bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of different exercise interventions on executive function in children with autism spectrum disorder: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Hou Yaoqi , Wang Yan , Deng Jiaqi , Song Xiangqin
Published: September 2024

Background

A large body of research has identified the positive effects of physical activity on children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the specific benefits of different types of sports on executive functioning in children with ASD remain unclear. The aim of this study was to further analyze the effects of different sports on executive functioning in children with ASD using reticulated meta-analysis and to establish their effectiveness ranking.

Methods

This study conducted a comprehensive online search in Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and CNKI databases. It included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies, and synthesized the data using a Bayesian framework.

Results

Several relevant studies were included. The results showed that physical activity significantly improved all three dimensions of executive functioning (inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory) in children with ASD. The improvement in cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control both reached a medium effect size. However, the improvement in inhibitory control was better than that in cognitive flexibility, while the improvement in working memory did not reach the level of a medium effect. Mini Basketball was effective in improving inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, but not working memory. Ping Pong was more effective in cognitive flexibility and working memory, but weaker in inhibitory control. Fixed Bicycle was less effective in all three dimensions. Among other interventions, Learning Bicycles, Animal-assisted therapy, and Exergaming performed better in cognitive flexibility. SPARK, Neiyang Gong, and Martial Arts were also effective in improving inhibitory control. However, SPARK and Fixed Bicycle were not significant in improving working memory.

Conclusion

Physical activity as an intervention can significantly improve the executive function of children with ASD. The intervention effects of different sports on different dimensions of executive function vary. Mini Basketball was outstanding in improving inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Ping Pong was effective in improving cognitive flexibility and working memory. Fixed Bicycle was not effective in any dimension.
The effect of the Smart Health Continuous Feedback For Elderly Exercise (SHe CoFFEE) program on mobility: a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Yi Jungeun , Lee Sunhee , Lee Seon Heui
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study determined the effectiveness of a comprehensive home-based online exercise program called “Smart Health Continuous Feedback for elderly exercise (SHe CoFFEE)” on mobility.

Methods

Sixty community-dwelling seniors were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control group. Intervention was an 8-week “SHe CoFFEE” program, featuring continuous feedback, self-monitoring, and fall prevention exercises. The primary outcome was mobility, measured at 8 weeks with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes included TUG at 4 weeks, 10 m walking test, 30-s chair stand test, falls efficacy scale, activity-specific balance confidence, and Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Levels.

Results

At 8 weeks, the intervention group showed improved TUG scores compared with the control group (MD = −1.87, 95% CI, −2.60 to −1.14; ηp2 = 0.326) in the adjusted intention-to-treat analysis. The per-protocol analysis data showed similar results. All secondary outcomes apart from quality of life improved with intervention to a greater degree than in control.

Conclusion

Smart healthcare and self-managed exercise programs may be viable for community-based health promotion and fall prevention in older adults unfamiliar with online technology.
Exploiting user-centred design to secure industrial control systems
Authors: Nunes Matthew , Kayan Hakan , Burnap Pete , Perera Charith , Dykes Jason
Published: September 2024

Due to an increase in the number of attacks on Industrial Control Systems (ICS), the security of these systems is now of paramount concern. Many solutions have been proposed to defend such systems, particularly those adopting Machine Learning (ML). The goal of this study is to increase the likelihood of the solution being deployed into a real environment. As part of that, multiple interviews were held with industry experts who have been embedded within ICS cyber-security for decades. The findings revealed that the current security solutions for ICS lack the sophistication required to be adopted due to flawed assumptions made about the end-user. Therefore, this work provides personas of each end-user group within ICS that need to be taken into consideration when designing a security solution. In addition, wireframes are provided showing what a desired solution could look like. By sharing these findings, it is hoped to inform those working within this space and increase the likelihood of their solutions being adopted within a real environment. Furthermore, the expert panel requested a number of features that do not currently exist within the ICS cyber-security space, therefore, by sharing these with the wider community, it is hoped that the field will move closer towards providing solutions containing these features.
SwAV-driven diagnostics: new perspectives on grading diabetic retinopathy from retinal photography
Authors: Alam Md Nuho Ul , Bahadur Erfanul Hoque , Masum Abdul Kadar Muhammad , Noori Farzan M. , Uddin Md Zia
Published: September 2024

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a serious eye condition that occurs due to high blood sugar levels in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. If left untreated, DR can potentially result in blindness. Using automated neural network-based methods to grade DR shows potential for early detection. However, the uneven and non-quadrilateral forms of DR lesions provide difficulties for traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based architectures. To address this challenge and explore a novel algorithm architecture, this work delves into the usage of contrasting cluster assignments in retinal fundus images with the Swapping Assignments between multiple Views (SwAV) algorithm for DR grading. An ablation study was made where SwAV outperformed other CNN and Transformer-based models, independently and in ensemble configurations with an accuracy of 87.00% despite having fewer parameters and layers. The proposed approach outperforms existing state-of-the-art models regarding classification metrics, complexity, and prediction time. The findings offer great potential for medical practitioners, allowing for more accurate diagnosis of DR and earlier treatments to avoid visual loss.
The era of genome editing: current updates and the status of food and nutrition security
Authors: Khaled Fathy , Mehta Sahil , Agrawal Pawan Kumar , Abdel-Monem Usama M. , El-Akkad Hend , Gendy Ahmed S. , Al-Maracy Sherin H. A. , Heakel Rania M. Y. , Wafa Hany A. , Fathy Rania , Narayan Om Prakash
Published: September 2024

Food security is the situation in which all people around the globe, in all circumstances must maintain constant physical and financial access to adequate nutritious, clean, and safe food. This is why food security is regarded as a major global issue. Domestically and internationally, many factors affect food production and quality; these include environmental climate change conditions, disasters, emerging new diseases, political issues, and shifts in the global economy. Additionally, rapid population growth necessitates adjustments to food and crop production. The current agricultural production strategies negatively affect soil fertility and cause many defects such as desertification, deforestation, and increased soil salinity. Additionally, the high use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides affects human health and food production. The production of numerous strategic crops, including rice, maize, soybeans, and wheat, was reduced due to the aforementioned factors. The global hunger index increased, and millions of people were placed in the food insecurity red zone. Governments and societies attempted to address the problem by creating a new one: a higher yield of low-quality main food crops, which can give rise to hidden hunger, a serious issue that violates people’s rights to a healthy and nutritious diet and inevitably causes food insecurity. In an attempt to end hunger, the Green Revolution produced high-yielding varieties of crops; however, this came at the expense of massive amounts of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural activities and practices that ignored the negative effects on the environment and nutritional value. Yet, billions of people worldwide suffer from iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A deficiency, making hidden hunger, malnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies a severe and widespread nutritional issue in developing nations. The most common nutritional condition affecting poor and rural populations, especially those in low-income developing countries, is iron and zinc deficiency. To decrease and close the gap between crop production and food consumption, there is a need to increase agricultural productivity. Here we discussed the current status of food insecurity and malnutrition status where many research efforts and developments to enhance food quality and production for food crops with the help of genome editing tools and applications for sustainable food production.
Residual coronary malformation after tibial shaft fracture alters the contact status of the meniscus and cartilage in the knee joint: a computational study
Authors: Ding Kai , Liu Wei , Sun Dacheng , Zhang Yifan , Ren Chuan , Cheng Xiaodong , Wang Haicheng , Zhu Yanbin , Xing Xin , Chen Wei
Published: September 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of residual varus/valgus deformity on the mechanical characteristics of the meniscus and cartilage after tibial shaft fracture.

Methods

A finite element model of the lower extremity of a healthy volunteer was constructed from CT and MRI images. The upper and middle tibial fracture models were modified to produce 3°, 5°, and 10° tibial varus/valgus models. For model validation, a patient-specific model with a 10° tibial varus deformity was constructed and simulated under the same boundary conditions.

Results

The contact area and maximum stress of the normal and modified deformity models were similar to those of the reported studies and a patient-specific model. The maximum stress, contact area, and contact force of the medial tibial cartilage in a normal neutral position were 0.64 MPa, 247.52 mm2, and 221.77 N, respectively, while those of the lateral tibial cartilage were 0.76 MPa, 196.25 mm2, and 146.12 N, respectively. From 10° of valgus to 10° of varus, the contact force, contact area, and maximum stress values of the medial tibial cartilage increased, and those of the lateral tibial cartilage gradually decreased. The maximum stress, contact area, and contact force of the medial tibial cartilage in the normal neutral position were 3.24 MPa, 110.91 mm2, and 62.84 N, respectively, while those of the lateral tibial cartilage were 3.45 MPa, 135.83 mm2, and 67.62 N, respectively. The maximum stress of the medial tibial subchondral bone in a normal neutral position was 1.47 MPa, while that of the lateral was 0.65 MPa. The variation trend of the medial/lateral meniscus and subchondral bone was consistent with that of the tibial plateau cartilage in terms of maximum stress, contact area, and contact force.

Conclusion

The residual varus/valgus deformity of the tibia has a significant impact on the mechanical loads exerted on the knee joint. This study provides a mechanical basis and references for the clinical evaluation of tibial fracture reduction and osteotomy for tibial deformity.
RATTUS (Rat Thoracic Ultrasound): diagnosis of pneumothorax in pet rats
Authors: Piskovská A. , Kraszewska K. , Hauptman K. , Chloupek J. , Linhart P. , Jekl V.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Rat thoracic ultrasound (RATTUS) is a non-invasive, easy-to-perform method for the evaluation of the pleural space and lungs in pet rats. The aim of the article is to present species-specific differences in the sonographic diagnosis of pneumothorax (PTX) in pet rats.

Methods

In total, 158 client-owned pet rats were examined during the period from July 2023 to January 2024. PTX was diagnosed in 20 of the examined rats (13.25%, the age of the animals ranged from 2 months to 32 months (19.08 ± 6.93 months; mean ± SD) and their body weight ranged from 97 g to 885 g (461.27 ± 138.97 g; mean ± SD). Radiographic confirmation of PTX was performed in all these 20 rats, in the control group radiography was used to confirm that PTX was not present.

Results

The lung point and the barcode sign was found in 7/20 animals with sensitivity of 33.3% (95% CI, 0.16–0.59) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 0.97–1.0). The abnormal curtain sign was found in 19/20 of animals with the sensitivity of 95% (95% CI, 0.73–0.99.7) and the specificity of 89% (95% CI, 0.82–0.93). The abnormalities in the substernal access were in 17/20 of animals with the sensitivity of 85% (95% CI, 0.61–0.96) and the specificity of 71% (95% CI, 0.62–0.78).

Discussion

In conclusion, RATTUS is a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of PTX in rats. Lung point and barcode sign are specific but not easily diagnosed signs. The curtain sign in RATTUS is not specific for PTX, as there are e.g. geriatric rats (rats older than 1,5 years) in which the abnormal curtain sign is visible without the presence of PTX. The presence of moderate to severe PTX can be assessed by the substernal approach based on the presence of cardiac displacement toward the collapsed lung lobe, and on evaluation of the lung inflation symmetry. This sign is not specific for PTX but in conjunction with other ultrasonic signs described makes the RATTUS a feasible tool for PTX diagnosis in rats.
The Potential of AI in Performing Financial Sentiment Analysis for Predicting Entrepreneur Survival
Authors: Saleh Lina , Semaan Samer
Published: September 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of ChatGPT in analyzing the financial sentiment analysis of entrepreneurs. Sentiment analysis involves detecting if it is positive, negative, or neutral from a text. We examine several prompts on ChatGPT-4, ChatGPT-4.0, and LeChat-Mistral and compare the results with FinBERT. Then, we examine the correlation between scores given by both tools with the type, size, and age of the company. The results have shown that scores given by FinBERT are mostly significant and positively correlated with sustainable variables. By sharing these results, we hope to stimulate future research and advances in the field of financial services, particularly bank loans.
The Impact of Paradoxical Leadership on Employee Knowledge-Sharing Behavior: The Role of Trust in the Leader and Employee Promotive Voice Behavior
Authors: Silva Vítor Hugo , Duarte Ana Patrícia , Simões Luís Miguel
Published: September 2024

As the organizational environment becomes more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, and the economy becomes increasingly knowledge-based, organizational knowledge management is key for companies’ success. This is especially important as organizational ties are weaker and job-hopping becomes a more prevalent phenomenon. As human resource mobility increases, companies must ensure that knowledge remains within the company despite employee exit. In this context, the current study sought to understand how leaders’ actions can facilitate employee knowledge sharing, focusing on paradoxical leadership. Besides examining the impact of paradoxical leadership on employees’ propensity to adopt knowledge-sharing behaviors, this study also explored the effects of one potential intervening variable (i.e., promotive voice behavior) and one potential boundary condition (i.e., trust in the leader) on this relationship. A two-wave time-lagged correlational study was conducted with a sample of 154 workers from various sectors. The results of moderated mediation analysis suggest that paradoxical leaders indirectly promote greater knowledge-sharing among subordinates by fostering their promotive-voice behaviors, but only for those with high levels of trust in the leader. The implications of these findings for current organizational challenges regarding knowledge management are discussed.
Enhancement of Solar Array Drive Assembly System Stability through Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control
Authors: Wang Jianyuan , Gan Shiyue , Chen Jinbao , Wang Jian , Hu Zhuochen
Published: September 2024

To improve the Solar Array Drive Assembly (SADA) system, a servo control method known as Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (LADRC) is introduced, utilizing a speed loop for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). This method serves as an alternative to the conventional proportional–integral (PI) controller, which exhibits a limited stability margin. The use of the LADRC controller leads to decreased overshoot and enhances the system’s robustness against disturbances. First, the mathematical representation of the PMSM alongside the dynamic model of the solar wing is established. Following that, the application of the Lyapunov stability theory is employed to illustrate the stability of the drive system utilizing LADRC, thereby validating the stability of the SADA. Lastly, simulation experiments are performed using the MATLAB2021a/Simulink digital environment. The simulation results under various operational conditions indicate the significant improvement in stability compared to the PI controller, achieving the stability level of 9.603×10−5, demonstrates enhanced performance in terms of speed and resistance to disturbances.
Low-Cost Lettuce Height Measurement Based on Depth Vision and Lightweight Instance Segmentation Model
Authors: Zhao Yiqiu , Zhang Xiaodong , Sun Jingjing , Yu Tingting , Cai Zongyao , Zhang Zhi , Mao Hanping
Published: September 2024

Plant height is a crucial indicator of crop growth. Rapid measurement of crop height facilitates the implementation and management of planting strategies, ensuring optimal crop production quality and yield. This paper presents a low-cost method for the rapid measurement of multiple lettuce heights, developed using an improved YOLOv8n-seg model and the stacking characteristics of planes in depth images. First, we designed a lightweight instance segmentation model based on YOLOv8n-seg by enhancing the model architecture and reconstructing the channel dimension distribution. This model was trained on a small-sample dataset augmented through random transformations. Secondly, we proposed a method to detect and segment the horizontal plane. This method leverages the stacking characteristics of the plane, as identified in the depth image histogram from an overhead perspective, allowing for the identification of planes parallel to the camera’s imaging plane. Subsequently, we evaluated the distance between each plane and the centers of the lettuce contours to select the cultivation substrate plane as the reference for lettuce bottom height. Finally, the height of multiple lettuce plants was determined by calculating the height difference between the top and bottom of each plant. The experimental results demonstrated that the improved model achieved a 25.56% increase in processing speed, along with a 2.4% enhancement in mean average precision compared to the original YOLOv8n-seg model. The average accuracy of the plant height measurement algorithm reached 94.339% in hydroponics and 91.22% in pot cultivation scenarios, with absolute errors of 7.39 mm and 9.23 mm, similar to the sensor’s depth direction error. With images downsampled by a factor of 1/8, the highest processing speed recorded was 6.99 frames per second (fps), enabling the system to process an average of 174 lettuce targets per second. The experimental results confirmed that the proposed method exhibits promising accuracy, efficiency, and robustness.
Residues of Symbiont Cover Crops Improving Corn Growth and Soil-Dependent Health Parameters
Authors: Kabalan Sundoss , Kovács Flórián , Papdi Enikő , Tóth Eszter , Juhos Katalin , Biró Borbála
Published: September 2024

Cover crops have emerged as a crucial tool in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving soil quality and soil–plant health. This study investigates the impact of single cover crop plants each with varying fungal and/or bacterial symbiosis capacities in a pot experiment. The growth of non-symbiont Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), the associative bacterium symbiont black oat (Avena strigosa) and the double (fungus–bacterium) endosymbiont broad bean (Vicia faba) was studied on three distinct soil types, namely a less-fertile sandy soil (Arenosol), an average value of loam soil (Luvisol) and a more productive chernozem soil (Chernozem). Beside the biomass production, nitrogen content and frequency of AM fungi symbiosis (MYCO%) of cover crops, the main soil health characteristics of electrical conductivity (EC), labile carbon (POXC) and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity (FDA) were assessed and evaluated by detailed statistical analysis. Among the used soil types, the greatest biomass production was found on Chernozem soil with the relatively highest soil organic matter (2.81%) content and productivity. Double symbiotic activity, assessed by soil nitrogen content and mycorrhiza frequency (MYCO%), were significantly improved on the lowest-quality Arenosols (SOM 1.16%). In that slightly humous sandy soil, MYCO% was enhanced by 45%, indicating that symbiosis was crucial for plant growth in the less-fertile soil investigated. After the initial cover crop phase, the accumulated biomass was incorporated into the Luvisol (SOM 1.64%) soil, followed by the cultivation of corn (Zea mays, DK 3972) as the main crop. The results indicate that incorporating cover crop residues enhanced labile carbon (POXC) by 20% and significantly increased the FDA microbial activity in the soil, which positively correlated with the nutrient availability and growth of the maize crop. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable cover crops based on their symbiotic characteristics to improve soil quality and enhance soil–plant health in sustainable agricultural systems.
Influences on Perceived Feasibility of Animal-Based Measures in a Producer-Driven Welfare Benchmarking System
Authors: Salvin Hannah , Monk Jessica E. , Cafe Linda M. , Harden Steven , Lee Caroline
Published: September 2024

A voluntary, producer-driven welfare benchmarking system has been explored as a way of incentivising welfare improvement in pasture-based beef cattle and providing transparency and accountability to the industry. This study aimed to determine the acceptability and feasibility of measures for inclusion in a welfare benchmarking system and how this is influenced by respondents’ attitudes and beliefs. A survey was disseminated online to Australian producers in July 2020. Producers were asked to indicate the welfare measures (n = 59) they thought most important to check to determine if cattle on pasture-based farms have a good quality of life (QOL) and the feasibility of collecting animal-based welfare data and completing a stockperson attitudes questionnaire. Basic demographic and attitude data were also collected. Responses from 274 producers were included (52% male) with median land size 340 Ha (range 4–500,000) and herd size 200 head (2–200,000). Feasibility was related to QOL attitudes for 11 of the 17 animal-based measures (p < 0.01–0.02). Feasibility was also related to land or herd size but was not affected by other demographics, such as gender. In all significant dependencies, feasibility was reported as greater in those who thought it important to check the corresponding welfare measure. Producers who rated QOL as very important were also more likely to perceive the collection of animal-based data as feasible. A well-designed and targeted programme to educate producers on why certain welfare measures are important will be crucial to increase uptake and retention in a voluntary producer-driven welfare benchmarking scheme.
Musculoskeletal Injury and Illness Patterns in British Eventing Horses: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Tranquille Carolyne A. , Chojnacka Kate , Murray Rachel C.
Published: September 2024

There has been little investigation into the health patterns of the eventing horse population outside veterinary clinics. To target health problems in the eventing horse population, it is important to determine the relative impact of different health problems. The objectives were to describe the prevalence and patterns of lameness/illness in registered British eventing horses. An online survey was released for all horses registered with British eventing in 2018. Data were collated and descriptive analyses undertaken. A total of 1677 surveys were completed, among which 49.4% reported a previous lameness/musculoskeletal problem, 26% being in the previous six months. The most frequently reported musculoskeletal problems were in the foot (421), joints (382), wounds (340), back (333), ligament (205), tendon (213), bones (140) and muscles (135). The most frequent non-musculoskeletal problems related to the skin (183), gastric ulceration (173), colic (145) and infection (88). Injuries to the hoof sole/muscles/tendons were most frequently sustained in competition, suspensory ligament/splint bone/stifle/tarsal injuries were more frequently sustained in training and abscess/foot penetration at rest. DDFT injuries were most frequently out of training for >12 months, SDFT/stifle/suspensory ligament for <12 months, tendon sheath/splint bone for <3 months and tarsal/sole bruising/abscess for <2 weeks. A greater understanding of injuries/illnesses frequently sustained could be useful for veterinarians working with event horses.
Whole Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing and Phylogenetic Tree Construction for Procypris mera (Lin 1933)
Authors: Li Zhe , Han Yaoquan , Li Yusen , Wu Weijun , Lei Jianjun , Wang Dapeng , Lin Yong , Wang Xiaoqing
Published: September 2024

Procypris mera (Lin, 1933), also known as the Chinese ink carp, currently has a second-class protection status in China. Understanding the structure and characteristics of mitochondrial genes provides essential information for resource conservation and phylogenetic studies of P. mera. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of three P. mera (WYL1-3) from three sites and performed phylogenetic analysis. The generated three genomes were 16,587 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two non-coding regions (control region (CR), D-loop, and light-stranded replication start OL), with a preference for codons ending in A or C. The mitochondrial genomes of WYL2 and WYL3 were identical, differing from that of WYL1 by only five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). All mitochondrial PCGs had Ka/Ks ratios of less than one, suggesting purifying selection. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on amino acid sequences suggested that the genus Puntioplites is sister to all other genera of the subfamily Cyprinidae of China; the genus Procypris forms a monophyletic group; and the genera Carassioides, Carassius, and Cyprinus form a monophyletic group. This study contributes to our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships in subfamily Cyprininae in China and lays the foundation for resource conservation and management of P. mera.
Use of a Vaginally Administered Gel Containing the GnRH Agonist Triptorelin and a Single, Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination in Pigs under Commercial Conditions: Productive and Economic Impacts
Authors: Crespo Sara , Gadea Joaquín
Published: September 2024

Fixed-time artificial insemination is an important technique in swine production that can improve reproductive efficiency and meat production quality through making better use of the genetic potential of breeding males and reducing the costs associated with double or multiple inseminations. Our goal was to evaluate the vaginal application of the GnRH agonist triptorelin acetate to synchronize ovulation in post-weaning sows and facilitate the implementation of a single, fixed-time insemination. In the first experiment, the efficacy of treatment with triptorelin in animals with or without signs of estrus was analyzed using a single insemination at a fixed time, compared to a control group following the standard insemination strategy. The farrowing rate was comparable between the triptorelin and control groups (100 vs. 87.50%), but triptorelin treatment without estrus had a lower rate (50%). Litter size did not differ between the groups. Estradiol and progesterone levels at 96 and 120 h post-weaning were similar in the control and triptorelin groups (p > 0.05). These results suggest that triptorelin has the potential to synchronize ovulation in pigs without affecting post-weaning hormonal profiles. In a second experiment, the objective was to evaluate the productive and economic impact of implementing a treatment with triptorelin acetate 96 h after weaning, compared to the standard insemination protocol. Sows were grouped according to treatment (control vs. triptorelin) and estrus onset (≤5 days and >5 days after weaning, which was considered late estrus). The farrowing rate was lower in the late-estrus control group than in the control and triptorelin groups, and similar to that in the late-estrus triptorelin group. No differences were found in litter size and live or dead piglets born (p > 0.05). We developed an estimation model to assess the cost/benefit of intravaginal triptorelin administration at 96 h post-weaning. The overall result was that the use of triptorelin increased the financial benefit per inseminated sow by EUR 15–20. This improvement was mainly related to an increase in the reproductive performance of the treated sows compared to the control sows and the reduction in the number of inseminations per sow. These results highlight the potential of triptorelin to optimize reproductive management in pigs, improving efficiency and economic viability.
Droplet Digital PCR for Acinetobacter baumannii Diagnosis in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples from Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Giselle Moreira Mirna , Guimarães Oliveira Anna Gabriella , Ul Haq Ihtisham , Pinheiro de Oliveira Tatiana Flávia , Alonazi Wadi B. , Fonseca Júnior Antônio Augusto , Nobre Junior Vandack Alencar , Santos Simone Gonçalves dos
Published: September 2024

Advanced diagnostic technologies have made accurate and precise diagnosis of pathogens easy. Herein, we present a new diagnostic method, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), to detect and quantify Acinetobacter baumannii in mini bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) samples. A. baumannii causes ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a severe healthcare infection affecting patients’ lungs. VAP carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, making its timely diagnosis crucial for prompt and effective management. Methodology. The assay performance was evaluated by comparing colonization data, quantitative culture results, and different generations of PCR (traditional PCR and Real-Time PCR—qPCR Taqman® and SYBR® Green). The ddPCR and qPCR Taqman® prove to be more sensitive than other molecular techniques. Reasonable analytical specificity was obtained with ddPCR, qPCR TaqMan®, and conventional PCR. However, qPCR SYBR® Green technology presented a low specificity, making the results questionable in clinical samples. DdPCR detected/quantified A. baumanni in more clinical samples than other methods (38.64% of the total samples). This emerging ddPCR technology offers promising advantages such as detection by more patients and direct quantification of pathogens without calibration curves.
Indole-3-Carboxaldehyde Alleviates LPS-Induced Intestinal Inflammation by Inhibiting ROS Production and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Cao Ji , Bao Qiuyu , Hao Haiping
Published: September 2024

Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (IAld) is a tryptophan (Trp) metabolite derived from gut microbiota, which has a potential protective effect on intestinal inflammatory diseases. Abnormal activation of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important cause of intestinal inflammation. However, the effect and mechanism of IAld on NLRP3 inflammasome activation remain unclear. Here, we found that IAld inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in intestinal epithelial cells, and effectively prevented intestinal epithelial barrier injury caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that IAld activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), subsequently prevented reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, maintained mitochondrial membrane potential, and blocked the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in intestinal epithelial cells. Also, the AhR-specific inhibitor CH-223191 effectively blocked the IAld-induced NLRP3 inhibition and intestinal epithelial barrier repairment. In addition, in vivo results showed that IAld prevented pro-inflammatory mediator production and intestinal inflammatory damage in LPS-induced mice, which is related to AhR activation and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition. Collectively, our study unveiled that IAld is an effective endogenous antioxidant and suggested the AhR as a potential treatment target for NLRP3-induced intestinal inflammatory diseases.
Cookies Fortified with Polyphenols Extracts: Impact on Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity, Inhibition of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Enzyme, Colour and Sensory Attractiveness
Authors: Pędziwiatr Daria , Lamadrid Marina Cano , Wojdyło Aneta
Published: September 2024

The goal of the research was to determine the impact of fortification with polyphenolic compounds on (i) sensory attractiveness (global satisfaction, appearance, colour, odour, flavour, sweetness, bitterness), (ii) content of polyphenols and colour (L*, a*, b*) after the baking process and (iii) their bioactive potential (antioxidants activity and inhibiting of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme). Fortification was made with extracts of polyphenolic compounds of selected plant raw materials rich in polyphenols from quince (fruits), tilia (flowers), pomegranate (skin), passion fruit (endocarp), sour cherries (leaves), haskap and chokeberry (berries), silver skin (coffee beans), rosehip (seeds). Depending on the nature of the polyphenol extract, flavan-3-ols (monomeric and polymeric), phenolic acid, flavonols and anthocyanins were identified in the product in amounts ranging from 53.7 to 212.6 mg/100 g DM. Cookies’ colour (L*, a*, b*) depended on the type of polyphenol extract used for fortification. Cookies with haskap, chokeberry and sour cherry presented the highest antioxidant potential. Cookies with chokeberry, haskap and rosehip presented high activity in inhibiting α-amylase (65.5, 60.6 and 62.2% of inhibition, respectively), but cookies with haskap, silver skin and quince in inhibiting α-glucosidase activity (23.0, 20.4 and 21.4% of inhibition, respectively). In the sensory evaluation, the most attractive were cookies with rosehip and pomegranate (6.3 and 5.8 score, respectively), but the lowest ratings were given to cookies with passion fruit and silver skin but especially quince cookies, which obtained the lowest desirability (3.7 score). The acceptability of fortified cookies was determined to the least extent by monomeric flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids (in minus in odour/flavour, bitterness, sweetness and global satisfaction), but anthocyanins, polymeric procyanidins and flavonols had the most significant positive impact on consumer acceptance of the assessed features, i.e., global satisfaction, odour/flavour, sweetness and bitterness (positive consumer drivers).
Optimizing Rural Highway Maintenance Scheme with Mathematical Programming
Authors: Shan Fei , Li Hui , Wang Zhongren , Jin Ming , Chen Dawei
Published: September 2024

Maintaining rural highways is crucial in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of transportation infrastructure in modern rural areas. Rural highways often suffer heavy traffic from logistics and regular transportation users. The efficient management of these roads is essential to avoid issues like traffic bottlenecks, fuel consumption, and environmental problems. Traditional maintenance approaches focus on cost reduction, which can lead to adverse effects such as network congestion and environmental damage. To address these challenges, this study proposes a bi-level mathematical programming model aiming at optimizing rural highway maintenance. This model balances maintenance costs, network congestion, system fuel consumption, and environmental impacts. By transforming the bi-level model into a single-level mixed-integer linear programming model, the study enhances the computational feasibility, enabling practical implementation using commercial solvers. The model’s effectiveness is validated through numerical examples, providing insights for the development of optimal maintenance schedules that minimize externality costs while adhering to financial constraints and operational guidelines, providing a valuable addition to the road engineer’s toolbox.
Playing High: Strategic Use of the Lob in Professional Padel
Authors: Villar-León Antonio , Muñoz Diego , Sánchez-Alcaraz Bernardino J. , Martín-Miguel Iván , Conde-Ripoll Rafael , Escudero-Tena Adrián
Published: September 2024

The aim of this study was to analyze the lob in professional padel, taking into account sex, the player’s side of play, the direction of the lob and the efficiency of the lob. For this purpose, 2063 lobs (933 in men’s and 1130 in women’s) corresponding to 10 matches of the 2024 season of the Premier Padel circuit were analyzed through systematic observation. The results indicated that there is no association between the player who makes the lob according to the side of play in professional padel (p = 0.796) and the category of play (men’s and women’s). The distribution of lobs in these categories, both men’s and women’s, was distributed 50% between both players from the same pair. On the other hand, in men’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.3), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 2.0). In addition, in women’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.6), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 6.0). Finally, in men’s padel, the lobs tended to overpass the opponents when they were down the middle (RTC = 4.1) and tended to not overpass when they were cross-court (RTC = 2.5). In conclusion, there are differences in the characteristics of lobs in professional padel according to sex. These results can be very useful for coaches for performing specific training on the lob according to the sex of their players.
Improvement on Compressible Multiple-Reference-Frame Solver in OpenFOAM for Gas Turbine Flow Analysis
Authors: Kang Seung-Hwan , Rhee Dong-Ho , Kang Young Seok
Published: September 2024

This study analyzes the turbomachinery flow of a gas turbine using OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD code. While foam-extend, a version of OpenFOAM, includes tools for turbomachinery analysis, some of its codes are incomplete, resulting in incorrect results. Consequently, this study required the investigation and correction of the solvers and libraries. Specifically, foam-extend-4.1 and a compressible multi-reference-frame solver were utilized. Two primary errors related to temperature calculation were identified. The first error involved temperature discontinuity at the interface between the stator and rotor domain when using the mixingPlane. The second error was related to temperature rising at the wall. To address the temperature discontinuity problem, the rothalpy jump equation in the enthalpyJump code was modified from a scalar product to an inner product of vectors. To resolve the high-temperature problem at the wall, modifications were made to the energy equation code in iEqn.H. A rothalpy separation was introduced, and the rothalpy equation was adjusted to mimic the enthalpy equation. The results obtained with the corrected codes were consistent with those from the commercial code, demonstrating the effectiveness of the modifications.
Versatile Video Coding-Post Processing Feature Fusion: A Post-Processing Convolutional Neural Network with Progressive Feature Fusion for Efficient Video Enhancement
Authors: Das Tanni , Liang Xilong , Choi Kiho
Published: September 2024

Advanced video codecs such as High Efficiency Video Coding/H.265 (HEVC) and Versatile Video Coding/H.266 (VVC) are vital for streaming high-quality online video content, as they compress and transmit data efficiently. However, these codecs can occasionally degrade video quality by adding undesirable artifacts such as blockiness, blurriness, and ringing, which can detract from the viewer’s experience. To ensure a seamless and engaging video experience, it is essential to remove these artifacts, which improves viewer comfort and engagement. In this paper, we propose a deep feature fusion based convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture (VVC-PPFF) for post-processing approach to further enhance the performance of VVC. The proposed network, VVC-PPFF, harnesses the power of CNNs to enhance decoded frames, significantly improving the coding efficiency of the state-of-the-art VVC video coding standard. By combining deep features from early and later convolution layers, the network learns to extract both low-level and high-level features, resulting in more generalized outputs that adapt to different quantization parameter (QP) values. The proposed VVC-PPFF network achieves outstanding performance, with Bjøntegaard Delta Rate (BD-Rate) improvements of 5.81% and 6.98% for luma components in random access (RA) and low-delay (LD) configurations, respectively, while also boosting peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR).
Risk Associations between Air Pollution Exposure and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Residential Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bustaffa Elisa , Mangia Cristina , Cori Liliana , Cervino Marco , Bianchi Fabrizio , Minichilli Fabrizio
Published: September 2024

The population of the Venafro Valley (Southern Italy) faces various type of air pollution problems (industrial facilities, traffic, and biomass combustion). To estimate exposure to various pollution sources, a multi-stage random forest model was used, integrating particulate matter (PM) data with satellite observations, land-use patterns, and meteorological information generating maps of PM2.5 concentration. Four distinct PM2.5 exposure categories were established using the quartile method. To assess the association between PM2.5 and cause-specific mortality and morbidity, a time-dependent and sex-specific Cox multiple regression analysis was conducted, adjusting for age classes. In addition, the hazard ratios were accompanied by a probability measure of the strength of the evidence toward a hypothesis of health risk associated with the exposure under study (1−p value). The whole cohort was exposed to PM2.5 annual levels exceeding the 5 µg/m3 limit recommended by the World Health Organization. Mortality excesses were observed in class 3 for both sexes for cardiac heart diseases. Excesses of cardiovascular diseases were observed for both sexes in class 3 and 4. The study highlights significant signals warranting mitigation actions, which regional authorities are currently considering.
State of Health Estimation for Lithium-Ion Battery Using Partial Incremental Capacity Curve and Transfer Learning
Authors: Huang Sheng , Wang Xuemei , Kang Longyun , Xie Di , Zhang Xi
Published: September 2024

Lithium-ion battery state of health (SOH) estimation is critical in battery management systems (BMS), with data-driven methods proving effective in this domain. However, accurately estimating SOH for lithium-ion batteries remains challenging due to the complexities of battery cycling conditions and the constraints of limited data. This paper proposes an estimation approach leveraging partial incremental capacity curves and transfer learning to tackle these challenges. First, only partial voltage segments are utilized for incremental capacity analysis, which are then fed into a stacked bidirectional gated recursive unit (SBiGRU) network, and finally, transfer learning is utilized to address issues related to limited data availability and differing data distributions. The method is further enhanced through hyperparameter optimization to refine estimation accuracy. The proposed method is validated in two publicly available datasets. For the base model, the root mean square error is 0.0033. With the transfer learning method, which utilized only 1.6% of the target domain data, the root mean square error is 0.0039. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately estimate SOH and works well in training and testing over different voltage ranges. The results underscore the potential of the proposed SOH estimation method for lithium-ion batteries.
The Relative Importance of Key Factors for Integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems and Performance Management Practices in the UAE Healthcare Sector
Authors: Al-Assaf Karam , Alzahmi Wadhah , Alshaikh Ryan , Bahroun Zied , Ahmed Vian
Published: September 2024

This study examines integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems with performance management (PM) practices in the UAE healthcare sector, identifying key factors for successful adoption. It addresses a critical gap by analyzing the interplay between ERP systems and PM to enhance operational efficiency, patient care, and administrative processes. A literature review identified thirty-six critical factors, refined through expert interviews to highlight nine weak integration areas and two new factors. An online survey with 81 experts, who rated the 38 factors on a five-point Likert scale, provided data to calculate the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results reveal that employee involvement in performance metrics and effective organizational measures significantly impact system effectiveness and alignment. Mid-tier factors such as leadership and managerial support are essential for integration momentum, while foundational elements like infrastructure, scalability, security, and compliance are crucial for long-term success. The study recommends a holistic approach to these factors to maximize ERP benefits, offering insights for healthcare administrators and policymakers. Additionally, it highlights the need to address the challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations associated with using digital health technology in healthcare. Future research should explore ERP integration challenges in public and private healthcare settings, tailoring systems to specific organizational needs.