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Performance Analysis of YOLO and Detectron2 Models for Detecting Corn and Soybean Pests Employing Customized Dataset
No full textOne of the most challenging aspects of agricultural pest control is accurate detection of insects in crops. Inadequate control measures for insect pests can seriously impact the production of corn and soybean plantations. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been extensively used for detecting insect pests in the field. In this line of research, this paper introduces a method to detect four key insect species that are predominant in Brazilian agriculture. Our model relies on computer vision techniques, including You Only Look Once (YOLO) and Detectron2, and adapts them to lightweight formats—TensorFlow Lite (TFLite) and Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX)—for resource-constrained devices. Our method leverages two datasets: a comprehensive one and a smaller sample for comparison purposes. With this setup, the authors aimed at using these two datasets to evaluate the performance of the computer vision models and subsequently convert the best-performing models into TFLite and ONNX formats, facilitating their deployment on edge devices. The results are promising. Even in the worst-case scenario, where the ONNX model with the reduced dataset was compared to the YOLOv9-gelan model with the full dataset, the precision reached 87.3%, and the accuracy achieved was 95.0%
The acute effects of coffee ingestion on postural control and physical function in older adults: A randomised crossover trial
No full textCaffeine consumption can elicit improvements in aspects of physical function in older adults but also, negatively modify standing balance, potentially increasing fall risk. However, balance alterations and changes in physical function induced by commonly consumed caffeine vehicles such as coffee have not been investigated. Therefore, this study investigated coffee ingestion providing 3 mg·kg BW−1 caffeine on balance performance and physical function, in a group of older adults. In a randomised, crossover design, 22 older adults (Male n = 10, Age: 68 ± 6 years) completed bipedal standing balance and physical function assessments (Senior Fitness Test) under one of the following conditions: caffeinated coffee (COF), decaffeinated coffee (DEC), placebo (PLA) or a control (CON) (no fluid ingestion). Centre of pressure (COP) root mean square and power frequency were calculated to characterise postural performance and strategy, respectively. The complexity (i.e., regularity) of the COP signal was also determined by calculating sample entropy. Caffeinated coffee had limited effects on COP outcomes. Frequency of the COP in the anteroposterior direction was greater following COF compared to DEC (P = 0.047;g = 0.29) but there were no statistical differences between COF and PLA or CON (P > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant performance differences between any conditions in all tests of physical function (P > 0.05). This suggests that coffee has limited effects on balance performance or physical function but may influence both balance complexity and the strategy utilised to maintain upright stance. Overall, a strong cup of coffee does not significantly influence balance and measures of functional performance in healthy older adults
An exploration of nursing students' lived experience of clinical placement in adult male prisons: A phenomenological study
No full textAim
To explore nursing students' lived experience of a clinical placement within healthcare in a prison, to gain an insight into the support provided prior to and during this unique clinical placement.
Design
An inductive phenomenological study.
Methods
Participants included 14 nursing students from three undergraduate nursing programmes in England, Adult (n = 4), Learning Disability (n = 3) and Mental Health (n = 7). Following a clinical placement in a prison, each participant completed a semistructured audio-recorded interview on MS Teams between October and December 2021. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was completed.
Results
Two overarching themes were identified, ‘shock’ due to the (a) reality of prison; (b) overwhelming emotional impact and (c) frequency and severity of self-harm and ‘surprise’ due to (a) the need to work with prison officers; (b) recognizing and addressing preconceptions of people in prison and (c) the development of clinical knowledge, skills and becoming a nurse.
Conclusions
The need remains for a comprehensive strategy of preparation and orientation for nursing students before commencing a clinical placement in prison, which includes the development of knowledge and clinical skills to support the complex health and social care needs of people in prison.
Impact
Our research identified the support provided to nursing students prior to clinical placement in prison varies considerably. The development of a preparation and orientation programme has the potential to reduce pre-placement anxiety, emotional burden and support nursing students in addressing their preconceptions of people in prison. This approach is essential to support future nursing students to embrace the unique opportunity of a clinical placement within a prison, enhance their clinical knowledge and skills, and develop as a nurse.
Reporting Method
Our paper adheres to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).
Patient or Public Contribution to the Development of this Study
None
The Amenity Value of Bicycle Infrastructure: A Hedonic Application to Greater Manchester, UK
No full textUsing hedonic and spatial regressions, this paper estimates a significantly larger association between proximity to bicycle networks and property prices than previously reported. As cities face increasing challenges of congestion and pollution, many are implementing policies to integrate bicycle facilities and other active modes of transport. However, policymakers are slow to support these initiatives and remain skeptical due to the investment costs required and appropriation of limited land. Drawing on a large dataset of approximately 253,000 transactions in Greater Manchester, over a 9-year period, we find clear evidenced that a 1 km reduction in distance to the nearest bicycle network is associated with property values being around 2.8% higher, on average, and 7.7% higher in the central borough of Manchester. We also provide an applied example to rank new bicycle routes by comparing their benefit-to-cost ratios and a discussion on the property tax system
Are caffeine effects equivalent between different modes of administration: the acute effects of 3 mg.kg −1 caffeine on the muscular strength and power of male university Rugby Union players
No full textBackground
There is growing interest in the potential of alternative modes of caffeine administration for enhancing sports performance. Given that alternative modes may evoke improved physical performance via distinct mechanisms, effects may not be comparable and studies directly comparing the erogenicity of alternative modes of caffeine administration are lacking. To address this knowledge gap, the present study evaluated the effect of 3 mg·kg−1 caffeine delivered in anhydrous form via capsule ingestion, chewing gum or mouth rinsing on measures of muscular strength, power, and strength endurance in male Rugby Union players.
Methods
Twenty-seven participants completed the study (Mean ± SD: Age 20 ± 2 yrs; daily caffeine consumption 188 ± 88 mg). Following assessments and reassessment of chest press (CP), shoulder press (SP), Deadlift (DL), and Squat (SQ) 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and familiarization to the experimental procedures, participants completed six experimental trials where they were administered 3 mg.kg−1 caffeine (Caff) or placebo (Plac) capsule(CAP), chewing gum(GUM) or mouth rinse(RINSE) in a randomized, double-blind and counterbalanced fashion prior to force platform assessment of countermovement jump, drop jump and isometric mid-thigh pull performance. Strength endurance was measured across two sets of CP, SP, DL, and SQ at 70% 1RM until failure. Pre-exercise perceptions of motivation and arousal were also determined.
Results
Caffeine increased perceived readiness to invest mental effort (p = .038; ηp2=.156), countermovement jump height (p = .035; ηp2=.160) and SQ repetitions until failure in the first set (p .687; ηp2 .0.052; ηp2< .136).
Conclusion
3 mg.kg−1 caffeine administered via capsule, gum or mouth rinse had limited effects on muscular strength, power, and strength endurance. Small effects of caffeine on CMJ height could not be explained by changes in specific ground reaction force-time characteristics and were not transferable to DJ performance, and effects specific to the SQ RTP exercise underpin the complexity in understanding effects of caffeine on muscular function. Novel modes of caffeine administration proposed to evoke benefits via distinct mechanisms did not offer unique effects, and the small number of effects demonstrated may have little translation to a single performance trial when data examining direct comparison of each caffeine vehicle compared against a mode matched placebo is considered
Translating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Strategies Through VR Interactions to Tackle Anxiety Symptoms in University Students
No full textRising anxiety amongst university students not only adversely affects their academic performance but contributes towards a troubling decline in overall mental well-being. Existing psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can work towards improving this, yet many barriers prevent CBT from being accessed, particularly from a student perspective. Our research proposes a modern solution utilising a Virtual Reality (VR) headset to deliver digital CBT strategies, investigating their suitability and effectiveness, across a 30 student study alongside the guidance of psychiatrists. Participants found that gamified VR interactions contributed towards greater visualisations of core CBT principles as well as overall engagement, but 3D environments and elements such as avatars must be believable to maintain a sense of realism. Feedback showed a keen interest towards the educational side of such applications, prompting further investigation
Investigation of Hydrothermal Characteristics of Nanofluids and Turbulators in Double Tube Heat Exchangers
No full textThe growing demand for energy efficiency underscores the vital importance of heat exchangers in a wide range of industries, from power generation to HVAC systems. With growing demands for improved efficiency and reduced operational costs, there has been significant research into thermal management technologies. Double tube heat exchangers (DTHEs), due to their simplicity and effectiveness, are widely used in industrial applications. This research aims to enhance the performance of DTHEs by integrating innovative turbulator designs and advanced nanofluids, contributing to the development of more energy-efficient thermal systems.
Turbulators disrupt fluid flow, enhancing heat transfer by breaking up the boundary layer on heat transfer surfaces. This study examines various turbulator shapes—rectangular, triangular, oval, and trapezoidal—in both transverse and helical configurations. Additionally, it explores the effects of different nanofluids, such as CuO, ZnO, Fe3O4, Diamond, Ag, TiO2, Al2O3, SiC, and SiO2, on heat transfer. Using volume fractions from 0 to 0.1, the nanofluids are selected for their ability to enhance thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer. The research employs the finite volume method and advanced computational tools, including ANSYS Fluent, to model and analyze these effects.
The results indicate that SiO2 nanofluids provide the highest improvement in heat transfer efficiency, with an 18.4% enhancement compared to the base fluid. Among turbulator configurations, helical designs, particularly triangular ones, offer the best performance in terms of Nusselt number, pressure drop, and overall heat transfer efficiency. The study also highlights that adjusting the geometrical parameters of turbulators, such as rib height, can significantly impact heat transfer, with transverse turbulators showing up to a 471% increase. The substantial improvements observed in this study affirm the potential of these technologies to improve thermal systems design, offering significant advantages over traditional methods and contributing to sustainability and cost-effectiveness in thermal management
The effects of exercise on neuromuscular function in people with chronic neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground
Differences in cervical neuromuscular function are commonly observed between people with and without chronic neck pain. Exercise may improve cervical neuromuscular function of people with neck pain although the evidence for this has not been systematically reviewed.
Objective
To systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of exercises targeting the neck muscles on neuromuscular function in people with chronic non-specific neck pain.
Methods
This systematic review was conducted based on a registered protocol (CRD42021298831) with searches conducted on the following databases from inception to 21st October 2023: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, AMED, Google Scholar, Open Grey and Zetoc. Studies of interest were trials investigating neuromuscular adaptations to a program of exercise targeting the neck muscles (>2 weeks) in people with chronic non-specific neck pain. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and performed data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and rated the overall certainty of the evidence (GRADE).
Results
Fourteen articles from 2110 citations were included. There is moderate certainty of evidence that the use of craniocervical flexion training (either in isolation or in combination with resistance training) can induce neural adaptations within the neck muscles. A meta-analysis showed a reduction in sternocleidomastoid muscle activity after neck exercise interventions compared to control interventions.
Conclusion
The articles included in this systematic review confirmed that exercise can result in neuromuscular adaptations within neck muscles, as measured by electromyography. Specificity of training was seen to be relevant for the type of neuromuscular adaptations induced
Local options: good processes, controversial outcomes?
No full textLegalization of recreational marijuana has gained momentum in the United States. As of July 2022, 19 states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana. The relatively broad support at state level, however, has not always been reflected at local level. For example, in New Jersey, about one in four municipalities have introduced or adopted ordinances barring marijuana-related businesses.
The states have responded with the implementation of local opt-out options and the possibility, for municipalities, to impose bans on dispensaries, grow facilities and manufacturers of the substance. This response resembles post-prohibition era local alcohol regulations when the temperance movement succeeded in securing the local option in thirty out of forty-two states that had legalized alcohol by 1935. Currently, 10% of U.S. counties still maintain a ban on some or all forms of alcohol.
The local opt options are, in theory, very virtuous processes. They avoid intra-state conflict and are an example of working federalism at state level. However, do they also produce desirable policy outcomes?
This paper considers whether there is a correct balance between regulatory uniformity and local regulation in the context of marijuana and alcohol policy. It examines reasons in favour of localism such as local community standards and local innovation and the reasons against localism such as policy homogeneity and resource allocation