Level Set Research Articles

Emotional burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave among pre-hospital emergency healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-hospital emergency healthcare workers (PHEHW) assumed critical responsibilities in controlling and preventing the spread of the virus. This descriptive study aimed to explore the emotional burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave among PHEHW during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted with 401 emergency medical technicians and paramedics. The Sociodemographic Data Form, the Emotional Burnout Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Intention to Leave the Profession Scale were used to collect data. The findings were assessed with a significance level set at p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. The participants demonstrated moderate scores in emotional burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave the profession. The analysis revealed a negative correlation, indicating that as emotional burnout increased, job satisfaction decreased, and the intention to leave the profession heightened. Notably, the participants who had 6-9 years of service, lacked knowledge about COVID-19, had no COVID-19 training, underwent COVID-19 testing, and experienced the loss of a healthcare worker due to COVID-19 exhibited higher levels of burnout. Furthermore, those who had 6-9 years of service, lacked knowledge about COVID-19, had no COVID-19 training, and lost a healthcare worker due to COVID-19 reported lower levels of job satisfaction. Additionally, participants who had 6-9 years of service, lacked knowledge about COVID-19, had no COVID-19 training, and experienced the loss of a healthcare worker due to COVID-19 displayed a greater intention to leave the profession. It is important to implement improvement initiatives that will increase the motivation and job satisfaction of PHEHW. These include the regulation of working hours and shifts, augmenting staff numbers, enhancing working conditions, improving salaries, and implementing strategies aimed at fostering motivation and job satisfaction.

TransLevelSet: Integrating vision transformers with level-sets for medical image segmentation

Recently, Vision Transformers (ViTs) have emerged as a breakthrough in computer vision and image analysis. Still, their exceptional performance depends on the availability of large amounts of annotated training data and the availability of considerable computational resources. This naturally raises the risk of overfitting and limited generalization capability in settings with limited training data. Aiming to cope with this issue, we propose the Level-Set Transformer (TransLevelSet), a hybrid methodology that encompasses an additional term in the loss function used in the ViT learning process, which has been originally defined in the context of Level-Set (LS) deformable models. This loss term avails the spatial information obtained by the level-set energy terms for image segmentation and mitigates the dependency of ViTs on the amount of available data. Moreover, this level-set loss promotes smooth and topologically consistent demarcation of structures, taking advantage of the capacity of ViTs to capture complex spatial relationships and contextual information. The main contributions of this work include: a) a pioneering approach to the integration of ViTs with level-sets; and, b) the application of the proposed methodology on two case studies related to cancer, namely the malignant melanoma, and colon cancer. We evaluate TransLevelSet on three different publicly available benchmark datasets for medical image segmentation, that include dermoscopic and histopathological images. The results of the experiments demonstrate consistent gains in terms of generalization capability introduced by the LS terms.

Comparative Numerical Analysis of Keyhole Shape and Penetration Depth in Laser Spot Welding of Aluminum with Power Wave Modulation

Keyhole mode laser welding is a valuable technique for welding thick materials in industrial applications. However, its susceptibility to fluctuations and instabilities poses challenges, leading to defects that compromise weld quality. Observing the keyhole during laser welding is challenging due to bright process radiation, and existing observation methods are complex and expensive. This paper alternatively presents a novel numerical modeling approach for laser spot welding of aluminum through a modified mixture theory, a modified level-set (LS) method, and a thermal enthalpy porosity technique. The effects of laser parameters on keyhole penetration depth are investigated, with a focus on laser power, spot radius, frequency, and pulse wave modulation in pulsed wave (PW) versus continuous wave (CW) laser welding. PW laser welding involves the careful modulation of power waves, specifically adjusting the pulse width, pulse number, and pulse shapes. Results indicate a greater than 80 percent increase in the keyhole penetration depth with higher laser power, pulse width, and pulse number, as well as decreased spot radius. Keyhole instabilities are also more pronounced with higher pulse width/numbers and frequencies. Notably, the rectangular pulse shape demonstrates substantially deeper penetration compared to CW welding and other pulse shapes. This study enhances understanding of weld pool dynamics and provides insights into optimizing laser welding parameters to mitigate defects and improve weld quality.

A level-set method with a multiplicative–additive constraint model for image segmentation and bias correction

The intensity inhomogeneity phenomenon often appears in actual images, making their segmentation challenging. To efficiently segment such images, a level-set (LS) method with a multiplicative–additive constraint model is proposed. First, based on the observed image intensity property and the multiplicative–additive model, we define the dual bias fields, which explain the full nature of intensity inhomogeneities. Considering the ill condition of the model, herein, we further impose reasonable constraints while ensuring smooth change of dual bias fields within a predefined range. Additionally, we employ an increasing-sequence strategy in the numerical method to ensure balance between the constraint effect and LS evolution, further improving the robustness of our model. When compared with the traditional single bias–field models, our model presents more competitive capabilities. The experimental results on various images validate that compared with the state-of-the-art LS models, our model exhibits better performance in terms of accuracy and robustness.

Evaluation of children's oral diagnosis and treatment using imaging examination using AI based Internet of Things.

Although cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, its image segmentation method needs to be further improved, and there are still objections about the clinical application effect of general anesthesia (GA) on children's dental fear (CDF). This study aimed to investigate the application value of CBCT based on intelligent computer segmentation model in oral diagnosis and treatment of children in the context of biomedical signals, and to analyze the alleviating effect of GA on CDF. Based on the regional level set (CV) algorithm, the local binary fitting (LBF) model was introduced to optimize it, and the tooth CBCT image segmentation model CV-LBF was established to compare the segmentation accuracy (SA), maximum symmetric surface distance (MSSD), average symmetric surface distance (ASSD), over segmentation rate (OR), and under segmentation rate (UR) between these model and other algorithms. 82 children with CDF were divided into general anesthesia group (GAG) (n= 38) and controls (n= 44) according to the voluntary principle of their families. Children in GAG were treated with GA and controls with protective fixed intervention. Children's fear survey schedule-dental subscale (CFSS-DS) and Venham scores were counted before intervention in the two groups. CFSS-DS scores were recorded at 2 hours after intervention and after recovery in children in GAG. CFSS-DS and Venham scores were performed in all children 1 week after surgery. The results showed that the S⁢A value of CV-LBF algorithm was higher than that of region growing algorithm (P< 0.05). OR, UR, MSSD, and ASSD values of CV-LBF algorithm were evidently lower than those of other algorithms (P< 0.05). CFSS-DS scores were lower in GAG than in controls 2 hours after intervention and at return visits after 1 week of intervention (P< 0.001), and Venham scores were lower in GAG than in controls after intervention (P< 0.001). After intervention, the proportion of children with Venham grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 was obviously higher in GAG than in controls (P< 0.001), while the proportion of children with Venham grade 4 and 5 was clearly higher in controls than in GAG (P< 0.001). The results revealed that the computer intelligent segmentation model CV-LBF has potential application value in CBCT image segmentation of children's teeth, and GA can effectively alleviate anxiety of children with CDF and can be used as biomedical signals.

A convex level-set method with multiplicative-additive model for image segmentation

The existing active contour models (ACMs) based on bias field (BF) correction mostly rely on a single BF assumption and lack in-depth discussion on the convexity of the energy functional, often leading to the problem of local minima. To address this issue, this paper introduces a dual BF and proposes a convex level-set (LS) method based on multiplicative-additive (MA) model to achieve global minima. Firstly, a MA model is adopted as the fidelity term, and a kernel function is introduced to adjust the size of the intensity inhomogeneous neighborhood, enhancing the adaptability to intensity inhomogeneity. Then, the convex LS function is embedded in the variational framework to ensure convexity of each variable in the energy functional. This transformation turns the segmentation problem into a convex optimization problem. By introducing the total variation regularization term to smooth the LS function, the model's resistance to noise is effectively enhanced. Finally, by minimizing the proposed energy functional, image segmentation and BF correction are successfully achieved. Experimental results validate the global minima property of our model, while also demonstrating good flexibility in the initial contour. The proposed model achieves superior segmentation results compared to other classical ACMs on various types of images.

The Allen–Cahn model with a time-dependent parameter for motion by mean curvature up to the singularity

In this article, we investigate the temporal evolution of arbitrary, simple, closed two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) interfaces under motion driven by mean curvature up to a singularity. To facilitate this investigation, we propose a novel Allen–Cahn (AC) model with a time-dependent interfacial thickness parameter. The original AC equation was developed to model the phase separation of a binary mixture. It is well known that a level set or interface of the solution of the AC equation obeys the dynamics of motion by curvature as the interfacial thickness parameter approaches zero. Generally, it is difficult to find a closed-form analytic solution of the AC equation with any initial condition. Therefore, we need to estimate the solution of the AC equation through computational approaches such as finite difference method (FDM), finite element method (FEM), Fourier-spectral method (FSM), and finite volume method (FVM). Any simple, closed curves and convex surfaces eventually shrink to a point due to motion by mean curvature. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use adaptive mesh techniques to resolve this small size problem. However, even though we use adaptive mesh techniques, we still confront the relatively thick interfacial transition layer when the curves or interfaces become very small. To avoid this problem, we can start with a very small mesh size for a small value of the interfacial parameter, which results in an extremely high computational cost even when using adaptive mesh techniques. To resolve these issues, we present the AC equation with a time-dependent interfacial parameter and develop an adaptive mesh refinement system. To show the superior performance of the proposed mathematical equation and its computational algorithm, we present various numerical experiments and investigate the motion by mean curvature up to the singularity of curves in 2D space and interfaces in 3D space.

A regional local level set method for tracking arbitrary 3D crack propagation

The geometrical description and tracking of non-planar crack surface with curved crack front evolving in 3D are a big challenge for crack modeling. We develop a numerical method for tracking arbitrary crack propagation. In this method, the crack surface is generated by the regional local level set (RLLS), which is based on the concept of element local level set, abbreviated as ELLS (Duan et al. (2009)). It is regionally defined at the crack front and generates the crack surface by meeting the fracture directionality and the continuity with the adjacent crack surface in a least-square sense. The mechanical description of the discontinuity is treated by the phantom node method, which can be conveniently implemented in the framework of the finite element method. An adaptive mesh refinement technique with hanging nodes is adopted to improve the accuracy and efficiency. Numerical results show that the developed method possesses satisfactory accuracy in the computation of stress intensity factors and exhibits perfect agreement with experimental results on load–displacement response and crack paths. The capability and robustness of the proposed method in complex crack events, such as non-planar propagation, crack twisting and multiple cracks even in complex engineering structures, are also demonstrated.

An experimental investigation into the influence of water column height in submerged mode of abrasive waterjet trepanning on the hole quality

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) trepanning/drilling exhibits immense potential to realize holes of various shapes and sizes in a diverse range of materials, ranging from soft-and-ductile to hard-and-brittle, making it highly valuable for various industries. AWJ trepanning offers the advantage of not requiring tool changes to accommodate different hole shapes and sizes; adjusting the jet path can produce the desired hole geometry, proving exceptionally advantageous for mass production. However, the stochastic nature of the jet results in geometrical errors (diametric deviation, taper angle (α)), form errors (circularity error (Ce), cylindricity error (Cy)) and quality issues (damage region, edge radius (R), surface roughness (Ra), and waviness (Wa)). To address these issues, trepanning in submerged mode can be adopted as it attenuates the mist region and aggressiveness of the jet. This study analyzes the influence of the submerged mode of trepanning on the geometry, form, and quality of trepanned holes relative to the in-air mode. The study found that submerged trepanning produces a more consistent hole diametrical profile along the depth and minimizes the average Ce and α by 23.18 % and 29.20 %, respectively. The maximum Cy in in-air trepanning was reduced in submerged mode by 36.76 %. The average damage region and R reduced by 50.80 % and 35.49 %, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the trepanned surface morphology is presented in-air and submerged mode: the results show that the Ra and Wa decrease at the hole entry and middle zone and increase at the exit zone. Finally, the process parameters level settings for achieving near-optimal trepanning responses (α, Cy, Ce, damage region, R, Ra, and Wa) suggested with the help of mean response- and parallel coordinate- plots. Micrographs of submerged trepanned surfaces show that the material removal mechanism (MRM) governs by shallower craters and grooves at the entry and middle zone of the hole, and at the exit zone, the MRM is random, in comparison to the in-air mode.

Simplified level set discrete element modeling of particle suspension flows in microfluidics: clogging statistics controlled by particle friction and shape

Simplified level set discrete element modeling of particle suspension flows in microfluidics: clogging statistics controlled by particle friction and shape

Effectiveness of virtual reality interactive simulation practice in prosthodontic education: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Virtual reality-based interactive simulation (VRIS) provides a safe and controlled environment for dental students and professionals to develop skills and knowledge. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using the VRIS for prosthodontic practice and to explore the trends, application areas, and users' attitudes towards VRIS. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for searching studies published until 21 March 2023 that reported quantitative or qualitative learning outcomes related to the use of VRIS for dental prosthodontic practice and clinical training. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale-Education (NOS-E) tools. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to compare the intervention group (utilizing VRIS) and the control group (employing conventional prosthodontic training methods) based on performance skill scores and task completion time, with a significance level set at <.05. The meta-analysis revealed that the utilization of VRIS generally improves students' performance scores (SMD = 1.04; 95% CI, -0.35 to 2.44; I2 > 50%; p = .13) and reduces task completion time (SMD = -0.03; 95% CI, 1.39-7.72; I2 > 50%; p = .93). Notably, using VRIS significantly enhanced the performance scores in implant surgery practice (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; p < .05). Additionally, the VRIS method significantly reduced task completion time in the cavity restorative preparation task (SMD = -1.19; 95% CI, -1.85 to -0.53; p < .05). Engaging in practice with VRIS has the potential to enhance learning proficiency in prosthodontic education. The advantages associated with VRIS encompass the provision of immediate feedback, decreased task completion time, heightened confidence and motivation, accelerated skill acquisition, improved performance scores, and increased learning engagement.

Subdural Hematoma due to Dural Metastasis: A Systematic Review on Frequency, Clinical Characteristics, and Neurosurgical Management.

Subdural hematoma (SDH) occasionally accompanies dural metastasis and is associated with high recurrence rate, significantly impacting patient morbidity and mortality. This systematic review aims to evaluate the characteristics, management options, and outcomes of patients with SDH associated with dural metastasis. A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Cochrane databases was conducted for English-language studies published from inception to March 20, 2023, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The authors reviewed cases of histopathologically confirmed SDH with non-central nervous system (non-CNS) tumor metastasis, focusing on therapeutic management of SDH. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, with a significance level set at 0.05. This review included 32 studies comprising 37 patients with 43 SDH cases associated with dural metastasis. Chronic SDH was the most frequently observed presentation (n = 28, 65.12%). The systemic malignancies most commonly associated with SDH due to dural metastasis were prostate carcinoma (n = 9, 24.32%) and gastric carcinoma (n = 5, 13.51%). A statistically significant association was found between metastatic melanoma and subacute SDH (p = 0.010). The majority of patients were treated with burr holes (n = 15, 40.54%) or craniotomies (n = 14, 37.84%), with no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between the two techniques (p = 0.390). Adjuvant therapy was administered to a limited number of patients (n = 5, 13.51%), including chemotherapy (n = 2, 5.41%), whole brain radiotherapy (n = 1, 2.70%), a combination of chemotherapy and whole brain radiotherapy (n = 1, 2.70%), and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (n = 1, 2.70%). The overall recurrence rate was 45.95% (n = 17), with burr holes being the most common management approach (n = 4, 10.81%). Within a median of 8 days, 67.57% (n = 25) of patients succumbed, primarily due to rebleeding (n = 3, 8.11%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (n = 3, 8.11%), and pneumonia (n = 3, 8.11%). This review highlights the need for improving existing neurosurgical options and exploring novel treatment methods. It also emphasizes the importance of dural biopsy in patients with suspected metastasis to rule out a neoplastic etiology.

The Effect of an Exercise Program on the Quality of Life in Burn Patients

Background: Burn injuries are among the most significant causes of disability and death, having severe economic and social consequences in human societies. Objectives: This study aims to examine the effect of an exercise program on the quality of life of burn patients admitted to the burn department of Ali Ibne Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 patients with shoulder joint burns admitted to the burn department of Ali Ibne Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan in 2021 participated. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were selected via convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using permuted blocks. The intervention consisted of 4 individual training sessions and an exercise program. Patients in the intervention group performed exercises 3 times daily for 12 weeks, while those in the control group received only routine ward care. Data were collected using the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS), administered to groups 1- and 3-months post-intervention. Data analysis was conducted using SPSSv.21 software, employing the chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a significance level set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: One month post-intervention, the mean quality of life scores were 121.73 ± 7.52 in the intervention group and 122.93 ± 5.72 in the control group. After 3 months, these scores changed to 156.46 ± 9.53 in the intervention group and 122.82 ± 8.09 in the control group, indicating a significant increase in the intervention group (P = 0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference in quality of life between the 2 groups 1 month post-intervention (P = 0.37); however, a significant difference was observed at 3 months (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The study's findings suggest that exercise can improve the quality of life in patients with shoulder joint burns. Therefore, incorporating exercise and follow-up programs into the discharge plans of burn patients is recommended.

Numerical study of flow boiling heat transfer in a mini-channel under hyper-gravity

Gravity plays a crucial role in influencing bubble behavior and heat transfer in flow boiling, and its impact can vary significantly in aerospace settings. Therefore, this study aims to numerically investigate flow boiling heat transfer in a rectangular mini-channel under hyper-gravity conditions, specifically at 12 times the normal gravity. To accomplish this, a coupled volume-of-fluid and level set method is employed, taking into account fluid-solid conjugated heat transfer as well as a nucleus site density model derived from experimental data. By reproducing the flow pattern and heat transfer characteristics under different heat flux and flow rate conditions, the study unveils the effects of hyper-gravity on flow boiling heat transfer. When the flow rate is lower under hyper-gravity conditions, a notable phenomenon occurs wherein numerous bubbles detach from the heating wall and coalesce into a vapor film at the top of the mini-channel due to increased buoyancy. In contrast, under normal gravity, bubbles merge and slide on the heating wall, leading to the formation of a dry patch below. Consequently, hyper-gravity results in a lower wall superheat, and the disparity in average wall superheat between normal and high gravities escalates as the added heat flux rises. Notably, in the hyper-gravity environment, the frequent detachment of bubbles in the middle and downstream sections of the mini-channel leads to an initial increase in wall superheating, followed by a plateau along the flow direction. As the flow rate increases, the inertial force intensifies. However, intriguingly, the discrepancy in flow boiling heat transfer between normal and high gravities does not exhibit a monotonic decrease with the increasing flow rate. This behavior can be attributed to the pressing of more bubbles onto the heating wall under normal gravity, resulting in the formation of dry patches at high velocities.

A Bayesian spatio-temporal level set dynamic model and application to fire front propagation

A Bayesian spatio-temporal level set dynamic model and application to fire front propagation

Level sets of nonsmooth functions, Part 1: Lipschitz and piecewise-differentiable Rank Theorems

We present a piecewise-differentiable (PCr) Rank Theorem and extend a previously stated Lipschitz Rank Theorem, with the goal of characterizing the level sets of nonsmooth functions f:Rn→Rm. When the appropriate conditions are satisfied by the generalized derivatives of f, the Rank Theorems allow us to express a given level set f−1(c)⊂Rn locally as the graph of a nonsmooth function, within a homeomorphic transformation of the same class as f. We define PCr and Lipschitz submersions, immersions and maps of constant rank in terms of the most general conditions under which the corresponding Rank Theorems are applicable. Moreover, we develop sufficient conditions that are more easily verifiable for practical applications and relate them to existing full-rank conditions from the literature.

Body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating attitudes and nutritional status among female undergraduate students in Lagos, Nigeria

Body image dissatisfaction (BID) is associated with the development of disordered eating attitudes, which can eventually lead to eating disorders. This study was conducted to assess body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating attitudes and nutritional status of female undergraduate students in Lagos as a baseline for an online intervention study. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 1009 from the intervention group (University of Lagos) and 1005 students from the control group (Lagos State University). Data were collected using semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard procedures. Perceived body size was determined by using the Pulver’s Figure Rating Scale Silhouette. Disordered eating was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Data were analysed using a statistical program IBM SPSS (version 25) with a significant level set at p ≤0.05. Chi-squared tests were used to detect differences in proportions for categorical variables. Fisher’s exact test was used where cell sizes were less than five, independent-samples t-tests were used to test for differences in the means of continuous variables. The mean age of the students was 20.7±2.0 years for intervention and 20.9±2.2 years control groups. The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was 57.0% and 60.6% among intervention and control groups, respectively. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity were 13.5%, 18.3% and 7.2%, respectively for the intervention group and 13.3%, 19.5% and 8.0% respectively for the control group. The prevalence of disordered eating attitudes was 5.2% and 4.7% for intervention and control groups, respectively. Only the control group demonstrated a significant positive association between nutritional status and body image dissatisfaction as well as body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. There was no statistically significant difference in nutritional status, body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes among the students in the intervention and control groups. Although the prevalence of BID and overweight/obesity was high, the rate of disordered eating was low. The study showed a significant positive association between BMI and body image dissatisfaction as well as body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating among undergraduates in Lagos. Body Image dissatisfaction, overweight/obesity are higher than reported in the past although the prevalence of disordered eating was low among university undergraduates in Lagos. Interventions that address these three parameters are needed among university undergraduates to prevent increase in disordered eating, eating disorders and other related health consequences. Key words: Nutritional Status, Underweight, Overweight, Obesity, Body Image Dissatisfaction, Disordered Eating

Automated CAD-to-BIM generation of restroom sanitary plumbing system

Abstract Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) system experts often have difficulties in converting their designs, in computer-aided design (CAD), into building information models (BIMs) owing to excessive repetitive work, lack of BIM skilled workers, frequent BIM recreations, etc. Therefore, this study aimed to formalize the CAD-to-BIM process of MEP systems, focusing on sanitary plumbing system, including soil, drain system, hot water supply, and cold water supply system. Each system’s process is composed of a combination of the following five common modules: pipeline processing module, pipe connection module, initial level setting module, addition riser nipple module, and clash resolution module. Consequently, a prototype developed based on the formalized process produced a sanitary plumbing BIM model that is identical to the CAD drawings and has no clashes. This study contributes to the MEP BIM theory by identifying considerations for CAD-to-BIM conversion of sanitary plumbing system and formalizing the process reflecting them.

Effect of Buteyko Breathing Technique as an Adjunct to Routine Physiotherapy on Pulmonary Functions in Patients Undergoing Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) poses a substantial and increasing public health concern in India, particularly among individuals aged 20 and above. The postoperative phase following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery presents potential complications, notably impacting the pulmonary system. Emerging evidence suggests that the Buteyko breathing technique not only improves lung function but also positively influences the psychological well-being of CABG patients. This study seeks to assess the impact of the Buteyko breathing technique on pulmonary functions in individuals who have undergone off-pump CABG. In this randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing off-pump CABG were allocated to either the Buteyko breathing technique group (n = 35) or the control group (n = 35). The intervention group received supervised Buteyko breathing technique sessions twice daily for 15 minutes, concurrently with cardiac rehabilitation from postoperative day (POD-2 to POD-7). The control group underwent phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Outcome measures, including pulmonary function test (PFT), chest expansion, and breath-holding tests were evaluated at baseline (POD-2) and conclusion (POD-7). Statistical analyses were conducted with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Both the control and intervention groups exhibited statistically significant improvements in pulmonary function, chest expansion at three levels, and breath-holding time (p = 0.0001). However, the Buteyko breathing group demonstrated a more significant improvement compared with the control group. The integration of the Buteyko breathing technique into conventional physiotherapy proves to be a beneficial strategy, leading to improvements in pulmonary function, breath-holding duration, and chest expansion for individuals who underwent off-pump CABG surgery. Mavkar SS, Shukla MP. Effect of Buteyko Breathing Technique as an Adjunct to Routine Physiotherapy on Pulmonary Functions in Patients Undergoing Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(3):280-285.TRI Number: CTRI/2022/12/048295.

Grain Quality of Three Rice Genotypes Grown in Organic and Non-Organic Systems

Grain quality is essential for assessing the overall quality of the grain produced and determining the market value of the final product. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical quality of grains cultivated using both organic and non-organic methods. The research employed grains from red, white, and black rice genotypes planted during the third period. Each sample consisted of 100 grams, with three replicates. Data analysis involved variance testing using T and BNT tests, with a significance level set at 5%. Parameters for assessing the physical quality of grains included moisture content, empty grains, damaged kernels (yellow), calcified kernels (young kernels), foreign matter, other varieties, odors, and pests. The research took place at the Polytechnic Organic Farm and Plant Laboratory of Politeknik Negeri Lampung from January to April 2022. The findings indicated that the grain yields of red, white, and black rice genotypes quantitatively exhibited lower levels of yellow/damaged kernels and calcified/young kernels when cultivated organically compared to non-organic methods. However, for other analyses, the results did not show significant differences between the two cropping systems. Nevertheless, the grains of red, white, and black rice genotypes met the quality standards outlined in SNI 01-0224-1987, classified as grade II for organic cultivation and grade III for non-organic cultivation.