bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palatal rugae assessment using plaster model and dental scan: a cross-sectional comparative analysis
Authors: Roselli Laura , Mele Federica , Suriano Carmela , Santoro Valeria , Catanesi Roberto , Petruzzi Massimo
Published: December 2024

Objective

Due to their consistent and individualistic patterns, palatal rugae (PR) are used in forensic dentistry as an ancillary method for personal identification. This study aimed to compare the impression of the PR obtained with the classic alginate impression and casting of the plaster model with the impression of the palate made with an intraoral scanner. Both impressions were compared with each other and with the photograph of the palatal rugae.

Materials and methods

In this study, 19 patients (6 men, 13 women; mean age 28.6 years) were selected. Two different impressions were taken from the maxillae of the participants: a conventional impression using alginate impression material, and an optical impression using an intraoral scanner. The impressions obtained were compared with each other and with the photograph of the palatine rugae of each enrolled patient, using FaceComp™ software. The parameters assessed included absolute and relative distances, perimeters, areas, shape factors, and moments. The statistical analysis was conducted using Python 3.9.

Results

The data from digital and plaster models were comparable across all six parameters used by the software. The coefficients of correlation and determination were strong to very strong for all six parameters assessed, with no statistically significant differences detected between the two methods of palatal rugae impression.

Conclusion

Both digital and traditional methods were equally reliable in capturing palatal rugae patterns. The use of FaceComp™ software facilitated accurate comparison and personal identification through the alignment of the preidentified landmarks. Further studies are required to enhance the speed and precision of image acquisition and comparison for broader application in personal identification.
Enhancing intraoral radiographic technique: introducing “Nallan's Lines”
Authors: Chaitanya Nallan CSK , Padmanabhan Vivek , Islam Md Sofiqul , Hashim Nada Tawfig , Mohammed Riham , Allam Neeharika Satyajyothi , Omar Jouma Jalal , Zakaria Ahmed , Pranathi Shaga , Apoorva Mamindla
Published: December 2024

Background

Intraoral radiography remains the most widely employed dental radiographic technique for producing geometrically accurate images with minimal distortion and magnification. Despite its common use in the dental office, incorrect projection geometry can be challenging leading to image distortions. To mitigate these inaccuracies specific radiographic landmarks on the face are utilized during periapical radiography. Nallan's lines, proposed in this study may address the perpetual issue.

Material and methods

In this cross over study, the participants were divided into 2 groups, Group A and Group B comprising nine in the each group. The bisecting angle technique was performed by the participants using a gyroscopic device fitted with a LASER with (Study subjects) and without (Controls) utilizing Nallan's lines on a selected group of teeth using a phantom model. Subsequent images were compared with those images obtained by an oral radiologist using the same model for geometric distortions of the images. This comparative analysis aimed to identify potential geometric distortions within the generated images

Results

A paired t-test was employed to compare the mean length and breadth of teeth before and after radiographic training. Additionally, a McNemar Test was used to assess the impact of Nallan's lines on technical errors. Both analyses revealed statistically significant improvements post-training (p < 0.01). To determine if radiographic training affected the performance of volunteers and specialists, a Chi-Square Test was conducted to compare error rates. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups, both before and after training.

Conclusion

The adoption of Nallan's lines may enhance the accuracy and quality of intraoral radiographic images. By adhering to this geometric framework dental practitioners can minimize geometric distortions and thereby repeated radiographic exposures of patients.
Inter-turn short-circuit diagnosis of wound-field doubly salient machine using multi-signal fusion and GA-XGBoost
Authors: Chen Ran , Shen Chong , Sheng Tianming , Zhao Yao
Published: December 2024

The wound-field doubly salient machine (WFDSM) is a generating system core assembly. Its condition monitoring and early fault diagnosis are key to improving system reliability. This study proposes a fault diagnosis method based on multi-signal mixed domain fusion at the feature level and genetic algorithm improved XGBoost (GA-XGBoost). First, low-pass noise reduction, singular value decomposition noise reduction, and other signal pre-processing are applied to the current and vibration signals of early inter-turn short-circuit faults. Second, the time domain, frequency domain, and entropy features of the current signal, along with the time domain features of the vibration signal, are extracted, together forming a diagnostic feature set. Then, the feature set is put into the GA-XGBoost model. The results show that the proposed method of feature fusion achieves an accuracy of 99.3%. Thus, the multi-signal mixed domain fusion has stronger signal characteristic expression ability. In addition, the GA-XGBoost model achieves better generalizability and higher accuracy in the small-scale samples of WFDSM faults. The experimental results demonstrate that this method can effectively diagnose various conditions and also has strong anti-interference capability under extreme conditions.
Specific reasons for living and suicide resilience mechanisms negatively predict suicide risk among sexual minorities
Authors: Van Zyl Maryke , Brennan James Michael , Parmenter Joshua G. , Joseph Kaela , Bongar Bruce , Goldblum Peter
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Sexual minority (SM) adults experience disproportionately high rates of suicide, yet it is not clear what protective factors offset the risk of suicide.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey of 564 SM adults assessed associations between suicide outcomes, suicide resilience and reasons for living (RFL).

Results

Survival and Coping Beliefs and Moral Objections subscales of the RFL, as well as Suicide Resilience were negatively associated with likelihood of future sucide attempts.

Conclusion

Suicide resilience and some RFL subscales are protective against suicide for SM adults, which not only supports the use of RFL and resilience among SM adults, but provides an empirical foundation for developing a culturally-specific RFL measure.
Assessing the impact of stimulation environment and error probability on ErrP EEG response, detection and subject attention: an explorative study
Authors: Farabbi Andrea , Mainardi Luca
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aims to investigate the impact of stimulus environments (Virtual Theatre vs Monitor) and error probabilities (20% vs 50%) on attentional states, Error Potentials (ErrP), and machine learning classification performance.

Approach

EEG signals were recorded using different protocols, and features were extracted for subsequent analysis from single-trial response and attention level was computed from the second preceding error processing stimulation.

Results

The results indicate significant differences across conditions: the Monitor environment consistently elicited higher and faster ErrP responses and elevated attentional states compared to Virtual Theatre. Additionally, classification performance in the Monitor environment outperformed Virtual Theatre consistently. Further analysis revealed that the 20% error probability protocol yielded increased ErrP responses, heightened attentional states, and superior classification performance compared to the 50% protocol. Classification performance under the 20% error probability condition consistently exceeded 75% validation and test sets. Moreover, a significant correlation between attention-related features and ErrP characteristics was observed, highlighting the intricate relationship between error processing and attentional engagement.

Relevance

These findings underscore the importance of considering stimulus environments and error probabilities in cognitive neuroscience research and machine learning applications. Understanding these factors can inform experimental design and model development, ultimately advancing our comprehension of cognitive processes and enhancing real-world applications of machine learning algorithms.
Connected But Protected: Guiding Healthy Brain Development in the Digital Age
Authors: Chun Ji-Won , Choi Jihye , Hu Min Kyung , Kim Dai Jin
Published: December 2024

Understanding the impact of smartphone use on teenage brain development is crucial. Excessive smartphone use can disrupt healthy brain development by weakening connections between brain cells, making it harder to regulate emotional reactions and other brain functions. Smartphone use can also make it harder for teenagers to focus and avoid distractions, thereby increasing their dependence on digital devices. Encouraging healthy smartphone usage habits is essential for teenagers’ mental and emotional wellbeing, helping them develop necessary skills for regulating their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. This article explains important findings on the effects of excessive smartphone use on teen brain development. These studies use brain imaging techniques to reveal changes in brain activity and connections between important brain regions, particularly areas responsible for emotional regulation and control of thoughts and actions. Additionally, by providing practical tips for developing healthy smartphone habits, this manuscript helps young readers make informed decisions about their use of electronic devices.
Tactical critical thinking program on the tactical efficiency index, declarative and procedural knowledge in male soccer players: a case study
Authors: Gaviria Alzate Samuel Jose , Valencia-Sánchez Wilder Geovanny , Espinal Frank Esteban , Bustamante Jorge Luis , Arias-Arias Elkin
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to explore the implications of the in-field implementation of a teaching strategy that promotes critical thinking (TPCT) on tactical ability, declarative, and procedural knowledge. The TPCT is grounded in socio-constructivist theory and aims to enhance players' analytical skills through inquiry, problem-solving, and observation. By emphasizing the socio-constructivist approach, the program fosters skills such as interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and self-regulation, encouraging players' active participation in questioning and collaborative problem-solving activities. The content of the program focuses on offensive tactical principles of soccer.

Methods

Thirteen male U-14 soccer players (mean age: 13.54 ± 1.00 years; mean soccer-federated experience: 3.92 ± 1.00 years; mean body mass: 39.44 ± 6.09 kg; mean height: 1.61 ± 0.10 m) performed a TPCT intervention strategy over 22 sessions, three times a week. Tactical ability was assessed using the Test for Performance Assessment in Team Sports (PATS), while declarative and procedural knowledge were evaluated with the Tactical Knowledge Test in Soccer (TCTOF). These assessments were administered before and after the intervention.

Results

After the 8-week teaching strategy, there was a significant improvement and substantial increase in the Tactical Efficiency Index (IE) [t (12) = 2.61, p < 0.05, r = 0.73], reflecting a 41% rise from the pretest (M = 0.39, SD = 0.21) to the post-test (M = 0.55, SD = 0.24). Changes in declarative knowledge were minimal, with a 0.31% increase. Similarly, procedural knowledge showed a slight increase (3.53%) that did not reach statistical significance.

Discussion

The findings suggest that integrating critical thinking into sports training could be a strategy to enhance the tactical abilities of young soccer players. While the increase in tactical ability was significant, improvements in declarative and procedural knowledge were minimal. These results highlight the potential of critical thinking-focused programs to impact tactical performance but suggest that further research is needed to explore the broader effects on other types of knowledge.
Impact of farmer training on potato yield: a case of smallholder potato farmers in Malawi
Authors: Kangogo Ednah , Otieno David Jakinda , Okello Julius , Mwenye Obed , Kapalasa Eliya
Published: December 2024

Due to rapid population growth, agri-food systems have been under increasing pressure to adapt and innovate to sustainably meet the growing demand for food. This requires advances in agricultural practices, technology and distribution networks. Farmer training has been proven to be a crucial component in this transformative process. Equipping farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills becomes paramount to optimize agricultural productivity while also improving their coping with the effects of climate change. This study applied the difference-in-difference method with inverse probability-weighted regression to analyze the impact of farmer training on potato yield. Results showed that 40% of farmers who received training interventions were members of farmer groups and had more farming experience compared to the control group. Additionally, the annual crop enterprise revenue for training participants was USD 255 compared to USD 134 for the control group. Results also showed that potato farmers who participated in positive selection training reported an increase in yield by 14%. On average, training participants were able to increase their potato yield by 1.33 tons per acre. These findings demonstrate the importance of providing targeted training and specific skills in order to enhance farm output. Furthermore, improving access to credit and supporting effective participation in farmer groups would increase farm yields.
Investigation of Hyalomma turanicum and Hyalomma asiaticum in Pakistan, with notes on the detection of tickborne Rickettsiales
Authors: Ullah Zafar , Liaqat Iram , Khan Mehran , Alouffi Abdulaziz , Almutairi Mashal M. , Apanaskevich Dmitry A. , Tanaka Tetsuya , Ali Abid
Published: December 2024

There is limited information on the occurrence of Hyalomma turanicum and Hyalomma asiaticum ticks, as well as associated Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species in Pakistan. Addressing this knowledge gap, the current study aimed at morphomolecular confirmation of these ticks and molecular assessment of associated Rickettsiales bacteria (Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia spp.) in Balochistan, Pakistan. A total of 314 ticks were collected from 74 of 117 (63.2%) hosts, including 41 of 74 (55.4%) goats and 33 of 74 (44.5%) sheep. Subsequently, a subset of microscopically identified ticks was subjected to DNA extraction and PCR to amplify 16S rDNA and cox1 fragments. Additionally, gltA, ompA, and ompB fragments were targeted for Rickettsia spp. and 16S rDNA fragments for both Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. The 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences of Hy. turanicum demonstrated 100% identity with those of the same species previously reported from Pakistan. The 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences of Hy. asiaticum exhibited 99.52 and 100% identities, respectively, with corresponding species reported from China, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. The gltA, ompA, and ompB fragments associated with Hy. turanicum showed 100% identities with Rickettsia aeschlimannii reported from Egypt, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Pakistan, and Senegal. The 16S rDNA sequences of Anaplasma sp. and Ehrlichia sp. associated with both Hy. asiaticum and Hy. turanicum exhibited 99.67 and 100% identities with unknown Anaplasma sp. and Ehrlichia sp. reported from Morocco and Pakistan, respectively. In the 16S rDNA and cox1 phylogenetic trees of ticks, Hy. turanicum and Hy. asiaticum from the current study clustered with their respective species. Similarly, in gltA, ompA, and ompB phylogenetic trees of Rickettsia, R. aeschlimannii of the present study clustered with the same species, whereas Anaplasma sp. and Ehrlichia sp. of this study clustered with undetermined Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in the 16S rDNA phylogenetic tree of Anaplasmataceae. Among the DNA samples from the screened ticks, a coinfection rate of R. aeschlimannii, Anaplasma sp., and Ehrlichia sp. (2 of 80, 2.5%) was observed in Hy. turanicum, whereas individual infection rates were noted as follows: R. aeschlimannii (8 of 80, 10%), Anaplasma sp. (5 of 80, 6.3%), and Ehrlichia sp. (5 of 80, 6.3%). This study marks the first record of molecular characterization of Hy. turanicum and Hy. asiaticum as well as the detection of associated R. aeschlimannii, Anaplasma sp., and Ehrlichia sp. in Balochistan, Pakistan.
Food Advertisement and Marketing Policies Aimed at Reducing Childhood Obesity: A Review of Existing Regulations in High-Income Countries
Authors: Khan Rida , Suggs L. Suzanne , Tanweer Afifa , Bányai Gábor
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To identify and evaluate the difference between voluntary and mandatory food marketing policies and regulations targeting childhood obesity and to study the role of media, the food industry, and private associations in implementing such policies.

Methods

A review of policies and legislation about unhealthy food marketing was conducted by searching and extracting relevant grey literature from the websites of international health agencies, food marketing pledge databases, GINA, and NOURISHING policy databases. Statutory laws and self-regulations of high-income countries were compared with each other and with the WHO recommendations.

Results

Regulations differ regarding target audience, nutrient profiling, communication media, and marketing techniques. To date, no country has implemented comprehensive regulations restricting all forms of unhealthy food marketing. Statutory laws are more meticulous and rigorous than self-regulatory policies.

Conclusion

The goal of reducing childhood obesity through restrictions on unhealthy food advertising has not been met. While not welcomed by all actors, mandatory regulations may be more effective than voluntary measures in reaching this goal. A system for monitoring adherence to regulations and providing both incentives and penalties for violations is warranted.
Changes of Ankle Motion and Ground Reaction Force Using Elastic Neutral AFO in Neurological Patients with Inverted Foot During Gait
Authors: Park Du-Jin , Hwang Young-In
Published: December 2024

Many stroke patients develop ankle deformities due to neurological or non-neurological factors, resulting in abnormal gait patterns. While Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are commonly used to address these issues, few are specifically designed for ankle varus. The Elastic Neutral Ankle-Foot Orthosis (EN-AFO) was developed for this purpose. This study aimed to analyze changes in kinematic and kinetic gait data in stroke patients with ankle varus, comparing those walking with and without EN-AFO in both AFO and No-AFO groups. Initially, 30 stroke patients with ankle varus were screened; after exclusions, 17 were included in the final analysis. In the No-AFO group, EN-AFO significantly improved maximal ankle inversion on the affected side during the swing phase (from 4.63 ± 13.26 to 10.56 ± 11.40, p = 0.025). Similarly, in the AFO group, EN-AFO led to a significant improvement in maximal ankle inversion on the less-affected side during the swing phase (from 7.95 ± 10.11 to 12.01 ± 8.64, p = 0.021). Additionally, ground reaction forces on the affected side of the AFO group significantly increased at both the forefoot (from 182.76 ± 61.45 to 211.55 ± 70.57, p = 0.038) and hindfoot (from 210.67 ± 107.88 to 231.85 ± 105.38, p = 0.038) with EN-AFO. Conversely, maximal and minimal thoracic axial rotation on the affected side improved significantly in the No-AFO group compared to the AFO group with EN-AFO, during both the stance and swing phases (stance phase: max improvement from −1.13 ± 1.80 to 4.83 ± 8.05, min improvement from −1.06 ± 2.45 to 5.89 ± 7.56; swing phase: max improvement from −1.33 ± 2.13 to 5.49 ± 7.82, min improvement from −1.24 ± 2.43 to 5.95 ± 7.12; max p = 0.034, min p = 0.016 during stance; max p = 0.027, min p = 0.012 during swing). Furthermore, both maximal and minimal thoracic axial rotation on the less-affected side during the swing phase improved significantly in the No-AFO group (max improvement from −2.09 ± 4.18 to 6.04 ± 6.90, min improvement from −0.47 ± 2.13 to 8.18 ± 10.45; max p = 0.027, min p = 0.012) compared with the AFO group. These findings suggest that EN-AFO may effectively improve gait in stroke patients with ankle varus in the No-AFO group.
Analysis of the Driving Stability of a Multi-Model Driven Electric-Tracked Intelligent Detection Device
Authors: Wang Yitian , Liu Huazhen , Song Linsen , Liang Longkai , Zhang Yiwen , Yu Zhenglei , Liu Chunbai , Hao Yanzhong , Xu Meichao , Zhang Xinming , Li Siying
Published: December 2024

The electric-tracked intelligent detection device is extensively used in engineering exploration and construction. However, in unstructured and complex terrains, its stability is challenged by a high center of gravity and poor road conditions, making the enhancement of its stability analysis crucial. This study is based on tracked vehicle models, constructing kinematic and dynamic equations for the device, and developing virtual and physical prototypes. Combining theoretical analysis, virtual simulations, and physical testing, the study analyzes motion parameters under typical conditions through numerical calculations and simulations. It examines the device’s dynamic characteristics during rapid turns in unstructured terrains. The research identifies variations in motion parameters, determines dynamic stability thresholds, and refines stability analysis methods applicable to the device, establishing evaluation criteria with multiple parameters and weight vectors. In conclusion, the developed models and prototypes help us understand the electric-tracked intelligent detection device’s dynamic characteristics and instability thresholds, enhancing its stability and operational efficiency and providing a theoretical foundation for related engineering machinery development.
Addition of High-Quality Plant Residue Alters Microbial Keystone Taxa and Network Complexity and Increases Soil Phosphorus (P) Availability
Authors: Miao Yi , Zhou Fei , Ding Shuai , Zhu Zhenke , Huo Zhichao , Chen Qing , Liu Zhongzhen
Published: December 2024

Incorporation of plant residues in soil affects microbial community structure and ecological function, which can improve soil fertility. It is reported that substrate qualities could regulate microbial keystone taxa and their interactions, wielding an important effect on nutrient cycling in ecosystems, such as soil labile phosphorus (P) transformation. However, there is little understanding of the specific microbial mechanisms governing P’s availability in acidic soils following the incorporation of plant residues of various qualities. In this 210-day incubation experiment, two high-quality residues of pumpkin stover and mango branch and one low-quality residue of rice straw, different in terms of their labile carbon (C) content and carbon/phosphorus ratio (C/P), were separately mixed with an acidic soil. The aim was to investigate how the residues affected the community composition, keystone species, and interaction patterns of soil bacteria and fungi, and how these microbial characteristics altered soil P mineralization and immobilization processes, along with P availability. The results showed that adding high-quality pumpkin stover significantly increased the soil’s available P content (AP), microbial biomass P content (MBP), and acid phosphatase activity (ACP), by 63.7%, 86.7%, and 171.7% compared to the control with no plant residue addition, respectively. This was explained by both the high abundance of dominant bacteria (Kribbella) and the positive interactions among fungal keystone species. Adding mango branch and rice straw induced cooperation within fungal communities while resulting in lower bacterial abundances, thereby increasing AP, MBP, and ACP less than the addition of pumpkin stover. Moreover, the labile C of plant residues played a dominant role in soil P transformation and determined the P availability of the acidic soil. Therefore, it may be suitable to incorporate high-quality plant residues with high labile C and low C/P into acidic soils in order to improve microbial communities and enhance P availability.
Yield, Composition, and Chemotypes of Essential Oils from Origanum vulgare L. Aerial Parts Cultivated in Different European Countries
Authors: Raal Ain , Gontova Tetiana , Ivask Anu , Orav Anne , Koshovyi Oleh
Published: December 2024

Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery, and cosmetic industries for the needs for which this raw material is cultivated. O. vulgare is a polymorphic species with subspecies, which differ in the structure of their reproductive organs, the location of essential oil (EO) trichomes, and the composition of EO. Therefore, it is very important to identify the most valuable chemotypes rich in biologically active substances and cultivate them more widely. This research aimed to study the chemical composition of O. vulgare EO from aerial parts (n = 17) of cultivated plants (leaves, leaves and flowers, flowering tops) from different European countries (n = 5) to determine the dynamics of EO yield and its component accumulation depending on vegetation phases, as well as to establish chemotypes of O. vulgare, which are the most promising for cultivation. EOs from the raw materials were obtained by hydrodistillation according to the European Pharmacopoeia method; their analysis was carried out by GC-MS. A total of 17 studied samples of O. vulgare aerial parts from Estonia, Turkey, Scotland, Moldova, and Italy contained 1.9–11.0 mL/kg of EO. The highest yields of EO were found in the samples from Moldova (11.0 mL/kg) and Italy (9.3 mL/kg). In total, 89 substances were identified in the studied EOs. By studying the variability of the chemical composition during the plant’s vegetation period, we found the highest content of EO was noted in the phase of full flowering and at the end of blooming. Strong correlations (r = 0.61–0.84) were found between the contents of some terpenoids. The six chemotypes of O. vulgare rich in (1) caryophyllene oxide; (2) sabinene; (3) caryophyllene oxide–(E)-β-caryophyllene; (4) (E)-β-caryophyllene; (5) carvacrol, and (6) thymol–carvacrol were found. In terms of quantitative EO content of O. vulgare, none of the studied samples (n = 17), and in terms of total carvacrol and thymol, most of the samples (n = 15) did not meet the minimum standards of the European Pharmacopoeia. When cultivating O. vulgare for the pharmaceutical industry, it is necessary to proceed from plant propagation material rich in EO and chemotypes rich in carvacrol and thymol.
Assessment of Donkey (Equus asinus) Welfare at Slaughter in Ghana
Authors: Fletcher Katharine , Limon Georgina , Agongo Eric , Akunzule Anthony , Essel Gloria , Padalino Barbara , Grist Andrew , Gibson Troy John
Published: December 2024

Donkey slaughter in West Africa has received limited scientific attention, despite increasing over recent years. This study aimed to explore factors affecting donkey welfare, both ante-mortem and at slaughter, in the Upper East region of Ghana. A total of 134 donkeys at five different slaughter points were assessed using animal-based indicators. Slaughter involved either blunt force trauma (BFT) using a wooden pole (1 location) or a metal hammer (2 locations); or non-stun ventral neck incision (VNI) (2 locations). Time to loss of consciousness (or return) was assessed, with behavioural and brainstem signs of sensibility/consciousness. Negative human–animal interactions occurred ante-mortem, with animals struck multiple times and handled using aversive methods. Donkeys hit on the head with the wooden pole were five times more likely to be ineffectively concussed (p < 0.001, OR: 5.4, CI: 1.9–15.4) compared to the hammer and took significantly longer to lose consciousness (p < 0.001). The mean time to loss of corneal reflex for those hit by wooden pole was 166.9 s (SD 21.1; range: 79–425 s), compared to just one animal displaying corneal reflex for 59 s after being hit by metal hammer. For those animals slaughtered through VNI, corneal reflex was observed for a mean time of 96.5 s (SD 4.3, range 26–164 s). The findings of this study highlight major concerns regarding the methods used for donkey slaughter in the Upper East region in Ghana, particularly regarding aversive ante-mortem handling and prolonged time to loss of consciousness during VNI and ineffective BFT in inducing unconsciousness by concussion.
Contributions to More Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Cattle Production: Study of Performance of Galloway and Highland Breeds in Transylvania, Romania
Authors: Ranta Mirela , Mălinaș Anamaria
Published: December 2024

Sustainable and climate-resilient livestock systems are increasingly necessary to balance food production demands with environmental conservation. Breeds such as Galloway (Ga) and Highland (Hi) cattle are recognized for their adaptability to extensive grazing systems, low input requirements, and ability to thrive on marginal lands. Despite their potential, research on the performance of Ga and Hi cattle in low-resource, extensive grazing systems, particularly in Romania, remains scarce. This study evaluated the performance of Ga and Hi beef cattle raised under low-input conditions with a focus on the following: (1) the average daily gain (ADG) on low- and medium-quality forage and (2) the cattle’s adaptability to extensive grazing systems. The study, conducted at Cojocna Farm, Transylvania, Romania (2023–2024), involved five male and three female calves from each breed. Calves were weighed five times in the entire observation period, and feed quality was analyzed. The results showed that Ga calves, especially males, had a higher ADG than Hi calves (Ga = 676.91 g, Hi = 581.14 g), while females showed more consistent performance during winter feeding. Both breeds demonstrated strong adaptability and satisfactory performance under the extensive conditions of Transylvania, as evidenced by the comparison of the obtained ADG with the values provided by the National Breed Register. Future research should explore the long-term sustainability of these breeds in varying environmental conditions, to investigate genetic factors influencing performance, and assess the broader ecological and economic benefits of integrating Galloway and Highland cattle into diverse farming systems.
A Combined Extract from Dioscorea bulbifera and Zingiber officinale Mitigates PM2.5-Induced Respiratory Damage by NF-κB/TGF-β1 Pathway
Authors: Kim In Young , Lee Hyo Lim , Choi Hye Ji , Ju Yeong Hyeon , Heo Yu Mi , Na Hwa Rang , Lee Dong Yeol , Jeong Won Min , Heo Ho Jin
Published: December 2024

This research evaluated the protective role of a combined extract of Dioscorea bulbifera and Zingiber officinale (DBZO) against respiratory dysfunction caused by particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure in BALB/c mice. The bioactive compounds identified in the DBZO are catechin, astragalin, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol. DBZO ameliorated cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in PM2.5-stimulated A549 and RPMI 2650 cells. In addition, it significantly alleviated respiratory dysfunction in BALB/c mice exposed to PM2.5. DBZO improved the antioxidant systems in lung tissues by modulating malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Likewise, DBZO restored mitochondrial dysfunction by improving ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP production. Moreover, DBZO modulated the levels of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes (specifically CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+IL-4+ T cells) in blood and IgE levels in serum. DBZO was shown to regulate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) pathway. Histopathological observation indicated that DBZO mitigates the increase in alveolar septal thickness. These findings indicate that DBZO is a promising natural agent for improving respiratory health.
Advanced Numerical Analysis of Transport Packaging
Authors: Cornaggia Aram , Mrówczyński Damian , Gajewski Tomasz , Knitter-Piątkowska Anna , Garbowski Tomasz
Published: December 2024

This article presents an extended numerical approach for evaluating the dynamic response of corrugated cardboard transport packaging under simulated transport conditions. Building upon a simplified method previously introduced, this study integrates a more comprehensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) framework to capture the non-linear behaviour of packaging subjected to vertical random vibrations. The proposed model employs dynamic, modal, and contact analyses to simulate the deformation of packaging and subsequent strength reduction over multiple impact cycles, reflecting real-world conditions more accurately. The developed approach gives detailed insights into the structural degradation of packaging due to repetitive transport loads and validates the findings through comparative compression tests. The results show that enhanced numerical methods improve the accuracy of load-bearing predictions, thereby supporting optimisation in packaging design for various geometries and transport scenarios. This method offers a valuable tool for evaluating the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of packaging solutions in logistics.
Cold-Adapted Fungi: Goldmine of Biomolecules Applicable in Industry
Authors: Jodłowska Iga , Białkowska Aneta Monika
Published: December 2024

Fungi, which are widely distributed across the Earth, have successfully managed to colonize cold environments (e.g., polar regions, alpine ecosystems, and glaciers) despite the challenging conditions for life. They are capable of living in extremely harsh environments due to their ecological versatility and morphological plasticity. It is also believed that lower eukaryotes are the most adapted to life at low temperatures among microorganisms that thrive in cold environments. They play important ecological roles, contributing to nutrient recycling and organic matter mineralization. These highly specialized microorganisms have developed adaptation strategies to overcome the direct and indirect harmful influences of low temperatures. They have evolved a wide range of complex and cooperative adaptations at various cellular levels, including modifications to the cell envelope and enzymes, the production of cryoprotectants and chaperones, and the development of new metabolic functions. Adaptation to cold environments has made fungi an exciting source for the discovery of new cold-adapted enzymes (e.g., proteinases, lipases) and secondary metabolites (e.g., pigments, osmolytes, polyunsaturated fatty acids) for widespread use in biotechnology, food technology, agriculture, pharmaceutics, molecular biology, textile industry, and environmental bioremediation in cold climates. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the adaptive strategies employed by psychrophilic yeasts and fungi, highlighting their ecological roles and biotechnological potential. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms not only sheds light on microbial life in extreme environments but also paves the way for innovative applications in the food industry and agriculture.
The Debris Flow Risk Prediction Model Based on PCA-Elman
Authors: Cao Siyuan , Yuan Ying , Sun Xiaodong , Zhang Miao , Han Ningbo , Zhou Aihong , Zhang Wensong
Published: December 2024

Accurate prediction of the risk levels of debris flows is crucial for devising effective disaster prevention and mitigation strategies. This study, based on debris flow sample data from Yunnan Province, initially employs Principal Component Analysis to reduce the dimensionality of the raw data, extracting key features and minimizing data dimensions. Subsequently, a 5-fold cross-validation method is utilized to segment the dataset into training and testing sets, and a predictive model integrating Principal Component Analysis with an Elman Neural Network (PCA-Elman) is constructed. The study investigates the impact of data imbalance and spatial variability on the model’s predictive accuracy and attempts to enhance the model’s generalization capabilities by employing the Adaptive Synthetic Sampling algorithm and incorporating samples from unknown regions. The results indicate that the model demonstrates high accuracy and generalization in predicting debris flow risks, with its Area Under Curve value, Average Precision value, and average precision scores surpassing those of traditional models, achieving an accuracy rate of 88.57%. After processing the data with the Adaptive Synthetic Sampling algorithm, the model’s accuracy rate increases to 98.33%. Furthermore, incorporating samples from unknown regions into the trained model significantly improves the prediction accuracy for debris flow risks in those areas. This research offers new insights into the assessment of debris flow hazards and disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, and provides a reference for the construction of predictive models for similar natural disasters.
Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons—Relationship to Ambient Air, Risk Estimation, and Source Apportionment Based on Household Measurements
Authors: Lovrić Mario , Račić Nikolina , Pehnec Gordana , Horvat Tajana , Lovrić Štefiček Marija Jelena , Jakovljević Ivana
Published: December 2024

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are key components of particulate matter (PM) in terms of the toxicological risk of polluted air. Although commonly monitored in ambient air, PAHs are also present in indoor air, making the measurement of indoor PAH content essential for understanding the health risks associated with indoor environments. This study presents findings from measurements conducted across 37 households where children resided, using 7-day sampling campaigns to collect PM1. The health risk assessment methods are detailed herein, along with a source apportionment analysis to explore the associations with potential sources and differences from ambient air concentrations. Additionally, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was calculated to assess long-term health risks associated with exposure to indoor PAHs. The results showed consistently higher PAH concentrations in outdoor environments (from 0.079 ng m−3 for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 1.638 ng m−3 for benzo(b)fluoranthene) compared to indoor environments (from 0.029 ng m−3 for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 0.772 ng m−3 for indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene), suggesting significant transfer of PAHs from outdoor to indoor air. The source apportionment analysis indicated that traffic emissions, fossil fuel combustion, and residential heating were the predominant sources of PAHs in both environments, with the concentration of indoor PAHs largely influenced by gasoline and liquid fossil fuel combustion. The diagnostic ratios supported these findings, with coal and biomass as additional sources impacting outdoor PAH levels. The ILCR analysis revealed that the exposure levels for both children (indoors at 1.78 × 10−5, outdoors at 1.92 × 10−6) and adults (indoors at 1.15 × 10−5, outdoors at 1.24 × 10−6) remained below the U.S. EPA’s risk threshold, suggesting limited carcinogenic risk under typical household conditions in this study. These findings emphasize the complexity of PAH distribution between indoor and outdoor environments, illustrating how urban outdoor pollution sources contribute to indoor air quality and highlighting the relevance of effective air quality management strategies.
Effects of the Northeast Monsoon on Different Terrain of the Taipei Basin and Lanyang Plain in Taiwan
Authors: Jeng Pei-Di , Hou Jou-Ping
Published: December 2024

The Taipei Basin (TPB) and the Lanyang Plain (LYP) are geographically similar, both situated in northern Taiwan. However, significant differences in heat transfer processes arise between the two regions due to local terrain influences under the Northeast Monsoon. Precipitation patterns in the TPB and LYP, especially during the case study of 26 November 2021, differ markedly due to the distinctive dustpan-shaped terrain of the LYP. Our study, based on the WRF model, reveals that while both the TPB and LYP are characterized by downward cold air transfer, the TPB exhibits stronger atmospheric boundary layer mixing and a higher mixing layer height compared to the LYP. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in the TPB is higher during the morning and evening, while vertical heat flux is more pronounced in the LYP. The average sensible heat flux is greater in the TPB, whereas latent heat flux is higher in the LYP. In addition, the amount of water vapor transported into the LYP by the Northeast Monsoon is greater than in the TPB. In the TPB, the wind field, influenced by the terrain, shifts predominantly from northeast to northeasterly and southeasterly. However, upon entering the LYP, the same environmental wind field is affected by the dustpan-shaped terrain, resulting in a counterclockwise near-surface wind pattern. The wind field transitions from northeasterly in the north to westerly, southwesterly, or northwesterly in the south. This difference in wind field causes precipitation in the TPB to be confined mainly to the windward side of the mountainous areas whereas, in the LYP, precipitation occurs both on the windward side and, more abundantly, in the plains. The effect of different types of terrain under the Northeast Monsoon is quite obvious.
Phylogeny and Polyploidy Evolution of the Suckers (Teleostei: Catostomidae)
Authors: Yang Lei , Mayden Richard L. , Naylor Gavin J. P.
Published: December 2024

Fishes in the cypriniform family Catostomidae (suckers) are evolutionary tetraploids. The use of nuclear markers in the phylogenetic study of this important group has been greatly hindered by the challenge of identifying paralogous copies of genes. In the present study, we used two different methods to separate the gene copies of five single-copy nuclear genes (i.e., RAG1, EGR2B, EGR3, IRBP2, and RAG2). For each gene, all sequences of Copy I formed a clade that was sister to the clade formed by all sequences of Copy II in the phylogenetic trees. The maternal and paternal progenitor of the tetraploid ancestor of the Catostomidae could not be determined. We also constructed a mitochondrial tree to reflect the maternal relationships among major catostomid lineages. Our data appear to support a sister relationship between Catostominae and a monophyletic group composed of Myxocyprininae, Cycleptinae, and Ictiobinae. However, within Catostominae, there is significant conflict between mitochondrial and nuclear data regarding the relationships among Erimyzonini, Catostomini, and Moxostomatini/Thoburnini. Many indels, unexpected stop codons, and possible gene loss were identified in one gene copy of RAG1, RAG2, and IRBP2. We believe that additional nuclear genome data are needed to better resolve the phylogenetic relationships within the family Catostomidae.
The Effects of Aldosterone on Hypertension-Associated Kidney Injury in a Tg-hAS Mouse Model
Authors: Gu Huiying , Chen Zhe , Du Nicole , Yang Sisi , Yu Yongqi , Du Yansheng
Published: December 2024

Hypertension remains a global health challenge due to its high prevalence and association with premature morbidity and mortality. Aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid hormone, and its receptor, the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), are highly implicated in hypertension pathogenesis. Aldosterone synthase is the sole enzyme responsible for producing aldosterone in humans. We established transgenic mice carrying the human aldosterone synthase gene (cyp11B2) and showed dramatically increased levels of aldosterone in female hemizygotes. High-salt diets persistently increased blood pressure in these mice, and salt-induced hypertension was significantly ameliorated by reducing aldosterone levels via an aldosterone synthase inhibitor or blocking MR via an MR inhibitor. Since both hypertension and hyperaldosteronism specifically induce chronic kidney disease, in this model, we demonstrated that chronic high-salt diets induced hypertension in this mouse line and resulted in kidney inflammation and injury. Both the aldosterone synthase inhibitor and the MR antagonist markedly blocked high-salt-diet-mediated kidney injury. Thus, this transgenic mouse line can be used to study the pathogenic mechanisms underlying aldosterone and its receptor and to screen therapeutic compounds for aldosterone-mediated hypertension and related complications, such as kidney disease, in humans.
MS-CLSTM: Myoelectric Manipulator Gesture Recognition Based on Multi-Scale Feature Fusion CNN-LSTM Network
Authors: Wang Ziyi , Huang Wenjing , Qi Zikang , Yin Shuolei
Published: December 2024

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals reflect the local electrical activity of muscle fibers and the synergistic action of the overall muscle group, making them useful for gesture control of myoelectric manipulators. In recent years, deep learning methods have increasingly been applied to sEMG gesture recognition due to their powerful automatic feature extraction capabilities. sEMG signals contain rich local details and global patterns, but single-scale convolutional networks are limited in their ability to capture both comprehensively, which restricts model performance. This paper proposes a deep learning model based on multi-scale feature fusion—MS-CLSTM (MS Block-ResCBAM-Bi-LSTM). The MS Block extracts local details, global patterns, and inter-channel correlations in sEMG signals using convolutional kernels of different scales. The ResCBAM, which integrates CBAM and Simple-ResNet, enhances attention to key gesture information while alleviating overfitting issues common in small-sample datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that the MS-CLSTM model achieves recognition accuracies of 86.66% and 83.27% on the Ninapro DB2 and DB4 datasets, respectively, and the accuracy can reach 89% in real-time myoelectric manipulator gesture prediction experiments. The proposed model exhibits superior performance in sEMG gesture recognition tasks, offering an effective solution for applications in prosthetic hand control, robotic control, and other human–computer interaction fields.