Proximal Level Research Articles

Development of Conflict-Based Safety Performance Function for Safety Evaluation of Urban Roundabouts in India

This study evaluates the safety performance of urban roundabouts in India using conflict-based Safety Performance Functions (SPFs). High-resolution aerial videos were utilized to extract vehicle trajectories, and the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) was employed for conflict identification. Data were collected from 27 roundabouts across various Indian cities, focusing on non-lane-based heterogeneous traffic conditions. Four SPFs were developed utilizing a Generalized Linear Model with Negative Binomial (NB) distribution and log link function for different proximity levels based on Time-to-Collision (TTC) and Post-Encroachment Time (PET) values. Key factors influencing conflict frequency included conflicting traffic volume, occupancy time, ratio of approaching and conflicting traffic volume, percentage of cars and motorcycles, inscribed circle diameter, roundabout symmetry, and number of legs. The developed conflict frequency prediction models fitted well and demonstrated robust predictive performance. This proactive framework for roundabout safety assessment can be followed to enhance road safety in developing nations.

Karakteristik Fisiko Kimia dan Organoleptik Bakso Vegetarian Berbasis Tempe Kacang Kedelai dan Kacang Merah (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Meatballs are one of the foods that are much liked by the people of Indonesia. Meatballs are generally made from meat, such as chicken, beef or fish. Vegetarians tend to consume meat analogues to replace animal flesh. Analog meat is usually made from legumes such as soybeans and red beans, where protein is an important nutrient needed by a vegetarian. Research using a simple randomized block design (RBD) with 7 treatment levels. The control treatment consisted of 50g of soybean flour and 50g of red bean flour. While the other 6 treatments used a comparison between soybean tempeh and red bean flour, namely 50:50; 55:45 ; 60:40 ; 65:35 ; 70:30 and 75:25. The results showed that the comparison of soybean tempeh and red bean flour had a significant effect on proximate levels (moisture content, ash content, fat content, protein content, carbohydrates), yield and meatball elasticity and had no significant effect on water holding capacity meatball. Treatment using 65g soybean tempeh and 35g red bean flour was the best treatment, with an average moisture content of 56.24%, ash content of 2.21%, fat content of 9.15%, protein content of 11.02%, carbohydrates 21.35%, water holding capacity 117.26%, yield 108.09%, elasticity 100.61gf, aroma 3.06 (rather like), color 3.06 (rather like), texture 3.33 (rather like) and taste 3.53 (towards like).

Elevating Facial Expression Detection: Empowered by VGG-19 and Weight-Normalized Gradient Boost Algorithm

Facial expression recognition termed as FER, is one of the vital tasks which is able in mimicking the human ability and wellness. Face expression and other gestures delivered via face are some of the important aspects of conveying non-verbal communications which plays a vital role in interpersonal relations. This domain has a higher scope of research due to enhancing computer vision and human-computer interaction. With respect and consideration to these domain interest, DL has gained a reasonable approach in performing FER. Some of the state-of-art approaches encompassing the ML approaches have faced several cases of laybacks such as overfitting, computational complexity, less adaptable to higher and big datasets. Thus, considering these laybacks and in achieving accurate FER in aspects of bringing proximal levels of FER, the current approach deployed DL methods for both feature extraction from the input image and in classifying them. Deep multi-level feature extraction is performed using the VGG-19 model and Weight Normalized gradient boosting algorithm is adapted for classifying these expressions using the FER13 dataset. This dataset constitutes the input images, which are in ranges of 28,709 sample image data and about 3,589 image data for test. These input images are initially pre-processed for obtaining better accuracy rates when performing feature extraction and classifications. The complete model in effective FER is evaluated using the performance metrics comprising Accuracy (98%), Recall (99%), F1-score (98%) and the precision rates (97%). This analysis of the performance will aid in affirming the overall efficacy of the proposed system.

Technique and Expected Benefit of Intraoperative Perfusion Imaging of Peripheral Nerves.

Peripheral nerve surgery, particularly in cases of nerve compression syndrome (NCS), necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of intraneural blood flow, as localized reductions in nerve perfusion are integral to the etiopathogenesis of such conditions. Although nerve perfusion is currently guided by morphologic characteristics, this assessment is subjective and prone to bias. Intraoperative fluorescence-assisted perfusion imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) is an established tool in flap and lymphatic surgery to objectively assess perfusion intraoperatively. However, only a few unspecific applications of ICG in peripheral nerve surgery have been published so far. In this study, we performed intraoperative perfusion imaging using ICG in 16 consecutive operations within the peripheral nervous system, including microsurgical reconstructions after obstetric brachial plexus injury, decompression for NCS, and vascularized ulnar nerve interposition transfers. Our findings show the utility of ICG in delineating healthy perfusion borders at proximal and distal stump levels after neuroma resection, and we demonstrate a correlation between histological findings and these clinically observed perfusion patterns. In NCS cases, we demonstrate that ICG imaging is effective in highlighting reduced perfusion predecompression and improved perfusion postdecompression. Additionally, ICG proved valuable for assessing perfusion of free vascularized nerve grafts. Intraoperative ICG perfusion imaging is a valuable tool during surgery of the peripheral nervous system, providing insights into the etiopathogenesis of NCS and aiding in the visualization of perfusion. This study underscores the potential of ICG in nerve surgery and its applicability for improving surgical outcomes and advancing our understanding of peripheral nerve pathologies.

Morphological characteristics of rabbits’ carpal tunnel: Evaluation of its potential for carpal tunnel research

This study aimed to define the main anatomic components and describe the normal size and form of the carpal tunnel in rabbits using imaging techniques. It was also aimed to evaluate the potential of rabbits as an animal model for carpal tunnel research. The forelimbs of eight adult New Zealand rabbits were investigated using histology, magnetic resonance, and computed tomography. Two cadavers were used for anatomical dissection to support the findings. The carpal tunnel was examined at proximal and distal levels, and it was found that the flexor retinaculum is two-layered in rabbits. Both vascular nerve bundles, including the median nerve and the ramus palmaris of the ulnar nerve, were within two layers of it and passed through the carpal tunnel. The deep digital flexor, superficial digital flexor, and radial carpal flexor tendons were observed within the carpal tunnel. The flexor pollicis longus tendon is not found in rabbits. The area of the carpal tunnel narrowed towards the distal end in three methods, and its depth decreased in CT and MRI. The length of the accessory carpal bone determined this depth. The study found that rabbits' carpal tunnels are morphologically similar to those of humans compared to dogs. This situation is thought to pave the way for more accurate approaches to carpal tunnel research in rabbits.

A Mixture of Four Probiotic Strains (Probiatop®) Mitigates Food Allergy to Ovalbumin in Mice.

Food allergy is a pathological condition caused by a disruption of oral tolerance. This condition leads to a pro-inflammatory environment that culminates in symptoms that varies from abdominal pain to anaphylaxis and death. The gold standard treatment consists of removing the food that triggers the allergy from diet. However, this conduct can cause nutritional impairment and social restrictions. Therefore, the need for new treatment strategies is notorious. In this context, probiotics are investigated due to their immunomodulatory mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of the present work is to investigate the probiotic potential of a mixture of four probiotic strains (Probiatop®) in an in vivo model of food allergy to ovalbumin (OVA). Our results demonstrated that oral administration of Probiatop® attenuated weight loss and diminished significantly anti-OVA IgE and IgG1 levels. Furthermore, it mitigated proximal jejunum injury, neutrophil recruitment and local IL17 levels. In addition, the probiotic mixture modulated positively the gut microbiota composition by decreasing the levels and frequency of Staphylococcus and yeast. In summary, our data suggest that Probiatop® has the potential to alleviate important symptoms of IgE-mediated food allergy, suggesting its probiotic potential as an adjuvant in the treatment of ovalbumin food allergy.

Rosa roxburghii trattresidue: A novel feed resource for cattle indicated by the non-deleterious performance and blood metabolites.

Rosa roxburghii tratt residue (RRTR) is a regional and uncommon byproduct in Guizhou. Little information is available on whether RRTR can be used as feed for ruminants. In this study, the feasibility of using RRTR as a new feed resource for cattle was investigated by chemical composition analysis, in vitro gas production (Trial 1) and animal feeding experiments (Trial 2). In trial 1, compared to the commonly used fruit residues, RRTR had a proximate nutrient level; the in vitro gas production curve and dynamics fell within the normal range. In trial 2, 16 cattle were allocated to the control and treatment groups, with 8 replicates of 1 cattle each. Cattle in the control group were fed a basal diet without RRTR, while those in the treatment group were fed a diet containing 30% RRTR to replace 30% whole corn silage in basal diet. Feeding RRTR had little effect on the growth performance of the control and treatment cattle (P > 0.05). The feed-to-gain ratio was greater in the treatment group than in the control group throughout the trial period (P < 0.05). The plasma urea levels in the treatment group were lower (P < 0.05) than that in control group, and the levels of other plasma biochemical metabolites were not different between the two groups of cattle (P > 0.05). The in vivo rumen fermentation parameters did not differ between the control and treatment groups (P > 0.05). Our findings indicate that RRTR has a nutritional profile (crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude fiber) similar to that of commonly used fruit residues (such as apple, pineapple, and citrus residue et al.); improves plasma protein utilization efficiency; and has no negative impact on growth performance, albeit with limited effects on feed conversion; blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation parameters in cattle. Accordingly, we conclude, based on the above-mentioned result, that RRTR can serve as a novel feed alternative resource when considering the affordability and as a practical choice for low-cost diets for cattle.

Derotational distal femoral osteotomy yields better outcomes in patellar subluxation with proximal femoral torsion compared with distal femoral torsion: A retrospective comparative study.

Controversy exists regarding the origin of femoral torsion, and specific treatment rules regarding the optimal position of femoral osteotomy in patients with recurrent patellar subluxation and excessive femoral torsion are scarce. To establish a novel classification system for such patients, and to compare clinical and radiological outcomes after distal derotational femoral osteotomy (DDFO) between femoral torsion at proximal (neck and shaft) and distal levels. Between January 2014 and June 2019, patients who underwent DDFO were retrospectively reviewed. The segmental torsion analysis was performed to establish a novel classification system, and classify included patients into two groups: 35 patients in proximal torsion group and 38 patients in distal torsion group. These patients were followed-up for at least 3years. Clinical evaluations included functional outcomes, physical examinations, quality of life, activity level, satisfaction, and complications. Radiological outcomes included patellofemoral osteoarthritis, congruence, and alignment. Type I was defined as the proximal torsion. Type II was defined as the distal torsion. Proximal torsion group had lower postoperative femoral torsion (12.6 ± 2.6° vs. 14.8 ± 3.6°; P = .004) and higher surgical correction angle (21.6 ± 5.0° vs. 19.1 ± 3.0°; P = .009). All clinical and radiological outcomes improved significantly in both groups, but proximal torsion group had significantly higher quality of life (EQ-5D-5L: 0.96 ± 0.06 vs. 0.91 ± 0.07; P = .003. 92.0 ± 6.0 vs. 88.7 ± 5.8; P = .021) and Tegner activity score (5.2 ± 1.5 vs. 4.5 ± 1.4; P = .040), and fewer patellofemoral osteoarthritis (8.6% vs. 26.3%; P = .048). Two patients in the distal torsion group had subjective patellar instability. The percentage of patients with anterior knee pain was higher in the distal torsion group. A novel classification system for patients with recurrent patellar subluxation and excessive femoral torsion based on segmental femoral torsion analysis was established. DDFO was more appropriate for patients with proximal torsion, yielding higher surgical correction angle, and better clinical and radiological outcomes. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Ecological drivers of sexual size dimorphism in northernchamois.

Male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is common in ungulates. The dominant scenario for the evolution of ungulate SSD suggests that habitat openness leads to greater SSD by increasing group size and thus sexual selection through male-male competition for mates. At a more proximate level, adaptive changes in SSD may result from the plastic response of individuals to environmental variation. In this study, we used 161,948 body mass data from a seasonally size-dimorphic species, the northern chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, to examine the role of forest cover and other environmental variables in the expression of SSD. Data were collected from individuals hunted in the Austrian Alps, grouped into 28 mountain ranges with different forest cover, geological substrate and population density. Population-specific growth curves were fitted using monomolecular models, and SSD was calculated as the log-transformed ratio of male to female asymptotic body mass. A path model in which environmental factors indirectly influenced SSD via male or female body mass suggested that SSD increased with increasing density via reduced female body mass and decreased on siliceous substrates via reduced male body mass. Forest cover was negatively associated with body mass in both sexes, but not with variation in SSD.

Artificial intelligence's suggestions for level of amputation in diabetic foot ulcers are highly correlated with those of clinicians, only with exception of hindfoot amputations.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a growing public health problem, paralleling the increasing incidence of diabetes. While prevention is most effective treatment for DFUs, challenge remains on selecting the optimal treatment in cases with DFUs. Health sciences have greatly benefited from the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) applications across various fields. Regarding amputations in DFUs, both literature and clinical practice have mainly focused on strategies to prevent amputation and identify avoidable risk factor. However, there are very limited data on assistive parameters/tools that can be used to determine the level of amputation. This study investigated how well ChatGPT, with its lately released version 4o, matches the amputation level selection of an experienced team in this field. For this purpose, clinical photographs from patients who underwent amputations due to diabetic foot ulcers between May 2023 and May 2024 were submitted to the ChatGPT-4o program. The AI was tasked with recommending an appropriate amputation level based on these clinical photographs. Data from a total of 60 patients were analysed, with a median age of 64.5 years (range: 41-91). According to the Wagner Classification, 32 patients (53.3%) had grade 4 ulcers, 16 patients (26.6%) had grade 5 ulcers, 10 patients (16.6%) had grade 3 ulcers and 2 patients (3.3%) had grade 2 ulcers. A one-to-one correspondence between the AI tool's recommended amputation level and the level actually performed was observed in 50 out of 60 cases (83.3%). In the remaining 10 cases, discrepancies were noted, with the AI consistently recommending a more proximal level of amputation than what was performed. The inter-rater agreement analysis between the actual surgeries and the AI tool's recommendations yielded a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.808 (SD: 0.055, 95% CI: 0.701-0.916), indicating substantial agreement. Relying solely on clinical photographs, ChatGPT-4.0 demonstrates decisions that are largely consistent with those of an experienced team in determining the optimal level of amputation for DFUs, with the exception of hindfoot amputations.

Youth exposure to violence and victimization in a South African community sample

Background: Studies show that youth in low socioeconomic communities suffer significant disturbances in mental and emotional health because of exposure to violence and peer victimisation, manifesting in internalising disorders such as depression, anxiety and traumatic stress.Aim: To examine the relation between risks and exposure to community violence and peer victimisation.Setting: Low socioeconomic communities in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: Data were collected via school and home interviews with youth and maternal caregivers using standardised schedules and instruments. These included the Demographics and Questions about Child’s Health schedule, the Family History of Risk Questionnaire, the Child Behaviour Checklist, the Social Experiences Questionnaire and the Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. Youth sample comprised 256 participants, with age range from 9 to 18 years, and 65% being female.Results: Sociodemographic risks were significantly associated with lifetime witnessing violence, victimisation and hearing about violence. Low maternal education was associated with overt peer victimisation and cyber-victimisation. Internalising conditions such as worry and oversensitivity, fear and concentration, youth anxiety and maternal anxiety were also significantly associated with violence exposure and peer victimisation.Conclusion: Predisposing risks for exposure to violence and victimisation occur in all domains, suggesting that interventions should target these domains to minimise their impact. Co-occurring experience of violence at the personal, proximal and distal levels perpetuate a cyclical loop of violence, intersecting and influencing each other.Contribution: Risk factors such as anxious attachment, avoidant attachment and anxiety, conceptually often seen as maladaptive outcomes, also serve as predisposing risks for violence exposure.

Cold Sprayed Copper-Diamond Composites for Thermal Management of Semiconductor Packages

Thermal management is key to enabling increasingly powerful chips and heterogeneous integrated 2.5D/3-D systems. Composite materials with high thermal conductivities that can be placed at different levels of proximity to the die provide new solutions for heat dissipation. Here we report the fabrication of thick copper-diamond composite films using cold spray, which is a high-throughput, low-thermal-budget deposition technology. In cold spray, feedstock micro powder is accelerated in a specially designed nozzle by a heated pressurized gas and adheres to the substrate upon high-speed impingement. This process achieves higher deposition rates than other methods used in semiconductor manufacturing (such as electroplating). It also produces films that are denser and much less porous than ones produced by conventional thermal spray techniques. In this work, we first use process and thermal simulations to determine the requirements of the micro diamond powder feedstock, including the diamond core size, metal-clad thickness, core-clad interfacial resistance, and volume fraction to enable the cold spray of copper-diamond composites with thermal conductivities that are higher than copper. Subsequently, we perform a systematic characterization of the diamond powders from several suppliers, including the purity, metal oxygen content, particle morphology, and metal-clad adhesion. This characterization reveals the challenges of meeting all the specs using currently available diamond powders. Finally, we cold spray copper-diamond composite films on a variety of substrates with tunable thicknesses between 100 mm and 2 mm, achieving a thermal conductivity that is approximately 10% higher than cold-sprayed pure copper. Further improvement of the thermal properties relies on continued innovation in powder surface modification and powder storage/shipping methods.

Spatial correlation network and influencing factors analysis of supply efficiency of basic public service (SEBPS) in rust belt regions of China: An empirical study from Northeast China

Equalizing basic public service is crucial for achieving social fairness and justice. Promoting the improvement of public service can be achieved through the improvement of supply efficiency and cross-regional coordinated development. We employed the Super-SBM model, modified gravity model, and social network analysis method to empirically study the spatial correlation network characteristics of supply efficiency of basic public service (SEBPS) based on the data of 34 prefecture-level cities in the three provinces of Northeastern China from 2011 to 2020. The results revealed the overall efficiency of SEBPS in the study area is relatively low, and the supply efficiency is polarized. There is significant non-equilibrium between regions, and the regional difference moment gradually expands over time. There exists a strong spatial correlation between SEBPS in each city, and the overall correlation effect is weak but the network stability has improved. Each city had different roles and statuses in the spatial correlation network, creating a hierarchical structure. The level of geospatial proximity had a positive impact on the spatial correlation and spillover of the network. The level of economic development and infrastructure configuration hurt the network, and there is obvious heterogeneity between cities. The differences in industrial structure, opening up level, urbanization level, population density, the level of fiscal decentralization and technological innovation and personal income level among cities affected the SEBPS network. This study not only provides a new network research perspective and theoretical foundation for public service policies in China's rust belt region but also serves as a reference for urban development in similar regions.

Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency of the greater occipital nerve in chronic migraine; proximal approach versus distal approach, a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

Background &amp; Objective: Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater occipital nerve can be used at distal and proximal levels of the greater occipital nerve in patients with chronic migraine. We aimed to evaluate the treatment efficacy, procedure duration, and pain experienced during the procedure for both methods. Methods: In the study, 60 chronic migraine patients randomly divided into two groups using a computer programme were evaluated. In the proximal group, the greater occipital nerve was accessed at the level of the 2nd cervical vertebra, while in the distal group it was accessed at the level of the protuberencia occipitalis. Patients completed the Migraine Disability Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale and a headache diary before treatment as well as at 1 month and 3 months afterwards. The time from the beginning of the intervention to the spread of the stimulus to the C2 dermatome during the sensory stimulation test was recorded. Patients were asked to rate their pain during the procedure using a Visual Analogue Scale. Results: The Visual Analog Scale scores and headache frequencies were significantly decreased in both the proximal group and distal group (p&lt;0.001). The procedure time was shorter (p&lt;0.001) and was less painful in the distal group (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: In this study, we observed that pulsed radiofrequency of both distal and proximal levels of the greater occipital nerves effectively treated migraine. A shorter procedure time and superior patient tolerability make the distal stimulation the procedure of choice.

Advantages of customization of osseointegrated implants in transfemoral amputees: a comparative analysis of surgical planning

BackgroundCommercially available osseointegrated devices for transfemoral amputees are limited in size and thus fail to meet the significant anatomical variability in the femoral medullary canal. This study aimed to develop a customized osseointegrated stem to better accommodate a variety of femoral anatomies in transfemoral amputees than off-the-shelf stems. Customization is expected to enhance cortical bone preservation and increase the stem-bone contact area, which are critical for the long-term stability and success of implants.MethodsA customized stem (OsteoCustom) was designed based on the statistical shape variability of the medullary canal. The implantability of the OsteoCustom stem was tested via 70 computed tomography (CT) images of human femurs and compared to that of a commercial device (OFI-C) for two different resection levels. The evaluations included the volume of cortical bone removed and the percentage of stem-bone contact area for both resection levels. Statistical significance was analyzed using paired and unpaired t tests.ResultsThe OsteoCustom stem could be virtually implanted in all 70 femurs, while the OFI-C was unsuitable in 19 cases due to insufficient cortical thickness after implantation, further emphasizing its adaptability to varying anatomical conditions. The OsteoCustom stem preserved a greater volume of cortical bone than did the OFI-C. In fact, 42% less bone was removed at the proximal resection level (3.15 cm³ vs. 5.42 cm³, p ≤ 0.0001), and 33% less at the distal resection level (2.25 cm³ vs. 3.39 cm³, p = 0.003). The stem-bone contact area was also greater for the OsteoCustom stem, particularly at the distal resection level, showing a 20% increase in contact area (52.3% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.002) compared to that of the OFI-C.ConclusionsThe OsteoCustom stem performed better than the commercial stem by preserving more cortical bone and achieving a greater stem–bone contact area, especially at distal resection levels where the shape of the medullary canal exhibits more inter-subject variability. Optimal fit in the distal region is of paramount importance for ensuring the stability of osseointegrated implants. This study highlights the potential benefits of customized osseointegrated stems in accommodating a broader range of femoral anatomies, with enhanced fit in the medullary canal.

Elevated airborne radioactivity downwind of a colorado oil refinery

ABSTRACT Airborne radioactivity from fossil fuel production systems is poorly characterized, but a recent study showed elevated ambient levels with proximity to oil and gas production wells. Here, we report year-long, high temporal resolution monitoring results of airborne alpha radioactivity from both radon gas and radon progeny attached to particulates immediately northeast of an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, USA, in an environmental justice community of concern. Gas and particle-associated radioactivity contributed nearly evenly to the total alpha radioactivity. Total radioactivity levels of 30–40 Bq m−3 were 2–3 times higher than background levels (~10–15 Bq m−3) when winds were light and southwesterly, suggesting the refinery as the geographic origin. Furthermore, elevated airborne radioactivity tracked most closely with the light hydrocarbon and natural gas tracer ethane. Thus, the data imply natural gas as the radon emission carrier, possibly from flaring. However, this could not explain all our particle-associated radioactivity observations. Our findings are unique and suggest a need for further investigations of radon emissions from oil and gas infrastructure such as natural gas processing plants, compressor stations, petrochemical plants, and oil refineries that process oil and natural gas from unconventional production. Implications Statement: Regulatory agencies currently do not mandate or conduct monitoring of radioactivity releases and public exposure from petroleum industry air emissions. This study reports elevated radioactivity from radon gas and nonvolatile radon decay products attached to particulate matter, at about 2-3 times above background levels in proximity to Colorado’s largest oil refinery. Observations were within an environmental justice community of concern that experiences well above-average exposure to many other harmful atmospheric pollutants, suggesting potential adverse health effects from this cumulative exposure. Our findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and affected communities alike.

Correlates of lifestyle patterns among children in Singapore aged 10 years: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study

ObjectiveTo characterise lifestyle patterns (comprising dietary and movement behaviour aspects) of children in Singapore and examine the correlates of these patterns.DesignAn observational study approach was used. Children recorded their diet and activities over two weekdays and two weekend days on a validated web-based assessment, My E-Diary for Activities and Lifestyle (MEDAL). Lifestyle patterns were derived using principal component analysis, and the correlations of these with multiple known determinants organised by distal, intermediate, and proximal levels of influence were studied.SettingChildren of the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort.ParticipantsTen-year-old children (n = 397).ResultsThree lifestyle patterns, “high snacks and processed food”, “balanced” and “mixed”, were identified. We focused on the more health-promoting “balanced” pattern, characterised by lower screen-viewing and higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and dairy. Among the distal factors, girls were more adherent to the “balanced” pattern compared to boys, and children of parents with lower education levels were less adherent to this pattern. Among intermediate factors, children of mothers with higher diet quality were more adherent to the “balanced” pattern. Among the proximal factors, engagement in active transport, leisure sports, and educational activities outside of school were positively associated with the “balanced” pattern, whereas screen-viewing while travelling was negatively associated with this pattern. Having siblings, pet ownership, mother’s physical activity, parenting style, parental bonding, child’s outdoor time, and breakfast consumption were not associated with children’s lifestyle patterns.ConclusionsThese findings provide direction for future interventions by identifying vulnerable groups and contexts that should be prioritised.

A mixed Methods Study of Multilevel Factors Influencing Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Adolescent Girls in Uganda

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to two-thirds of people living with HIV globally. Adolescent girls and young women are twice as likely to be living with HIV compared to young men. Sexual risk-taking behaviors put adolescent girls at risk for adverse health outcomes, including HIV/AIDS. In this study, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews to explore multi-level factors that influence decisions to engage in sexual risk-taking among 58 school-going adolescent girls in Uganda. Both protective and risk factors cut across personal, proximal, and distal contexts. At the personal level, future goals and fear of negative health outcomes were identified as the most common protective factors. Positive family relations and peers were cited most frequently as protective factors at the proximal level. At the distal level, poverty was the most common risk factor. Relatedly, families’ ability to provide for adolescent girls’ needs was a protective factor. Study results point to the need for multilevel combination interventions to reduce sexual risk-taking among adolescent girls in Uganda.

Cellulase Activity in the Growing Media and Physicochemical Content of the Auricularia auricula -Judae Fruiting Body

This study examined the cellulase activity from Auricularia auricula-judae planting media before harvest and the physicochemical content of the A. auricula-judae fruiting body. Cellulase enzyme activity was determined by calculating the reducing sugars of the medium using the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid method. The optimum activities of cellulase enzymes and reducing sugar content in the second harvest were 1.63 (U/mL) and 22.39 (mg/mL) at pH 8.0 respectively. The physicochemical results of the fruiting body at the 2nd harvest proximate (%) levels of water, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrates, crude fiber respectively as 12.96; 0.54; 0.85; 5,46; 50.14; 21.27. Ear mushroom cultivation media have reduced sugar as raw material which is fermentable into bio-ethanol or other chemicals.

Noise exposure assessment of over-track buildings induced by train operations

The noise generated by trains running beneath these buildings significantly impacts residents and has garnered growing attention. To evaluate the influence of trains running under buildings on internal noise levels, this study conducted subjective questionnaire surveys and field measurements for noise and vibrations in two buildings located in Wuhan and Shenzhen, China. The subjective annoyance of noise was investigated through a survey conducted with a total of 152 participants. The measurement points were positioned at the 2nd-floor level in close proximity to the building’s support structures, as well as on the various floors. The contribution of airborne noise and structure-borne noise to the acoustic environment was identified, elucidating their respective impacts on the overall soundscape. Furthermore, an investigation was conducted to examine the correlation between structure-borne noise and floor vibrations, which was then compared with the guidelines provided by FTA (Federal Transit Administration). The results found that the indoor noise within the over-track building, resulting from train operations, mainly stems from structure-borne noise characterized by a frequency-dependent correlation among floor vibrations. This phenomenon is predominantly observed below 200 Hz with prominent peaks specifically at 40 Hz. The utilization of the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) recommended formula for predicting structure-borne noise levels based on velocity levels may result in an underestimation of the noise impact, particularly with regard to noise energy above 100 Hz. These findings hold significant implications for the design and construction of similar over-track buildings.