, harms and contributing factors, which provided insights into the local challenges. Participants emphasised that clients have complex care needs, and further investment into targeted strategies are required to improve service engagement with priority groups. Service needs included greater understanding the role of dual diagnosis and its implementation and enhancing integrated and collaborative care in both primary health and acute care contexts. The voices of people with lived experience captured in this paper must inform local strategy and policy development relating to illicit drug use, in alignment with national strategy.
Dynamics of ionized poly(4-hydroxystyrene)-type resist polymer with tert-butoxycarbonyl-protecting group
Authors: Okamoto Kazumasa , Muroya Yusa , Kozawa Takahiro
Published: July 2024

Resist materials used for micro- and nano-patterning are formed by radiation-induced chemical reactions, with the shortening of wavelengths of the exposure light sources in lithography systems. The most widely used patterning materials in industrial lithography are chemically amplified resists (CAR). Understanding the deprotonation mechanism of ionized polymers (radical cations) is important for acid generation in CARs. In this study, the dynamics of radical cations in poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS)–type resist polymers, partially and totally protected by tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC) groups, are investigated using a combination of electron pulse radiolysis experiments, acid yield measurements, and quantum chemical calculations. The t-BOC(oxy) group exhibits p-electron-donating behavior in the monomer cation but changes to electron-accepting behavior in the polymer cation, owing to the interaction between substituents. The destabilization of radical cations due to decreased intramolecular charge resonance may contribute to the high deprotonation efficiency of t-BOC-capped PHS polymers.
Extraction and Recognition of Robotic Apple Picking Image Features Based on YOLOv5 Detection Models
Authors: Hong Wenqian , Jiang Yirong , Lin Bin
Published: July 2024

As China has emerged as one of the leading exporters of apples globally, the shortage of agricultural labor has posed a significant challenge for the apple industry’s growth. To address the issue of image recognition for robotic apple picking in complex orchard settings, this paper combines computerized image processing and deep learning concepts to propose a detection model based on YOLOv5. By implementing image preprocessing techniques and optimizing the loss function, the study successfully achieves accurate extraction and recognition of apple image features. The experimental findings demonstrate the high performance and accuracy of the proposed method in apple picking tasks, offering valuable support for the advancement of robotic automated picking systems. Future research endeavors will focus on further refining the algorithm to enhance efficiency in real-world production settings.
Measuring neurodevelopment of inhibitory control in children using naturalistic virtual reality
Authors: Dina Larisa-Maria , Pinti Paola , Smith Tim J
Published: July 2024

Inhibitory control develops over time and is linked to fronto-striatal maturation. Traditional computerised assessments often lack ecological validity and are not age appropriate. Here, we developed a naturalistic, age-appropriate paradigm using a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) and mobile functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure response inhibition. The new task was validated in adults (N=24), toddlers and preschoolers (N=36). Participants completed two Go/No-Go tasks: a standard computer-based version and an adapted CAVE version, while fNIRS recorded brain activity in the bilateral dorsolateral frontal cortices. The aim was to examine the neural and cognitive features of response inhibition. The CAVE task proved feasible and acceptable, with high completion rates and minimal virtual reality-induced symptoms. As expected, we found higher error rates in Go/No-Go blocks compared to Go-only blocks. In children, there were significant associations between performance measures on both tasks, indicating acceptable convergent validity. Notably, specific to the child group, the CAVE task elicited higher activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus, and behavioural task performance was sensitive to age differences. This study shows the brain correlates of response inhibition during a naturalistic task in young children, integrating age-appropriate fNIRS with an immersive CAVE, opening potential new approaches to studying neurodevelopment.
Family member’s help-seeking behaviour for their relative who misuse substances: a cross-sectional national study in Brazil
Authors: Bortolon Cassandra Borges , Canfield Martha , Padin Maria Fatima Rato , Orford Jim , Laranjeira Ronaldo
Published: July 2024

Purpose: Affected family members(AFMs) of relatives who misuse substances (RMS) play an important role in supporting their relatives to enter substance use treatment. This study investigated the help-seeking behaviours for their relatives by AFMs in Brazil including the characteristics of those who sought help and the risk factors for delaying seeking help.
Methods: Secondary analysis from a national cross-sectional study of 3,030 AFMs was performed. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, seeking help behaviours, reasons for delaying help-seeking, demographic and substance use characteristics of the relative, and coping strategies were collected.
Results: Of the 92.7% of the sample that sought help for the relative, 66% delayed seeking help for 37.2 (SD 70.71) months. Help-seeking was associated with higher socioeconomic status and residing in the Southeastern region. Reasons for delaying help-seeking included the relative not accepting help (31.5%) and participants thinking that help/treatment wasn’t needed (20.6%). A longer delay in seeking help was associated with female AFMs, residents in the Centro-West region, non-parents compared to parents, a longer length of time knowing about the substance misuse, older RMS, alcohol as a substance of misuse, having another substance misuse relative in the family, and higher levels of withdrawal coping strategy.
Conclusions: Prominent barriers to motivating families to seek help for their relatives exist at multiple levels including socioeconomic, cultural and regional influences. Public health providers and policymakers should pay more attention to these barriers when developing interventions aimed at promoting substance use treatment entry in individuals with substance misuse problems.
Analysis of changes in protein intake following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and its influencing factors
Authors: Zhao Huiling , Wu Lulu , Zhang Xiaoman , Zhang Xiaojiao , Zhang Dan , Liu Yuping
Published: July 2024

Objective: Little is known about factors associated with protein intake post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy especially in Chinese weight loss patients over six months. This project aimed to identify possible factors to improve protein intake, and investigate protein supplement usage to reduce complications such as malnutrition.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 120 eligible patients at a tertiary hospital, who completed study measures at baseline, 3 months post-surgery (M3), and 6 months post-surgery (M6). Univariate and multivariate Linear regressions were utilized to analyze factors related to protein intake.
Results:At M6, most patients did not meet the recommended post-LSG protein intake of ≥60 g/day. The three macronutrients for all patients were significant differences in dietary and protein supplement sources between M3 and M6. The EBBS score decreased from M3 to M6, while the chewing cycle and food tolerance scores increased postoperatively. multi-factor linear regression was found that eight independent variables, including gender, age, daily vitamin intake at M6, and total EBBS score at M6, were influencing factors on daily protein intake at M6.
Conclusions: Findings shed new light on factors that may account for deficiency protein intake, which have implications for guiding effective interventions targeting this behavior.
Personalized Federated Learning with Adaptive Information Fusion
Authors: Chai Liming , Yu Wenjun , Zhou Nanrun
Published: July 2024

Data heterogeneity is a key challenge in the field of federated learning. Many existing personalized federated learning approaches focus on the performance of local models, neglecting the generalization capabilities of the global model, which may not be cost-effective. To address this issue, a federated learning algorithm called Personalized Federated Learning with Adaptive Information Fusion (FedIF) is proposed, which fuses two model heads carrying different information to obtain a personalized model fitting the local data better. The personalization steps of the FedIF are carried out after the local training in each round of the FedAvg algorithm, allowing it to be combined with other algorithms that improve upon the FedAvg. Comparative and ablation experiments between FedIF and other state-of-the-art personalized federated learning algorithms were conducted under three public datasets and two medical imaging datasets. The exceptional performance of our algorithm is attested across a wide range of experimental settings.
Interprofessional cooperation and job satisfaction in German intensive care units - a cross-sectional survey within the PRiVENT project
Authors: Fleischhauer Thomas , Biehler Elena , Michels Julia D. , Trudzinski Franziska , Schubert-Haack Janina , Forstner Johanna , Schneider Armin , Kempa Axel , Joves Biljana , Neurohr Claus , Herth Felix JF , Szecsenyi Joachim , Wensing Michel
Published: July 2024

Background: The PRiVENT study aims to reduce the number of long-term ventilated patients by improving interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals. To assess the current state of interprofessional cooperation and job satisfaction in intensive care units, a written survey was conducted among service providers from four clusters, each of which consist of one weaning centre and 7-12 other cooperation hospitals.
Methods: The Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale, Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale and the Warr-Cook-Wall Scale were used. In addition to a descriptive analysis, a subgroup analysis was performed comparing scores between physicians and non-physicians and the four clusters. Correlation coefficients were calculated to check for correlations between age group and gender with interprofessional collaboration and work satisfaction. Internal consistency of the questionnaires was assessed via Crohnbach’s Alphas. Analyses were performed using Excel version 1808 and R (version 4.0.3).
Results: A total of 60 questionnaires were filled out by health workers at the WCs and CCs participating in the project, corresponding to a response rate of 46%. 36 (59%) questionnaires were completed by physicians and 24 (41%) by the other health professionals. The average work experience was 18.4 ± 11.4 years. Most respondents rated their personal teamwork skills and interprofessional cooperation as good. Job satisfaction was high, particularly regarding the collegial environment and variety of work tasks. Satisfaction with physical workload, income, and working hours was lower. Non-physicians’ ratings were lower for all questionnaires and most items, although the difference in total scores was not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were observed between clusters. There was a statistically significant positive monotonous correlation between age group and years of work experience with overall work satisfaction. Internal consistency of the questionnaires was excellent.
Conclusions: The findings show that staff members are generally satisfied with their workplace conditions and environment and rate their individual team skills and interprofessional cooperation as good. Non-physicians were less satisfied with their working conditions, although the difference was not statistically significant. Future surveys at mid-term and at the end of the intervention period will provide insights into the impact of PRiVENT on interprofessional cooperation and job satisfaction.
Registration
The study protocol of the PRiVENT study was registered on 02.03.2022 in the German Register of Clinical Trials under the number DRKS00028196.
Effectiveness of Bacillus megaterium in pretreatment of fish slaughterhouse effluent
Authors: Anderle Gabriele Aline , Haselroth Karen Jaqueline , Rotta Victor Manuel Lustoza , Rosado Adriana Fiorini , Hermes Eliane
Published: July 2024

The use of microorganisms to treat effluents can reduce problems caused by oils and fats in subsequent treatment stages. The present work investigates the use of a lipase-producing microorganism in the pretreatment of effluent from a fish slaughterhouse. Initial preliminary tests were performed with two microorganisms: Staphylococcus warneri and Bacillus megaterium. The following parameters were evaluated after the treatment: chemical oxygen demand (COD), oils and greases (O&G), and lipolytic activity. Bacillus megaterium provided the highest removal efficiencies for the analyzed parameters, consequently this microorganism was then used for the pretreatment of fish slaughterhouse effluent. A central composite rotational design (CCRD) was applied, with pH, temperature, and inoculum concentration as the independent variables. The response variables were lipolytic activity, COD, O&G, free fatty acids, and pH, for a reaction time of 72 h. The maximum values obtained after the treatment were lipolytic activity of 0.25 U mL− 1, COD and O&G removals of 61.11% and 85.8%, respectively, and free fatty acids production of 12.54 µmol mL− 1. The findings showed that the application of Bacillus megaterium significantly reduced the levels of oils and fats, demonstrating the potential of the enzyme for treatment of this type of effluent.
First reported aflatoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus in agroforestry systems in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca-Colombia
Authors: Arboleda-Riascos Carlos Emiro , Velásquez-Ortiz David , Cossio-Vásquez William , Blandón-Cortes Jaime , Sánchez-Marín Francisco José , Cardona-Montoya José Omar
Published: July 2024

Aspergillus flavus is a common fungus in agricultural and agroforestry systems, and its presence can pose several risks, especially in agroforestry systems. Aflatoxin contamination of staple crops is a major problem in the Pacific region of Colombia. This study aimed to analyze the morphological, molecular and aflatoxigenic characteristics of Aspergillus species found in agroforestry systems in the Buenaventura region of Colombia. The study employed first- and second-degree logarithmic models to analyse fungal growth and its rate of variation over time. Genomic DNA was extracted from individual spore cultures sown on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a reaction mixture consisting of 12.5 µL of PCR Master Mix 2X, 1 µL of each primer and 2 µL of genomic DNA. PCR was used to detect aflatoxins by amplifying the AflS gene using AflS-F and AflS-R. Quantitative analysis was performed using the direct competitive ELISA (CD-ELISA) method. This study presents the initial sequences of Aspergillus flavus linked to agroforestry systems in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca-Colombia. The sequences for ITS and BenA were deposited in the NCBI GenBank database under the codes PP379903/PP379904 and PP565787/PP565788, respectively. Isolates PP565787 and PP565788 were identified as aflatoxigenic with concentrations of 5.7 ppb and 3.8 ppb, respectively. This article proposes the use of non-toxigenic strains of A flavus and other beneficial microorganisms as biocontrollers through competition, as well as the use of agricultural lime as a sustainable option in agroforestry systems in regions with limited technology.
Oviposition behavior and larval attraction of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda to different maize plant varieties
Authors: Akinbuluma Mobolade D. , Bamifewe Olubisi O. , Alabi Olajumoke Y. , Timothy Modupe I. J. , Roessingh Peter , Groot Astrid T.
Published: July 2024

Phytophagous insects likely select suitable host plants for oviposition based on olfactory and tactile cues. However, details of how insects differentiate among different plant varieties are often unclear. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) is a highly destructive pest on maize, but little is known about the attraction and oviposition preference of S. frugiperda to different maize varieties, particularly in the context of sub-Saharan Africa, where the insect is a major threat to maize production. We determined the oviposition preference of S. frugiperda females on six different maize plant varieties three of which were hybrid varieties and three were open pollinated varieties, in multiple-choice and no-choice assays. We also evaluated the attraction preference of S. frugiperda larvae on these maize varieties, using an olfactometer bioassay. We found that S. frugiperda females oviposited significantly less egg masses on the hybrid varieties DEKAIB and 30Y87 than on the other varieties tested, and that females oviposited less on the hybrid maize varieties compared to the open pollinated maize varieties overall. Additionally, we found that S. frugiperda larvae were more attracted to the open pollinated variety LMFP than to clean air, which was not the case for any of the other maize varieties tested. Taken together, our results show that S. frugiperda responds differentially to the different maize varieties and that hybrid maize varieties seem less attractive. Further investigating the chemistry of hybrid maize varieties like DEKAIB might yield clues on how to breed maize varieties with increased resistance against S. frugiperda infestation.
Investigation on the Characteristic and Motion of the Damaged Cabin in Waves
Authors: Song Xuemin , Wang Shaoyu , liu weiqin , Bi Xueqing , Luo Sixiang
Published: July 2024

The ship flooding process is very complicated which will affect the stability and the maneuverability directly, even endangering the ship, people's lives, and property. This paper carries out the experiment and numerical investigation of cabins with openings to study the mechanism of ship flooding. Firstly, the cabin model experiment is conducted in a wave flume. A cabin experimental model with an opening has been designed and manufactured. Then the model is forced to roll in the wave flume, and the phenomenon of water entry is captured with whole conditions. Secondly, the volume of fluid (VOF) model is used to solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, as well as with the overset mesh technology is employed to calculate the process of the water entering. The cabin models with different openings are employed for the simulations. The hydrodynamic models of cabins are simulated in rolling in static water. The experimental results and numerical results are compared and analyzed, which verifies the numerical method. Finally, the damaged cabin is simulated in waves with the CFD method, and the characteristic of the damaged cabin is investigated. The water entry impacts the rolling and heaving motion of the cabin. Overall, the CFD simulations show the ability to calculate the nonlinear process of the water entry even though the more precise free surface capturing technology needs be investigated and the efficiency of the CFD method should be improved.
Modelling skidding extraction in mountainous forest though engine data acquisition and analysis
Authors: Bacescu Narcis Mihail , Piol Omar , Talbot Bruce , Marchi Luca , Grigolato Stefano
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the feasibility of using standardized SAE J1939 data from forestry machines, to enhance the decision-making process and ensure the sustainability of forest operations. The study, specifically focusing on a clam-bunk skidder, was conducted between January and September 2023, across three sites in northeast Italy in permeant-cover forest in the Alps region. The main objectives were to identify work phases, determine their durations, calculate fuel consumption, and create models for production and fuel consumption per work cycle, considering extraction distance and terrain slope. The feasibility of the Automated Time Study (ATS) methodology was tested for the first time in a mountainous region with varying slopes and stand compositions. Results showed that over 82% of working cycles were successfully identified, with 60–70% accuracy in identifying work elements within cycles. This high identification rate allows machine operators to detect bottlenecks and improve efficiency, additionally, this methodology aims to predicting future operational impacts and costs based on statistical analysis implemented by using a big data approach. However, the ATS methodology has limitations, potentially leading to significant estimation errors, thus critical thinking and effective communication with machine operators are essential to obtain accurate data.
Experiences in Robotic Colorectal Surgery: Comprehensive Insights from a Multi-center Analysis Using the Senhance Robotic System
Authors: Samalavicius Narimantas E , Karpiciute Rita , Nausediene Vaida , Willeke Frank , Hansen Olaf Martin , Menke Vivianda
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Robotic-assisted surgery has revolutionised minimally invasive approaches, particularly in colorectal surgery. While many single-center studies on colorectal surgeries exist in present literature, including experiences with Senhance® Robotic Systems, comprehensive multi-center studies are lacking. This study, conducted through the TransEnterix European Patient Registry ("TRUST"), aims to assess the safety and feasibility in this context. Methods: The present study explored procedural times, complications, robotic malfunction and limitations, adverse events and pain management outcomes for colorectal procedures, including sigmoid resection, right hemicolectomy and rectal surgery collected in two European centers. Results: Data from 355 colorectal surgeries showed that the median duration of surgery was 147.2 minutes (IQR: 124.3–183.0), the docking time was reported with a median of 3.4 minutes (IQR: 2.0–5.4) and the console time was found at a mean of 84.4 minutes (SD: 33.6). Despite minimal blood loss, pain scores, and robotic malfunction, 2,9% of the cases (10 instances) required conversions to either an open or laparoscopic approach. Further, most robotic limitations were attributed to limited motion (18.9%, 67 cases) and collisions (11.5%, 41 cases). Adverse events (24 cases, 6.8%) were effectively managed, with 23 instances judged completely unrelated to the robotic system. Conclusion: This study underscores the positive outcomes and safety profile of Senhance® Robotic Systems in colorectal surgery, contributing valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.
Groundwater Quality and Associated Risk in Bhatinda District (Punjab, India)
Authors: Bansal J. , Kaur G. , Gupta S. , Kaur P.
Published: July 2024

Today’s most serious threat of world is the water pollution. This is because it impacts flora and fauna of our earth. It is impacting human health in various ways. Pollutants which mainly impact human health are inorganic and organic pollutant as most of them are non-biodegradable and accumulate in the living organism for long time. Due to prolong accumulation, these pollutants exert more hazardous effect compare to biodegradable substances. Major source of contamination of water can be summarized as the dumping of waste in water bodies, excessive use of agricultural chemicals like pesticides, insecticides etc. Today we are facing crucial challenge to consume this polluted water and continues consumption causes potential threat as many of these pollutants are carcinogenic in nature. Today’s lifestyle already facing many health issues and water pollution adding more issues as cancer is prolong chronic disease. Although the issue is worldwide yet we can’t ignore high exposer in developing countries as these countries are seeking for more and more industrialization with less or moderate medical facilities as exposure with carcinogens requires persisting strategy for control of cancer. Thus, we aim to review the wide spread carcinogenic pollutants along with their origin and health risks associated with them. We also provided experimental results of detection of metal ions in ground water of Bhatinda region by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique.
Multi-path Hybrid Attention Deep Neural Network for Valve Detection
Authors: Zhang First Xuefeng , Huang Second Yonghe , Qu Xiwen
Published: July 2024

Valves Detection is a basic function of rescue robots in various disaster situations. However, due to the small differences between similar valves, rescue robots suffer great challenges in valve detection in complex environments. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a multi-path hybrid attention deep neural network (MHADNN). By weighting features at different scales and spatial positions, the MHADNN can help valve detection models focus on more discriminative subtle features, thereby enhancing the ability to distinguish similar valves. This paper combines the MHADNN with the YOLOv5n to develop a valve detection model. The comparative experiments are conducted on a similar valve dataset collected in the simulated environment of a chemical industrial park. The experimental results show that compared with YOLOv5n, the proposed valve detection model has an average precision improvement of 4.20%. It has excellent performance in distinguishing similar valves.
​​​Inhibition of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage by the selective non-steroidal ERβ agonist AC-186​​
Authors: Katola Folashade , Adana Misturah , Olajide Olumayokun
Published: July 2024

AC-186 (4-[4-4-Difluoro-1-(2-fluorophenyl) cyclohexyl]phenol) is a neuroprotective nonsteroidal selective oestrogen receptor modulator. This study therefore investigated whether inhibition of neuroinflammation contributed to neuroprotective activity of this compound. BV-2 microglia were treated with AC-186 (0.65-5 µM) prior to stimulation with LPS. Levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and proteins were then evaluated. Treatment of LPS-activated BV-2 microglia with AC-186 resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reduction in TNFα, IL-6, NO, PGE2, iNOS and COX-2. Further investigations showed that AC-186 decreased LPS-induced elevated levels of phospho-p65, phospho-IkBα and acetylp65 proteins, while blocking DNA binding and luciferase activity of NF-kB. AC-186 induced significant (p < 0.05) increase in protein expression of ERβ, while enhancing ERE luciferase activity in BV-2 cells. Effects of the compound on microglia oestrogen signalling was confirmed in knockdown experiments which revealed a loss of anti-inflammatory activity of AC-186 following transfection with ERβ siRNA. In vitro neuroprotective activity of AC-186 was demonstrated by inhibition of activated microglia-mediated damage to HT-22 neurons. This study established that AC-186 produces NF-kB-mediated anti-inflammatory activity, which is proposed as a contributory mechanism involved in its neuroprotective actions. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of this compound is linked to its agonist effect on ERβ.
Dynamics of localized solutions in three core coupled waveguides with quasi-periodic nonlinearity
Authors: Miranda Bruno M. , Avelar Ardiley T. , Cardoso Wesley B. , Bazeia Dionisio
Published: July 2024

In this paper we investigate the behavior of localized solutions, specifically solitons, in a system of three coupled waveguides. The nonlinearity is modeled by a quasi-periodic modulation influencing the interaction between the waveguides. We analyze the evolution of the soliton profiles and their dynamics under varying modulation parameters, highlighting distinct behaviors such as attraction and repulsion among solitons. Our findings reveal that the system exhibits complex behaviors, depending on the interplay between the quasi-periodic modulation and the waveguide parameters. The study contributes to understanding the impact of quasi-periodic nonlinearity on soliton dynamics in coupled waveguide systems, laying the groundwork for potential applications in nonlinear optics and photonic devices.
Exact and heuristic methods for sensor allocation on large and irregular wireless networks
Authors: Totte Diego Rodrigues Moreira , Henriques Felipe da Rocha , Silva Pedro Henrique Gonzalez , Usberti Fábio Luiz , Cardoso Douglas O. , Ogasawara Eduardo , de Assis Laura Silva
Published: July 2024

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have become ubiquitous across various domains, from household applications to industrial grounds, and critical areas like emergency response and environmental monitoring. While numerous optimization techniques have emerged in the literature to enhance network performance by strategically allocating sensor nodes, most studies in this field rely on heuristic methods. Designing the topology of WSNs is crucial for optimizing node energy consumption, connectivity, and coverage area. In this work, two methodologies are proposed to minimize the overall energy consumption of the network. The first is an exact method using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model. The second is an optimization method based on genetic algorithms (GAs). In the computational experiments, instances were generated based on grid-like networks, some of which assuming highly irregular topologies. The results have shown that the exact approach found optimal solutions for some instances, up to five thousand nodes. In contrast, the GA obtained high-quality solutions for instances with more than 18 thousand nodes in reasonable computational times.
A Rasch Analysis of the Person-Centred Community Care Inventory (PERCCI): Older People’s Experiences of Long-Term Community Support in England.
Authors: Wilberforce Mark
Published: July 2024

Background Person-centredness has become the byword for a modern, high quality care service. Yet measurement of person-centred quality is fraught with difficulty, and existing instruments tend to rely on classical psychometric methods with many untestable assumptions. An important new instrument, the Person-Centred Community Care Inventory, has yet to be subject to modern psychometric techniques.Methods The same 22 initial items used to form the Person-Centred Community Care Inventory were re-examined under a Rasch framework. A re-analysis of nearly 600 questionnaire returns from older people in England with community care needs was undertaken, with this large sample partitioned into a ‘evaluation’ and ‘validation’ sample. In addition, a test-retest inspection of 77 repeat administrations was undertaken.Results Rasch analysis confirmed a more parsimonious form of the scale, comprising two subscales which broadly met key diagnostic tests. Six items evaluated person-centredness in care worker interactions, and a second six items evaluated person-centredness in care plans. When combined into a single 12 item scale using ‘testlets’, the resulting PERCCI-12 suggested satisfactory measurement properties overall, albeit with reduced internal reliability over two separate subscales. Test-retest reliability of the PERCCI-12 was estimated at 0.871 and was robust to sensitivity tests.Conclusion The Rasch evaluation of the PERCCI supports a shorter scale formed of 12 items. This can be analysed as two separate subscales, or as a single summary scale with weaker internal reliability. Future research is needed to reinforce construct validity, to improve interpretability, and to establish minimally important difference.
Ferumoxytol promotes hematopoietic stem cell post-injury regeneration as a ROS scavenger
Authors: Qian Pengxu , Wang Qiwei , Qian Wenchang , Mao Yu , Gao Zhenyue , Chen Yuxuan , Zeng Xin , Lu Huan , Jiang Lingli , Li Jinxin , Han Yingli , Gu Ning
Published: July 2024

Under stress conditions such as ex vivo culture, chemotherapy, irradiation and infection, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) actively divide to maintain blood cell production, during which reactive oxygen species (ROS) produces and accumulates, and eventually causes HSC exhaustion and hematopoietic failure. However, it remains largely elusive how to relieve ROS in stressed HSCs and facilitate the hematopoietic post-injury regeneration. Here, we report that ferumoxytol (Feraheme, FMT), an FDA-approved nanodrug, is a powerful ROS scavenger and could recover the functions of stress HSCs. Due to lower levels of TFEB expression and lysosomal activity in HSCs as compared to leukemia cells, FMT is less degraded and more distributed in the cytoplasm. Under ex vivo culture, chemotherapy and irradiation conditions, FMT effectively mitigates ROS and apoptosis in stressed HSCs and promotes hematopoietic post-injury regeneration. Mechanistically, the catalase (CAT)-like activity of FMT reduces intracellular levels of H2O2 and diminishes H2O2-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Finally, FMT maintains long-term regenerative capacity of transplanted HSCs in pre-conditioned leukemic mice, and has an excellent biosafety profile. Collectively, our study deciphers the role of nanozymes in hematopoietic regeneration and highlights the potential clinical applications of FMT in promoting the stress-induced hematopoietic recovery.