Diversity of short-term DC outcomes in bulk-fill RBCs subjected to a 3 s high-irradiance protocol.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the short-term (5 min) initial effects of a high-irradiance light-curing (LC) protocol on light transmission (LT%), radiant exposure (RE) and degree of conversion (DC%) of different bulk-fill resin-based composites (RBCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six bulk-fill composites with different viscosities were investigated: OBF (One Bulk Fill, 3 M), EB (Estelite bulkfill,Tokuyama), PFill, PFlow, ECeram and EFlow (PowerFill, Poweflow, Tetric EvoCeram bulkfill, Tetric Evoflow bulkfill, Ivoclar), subjected to different LC protocols: one ultra-high-intensity (3 W/cm2 -3 s via PowerCure LCU) and two conventional (1.2 W/cm2 -10 s and 20 s via PowerCure and Elipar S10 LCUs). Specimens (n = 5) were polymerized within their molds (ϕ5 mm × 4 mm depth) to determine LT% and RE at 4 mm using a MARC-LC spectrometer. For real-time DC% measurements by FTIR, similar molds were utilized. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests at 5 % significance. RESULTS: Regardless of the applied LC protocols, OBF and low-viscosity RBCs (EB, PFlow and EFlow) had the lowest and highest LT%, RE, DC% and RPmax, respectively. RE results of all RBCs were in the same sequence: Elipar-20 s > PCure-10 s > PCure-3 s. DC% of PFill and PFlow displayed no significant difference between the applied LC protocols (p > 0.05). The polymerization kinetic in all materials was well described by an exponential sum function (r2 varied between 0.85 and 0.98), showing a faster polymerization with the PCure-3 s protocol. SIGNIFICANCE: The measurement of LT% and DC% at 5 min gave an insight into the developing polymerization process. The initial response of these bulk-fill composite to a high-irradiation protocol varied depending on their composition and viscosity, being faster for low viscosity materials. Nevertheless, even though multiple resin composites are designed to be efficient during photopolymerization, care should be taken when selecting materials/curing protocol.

A theory of degrees in education.

Degrees are presumably the most important institution in education markets. However, despite their high relevance, degrees and their design features remain poorly understood within the economics of education. This study addresses this gap. We provide an accurate formal definition of what constitutes a degree and formulate the first theory of degree design. This theory is based on a technological platform view that interprets degrees as modules within a hierarchical structure resembling that of software architectures. This approach provides new opportunities to address questions of degree optimization. Furthermore, a novel strategy to optimize the design of school degrees is proposed. This strategy is expected to improve the learning environment of weaker students across all school types, leaving higher-performing students rather unaffected. The implications and limitations of our approach are also discussed.

Effectiveness and mechanism of microbial dust suppressant on coal dust with different metamorphosis degree.

The extraction of coal from open-pit mines significantly contributes to environmental degradation, posing grave risks to human health and the operational stability of machinery. In this milieu, microbial dust suppressants leveraging microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) demonstrate substantial potential for application. This manuscript undertakes an exploration of the dust mitigation efficiency, consolidation attributes, and the fundamental mechanisms of microbial dust suppressants across coal dust samples with varying metamorphic gradations. Empirical observations indicate that, in resistance tests against wind and rain, lignite coal underwent mass losses of 7.43 g·m-2·min-1 and 98.62 g·m-2·min-1, respectively. The production of consolidating agents within the lignite dust, attributable to the microbial suppressants, was measured at 0.15 g per unit mass, a value of 1.25 and 1.07 times greater than that observed in bituminous coal and anthracite, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses illuminated that the consolidating products within the coal dust predominantly constituted calcite and vaterite forms of calcium carbonate. The consolidation mechanism of coal dust via microbial suppressants is articulated as follows: Subsequent to the application on coal dust, the suppressants induce the formation of carbonate precipitates with inherent adhesive properties. These carbonates affix to the surfaces of coal dust particles, progressively encapsulating them. Furthermore, they play a pivotal role in bridging and filling the interstices between adjacent dust particles, thereby culminating in the genesis of a dense, cohesive mass capable of withstanding erosive forces.

No significant alteration in white matter microstructure in first-degree relatives of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by structural alteration within white matter tissues of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical, temporal and occipital circuits. However, the presence of microstructural changes in the white matter tracts of unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with OCD as a vulnerability marker remains unclear. Therefore, here, diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) data were obtained from 29 first-degree relatives of patients with OCD and 59 healthy controls. We investigated the group differences in FA using whole-brain analysis (DTI analysis). For additional regions of interest (ROI) analysis, we focused on the posterior thalamic radiation and sagittal stratum, shown in recent meta-analysis of patients with OCD. In both whole-brain and ROI analyses, using a strict statistical threshold (family-wise error rate [FWE] corrected p<.05 for whole-brain analyses, and p<.0125 (0.05/4) with Bonferroni correction for ROI analyses), we found no significant group differences in FA. Subtle reductions were observed in the anterior corona radiata, forceps minor, cingulum bundle, and corpus callosum only when a lenient statistical was applied (FWE corrected p<.20). These findings suggest that alterations in the white matter microstructure of first-degree relatives, as potential vulnerability markers for OCD, are likely subtle.

An extended goal programming approach with piecewise penalty functions for uncertain supplier-material selection problem in cardboard box manufacturing systems.

In this study a real case multi-objective material and supplier selection problem in cardboard box production industries is studied. This problem for the first time optimizes the objective functions such as total wastage amounts remained from all raw sheets, total costs of the system including purchasing cost and transportation cost (including fixed and variable costs) of the raw sheets, and total overplus of produced cardboard boxes. To be closer to the real situations, as a novelty, the problem is formulated in belief-degree-based uncertain environment with normal distribution where this type of uncertainty applies the ideas of experts. A solution approach including two steps is proposed to solve the problem. In the first step, the proposed uncertain formulation is converted to a crisp form using a typical chance constrained programming scheme. In the second step, a new goal programming approach containing a piecewise penalty function is developed in order to solve the obtained multi-objective crisp formulation. In this approach, based on the ideas of experts, multiple goals are considered with different penalty values. A case study from cardboard box industries is considered to evaluate the proposed formulations and solution approach. According to the obtained results, the proposed solution approach is compared to similar approaches of the literature and its efficiency is studied.

Evaluation of deterioration degree and consolidation effectiveness in sandstone and clay brick materials based on the micro-drilling resistance method.

The quick and accurate measurement and evaluation of the deterioration degree and consolidation effectiveness on the surface of masonry relics is valuable for disease investigation and restoration work. However, there is still a lack of quantitative indices for evaluating the deterioration degree and consolidation effectiveness of masonry relics in situ. Based on the micro-drilling resistance method, new quantitative evaluation indices for the deterioration degree and consolidation of masonry materials were proposed. Five types of masonry samples with different deterioration degrees were prepared by artificially accelerated deterioration tests involving sandstone and clay brick as research objects. Three types of consolidants were used to consolidate the deteriorated samples. Drilling resistance tests were conducted for deteriorated and consolidated samples. The variations in deterioration depth and average drilling resistance for samples with different numbers of deterioration cycles were analysed, while the differences in consolidation depth and average drilling resistance for samples with different consolidant types and dosages were compared. Finally, the deterioration degree index ( K ) and consolidation effectiveness index ( R c ), which are based on the average drilling resistance, are proposed. The results can be applied to quick on-site investigations of immovable masonry relics.

Evaluating coupling coordination between urban smart performance and low-carbon level in China's pilot cities with mixed methods.

The construction models of smart cities and low-carbon cities are crucial for advancing global urbanization, enhancing urban governance, and addressing major urban challenges. Despite significant advancements in smart and low-carbon city research, a consensus on their coupling coordination remains elusive. This study employs mixed-method research, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, to investigate the coupling coordination between urban smart performance (SCP) and low-carbon level (LCL) across 52 typical smart and low-carbon pilot cities in China. Independent evaluation models for SCP and LCL qualitatively assess the current state of smart and low-carbon city construction. Additionally, an Entropy-TOPSIS-Pearson correlation-Coupling coordination degree (ETPC) analysis model quantitatively examines their relationship. The results reveal that smart city initiatives in China significantly outperform low-carbon city development, with notable disparities in SCP and LCL between eastern, non-resource-based, and central cities versus western, resource-dependent, and peripheral cities. A strong positive correlation exists between urban SCP and overall LCL, with significant correlations in management, society, and economy, and moderate to weak correlations in environmental quality and culture. As SCP levels improve, the coupling coordination degree between the urban SCP and LCL systems also increases, driven primarily by economic, management, and societal factors. Conversely, the subsystems of low-carbon culture and environmental quality show poorer integration. Based on these findings, this study proposes an evaluation system for smart and low-carbon coupling coordination development, outlining pathways for future development from the perspective of urban complex systems.

Rising Alkali-to-Acid Ratios in the Atmosphere May Correspond to Increased Aerosol Acidity.

Aerosol acidity (or pH) is one central parameter in determining the health, climate, and ecological effects of aerosols. While it is traditionally assumed that the long-term aerosol pH levels are determined by the relative abundances of atmospheric alkaline to acidic substances (referred to as RC/A hereinafter), we observed contrasting pH─RC/A trends at different sites globally, i.e., rising alkali-to-acid ratios in the atmosphere may unexpectedly lead to increased aerosol acidity. Here, we examined this apparently counterintuitive phenomenon using the multiphase buffer theory. We show that the aerosol water content (AWC) set a pH "baseline" as the peak buffer pH, while the RC/A and particle-phase chemical compositions determine the deviation of pH from this baseline within the buffer ranges. Therefore, contrasting long-term pH trends may emerge when RC/A increases while the AWC or nitrate fraction decreases, or vice versa. Our results provided a theoretical framework for a quantitative understanding of the response of aerosol pH to variations in SO2, NOx versus NH3, and dust emissions, offering broad applications in studies on aerosol pH and the associated environmental and health effects.

Processing imbalanced medical data at the data level with assisted-reproduction data as an example.

OBJECTIVE: Data imbalance is a pervasive issue in medical data mining, often leading to biased and unreliable predictive models. This study aims to address the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate the impact of data imbalance on classification models. We focus on quantifying the effects of different imbalance degrees and sample sizes on model performance, identifying optimal cut-off values, and evaluating the efficacy of various methods to enhance model accuracy in highly imbalanced and small sample size scenarios. METHODS: We collected medical records of patients receiving assisted reproductive treatment in a reproductive medicine center. Random forest was used to screen the key variables for the prediction target. Various datasets with different imbalance degrees and sample sizes were constructed to compare the classification performance of logistic regression models. Metrics such as AUC, G-mean, F1-Score, Accuracy, Recall, and Precision were used for evaluation. Four imbalance treatment methods (SMOTE, ADASYN, OSS, and CNN) were applied to datasets with low positive rates and small sample sizes to assess their effectiveness. RESULTS: The logistic model's performance was low when the positive rate was below 10% but stabilized beyond this threshold. Similarly, sample sizes below 1200 yielded poor results, with improvement seen above this threshold. For robustness, the optimal cut-offs for positive rate and sample size were identified as 15% and 1500, respectively. SMOTE and ADASYN oversampling significantly improved classification performance in datasets with low positive rates and small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies a positive rate of 15% and a sample size of 1500 as optimal cut-offs for stable logistic model performance. For datasets with low positive rates and small sample sizes, SMOTE and ADASYN are recommended to improve balance and model accuracy.

Effects of degree of milling on bran layer structure, physicochemical properties and cooking quality of brown rice.

Effects of varying degree of milling (DOM) (0-22%) on the bran layer structure, physicochemical properties, and cooking quality of brown rice were explored. As the DOM increased, bran degree, protein, lipid, dietary fiber, amylose, mineral elements, and color parameters (a* and b* values) of milled rice decreased while starch and L* value increased. Microscopic fluorescence images showed that the pericarp, combined seed coat-nucellus layer, and aleurone layer were removed in rice processed at DOM of 6.6%, 9.2%, and 15.4%, respectively. The pasting properties, thermal properties, and palatability of rice increased as the DOM increased. Principal component and correlation analysis indicated that excessive milling lead to a decline in nutritional value of rice with limited impact on enhancing palatability. Notably, when parts of aleurone cell wall were retained, rice samples exhibited high cooking and sensory properties. It serves as a potential guide to the production of moderately milled rice.

Effect of degree of polymerization on regenerated cellulose ultrafiltration membrane performance through ZnCl2/AlCl3 aqueous solvent system.

The development of a direct method for preparing regenerated cellulose (RC) ultrafiltration membranes from cellulose is urgently needed. In this study, refined cotton was used as the raw material to successfully prepare RC ultrafiltration membranes at room temperature using a ZnCl2/AlCl3 solvent system combined with a nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method. This solvent system effectively degrades cellulose, producing RC ultrafiltration membranes with varying degrees of polymerization (DP). The research results indicate that reducing the DP of cellulose significantly decreases the viscosity of the solution, facilitating the formation of an asymmetric, finger-like pore structures in the membrane. Furthermore, a decrease in DP slightly enlarges the surface pore size and significantly thickens the dense layer. At a DP of 250, the water flux of the DP250-ET membrane reached 630 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of ~300 kDa, enabling efficient separation of viruses (LRV > 3.91) and IgG. The exposure of more hydroxy groups on the RC enhances the membrane's hydrophilicity, indicated by a water contact angle (WCA) of 39.5°. Compared to commercial polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, the DP250-ET membrane exhibited lower protein adsorption and excellent anti-fouling performance in practical applications (FRR > 80 %). Overall, this work confirms the significant potential of the eco-friendly ZnCl2/AlCl3 solvent system in the fabrication of RC ultrafiltration membranes, where the structure and performance of the membrane can be tailored by adjusting the DP of cellulose.

[Bridging the gap between the first year of the Health Sciences bachelor's degree and the second year at Ifsi]. / Passerelle entre la première année de licence Sciences pour la santé et la deuxième année d'Ifsi.

Université Paris-Est Créteil offers a gateway to the second year of a nursing training institute after the first year of a Health Sciences degree. Eight students entered the second year of nursing training institute via this gateway. At the end of session 1, seven of them were able to move on to the third year of nursing training institute. The results are encouraging, both in terms of theoretical knowledge acquisition and qualitative feedback from students.

Correlation of Apo B/A1 ratio with hemodynamics and hearing impairment degree in elderly patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of apolipoprotein B/A1 (Apo B/A1) ratio with hemodynamics and degree of hearing impairment in elderly patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Methods: A total of 82 elderly patients with SSNHL diagnosed and treated in our hospital from July 2019 to September 2022 were retrospectively selected as the research group. The patients were divided into the mild group (22 cases), the moderate group (45 cases), and the severe group (15 cases) according to the degree of hearing impairment. 82 elderly people who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The ApoB/A1 ratio and hemodynamic [whole blood low-shear viscosity (LSV), whole blood high-shear viscosity (HSV) and plasma viscosity (PV)] were measured in the two groups. The correlation of ApoB/A1 ratio with hemodynamics and degree of hearing impairment was analyzed. The predictive value of ApoB/A1 ratio and hemodynamics for the severity of SSNHL in elderly patients was analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the ApoB/A1 ratio, and the levels of LSV, HSV and PV were higher in the research group (P < 0.001). The ApoB/A1 ratio and content of LSV, HSV and PV in the moderate group were significantly increased compared with these in the mild group (P < 0.05). Compared with the moderate group, the ApoB/A1 ratio and the levels of LSV, HSV and PV in the severe group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that ApoB/A1 was positively correlated with LSV, HSV and PV (r = 0.303, 0.312, 0.228, P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that the ApoB/A1 ratio, LSV, HSV and PV levels were independent risk factors for the degree of hearing impairment in elderly patients with SSNHL (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of ApoB/A1, LSV, HSV and PV for predicting the severity of SSNHL in elderly patients was 0.701, 0.817, 0.838, and 0.765, respectively. The AUC of combined prediction was 0.926, the sensitivity was 86.67 %, and the specificity was 90.06 %. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection were higher than those of single detection. Conclusion: The contents of ApoB/A1, HSV, LSV and PV were significantly increased in elderly patients with SSNHL, and their levels are significantly related to the degree of hearing impairment. The combined detection has high value in evaluating the severity of the disease.

Morphological Measurement and Clinical Significance of Abnormal Development of Distal Femur with Hemophilia Knee Arthritis: A Consideration on the Renewal of Total Knee Prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: The knee joint of hemophiliacs may face the result of local morphological changes due to long-term irritation of synovitis. This study aims to elucidate the morphological characteristics of distal femur in hemophilic arthritis (HA) and compare the compatibility of three types of prostheses with the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) dimensions of the femoral osteotomy surface. METHODS: This study retrospectively and randomly selected 50 patients with HA registered for treatment at our hospital from June 2016 to August 2022 as the study subjects, with an equal number of male osteoarthritis (OA) patients and healthy male individuals set as the control group. This study used medical digitalization software to simulate osteotomies on the distal femur during total knee arthroplasties (TKA) for 50 patients with HA, OA patients, and the healthy population, respectively, and measure the morphological parameters to compare with three commonly used femoral components of TKA in clinical practice. The differences between the femur resection of anteroposterior and mediolateral (FRAP, FRML) osteotomy surface and the prosthesis's BOX-AP/ML were compared in three prostheses. One-way ANOVA and multiple Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for the normal or non-normal distribution data, and pairwise comparisons between groups were conducted using the Bonferroni method, and the linear correlation analysis was utilized to assess the relationship between section femoral morphological data and prosthesis parameters. RESULT: In HA patients, the morphological characteristics of the distal femur were shown as shorter than femur AP (FAP), medial and lateral condyle anterior-posterior dimension (FMCAP, FLCAP), notch width (NW), posterolateral condyle height (PLCH), posteromedial condyle width (PMCW), and posterior condylar axis length (PCAL) dimension. They had comparatively smaller femur section aspect ratios (p < 0.005). They showed longer posterolateral condyle width (PLCW), anterior condyle mediolateral dimension (FRACML), anterolateral condyle height (ALCH), and femur resection anterior condylar mediolateral (FRACML) dimension (p < 0.005). They showed larger distal femur aspect ratio and resection aspect ratio (FAR, FRAR, p < 0.005). All selected prostheses showed ML undercoverage under similar AP dimensions, and ML undersizing of Attune systems was more obvious in three femoral prostheses. CONCLUSION: The distal femur morphological change of HA patient is shown as smaller AP dimension, narrow posterior condyle spacing, lower and shallower trochlear, thinner anterior condyle, wider and lower intercondylar notch and higher posterior-lateral condyle. The selected prostheses showed ML undercoverage under similar AP dimensions. This typical morphological tendency of the distal femur seems to warrant consideration in the process of knee joint prosthesis upgrading.

Analysis of Additional Degrees in Academic Plastic Surgery Faculty.

Background: As plastic surgery continues to evolve, an increasing number of surgeons are attaining additional degrees (ADs). Prior studies illustrate this trend of increased AD attainment among plastic surgery faculty within the United States. Yet, no such study has documented AD attainment variability and influence within Canadian plastic surgery faculty. Objectives: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between AD attainment and gender, alongside research productivity, and academic rank of Canadian plastic surgery faculty members. Methods: All Canadian academic plastic surgery faculty members were identified and information regarding gender, academic rank, research productivity, timing of AD attainment was recorded. AD was defined as any degree beyond a medical degree or equivalent. Results: A total of 299 faculty members were identified. Of these, 33% (N = 99) attained an AD. A higher percentage of females (40%) obtained ADs compared to males (30%) (P = .0402). When controlling for number of years in practice, there was a significantly larger proportion of females than males with ADs as assistant and associate professor (P = .033). Faculty with ADs were associated with higher research productivity and higher academic rank than those with MDs (P < .05). ADs were commonly obtained post-residency (38%) and most common ADs were MSc (51%) and PhDs (21%). It was found that the Canadian plastic surgeons were less likely to pursue MBAs than US plastic surgeons (P = .002). Conclusion: One-third of Canadian academic plastic surgeons had ADs. Those with ADs present with higher research productivity and academic rank. When segmented by gender, there were significant differences among AD holders. The results of this study will lend support to ongoing endeavors voicing the need for gender equity in academic plastic surgery.

Historique : Tandis que la chirurgie plastique continue d'évoluer, de plus en plus de chirurgiens obtiennent des diplômes supplémentaires (DS). Des études antérieures démontrent cette tendance des professeurs en chirurgie plastique des États-Unis à obtenir des DS. Pourtant aucune étude n'a évalué la variabilité et l'influence des DS chez les professeurs de chirurgie plastique au Canada. Objectifs : Les chercheurs avaient comme objectif d'explorer la relation entre l'obtention de DS et le genre, conjointement avec la productivité de la recherche et le rang universitaire des professeurs de chirurgie plastique canadiens. Méthodologie : Les chercheurs ont répertorié tous les professeurs de chirurgie plastique canadiens et ont consigné l'information relative à leur genre, à leur rang universitaire, à la productivité de leur recherche, au moment de l'obtention des DS. Le DS était défini comme tout diplôme obtenu après un diplôme en médecin ou un diplôme équivalent. Résultats : Au total, 299 professeurs ont été répertoriés. De ce nombre, 33 % (N = 99) ont obtenu un DS. Un plus fort pourcentage de femmes (40 %) que d'hommes (30 %) (P = ,0402) a obtenu des DS. Après avoir tenu compte du nombre d'années d'exercice, une proportion beaucoup plus importante de femmes que d'hommes ayant des DS étaient professeurs adjoints et agrégés (P = 0,033). Les professeurs qui possèdent des DS étaient associés à une plus grande productivité de la recherche et à un rang universitaire plus élevé que ceux qui possédaient un diplôme en médecine (P < 0,05). Les DS étaient souvent obtenus après la résidence (38 %), et les plus courants étaient des maîtrises (51 %) et des doctorats (21 %). Il a été établi que les chirurgiens plasticiens canadiens étaient moins susceptibles de faire un MBA que les chirurgiens des États-Unis (P =0 ,002). Conclusion : Le tiers des chirurgiens plasticiens universitaires canadiens possédaient des DS. Ceux qui en détenaient présentaient une plus grande productivité en recherche et un meilleur rang universitaire. Lorsqu'ils étaient divisés par genre, les détenteurs de DS présentaient des différences importantes. Les résultats de la présente étude appuient les initiatives en cours soulignant la nécessité de respecter l'égalité des genres en chirurgie plastique universitaire.

Sandification degree classification of sandy dolomite base on convolutional neural networks.

Sandification can degrade the strength and quality of dolomite, and to a certain extent, compromise the stability of a tunnel's surrounding rock as an unfavorable geological boundary. Sandification degree classification of sandy dolomite is one of the non-trivial challenges faced by geotechnical engineering projects such as tunneling in complex geographical environments. The traditional methods quantitatively measuring the physical parameters or analyzing some visual features are either time-consuming or inaccurate in practical use. To address these issues, we, for the first time, introduce the convolutional neural network (CNN)-based image classification methods into dolomite sandification degree classification task. In this study, we have made a significant contribution by establishing a large-scale dataset comprising 5729 images, classified into four distinct sandification degrees of sandy dolomite. These images were collected from the vicinity of a tunnel located in the Yuxi section of the CYWD Project in China. We conducted comprehensive classification experiments using this dataset. The results of these experiments demonstrate the groundbreaking achievement of CNN-based models, which achieved an impressive accuracy rate of up to 91.4%. This accomplishment underscores the pioneering role of our work in creating this dataset and its potential for applications in complex geographical analyses.

Study on the Influences of Inter-Governmental Information Flow and Interdepartmental Collaborative Supervision on Pork Quality: A Case Study in China.

To study the influences of the degree of interdepartmental collaborative supervision on the behavioral strategy selection of pig farmers, pig slaughterers, and pork processing manufacturers in the pork supply chain system, this study established a three-party evolutionary game model involving pig farmers, pig slaughterers, and pork processing manufacturers based on the social co-governance framework by focusing on the interdepartmental information sharing mechanism and cooperative governance. Here, we examined how the degree of collaborative supervision among government departments influences the behavioral strategy selection of these parties by focusing on key mechanisms such as information sharing and interdepartmental collaborative governance. Our findings revealed that within a social co-governance system, the strategic choices of the three entities in the pork supply chain closely correlate with the coordination level of collaborative supervision among government departments, particularly through information-sharing mechanisms. Additionally, the strategies are influenced by market-based contract supervision among entities, consumer reporting intensity, and the collaborative governance capabilities of the government, market actors, and consumers. Higher levels of social co-governance are associated with fewer risky links in the pork supply chain and reduced overall risk. Key factors affecting the behavioral strategy selection of the subjects in the pork supply chain include interdepartmental collaborative governance among government departments (e.g., optimizing random inspection frequencies, adjusting economic penalties, and disclosing enterprise market credit information via information sharing mechanisms), consumer complaint probabilities, and the intensity of mutual supervision among enterprises. Therefore, to enhance pork supply chain quality and mitigate risks, it is crucial to enhance the coordination of collaborative supervision among government departments, encourage consumer reporting, and improve market-based mutual supervision mechanisms among upstream and downstream subjects in the supply chain.

Exploring the Interactions between Plant Proanthocyanidins and Thiabendazole: Insights from Isothermal Titration Calorimetry.

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes produces substantial challenges to agriculture, and new strategies for nematode control in livestock animals are called for. Natural compounds, including tannins, with proven anthelmintic activity could be a functional option as structurally diverse complementary compounds to be used alongside commercial anthelmintics. However, the dual use of two anthelmintic components requires an understanding of the pharmacological effects of the combination, while information concerning the interactions between plant-based polyphenols and commercial anthelmintics is scarce. We studied the direct interactions of proanthocyanidins (PAs, syn. condensed tannins) and a commercial anthelmintic thiabendazole, as a model substance of benzimidazoles, by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Our results show evidence of a direct interaction of an exothermic nature with observed enthalpy changes ranging from 0 to -30 kJ/mol. The strength of the interaction between PAs and thiabendazole is mediated by structural characteristics of the PAs with the strongest positive correlation originating from the presence of galloyl groups and the increased degree of polymerization.

The development of resin-coating materials for enhancing elemental release of coated glass ionomer cements.

This study aimed to develop resin coatings containing monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM), Sr/F-doped bioactive glass (Sr/F-BAGs), and pre-reacted glass ionomer fillers (SPG) that enhance ion release without detrimentally affecting the mechanical properties of GIC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of monomer conversion (DC), biaxial flexural strength, surface microhardness, and ion release of the GICs coated with experimental coating materials compared to a commercial product (EQUIA Coat, EC). Four experimental resin coating materials containing 10-20 wt% of MCPM with Sr/F-BAGs and 5-10 wt% SPG were prepared. The DC of the coating material was determined using ATR-FTIR. The flexural strength and surface microhardness of the coated GICs were assessed. Fluoride and elemental (Ca,P,Sr,Si,Al) release were measured using fluoride-specific electrodes and ICP-OES. The DC of the experimental coating material (60-69 %) was higher than that of EC (55 %). The strength of GICs coated with experimental materials (35-40 MPa) was comparable to EC (37 MPa). However, their surface microhardness (13-24 VHN) was lower than EC (44 VHN). The experimental coating materials reduced fluoride release by ∼43 %, similar to EC (∼40 %). However, experimental coating materials promoted higher P and Sr release than EC. In conclusion, GICs coated with the experimental resin coating containing ion-releasing additives exhibited mechanical properties similar to those of the commercial product. The new coating materials promoted a higher level of ion release for GICs. These properties could potentially enhance remineralizing actions for the coated GICs.

Progress in the application of artificial intelligence in skin wound assessment and prediction of healing time.

Since the 1970s, artificial intelligence (AI) has played an increasingly pivotal role in the medical field, enhancing the efficiency of disease diagnosis and treatment. Amidst an aging population and the proliferation of chronic disease, the prevalence of complex surgeries for high-risk multimorbid patients and hard-to-heal wounds has escalated. Healthcare professionals face the challenge of delivering safe and effective care to all patients concurrently. Inadequate management of skin wounds exacerbates the risk of infection and complications, which can obstruct the healing process and diminish patients' quality of life. AI shows substantial promise in revolutionizing wound care and management, thus enhancing the treatment of hospitalized patients and enabling healthcare workers to allocate their time more effectively. This review details the advancements in applying AI for skin wound assessment and the prediction of healing timelines. It emphasizes the use of diverse algorithms to automate and streamline the measurement, classification, and identification of chronic wound healing stages, and to predict wound healing times. Moreover, the review addresses existing limitations and explores future directions.