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The impact of premature ejaculation treatment on a couple's sexual function
No full textPremature ejaculation is one of the common sexual disorders of men. In our study we focused on premature ejaculation as a possible problem for the entire sexual couple. We evaluated the possible effect of men premature ejaculation on the development of sexual dysfunction in their wives and the subsequent elimination of this female dysfunction if only men are treated. Out of 95 couples, 50 couples who met the given criteria based on the diagnostic tools were included in the pilot study. In men, premature ejaculation was confirmed, in women, sexual dysfunction, the source of which was only premature ejaculation. Results of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale-Male and Female relationship are characterized by Spearman’s correlation before treatment (R = 0.68), after 6 months of treatment (R = 0.90). Furthermore, we confirmed the relationship between Arizona Sexual Experience Scale-Female and Female Sexual Function Index before treatment (R = 0.42) and after treatment (R = 0.59). All data were confirmed by the Mann-Whitney test. The results of our pilot study point to the little-explored fact that premature ejaculation is not only a problem for men, but can also form a subsequent sexual problem for the couple as a whole. The results of this pilot study represent important findings regarding the positive effect of treatment of men with premature ejaculation on the resulting sexual dysfunction in their sexual partners
Advanced keypoint(s) recognition with KeyBERT(+): A comparative study
No full textIn many natural language processing applications, keyword extraction plays a crucial role in information retrieval, document classification, and sum- marization. This study investigates the efficacy of three cutting-edge keyword extraction methods: KeyBERT, YAKE (Yet Another Keyword Extractor), and RAKE (Rapid Automatic Keyword Extraction), along with a newly designed model, KeyBERT(+), which removes duplicates and offers improved perfor- mance. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the performance of these techniques in identifying keywords from student and reference answers—a sce- nario particularly relevant to educational feedback and assessment systems. The comparison is based on two key metrics: the number of key points extracted and the extraction time. The findings demonstrate that KeyBERT(+) outperforms the other methods, providing valuable guidance for selecting appropriate keyword extraction techniques in educational contexts.The authors are grateful to Yayasan Universiti Teknologi PATRONAS, research grant 015PBC-005 for funding and supporting this research
Prospective clinical cohort study on the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative staging for cancer of the rectum with node-by-node analysis by pathologists
Get PDFOBJECTIVE: Multidisciplinary treatment is the standard of care for patients with cancer of the rectum. Neoadjuvant therapy decisions rely on the local carcinoma stage’s magnetic resonance imaging assessment. However, the reliability of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating mesorectal lymphadenopathy remains highly questionable.
METHODS: A prospective clinical study was conducted to assess the accuracy of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in assessing T-stage and N-stage rectal carcinoma. The magnetic resonance imaging findings were compared with those of a detailed histopathological examination of rectal specimens in each patient.
RESULTS: The study included 48 patients with cancer of the rectum who had undergone rectal resection with total mesorectal excision. The magnetic resonance imaging assessment of the T-stage was accurate in 26 out of the 48 cases (54.2%). Overstaging of the T-stage was recognized in 18 patients (37.5%), and 4 (8.3%) were understaged. According to preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (using Horvat’s criteria), 56 suspicious/malignant lymph nodes were identified. However, only 13 (23.2%) of these lymph nodes were proved malignant on histopathology examination. The sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging for nodal involvement assessment was 52.0% and specificity was 93.6%. Of the 646 magnetic resonance imaging-negative lymph nodes, 12 (1.9%) were false negatives (histopathology revealed metastatic lymph nodes). Of note, 20 study patients with malignant lymphadenopathy (according to magnetic resonance imaging) were detected. The magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of malignant lymphadenopathy was correct in only 30.0% of these patients.
CONCLUSION: The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating mesorectal lymph nodes for cases with cancer of the rectum is remarkably low. Therefore, neoadjuvant therapy indications should be based primarily on the magnetic resonance imaging description of the depth of carcinoma invasion
Socio-economic impact of digital transformation in tourism: A hybrid decision support model
Get PDFThe main objective of this study is to develop a hybrid decision support model for assessing the socio-economic impact of digital transformation in tourism, with a focus on the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia). This model enables a comprehensive assessment of digital changes in the tourism industry by incorporating both individual evaluations from tourists and expert opinions at the regional level. The application of fuzzy set theory effectively models uncertainty in respondents' answers, processes linguistic assessments from experts, and generates quantitative comparative indicators. This approach not only facilitates the evaluation of the socio-economic impact of digital transformation on the tourism sector but also supports more informed management decision-making. Notably, the model was configured and tested using real data from 2,343 respondents in the Visegrad Group countries, enhancing its practical value. The study's results can serve as a foundation for developing state-level policies aimed at advancing digital infrastructure in tourism, increasing technological adaptation among enterprises, and improving socio-economic conditions in the regions. This approach holds significant potential for scientific research in economics and sociology, as it promotes the integration of technology into practical policies to enhance regional economic conditions.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, VEGA No. 1/0700/25. This paper was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic within the project APVV-21-0188
Enhanced solar light photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by aero-GaN and ZnO microtetrapods functionalized with noble metal nanodots
Get PDFThe escalating global problem of antibiotic contamination in wastewater demands innovative and sustainable remediation technologies. This paper presents a highly efficient photocatalytic material for water purification: a three-dimensional ultra-porous structure of interconnected GaN hollow microtetrapods (aero-GaN), its performance being further enhanced by noble metal nanodot functionalization. This novel aero-nanomaterial achieves more than 90 % of tetracycline degradation within 120 min under UV and solar irradiation, demonstrating its effectiveness in both static and dynamic flow conditions, with the potential for reuse and recyclability. The higher surface area and chemical stability of the 3D aero-GaN architecture, compared to analogous ZnO structures, establish its significant potential for advanced water treatment applications and filter technologies.Kiel University; Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB; Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, (760285/27.03.2024, PNRR-III-C9-2023-I8-161); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT, (RP/CPS/2024-28/007, RP/CPS/2024-28/002); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, (23-PKVV-UM-7
Unsorted postconsumer plastic waste in energy conversion using piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric generation mechanisms
Get PDFThis study investigates the energy-harvesting potential of unsorted postconsumer plastic packaging waste through piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric regimes. The waste included typical commodity polymers such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). When employed as contact layers of nanogenerators, heterogeneous waste plastic blends demonstrated the ability to convert mechanical and thermal inputs into electrical energy, facilitated by physical contacts among plastics and mechanical deformation of processing additives in plastics as well as temperature gradients. Significant results include output voltage values above 130 V, short-circuit current density, and charge density of 50 ± 2 μAcm-2 and 390 ± 21 nCm-2, respectively, obtained for the triboelectric pair of PET bottle film and the blend of PS/HDPE/PP enriched with 60 wt % of PET. Furthermore, the so-called rejected recyclable plastic waste, which is a residual fraction of plastic waste still largely landfilled, generated output voltages above 60 V when paired with a PET bottle in triboelectric device. These findings reveal that unsorted plastic waste has a promising capacity for energy harvesting, indicating its potential for use in sustainable energy applications.Ministerstvo ?kolstv?, Ml?de?e a Telov?chovy [RP/CPS/2024-28]; Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republi
A bibliometric research of the simulation usage in logistics
No full textThe reality of the modern world is changing towards the usage of the latest technologies in everyday life. This could also be said about the improvement in the logistics field with the usage of Industry 4.0 tools and creating a more autonomous and transparent system that would create the possibility not only to see but also to forecast the logistics process. Many authors have already studied the influence of simulation on logistics processes. However, no attempt has been made so far to measure the topic from a bibliometric point of research. This study aims at covering this research gap and providing information for further research connected with this field. The research consists of a literature review, methodology, bibliometric study and conclusions. Bibliometric research includes the study of the publication year, author, journals and conference proceedings, key word co-occurrence and word cloud. In the process of literature review and bibliometric analysis, it was found that the usage of simulation in logistics has positive potential and several tendencies. The research was limited to the papers available in the English language only and could be further improved by adding other sources and/or comparisons. These findings could provide useful information for future publication and be used by practitioners to monitor tendencies.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FaME/2021/002, IGA/FaME/2022/005
Next-generation photocatalytic system: Ga2O3-modified Ga Nanoislands on graphene for H2 production
Get PDFStudy investigates Ga2O3/Ga on Graphene/SiO2/Si, prepared via temperature-controlled growth of Ga, for photocatalytic hydrogen generation, marking the first exploration of this system for such purpose. Thin surface ultra-wide band gap Ga2O3 layer effectively photoemits electron-hole pairs under UVC and the metallic Ga cores enhance electric field separating charge carriers by formation of localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonances. These effects increase hydrogen yields. Computational analysis of LSP-induced electric field enhancement quantitatively supports proposed fundamental mechanism underlying sample's photoactivity. The most active photocatalyst (Ga-M) with medium-size Ga particles (radius 14 nm) exhibited ten thousand times higher activity per gram than commercial TiO2.Large Research Infrastructure ENRE-GAT [LM2023056
Copper and ZnO dual-catalyzed photo-assisted depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) without deoxygenation
Get PDFDespite significant advancements in thermal and photothermal depolymerizations, the success of these techniques relies on tedious deoxygenation procedures. Herein, we report the development of the depolymerization technique efficient without prior deoxygenation, which was enabled by copper/ligand complexes and the inclusion (0.25 wt% relative to solvent) of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals activated by UV light. This approach was tested for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); the effects of solvent polarity and the activity of ligands were investigated. Unexpectedly, a low-activity Cu-complex with 2,2‘-bipyridine ligand, in combination with a low-polarity solvent, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, enabled relatively high depolymerization yields in less than 1 h at 150 °C. Higher activity ATRP complexes with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) and N,N,N‘,N‘‘,N‘‘-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) ligands, were less efficient, which was associated with their thermal decomposition and/or the excessive formation of radicals and premature termination of the chain ends. The presented facile approach was designed to be used even in partially aerated reactors, opening new avenues for efficient depolymerization.NSF [DMR 2202747, DMR 2324168]; J. W. Fulbright Commission in the Czech Republic [2022-21-1]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [RP/CPS/2022/007, RP/CPS/2024-28/007]; Fonds de recherche du Quebec (FRQNT) [301734]; National Science Centre within the MINIATURA project [DEC-2023/07/X/ST5/01484]; Foundation for Polish Science (FNP)Carnegie Mellon University, CMU; Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, FNP; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Fonds de recherche du Québec, FRQ; US-UK Fulbright Commission, (2022-21-1, RP/CPS/2024-28/007, RP/CPS/2022/007); Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, FRQNT, (301734); Narodowe Centrum Nauki, NCN, (DEC-2023/07/X/ST5/01484); National Science Foundation, NSF, (DMR 2202747, DMR 2324168
Ultrasonic assisted removal of methyl orange and bovine serum albumin from wastewater using modified activated carbons: RSM optimization and reusability
Get PDFThe removal of industrial pollutants from water remains a significant challenge in water treatment processes. This study investigated the efficacy of powder-activated carbon (PAC), thermally modified PAC (TPAC), and chemically modified PAC (CPAC) for removing bovine serum albumin (BSA) and methyl orange (MO) from simulated wastewater. After undergoing treatment, the BET surface area of TPAC increased to 823 m2 g−1, while that of CPAC increased to 657 m2 g−1 compared to the initial surface area of pristine PAC, which was 619 m2 g−1. Batch adsorption experiments assisted by ultrasonication were conducted to evaluate the impact of solution pH, initial concentration, and contact time on the adsorption capacities (qmax) of BSA and MO. TPAC demonstrated superior performance, achieving qmax values of 152 mg g−1 for MO and 133 mg g−1 for BSA, compared to PAC, which provided qmax values of 124 mg g−1 and 112 mg g−1, respectively. Furthermore, pH levels of 3 and 5 were identified as highly effective for the removal of MO and BSA from water, respectively. The adsorption kinetics of both MO and BSA followed pseudo2nd-order (R2 > 0.99) reaction kinetics under both batch and ultrasonic conditions, confirming the removal of contaminants through chemisorption. The adsorption trends also satisfied the Langmuir isothermal model, indicating the formation of a uniform monolayer during the adsorption process of these contaminants. To understand the simultaneous effect of all the variables, response surface methodology (RSM) using central composite design (CCD) was used to predict the adsorption capacities of CPAC. After five adsorption cycles, the removal efficiencies of MO (from 98% to 80%) and BSA (from 55% to 40%) decreased in the CPAC system. The results suggested that CPAC can be effectively utilized to remove MO from wastewater.Higher Education Commission, Pakistan https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004681 [6020]; Higher Education Commission of PakistanHigher Education Commision, Pakistan, HEC; National University of Sciences and Technology, NUST; Islamabad Research Directorate; NRPU, (6020