134125 research outputs found
Sort by
How teeth record and attenuate seasonal signals
No full textVariability of oxygen isotopes in environmental water is recorded in tooth enamel, providing a record of seasonal change, dietary variability, and mobility. Physiology dampens this variability, however, as oxygen passes from environmental sources into blood and forming teeth. We showcase two methods of high resolution, 2-dimensional enamel sampling, and conduct modeling, to report why and how environmental oxygen isotope variability is reduced in animal bodies and teeth. First, using two modern experimental sheep, we introduce a sampling method, die-saw dicing, that provides high-resolution physical samples (n = 109 and 111 sample locations per tooth) for use in conventional stable isotope and molecular measurement protocols. Second, we use an ion microprobe to sample innermost enamel in an experimental sheep (n = 156 measurements), and in a Pleistocene orangutan (n = 176 measurements). Synchrotron and conventional μCT scans reveal innermost enamel thicknesses averaging 18 and 21 μm in width. Experimental data in sheep show that compared to drinking water, oxygen isotope variability in blood is reduced to 70–90 %; inner and innermost enamel retain between 36 and 48 % of likely drinking water stable isotope range, but this recovery declines to 28–34 % in outer enamel. 2D isotope sampling suggests that declines in isotopic variability, and shifted isotopic oscillations throughout enamel, result from the angle of secretory hydroxyapatite deposition and its overprinting by maturation. This overprinting occurs at all locations including innermost enamel, and is greatest in outer enamel. These findings confirm that all regions of enamel undergo maturation to varying degrees and confirm that inner and innermost enamel preserve more environmental variability than other regions. We further show how the resolution of isotope sampling — not only the spatial resolution within teeth, but also the temporal resolution of water in the environment — impacts our estimate of how much variation teeth recover from the environment. We suggest inverse methods, or multiplication by standard factors determined by ecology, taxon, and sampling strategy, to reconstruct the full scale of seasonal environmental variability. We advocate for combined inverse modeling and high-resolution sampling informed by the spatiotemporal pattern of enamel formation, and at the inner or innermost enamel when possible, to recover seasonal records from teeth.No Full Tex
Editorial: Advancing inclusive education for students with special educational needs: rethinking policy and practice
No full textThis Research Topic offers a timely reflection on inclusive education for students with special educational needs (SEN), commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Salamanca Declaration [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNECSO), 1994]. While the Declaration catalyzed a global commitment to inclusive, equitable education, progress toward its realization remains uneven, with disparate policies and practices evident throughout the world. The 10 studies in this Research Topic, though diverse in their aims, methods, and findings, share a common purpose: critically examining persistent challenges while exploring innovative pathways to improving inclusive schooling for this student group across varied national and educational contexts.Full Tex
Assessing customer-side demand response identification for optimal scheduling considering satisfaction level for microgrids
Get PDFThe demand response (DR)-considered microgrid (MG) provides a large amount of electricity consumption information, and the value of these data has attracted increasing attention because accurately identifying customers’ electricity consumption behaviour patterns helps public utilities’ dispatch planning and precise services. This paper investigates how to achieve MGs’ optimal scheduling for analysing customer-side DR identification. To maintain the economics of the MG itself from the optimal scheduling of multiple MGs and the upper-level power system (ULP), a new master–slave management (MSM) is proposed. Then, by integrating the machine learning (ML)-based classifiers, the customer-side DR identification issues caused by abnormal data, such as data missing and label errors in MGs, are solved. A case study using the China State Grid data set proves the effectiveness of the proposed MSM and DR identification strategies. The assessment reveals that the integrated classification and identification centre (ICIC) helps ensure 4.615 average electricity purchase cost assessment (EPCA) and 4.835 for electricity power assessment (EPA), which is higher than abnormal situations without machine learning-based identification. The proposed method maximises customer satisfaction while reducing MG costs.Full Tex
Land surveying with UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR for optimal building planning
Get PDFAccurate land surveys are fundamental for optimal building planning, as topography bridges architecture and landscape. This paper proposes a Digital Feature Model (DFM) that integrates UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR data to optimize terrain mapping. UAV photogrammetry provides high-accuracy mapping of textured anthropic surfaces, while LiDAR excels in penetrating vegetation-covered areas. By segmenting and fusing datasets from both sensors, the DFM enhances accuracy across diverse terrain conditions. In a built environment case study, 233 measured points representing ground, vegetation, and anthropic features were analyzed to validate the methodology. The DFM achieved a vertical RMSE of 0.075 m, outperforming the photogrammetry and LiDAR models with RMSEs of 0.209 and 0.130 m. This approach improves field data reliability, enabling the creation of accurate topographic plans and subsequent GIS spatial analyses critical for optimal building planning and sustainable land development.Full Tex
Global distribution of prognostically significant pulmonary pressure indicative of pulmonary hypertension
Get PDFBackground
There remains a paucity of data to describe how many people worldwide are affected by pulmonary hypertension (PH), an insidious condition associated with adverse vascular remodelling, progressive heart failure, and death without proactive diagnosis and management.
Methods
We combined data on the population rate of echocardiographic investigations with tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) levels observed within a clinical cohort of >500 000 people, to conservatively estimate the number of adults with mild (TRV 2.5–2.8 m/s), moderate (TRV 2.9–3.4 m/s) and severe (>3.4 m/s) PH in Australia. We then applied the estimated number of PH cases (age- and sex-specific) to World Bank population estimates for 2021.
Results
We conservatively estimate that 16.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 15.31–16.71) million men and 15.53 (95% CI = 14.79–16.27) million women, representing 0.616% (95% CI = 0.589–0.643%) and 0.589% (95% CI = 0.561–0.617%) of those aged 20–79 years worldwide, are affected by mild to severe forms of PH. The highest to lowest proportion of cases occur in Southern/Western Europe ( ~ 0.84% men and ~ 0.76% women) and sub-Saharan Africa ( ~ 0.40% both sexes), respectively. In absolute terms, the greatest number of PH cases reside in Eastern ( ~ 9.0 million) and Southern ( ~ 6.5 million) Asia. PH associated with left heart disease is predominant globally, with an estimated 8.7 (0.33%) and 7.5 (0.28%) million male and female cases worldwide. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, those aged <45 years and without left heart disease account for 11.7% of all PH cases compared to <4.0% of cases in Europe/North America.
Conclusions
For the first-time, we provide conservative estimates of the global pattern of PH (affecting ~ 31.5 million people). These findings provide a rationale for more definitive burden-of-disease studies focusing on likely regional differences in causality and how PH might be successfully prevented/treated.Full Tex
Mindful of the virtual experience: Virtual reality technology specifications, user experience, and outcome
Get PDFVirtual reality (VR) is increasingly being incorporated in mental health interventions, although little is known about users’ experiences with these different types of technology. This study aimed to examine potential differences in user experiences across three different fully immersive VR head-mounted displays (low, medium, and high range) that varied in cost, technical specifications, and quality. A one-session, mindfulness-based VR intervention was utilized. It was predicted that a more positive user experience would be observed for the high-range than low-range condition and that mindfulness and affect would increase postintervention. Participants were 75 university students aged 18 years and older, who were randomly allocated to one of the three VR groups: low-range (i.e., VR Shinecon), medium-range (i.e., BOBOVR Z6), or high-range (i.e., Oculus Quest 2). Each participant completed a 20-min mindfulness-based VR intervention and completed qualitative questions and outcome measures of presence, cybersickness, satisfaction, mindfulness, and affect. A series of mixed factorial, one-way analyses of variances were conducted on quantitative data. Inductive and deductive content analysis was performed on qualitative data. Results revealed that greater presence was reported among participants in the high-range head-mounted display group than the low-range group. Additionally, mindfulness scores improved pre- to postintervention irrespective of the type of head-mounted display used. Mindfulness and participant satisfaction did not significantly differ between conditions. Participants in the high-range condition reported a more positive user experience and had fewer concerns about technological factors. Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering user experiences when selecting VR interventions and technology. This study addresses a gap in the understanding of user experiences across VR technology quality and contributes to translation and adoption efforts for VR interventions when selecting VR technology for practice.Full Tex
Life-history trade-offs and reproductive strategies in Tasmanian devils following disease-induced population decline
Get PDFLife-history trade-offs can mediate population declines following perturbations, and early reproduction should be favoured when adult survival is impacted more than juvenile survival. In Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), following the emergence of a transmissible cancer that caused steep population declines, females started to breed precocially (i.e. at age 1 instead of 2 years old). Here, using 18 years of mark-recapture data from a site where the disease was present (Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia), we tested whether: (i) the probability of 1-yea-old females breeding continued to increase over time; (ii) there was a relationship between body size and breeding success for either 1-year-old or adult females; and (iii) there was inbreeding depression in breeding success for either age category. We show that the probability of 1-year-old females breeding did not increase between 2003 and 2021, and that the proportion of precocially breeding females remains at around 40%. We also show that there was no effect of skeletal body size on the probability of breeding, but heavier females were always more likely to breed. Finally, we found no evidence for inbreeding depression in breeding success. We discuss our results in the context of possible constraints by way of limitations to growth in the offspring of precocially breeding females.Full Tex
Outcomes of Stent Removal in Eyes With the Paul Glaucoma Implant With Intraluminal 6–0 Polypropylene
No full textBackground
To evaluate the 12-month outcomes of stent removal in eyes with the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI) and intraluminal 6–0 polypropylene in an Asian population.
Methods
Retrospective review of patients ≥ 18 years of age with glaucoma in a tertiary institution, who underwent the PGI stented with intraluminal 6–0 polypropylene (October 2018 to January 2023), with a minimum follow-up duration of 12 months. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of glaucoma medications.
Results
We included 103 eyes of 97 patients, who were mostly Chinese (73.8%). The stent was removed in 43 eyes (41.7%), at a median of 12.3 (interquartile range: 4.1–18.4) postoperative weeks. The mean IOP reduction immediately following stent removal was −6.4 ± 5.0 mmHg, and there was a strong linear correlation with the IOP before stent removal (Pearson correlation −0.554; p < 0.001). No eyes developed hypotony after stent removal.
Conclusions
Less than half of the eyes with PGI stented with intraluminal 6–0 polypropylene required stent removal. The IOP reduction achieved after stent removal correlated with the IOP before stent removal, and there were no complications of hypotony.No Full Tex
Ion-wind powered boat using a novel wire-dielectric water system
No full textIn the era of tightening environmental regulations and fast rising fossil fuel costs, green-energy propelling technologies have been in great demand for the maritime industry. By the electrohydrodynamic propulsion, this work demonstrates the launch of an ion-wind powered boat (iBoat) that offers a novel propeller-free approach with insignificant noise and rather low power consumption. The innovative design of the iBoat includes a conducting wire functioning as the emitter, while the water surface was exploited as the downstream electrode, thus, eliminating the need for the second electrode which is typically essential for the ion wind generation. The proposed ion wind propulsion system can generate a thrust-to-power ratio of 1.45 mN/W using a simple wire-dielectric-water configuration. In the experiment, we successfully launch the iBoat carrying payloads of 120 g with wiring connected to the external power supply system. This novel concept can potentially pave the way for the future development of propeller-free boats with insignificant noise in real-life applications including army and wildlife surveillance missions.Full Tex
Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation and Exercise-Based Rehabilitation on Pain and Functional Recovery in Patients With Rotator Cuff Pathology
Get PDFRotator cuff (RC) pathology encompasses a wide range of conditions, which include bursitis, tendinitis, tendinosis, partial thickness tears and full-thickness tears. To treat painful musculoskeletal problems, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been employed as a non-pharmacological alternative. Photobiomodulation (PBM), which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and other photo-emitting devices, is a minimally invasive approach used to treat a wide range of conditions. The purpose of this pre-post study design is to evaluate the effectiveness of PBM and exercise-based rehabilitation on pain and functional recovery in patients with RC pathology. Twenty of the thirty-seven patients who were tested for shoulder disorders and found to have RC pathology were included in the study. The patients' pain levels were measured using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) both at baseline and 6 weeks later. The mean ± standard deviation of NPRS was calculated, data was checked for normal distribution, and the Wilcoxon rank test was conducted to compare the values. Our study showed a statistically significant reduction in pain scores from baseline (7.33 ± 0.79) to 6 weeks (2.50 ± 0.69), p < 0.001 of PBM and exercise-based rehabilitation. The knowledge about the evidence regarding the effectiveness of PBM, along with exercise-based rehabilitation, is critical.Full Tex