Effective voice education promotes healthy voice use, particularly for kindergarten teachers in demanding environments. This study assessed the effectiveness of a brief, workplace-based voice education program for the preschool teachers. Teachers were quasi-randomly assigned based on work schedules to either the Direct Voice Training Group (N = 31), which received a four-hour face-to-face training session and an educational booklet, or the Educational Booklet Only Group (N = 45). Outcomes were measured using the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) and blinded perceptual voice quality assessments via the GRBAS scale at baseline and three months post-intervention. Nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests assessed statistical significance, with effect sizes (r) calculated. Both groups improved significantly, but the Direct Voice Training Group showed broader improvements, with small to medium effect sizes (r = 0.25-0.38), whereas the Booklet Only Group had limited improvements (r < 0.3). Blinded evaluations confirmed greater benefits for the direct training group. These findings highlight the value of brief, targeted interventions for occupational vocal health, though small to medium effect sizes suggest that more intensive interventions may be required for clinically significant outcomes.

Decoding how specific neuronal subtypes contribute to brain function requires linking extracellular electrophysiological features to underlying molecular identities, yet reliable in vivo electrophysiological signal classification remains a major challenge for neuroscience and clinical brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Here, we show that pretrained, general-purpose vision-language models (VLMs) can be repurposed as few-shot learners to classify neuronal cell types directly from electrophysiological features, without task-specific fine-tuning. Validated against optogenetically tagged datasets, this approach enables robust and generalizable subtype inference with minimal supervision. Building on this capability, we developed the BCI AI Agent (BCI-Agent), an autonomous AI framework that integrates vision-based cell-type inference, stable neuron tracking, and automated molecular atlas validation with real-time literature synthesis. BCI-Agent addresses three critical challenges for in vivo electrophysiology: (1) accurate, training-free cell-type classification; (2) automated cross-validation of predictions using molecular atlas references and peer-reviewed literature; and (3) embedding molecular identities within stable, low-dimensional neural manifolds for dynamic decoding. In rodent motor-learning tasks, BCI-Agent revealed stable, cell-type-specific neural trajectories across time that uncover previously inaccessible dimensions of neural computation. Additionally, when applied to human Neuropixels recordings–where direct ground-truth labeling is inherently unavailable–BCI-Agent inferred neuronal subtypes and validated them through integration with human single-cell atlases and literature. By enabling scalable, cell-type-specific inference of in vivo electrophysiology, BCI-Agent provides a new approach for dissecting the contributions of distinct neuronal populations to brain function and dysfunction.

This paper analyses the key aspects of the operation of geroler hydraulic motors, widely used rotary hydraulic motors. The focus is on understanding their performance, efficiency and durability in different working conditions. The work includes a theoretical analysis of the principles of work, supported by modelling. Furthermore, experimental tests conducted to characterize the motors in terms of torque, speed, flow and efficiency are considered. Special attention is paid to the analysis of factors that influence the wear of internal components. The results of the analysis provide deeper insight into the behaviour of geroler hydraulic motors, identify areas for potential improvements in design and application and for optimizing their operation and extending their service life in various industrial and mobile applications. In conclusion, the work contributes to a better understanding of hydraulic motors, which is crucial for engineers and technicians involved in the design, application and maintenance of hydraulic systems.

Based on an early 2020s survey of 3,500 police officers from nine countries, this paper explores perceived community and police adherence to the COVID-19 regulations. We propose that both public and police perceived adherence with the COVID-19 rules are related not only to individual-level factors (e.g., gender, concern for own health) but also to country-level factors (e.g., quality of governance, protection of citizens' rights). Our findings reveal that individual-level factors, such as the concerns for personal and family health, were strong and consistent predictors of perceived community and police adherence. While misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with the perceived community adherence, it was not related to the perceived police adherence. Moreover, country-level factors, such as the stringency of COVID-19 rules and regulations and the protection of citizens' rights, were also significantly related to both perceived community and police adherence.

Background Approximately 5–10% of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have known active cancer. These patients are at high risk for both recurrent AIS and major bleeding. The optimal antithrombotic strategy for cancer-related stroke is uncertain. This study compared clinical outcomes among patients with cancer-related stroke treated with anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention. Methods We identified consecutive patients with AIS and active cancer hospitalized at our comprehensive stroke center from 2015 through 2020. Patients with cardioembolic mechanisms were excluded. We used Cox regression and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses to evaluate the associations between type of antithrombotic therapy at discharge (anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy) and the main outcomes of 1-year mortality and long-term recurrent AIS. Results Among 5,012 AIS patients, 306 had active cancer. After applying study eligibility criteria, we analyzed 135 patients (median age 72 years; 44% women), of whom 58 (43%) were treated with anticoagulant and 77 (57%) with antiplatelet therapy. The median follow-up time was 495 days (IQR, 57–1,029). Patients treated with anticoagulants, compared to patients treated with antiplatelet therapy, were younger (median 69 versus 75 years), had more metastatic disease (72% versus 41%), and higher median baseline D-dimer levels (median 8,536 μg/L versus 1,010 μg/L). Anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy was associated with similar risks of 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36–1.63) and long-term recurrent AIS (aHR 0.49; 95% CI 0.08–2.83). The IPTW analyses for 1-year mortality confirmed the results of the main analyses (HR 0.82; 95%CI: 0.39–1.72, p = 0.61). Conclusion Factors associated with anticoagulant use in patients with cancer-related stroke include younger age, more advanced cancer, and elevated D-dimer. Similar outcomes were seen with anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy in these patients highlighting the need for future randomized trials to determine the preferred antithrombotic strategy.

Introduction: Periarthritis humeroscapularis (PHS) is an inflammatory reaction of the muscle tendons of the shoulder joint and other adjacent tissues of the shoulder joint. The main clinical signs are pain and limitation of mobility, which endangers the daily life activities. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation in reducing the pain and the effectiveness of rehabilitation in improving the daily life activities of respondents with PHS. Methods: This prospective, pre-post study, conducted from May to September 2023, included subjects of both sexes, different age groups, and different occupations, who were part of the rehabilitation program. The data were collected by filling out a questionnaires of the general data of the respondents and a the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon Score (ASES) questionnaire on activities of daily life and intensity of pain in the shoulder before and after the rehabilitation program. The rehabilitation program lasted an average of 14 days and included the following physical procedures: Electrotherapy, ultrasound, kinesitherapy, cryotherapy, short-wave diathermy, and manual massage. Results: Comparison of the average pain score on an ASES pain scale of 1-10 shows that the respondents rated pain with an average score of 7.32 before the treatment and with an average score of 2.14 after the treatment. The average scores on the activities of daily living subscale of the ASES questionnaire were worse before the treatment and amounted to 20.72 ± 10.46 (range 3.33-40.0) compared to the scores after the treatment when they averaged 40.95 ± 7.46 (range 21.67-50). The average total score on the ASES scale before the treatment was 34.10 ± 13.93 (range 8.33-58.33), and after the treatment, it was 80.27 ± 14.7 (range 48.33-100.0). Conclusion: The rehabilitation showed statistically significant improvement in the average score on the ASES subscales of pain and daily life activities.

The original serial implementation of the segmentation algorithm exhibits suboptimal performance, motivating a systematic optimization effort without compromising accuracy.

The third-order difference equation yn+1=a1yn21+yn2+a2yn−121+yn−12+a3yn−221+yn−22, as a potential discrete time model of population dynamics with three generation involved, is studied. The parts of the basins of attraction of three equilibrium points that this equation admits are described. Some results about period-two and period-three solutions have been established.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. Prior to mass spectrometric analysis of environmental samples, it is necessary to separate PFAS from compounds that can cause ion suppression and compromise analyte identification and quantification accuracy. Although liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the gold standard for PFAS trace analysis, some PFAS species still coelute in the LC dimension and could benefit from an orthogonal dimension of separation. Moreover, an additional orthogonal dimension of separation could potentially aid in the identification of unknown fluorinated species (e.g., those identified within a specified mass-defect range). Here, we investigate the sequential use of LC and differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) separation to analyze 34 PFAS species. Upon incorporating DMS in a two-dimensional (2D) separation scheme, we observed baseline resolution of 29 compounds in the 2D LC × DMS space, with partial resolution of the remaining five. In comparison, only five PFAS compounds were baseline-resolved in 1D LC experiments. Because DMS measurements can be acquired in milliseconds, targeted 2D LC × DMS-MS2 analyses operate on the same time scale as LC-MS2 analysis. However, the limits of quantitation for PFAS using the 2D LC × DMS-MS2 method are slightly higher than those achieved by the state-of-the-art LC-MS2 method owing to ion fragmentation within the energetic DMS environment. Nevertheless, distinct trends observed in the 2D separation space for the various PFAS subclasses will facilitate analyte identification of unknown species in future nontargeted analyses. Finally, we assessed the feasibility of our method for quantifying PFAS in a series of wastewater samples obtained from a Southern Ontario wastewater treatment plant. We were successful in quantifying PFOS, although the concentrations determined were consistently higher than those measured with LC-MS2.

Structural analysis of two designs of total hip endoprosthesis was conducted with an emphasis on verifying stress conditions and displacement fields on the components and femur under loads typical for human gait. CAD (Computer Aided Design) models of a conventional endoprosthesis (Endoprosthesis 1) and a more modern solution (Endoprosthesis 2) were created using the CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) CAD/CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) system, based on which corresponding FEM (Finite Element Method) models were formed. By comparing the obtained results, it was found that a more uniform stress-strain pattern occurs on most components of Endoprosthesis 2 compared to Endoprosthesis 1. Additionally, the analysis of von Mises stresses and displacements at characteristic points of the femur showed a balanced distribution of stress and displacement. However, higher contact stresses between the stem and femur occur with Endoprosthesis 2, reducing the possibility of stress shielding due to the specifics of its design.

This paper investigates the possibilities of measuring vehicle deceleration using modern devices based on GPS (Global Positioning System) and MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technologies, with the aim of replacing traditional inertial devices. The experiments were carried out on a passenger vehicle and a construction machine, using three different measuring devices: an inertial decelerometer, a GPS device (Racelogic DriftBox) and a MEMS accelerometer. The measurement results show good mutual agreement between recorded results from devices used for this paper, with an emphasis on the precision and ease of use of modern devices. The conclusion emphasizes the justification of using GPS and MEMS devices in testing the dynamic characteristics of vehicles due to their high frequency of data acquisition, simple processing, absence of the need for calibration, and greater practicality. This research suggests that such devices will be increasingly used in the future to analyse vehicle dynamics.

Research on dyslexia in children has largely focused on languages with deep orthography, limiting its applicability to transparent orthographies like Bosnian. This study examined handwriting characteristics in children with dyslexia, comparing them to a control group of typically developing children (CA) and a spelling level-matched group (SL). A range of tasks was used, varying from basic motor and graphomotor skills (e.g., writing names) to higher-level cognitive tasks (e.g., writing the alphabet). Dictation of isolated words was included to analyse the relationship between temporal handwriting features and spelling accuracy. Writing durations for real words, nonwords, and pseudowords were compared to identify cognitive strategies used by children with dyslexia. Results showed that children with dyslexia had significantly longer writing durations, slower pen speeds, more frequent and longer pauses, and fewer correctly written letters than both CA and SL groups. In the dictation task, they performed worse than the CA group across all word types. During text writing, they paused more often, especially between words. These findings offer important insights into the handwriting challenges faced by children with dyslexia in transparent orthographic systems and highlight the need for tailored support.

The communal culture of traditional societies fundamentally contrasts with the individualistic framework of intellectual property rights (IPR). Indigenous communities prioritize collective interests without negating individual rights. This study aims to examine and analyze the optimization of traditional knowledge protection as an effort to improve the welfare of communal societies. The research employs a normative juridical method by reviewing statutory regulations and related legal instruments. The findings reveal that communal intellectual property is recognized under both international and national legal frameworks. National regulations require each region to conduct an inventory of community intellectual property; however, public awareness of its importance remains limited. Therefore, renewed strategies are needed to ensure that communities fully understand the economic, social, and cultural value of their traditional knowledge. Local governments play a crucial role in disseminating information and implementing inventory programs through regional regulations. Furthermore, the development of traditional knowledge–based products can be advanced to the industrialization stage through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), thereby supporting the welfare of indigenous peoples. The ideal model of local government intellectual property protection is to guarantee community ownership rights while ensuring a fair profit-sharing mechanism with third parties.

The presence of heavy metals in plants, including tea plants, is influenced by factors such as the plant's origin, geographic location, soil geochemistry, and environmental contaminants in soil, water, and air. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals pose serious health risks to humans, including the potential for various cancers and damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. In this study, seven tea samples were collected from the Iraqi market to examine their safety for consumption, indicated as T1-T7. The selection of the samples is based on a questionnaire answered by 140 individuals; T1-T6 samples are black tea, and T7 is green tea. Although the primary objective of this research is to determine the heavy metal content and toxicity of all the tea samples, the secondary one is to assess whether the drying process affects the levels of heavy metals by comparing green and black tea. The analysis is conducted on the samples via the Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The EDX results showed the presence of S, K, Al, and P in the T1 sample, while K, Al, and Mg were identified in the T2 sample, S, K, Al, and P in T3, only K in T4, K and Fe in T5, K, P, and S in T6, and Only K in T7. The results obtained from the AAS showed that all samples have normal concentrations of Fe and Zn but not for Ni (in samples T1, T2, and T3) and manganese (in samples T1, T2, T4, T5, T6, and T7). Those detected concentrations are higher than the permissible levels, and their levels are within the toxic limits according to the standard limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, the other heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Co) were either not detected or were below the detection limits of AAS, indicating that these samples are free from the mentioned toxic heavy metals.