Actual Function Research Articles

Allocating investigative resources within the Hungarian police force

The distribution of authority and competence is essential for all organizations, including law enforcement. The main focus is not just the existence of this distribution but its actual functionality, particularly from a professional and scientific standpoint regarding resource allocation. Distributing work tasks involves determining the general investigative authority's capacity to respond to crimes across different geographical areas. The aim is to deploy the appropriate forces and tools to different cases. Efficient distribution of resources is crucial as it impacts the quality of criminal investigation work, minimizes crime-related costs, and mitigates social effects. This study aims to evaluate how well the current regulations and practices match investigative resources with arising tasks and what principles guide the allocation of police forces and assets for law enforcement purposes. The focus is on whether the police's investigative activities are effective socially and scientifically rather than purely from a statistical viewpoint.

The effect of topical medications on olfactory function: Barrier therapy

Introduction. Sensory organs help humans exist in the surrounding world, but the evaluation of olfaction remained “in the shadows” practically until the COVID-19 pandemic, although many questions are still insufficiently studied, such as the effect of intranasal medications on olfactory function.Aim. To assess the olfactory function in healthy volunteers before and after a course of using an ectoine nasal solution.Materials and methods. Under our observation were healthy volunteers (medical university students and healthcare workers aged 16 to 35 years) who, in addition to routine ENT examinations, underwent an assessment of their olfactory status using a professional set of odorants for olfactometry and subjectively using a self-assessment scale for olfaction before and after a course of ectoine nasal solution, as well as a self-assessment of its preventive effect. The collected data were recorded in Excel spreadsheets (Microsoft Office 365) for further statistical analysis.Results and discussion. The results showed an average increase of 1 point in the self-assessment of olfaction in the observation group, as well as an increase in the number of “correct” responses when using the set of odorants. However, discrepancies were noted between self-assessment and the objective evaluation of olfaction. The extent of the preventive effect (based on the self-assessment by participants using a 10-point visual analog scale) was rated at 5 points.Conclusions. 1. A one-month course of barrier therapy (ectoine nasal solution) does not cause any impairment in olfactory function, as evidenced by olfactometric testing (an average increase of 10% in correct responses across the group, with 80% of participants showing improvement) and olfaction self-assessment (an average increase of 1 point across the group, with 55% of participants showing improvement). 2. Self-assessment of olfaction cannot be considered a reliable measure of the actual olfactory function. 3. The use of barrier therapy (ectoine nasal solution) has a moderate preventive effect (5 points).

Disparity and Fragmentation of Formal and Non-Formal Education in Men's Prisons in the Metropolitan Region, Chile

Objective: The goal of this study is to map the education provided in contexts of confinements in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. This article focuses on the manners in which formal and non-formal education is developed in male penitentiaries, those with the largest prison population. Theoretical Framework: The concepts of legal prison and real prison, as well as theories on the purposes of prison education, serve as a basis for the study, giving rise to various ways of implementing education. Method: The methodology is qualitative and the sample includes the total of the prisons in the Metropolitan Region. The sequential design includes a survey in prisons, semi-structured interviews and discussion groups from 68 institutions that provide education in prisons. Results and Discussion: A great disparity and fragmentation of formal and non-formal education in prisons, lack of articulation, low coverage and solitary work are revealed. No planning of the offer or the interests of those deprived of liberty was found. The real prison does not materialize the current public policies in terms of education, maintaining practices from the 19th century. Implications of the research: The results demonstrate the need to articulate public policies in an inter-ministerial plan that incorporates qualitative dimensions, beyond the fulfillment of goals and decisions of each prison. Originality/Value: This research is relevant because there are few studies of the actual functioning of formal and non-formal education in prisons.

Data analytics for research on complex brain disorders

There exist many research tools for complex brain disorders both proprietary and open source. Those tools are mostly focused on specific use cases and don’t offer a holistic view of the research and diagnostic processes. The MES-CoBraD platform offers a holistic tool that participates in all the phases of the process from planning to execution. In it researchers can create workflows of the diagnostic and research procedures. The Data Analytics module provides the functionality described in these workflows, mainly the analytical functions. The tools are integrated with the rest of the platform in a seamless manner. They are capable of analyzing different categories of data including imaging data, electroencephalogram (EEG)/polysomnography (PSG), medical device data, and consumer technology data. In this paper we present a summary of how the MES-CoBraD platform operates, the role of the data analytics in it, the actual functions implemented and integrated in the Data Analytics module and a number of use cases which show how each specific function can be used during the research and clinical procedures.

Spin-2 Green’s functions on Kerr in radiation gauge

Abstract We construct retarded and advanced Green’s functions for gravitational perturbations in Kerr in an ingoing radiation gauge. Our Green’s functions have a frequency domain piece that has previously been obtained by Ori (2003 Phys. Rev. D 67) based on the Chrzanowski-Cohen-Kegeles metric reconstruction method. As is well known, this piece by itself is not sufficient to obtain an actual Green’s function. We show how to complete it with a piece based on a method by Green et al (2020 Class. Quantum Grav. 37). The completion piece has a completely explicit form in the time-domain and is supported on pairs of points on the same outgoing principal null geodesic which are in the appropriate causal order. We expect our Green’s functions to be useful for gravitational self-force calculations and other perturbation problems on Kerr spacetime.

In plain sight: Mechanisms of means-ends decoupling in impact investing

Impact investors are supposed to generate financial returns alongside social and environmental benefits. Increasingly, they must also measure these benefits as a form of performance management to provide robust evidence of impact. However, it is an “open secret” that because of inconsistencies and fragmentation in the applied means of impact measurement, ends are imperfectly met. In this article, we probe how and why means-ends decoupling occurs in impact investing in plain sight. We apply a qualitative and interpretative approach, drawing on 135 interviews and 102 documents gathered from impact investors. We find that impact measurement is not primarily used for performance management but plays a relational role between stakeholders. We uncover and conceptualize three mechanisms that drive decoupling between the ideal and actual functions of impact measurement, namely impact measurement as: (1) communication, (2) categorization, and (3) construction of the domain. We also find an important contingency: decoupling becomes more likely with increasing systemic opacity in an investment field. We outline contributions to the organizational decoupling literature and the sociology of quantification, and we show how the problems that arise from means-ends decoupling could be overcome.

Filter‐Based Average Dwell‐Time Tuning Approach for Adaptive Prescribed‐Time Tracking of Uncertain Switched Nonlinear Systems

ABSTRACTThis paper addresses neural‐network‐based adaptive prescribed‐time (PT) tracking for uncertain switched systems with unmatched nonlinearities. A continuously switched adaptive tuning mechanism for neural network learning is developed by applying the average dwell time (ADT). First, a neural‐network‐based PT tracking control design strategy using the ADT‐based adaptive tuning mechanism is established for switched nonlinear systems in strict‐feedback form. A novel adaptive dynamic surface controller is designed recursively using a practical finite‐time scaling function and continuously switched tuning parameters. The switched adaptive tuning laws for neural networks are structured to reduce the conservatism associated with common adaptive laws. Then, a filter‐based tuning approach is employed to ensure the continuity of switched adaptive parameters with ADT in the designed controller. The practical PT stability of the closed‐loop system is demonstrated based on the boundedness of the adaptive parameters. Building upon this foundation, the proposed PT design approach is extended to control switched pure‐feedback nonlinear systems, even in cases where control directions are unspecified. The unknown sign problem encountered with switched virtual and actual control coefficient functions is resolved in the PT control framework. It is shown that the PT performance bound of the tracking error can be reduced by selecting the design parameter of the scaling function. Finally, simulation results illustrate the merits of the proposed theoretical approach.

Spread efficiency of energy demand in the industrial chain: a perspective from economic distance

This paper investigates the spread efficiency of energy demand in the industrial chain based on the input-output method. The concept of intersectoral economic distance and spread efficiency was introduced to formulate the energy demand spread functions. Then, an empirical study was conducted based on China's 2017 input-output data and nearly 3,500 companies were listed in the Chinese A-share market. The results show that the sectoral average spread time is 32.75 days. Manufacturing plays a central role in the spread of energy demand. In the short term, the logistics sector has the greatest pulling effect on energy demand, while the electric power sector has the greatest impact on energy demand in the long term. Energy demand caused by exports is greater than consumption and investment. Finally, sectoral economic distances and actual spread functions for 9 main energy sources are provided to help us better predict energy demand.

Social Work Practice in United Arab Emirates (UAE) Schools during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Besides their educational mission, public schools ground and support the health and psychological, emotional, and social development of students. The educational system is special because it combines multiple integrated responsibilities and duties that transcend the scope of any other social welfare program. Social workers are crucial constituents of educational systems and are expected to attend to the well-being of students while ensuring the effective performance of the educational system. Given such rigorous demands, this study assesses and compares the actual functions undertaken by social workers in schools in the United Arab Emirates during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, it aims to help improve educational systems worldwide. The nuanced results of this study will better elucidate the crucial capabilities of social workers in the dynamic educational system and illuminate the challenges they confront during emergencies.

School psychology in Italy: A mixed-method study of actual and desired roles and functions

Investigating the scope of international school psychology practices may promote and influence the globalization of the profession. Although some extant studies assessed the presence and functions of school psychologists internationally, little research to date has focused on Italy. This nation-wide study provides up-to-date information about how psychological services are provided in Italian schools, what services are rendered, what populations and issues are addressed, and analyzes discrepancies between existing and desired situations. Data from the concurrent triangulation (simultaneous) mixed-method research consisted of results from an online survey of 565 Italian psychological service-providers who work in schools and 33 key informants’ interviews (i.e., school psychologists, regional /national board representatives, stakeholders’ key representatives, policymakers). Results indicated that, in the provision of school psychological services in Italy, individual counseling to students is predominant and school-based psychological helpdesk is the most common form of provision of psychological services. However, the desired service delivery model differs substantially from the reality. Implications for the development of school psychology in Italy, in terms of promoting policy design and providing more structured psychological services in schools, are described.

Transcription Factor PdTP1 Regulates the Biotransformation of Limonene to α-Terpineol and the Growth of Penicillium digitatum.

α-Terpineol, an alcoholic monoterpene with lilac-like aroma, possesses diverse biological activities and has found applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries. Our previous studies indicated that gene PdTP1 was highly expressed in Penicillium digitatum DSM 62840 during the biotransformation of limonene to α-terpineol, while its actual biological functions are not fully understood. Here, PdTP1 was functionally characterized with bioinformatics analysis, subcellular localization, transcriptional activation activity, overexpression, and RNA interference (RNAi) silencing and RNA-seq analysis. Results showed that PdTP1 protein contained a GAL4-like Zn2Cys6 DNA-binding domain and a fungal_trans domain, was located in the nucleus and cell membrane and presented transcriptional activation effect, suggesting that PdTP1 encoded a Zn2Cys6 type transcription factor. Overexpression of PdTP1 in P. digitatum promoted limonene biotransformation and increased α-terpineol production, and opposite results were observed after the silencing of PdTP1. Moreover, transcription factor PdTP1 was found to affect the growth of P. digitatum and participate in ionic stress and oxidative stress responses. RNA-seq data revealed that altering the PdTP1 expression influenced the expression of some genes related to terpene metabolism or biosynthesis, fungal growth, and stress responses. In summary, PdTP1, which encoded a Zn2Cys6 transcription factor, played important roles in improving the production of α-terpineol from limonene and regulating fungal growth and environmental stress responses.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and hypertension on renal function during first-line targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

Renal function deterioration during systemic therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a long-term concern in treatment planning. Although hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are the most common factors that affect chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression, their impact on renal function during targeted therapy is unclear. This study investigated whether DM and HTN were associated with a decline in renal function during first-line targeted therapy for mRCC. This retrospective multicenter study analyzed patients receiving first-line targeted therapy for mRCC. They were classified as follows: group 1: HTN-, DM-; group 2: HTN+, DM-; group 3: HTN-, DM+; and group 4: HTN+, DM+. Changes in renal function and factors affecting progression to stage 4 CKD after targeted therapy were analyzed. Among the 424 enrolled patients, 303 (71.5%) and 121 (28.5%) were treated with sunitinib and pazopanib, respectively [median duration: 10.3 months, interquartile range (IQR), 3.1-37.0 months]. Although all groups showed a decreased mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after treatment (P<0.001 for group 1, group 2, and group 4, P=0.02 for group 3, respectively), there were no significant differences in changes in eGFR (∆eGFR) between groups (P=0.10). However, actual renal function change calculated using percent ∆eGFR (%∆eGFR) showed differences between groups (P=0.02); the %∆eGFR of group 4 was significantly lower compared with group 1 (P=0.008). The mean progression time to stage 4 CKD in group 4 (38.6 months) was significantly shorter compared to the other groups (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified increased age (P=0.008), increased number of metastatic sites (P=0.047), and DM and HTN coexistence (P<0.001) as predictors of progression to stage 4 CKD. Patients with DM and HTN experienced further decline in renal function and had a higher risk of progression to stage 4 CKD after targeted therapy compared to patients without these risk factors. Recognition and proactive management of DM and HTN are necessary to facilitate the proper administration of life-prolonging oncological treatments.

Constraint-based reasoning in cell biology: on the explanatory role of context.

Cell biologists, including those seeking molecular mechanistic explanations of cellular phenomena, frequently rely on experimental strategies focused on identifying the cellular context relevant to their investigations. We suggest that such practices can be understood as a guided decomposition strategy, where molecular explanations of phenomena are defined in relation to natural contextual (cell) boundaries. This "top-down" strategy contrasts with "bottom-up" reductionist approaches where well-defined molecular structures and activities are orphaned by their displacement from actual biological functions. We focus on the central role of microscopic imaging in cell biology to uncover possible constraints on the system. We show how identified constraints are used heuristically to limit possible mechanistic explanations to those that are biologically meaningful. Historical examples of this process described here include discovery of the mechanism of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, molecular explanation of the first steps in protein secretion, and identification of molecular motors. We suggest that these instances are examples of a form of downward causation or, more specifically, constraining relations, where higher-level structures and variables delimit and enable lower-level system states. The guided decomposition strategy in our historical cases illustrates the irreducibility of experimentally identified constraints in explaining biological activities of cells. Rather than viewing decomposition and recomposition as separate epistemic activities, we contend that they need to be iteratively integrated to account for the ontological complexity of multi-level systems.

Comparing mini-disk infiltrometer, BEST method and soil core estimates of hydraulic conductivity of a sandy-loam soil

Saturated, Ks, and near-saturated, K, soil hydraulic conductivity control many hydrological processes but they are difficult to measure. Comparing methods to determine Ks and K is a means to establish how and why these soil hydrodynamic properties vary with the applied method. A comparison was established between the Ks and K values of a sandy-loam soil obtained, in the field, with the BEST (Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters) method of soil hydraulic characterization and an unconfined MDI (mini-disk infiltrometer) experiment and, in the laboratory, with a confined MDI experiment and the CHP (constant-head permeameter) method. Using for the BEST calculations the soil porosity instead of the saturated soil water content yielded 1.4–1.1 times higher estimates of Ks and K, depending on the pressure head, and differences decreased in more unsaturated soil conditions. The confined MDI experiment yielded 22 % - 77 % higher K values than the unconfined MDI experiment, depending on the established pressure head, h0, and differences were not significant for h0 = −1 cm. In the close to saturation region, the soil hydraulic conductivity function predicted with BEST did not generally agree well with the Ks and K values obtained in the laboratory by a direct application of the Darcy’s law. In particular, BEST yielded a 5.6 times smaller Ks value than the CHP method and up to an 8.1 times higher K value than the MDI. Overall, i) the two application methods of the MDI yielded relatively similar results, especially close to saturation, and ii) there was not a satisfactory agreement between the field (BEST) and the laboratory (MDI plus CHP) determination of soil hydraulic conductivity close to saturation, unless a comparison was made with the same soil water content. The detected differences were probably attributable to soil spatial variability, overestimation of Ks in the laboratory due to preferential flow phenomena, underestimation of Ks in the field due to air entrapment in the soil and infiltration surface disturbance, inability of BEST to describe the actual soil hydraulic conductivity function at the sampled field site. Testing BEST predictions of Ks and K in other soils appears advisable and combining the MDI and CHP methods appears a rather simple means to make these checks. These additional investigations could improve interpretation of the differences between methods, which is an important step for properly selecting a method yielding Ks and K data appropriate for an intended use.

Gaussian second derivative blur kernels for image deblurring

Image blur is a common image degradation phenomenon that occurs in case of camera movement and lens defocusing. In order to deblur the image, point spread function (PSF) model is often used to match the real blur kernel, but currently the matching effect is poor. In this paper, an image restoration technique based on the Gaussian Second Derivative (GSD) fitted PSF is proposed to address this problem. Firstly, a GSD model is proposed. The actual image Line spread function (LSF) extracted by knife-edge method is modeled as a linear combination of a series of Gaussian second derivatives. Then, an improved annihilation filtering algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is used to estimate the parameters of the GSD model, so as to remove the errors in the actual complex scenarios. Finally, the image PSF is obtained by using the LSF curve fitted and corrected by the GSD model, and combined with the existing Richardson-Lucy (R-L) algorithm, the clear image is finally restored. Experimental results show that compared with the existing image restoration strategies based on other PSF models, this method can effectively improve the image restoration accuracy.

Soil Microbial Communities and Wine Terroir: Research Gaps and Data Needs.

Microbes found in soil can have a significant impact on the taste and quality of wine, also referred to as wine terroir. To date, wine terroir has been thought to be associated with the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. However, there is a fragmented understanding of the contribution of vineyard soil microbes to wine terroir. Additionally, vineyards can play an important role in carbon sequestration since the promotion of healthy soil and microbial communities directly impacts greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. We review 24 studies that explore the role of soil microbial communities in vineyards and their influence on grapevine health, grape composition, and wine quality. Studies spanning 2015 to 2018 laid a foundation by exploring soil microbial biogeography in vineyards, vineyard management effects, and the reservoir function of soil microbes for grape-associated microbiota. On the other hand, studies spanning 2019 to 2023 appear to have a more specific and targeted approach, delving into the relationships between soil microbes and grape metabolites, the microbial distribution at different soil depths, and microbial influences on wine flavor and composition. Next, we identify research gaps and make recommendations for future work. Specifically, most of the studies utilize targeted sequencing (16S, 26S, ITS), which only reveals community composition. Utilizing high-throughput omics approaches such as shotgun sequencing (to infer function) and transcriptomics (for actual function) is vital to determining the specific mechanisms by which soil microbes influence grape chemistry. Going forward, understanding the long-term effects of vineyard management practices and climate change on soil microbiology, grapevine trunk diseases, and the role of bacteriophages in vineyard soil and wine-making would be a fruitful investigation. Overall, the studies presented shed light on the importance of soil microbiomes and their interactions with grapevines in shaping wine production. However, there are still many aspects of this complex ecosystem that require further exploration and understanding to support sustainable viticulture and enhance wine quality.

Preparation and implementation of the “Greater Albania” project: historical and geopolitical aspects (1944-1980s)

The Kosovo issue is currently “settled” by the actual functioning of the Republic of Kosovo and by providing it with all the attributes of statehood during the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations (completeness of territory, border, customs, army, independent telecommunications and electricity system, international telephone number, etc.). When studying the Kosovo problem, it is logical to raise the question: why and how it was resolved in this particular way, what were the internal and external factors that ensured the stunning success of the separatist Pristina, which achieved an unprecedented permission for the Albanians, bypassing international and domestic law, for another national self-determination in the form creation of a second state? Often, when talking about the Kosovo confl ict, the hot phase of which occurred in 1998–1999, the main focus is on the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and their Western and non-Western patrons. However, no paramilitary unit that is relatively small in number, extremely weak in military training, and has a sabotage and punitive nature, even with external support, is capable of achieving a goal of this level in such a short period of time. It would take decades to prepare for its implementation — and they were at the disposal of Albanian tribal leaders and socially signifi cant fi gures who managed to ensure their interests in this way (the issue was not caring for the Albanian people, only gaining infl uence and extracting specifi c material benefi ts). Albanian organizations of the interwar period (Kosovo Committee, 1918–1925) and the leaders of the bandits, who psychologically and emotionally consolidated the practice of terror against the Serbs of Kosmet, laid a “strong foundation”. However, post-war Albanian emigration played a key role in the Kosovo confl ict of the 1990s. Moreover, Albanian emigration is also not a random phenomenon; it has a consistent development and direct historical continuity from Albanian organizations since the end of the 19th century. The article analyzes the Albanian nationalist organizations created in Kosovo and Metohija at the fi nal stage of the Second World War, as well as the political organizations of the Albanian emigration of the post-war period, identifying the continuity of ideology and practice that laid a solid foundation and created the conditions for the emergence of the Kosovo Liberation Army and political movements that ensured the creation of the Republic of Kosovo.

Investigating the Relationship between Epigenetic Age and Cardiovascular Risk in a Population with Overweight/Obesity.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases stand as the leading global cause of mortality. Major modifiable risk factors encompass overweight/obese conditions, high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. In the present study, we explored the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and epigenetic age (DNAm age), an estimate reflecting an individual's actual physiological functionality and overall health. Additionally, we assessed the association between DNAm age acceleration and cardiovascular risk, as evaluated through the Framingham risk score (FRS). Methods: The study includes 190 subjects with overweight/obese conditions. We calculated their DNAm age using Zbieć-Piekarska et al.'s DNAm age estimator on five sets of CpGs analyzed in the peripheral leucocytes. Linear regression models were employed to test the associations. Results: Various parameters contributing to increased cardiovascular risk were associated with DNAm age acceleration, such as systolic blood pressure (β = 0.045; SE = 0.019; p = 0.019), heart rate (β = 0.096; SE = 0.032; p = 0.003), blood glucose (β = 0.025; SE = 0.012; p = 0.030), glycated hemoglobin (β = 0.105; SE = 0.042; p = 0.013), diabetes (β = 2.247; SE = 0.841; p = 0.008), and menopausal conditions (β = 2.942; SE = 1.207; p = 0.016), as well as neutrophil (β = 0.100; SE = 0.042; p = 0.018) and granulocyte (β = 0.095; SE = 0.044; p = 0.033) counts. Moreover, DNAm age acceleration raised the FRS (∆% 5.3%, 95% CI 0.8; 9.9, p = 0.019). Conclusion: For the first time, we report that cardiovascular risk factors accelerated DNAm age in a selected population of hypersusceptible individuals with overweight or obesity. Our results highlight the potential of DNAm age acceleration as a biomarker of cumulative effects in cardiovascular risk assessment.

Bidirectional long-short term memory predictor for material removal rate in computer-controlled optical surfacing

In Computer-Controlled Optical Surfacing technology, the precision of the removal function directly affects the accuracy of computer-aided processing software predictions, which in turn influences subsequent polishing machine processing. A key parameter for constructing the removal function is the material removal rate, which is often challenging to obtain accurately. Currently, the Preston equation is widely used to describe the principles of material removal. However, as a linear equation that omits many factors, it struggles to accurately model the removal function in complex machining scenarios. Therefore, this paper proposes a hybrid neural network model combining Convolutional Neural Networks and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory to predict the material removal rate. The model's parameters are optimized using an improved Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm, ultimately establishing a removal function closely consistent with an actual removal function. We first tested our method on the PHM2016 Data Challenge dataset, achieving a mean squared error of 6.19 and an R2 of 0.9949, outperforming other mainstream neural network prediction models developed in recent years. Additionally, we further validated the performance of the neural network using a small grinding head polishing dataset, achieving MSE and R2 values of 1.9035 and 0.99902, respectively. Finally, we applied this method to construct the removal function on an actual small grinding head production line. Compared to the traditional Preston equation-based removal function, the predicted residual surface's PV and RMS errors were reduced from 28.24 % to 35.58 %–4.563 % and 4.86 %, respectively. These validation results demonstrate that the proposed method not only facilitates easier acquisition of the removal function model but also significantly enhances the accuracy of computer-aided processing software predictions, thereby better guiding ultra-precision machining processes.

Clinical Factors Affecting Discrepancy Between Predicted and Long-term Actual Lung Function Following Surgery.

Lung cancer surgery outcomes depend heavily on preoperative pulmonary reserve, with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) being a critical preoperative evaluation factor. Our study investigates the discrepancies between predicted and long-term actual postoperative lung function, focusing on clinical factors affecting these outcomes. This retrospective observational study encompassed lung cancer patients who underwent preoperative lung perfusion SPECT/CT between 2015 and 2021. We evaluated preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function tests, considering factors such as surgery type, resected volume, and patient history including tuberculosis. Predicted postoperative lung function was calculated using SPECT/CT imaging. From 216 patients (men:women, 150:66; age, 67.9 ± 8.7 years), predicted postoperative FEV1% (ppoFEV1%) showed significant correlation with actual postoperative FEV1% (r = 0.667; P < 0.001). Paired t test revealed that ppoFEV1% was significantly lower compared with actual postoperative FEV1% (P < 0.001). The study identified video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) (odds ratio [OR], 3.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.98-7.69; P < 0.001) and higher percentage of resected volume (OR per 1% increase, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09; P = 0.014) as significant predictors of postsurgical lung function improvement. Conversely, for the decline in lung function postsurgery, significant predictors included lower percentage of resected lung volume (OR per 1% increase, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98; P = 0.011), higher preoperative FEV1% (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; P = 0.009), and the presence of tuberculosis (OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.48-18.15; P = 0.010). Additionally, in a subgroup of patients with borderline lung function, VATS was related with improvement. Our findings demonstrate that in more than half of the patients, actual postsurgical lung function exceeded predicted values, particularly following VATS and with higher volume of lung resection. It also identifies lower resected lung volume, higher preoperative FEV1%, and tuberculosis as factors associated with a postsurgical decline in lung function. The study underscores the need for precise preoperative lung function assessment and tailored postoperative management, with particular attention to patients with relevant clinical factors. Future research should focus on validation of clinical factors and exploring tailored approaches to lung cancer surgery and recovery.