Quality Index Research Articles

Water quality evaluation based on water quality index and multiple linear regression: A research on Hanyuan Lake in southern Sichuan Province, China.

This study aims to understand the changes in the water quality of Hanyuan Lake and to show these changes over time. In this study, monthly sampling was conducted at three sampling sites in Hanyuan Lake, and water samples were measured for water quality indicators in the laboratory according to the methods specified in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Based on the monitoring data from January to December 2019, the WQI comprehensive evaluation method was used to conduct multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, extract key indicators, and establish the WQImin model. The results show that according to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, and the grade is excellent. The overall water quality of Hanyuan Lake is excellent, and most of the water quality indexes reach the Class I standard in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). WQImin1 (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001, PE = 4.28) as the best WQImin model. In this study, a model with fewer parameters was established by multiple linear regression method, which is conducive to better monitoring of water quality at monitoring stations while saving costs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: According to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, the rating is excellent. From January 2019 to September 2020, the monthly change trend of each section is roughly the same, showing a trend of first decreasing, then rising, then decreasing, and finally rising and flattening. The WQImin model was developed to completely describe the change in the water body.

Sleep quality of Chinese designers and the effects of digital screen time, stress, and job responsibility

The aim of this study was to describe the sleep status of Chinese designers and to identify the factors that affect their sleep quality. A total of 393 Chinese designers participated in the survey, which collected data on demographic information, digital screen time, stress, and the pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The average PSQI score of Chinese designers was 6.77, with 29% scoring equal to or higher than 9, indicating poor sleep quality. The most common sleep problem was difficulty falling asleep. Designers with management responsibilities had poorer sleep quality: the PSQI scores for those in design project management (M=8.74, SD=3.829) and design and management (M=9.05, SD=3.475) were significantly higher than for those in dedicated design (M=5.34, SD=2.908). There was a positive correlation between digital screen time for entertainment, work stress, other stress, and PSQI. The model equation was PSQI=1.160+0.276 * entertainment+0.675 * work stress+0.569 * other stress, with an r square of 0.232. Chinese designers should improve their sleep quality by reducing electronic entertainment and relieving stress. Managers in the design industry should pay special attention to their own sleep quality.

Water Quality Index and Health Risks in a Peruvian High Andean River

Water Quality Index and Health Risks in a Peruvian High Andean River

Efficacy of Daoyin combined with lower limb robot as a comprehensive rehabilitation intervention for stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

To assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive rehabilitation approach combining Traditional Chinese Medicine Daoyin with lower limb robotics during the recovery phase of stroke patients. Stroke patients meeting the specified criteria were randomly assigned to one of four groups using a random number table: Control group, Daoyin group, lower limb robot group (LLR group), and Daoyin and lower limb robot group (DLLR group). Each group received distinct treatments based on conventional rehabilitation training. The treatment duration spanned two weeks with two days of rest per week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included various scales: Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg balance scale (BBS), Barthel index (BI), Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Statistically significant differences were observed in the lower limb function measured by FAM between the Control group (15 ± 5) and the DLLR group (18 ± 5) (P = 0.049). In the Barthel index, a statistically significant difference was noted between the Control group (54 ± 18) and the DLLR group (64 ± 11) (P = 0.041). Additionally, significant differences were found in the Berg balance scale between the Control group (21 ± 10) and the DLLR group (27 ± 8) (P = 0.024), as well as between the Control group (21 ± 10) and the LLR group (26 ± 10) (P = 0.048). The findings of this study suggest that the combined use of Daoyin and robotics not only enhances motor function in stroke patients but also has a positive impact on fatigue, sleep quality, and mood. This approach may offer a more effective rehabilitation strategy for stroke patients.

Investigation of bidirectional three-phase four-leg converter with LCL filter

A three-phase four-leg bidirectional power converter used as an input stage of an energy storage system using the inductance (L), capacitance (C), and inductance (L) or LCL filter on the grid side is considered. The article provides a variant of the three-phase four-leg bidirectional converter control system implementation based on 3D space vector pulse-width modulation and per-phase voltage control. A brief analysis of the applied control algorithms of the three-phase four-leg bidirectional converter in inverter and rectifier modes is given. A computer model has been built to investigate the operating modes of the converters of the designated class with both balanced and unbalanced load. Studies were carried out by computer modeling methods in order to optimize the parameters of the LCL filter on the grid side with bidirectional energy exchange. Optimal LCL filter parameters and modulation frequencies are determined for the developed converter, providing acceptable quality indicators when operating in bidirectional mode.

Influence of the Studied Factors on the Yield, Structure and Quality Indicators of Vegetable Peas under the Conditions the South of Ukraine

Influence of the Studied Factors on the Yield, Structure and Quality Indicators of Vegetable Peas under the Conditions the South of Ukraine

Effects of industrial slicing on the microbiological quality and safety of mozzarella cheese and ham

Slicing of animal origin food affects the final quality of products and potentially transfers pathogenic microorganisms as it occurs after microorganism control and elimination steps, such as cooking and pasteurization. Therefore, the food industry needs to ensure the safety of food products to reduce the incidence of foodborne diseases. This requires an understanding of the dangers involved in each stage of production, along with the microorganisms transferred during processing. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of industrial slicing on mozzarella cheese and ham by investigating the quality indicator microorganisms, aerobic mesophiles, psychrotrophs, total coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. Samples were collected from pieces (20) and slices (20) of mozzarella cheese and ham. The number of mesophilic aerobes differed significantly before and after slicing (P < 0.05) for mozzarella. However, no difference was observed in the psychrotrophic microorganism counts during slicing. The counts of total coliforms and S. aureus increased after slicing (P > 0.05). In total, 844 isolates were analyzed for pathogenic genes, and Salmonella spp. were identified in 40% of the piece and 20% of the sliced mozzarella cheese samples and in 30% of the piece and 50% of the sliced ham samples. Furthermore, S. aureus genes with the potential to produce enterotoxins C and D were identified in two sliced mozzarella cheese samples. Slicing of ready-to-eat food is an important step in food microbiology. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining hygienic practices during processing and demonstrate that the microbiological quality of the slicing sample affects the quality and safety of the sliced product.

Assessment of Surface Water Quality Drain Using Various Physicochemical Parameters of Lasara Dhanola Drain, Punjab

Abstract: In this study, observations were carried out in the surface waters of Lasara Dhanola drain of Punjab within to determine water quality. The basic physicochemical variables were used to determine water quality. Taking into account the World Health Organization's drinking water standards and the water quality index (WQI) were used in determining the water quality. In addition, irrigation water quality was examined. Some of the water quality parameters exceed the recommended limit values in all at all sites. According to these values, the Lasara Dhanola drain water belongs to the 'very poor' class in terms of irrigation water quality. According to results of factor analysis, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, suspended solid matter, biological oxygen demand, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, chlorides, fluorides and dissolved oxygen are the main variables responsible for the processes in the ecosystem

Comparative study of air quality index of two metropolitan cities (Lucknow and Kanpur) in Year-2023

In 2023, it was declared that the Bangladesh at the first place and then Pakistan, after which the most polluted country is India at the third place. Polluted air is becoming a very considerate issue all over the world. This study is all about comparing the air quality of two metro cities, Lucknow and Kanpur during (November 2022- October,2023) buy monitoring and assessment of few selective basic AQI air pollutants namely Particulate Matter (PM10) , Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and also AQI of Lucknow and Kanpur at 5 representative locations categorized as residential, commercial and industrial areas. Residential area in Lucknow (Mahanagar and Aliganj) and in Kanpur (Kidwai Nagar and Shastri Nagar), Commercial areas in Lucknow (Hazarat Ganj and Ansal T.C.) and in Kanpur (Zareeb Chauki and Ramadevi), Industrial area Talkatora in Lucknow and Panki in Kanpur have been taken under consideration. The result found that 24 hours concentration of PM10 were in the range of 76.40 to 261.19 µg/m3 in Lucknow and 74.68 to 400.67 µg/m3 in Kanpur with an average of 174.34 and 160.36 µg/m3, respectively. The average value of PM10 was above as per the guideline of WHO and permissible limit prescribed by NAAQ in both the cities. Similarly, 24 hours average concentration of SO2 was below the prescribed level of NAAQ in Lucknow and Kanpur which was in the range of 5.33 to 12.70 µg/m3 in Lucknow and 2.00 to 9.53 µg/m3 in Kanpur with an average of 8.71 and 7.19 µg/m3, respectively. The 24 hours average concentration of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was below prescribed level of NAAQ in Lucknow and Kanpur. In Lucknow it was in the range of 13.83 to 48.01 µg/m3 and in Kanpur 21.45 to 64.02 µg/m3 with an average of 29.45 and 50.14 µg/m3, respectively. The 24 hours AQI was reported in the range of 76 to 211 in Lucknow and 75 to 363 in Kanpur with an average of 150.84 and 142.76 respectively which is greater moderate to severe by NAAQ and WHO guideline throughout the year. Ultimately, this entire study is related to human health because polluted air gives rise to various hazardous diseases such as asthma cancer, premature death cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract diseases etc.

Analysis of the evolution and influencing factors of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities based on GEE and RSEI: a case study of Xuzhou City, China

ABSTRACT This study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to get and process Landsat images of Xuzhou from 2008 to 2020, and built remote sensing ecological indices (RSEI). This study analyzed the spatiotemporal features and drivers of ecological environment quality after Xuzhou’s transformation using landscape pattern index, spatial autocorrelation, and geographic detector methods. The results showed that: (1) The ecological environment quality of Xuzhou improved steadily but unevenly from 2008 to 2020; the west and central urban areas had poor but improving quality, while the east had the opposite trend; (2) The landscape pattern indices of ecological environment quality in different regions of Xuzhou did not change consistently from 2008 to 2020; (3) The spatial distribution of ecological environment quality had significant autocorrelation, with high-high clusters in the east and low-low clusters in the center and the urban areas of each district and county; (4) NDVI is the component index that has the greatest impact on the changes in the RSEI. Among the single factors, land use conditions have the strongest influence on ecological environmental quality. After the interaction of dual factors, the explanatory power is stronger than that of any single factor. The research results can support urban planning and design, ecological environment protection, etc. in Xuzhou, and offer insights for monitoring and evaluation of ecological environment quality after the transformation of resource-exhausted cities.

Modulated Arc Therapy for hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation therapy: planning comparison with intensity modulated Radiation Therapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the modulated arc therapy (mARC) technique as a planning and treatment option for hippocampal sparing whole brain radiotherapy (HS-WBRT) following the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0933 dosimetric criteria. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were selected retrospectively for 15 patients. Two types of plans were created for each patient, namely an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and a mARC plan. IMRT and mARC plans were compared in terms of plan quality indices, absorbed dose to organs at risk (OARs), number of monitor units (MUs), and treatment time. All plans in both techniques were considered clinically acceptable for treatment. However, IMRT plans presented a higher conformity (p = 0.01) as well as a higher homogeneity as compared to mARC plans, but this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In terms of the preservation of the hippocampus, it was observed that the IMRT plans achieved significantly lower doses for both 100% of its volume and for its maximum dose (p < 0.001). The evaluation of the remaining OARs showed that the IMRT technique resulted in lower doses, and significant differences were observed for the following organs: left cochlea (p < 0.001), left eye (p < 0.001), right eye (p = 0.03), both lenses of the eye (p < 0.001), and right optic nerve (p = 0.02). Despite these differences, the absolute differences in all dosimetric parameters were low enough to bear any clinical relevance. A drastic (close to 65%) and significant (p < 0.001) decrease was observed in the number of MUs for the mARC plans. This resulted in a substantial decrease in treatment time (60.45%, p < 0.001). It is concluded that the mARC technique is a feasible planning and treatment solution for HS-WBRT that meets the RTOG 0933 criteria. The main advantage of using mARC over IMRT for HS-WBRT is the considerable reduction in MUs and treatment time.

Psychological burden, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with hand eczema: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Living with hand eczema (HE) has been associated with impaired quality of life (QoL), having anxiety and depression but the magnitude of association is not clear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the psychological burden in terms of anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with HE. Several databases were systematically searched. Weighted means with standard deviation (SD) were calculated for disease severity, QoL, depression and/or anxiety scores among patients with HE. For studies presenting QoL, depression and/or anxiety scores in patients with HE and in controls the weighted means were compared with an unpaired t-test. In studies reporting Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the correlation between HECSI and DLQI was estimated using Spearman's rank correlation (rs). In total, 81 studies encompassing 17,835 patients with HE and 31,541 controls were included. The weighted mean DLQI was 10.66 (SD 8.93) corresponding to a moderate-to-large effect on QoL and a strong correlation (rs: 0.76, 95% CI:0.56-0.87) between DLQI and HECSI was observed. The mean EQ-5D-VAS was significantly lower in patients with HE compared with controls (68.03 (SD 10.52) vs. 80.63 (SD 1.17), p < 0.00001). Patients with HE had higher mean HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) anxiety score (7.4 vs. 5.8, p = 0.0008) than controls but not higher HADS depression score (6.5 vs. 5.7, p = 0.32). Only one study assessed risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation showing an increased odds of all diseases among patients with HE compared with controls. Hand eczema has a moderate-to-severe impact on quality of life with a strong correlation between disease severity and impact on quality of life. Patients with hand eczema have an impact on QoL comparable to other chronic diseases when measured with generic QoL scoring systems.

Groundwater suitability assessment for irrigation and drinking purposes by integrating spatial analysis, machine learning, water quality index, and health risk model.

An in-depth understanding of nitrate-contaminated surface water and groundwater quality and associated risks is important for groundwater management. Hydrochemical characteristics and driving forces of groundwater quality and non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate were revealed by the integrated approaches of self-organizing map analysis, spatial visualization by geography information system, entropy and irrigation water quality indices, and human health risk model. Groundwater samples were categorized into two clusters by SOM analysis. Cluster I including three samples were Ca-SO4 type and cluster II of remaining 136 samples were Ca-HCO3 type. Hydrochemical compositions of two cluster samples were dominated by water-rock interaction: (1) calcite and gypsum dissolution for cluster I samples and (2) calcite dissolution, silicate weathering, and positive cation exchange for cluster II samples. Nitrate contamination occurred in both cluster I and II samples, primarily induced by agricultural nitrogen fertilizer. The EWQI results showed that 90.97% in total groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purpose, while the IWQI results demonstrated that 65.03% in total groundwater samples were appropriate for irrigation purpose. The HHR model and Monte Carlo simulation indicated that the non-carcinogenic nitrated risk was highest in children. Exposure frequency was the most sensitive factor (86.33% in total) influencing the total non-carcinogenic risk, indicated by sensitivity analysis. Compared with the two clusters of groundwater, surface water has a shorter circulation cycle and lower ion concentrations resulting in better water quality. This study can provide scientific basis for groundwater quality evaluation in other parts of the world.

Fatigue and sleep quality improvement through complete decongestive therapy in postmastectomy lymphedema: An investigative analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of complete decongestive therapy (CDT) on cancer-related fatigue, sleep quality, and lymphedema-specific quality of life using validated and reliable questionnaires in cancer patients being commendable.Material and methodsThis prospective study includes 94 patients who had postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome. The demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. The participants’ stages of lymphedema (The International Society of Lymphology), Hirai Cancer Fatigue Scale (HCFS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Global score, lymphedema-specific quality of life questionnaire (LYMQOL-ARM) score, and Global health status were recorded before and after CDT.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 58.49 ± 10.96 years. Strong correlations were found between the severity of edema and global health status. There was a significant positive relationship between the HCFS score, PSQI Global score, LYMQOL-ARM score, and CDT. After decongestive physiotherapy, the majority of the lymphedema stages were downstaging (p < 0.05), respectively. There was also a trend toward improvement in general well-being (p < 0.05).ConclusionCancer-related fatigue and sleep disturbance can persist for years after surgery in women with breast cancer. This can negatively affect the patient physically, socially and cognitively. Our study, which is the first study to investigate the HCFS score in postmastectomy patients and the relationship between PSQI Global score and CDT. The findings identify the risk factors that affect these outcomes in women with lymphedema and can provide valuable insights for targeted interventions and improved patient care.

Distribution, source identification, water quality, and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface-groundwater-sediments multifunctional system in Guohe River Basin

Within the Huaihe River Basin, Guohe River, as its second-largest tributary, serves as a critical water supply source. Recent industrial and agricultural advancements have led to increased trace element contamination, adversely impacting the water quality within Guohe River Basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics, sources, water quality and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface water, groundwater, and sediments across the basin. The results showed that the spatial distribution of trace elements in the surface water and groundwater of Guohe River Basin was that most of the high concentrations appeared in Qiaocheng District of Bozhou City, the mean concentration of Fe in Guohe River sediments was the highest, the mean concentration of Sb was the lowest. The PMF source analysis results showed that the main source of trace elements in Guohe River Basin was natural geological processes, followed by human activities. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicated that the surface water samples of Guohe River in two seasons had high sodium and salinity hazards. The water quality index (WQI) showed that surface water and groundwater samples in the northwestern of Guohe River Basin had poor water quality. The results of the risk assessment showed that As and Mn posed great ecological risks to surface water and groundwater, respectively, and that F− was the pollutant with the most potential health risk hazard in the basin. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) results showed that Cd, Se and As should be taken seriously as the main contaminants of the sediments in Guohe River Basin. KeywardsTrace elements; Source analysis; Sodium adsorption ratio; Water quality index; Risk assessment; Geo-accumulation index.

Information technology-supported integrated health service for older adults in long-term care settings

BackgroundTo examine the effectiveness and safety of a data sharing and comprehensive management platform for institutionalized older patients.MethodsWe applied information technology-supported integrated health service platform to patients who live at long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and nursing homes (NHs) with cluster randomized controlled study. We enrolled 555 patients aged 65 or older (461 from 7 LTCHs, 94 from 5 NHs). For the intervention group, a tablet-based platform comprising comprehensive geriatric assessment, disease management, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) management, rehabilitation program, and screening for adverse events and warning alarms were provided for physicians or nurses. The control group was managed with usual care. Co-primary outcomes were (1) control rate of hypertension and diabetes, (2) medication adjustment (PIM prescription rate, proportion of polypharmacy), and (3) combination of potential quality-of-care problems (composite quality indicator) from the interRAI assessment system which assessed after 3-month of intervention.ResultsWe screened 1119 patients and included 555 patients (control; 289, intervention; 266) for analysis. Patients allocated to the intervention group had better cognitive function and took less medications and PIMs at baseline. The diabetes control rate (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.37–4.99, p = 0.0035), discontinuation of PIM (OR = 4.65, 95% CI 2.41–8.97, p < 0.0001), reduction of medication in patients with polypharmacy (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.24–3.16, p = 0.0042), and number of PIMs use (ꞵ = − 0.27, p < 0.0001) improved significantly in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in hypertension control rate (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.20–1.43, p = 0.2129), proportion of polypharmacy (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 0.75–2.60, p = 0.2863), and improvement of composite quality indicators (ꞵ = 0.03, p = 0.2094). For secondary outcomes, cognitive and motor function, quality of life, and unplanned hospitalization were not different significantly between groups.ConclusionsThe information technology-supported integrated health service effectively reduced PIM use and controlled diabetes among older patients in LTCH or NH without functional decline or increase of healthcare utilization.Trial registrationClinical Research Information Service, KCT0004360. Registered on 21 October 2019.

Effects of soil bulk density on respiratory metabolism and medicinal quality of Rehmannia Glutinosa root

As one of the famous "four huai medicines", Rehmannia glutinosa has a longstanding usage history. This study aimed to determine how variations in soil bulk density impact the respiration metabolism of R. glutinosa root tubers and, consequently, the quality of its medicinal components. We evaluated the enzymatic activities and key metabolic compounds of R. glutinosa across a range of soil bulk densities, which included: pyruvate kinase (PK), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and the content of pyruvate, ethanol, lactic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, and quality indicators. High soil bulk density increased the activities of PK, PDC, ADH, and LDH, while decreasing SDH, MDH, and IDH in the roots. This shift in enzymatic activities corresponded to elevated levels of ethanol and lactic acid, and lowered levels of succinic and malic acids. In the additionally, the growth and development of aboveground parts of R. glutinosa were seriously hindered under high bulk weight treatment, and the number of root tubers decreased, root coarser and root length shortened, and the contents of catalpa alcohol and mullein were significantly reduced. Our findings suggest an optimal soil bulk density for R. glutinosa growth to be between 1.2 g/cm3 and 1.4 g/cm3. Based on changes in respiratory metabolism and medicinal quality indicators of R. glutinosa under different soil bulk densities, our findings suggest the optimal soil bulk density for R. glutinosa growth is 1.2 g/cm3 to 1.4 g/cm3. Excessively high soil bulk density will affect the growth and quality formation of R. glutinosa by influencing its metabolism. Recognizing this optimal range is crucial for maximizing the medicinal quality of R. glutinosa, offering valuable insights for cultivation practices.

The impact of digital literacy on personal health: Evidence from the China family panel study.

In the digital era, digital literacy is a fundamental indicator of a nation's quality and plays a crucial role in public health. Exploring the theoretical mechanisms and effects of digital literacy on individuals' health is of great practical importance, advancing the initiatives of 'Digital China' and 'Healthy China'. The study utilised three-period survey panel data from the China Family Panel Study spanning 2016, 2018, and 2020 to measure and evaluate levels of digital literacy, physical health, mental health, healthy lifestyle, and integrated health among the participants. Subsequently, a series of empirical analyses were conducted to examine the general impact, heterogeneous effects and transmission pathways of digital literacy on various types of health levels. Digital literacy significantly enhances all aspects of respondents' health, and this conclusion remains valid even after conducting robustness tests and addressing endogeneity through variable substitution and selecting instrumental variables using the 2SLS method. Furthermore, examining heterogeneity by considering individual traits and the makeup of digital literacy reveals that the impact of digital literacy on individuals' health varies according to age, cultural background, personal income, and the components of digital literacy. Pathway analyses also demonstrate that medical accessibility, information access, social network, and planned behaviour are key routes through which digital literacy enhances the health of the population. It is imperative for the government to actively promote the advancement of the digital healthcare industry, while individuals should strive to enhance their digital literacy. By collectively focussing on these efforts, national health can be significantly improved.

Ring artifacts suppression for X-ray CT images by fusion of dual-domain images based on improved UNet

The ring artifact is a typical artifact in X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) images, the existence of which can reduce the image's quality, change the structure and details and affects the interpretation of image information. This paper conducts research from two aspects: tomographic images and sinograms, and designs a dual-domain artifact suppression network. By introducing the Inception module and the residual module, the network's ability to extract features is improved, and the gradient diffusion is suppressed. By customizing the loss function, the network's recognition of ring artifacts is improved and the network's convergence is accelerated. Finally, the outputs of the dual-domain are fused based on the Nonsubsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT) fusion theory to improve the quality of the image. In addition, three experiments of CT scanning are designed based on microfocus cone-beam CT system to verify the effectiveness. The model is trained and tested using real datasets. Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity (SSIM), and Mean Squared Error (MSE) are employed as evaluation indicators of image quality. Finally, the proposed method is compared with typical algorithms for artifact suppression. The experimental results show that the method effectively protects the structure information in CT images while suppressing ring artifacts to the greatest extent. The PSNR, SSIM, and MSE of the processed images can respectively reach 36.167 dB, 0.9847 and 6.87 × e-4.

The Effect of Sleep on the Health and Dietary Behaviours of GAA Athletes

Decreased sleep quality and duration is associated with an array of negative health outcomes. Evidence suggests athletes are susceptible to sleep inadequacies that may in turn affect their health and dietary behaviours. This study aimed to explore the sleep profile of both male and female Gaelic games players, at an elite and sub-elite level and compare how poor sleep relates to subjective health complaints and food cravings. One hundred and seventy Gaelic games players completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC) and Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-Reduced (FCQ-T-r). Participants were categorised into two groups: poor sleepers (PSQI ≥ 5) and good sleepers (PSQI &lt; 5). Outcome measures of health and food cravings were analysed across the groups, Mann–Whitney U tests were used to assess differences, and Spearman’s rank-order correlations were used to determine relationships between variables. Sixty-seven % of athletes were categorised as poor sleepers. There were no significant differences in PSQI scores across genders (p = 0.088) or playing level (p = 0.072). Poor sleepers experienced significantly increased SHC (p &lt; 0.001) and female athletes had significantly more SHC compared to males (p &lt; 0.001). Female athletes experienced more food cravings than males (p = 0.013). However, there were no significant differences in food cravings between good and poor sleepers (p = 0.104). The findings suggest a high prevalence of poor sleepers amongst GAA athletes. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between poor sleep and health complaints with females at a higher risk of worsened health complaints and higher food cravings. Sleep screening and education interventions to enhance sleep in GAA athletes are advocated.