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Scientific Reports Jun 2024Improved and contemporary agriculture relies heavily on pesticides, yet some can be quite persistent and have a stable chemical composition, posing a significant threat...
Improved and contemporary agriculture relies heavily on pesticides, yet some can be quite persistent and have a stable chemical composition, posing a significant threat to the ecology. Removing harmful effects is upon their degradability. Biodegradation must be emphasized to lower pesticide degradation costs, especially in the soil. Here, a decision-making system was used to determine the best microbial strain for the biodegradation of the pyrethroid-contaminated soil. In this system, the criteria chosen as: pH (C), Temp (C), RPM (C), Conc. (C), Degradation (%) (C) and Time required for degradation(hrs) (C); and five alternatives were Bacillus (A), Acinetobacter (A), Escherichia (A), Pseudomonas (A), and Fusarium (A). The best alternative was selected by applying the TOPSIS (technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution) method, which evaluates based on their closeness to the ideal solution and how well they meet specific requirements. Among all the specified criteria, Acinetobacter (A) was the best and optimal based on the relative closeness value (( ) = 0.740 (A) > 0.544 (A) > 0.480 (A) > 0.403 (A) > 0.296 (A)). However, the ranking of the other alternatives is also obtained in the order Fusarium (A), Bacillus (A), Pseudomonas (A), Escherichia (A). Hence this study suggests Acinetobacter is the best microbial strain for biodegradation of pyrethroids; while least preference should be given to Escherichia. Acinetobacter, versatile metabolic nature with various xenobiotic compounds' degradation ability, is gram-negative, aerobic, coccobacilli, nonmotile, and nonspore forming bacteria. Due to less study about Acinetobacter it is not in that much frame as the other microorganisms. Hence, considering the Acinetobacter strain for the biodegradation study will give more optimal results than the other microbial strains. Novelty of this study, the TOPSIS method is applied first time in selecting the best microbial strain for the biodegradation of pyrethroid-contaminated soil, considering this selection process as multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Pyrethrins; Soil Pollutants; Soil Microbiology; Bacteria; Bacillus; Fusarium; Decision Making; Pseudomonas; Acinetobacter
PubMed: 38942772
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59223-z -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024A novel interval valued p,q Rung orthopair fuzzy (IVPQ-ROF) multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) method for sustainable supplier selection (SSS) is proposed...
A novel interval valued p,q Rung orthopair fuzzy (IVPQ-ROF) multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) method for sustainable supplier selection (SSS) is proposed in this paper. This study mainly contains two research points: (1) tackling the interrelation between attributes; and (2) describing the psychological state and risk attitude of decision makers (DMs). For the first research point, we introduce the Archimedean operation rules for interval valued p,q Rung orthopair fuzzy sets (IVPQ-ROFSs), then the generalized interval valued p, q Rung orthopair fuzzy Maclaurin symmetric mean (GIVPQ-ROFMSM) operator and the generalized interval valued p, q Rung orthopair fuzzy weighted Maclaurin symmetric mean (GIVPQ-ROFWMSM) operator are defined to reflect the correlation between attributes. For the second research point, we introduce the positive ideal degree (PID) and negative ideal degree (NID) based on projection of IVPQ-ROFSs, and modified regret theory. Both of them consider the best alternative and worst alternative, so as to reflect the psychological state and risk attitude of DMs. Finally, a SSS problem is presented to manifest the effectiveness of the designed method. We also provide sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis to further demonstrate the rationality and validity of the proposed method.
PubMed: 38942771
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64765-3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Older adults (OAs) are typically slower and/or less accurate in forming perceptual choices relative to younger adults. Despite perceptual deficits, OAs gain from...
Older adults (OAs) are typically slower and/or less accurate in forming perceptual choices relative to younger adults. Despite perceptual deficits, OAs gain from integrating information across senses, yielding multisensory benefits. However, the cognitive processes underlying these seemingly discrepant ageing effects remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, 212 participants (18-90 years old) performed an online object categorisation paradigm, whereby age-related differences in Reaction Times (RTs) and choice accuracy between audiovisual (AV), visual (V), and auditory (A) conditions could be assessed. Whereas OAs were slower and less accurate across sensory conditions, they exhibited greater RT decreases between AV and V conditions, showing a larger multisensory benefit towards decisional speed. Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Modelling (HDDM) was fitted to participants' behaviour to probe age-related impacts on the latent multisensory decision formation processes. For OAs, HDDM demonstrated slower evidence accumulation rates across sensory conditions coupled with increased response caution for AV trials of higher difficulty. Notably, for trials of lower difficulty we found multisensory benefits in evidence accumulation that increased with age, but not for trials of higher difficulty, in which increased response caution was instead evident. Together, our findings reconcile age-related impacts on multisensory decision-making, indicating greater multisensory evidence accumulation benefits with age underlying enhanced decisional speed.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Adult; Middle Aged; Female; Male; Aged, 80 and over; Decision Making; Adolescent; Reaction Time; Young Adult; Auditory Perception; Aging; Visual Perception; Photic Stimulation; Acoustic Stimulation
PubMed: 38942761
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65549-5 -
Heart, Lung & Circulation Jun 2024While there has been an increase in the use of the transradial approach when performing percutaneous coronary angiography and intervention, there is evidence of...
BACKGROUND
While there has been an increase in the use of the transradial approach when performing percutaneous coronary angiography and intervention, there is evidence of variations in international practice. Ensuring that operators' practices are supported by evidence is important to ensure optimal outcomes.
METHOD
Interventional cardiologists and advanced trainees completed a cross-sectional survey followed by semi-structured interviews to map current practices for transradial coronary artery procedures in Australia and New Zealand and explore factors that influence clinical decision-making around procedural practice.
RESULTS
The right radial artery was the preferred access site (88%). Over a third (37%) of the participants indicated that they tested the hand circulation pre-procedure. Over a quarter of respondents (28.6%) reported that they would carry out transradial procedures regardless of the patient's coagulation status. Most participants (77.8%) described radial artery spasm in around 10% of transradial procedures performed. Only 62% of participants assessed for radial artery occlusion post-catheterisation. Interview data revealed four themes that guided clinical decision-making, namely (1) Decision-making based on research, (2) Using clinical experience, (3) Being led by their training, and (4) Individual patient factors.
CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that despite clinical guidelines, substantial practice variation exists in transradial coronary artery catheterisation across Australia and New Zealand. The variation in practice and factors impacting clinical decision-making highlight a need for future strategies to optimise evidence translation and implementation across clinical settings.
PubMed: 38942624
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.03.009 -
Korean Journal of Radiology Jul 2024Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining recognition in the radiology domain as a greater number of radiologists are becoming AI-literate. However, the adoption... (Review)
Review
Position Statements of the Emerging Trends Committee of the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology on the Adoption and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence for Radiology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining recognition in the radiology domain as a greater number of radiologists are becoming AI-literate. However, the adoption and implementation of AI solutions in clinical settings have been slow, with points of contention. A group of AI users comprising mainly clinical radiologists across various Asian countries, including India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan, formed the working group. This study aimed to draft position statements regarding the application and clinical deployment of AI in radiology. The primary aim is to raise awareness among the general public, promote professional interest and discussion, clarify ethical considerations when implementing AI technology, and engage the radiology profession in the ever-changing clinical practice. These position statements highlight pertinent issues that need to be addressed between care providers and care recipients. More importantly, this will help legalize the use of non-human instruments in clinical deployment without compromising ethical considerations, decision-making precision, and clinical professional standards. We base our study on four main principles of medical care-respect for patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Humans; Radiology; Asia; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 38942454
DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2024.0419 -
Brain Research Bulletin Jun 2024The ability to accurately encode the temporal information of sensory events and hence to make prompt action is fundamental to humans' prompt behavioral decision-making....
The ability to accurately encode the temporal information of sensory events and hence to make prompt action is fundamental to humans' prompt behavioral decision-making. Here we examined the ability of ensemble coding (averaging multiple inter-intervals in a sound sequence) and subsequent immediate reproduction of target duration at half, equal, or double that of the perceived mean interval in a sensorimotor loop. With magnetoencephalography (MEG), we found that the contingent magnetic variation (CMV) in the central scalp varied as a function of the averaging tasks, with a faster rate for buildup amplitudes and shorter peak latencies in the "half" condition as compared to the "double" condition. ERD (event-related desynchronization) -to-ERS (event-related synchronization) latency was shorter in the "half" condition. A robust beta band (15-23Hz) power suppression and recovery between the final tone and the action of key pressing was found for time reproduction. The beta modulation depth (i.e., the ERD-to-ERS power difference) was larger in motor areas than in primary auditory areas. Moreover, results of phase slope index (PSI) indicated that beta oscillations in the left supplementary motor area (SMA) led those in the right superior temporal gyrus (STG), showing SMA to STG directionality for the processing of sequential (temporal) auditory interval information. Our findings provide the first evidence to show that CMV and beta oscillations predict the coupling between perception and action in time averaging.
PubMed: 38942396
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.111021 -
Acta Tropica Jun 2024System Dynamics (SD) models have been used to understand complex, multi-faceted dengue transmission dynamics, but a gap persists between research and actionable public...
System Dynamics (SD) models have been used to understand complex, multi-faceted dengue transmission dynamics, but a gap persists between research and actionable public health tools for decision-making. Spain is an at-risk country of imported dengue outbreaks, but only qualitative assessments are available to guide public health action and control. We propose a modular SD model combining temperature-dependent vector population, transmission parameters, and epidemiological interactions to simulate outbreaks from imported cases accounting for heterogeneous local climate-related transmission patterns. Under our assumptions, 15 provinces sustain vector populations capable of generating outbreaks from imported cases, with heterogeneous risk profiles regarding seasonality, magnitude and risk window shifting from late Spring to early Autum. Results being relative to given vector-to-human populations allow flexibility when translating outcomes between geographic scales. The model and the framework are meant to serve public health by incorporating transmission dynamics and quantitative-qualitative input to the evidence-based decision-making chain. It is a flexible tool that can easily adapt to changing contexts, parametrizations and epidemiological settings thanks to the modular approach.
PubMed: 38942132
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107304 -
NeuroImage Jun 2024People perform better collectively than individually, a phenomenon known as the collective benefit. To pursue the benefit, they may learn from previous behaviors, come...
People perform better collectively than individually, a phenomenon known as the collective benefit. To pursue the benefit, they may learn from previous behaviors, come to know whose initial opinion should be valued, and develop the inclination to take it as the collective one. Such learning may affect interpersonal brain communication. To test these hypotheses, this study recruited participant dyads to conduct a perceptual task on which they made individual decisions first and then the collective one. The enhanced interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) between participants was explored when individual decisions were in disagreement vs. agreement. Computational modeling revealed that participant dyads developed the dyad inclination of taking the higher-able participants', not the lower-able ones' decisions as their collective ones. Brain analyses unveiled the enhanced IBS at frontopolar areas, premotor areas, supramarginal gyri, and right temporal-parietal junctions. The premotor IBS correlated negatively with dyad inclination and collective benefit in the absence of correction. The Granger causality analyses further supported the negative relation of dyad inclination with inter-brain communication. This study highlights that dyads learn to weigh individuals' decisions, resulting in dyad inclinations, and explores associated inter-brain communication, offering insights into the dynamics of collective decision-making.
PubMed: 38942103
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120700 -
American Journal of Veterinary Research Jun 2024Referencing growing concerns over the recruitment and retention of faculty in academic veterinary medicine, the authors hypothesized that among surveyed veterinary...
OBJECTIVE
Referencing growing concerns over the recruitment and retention of faculty in academic veterinary medicine, the authors hypothesized that among surveyed veterinary residents and early-career faculty, work-life balance and workplace climate and culture are stronger motivators than financial considerations, regardless of demographic factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, and area of specialization.
SAMPLE
541 participants were included in data analysis.
METHODS
A mixed methods approach was utilized, incorporating both quantitative data and qualitative, free-text responses to better understand veterinary career choices by contextualizing factors associated with academic medicine.
RESULTS
Factors underpinning career-related decision-making were ranked by level of importance as (1) workplace environment/culture, (2) personal well-being/work-life balance, (3) salary and bonuses, (4) geographic location, (5) facilities and resources, (6) benefits, and (7) schedule flexibility. Desires for workload balance, schedule flexibility, support from leadership, and mentorship and collaboration were among the top themes of qualitative responses for both residents and early career faculty respondents. Factors influencing career decision-making for resident and early-career faculty are varied. Workplace environment, work-life balance, and schedule flexibility are areas that academic institutions can address and continue to improve and that are likely to positively impact entry into academia and the desire to stay.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This study sought to understand factors related to career decision-making and interest in academic veterinary medicine among residents and early-career faculty. Understanding these factors can support efforts to recruit and retain faculty in academic veterinary medicine.
PubMed: 38942061
DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.03.0082 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jun 2024Microalgal growth-based tests are international standards for ecotoxicity assessment; however, their long exposure times, large sample volumes, and reliance on a single...
Microalgal growth-based tests are international standards for ecotoxicity assessment; however, their long exposure times, large sample volumes, and reliance on a single growth-endpoint make them inadequate for rapid toxicity screening. Here, we aimed to develop a rapid and simple ecotoxicological test using the fast-growing green alga Mychonastes afer, with multiple endpoints-growth, lipid content, and photosynthesis. We exposed M. afer to two metals-silver and copper-and two herbicides-atrazine and diuron-for 24 h and identified the most sensitive and reliable endpoints for each toxicant: the maximum electron transport rate (ETR) for Ag, Cu and atrazine, and the lipid content for diuron. Lipid content was found to be both a sensitive and reliable biomarker, meeting the effluent limit guidelines in both the Republic of Korea and the USA. The sensitivity of M. afer to Ag and atrazine also closely matched the HC values derived from the species sensitivity distribution approach, confirming its reliability for setting regulatory concentrations of these contaminants. Our calculated predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values were similar to established European Union PNECs for Ag, Cu, atrazine, and diuron, underlining the utility of these biological endpoints for ecological risk assessment and regulatory decision making. This method required lower sample volume (2 mL vs 100 mL) and exposure time (24 h vs 72-120 h) than conventional green algal tests, and eliminated the need for labour-intensive cell counting, expensive equipment, and chlorophyll fluorescence measurement expertise. Overall, this M. afer test can be a valuable tool for the rapid screening of wastewater for metals and herbicides, contributing to environmental protection and management practices.
PubMed: 38941657
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116652