Search

Heavy metal pollution of the bottom sediments in the Northern Caspian Sea region was assessed for the period from 2012 to 2021. The concentrations and pollution levels of heavy metals were determined using the standard indices as part of the industrial environmental monitoring at the license site in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. Based on the concentrations of all identified metals (zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, nickel, iron, and manganese), significant spatial and temporal variations were observed. The values obtained did not exceed those of international sediment quality standards, thus suggesting that the studied bottom sediments were only slightly polluted by heavy metals. However, certain areas showed high levels of pollution, such as the northwestern area with the elevated iron levels and the central area with the maximum lead and cadmium concentrations. The statistical analysis of geochemical parameters of the bottom sediments revealed distinct patterns in the distribution of heavy metals.

Objective: To evaluate implementation of nutrition/physical activity-related policies/practices at colleges participating in a healthy campus initiative and campus health leaders' perceptions of policies/practices' support for student health and ease of/barriers to implementation. Participants: Health leaders at colleges participating in the Healthier Campus Initiative (HCI), with completed or ongoing three-year HCI commitments. Methods: Surveys asked which of 41 guidelines were implemented and perceptions around support for student health and ease of/barriers to implementation. Qualitative interviews explored similar domains. Results: Campuses with completed HCI commitments (n = 17) averaged 27.6 guidelines implemented, versus 21.1 on campuses with commitments ongoing (n = 13; p = 0.003). Perceived support for student health and implementation ease varied by guideline. Common implementation barriers included financial costs and time. Interviews largely reinforced these findings. Conclusions: Completion of a campus environmental change initiative may be associated with more health-supporting practices. Campuses may benefit from implementing coordinated policy/practice changes supporting healthy eating and physical activity.

Technology-enabled approaches to conducting 24-h dietary recalls (24HR) may reduce dietary assessment bottlenecks in low-resource settings. However, few studies have assessed their performance relative to conventional pen-and-paper interview (PAPI) approaches and none have validated performance against a benchmark (e.g. weighed food record (WFR)) in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC). This study assessed relative accuracy and cost-effectiveness of INDDEX24, a technology-enabled approach to conducting 24HR, compared with a PAPI approach and against an observer WFR. Women aged 18-49 years from northern Viet Nam (n 234) were randomly assigned to be interviewed using INDDEX24 or PAPI 24HR following a WFR. The two one-sided t test approach assessed the equivalence of each recall modality to the benchmark. Difference-in-differences analysis compared the recall-benchmark results across modalities. Cost per percentage point of accuracy for INDDEX24 and PAPI was derived from accuracy results and the cost to conduct the 24HR. The PAPI and INDDEX24 24HR were statistically equivalent to the WFR for all nutrients except vitamin A. INDDEX24 diverged significantly less than PAPI from the WFR for Fe (0·9 v. -1·3 mg) and PAPI diverged less for protein (-3·7 v. 7·9 g). At the individual level, 26 % of PAPI and 32 % of INDDEX24 respondents had energy intakes within +/- 10 % of the WFR. INDDEX24 cost $111 004 and the PAPI cost $120 483 (USD 2019), making INDDEX24 more cost-effective across most indicators. INDDEX24 was an accurate and cost-effective method for assessing dietary intake in the study context and represents a preferred alternative to PAPI 24HR in Viet Nam and other LMIC.

More than a half century has passed since the first integration of problem-based learning (PBL) in higher education teaching. Despite the extensive investigation focused on this pedagogy, rigorous research on the impact of PBL in civil engineering is limited. Thus, this study aims to provide a thorough evaluation of students' perceptions of PBL in a civil engineering course. The course was designed based on best practices from the literature while addressing, with the intent to minimize, the inhibitors of PBL success indicated in past research. The semester-long project was focused on creating an artifact to demonstrate geological phenomena chosen by the students, to then be displayed in an exhibition. The course included formative and summative assessments of students' performance throughout the semester. Data was collected and analyzed methodically from over 150 students from two cohorts, one with a one-year post-course perspective, using a survey. The results indicate high satisfaction with several aspects of the course, including the perception of soft skill development. The analysis also showed that students from an ethnic minority group had significantly higher satisfaction and perceived benefit from the course. These findings demonstrate the possibility of turning a theoretical civil engineering course into a valuable PBL course, suggesting that PBL may promote greater equality for ethnic minority groups.

Effective nutrition policies require timely, accurate individual dietary consumption data; collection of such information has been hampered by cost and complexity of dietary surveys and lag in producing results. The objective of this work was to assess accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a streamlined, tablet-based dietary data collection platform for 24-hour individual dietary recalls (24HR) administered using INDDEX24 platform v. a pen-and-paper interview(PAPI) questionnaire, with weighed food record (WFR) as a benchmark. This cross-sectional comparative study included women 18-49 years old from rural Burkina Faso (n 116 INDDEX24; n 115 PAPI). A WFR was conducted; the following day, a 24HR was administered by different interviewers. Food consumption data were converted into nutrient intakes. Validity of 24HR estimates of nutrient and food group consumption was based on comparison with WFR using equivalence tests (group level) and percentages of participants within ranges of percentage error (individual level). Both modalities performed comparably estimating consumption of macro- and micronutrients, food groups and quantities (modalities' divergence from WFR not significantly different). Accuracy of both modalities was acceptable (equivalence to WFR significant at P < 0·05) at group level for macronutrients, less so for micronutrients and individual-level consumption (percentage within ±20 % for WFR, 17-45 % for macronutrients, 5-17 % for micronutrients). INDDEX24 was more cost-effective than PAPI based on superior accuracy of a composite nutrient intake measure (but not gram amount or item count) due to lower time and personnel costs. INDDEX24 for 24HR dietary surveys linked to dietary reference data shows comparable accuracy to PAPI at lower cost.

The presented results concern the diagnostic application of vector-parameter polarization mapping and polarization-interference phase scanning applied to layered azimuths and ellipticity polarization maps obtained with the help of digital holographic reproduction for phase-inhomogeneous tissue layers in the female reproductive system. The differential diagnosis of the pathological changes in optically anisotropic polycrystalline tissue components, specifically “benign (fibroids) and precancerous (endometriosis),” was investigated. All studies within the representative groups of the histological samples were conducted using circularly polarized laser radiation, ensuring azimuthal invariance and polarization measurement reliability. Integral and layered maps and polarization azimuths and ellipticity random variable distribution histograms were obtained from the microscopic images of histological sections from the female reproductive system tumors. Systematized tables present statistical moments which characterize azimuths and ellipticity polarization maps for fibroids and endometriosis tissues. It is shown that the statistical parameters (diagnostic markers) are the most sensitive to benign and precancerous changes in the female reproductive system tissues. The results of information analysis, including the accuracy determination of the diagnostic vector-parameter polarization and polarization-interference methods for detecting and differentiating the samples of fibroids and precancerous endometriosis tissues in the female reproductive system, are presented.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is renowned for its all-weather and all-time imaging capabilities, making it invaluable for ship target recognition. Despite the advancements in deep learning models, the efficiency of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in the frequency domain is often constrained by memory limitations and the stringent real-time requirements of embedded systems. To surmount these obstacles, we introduce the Split_ Composite method, an innovative convolution acceleration technique grounded in Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This method employs input block decomposition and a composite zero-padding approach to streamline memory bandwidth and computational complexity via optimized frequency-domain convolution and image reconstruction. By capitalizing on FFT’s inherent periodicity to augment frequency resolution, Split_ Composite facilitates weight sharing, curtailing both memory access and computational demands. Our experiments, conducted using the OpenSARShip-4 dataset, confirm that the Split_ Composite method upholds high recognition precision while markedly enhancing inference velocity, especially in the realm of large-scale data processing, thereby exhibiting exceptional scalability and efficiency. When juxtaposed with state-of-the-art convolution optimization technologies such as Winograd and TensorRT, Split_ Composite has demonstrated a significant lead in inference speed without compromising the precision of recognition.

New bifunctional cobalt catalysts for combined Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons containing Pt were developed. To prepare catalysts in the form of a composite mixture, the FT synthesis catalyst Co-Al2O3/SiO2 and ZSM-5 zeolite in the H-form were used as metal and acid components, respectively, with boehmite as a binder. The catalysts were characterized by various methods, such as XRD using synchrotron radiation, SEM, EDS, TEM and TPR. The effect of the Pt introduction method on the particle size and conditions for cobalt reduction was studied. The testing of catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis was carried out at a pressure of 2.0 MPa, a temperature of 240 and 250 °C, an H2/CO ratio of 2 and a synthesis gas volumetric velocity of 1000 h−1. It is shown that the method of introducing a hydrogenating metal by adjusting the nano-sized spatial structure of the catalyst determined the activity in the synthesis and group and fractional composition of the resulting products. It is established that the presence of Pt intensified the processes of synthesis and hydrogenation, including isomeric products, and reduced the content of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The application of Pt by impregnation onto the surface of the metal component of the catalysts provided the highest productivity for C5+ hydrocarbons, and for the acidic component, it enabled maximum cracking and isomerizing abilities.

As the variety of space targets expands, two-dimensional (2D) ISAR images prove insufficient for target recognition, necessitating the extraction of three-dimensional (3D) information. The 3D geometry reconstruction method utilizing energy accumulation of ISAR image sequence (ISEA) facilitates superior reconstruction while circumventing the laborious steps associated with factorization methods. Nevertheless, ISEA’s neglect of valid information necessitates a high quantity of images and elongated operation times. This paper introduces a partitioned parallel 3D reconstruction method utilizing sorted-energy semi-accumulation with ISAR image sequences (PP-ISEA) to address these limitations. The PP-ISEA innovatively incorporates a two-step search pattern—coarse and fine—that enhances search efficiency and conserves computational resources. It introduces a novel objective function ‘sorted-energy semi-accumulation’ to discern genuine scatterers from spurious ones and establishes a redundant point exclusion module. Experiments on the scatterer model and simulated electromagnetic model demonstrate that the PP-ISEA reduces the minimum image requirement from ten to four for high-quality scatterer model reconstruction, thereby offering superior reconstruction quality in less time.

Following the ban on the use of antibiotics in animal feed in January 2006 in the EU due to fears and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs), combined with increased consumer demand for safe food of animal origin, new strategies have been proposed to address diarrhea in piglets. occurs after weaning from sows. Accordingly, probiotics are used to create a healthy gut microbiota, improve health, well-being and productivity at all stages of pork production. Probiotics have been identified by FAO as living microorganisms that benefit animal health when taken in the right amounts. Recently, however, due to increased interest and increased research on probiotics, the definition has been expanded to include microorganisms and their fermentation products. Probiotics are defined as mixtures of known viable microbes in equivalent amounts that modify the host's microflora to benefit its health. Particularly reliable are the strains of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus coagulans, which are able to withstand extreme environments, such as high levels of acid in the stomach, and this makes them particularly effective in eliminating gastric distress and other diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of probiotic strains of microorganisms on the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of piglets. Addition to the diet of piglets Bacillus megaterium has a positive effect on the reproduction and accumulation of lactobacilli, helps to suppress opportunistic pathogens from the family Enterobacteriaceae (Proteus, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella). Probiotic strains of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus megaterium, reduce the number of opportunistic pathogens from the family Escherichia coli, which has hemolytic activity, compared with the control group where Escherichia coli with hemolytic activity was isolated. The number of opportunistic pathogens from the family Enterobacteriaceae (Proteus, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella) in the feces of piglets of the experimental group fed Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus megaterium was 101, which is lower than in the control group – 1×102.

Objective ‒ to highlight the high probability and features of neurological complications in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and methods. A retrospective cohort study was done of 57 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who were treated at the COVID-location of the Department of Vascular and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery and Neurology of the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Lviv in the period from June 29 to September 28, 2020 (91 day). Results. Out of the 57 patients 14 (24.6 %) were selected by prospective analysis that had a clear association between COVID-19 pneumonia and neurological complications. Neurological complications of COVID-19 were manifested as ischemic stroke in 57.1 % of patients, encephalopathy with convulsions and without seizures ‒ in 35.7 %, polyneuropathy with tetraparesis, secondary purulent-inflammatory lesions of the spine ‒ in 7.2 %. Neurological complications occurred on average (20. 4 ± 6.1) days after the onset of the disease. Conclusions. Lesions of the spine and structures in the spinal canal after coronavirus infection had a significant spread along the axis of the spine and severe course. The largest (57.1 %) was the proportion of ischemic stroke in the structure of neurological complications of COVID-19, which indicated the severity of the coronavirus infection and its aggressive effect on the nervous system. The effectiveness of treatment of COVID-19 neurological complications depends on the urgency of hospitalization of patients, as evidenced by the correlation between favorable treatment outcomes and the time from disease onst to admission to either therapeutic (r = + 0.37) or neurological department (r = +0.32).

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is renowned for its all-weather and all-time imaging capabilities, making it invaluable for ship target recognition. Despite the advancements in deep learning models, the efficiency of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in the frequency domain is often constrained by memory limitations and the stringent real-time requirements of embedded systems. To surmount these obstacles, we introduce the Split_ Composite method, an innovative convolution acceleration technique grounded in Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This method employs input block decomposition and a composite zero-padding approach to streamline memory bandwidth and computational complexity via optimized frequency-domain convolution and image reconstruction. By capitalizing on FFT's inherent periodicity to augment frequency resolution, Split_ Composite facilitates weight sharing, curtailing both memory access and computational demands. Our experiments, conducted using the OpenSARShip-4 dataset, confirm that the Split_ Composite method upholds high recognition precision while markedly enhancing inference velocity, especially in the realm of large-scale data processing, thereby exhibiting exceptional scalability and efficiency. When juxtaposed with state-of-the-art convolution optimization technologies such as Winograd and TensorRT, Split_ Composite has demonstrated a significant lead in inference speed without compromising the precision of recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New bifunctional cobalt catalysts for combined Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons containing Pt were developed. To prepare catalysts in the form of a composite mixture, the FT synthesis catalyst Co-Al2O3/SiO2 and ZSM-5 zeolite in the H-form were used as metal and acid components, respectively, with boehmite as a binder. The catalysts were characterized by various methods, such as XRD using synchrotron radiation, SEM, EDS, TEM and TPR. The effect of the Pt introduction method on the particle size and conditions for cobalt reduction was studied. The testing of catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis was carried out at a pressure of 2.0 MPa, a temperature of 240 and 250 °C, an H2/CO ratio of 2 and a synthesis gas volumetric velocity of 1000 h−1. It is shown that the method of introducing a hydrogenating metal by adjusting the nano-sized spatial structure of the catalyst determined the activity in the synthesis and group and fractional composition of the resulting products. It is established that the presence of Pt intensified the processes of synthesis and hydrogenation, including isomeric products, and reduced the content of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The application of Pt by impregnation onto the surface of the metal component of the catalysts provided the highest productivity for C5+ hydrocarbons, and for the acidic component, it enabled maximum cracking and isomerizing abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the variety of space targets expands, two-dimensional (2D) ISAR images prove insufficient for target recognition, necessitating the extraction of three-dimensional (3D) information. The 3D geometry reconstruction method utilizing energy accumulation of ISAR image sequence (ISEA) facilitates superior reconstruction while circumventing the laborious steps associated with factorization methods. Nevertheless, ISEA's neglect of valid information necessitates a high quantity of images and elongated operation times. This paper introduces a partitioned parallel 3D reconstruction method utilizing sorted-energy semi-accumulation with ISAR image sequences (PP-ISEA) to address these limitations. The PP-ISEA innovatively incorporates a two-step search pattern—coarse and fine—that enhances search efficiency and conserves computational resources. It introduces a novel objective function 'sorted-energy semi-accumulation' to discern genuine scatterers from spurious ones and establishes a redundant point exclusion module. Experiments on the scatterer model and simulated electromagnetic model demonstrate that the PP-ISEA reduces the minimum image requirement from ten to four for high-quality scatterer model reconstruction, thereby offering superior reconstruction quality in less time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endocytic adaptor protein 2 (AP-2) complex binds dynactin as part of its noncanonical function, which is necessary for dynein-driven autophagosome transport along microtubules in neuronal axons. The absence of this AP-2-dependent transport causes neuronal morphology simplification and neurodegeneration. The mechanisms that lead to formation of the AP-2-dynactin complex have not been studied to date. However, the inhibition of mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) enhances the transport of newly formed autophagosomes by influencing the biogenesis and protein interactions of Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP), another dynein cargo adaptor. We tested effects of mTORC1 inhibition on interactions between the AP-2 and dynactin complexes, with a focus on their two essential subunits, AP-2β and p150Glued. We found that the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin enhanced p150Glued–AP-2β complex formation in both neurons and non-neuronal cells. Additional analysis revealed that the p150Glued–AP-2β interaction was indirect and required integrity of the dynactin complex. In non-neuronal cells rapamycin-driven enhancement of the p150Glued–AP-2β interaction also required the presence of cytoplasmic linker protein 170 (CLIP-170), the activation of autophagy, and an undisturbed endolysosomal system. The rapamycin-dependent p150Glued–AP-2β interaction occurred on lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (Lamp-1)-positive organelles but without the need for autolysosome formation. Rapamycin treatment also increased the acidification and number of acidic organelles and increased speed of the long-distance retrograde movement of Lamp-1-positive organelles. Altogether, our results indicate that autophagy regulates the p150Glued–AP-2β interaction, possibly to coordinate sufficient motor-adaptor complex availability for effective lysosome transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate implementation of nutrition/physical activity-related policies/practices at colleges participating in a healthy campus initiative and campus health leaders' perceptions of policies/practices' support for student health and ease of/barriers to implementation. Participants: Health leaders at colleges participating in the Healthier Campus Initiative (HCI), with completed or ongoing three-year HCI commitments. Methods: Surveys asked which of 41 guidelines were implemented and perceptions around support for student health and ease of/barriers to implementation. Qualitative interviews explored similar domains. Results: Campuses with completed HCI commitments (n = 17) averaged 27.6 guidelines implemented, versus 21.1 on campuses with commitments ongoing (n = 13; p = 0.003). Perceived support for student health and implementation ease varied by guideline. Common implementation barriers included financial costs and time. Interviews largely reinforced these findings. Conclusions: Completion of a campus environmental change initiative may be associated with more health-supporting practices. Campuses may benefit from implementing coordinated policy/practice changes supporting healthy eating and physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]