Applying Image Recognition and Tracking Methods for Fish Physiology Detection Based on a Visual Sensor.

The proportion of pet keeping has increased significantly. According to the survey results of Business Next, the proportion of Taiwan families keeping pets was 70% in 2020. Among them, the total number of fish pets was close to 33% of the overall pet proportion. Therefore, aquarium pets have become indispensable companions for families. At present, many studies have discussed intelligent aquarium systems. Through image recognition based on visual sensors, we may be able to detect and interpret the physiological status of the fish according to their physiological appearance. In this way, it can help to notify the owner as soon as possible to treat the fish or isolate them individually, so as to avoid the spread of infection. However, most aquarium pets are kept in groups. Traditional image recognition technologies often fail to recognize each fish's physiological states precisely because of fish swimming behaviors, such as grouping swimming, shading with each other, flipping over, and so on. In view of this, this paper tries to address such problems and then proposes a practical scheme, which includes three phases. Specifically, the first phase tries to enhance the image recognition model for small features based on the prioritizing rules, thus improving the instant recognition capability. Then, the second phase exploits a designed fish-ID tracking mechanism and analyzes the physiological state of the same fish-ID through coherent frames, which can avoid temporal misidentification. Finally, the third phase leverages a fish-ID correction mechanism, which can detect and correct their IDs periodically and dynamically to avoid tracking confusion, and thus potentially improve the recognition accuracy. According to the experiment results, it was verified that our scheme has better recognition performance. The best accuracy and correctness ratio can reach up to 94.9% and 92.67%, which are improved at least 8.41% and 26.95%, respectively, as compared with the existing schemes.

[Using Self-Efficacy Theory to Manage Ineffective Airway Clearance in a Client With Advanced Esophageal Cancer].

This nursing experience describes the application of "self-efficacy theory" to a patient with low self-efficacy who was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer. The nursing period was from December 3rd, 2020 to December 23rd, 2020. Medical records, interview assessment, and observation showed that the patient had ineffective airway clearance, which caused him to be in and out of the hospital several times, resulting in lower self-efficacy. In addition to applying the "self-efficacy theory", the authors referenced the patient's physiological and affective states, vicarious experiences, and performance experiences and used verbal persuasion techniques to assess the patient for nursing and interventions. During the nursing period, we established a good therapeutic relationship with the patient. We provided him with personalized nursing interventions to improve his physiological and affective states. These interventions included the administration of medication, posture drainage, and sputum percussion. We also sought the help of people who were close to the patient as participants in the medical care process. We improved self-efficacy by means of verbal persuasion through education and mental support; increased vicarious experience through verbal encouragement and sharing the experiences of other patients; and used a comparative approach to enable the patient to observe changes in his physical status over time. The interventions also improved his performance experience. The patient's airway status improved after his self-efficacy had been enhanced. Based on the results, it is hoped that this study will be a helpful reference on the theory of self-efficacy for nursing staff. It is also hoped that the results will better enable nurses to enhance the self-efficacy of patients using different means such as restoring patient confidence and enhancing the patient - the medical team relationship to further enhance the quality of patient care.

DFT calculation in design of near-infrared absorbing nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots.

The near-infrared light (NIR) absorption of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) containing different N-doping sites is systematically investigated with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functionals. The results show that the ultra-small HOMO-LUMO gaps (0.3-1.0 eV) of various N-doping structures (graphitic, amino, and pyridinic at center, and graphitic at edge) are attributed to the spin-polarization of the energy states, which effectively enhances the NIR absorption for NGQDs. Overall, the graphitic N-doping structure exhibits the best NIR absorption. Moreover, the electron attraction effect of the different N-sites is found to be crucial for the LUMO level, where stronger electron attraction lowers the LUMO energy. This work provides critical insight in further design of NGQDs for NIR absorption.

The origins of charge separation in anisotropic facet photocatalysts investigated through first-principles calculations.

It was recently discovered that the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can be completed on the {110} and {001} facets, respectively, of a 18-facet SrTiO3 mono-crystal. The effective charge separation is attributed to the facet junction at the interface between two arbitrary anisotropic crystal planes. Theoretical estimation of the built-in potential at the facet junction can greatly improve understanding of the mechanism. This work employs density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate such potential at the (110)/(100) facet junction in SrTiO3 crystals. The formation of the facet junction is verified by a calculated work function difference between the (110) and (100) planes, which form p-type and n-type segments of the junction, respectively. The built-in potential is estimated at about 2.9 V. As a result, with the ultra high built-in potential, electrons and holes can effectively transfer to different anisotropic planes to complete both photo-oxidative and photo-reductive reactions.

Reverse shock index multiplied by Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) predicts mortality in severe trauma patients with head injury.

The reverse shock index (rSI), a ratio of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to heart rate (HR), is used to identify prognosis in trauma patients. Multiplying rSI by Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) can possibly predict better in-hospital mortality in patients with trauma. However, rSIG has never been used to evaluate the mortality risk in adult severe trauma patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥ 16) with head injury (head Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] ≥ 2) in the emergency department (ED). This retrospective case control study recruited adult severe trauma patients (ISS ≥ 16) with head injury (head AIS ≥ 2) who presented to the ED of two major trauma centers between January 01, 2014 and May 31, 2017. Demographic data, vital signs, ISS scores, injury mechanisms, laboratory data, managements, and outcomes were included for the analysis. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to evaluate the accuracy of rSIG score in predicting in-hospital mortality. In total, 438 patients (mean age: 56.48 years; 68.5% were males) were included in this study. In-hospital mortality occurred in 24.7% patients. The median (interquartile range) ISS score was 20 (17-26). Patients with rSIG ≤ 14 had seven-fold increased risks of mortality than those without rSIG ≤ 14 (odds ratio: 7.64; 95% confidence interval: 4.69-12.42). Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and area under the curve values for rSIG score were 0.29 and 0.76, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of rSIG ≤ 14 were 0.71, 0.75, 0.49, and 0.89, respectively. The rSIG score is a prompt and simple tool to predict in-hospital mortality among adult severe trauma patients with head injury.

Unfamiliar Accented English Negatively Affects EFL Listening Comprehension: It Helps to be a More Able Accent Mimic.

In this study, EFL learners who listened to four short context-rich audio files each delivered in an unfamiliar English accent were required to produce best-attempt transcriptions and accent imitation recordings. Results indicate that exposure alone does not suffice to eliminate accent impact on EFL listeners. Importantly, results from one-way ANOVA analyses reveal between-participants differences in residual accent impact, vocabulary knowledge, and quality of accent imitation. Results from a linear mixed-effects model analysis, while suggesting that other unidentified factors may also assist EFL listeners in processing unfamiliar accented English, demonstrate that the more able mimics cope more successfully with unfamiliar accents than the less able mimics. Counter-intuitively, vocabulary knowledge is rejected as a predictor for success in reducing accent impact. A logical explanation for this particular finding is that a larger vocabulary repertoire aids listeners where there is no interference from unfamiliar accents. Given these findings, to better prepare EFL listeners for the English-as-an-International-Language world, training should include both listening to a variety of native and non-native accents and performing accent imitation (reproduction) exercises to further expand listeners' phonological-phonetic flexibility.

English Orthographic Learning in Chinese-L1 Young EFL Beginners.

English orthographic learning, among Chinese-L1 children who were beginning to learn English as a foreign language, was documented when: (1) only visual memory was at their disposal, (2) visual memory and either some letter-sound knowledge or some semantic information was available, and (3) visual memory, some letter-sound knowledge and some semantic information were all available. When only visual memory was available, orthographic learning (measured via an orthographic choice test) was meagre. Orthographic learning was significant when either semantic information or letter-sound knowledge supplemented visual memory, with letter-sound knowledge generating greater significance. Although the results suggest that letter-sound knowledge plays a more important role than semantic information, letter-sound knowledge alone does not suffice to achieve perfect orthographic learning, as orthographic learning was greatest when letter-sound knowledge and semantic information were both available. The present findings are congruent with a view that the orthography of a foreign language drives its orthographic learning more than L1 orthographic learning experience, thus extending Share's (Cognition 55:151-218, 1995) self-teaching hypothesis to include non-alphabetic L1 children's orthographic learning of an alphabetic foreign language. The little letter-sound knowledge development observed in the experiment-I control group indicates that very little letter-sound knowledge develops in the absence of dedicated letter-sound training. Given the important role of letter-sound knowledge in English orthographic learning, dedicated letter-sound instruction is highly recommended.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) on Spleen Lymphocytes Treg/Th 17 Immune Balance in Ulcerative Colitis Mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on spleen T-helper 17 (Th 17) and regulatory T (Treg) cell levels in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC), so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of UC. METHODS Kunming mice were randomized into control, UC model and EA groups, with 8 mice in each group. The UC model was established by giving the mice with 3% Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) for 5 days. EA (15 Hz/25 Hz, 0.1-0.2 mA) was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36, used alternatively) for 10 min, once a day for 5 days. The animals' disease activity index [DAl, = (body weight index score + stool score + bleeding score)/3; 0-4 points] were calculated. The pathological changes of colon tissues were observed by light microscopy after H. E. stain, and spleen Treg (CD4⁺ CD²5⁺ Foxp³âº Treg) and Th 17 (CD³âº CD8⁺ IL-17⁺ Th 17) lymphocyte levels were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the DAl score and the ratio of Th 17/CD8⁺ T cells were significantly increased, while the ratio of Treg/CD4⁺ T cells obviously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). After EA intervention, the increased DAI score and the ratio of Th 17/CD8⁺ T cells and the decreased Treg/CD4⁺ T cells were reversed (P < 0.05), and the inflammatory cell infiltration degree of the colon tissue was attenuated. CONCLUSION: EA intervention can improve the, UC rats' symptoms of activity state, bloody or viscidity stool and colonic inflammation, probably by regulating the balance between the spleenic Treg and Th 17 lymphocytes.

Effect of resin content and substrate on the emission of BTEX and carbonyls from low-VOC water-based wall paint.

The primary aim of this work is to explore the effect of resin content and the effect of substrate on the emission of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and carbonyls from low-VOC water-based wall paint. Four low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints include paints A (20% acrylic), B (30% acrylic), C (20% polyvinyl acetate), and D (30% polyvinyl acetate) were painted on stainless steel specimen for the study of resin effect. Green calcium silicate, green cement, and stainless steel were painted with paints A and C for the study of substrate effect. Concentrations of the VOCs in the chamber decreased with the elapsed time. Both resin type and resin quantity in paint had effects on VOC emissions. Paints with acrylic resin emitted less BTEX and carbonyls than paints with polyvinyl acetate resin. However, the effects of resin quantity varied with VOCs. Porous substrates were observed to interact more strongly with paints than inert substrates. Both green calcium silicate and green cement substrates have strong power of adsorption of VOCs from wall paints, namely toluene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 2-butanone, methacrolein, butyraldehyde, and benzaldehyde. Some compounds like toluene, formaldehyde, and butyaldehyde were desorbed very slowly from green calcium silicate and green cement substrates.

[Chemical Constituents from Infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the chloroform and acetic ether fractions from infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods. Spectral analysis were taken to identify the structures. Results: Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as dotriacontane( 1), ursolic acid( 2),hexacosene( 3),ß-sitosterol( 4),daucosterol( 5),2,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxy-1,4-naphthalenedione( 6),3,3'-dimethoxyellagic acid( 7),ellagic acid( 8),4'-hydroxyisoflavone-7-O-ß-D-galactoside( 9),3,3'-dimethoxyellagic acid-4'-O-ß-D-xylopyroside( 10), gallic acid( 11). Conclusion: Compounds 1,3 ~ 6,9,10 are isolated from this genus for the first time, compounds 1 ~ 6,9,10 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Effects of plateau time and ramp time on ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

The responses of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) vary significantly with the type and setting of the stimuli. This work was to investigate the effects of different ramp time and plateau time on oVEMP latency and amplitude. Twenty-two healthy volunteers aged from 20 years to 39 years were enrolled. The oVEMPs were acquired with the eyes upwards-gaze 30 degree above the head, and the sound stimuli included 0.1-ms click, and 500-Hz short tone burst (STB) of rise-plateau-fall time of 0.5-2-0.5 ms, 0.5-4-0.5 ms, 2-2-2 ms, and 2-4-2 ms. The response rate of click oVEMP (66%) was lower than STB oVEMP (100%). The click oVEMP amplitude was significantly smaller (p < 0.01, one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Scheffe procedure). The latency n1 increased by 1.4 ms as the rise/fall time shifted from 0.5 ms to 2 ms for STB stimuli. However, the latency and amplitude did not show significant difference between the STB stimuli with different plateau times. The lower amplitude and response rate for click oVEMP were associated with its lower mechanical energy of click, especially the energy from 500 to 1000 Hz.

Effects of different pacing algorithms on cumulative ventricular pacing proportion in patients with pacemakers.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that increased cumulative ventricular pacing proportion (CumVP%) is one of the most important causes for adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, how to reduce CumVP% has been a treatment issue in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different pacing algorithms on CumVP% in patients with pacemakers. METHODS: Pacemakers with three pacing algorithms, i.e., conventional dual chamber rate adaptive pacing (DDDR), search atrioventricular conduction plus (SAV+) and managed ventricular pacing (MVP), were implanted in 42 patients including 41 with bradycardia arrhythmias and one with ventricular tachycardia. Pacemakers were programmed to work in conventional DDDR, SAV+ and MVP during the follow-up periods of the first, the second and the third month. In each pacing algorithm, the time percentages of four pacing and sense status including atrial sense-ventricular sense (AS-VS), atrial sense-ventricular pacing (AS-VP), atrial pacing-ventricular sense (AP-VS) and atrial pacing-ventricular pacing (AP-VP) were calculated. Cumulative ventricular pacing proportions were compared in the three pacing algorithms in the first, the second and the third month postoperatively. RESULTS: In the DDDR algorithm AS-VS, AS-VP, AP-VS and AP-VP were 2.4%, 52.3%, 2.5% and 42.8% respectively, while in SAV+ they were 19.3%, 34.9%, 33.9% and 12.0%, in MVP they were 38.9%, 13.2%, 41.6% and 6.4%. In the above the DDDR, SAV+ and MVP algorithms, cumulative ventricular pacing proportions were 95.1%, 46.9% and 19.6%, respectively (P < 0.05) and the percentages of CumVP% < 40% in patients were 0, 23.8% and 95.2.0% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the conventional DDDR algorithm, both SAV+ and MVP significantly reduced the CumVP%, especially the MVP algorithm. Patients may benefit from MVP algorithm due to reduced CumVP%.