Search Results (19,369)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system attacking the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and neurodegeneration. This work investigates the relationship between specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms and MS, aiming to reveal the immunogenetic background of this disease for more individualized management approaches. This study employed a case–control design, analyzing HLA allele frequencies in 179 MS patients and 200 control subjects using next-generation sequencing, The key findings indicate significant associations between several HLA Class I and II alleles and MS, including HLA-B*35:03:01:03, HLA-C*04:01:01:14, HLA-DRB1*15:01:01:26, and HLA-DQA1*05:05:01:02. These findings emphasize the critical role of HLA molecules in MS Romanian patients. Full article

In scientific research and engineering practice, the design of deep spiking neural network (DSNN) architectures remains a complex task that heavily relies on the expertise and experience of professionals. These architectures often require repeated adjustments and modifications based on factors such as the DSNN’s performance, resulting in significant consumption of human and hardware resources. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an innovative evolutionary membrane algorithm for optimizing DSNN architectures. This algorithm automates the construction and design of promising network models, thereby reducing reliance on manual tuning. More specifically, the architecture of DSNN is transformed into the search space of the proposed evolutionary membrane algorithm. The proposed algorithm thoroughly explores the impact of hyperparameters, such as the candidate operation blocks of DSNN, to identify optimal configurations. Additionally, an early stopping strategy is adopted in the performance evaluation phase to mitigate the time loss caused by objective evaluations, further enhancing efficiency. The optimal models identified by the proposed algorithm were evaluated on the CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, showing significant improvements in accuracy compared to the existing state-of-the-art methods. This work highlights the potential of evolutionary membrane algorithms to streamline the design and optimization of DSNN architectures, offering a novel and efficient approach to address the challenges in the applications of automated parameter optimization for DSNN. Full article

This work contextualizes the possibility of deriving a unifying artificial intelligence framework by walking in the footsteps of General, Explainable, and Verified Artificial Intelligence (GEVAI): by considering explainability not only at the level of the results produced by a specification but also considering the explicability of the inference process as well as the one related to the data processing step, we can not only ensure human explainability of the process leading to the ultimate results but also mitigate and minimize machine faults leading to incorrect results. This, on the other hand, requires the adoption of automated verification processes beyond system fine-tuning, which are essentially relevant in a more interconnected world. The challenges related to full automation of a data processing pipeline, mostly requiring human-in-the-loop approaches, forces us to tackle the framework from a different perspective: while proposing a preliminary implementation of GEVAI mainly used as an AI test-bed having different state-of-the-art AI algorithms interconnected, we propose two other data processing pipelines, LaSSI and EMeriTAte+DF, being a specific instantiation of GEVAI for solving specific problems (Natural Language Processing, and Multivariate Time Series Classifications). Preliminary results from our ongoing work strengthen the position of the proposed framework by showcasing it as a viable path to improve current state-of-the-art AI algorithms. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effect of organizational culture on employee-perceived performance and whether this relationship is mediated by perceived organizational support and moderated by employee motivation. Three hundred individuals working in organizations located in Portugal and Angola participated in this study. This is a quantitative, exploratory, correlational, and cross-sectional study. The results indicate that only goal culture, rule culture, affective organizational support perception, and identified motivation have a positive and significant effect on perceived performance. Supportive culture and goal culture have a positive and significant effect on affective organizational support perception. All dimensions of organizational culture have a significant effect on cognitive organizational support perception, with the effects of the supportive culture and the goal culture being positive and significant, while the effects of the innovative culture and the rule culture are negative and significant. The perception of affective organizational support has a total mediating effect on the relationship between goal culture and perceived performance. Intrinsic motivation and identified motivation have a moderating effect on the relationship between all dimensions of organizational culture and perceived performance. This study is expected to help human resource managers understand the importance of the type of organizational culture that prevails in their organization to enhance employees’ perception of organizational support and performance. Full article

This contribution aims to honour Guido Barbiellini’s profound interest in the interpretation and impact of quantum mechanics by examining the implications of the so-called before–before Experiment on quantum entanglement. This experiment was inspired by talks and discussions with John Bell at CERN. This was during the years when John and Guido co-worked, promoting the mission of the laboratory: “to advance the boundaries of human knowledge”. As the experiment uses measuring devices in motion, it can be considered a complement to entanglement experiments using stationary measuring devices, which have meanwhile been awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics. The before–before Experiment supports the idea that the quantum realm exists beyond space and time and that the quantum state is a real mental entity concerning choices. As it also leads us to a better understanding of the ‘quantum collapse’ and the measurement process, we pay homage to Guido’s work on detectors, such as his collaborations on the DELPHI experiment at CERN, on cosmic ray detection at the International Space Station, and gamma-ray astrophysics during a large NASA space mission. Full article

The presence of ciprofloxacin antibiotic in water is a threat to humans and aquatic life since antibiotics are currently regarded as emerging contaminants of major concern. This work reported the use of Nexar^TM film, a sulfonated pentablock copolymer, to effectively remove ciprofloxacin antibiotic from water in a sustainable approach. The removal efficiency of Nexar film was evaluated in aqueous or salty (NaCl 0.5 M) ciprofloxacin solutions as a function of contact time and the initial ciprofloxacin concentration. In the investigated conditions, the polymeric film totally removed ciprofloxacin in MilliQ solution while its removal efficiency in salty solution was approximately 73%. This lower value is due to the presence of Na⁺ ions that compete with antibiotic molecules for adsorption on active surface sites of the polymeric film. No further release of adsorbed antibiotic molecules occurred. The kinetic studies, conducted for ciprofloxacin adsorption on Nexar film in both MilliQ and salty solutions, revealed that the overall sorption process is controlled by the rate of surface reaction between ciprofloxacin molecules and active sites on Nexar surface. Furthermore, at equilibrium conditions, the isotherm model that best fits experimental parameters was not linear. This indicates that the competition between the solute and the solvent for binding sites on the adsorbent should be considered to describe adsorption processes in both MilliQ and salty solutions. Full article

Degradable fluorescent sensors present a promising portable approach for heavy metal ion detection, aiming to prevent secondary environmental pollution. Additionally, the excessive intake of ferric ions (Fe³⁺), an essential trace element for human health, poses critical health risks that urgently require effective monitoring. In this study, we developed a thermally degradable fluorescent hydrogel sensor (Eu-CDs@DPPG) based on europium-doped carbon dots (Eu-CDs). The Eu-CDs, synthesized via a hydrothermal method, exhibited selective fluorescence quenching by Fe³⁺ through the inner filter effect (IFE). Embedding Eu-CDs into the hydrogel significantly enhanced their stability and dispersibility in aqueous environments, effectively resolving issues related to aggregation and matrix interference in traditional sensing methods. The developed sensor demonstrated a broad linear detection range (0–2.5 µM), an extremely low detection limit (1.25 nM), and rapid response (<40 s). Furthermore, a smartphone-assisted LAB color analysis allowed portable, visual quantification of Fe³⁺ with a practical LOD of 6.588 nM. Importantly, the hydrogel was thermally degradable at 80 °C, thus minimizing environmental impact. The sensor’s practical applicability was validated by accurately detecting Fe³⁺ in spinach and human urine samples, achieving recoveries of 98.7–108.0% with low relative standard deviations. This work provides an efficient, portable, and sustainable sensing platform that overcomes the limitations inherent in conventional analytical methods. Full article

Understanding the utilization patterns of nuclear medicine (NM) services is essential for optimizing resource allocation and service provision. This study aimed to address the regional evidence gap by reporting the demand for NM services by sex and age at a public hospital in Jamaica. This was a non-experimental, retrospective study of NM scans that were completed at the University Hospital of the West Indies from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2024. While all scans were reported in the descriptive totals, for patients with multiple scans during the study period, only the data from the first visit was used in the inferential statistical analysis. This was performed with the IBM SPSS (version 29.0) software and involved the use of chi-square goodness of fit and multinomial logistic regression. A total of 1135 NM scans for 1098 patients were completed (37 patients had more than one scan); 596 (54.3%) were female and 502 (45.7%) were male, with the ages ranging from 3 days to 94 years old. Among the female patients, there was a greater demand in the ≥60 years age group for cardiac amyloid scans (χ² = 6.40, p < 0.05), while females 18–59 years had a greater demand for thyroid scans (χ² = 7.714, p < 0.05) and bone scans (χ² = 3.904, p < 0.05). On the other hand, significantly more males in the ≥60 age group presented for cardiac amyloid (χ² = 4.167; p < 0.05) and bone scans (χ² = 145.79, p < 0.01). Males were significantly less likely to undergo a thyroid scan than females (p < 0.01, OR = 0.072, 95% CI: 0.021, 0.243) while individuals aged 18–59 years were more likely to undergo this scan than patients aged 60 or older (p = 0.02, OR = 3.565, 95% CI: 1.258, 10.104). Males were more likely to do a cardiac amyloid scan (p < 0.05, OR = 2.237, 95% CI: 1.023, 4.891) but less likely to undergo a cardiac rest/stress test than females (p = 0.02, OR = 0.307, 95% CI: 0.114, 0.828). Prolonged life expectancy and an aging population have the potential to impact NM utilization, thus requiring planning for infrastructure, equipment, work force, and supplies. Cancer-related and cardiovascular indications are a top priority at this facility; hence, age- and sex-specific analysis are useful in establishing models for policy makers with regard to the allocation of economic and human resources for the sustainability of this specialized service. Full article

Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) molecules present intracellular peptides on the cell surface to enable CD8+ T cells to effectively control viral infections. Many viruses disrupt this antigen presentation pathway to evade immune detection. In this study, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 impairs both the constitutive and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced upregulation of HLA-I. Moreover, Nsp1 also blocks IFN-γ-induced expression of HLA-II. We found that, contrary to previously published work, the early SARS-CoV-2 B 1.1.7 Alpha variant lacking the accessory protein ORF8 retained full capacity to downregulate HLA-I, comparable to an ORF8-expressing wild-type isolate. While ectopic overexpression of ORF8 could reduce HLA-I surface levels, this effect was only observed at high expression levels. In contrast, moderate expression of the viral protein Nsp1 was sufficient to potently suppress both basal and IFN-γ-induced HLA-I, as well as HLA-II expression. To probe the underlying mechanism, we analyzed HLA-I-associated genes in previously published RNA-sequencing datasets and confirmed that Nsp1 reduces expression of components required for HLA-I biosynthesis and antigen processing. These findings identify Nsp1 as a key factor that impairs antigen presentation pathways, potentially contributing to the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to modulate immune recognition. Full article

Robotic assembly of electrical connectors enables the automation of high-efficiency production of electronic products. A rigid gripper is adopted as the end-effector by the majority of existing works with a force–torque sensor installed at the wrist, which suffers from very limited perception capability of the manipulated objects. Moreover, the grasping and movement actions, as well as the inconsistency between the robot base and the end-effector frame, tend to result in angular misalignment, usually leading to assembly failure. Bio-inspired by the human finger, we designed a tactile finger in this paper with three characteristics: (1) Compliance: A soft ‘skin’ layer provides passive compliance for plenty of manipulation actions, thus increasing the tolerance for alignment errors. (2) Tactile Perception: Two types of sensing elements are embedded into the soft skin to tactilely sense the involved contact status. (3) Enhanced manipulation force: A rigid fingernail is designed to enhance the manipulation force and enable potential delicate operations. Moreover, a tactile-based alignment algorithm is proposed to search for the optimal orientation angle about the z axis. In the application of U-disk insertion, the three characteristics are validated and a success rate of 100% is achieved, whose generalization capability is also validated through the assembly of three types of electrical connectors. Full article

Contamination of food with heavy metals is an important factor leading to serious health concerns. Rapid identification of these heavy metals is of utmost priority. There are several methods to identify traces of heavy metals in food. Conventional methods for the detection of heavy metal residues have their limitations in terms of cost, analysis time, and complexity. In the last decade, voltammetric analysis has emerged as the most prominent electrochemical determination method for heavy metals. Voltammetry is a reliable, cost-effective, and rapid determination method. This review provides a detailed primer on recent advances in the development and application of graphene-based electrochemical sensors for heavy metal monitoring over the last decade. We critically examine aspects of graphene modification (fabrication process, stability, cost, reproducibility) and analytical properties (sensitivity, selectivity, rapid detection, lower detection, and matrix effects) of these sensors. Furthermore, to our knowledge, meta-analyses were performed for the first time for all investigated parameters, categorized based on graphene materials and heavy metal types. We also examined the pass–fail criteria according to the WHO drinking water guidelines. In addition, the effects of heavy metal toxicity on human health and the environment are discussed. Finally, the contribution of heavy metal contamination to the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stated by the United Nations in 2015 is discussed in detail. The results confirm the significant impact of heavy metal contamination across twelve SDGs. This review critically examines the existing knowledge in this field and highlights significant research gaps and future opportunities. It is intended as a resource for researchers working on graphene-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of heavy metals in food safety, with the ultimate goal of improving consumer health protection. Full article

Efficient planning of train crew rosters is a key factor in ensuring operational reliability and promoting long-term sustainability in railway transport, both economically and socially. This article presents a systematic approach to developing a crew rostering model in passenger rail transport, with a focus on the operational setting of the train crew depot in Česká Třebová, a city in the Czech Republic. The seven-step methodology includes identifying available train shifts, defining scheduling constraints, creating roster variants, and calculating personnel and time requirements for each option. The proposed roster reduced staffing needs by two employees, increased the average shift duration to 9 h and 42 min, and decreased non-productive time by 384 h annually. These improvements enhance sustainability by optimizing human resource use, lowering unnecessary energy consumption, and improving employees’ work–life balance. The model also provides a quantitative assessment of operational feasibility and economic efficiency. Compared to existing rosters, the proposed model offers clear advantages and remains applicable even in settings with limited technological support. The findings show that a well-designed rostering system can contribute not only to cost savings and personnel stabilization, but also to broader objectives in sustainable public transport, supporting resilient and resource-efficient rail operations. Full article

The organization of consciousness is described through increasingly rich theoretical models. We review evidence that working memory capacity—essential to generating consciousness in the cerebral cortex—is supported by dual limbic memory systems. These dorsal (Papez) and ventral (Yakovlev) limbic networks provide the basis for mnemonic processing and prediction in the dorsal and ventral divisions of the human neocortex. Empirical evidence suggests that the dorsal limbic division is (i) regulated preferentially by excitatory feedforward control, (ii) consolidated by REM sleep, and (iii) controlled in waking by phasic arousal through lemnothalamic projections from the pontine brainstem reticular activating system. The ventral limbic division and striatum, (i) organizes the inhibitory neurophysiology of NREM to (ii) consolidate explicit memory in sleep, (iii) operating in waking cognition under the same inhibitory feedback control supported by collothalamic tonic activation from the midbrain. We propose that (i) these dual (excitatory and inhibitory) systems alternate in the stages of sleep, and (ii) in waking they must be balanced—at criticality—to optimize the active inference that generates conscious experiences. Optimal Bayesian belief updating rests on balanced feedforward (excitatory predictive) and feedback (inhibitory corrective) control biases that play the role of prior and likelihood (i.e., sensory) precision. Because the excitatory (E) phasic arousal and inhibitory (I) tonic activation systems that regulate these dual limbic divisions have distinct affective properties, varying levels of elation for phasic arousal (E) and anxiety for tonic activation (I), the dual control systems regulate sleep and consciousness in ways that are adaptively balanced—around the entropic nadir of E–I criticality—for optimal self-regulation of consciousness and psychological health. Because they are emotive as well as motive control systems, these dual systems have unique qualities of feeling that may be registered as subjective experience. Full article

With the arrival of an aging society and the continuous extension of the human lifespan, the quality of life has not improved in a corresponding manner. People’s demand for happiness and health is increasing. As a result, a model emerged that integrates tourism and medical services, which is health tourism. This growing demand has prompted many service providers to see it as a business opportunity and enter the market. Tourism can help travelers release work stress and restore physical and mental balance; meanwhile, health check-ups and disease treatment can help them regain health. Consumers have long favored health and medical tourism because it helps relieve stress and promotes overall well-being. As people age, some consumers experience a gradual decline in physical functions, making it difficult for them to participate in regular travel services provided by traditional travel agencies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the service needs of health and medical tourism customers (tourists/patients) and the interrelationships among these service needs, so that health and medical tourism service providers can develop more customized and diversified services. This study identifies four key drivers of medical tourism services: medical services, medical facilities, tour planning, and hospitality facilities. This study uses the APA (attention and performance analysis) method to assess each dimension and criterion and utilizes the DEMATEL method with the NRM (network relationship map) to identify network relationships. By combining APA and NRM techniques, this study develops the APA-NRM technique to evaluate adoption strategies and identify suitable paths for health tourism services, providing tailored development strategies and recommendations for service providers to enhance the service experience. Full article

Background: Burnout syndrome (BS) is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Although there are underlying causes associated with personal attributes, it is generally linked to external factors within the work environment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of lifestyle factors on BS and its dimensions, as well as on suicidal ideation among Spanish professionals dedicated to implant dentistry. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. An electronic survey based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey (MBI–HSS) was distributed to members of the Spanish Society of Implants. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: A total of 305 participants (20.9%) responded to the questionnaire. Notably, 10.8% of the professionals reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, a factor significantly associated with the presence of BS. The lifestyle factors associated with BS included the following: not engaging in aerobic exercise for at least 30 min per day (p < 0.05), not having hobbies that facilitate mental disconnection from work (p < 0.001), not following a balanced diet (p < 0.0001), having an insufficient social life (p < 0.0001), and experiencing suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The surveyed dentists generally reported having healthy lifestyle habits. Nevertheless, one in ten professionals acknowledged having experienced suicidal ideation at some point, highlighting a concerning association with BS. Full article