Middle Region Research Articles

Использование кремнийсодержащих удобрений как биостимуляторов при возделывании сахарной свеклы

Abstract. The current article is aimed at assessing the resistance of sugar beet plants of various hybrids to the phytotoxic effects of herbicides used both in pure form and in combination with silicon-containing ones. Methods. The research was carried out under the conditions of a field experiment, based on 4 repetitions in 2022–2023. Photosynthetic pigments in leaves were determined by optical density in an extract with 96 % ethanol. The influence of herbicides and biostimulants on the formation of plant mass, as well as the chlorophyll content in the leaves and the sugar beets yield of various hybrids were analyzed. Results. It was identified that the combined use of silicon-containing fertilizers “Mikrovit-6 Kremniy”, “Kelik Kaliy+Kremniy” in combination with herbicides contributed to an increase in the weight of one sugar beet plant after three herbicide treatments by 13–17 % depending on the hybrid compared to the option where only herbicides were treated, and the phytotoxicity of pesticides did not exceed 2.0–2.5 %. The sugar beet productivity depended on the toxicological load on the crop plants. In combination with the herbicides Mikrovit-6 Silicon and Kelik Potassium+Silicon, the total content of green pigment was 49–74 % higher than in plants stressed by herbicides, and chlorophyll a increased by 3.1–4.5 times. The domestic selection hybrids F1 Volna and F1 Skala were the most resistant to inhibition of photosynthesis processes. The scientific novelty of the current research lies in the fact that for the first time in the conditions of the Middle Volga region on leached chernozem, the most efficient silicon-containing fertilizers for reducing herbicidal stress of sugar beet plants have been identified. The identified results also contribute to the improvement of the photosynthesis process by increasing the concentration of chlorophyll, a greater average daily increase in biomass and an increase in the yield of sugar beet plants, as well as hybrids of domestic selection that are more stress-resistant to the negative effects of herbicides.

Clinical application of a modified wiltse approach in middle and lower thoracic vertebrae: a case-control study of thoracic fracture patients

BackgroundThe Wiltse approach has been extensively employed in thoracolumbar surgeries due to its minimal muscle damage. However, in the middle and lower thoracic spine, the conventional Wiltse approach necessitates the severance of the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, potentially leading to muscular injury. Consequently, we propose a modified Wiltse approach for the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae, which may further mitigate muscular damage.MethodsFrom May 2018 to April 2022, 60 patients with spinal fractures in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae (T5-12) were enrolled in this study. Thirty patients underwent surgery using the modified Wiltse approach (Group A), while the remaining 30 patients received traditional posterior surgery (Group B). The observation indices included operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, number of C-arm exposures, postoperative drainage, postoperative ambulation time, discharge time, as well as preoperative and postoperative Cobb’s angle, percentage of anterior vertebral body height (PAVBH), visual analog scale (VAS) Score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI).ResultsCompared to the traditional posterior approach, the modified Wiltse approach demonstrated significant advantages in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of incision, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative drainage, and discharge time, as well as postoperative VAS and ODI scores. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of number of C-arm exposures, postoperative Cobb’s angle, or postoperative PAVBH.ConclusionWe propose a modification of the Wiltse approach for the middle and lower thoracic vertebral regions, which may further minimize muscular damage and facilitate the recovery of patients who have undergone surgery in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae.

Discrimination model of geographical area from coconut milk by near-infrared spectroscopy: Exploration in tandem with classical chemometrics, machine learning, and deep learning

This work proposes exploring the discrimination model by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (FT-NIR and Micro-NIR) for geographical source areas of coconut milk in tandem with the classical to modern chemometrics classifier. The discrimination model was developed using qualitative chemometrics techniques from classic (Principal Component Analysis-PCA, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis-PLS-DA, Linear Discriminant Analysis-LDA) to modern, including classifiers from machine learning (Support Vector Machine-SVM, k-Nearest Neighbor-KNN, Artificial Neural Network-ANN) and deep learning (Simple Convolutional Neural Networks-S-CNN, S-AlexNET, Residual Networks-ResNET). Three sources as geographical areas of coconut milk originally from Thailand were used, including the south region (Chumphon Province), middle region (Samut Songkhram Province), and east region (Chonburi Province). Our findings showed that a classifier from SVM and ResNET could yield the optimal performance for discriminating the geographical source area of coconut milk using FT-NIR. Furthermore, when using Micro-NIR, the classifier from LDA, SVM, KNN and ResNET delivered the highest accuracy. The performance discrimination models above were excellent when classified based on the kappa coefficient. This study concluded that both FT-NIR and Micro-NIR supported by classical to modern chemometric classifiers could be used to evaluate the geographical area source from coconut milk. Also, the method in this study includes a strategy for discovering feature-important NIR spectra for interpretability purposes, thereby facilitating the qualitative interpretation of results for all types of classifiers.

Disease burden of AIDS in last 30-year period and its predicted level in next 25-years based on the global burden disease 2019

BackgroundThis study examines global trends in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2019, focusing on regional disparities in AIDS incidence, mortality, and DALYs across various levels of socio-demographic index (SDI). It also investigates variations in AIDS incidence, mortality, and DALYs across different age groups, and projects specific trends for the next 25 years.MethodsComprehensive data on AIDS from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and territories was obtained from a GBD study. This included information on AIDS incidence, mortality, DALYs, and age-standardized rates (ASRs). Projections for AIDS incidence and mortality over the next 25 years were generated using the Bayesian age-period-cohort model.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the global incidence of HIV cases increased from 1,989,282 to 2,057,710, while the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) decreased from 37.59 to 25.24 with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of -2.38. The ASIR exhibited an upward trend in high SDI and high-middle SDI regions, a stable trend in middle SDI regions, and a downward trend in low-middle SDI and low SDI regions. In regions with higher SDI, the ASIR was higher in males than in females, while the opposite was observed in lower SDI regions. Throughout 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and age-standardized DALY rate remained stable, with EAPCs of 0.24 and 0.08 respectively. Countries with the highest HIV burden affecting women and children under five years of age are primarily situated in lower SDI regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Projections indicate a significant continued decline in the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of AIDS over the next 25 years, for both overall and by gender.ConclusionsThe global ASIR decreased from 1990 to 2019. Higher incidence and death rates were observed in the lower SDI region, indicating a greater susceptibility to AIDS among women and < 15 years old. This underscores the urgent need for increased resources to combat AIDS in this region, with focused attention on protecting women and < 15 years old as priority groups. The AIDS epidemic remained severe in sub-Saharan Africa. Projections for the next 25 years indicate a substantial and ongoing decline in both age-standardized incidence and mortality rates.

Fascicle Behavior and Muscle Activity of The Biceps Femoris Long Head during Running at Increasing Speeds.

Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are prevalent in sports involving high-speed running and most of the HSIs are biceps femoris long head (BFlh) injuries. The primary cause for HSIs during high-speed running remains controversial due to the lack of in vivo measurement of the BFlh muscle behavior during running. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) and fascicle behavior of BFlh during running. Seven college male sprinters (22.14 ± 1.8 years; 177.7 ± 2.5 cm; 70.57 ± 5.1 kg; personal bests in 100m: 11.1 ± 0.2 s) were tested on a motorized treadmill instrumented with two force plate for running at 4, 5, 6m/s. The ground reaction force (GRF), 3D lower limb kinematics, EMG, and ultrasound images of biceps femoris long head (BFlh) in the middle region were recorded simultaneously. BFlh fascicles undergo little length change (about 1 cm) in the late swing phase during running at three submaximal speeds. BFlh fascicle lengthening accounted for about 30% of MTU length change during the late swing phase. BFlh was most active during the late swing and early stance phases, ranging from 83%MVC at a running speed of 4 m/s to 116%MVC at 6 m/s. Muscle fascicles in the middle region of BFlh undergo relatively little lengthening relative to the MTU in the late swing phase during running in comparison to results from simulation studies. These results suggest that there is a decoupling between the fascicle in the middle region and MTU length changes during the late swing phase of running.

Effect of Tear Size and Location on Supraspinatus Tendon Strain During Activities of Daily Living and Physiotherapy.

The supraspinatus tendon plays a crucial role in shoulder abduction, making it one of the common structures affected by injury. Clinically, crescent-shaped tears are the most commonly seen tear shape. By developing six specimen-specific, three-dimensional, supraspinatus-infraspinatus finite element model with heterogeneous material properties, this study aimed to examine the changes in tissue deformation (maximum principal strain) of the supraspinatus tendon due to specimen-specific material properties and rotator cuff tear size. FE models with small- and medium-sized full-thickness crescent-shaped tears were subjected to loads seen during activities of daily living and physiotherapy. Six fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were dissected to mechanically test the supraspinatus tendon and develop and validate FE models that can be used to assess changes in strain due to small (< 1cm, equivalent to 20-30% of the tendon width) and medium-sized (1-3cm, equivalent to 40-50% of the tendon width) tears that are located in the middle and posterior regions of the supraspinatus tendon. FE predictions of maximum principal strain at the tear tips were examined to determine whether failure strain was reached during activities of daily living (drinking and brushing teeth) and physiotherapy exercises (prone abduction and external rotation at 90° abduction). No significant differences were observed between the middle and posterior tear failure loads for small- and medium-sized tears. For prone abduction, there was a potential risk for tear progression (exceeded failure strain) for medium-sized tears in the supraspinatus tendon's middle and posterior regions. For external rotation at 90° abduction, one model with a middle tear and two with posterior tears experienced failure. For all daily activity loads, the strain never exceeded the failure strain. Our three-dimensional supraspinatus-infraspinatus FE model shows that small tears appear unlikely to progress based on the regional strain response; however, medium-sized tears are at higher risk during more strenuous physiotherapy exercises. Furthermore, differences in patient-specific tendon material properties are important in determining whether the tear will progress. Therefore, patient-specific management plans based on tear size may be beneficial to improve clinical outcomes.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Topography of Bone Marrow Edema in the Sacroiliac Joint of Postpartum Women.

A traditional monoplanar semicoronal and a biplanar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment method were used to compare the topographical distribution of postpartum strain-related bone marrow edema (BME) at the sacroiliac joint (SIJ). The presence and topographical location of SIJ BME were assessed independently by three readers in 71 women 12 months postpartum. A traditional monoplanar semicoronal and a biplanar BME evaluation by 8 (upper and lower) and 12 joint (upper, middle, and lower) regions, respectively, was performed with >4 weeks between the two assessments. Descriptive results were reported as mean ± SD and ranges, and interreader agreement by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). By semicoronal assessment, 38 (53.5%) women had BME with a mean ± SD SPARCC score of 2.3 ± 4.0 (range 0-22; ICC 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-0.94). Forty-one (57.8%) had BME by biplanar assessment with a mean ± SD sum score of 2.9 ± 5.8 (range 0-32.7; ICC 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.91). By semicoronal assessment, the highest frequency and mean SPARCC scores were in the anterior upper regions of ilium (24%, mean 0.6) and sacrum (21%, mean 0.3) followed by the posterior upper sacral (20%, mean 0.4) and posterior lower iliac (20%, mean 0.3) regions. By biplanar assessment, the anterior middle joint regions had highest BME frequency and sum scores, sacral side (32%, mean 1.9) and iliac side (27%, mean 2.0), respectively; frequencies and sum scores were generally higher in the anterior compared to the posterior joint regions. The 12-region biplanar assessment revealed a predominantly anterior middle location of postpartum SIJ BME whereas the 8-region monoplanar approach did not demarcate distinct strain-prone SIJ regions. Complementing traditional monoplanar semicoronal SIJ MRI evaluation by a semiaxial assessment may facilitate discrimination of strain-related conditions from early axial spondyloarthritis.

Directional self-migration of droplets on an inclined surface driven by wettability gradient

In the current study, the anti-gravity directional self-migration of droplets on an inclined surface driven by wettability gradient (ω) was investigated using a front-tracking method. A unified mechanical model of droplet motion on an inclined wettability gradient wall was derived, considering the driving force generated by ω (Fd), gravity (G), and flow resistance (Ff). The model demonstrates that ω, G, and inclination angle (α) are key parameters affecting droplet motion. By varying ω, Bond number (Bo), and α, the droplet dynamic characteristics were analyzed, and a real-time Capillary number (Ca) was introduced to measure the droplet migration speed. The results indicate that a larger ω generates a greater Fd, leading to faster migration and more pronounced spreading. When the ratio of the channel width to the droplet diameter is 0.7, the droplet can cross three regions, obtaining double Fd, and Ca curve exhibits a bimodal structure. When the ratio of the channel width to the droplet diameter is 1.2, the droplet slides and spreads in the middle region without ω, resulting in a trimodal Ca curve. A larger Bo implies a stronger gravity effect, reducing the net driving force for upward migration and slowing the migration speed. At α=30° and ω=0.54, Bo reaches its critical value at 0.5, where G exceeds Fd, causing the droplet to slide downward along the wall. α affects droplet motion by controlling the gravitational component along the wall (Gx). A larger α results in a smaller net driving force for upward migration, reducing the migration speed.

Microhardness and Pushout Bond Strength of Glass Fiber Post-to-Canal Dentin Irrigated with Boric Acid, Nd: YAP, AgNPs, and Curcumin Activated with Microbubble Emulsion. A SEM, EDX Analysis

This study aimed to assess the microhardness (MH) and push-out bond strength (PBS) of fiber post-to-canal dentin when boric acid (BA), Nd: YAP, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and microbubble emulsion (MBE) with curcumin were used as irrigants. Canal therapy was performed and the post space was prepared. Prior to glass fiber post (GFP) insertion, the post space was irrigated using 2.5% NaOCl+17% EDTA, 10% BA+EDTA, Nd: YAP laser+EDTA, AgNP+EDTA, and MBE (curcumin)+EDTA. Following disinfection, microhardness was evaluated. GFP was then inserted and PBS was assessed at the coronal, middle, and apical levels, along with the examination of debonded surfaces via stereomicroscope. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and a Post Hoc Tukey HSD test. The results showed that MH was highest in the group treated with AgNP+EDTA and lowest in the group treated with 10% BA+EDTA. Within the cervical region, the Nd: YAP laser+EDTA group showed the lowest PBS, while the highest PBS was observed in the group treated with MBE (curcumin)+EDTA. In the middle region, the GFP bonded to canal dentin disinfected with 2.5% NaOCl+EDTA was comparable to that treated with Nd: YAP laser+EDTA. In the apical region, the PBS of GFP was highest in the canal disinfected with MBE (curcumin)+EDTA. The study concluded that silver nanoparticles+EDTA and curcumin photosensitizer via microbubble emulsion+EDTA have the potential to be used as alternatives to conventional methods for improving the adhesion of glass fiber post-to-canal dentin, along with enhancing microhardness.

Global burden of lung cancer in women of childbearing ageattributable to ambient particulate matter pollution: 1990-2021.

This study aimed to evaluate the global burden of lung cancer due to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution in women of childbearing age from 1990 to 2021. This was a secondary analysis utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021, with a focus on the temporal trends of the lung cancer burden attributable to ambient PM2.5 among women of childbearing age. In 2021, the global mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) number of lung cancer burden attributable to ambient PM2.5 among women of childbearing age were approximately 5205 and 247,211, respectively. The rate of lung cancer attributable to ambient PM2.5 among women of childbearing age increased between 1990 and 2021, with the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) increasing from 0.22 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]; 0.13 to 0.33) to 0.25 (95% UI; 0.14 to 0.37; average annual percent change [AAPC] = 0.40) and the age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) increasing from 10.39 (95% UI; 5.96 to 15.72) to 12.06 (95% UI; 6.83 to 17.51; AAPC = 0.41). The middle sociodemographic index (SDI) region, East Asia, and China had the heaviest burden, while the high SDI region showed the highest decrease. ASMR and ASDR exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with the SDI. From 1990 to 2021, the lung cancer burden attributable to ambient PM2.5 among women of childbearing age exhibited an increasing trend. Furthermore, increasing attention should be paid to the middle SDI region, East Asia, and China, as ambient PM pollution remains a critical target for intervention.

Effect of Climate Change on Wetland Areas in West Iraq Using Satellite Data and GIS Techniques

Iraq is considered to amongst those countries in the Middle Eastern region that are most exposed to the effects of climate change, which will have notable effects on wet areas and lakes. Natural or industrial water resources must be paid particular attention due to their importance in preserving environmental and biological systems, in addition to their economic and social importance. As a result of the effects of climatic change, water resources in Iraq have seen a multitude of changes. The aim of this study is to determine changes in the wetland area around AL-Razzaza Lake, Karbala province, Iraq, during the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2023. Landsat 5 satellite data from 2000, 2005, and 2010, and Landsat 8 and 9 data for 2015 and 2023, respectively, were used in this analysis, which was conducted using NDWI as a free, open-source program (ArcMap 10.8) to detect these changes; NDWI is a natural water anisotropy index used to detect the surface area of bodies of water in satellite images. The results revealed a clear decrease throughout the study period, as the wetland area of the lake in 2000 was 1189.7 km2, which represents a decrease of 34.3% compared to the total area of the lake (1810 km2); it decreased by 52.7% in 2005 (855.5 km2) and continued to decrease for 2010, 2015, and 2023, by 79.2%, 80%, and 85%, (376.5 km2, 362.9 km2, and 270.4 km2, respectively). The wetland area of Al-Razzaza Lake decreased between 2000 and 2023 by 919.3 km2, that is, an average of 40 km2per year. It was found that the lake wetland area sharply declined over the study period due to a lack of water surface resources via the Euphrates River, as well as climatic changes and poor water resource management. It is anticipated that the lake will lose more than half its current wetland area by 2040 if the current decline continues. These results are considered important in terms of preparing a strategic plan to preserve water bodies and wet areas in Iraq, including Al-Razzaza Lake. Remote sensing and GIS technologies have played a major and essential role in detecting such changes. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-09-013 Full Text: PDF

Pattern of Utilization of Antenatal Care Services and Adherence Among Females Following Up at Primary Healthcare Centers in Al-Ahsa.

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is a crucial component of maternal and child health, yet disparities in utilization persist globally. This study aimed to assess the patterns of ANC service utilization and adherence among pregnant women attending primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted among 277 women attending PHCCs in Al-Ahsa. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, assessing demographic characteristics, ANC follow-up patterns, structural and personal barriers, and mental health conditions using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Results Significant regional variations in ANC follow-up patterns were observed, with higher proportions of pregnant women attending ANC in the Middle and Eastern regions. Prominent structural barriers included transportation challenges (structural barrier 3, 61.0%) and limited service availability (structural barrier 6, 56.0%), while personal barriers encompassed transportation problems (personal barrier 6, 36.8%) and forgetfulness regarding appointments (personal barrier 4, 19.9%). Mental health assessments revealed predominantly normal levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, with some regional variations in distress levels. Conclusions The study highlights regional disparities in ANC service utilization and adherence, influenced by structural barriers, personal barriers, and mental health conditions. Tailored interventions addressing these barriers, improving access to care, and providing targeted support are crucial for enhancing ANC service utilization and promoting maternal and child health in Al-Ahsa.

At the Junction Between Deep Learning and Statistics of Extremes: Formalizing the Landslide Hazard Definition

AbstractThe most adopted definition of landslide hazard combines spatial information about landslide location (susceptibility), threat (intensity), and frequency (return period). Only the first two elements are usually considered and estimated when working over vast areas. Even then, separate models constitute the standard, with frequency being rarely investigated. Frequency and intensity are dependent on each other because larger events occur less frequently and vice versa. However, due to the lack of multi‐temporal inventories and joint statistical models, modeling such properties via a unified hazard model has always been challenging and has yet to be attempted. Here, we develop a unified model to estimate landslide hazard at the slope unit level to address such gaps. We employed deep learning, combined with extreme‐value theory to analyze an inventory of 30 years of observed rainfall‐triggered landslides in Nepal and assess landslide hazard for multiple return periods. We also use our model to further explore landslide hazard for the same return periods under different climate change scenarios up to the end of the century. Our model performs excellently (with an accuracy of 0.78 and an area under the curve of 0.86) and can be used to model landslide hazard in a unified manner. Geomorphologically, we find that under climate change scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585), landslide hazard is likely to increase up to two times on average in the lower Himalayan regions (Siwalik and lower Himalayas; ≈110–3,500 m) while remaining the same in the middle Himalayan region (≈3,500–5,000 m) whilst decreasing slightly in the upper Himalayan region (≳5,000 m) areas.

REDESCRIPTION OF HASSALSTRONGYLUS ADUNCUS CHANDLER, 1932 (NEMATODA: HELIGMONELLIDAE), WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS AND THEIR PHYLOGENETIC POSITION WITH OTHER HELIGMOSOMOIDEA TRAVASSOS, 1914.

Hassalstrongylus Durette-Desset, 1971 (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae), includes 19 species that are distributed from the southwestern United States to central-western Argentina. Hassalstrongylus aduncus is a parasitic nematode of rodents from the subfamilies Arvicolinae, Murinae, and Sigmodontinae, and has been recorded from southern Virginia and Oklahoma to Costa Rica. This species was described by Chandler in 1932; the morphology of the synlophe was not included. Subsequently, in 1972, Durette-Desset described only the synlophe of the middle region of the body in both sexes. Despite its wide geographical distribution, to date, there has been no redescription that includes information complementary to the morphology of the synlophe, such as a study of the body surface or a molecular phylogenetic analysis. We reevaluated the morphology of some specimens that were presumably similar to H. aduncus parasite of Sigmodon sp. from Jalisco, Mexico, and it was determined that these corresponded to an undescribed species of the genus. Herein, we present a redescription of H. aduncus parasite of Sigmodon toltecus from Hidalgo, Mexico, with morphological traits such as the excretory pore, deirids, and ovijector, and provide a description of the synlophe in the anterior and posterior regions of both sexes and include scanning electron microscopy images. Hassalstrongylus geolayarum n. sp. is differentiated from H. aduncus by the number of ridges in the middle region of the body (23 vs. 21), as well as proportions between some traits of males and females such as total length/spicule length, total length/gubernaculum length, total length/length of the esophagus and total length/distance of the vulva and the size of the eggs (42 vs. 58 μm). Phylogenetic analysis is based on partial sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2) of the rDNA, using the maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods revealed the close relationship of H. aduncus + H. geolayarum n. sp. within the Heligmosomoidea and confirmed the placement of the Hassalstrongylus monophyletic clade well-supported within Heligmonellidae. The new species presented a genetic divergence of 3.4-3.8% relative to H. aduncus. This is the first species of the genus described in Mexico. Presumably, there are more species not yet described throughout the geographic range of H. aduncus. A taxonomic review and molecular phylogenetic analysis are required in which more species and genes are analyzed in Heligmosomoidea to confirm the status of the nonmonophyletic groups recovered here.

SMEs’ maneuvering: efficacy of smart talent management, adoption innovation climate and motivational culture as enablers for improved SMEs’ performance – an empirical study in the Middle East region

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of smart talent management (STM) on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is mediated by providing an adoption innovation climate, and to verify the moderate power of adoption motivational culture on STM and SMEs performance (SMEsP). Design/methodology/approach The quantitative methodology was adopted through an online survey questionnaire to collect data from SMEs listed in Chambers of Commerce and Industry located in Jordan, the United Arab of Emirates and Kind Saudi Arabia in the Middle East region. Responses were collected from 163 firms out of 568, representing a 28.7% response rate. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique to test the hypotheses. Findings The results of this study fail to support the view that STM has a positive and significant effect on SMEs’ performance, as well as the adoption of motivational culture strengthened the relationship between STM and SMEsP. In addition, the adoption of motivational culture strengthened the relationship between STM and SMEs’ performance. Originality/value This research extends the application of cognitive social theory, whereby STM functions as a value-adding activity within SMEs. This research extends the application of cognitive social theory, where STM functions as a value-adding activity within SMEs.

Investigation on the effects of deposition strategy on the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of austenitic stainless steel 308LSi manufactured via wire arc additive manufacturing

This study examines the impact of deposition strategy on ASS 308LSi thin-walled structure manufactured via the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technique on the microstructural characteristics, tensile strength, microhardness, Charpy impact testing, and fracture morphology of the WAAM 308LSi. The analysis of the microstructure reveals that the deposition strategy promotes transitioning from columnar to equiaxed fine grain structure. The tensile strength results show that specimens with a 45° deposition strategy exhibit lower anisotropy and higher tensile properties compared to those with a 0° deposition strategy, with improvements of 33.1% in the transverse direction and 26.7% in the longitudinal deposition directions, respectively. The microhardness in WAAM SS308LSi demonstrates variations in the bottom, middle, and top regions, with the highest average value observed at a 45° deposition strategy (213.3 ± 6.5 HV, 201.1 ± 10.7 HV, and 191.5 ± 5.2 HV) as well. The impact testing results indicate that the highest absorbed energy occurs at a 45° deposition strategy, with 75 ± 4.2 J and 74 ± 4.0 J for the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively. The fractures observed during testing exhibit ductile characteristics, with the presence of dimples and particles. This study demonstrates the significant potential of the 45° deposition strategy with the implementation of double-sided substrate deposition, resulting in a refined microstructure, nearly isotropic behavior, and excellent mechanical performance.

Age-period-cohort analysis of global, regional, and national pancreatic cancer incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years, 1990–2019

BackgroundPancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. In recent years, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer have shown an increasing trend year by year. This study investigates the independent effects of age, period, and cohort on the global incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of pancreatic cancer from 1990 to 2019, and evaluates the differences in the burden of pancreatic cancer across regions with different Sociodemographic Index (SDI) levels.MethodsEstimating the impact of age, period, and cohort on pancreatic cancer disease burden in different SDI regions using age-period-cohort modeling with data (with 95% uncertainty intervals [UI]) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 and net drift of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDR) for pancreatic cancer in 120 countries.ResultsThe number of new cases of pancreatic cancer worldwide increased from 197,348 (95% UI: 188,604,203,971) in 1990 to 530,297 (486,175,573,635) in 2019, the number of deaths increased from 198,051 (189,329 to 204,763) in 1990 to 531,107 (491,948 to 566,537) in 2019, and the number of DALY increased from 4,647,207 (4,465,440 to 4,812,129) in 1990 to 11,549,016 (10,777,405 to 1,238,912) in 2019. The ASIR of the average levels in global pancreatic cancer increased from 5.22 (4.97 to 5.40) per 100,000 population to 6.57 (6.00 to 7.09) per 100,000 population, the ASMR increased from 5.34 (5.07 to 5.52) per 100,000 population to 6.62 (6.11 to 7.06) per 100,000 population, and the ASDR increased from 115.47 (110.82 to 119.60) per 100,000 population to 139.61 (130.18 to 149.14) per 100,000 population. The incidence, mortality, and DALY rates of pancreatic cancer increase with age globally and across all SDI regions, peaking in the 85–89 age group. In high and high-middle SDI regions, the growth rate for males is higher than for females before the age of 85, while females have a higher growth rate after 85. The 75–79 age group exhibits the highest DALY rate in high and high-middle SDI regions, significantly higher than the global and other SDI regions. From 1990 to 2019, the period effects of pancreatic cancer incidence, mortality, and DALY rates have increased significantly worldwide, while remaining almost unchanged in high and high-middle SDI regions. In contrast, period effects have significantly increased in middle, low-middle, and low SDI regions. Cohort effects are more pronounced in middle, low-middle, and low SDI regions.ConclusionsWith the aggravation of population aging, the incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer in the world are increasing, and effective prevention and control measures can be achieved by reducing the exposure of risk factors. The APC model used in our analysis provides a novel approach to understanding the complex trends in the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years of pancreatic cancer. It can inform the development of targeted interventions to reduce the severe disease burden caused by pancreatic cancer.

Reduced sulfur compound formation from a leachate-saturated zone under changing temperature conditions

In the leachate-saturation zone of landfills, sulfate reduction is influenced by temperature and electron donors. This study assessed sulfate reduction behaviors under varied electron donor conditions by establishing multiple temperature variation scenarios based on stable temperature fields within the leachate-saturation zone. The results showed that temperature variations altered the microbial community structure and significantly influenced the sulfate reduction process. A more pronounced effect was observed with a temperature difference of 30 °C compared to one of 10 °C. In addition, sulfate reduction was influenced by the presence of electron donors and acceptors. In the middle and low-temperature regions (35 °C and 25 °C), sulfate reduction reaction of acidic organic matter was more significant, while alcohol and saccharide organic substances were more effective in promoting sulfate reduction at high-temperature regions (55 °C). Notably, a 30 °C temperature difference within the leachate-saturation zone significantly altered the microbial community structure, which influenced the sulfate reduction behavior. In particular, Firmicutes and Synergistota played essential roles in mediating the variance in sulfate reduction efficiency with a 30 °C decrease and 30 °C increase, respectively. The results also revealed that temperature changes within landfills were influenced by leachate migration, therefore, controlling leachate recharge can help prevent secondary risks associated with sulfate reduction processes.

Investigation of the heating characteristics of turbulent non-premixed gas combustion in the industrial-scale walking beam type reheating furnace

Oxygen-enriched combustion is widely used in industrial furnaces. To elucidate the multi-physics properties of reheating process, this study numerically explores the flow and combustion characteristics of syngas oxygen enrichment combustion in an industrial-scale walking beam type reheating furnace. The findings demonstrate that gas flow patterns at the furnace inlet primarily encompass the billet periphery, enhancing heat transfer efficiency. Oxygen-enriched combustion achieves lower temperature differences, higher heating temperature and CO2 emissions. Additionally, increasing levels of oxygen enrichment correlates with elevated temperatures, though the increments diminish progressively. Specifically, temperatures at the outlet of the preheating section range from 1100 K to 1200 K, with the middle region of the heating section displaying slightly lower temperatures compared to the areas adjacent to the burner. High temperature zones are primarily concentrated around the burners in soaking and heating sections. In terms of heating temperature and thermal uniformity, 30 % oxygen-enriched condition yields superior performance, evidenced by higher heating temperatures and reduced temperature differentials. Moreover, oxygen-enriched combustion enlarges CO2 emissions, with a 124.5 % enhancement observed. The lowest NO emission content at the outlet occurs during combustion with 21 vol% air and 45 vol% oxygen enrichment, however, these values remain relatively high. The insights derived from this study provide a foundational framework and guiding principles for furnace design and optimization of multi-gradient oxy-enriched combustion.

Investigating Blind Spot Design Effects on Drivers’ Cognitive Load with Lane Changing: A Comparative Experiment with Multiple Types of Intelligent Vehicles

Lane changing is a frequent traffic accident scenario. To improve the driving safety in lane changing scenarios, the blind spot display of lane changing is increased through human–machine interaction (HMI) interfaces in intelligent vehicles to improve the driver’s rate of risk perception with regard to the driving environment. However, blind spot information will increase the cognitive load of drivers and lead to driving distraction. To quantify the coupling relationship between blind spot display and drivers’ cognitive load, we proposed a method to quantify the cognitive load of the driver’s interaction by improving the AttenD algorithm, collecting feature data by carrying out a variety of real-vehicle road-testing experiments on three kinds of intelligent vehicles, and then establishing a model blind spot design and driver cognitive load correlation model using Bayesian Logistic Ordinal Regression (BLOR) and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost). The results show that the blind spot image display can reduce the driver’s cognitive load more effectively as it is closer to the driver, has a larger area, and occupies a higher proportion of the center control screen, especially when it is located in the middle and upper regions of the center control screen. The improved AttenD algorithm is able to quantify the cognitive load of the driver, which can be widely used in vehicle testing, HMI interface development and evaluation. In addition, the analytical framework constructed in this paper can help us to understand the complex impact of HMI in intelligent vehicles and provide optimization criteria for lane change blind spot design.