Occupancy Rate Research Articles

Proposal for ‘occupancy rate’ of common ancestors, a new selection index to evaluate economical traits in animal genetic resources

Proposal for ‘occupancy rate’ of common ancestors, a new selection index to evaluate economical traits in animal genetic resources

A Computational Perspective: Escape Panic Analysis in Confined Pedestrian Environments

An in-depth investigation of the phenomena of escape fear, which has significant repercussions in the actual world, is carried out by means of sophisticated simulations. Specifically, this study makes use of a sophisticated two-dimensional cellular automaton (CA) model in order to decipher the complex dynamics that are characteristic of escape situations. The predicted characteristics, which include arch creation, disruptive interference, and self-organized queuing, are not only theoretical speculations; rather, they are manifestations of events that have been witnessed in our digital reality. Surprisingly, the simulations reveal a scale-free behaviour that had not been expected before, which adds an extra degree of complexity to the escape dynamics. There is a seamless integration of real-world restrictions into the simulations. These constraints include occupancy rates, pedestrian weariness, and the non-rigidity of bodies. In light of the fact that conducting experiments with actual systems presents both ethical and practical obstacles, numerical simulations have emerged as an indispensable instrument for investigating critical sampling rates, exit widths, and the substantial influence that these factors have on escape dynamics. Key Words: Self-organized queuing, Escape panic, Numerical simulations, Exit widths, Exit throughput rate, Pedestrian movement.

Predictive Model for Long-Term Lane Occupancy Rate Based on CT-Transformer and Variational Mode Decomposition

Predictive Model for Long-Term Lane Occupancy Rate Based on CT-Transformer and Variational Mode Decomposition

Peculiarities of determining the capacity of land urban passenger transportation vehicles

Introduction. In the conditions of motorization growth the necessity to improve the quality of passenger service by public transport increases significantly. The determining factor for finding the design capacity of vehicles (TC) is the comfort provided to passengers. On the one hand, in order for public transport to be popular in comparison with private motor transport, it must provide comfortable travel conditions, which are ensured by the provision of free places for sitting and (or) the availability of sufficient space for standing. On the other hand, guaranteed provision of all passengers with seats with a comfortable interval between rows of seats, requires an increase in the number of vehicles to master the same volume of transportation and can lead to a sharp increase in the cost of transportation and fare, at which the economic advantages of public transport over private transport will be less obvious. The aim of the study was to find a compromise calculated occupancy rate of vehicles, at which public transport provides the necessary attractiveness and comfort for passengers and the required carrying capacity.Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the work was general scientific principles and research methods: empirical (expert evaluation) and theoretical (analysis, synthesis, systematization) methods. In order to achieve the set goal, the following tasks were solved: 1. The methods of determining the quality of occupancy quality of the vehicle interior were analyzed. 2. The maximum acceptable capacity of the considered public transportation vehicles was determined. 3. The proposals on the use of the calculated indicator of the density of standing passengers placement in determining the carrying capacity of public transportation are given.Discussion and conclusion. The conducted analysis of manuals on operation, repair, acting in corresponding periods of operation of the chosen vehicles shows that the capacity of vehicles according to norms of manufacturers of vehicles and social standard of the Ministry of Transport does not allow to reach the necessary quality of transportation. The performed research has allowed to establish a comfortable level of occupancy of vehicles for a passenger and a calculated indicator of the density of standing passengers.Practical significance. The established comfortable for passengers occupancy of vehicles can be used in the development and updating of social standards of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.Originality. There is an assessment of the travel conditions depending on passenger occupancy in different types of public transport vehicles operated in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

Static and Dynamic Cross-Network Functional Connectivity Shows Elevated Entropy in Schizophrenia Patients.

Schizophrenia (SZ) patients exhibit abnormal static and dynamic functional connectivity across various brain domains. We present a novel approach based on static and dynamic inter-network connectivity entropy (ICE), which represents the entropy of a given network's connectivity to all the other brain networks. This novel approach enables the investigation of how connectivity strength is heterogeneously distributed across available targets in both SZ patients and healthy controls. We analyzed fMRI data from 151 schizophrenia patients and demographically matched 160 healthy controls. Our assessment encompassed both static and dynamic ICE, revealing significant differences in the heterogeneity of connectivity levels across available brain networks between SZ patients and healthy controls (HC). These networks are associated with subcortical (SC), auditory (AUD), sensorimotor (SM), visual (VIS), cognitive control (CC), default mode network (DMN) and cerebellar (CB) functional brain domains. Elevated ICE observed in individuals with SZ suggests that patients exhibit significantly higher randomness in the distribution of time-varying connectivity strength across functional regions from each source network, compared to healthy control group. C-means fuzzy clustering analysis of functional ICE correlation matrices revealed that SZ patients exhibit significantly higher occupancy weights in clusters with weak, low-scale functional entropy correlation, while the control group shows greater occupancy weights in clusters with strong, large-scale functional entropy correlation. k-means clustering analysis on time-indexed ICE vectors revealed that cluster with highest ICE have higher occupancy rates in SZ patients whereas clusters characterized by lowest ICE have larger occupancy rates for control group. Furthermore, our dynamic ICE approach revealed that it appears healthy for a brain to primarily circulate through complex, less structured connectivity patterns, with occasional transitions into more focused patterns. However, individuals with SZ seem to struggle with transiently attaining these more focused and structured connectivity patterns. Proposed ICE measure presents a novel framework for gaining deeper insights into understanding mechanisms of healthy and disease brain states and a substantial step forward in the developing advanced methods of diagnostics of mental health conditions.

Analysis of Artificial Nest Inhabitancy and Factors Affecting Their Inhabitation of Different Avian Species in Uvas C-Block Pattoki Pakistan

Artificial nesting is considered as a common experimental practice throughout the world. Artificial nest boxes offer a convenient way for carrying out experiments, identifying birds and capturing birds for research and conservation. Studies on the effects of urbanization on birds has revealed that species richness is negatively impacted by urbanization and fragmentation which decreases bird diversity while increasing bird density. This study was designated to determine the inhabitancy of birds inside artificial nests as well as enlists the factors which affect the inhabitation of birds in such nests. The experiment was conducted at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, C-Block, Ravi Campus, Pattoki. Google Earth Pro (a software) was used to take the satellite image of experimental site. Further, geo-referencing and digitization of image were done by using ArcGIS version 10.1. This digitized image was categorized into four classes as roads, barren, buildings, ponds and agricultural land for quantification of land use of experimental site. Ten types of artificial nests varied by nests shapes, size and material were installed at five selected sites named as building site, barren site, pond site, road site and agriculture land site. Total sixty (n=60) artificial nests were installed at five nest sites, hence each site possessed twelve nests supported with iron wire and nails. All of these nests were installed approximately among 4 and 5m above ground. A measuring tape (40 feet) was used to measure the height of each tree by the yardstick measuring method. The area obtained after the digitization of the boundary of (UVAS) C-Block was 46.03 hectares. The findings indicated that throughout the trial's last three months (January, February, and March), twelve nests out of sixty were occupied at the ponds site, H.S-1, and botanical garden whereas others were remained unoccupied. The overall rate of occupancy was 20%. Further, eight nests were those where in birds’ activities were observed. It is concluded that inhabitancy of birds inside artificial nests is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors including the presence of water, food sources, human activities nesting sites and predators. This study will contribute to provide information that helpful that will be helpful for the future conservation of birds and wildlife management.

Analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic on preferences of transport modes

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire world and changed many aspects of daily life, including transportation behaviour and preferences. This study examines the situation of transportation behaviour and preferences before and after the Covid-19 pandemic process through a survey study. A total of 471 people participated in the survey, and 30 questions were posed to participants regarding transportation modes preference, daily usage habits, public transportation usage rate, income status, perceived risk level of transportation systems, preferences before and after the pandemic process, and more. The answers were classified, evaluated and statistically analysed. The results showed that users were significantly affected by the Covid-19 process and changed their transportation mode preferences. The use of buses in urban journeys decreased, and the use of private vehicles significantly increased after the Covid-19 process. Hygiene was the key factor in travel, followed by the vehicle occupancy rate, ventilation, fare and travel time factors. The perceived risk levels of public transportation systems were ranked as metrobus, minibus (paratransit), bus, metro, tram and ferry. The study suggests that future transportation system designs should consider user preferences, as well as changes in education and working conditions, and pandemic conditions.

Efficiency of hospitals in COVID-19 era: a case study of an affected country

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human life and society and has damaged the global economy. Health systems and hospitals were not exempted from this situation. The performance of hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic was affected by policies related to the pandemic and other factors. This study aimed to investigate hospital performance indicators such as admissions and revenue.MethodsThe medical records of patients with selected orthopedic and general surgical diseases were studied in two government hospitals in the capital city of Urmia in the second quarter of 2019, with the same period in 2020. Data were extracted based on the number of medical records, including length of stay, hospitalization type, sex, age, insurance, number of deaths, and readmissions from the medical records department. Payment amounts were collected from the revenue department and Hospital Information System. Two performance indicators, two result indicators, and two control indicators were used. Mean disease-specific revenue, total revenue, length of stay, and bed occupancy rate were calculated for both periods. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) and the Mann-Whitney statistical test.Results2140 cases were studied in the two disease groups. An increase was observed in the number of hospitalizations and average length of stay during the pandemic. The mean disease-specific revenue in the quarter of 2020 was higher than in 2019. However, total revenue decreased, and the difference in the mean of total revenue was significant for the two years (P = 0.00) in teaching center. The number of readmissions remained unchanged throughout in the pandemic. The number of deaths due to general surgery diseases in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 was associated with a relative increase.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic increased the slope of health care costs. The analysis of the studied variables as performance, result, and control indicators showed that hospitalization rate, bed occupancy rate, and total revenue followed a similar and decreasing pattern in the selected hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals should adopt appropriate strategies so that, in conditions identical to the COVID-19 pandemic, their performance is accompanied by proper management of resources, efficiency, and minimal reduction in revenue.

Evaluation of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system for air disinfection and energy conservation in multi-patient ward

High occupancy rates significantly increase the risk of airborne transmission of respiratory infectious diseases in multi-patient wards. While increasing air supply can effectively reduce airborne transmission, it also substantially raises energy consumption. Therefore, developing low-energy methods in multi-patient wards to suppress airborne transmission is essential. This study aims to evaluate the inactivation performance of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) against SARS-CoV-2 virus aerosols in a typical multi-patient ward using computational fluid dynamics at different ventilation rates, as well as its energy-saving effects. Upper-room UVGI reduced the virus aerosol concentrations, with a maximum decrease of up to 159 copies/m3 in the occupied zone (zone less than 2.1 m in height) observed at 8 ACH. However, increased ventilation rates limited the inactivation performance of upper-room UVGI. Two parameters of UVGI, irradiation height and irradiation flux, had been detailly evaluated. Elevating the irradiation height of upper-room UVGI could significantly enhance the inactivation performance. Increasing irradiation height from 0.3 to 0.6 m reduced the concentrations in the occupied zone by up to 11 copies/m3, while a further increase to 0.9 m decreased the concentrations by up to 55 copies/m3. However, increasing irradiation flux could only approximately linearly enhance the virus aerosol inactivation performance of upper-room UVGI. The energy consumption evaluation of upper-room UVGI shows that UVGI activation could conserve 100 kWh per year in one multi-patient ward, with a maximum saving of 333.7 kWh. These findings provide insights into the setups strategies and the energy-saving performance of upper-room UVGI systems in multi-patient wards.

Bali Provincial Government's Efforts in Tourism Sector Recovery During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic is a non-natural disaster caused by a disease outbreak. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Bali tourism has experienced a very significant decline. Along with large-scale social restrictions causing Bali tourism to be completely paralyzed. Restrictions on mobility, temporary closure of tourist attractions, a decrease in the number of tourists arriving, indirectly also reduces the room occupancy rate. Finally, many hotels cannot afford to pay taxes. The purpose of this research is to find out what efforts have been made by the government to restore Bali's tourism sector. In this study using descriptive quantitative methods and case studies. Based on the results obtained from the data in the field, it was found that the government is pursuing various programs to be able to turn the wheel of Bali tourism back on. As for some of the efforts made, namely the mass vaccination program which refers to collaboration between the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Ministry of Health in connection with the big data updated by PHRI targeting 70% of the population, suggestions to the Ministry of Finance so that the second batch of grant funds is more large, labor-intensive program for tourist villages from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, and the opening of the initial stages of international tourism/border for 3 green zone areas, such as the Nusa Dua area, Sanur and Ubud as a pilot project. Of course, all of these programs are carried out through a communication campaign on health and safety protocols and the implementation of Clean, Health, Safety and Environment (CHSE).

A quality improvement study on how a simulation model can help decision making on organization of ICU wards

BackgroundIntensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity management is essential to provide high-quality healthcare for critically ill patients. Yet, consensus on the most favorable ICU design is lacking, especially whether ICUs should deliver dedicated or non-dedicated care. The decision for dedicated or non-dedicated ICU design considers a trade-off in the degree of specialization for individual patient care and efficient use of resources for society. We aim to share insights of a model simulating capacity effects for different ICU designs. Upon request, this simulation model is available for other ICUs.MethodsA discrete event simulation model was developed and used, to study the hypothetical performance of a large University Hospital ICU on occupancy, rejection, and rescheduling rates for a dedicated and non-dedicated ICU design in four different scenarios. These scenarios either simulate the base-case situation of the local ICU, varying bed capacity levels, potential effects of reduced length of stay for a dedicated design and unexpected increased inflow of unplanned patients.ResultsThe simulation model provided insights to foresee effects of capacity choices that should be made. The non-dedicated ICU design outperformed the dedicated ICU design in terms of efficient use of scarce resources.ConclusionsThe choice to use dedicated ICUs does not only affect the clinical outcome, but also rejection- rescheduling and occupancy rates. Our analysis of a large university hospital demonstrates how such a model can support decision making on ICU design, in conjunction with other operation characteristics such as staffing and quality management.

Travel Agencies As Marketing Distribution To Gaining Hotel Occupancy, A Case Study In Pangandaran

This research was conducted with the intention of knowing how the role of travel agencies in providing support for hotel occupancy rates in the Pangandaran area, especially Surya Kencana Seaside Hotel. The research was conducted using a literacy study method on various supporting data collected during 2018-2022. The data collected was then analysed for things that affect hotel occupancy rates, especially based on data from guests who book hotel rooms through travel agencies both online and offline. Based on the results of the analysis, information was obtained that sales made through online travel agencies were higher than offline travel agencies . This is because bookings made by consumers are more practical. Currently there are many sites that provide online room booking media services . The presence of online travel agencies greatly affects the world of tourism and is beneficial for hotels in terms of saving promotional costs. The conclusion that can be drawn from this research is that Online Travel Agent still affects the room occupancy rate at Surya Kencana Seaside Hotel because there are many new policies and the latest promotions in attracting customers. Offline Travel Agent must work harder to beat Online Travel Agent in terms of providing support in increasing room occupancy.

Green Certification and Its Impact on Hotel Marketability and Profitability

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to analyze the benefits and challenges of obtaining green certifications for hotels. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to green certification and its impact on hotel marketability and profitability. Preliminary empirical review revealed that green certification significantly enhanced hotel marketability and profitability. Green-certified hotels attracted more environmentally conscious consumers, resulting in higher occupancy rates and increased customer loyalty. Additionally, these certifications led to substantial operational cost savings in areas such as energy and water use, and allowed hotels to command premium pricing. Overall, the findings demonstrated that adopting sustainable practices through green certification provided both environmental and economic benefits, positioning hotels for better success in the competitive market. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Institutional Theory, Resource-Based View (RBV) and Signaling Theory may be used to anchor future studies on green certification and its impact on hotel marketability and profitability. The study recommended that hotels pursue green certifications to enhance marketability and profitability, emphasizing their importance as strategic investments. It highlighted the theoretical relevance of Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View (RBV), suggesting further research into normative pressures and specific resources. Practically, it advised hotels to adopt and communicate sustainable practices, engage guests in sustainability initiatives, and provide staff training. For policymakers, it recommended supportive policies, incentives, and public awareness campaigns. The study also encouraged future research into the long-term financial impacts of green certification and the role of technology in sustainability efforts. Keywords: Green Certification, Hotel Marketability, Hotel Profitability, Sustainability Practices, Operational Cost Savings, Eco-Friendly Accommodations, Energy Efficiency

Post-Pandemic Trends in the Hospitality Industry

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore post-pandemic trends in the hospitality trends. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the post-pandemic trends in the hospitality trends. Preliminary empirical review revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant, lasting changes, with technology playing a crucial role in recovery through the adoption of contactless services. The shift towards domestic tourism and staycations provided a boost, supported by targeted local tourism campaigns. Sustainability emerged as a vital trend, with eco-friendly practices leading to higher occupancy rates and guest satisfaction. Flexibility in booking and cancellation policies restored traveler confidence, with adaptable and transparent communication being key to maintaining customer trust and loyalty. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Resource- Based View (RBV) and Expectancy Theory may be used to anchor future studies on post-pandemic trends in the hospitality trends. The study recommended several key areas for advancement. It emphasized the need for further research on the long-term impacts of technological innovations, suggesting that theories like the Diffusion of Innovations Theory be expanded to incorporate the effects of global crises. Practically, it advised sustained investment in digital infrastructure and training for staff to maximize the benefits of contactless technologies. Policy recommendations included government support for technological adoption, promotion of domestic tourism, and the prioritization of sustainability through green practices and supportive policies. Additionally, the study underscored the importance of maintaining flexible booking and cancellation policies to enhance traveler confidence and loyalty Keywords: Post-Pandemic Trends, Hospitality Industry, Technological Innovations, Contactless Technologies, Digital Infrastructure

A Comparative Study of Traffic Signal Control Based on Reinforcement Learning Algorithms

In recent years, the increasing production and sales of automobiles have led to a notable rise in congestion on urban road traffic systems, particularly at ramps and intersections with traffic signals. Intelligent traffic signal control represents an effective means of addressing traffic congestion. Reinforcement learning methods have demonstrated considerable potential for addressing complex traffic signal control problems with multidimensional states and actions. In this research, the team propose Q-learning and Deep Q-Network (DQN) based signal control frameworks that use variable phase sequences and cycle times to adjust the order and the duration of signal phases to obtain a stable traffic signal control strategy. Experiments are simulated using the traffic simulator Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) to test the average speed and the lane occupancy rate of vehicles entering the ramp to evaluate its safety performance and test the vehicle’s traveling time to assess its stability. The simulation results show that both reinforcement learning algorithms are able to control cars in dynamic traffic environments with higher average speed and lower lane occupancy rate than the no-control method and that the DQN control model improves the average speed by about 10% and reduces the lane occupancy rate by about 30% compared to the Q-learning control model, providing a higher safety performance.

A Molecular Dynamics Study on Xe/Kr Separation Mechanisms Using Crystal Growth Method.

The separation of xenon/krypton gas mixtures is a valuable but challenging endeavor in the gas industry due to their similar physical characteristics and closely sized molecules. To address this, we investigated the effectiveness of the hydrate-based gas separation method for mixed Xe-Kr gas via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The formation process of hydrates facilitates the encapsulation of guest molecules within hydrate cages, offering a potential strategy for gas separation. Higher temperatures and pressures are advantageous for accelerating the hydrate growth rate. The final occupancy of guest molecules and empty cages within 512, 51264, and all hydrate cages were thoroughly examined. An increase in the pressure and temperature enhanced the occupancy rates of Xe in both 512 and 51264 cages, whereas elevated pressure alone improved the occupancy of Kr in 51264 cages. However, the impact of temperature and pressure on Kr occupancy within 512 cages was found to be minimal. Elevated temperature and pressure resulted in a reduced occupancy of empty cages. Predominantly, 51264 cages were occupied by Xe, whereas Kr showed a propensity to occupy the 512 cages. With increasing simulated pressure, the final occupancy of Xe molecules in all cages rose from 0.37 to 0.41 for simulations at 260 K, while the final occupancy of empty cages decreased from 0.24 to 0.2.

Epidemiology of bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Switzerland, 2015–2022: secular trends and association with the COVID-19 pandemic

The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence of invasive infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms remains a topic of debate. To analyse the national incidence rates of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by Escherichia coli (EC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) with extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance (ESCR) in two distinct regions in Switzerland, each exhibiting varying antimicrobial resistance patterns and that were impacted differently by the pandemic. Data was analysed from positive blood cultures prospectively collected by the nationwide surveillance system (ANRESIS) from January 1st, 2015, to August 31st, 2022. To explore the potential relationship between COVID-19 patient occupancy and ESCR incidence rates, an in-depth analysis was conducted over the two-year pandemic period fromApril 1st, 2020, to March 30th, 2022, using Quasi-Poisson and logistic regression analyses. During the study period, 40,997EC-BSI and 8537KP-BSI episodes were collected and reported to ANRESIS by the participating hospitals. ESCR was observed in 11% (N= 4313) of E.coli and 8% (N= 664) of K.pneumoniae, respectively. A significant reduction in ESCR-EC BSI incidence occurred during the pandemic in the region with the highest COVID-19 incidence. Conversely, ESCR-KP BSI incidence initially fell considerably and then increased during the pandemic in both regions, though this effect was not statistically significant. No association between hospital occupancy from COVID-19 patients and these trends was observed. In the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in ESCR rates was observed, particularly in ESCR-EC BSI within the most heavily impacted region.

Alleviating Heat Stress in Fattening Pigs: Low-Intensity Showers in Critical Hours Alter Body External Temperature, Feeding Pattern, Carcass Composition, and Meat Quality Characteristics.

Heat stress is a significant environmental problem that has a detrimental impact on animal welfare and production efficiency in swine farms. The current study was conducted to assess the effect of low-intensity showers, provided during critical high-temperature hours daily, on body external temperature, feeding pattern, and carcass and meat quality characteristics in fattening pigs. A total of 400 animals (200 barrows and 200 gilts) were randomly allotted in 40 pens. A shower nozzle was installed over 20 pens (half barrows and half gilts) where pigs received a low-intensity shower for 2 min in 30 min intervals from 12 to 19 h (SHO group). Another group without showers was also considered (CON). Feeder occupancy measurement, thermographic measures, and carcass and meat quality parameters were studied. In the periods with higher environmental temperatures, SHO animals showed an increase in the feeder occupancy rate compared to the CON group. A decrease in temperature was observed after the shower, regardless of the anatomical location (p < 0.005). The treatment with showers led to higher values than in the CON group of 4.72%, 3.87%, 11.8%, and 15.1% for hot carcass weight, lean meat yield, and fat thickness in Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Gluteus Medius muscles, respectively (p < 0.01). Pork from CON showed a 14.9% higher value of drip loss, and 18.9% higher malondialdehyde concentration than SHO (p < 0.01); meanwhile, intramuscular fat content was 22.8% higher in SHO than in CON (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the CON group exhibited higher L* (2.13%) and lower a* and b* values (15.8% and 8.97%) compared to the SHO group. However, the pH20h of the CON group was significantly lower than that of the SHO group (p < 0.001), indicating a softer pH decrease. Related to fatty acids in subcutaneous outer and inner layers and intramuscular fat, the CON group showed higher ΣSFA and lower ΣMUFA and Δ9-desaturase indexes than SHO (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the amelioration of heat stress through showers at critical times should be considered an interesting tool that improves both carcass and meat quality, as well as animal welfare.

Predictive risk factors for one-year mortality in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients with interstitial lung disease: A retrospective, single-center cohort study.

This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for mortality of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients admitted with interstitial lung disease (ILD) to guide rapid and accurate judgment of clinical prognosis. This retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted with 135 participants (37 males, 98 females; mean age: 54.8±11.1 years; range, 24 to 85 years) between June 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021. The participants were categorized into the survival group (n=111) and nonsurvivors (n=24) according to whether they survived during the one-year follow-up. The independent risk factors for mortality in one year after discharge were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the accuracy of oxygenation index at baseline combined with pulmonary infection (PI) at follow-up to indicate death in IIM-ILD patients. Compared to the survival group, nonsurvivors were older (p=0.006) and had a higher proportion of anti-MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5) positivity (p<0.001). The ILD duration was shorter (p=0.006), the oxygenation index was lower (p<0.001), and the intensive care unit occupancy rate (p<0.001) and ventilator utilization rate (p<0.001) were elevated in nonsurvivors compared to the survival group. Oxygenation index at baseline (odds ratio [OR]=1.021, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.023, p=0.040) and PI (clinical judgment) at follow-up (OR=16.471, 95% CI: 1.565-173.365, p=0.020) were found as independent risk factors for death in the year after discharge in IIM inpatients with ILD. An oxygenation index ≤279 mmHg at baseline combined with PI at follow-up exhibited a promising predictive value for all-cause death in IIM-ILD patients within one year. Oxygenation index at baseline and PI during follow-up were independent risk factors for death of IIM-ILD patients within one year after discharge. Patients with an oxygenation index ≤279 mmHg at baseline had an increased risk of death once they developed PI during the one-year follow-up.

The role of bromeliad structural complexity on the presence, spatial distribution and predator avoidance in Tityus neglectus (Scorpiones: Buthidae).

The spatial arrangement of organisms is significantly influenced by the structure of vegetation. Bromeliads, characterized by a remarkable architectural design featuring rosette-like leaf arrangements for rainwater storage, act as habitats for various organisms. These organisms use bromeliads for shelter, foraging, reproduction and the supply of nutrients and moisture. This study investigated how specific aspects of bromeliad structure, such as the number, width and length of leaves, impact the behaviour and distribution patterns of the bromelicolous scorpion Tityus neglectus. In the examination of 110 sampled bromeliads, 33 scorpions were recorded, resulting in an occupancy rate of 30%. The likelihood of scorpion occurrence was associated with the plant's structure. The length and coefficient of variation in the width of leaves appeared as the main predictors, positively influencing scorpion presence while the number of leaves exhibited a negative relation with scorpion occurrence. The distribution of scorpions was uniform across the spatial design of bromeliads. Furthermore, T. neglectus demonstrated the ability to utilize water accumulated in the bromeliad to evade potential predators, submerging itself for, on mean, almost 8 min. We concluded that bromeliad structure is essential in shaping the distribution patterns and anti-predatory behaviour of T. neglectus.