-
Heliyon Jun 2024A generalized reliability model comprising the objective, constraint, and judgment functions is established for the reliability index approach (RIA), taking parameters'...
A generalized reliability model comprising the objective, constraint, and judgment functions is established for the reliability index approach (RIA), taking parameters' properties of engineering practice and negative reliability index into consideration. Based on this, the reliability-based design (RBD) problem with multiple design variables is translated into the solution to the nonlinear equations, and a simplified method consisting of a simple variant of the Newton iteration method and the finite difference method (FDM) is proposed. Numerical examples are presented to verify the efficiency of the proposed reliability approach and to determine the incremental step size for FDM. RBD of a simply supported beam is illustrated and the variabilities of design variables are investigated considering the uncertainties in the manufacturing process and practical operations. Results reveal that the variations of the design variables should not be ignored. Moreover, analysis results show that the design value might not intuitively increase with the increase of its coefficient of variation (CoV), and it might not increase with the increasing reliability requirement for problems involving multiple variables. The reasons for this phenomenon are very complicated, and it is a systematic problem. One should be aware of this phenomenon, and specific analysis is required for specific problems.
PubMed: 38845975
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31765 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Despite unresolved questions about replicability, a substantial number of studies find that disgust influences and arises from evaluations of immoral behavior and...
Despite unresolved questions about replicability, a substantial number of studies find that disgust influences and arises from evaluations of immoral behavior and people. Departing from prior emphases, the current research examines a novel, related question: Are people who are viewed as disgusting (i.e., people whose habits seem disgusting) perceived as more immoral than typical or unusual people? Four experiments examined this, also exploring the downstream impacts of moral character judgments. Adults who seemed disgusting were regarded as more immoral for purity and non-purity violations (Experiment 1) and less praiseworthy for prosocial acts (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, an 8-year-old with typical (but seemingly disgusting) habits was rated as "naughtier" and likelier to misbehave than an atypical child who loved vegetables and disliked sweets. Experiment 4 revealed how, when no behavioral information is available, beliefs about target disgust influence beliefs about future behavior, helping explain why seemingly disgusting targets are viewed as more immoral, but not always more punishable for their bad behavior.
PubMed: 38845773
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1395439 -
BMC Psychiatry Jun 2024This longitudinal study in Mainland China (2021-2022) explored the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)...
This longitudinal study in Mainland China (2021-2022) explored the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms, with a focus on the role of self-compassion. Among 18,933 surveyed university students, 21.2% reported experiencing at least one ACE. Results revealed a clear relationship between ACEs and CPTSD symptoms. Furthermore, self-compassion, particularly the dimensions of self-judgment and isolation, moderated the association between retrospective ACEs and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and disturbance in self-organization (DSO) symptoms. These findings highlight the enduring impact of ACEs on CPTSD symptoms and emphasize the importance of early identification and targeted interventions, especially addressing self-judgment and isolation, to mitigate CPTSD risk among young Chinese adults.
Topics: Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Male; Female; China; Longitudinal Studies; Empathy; Young Adult; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Adult; Self Concept; Adolescent; Retrospective Studies; Students; East Asian People
PubMed: 38844888
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05830-z -
AMB Express Jun 2024Bacterial contamination is the most prevalent infectious complication of blood transfusion in the developed world. To mitigate this, several ultraviolet light-based...
Bacterial contamination is the most prevalent infectious complication of blood transfusion in the developed world. To mitigate this, several ultraviolet light-based pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs), some of which require photo-chemicals, have been developed to minimize infection transmission. Relative to UV light, visible 405-nm light is safer and has shown potential to be developed as a PRT for the in situ treatment of ex vivo human plasma and platelet concentrates, without the need for photo-chemicals. This study investigates the effect of 405-nm light on human plasma, with focus on the compatibility of antimicrobial light doses with essential plasma clotting factors. To determine an effective antimicrobial dose that is compatible with plasma, prebagged human plasma (up to 300 mL) was seeded with common microbial contaminants and treated with increasing doses of 405-nm light (16 mW cm; ≤ 403 J cm). Post-exposure plasma protein integrity was investigated using an AOPP assay, in vitro coagulation tests, and ELISA-based measurement of fibrinogen and Protein S. Microbial contamination in 300 mL prebagged human plasma was significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) after exposure to ≤ 288 J cm, with microbial loads reduced by > 96.2%. This dose did not significantly affect the plasma protein quality parameters tested (P > 0.05). Increased doses (≥ 345 J cm) resulted in a 4.3% increase in clot times with no statistically significant change in protein activity or levels. Overall, this study has demonstrated that the effective microbicidal 405 light dose shows little to no negative effect on plasma quality.
PubMed: 38842656
DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01725-0 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Urban agriculture is closely tied to several of the Sustainable Development Goals. It can play a critical role in helping to achieve these goals by promoting sustainable...
Urban agriculture is closely tied to several of the Sustainable Development Goals. It can play a critical role in helping to achieve these goals by promoting sustainable food production and consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating more sustainable cities. It is also considered a pathway for overcoming food security in urban areas. However, this needs to be integrated with policies and regulations supported by sustainable finance. Due to COVID-19, conflict, and lack of infrastructure in Ethiopia, several challenges must be addressed to promote urban agriculture to aid food security. Hence, this study is conducted to examine how government policies and regulations promote urban agriculture through sustainable finance in Ethiopia. The study employed both an explanatory research design and a mixed research approach. Multi-stage sampling techniques that include (Simple random sampling techniques and judgmental sampling were used. The data was collected from selected micro and small enterprises engaged in urban agriculture. The structural and measurement model is estimated with the help of smart-pls software version 4. The study's finding implies that government policies and regulations have an insignificant effect on urban agriculture. At the same time, the study finding implies that sustainable finance has an important mediating role between urban agriculture and government policies. Hence, the impact of government policies and regulations on urban agriculture is found to have an indirect effect. Based on the study's findings, the study recommends that all stakeholders promote innovation and entrepreneurship that promote urban agriculture through sustainable finance.
PubMed: 38841489
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31938 -
Cureus May 2024The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) will be felt not only in the arena of patient care and deliverable therapies but will also be uniquely disruptive in medical... (Review)
Review
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) will be felt not only in the arena of patient care and deliverable therapies but will also be uniquely disruptive in medical education and healthcare simulation (HCS), in particular. As HCS is intertwined with computer technology, it offers opportunities for rapid scalability with AI and, therefore, will be the most practical place to test new AI applications. This will ensure the acquisition of AI literacy for graduates from the country's various healthcare professional schools. Artificial intelligence has proven to be a useful adjunct in developing interprofessional education and team and leadership skills assessments. Outcome-driven medical simulation has been extensively used to train students in image-centric disciplines such as radiology, ultrasound, echocardiography, and pathology. Allowing students and trainees in healthcare to first apply diagnostic decision support systems (DDSS) under simulated conditions leads to improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced communication with patients, safer triage decisions, and improved outcomes from rapid response teams. However, the issue of bias, hallucinations, and the uncertainty of emergent properties may undermine the faith of healthcare professionals as they see AI systems deployed in the clinical setting and participating in diagnostic judgments. Also, the demands of ensuring AI literacy in our healthcare professional curricula will place burdens on simulation assets and faculty to adapt to a rapidly changing technological landscape. Nevertheless, the introduction of AI will place increased emphasis on virtual reality platforms, thereby improving the availability of self-directed learning and making it available 24/7, along with uniquely personalized evaluations and customized coaching. Yet, caution must be exercised concerning AI, especially as society's earlier, delayed, and muted responses to the inherent dangers of social media raise serious questions about whether the American government and its citizenry can anticipate the security and privacy guardrails that need to be in place to protect our healthcare practitioners, medical students, and patients.
PubMed: 38840993
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59747 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Although the effects of counterstereotypic individuating information (i.e., information specific to individual members of stereotyped groups that disconfirms the group...
Although the effects of counterstereotypic individuating information (i.e., information specific to individual members of stereotyped groups that disconfirms the group stereotype) on biases in explicit person perception are well-established, research shows mixed effects of such information on implicit person perception. The present research tested the overarching hypothesis that, when social group membership is perceived to be under an individual's control, diagnostic individuating information would have lesser effects on implicit person perception than it would when social group membership is perceived not to be under an individual's control. This hypothesis was tested in the domain of implicit attitudinal and stereotype-relevant judgments of individuals who belonged to existing social groups and individuals who belonged to novel social groups. We found that individuating information consistently shifted scores on implicit measures among targets belonging to existing social groups, but not in a theoretically predicted direction among targets belonging to novel social groups. Controllability of group membership did not moderate such effects. Results of implicit and explicit measures were mostly consistent when targets belonged to existing social groups, but mostly inconsistent when targets belonged to novel social groups.
PubMed: 38840743
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.969382 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Dehorning calves is necessary to minimize injury because intensive raising circumstances make horned cows more aggressive. However, acute pain is commonly perceived by...
INTRODUCTION
Dehorning calves is necessary to minimize injury because intensive raising circumstances make horned cows more aggressive. However, acute pain is commonly perceived by farm animals when undergoing painful practices such as dehorning, affecting their health status and quality of life. By quantifying the magnitude of pain and discomfort associated with dehorning, we aim to contribute to a more humane and sustainable cattle farming industry.
METHODS
The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioral, physiological, and emotional effects of acute dehorning pain in calves using two methods: dehorning cream and dehorning hot-iron.30 Holstein calves aged 4 days were selected for the study. These calves were randomly assigned to two experimental groups based on the method of disbudding: dehorning cream ( = 15) and hot-iron dehorning ( = 15). Before and after dehorning, we evaluated their physiological indicators of infrared eye temperature, concentrations of substance P, IL-6, cortisol, haptoglobin, as well as emotional state, and pain-related behavioral reactions.
RESULTS
Post-dehorning, the duration of lying down decreased significantly in both groups (DI and DC: 0-4 h) after dehorning ( < 0.05). Both groups exhibited increased frequencies of pain-related behaviors such as head shaking (DI: 1-7 h, DC: 1-6 h), ear flicking (DI: 2-7 h, DC: 2-7 h), head scratching (DI: 2-3 h, DC: 1-7 h), and top scuffing (DI: 2 h, DC: 2-7 h) compared to pre-dehorning ( < 0.05). The DC group demonstrated a higher frequency of head-shaking, ear-flicking, head-scratching, and top-rubbing behaviors, along with a longer duration of lying down (0-4 h), compared to the DI group ( < 0.05). Post-dehorning, play behavior reduced significantly in both groups (6-8 h) ( < 0.05), whereas judgment bias and fear levels showed no significant change ( > 0.05). Physiological measures including eye temperature, and blood levels of substance P and IL-6, did not differ significantly between the groups before and after dehorning ( > 0.05). However, 48 h after dehorning, calves in the DC group had significantly higher haptoglobin levels compared to the DI group ( = 0.015). Additionally, salivary cortisol levels in the DC group increased significantly at 3.5 h and 7 h post-dehorning ( = 0.018, = 0.043).
DISCUSSION
Both hot-iron and cream dehorning induced pain in calves, as evidenced by increased pain-related behaviors, elevated salivary cortisol, and higher haptoglobin levels, alongside reduced positive behaviors. Notably, these effects were more pronounced in the DC group than in the DI group, suggesting that dehorning hot-iron may be a comparatively less stressful dehorning method for young calves. Moreover, the brief duration of pain response and weaker response to dehorning observed in 13-day-age calves in this study suggests that dehorning at younger ages may be more advisable and warrants further research.
PubMed: 38840635
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1406576 -
Surgical Neurology International 2024Gunshot wounds (GSWs) can result in various peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs), ranging from direct nerve transection to neuropraxia caused by the ballistic shockwave...
BACKGROUND
Gunshot wounds (GSWs) can result in various peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs), ranging from direct nerve transection to neuropraxia caused by the ballistic shockwave mechanism. PNIs from GSWs can be treated with either early or delayed intervention, with the literature supporting both approaches and sparking a debate between early and delayed intervention for PNIs from GSWs. Here, we present a case that underwent delayed exploration of the right common peroneal nerve after GSW and a literature review comparing early versus delayed intervention for PNIs from GSWs.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 29-year-old male underwent right common peroneal nerve exploration 2 months after he sustained a GSW to the right lower extremity at the level of the fibular head tracking to the lateral malleolus. Initially, after the injury, he was offered supportive care. On evaluation, 1 month later, he reported a right-sided foot drop and paresthesias in the right lower extremity. A partial-thickness injury of the right peroneal nerve was seen on ultrasound, and a bullet fragment in the distal right lower extremity was revealed on computed tomography. The surgical intervention consisted of the right common peroneal nerve decompression proximally to distally and removal of the bullet fragment. Postoperatively, the patient did well with improvements in his right ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion seen at his 1.5-month follow-up visit.
CONCLUSION
Many factors must be considered when treating PNIs from GSWs. For each case, clinical judgment, injury mechanism, and risk-benefit analysis must be evaluated to determine each patient's optimal treatment strategy.
PubMed: 38840615
DOI: 10.25259/SNI_197_2024 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Jun 2024To compare the positioning effect of three-dimensional reconstruction technology and Hook-wire puncture operation on small pulmonary nodules during video-assisted...
OBJECTIVE
To compare the positioning effect of three-dimensional reconstruction technology and Hook-wire puncture operation on small pulmonary nodules during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and evaluate its effectiveness, efficiency, and safety.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were 50 patients with small pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022, and all underwent thoracoscopic surgical resection. All study subjects met the inclusion criteria, grouping according to the intraoperative positioning method, the control group (n = 25) used Hook-wire puncture positioning, and the observation group (n = 25) used three-dimensional reconstruction technology. The positioning effect, pain level, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of complications after puncture was 16.00% in the control group and 4.00% in the observation group, the complication rate in the observation group was significantly lower; the positioning success rate of the observation group was 96.00%, which was higher than that of the control group (92.00%). The operation time (32.25±6.08) min was lower than (38.50±7.12) min in the control group. The two groups had no statistical significance in the wedge resection success rate, VAS score, and complication rate (P > .05).
CONCLUSION
Three-dimensional reconstruction technology mainly makes preliminary judgments on the location, shape, size, and relationship between nodules and surrounding tissues based on preoperative CT scan images. It can select suitable scanning locations, map puncture paths, and anchor them in and around small lung nodules. The operation is simple, and the positioning success rate is high. The existence of three-dimensional reconstruction technology to position the guide wire can quickly shorten the time to detect lesions, shorten the time of VATS, reduce the occurrence of pulmonary infection in patients, and improve the prognosis.
PubMed: 38836733
DOI: No ID Found