Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Machine learning vehicle fuel efficiency prediction
Mechanism of secondary renal injury in traumatic hemorrhagic shock model under a dry and heat desert environment
Sound quality impacts dogs’ ability to recognize and respond to playback words
Abstract Humans show a remarkable ability to recognize degraded speech, but they struggle as degradation becomes more severe. Research on dogs, a species naturally exposed to human language, has suggested that also in this species, the level of degradation may negatively correlate with familiar speech recognition. The quality of sound playback equipment is crucial in canine research to ensure accurate reproduction, directly impacting dogs’ receptivity. In citizen science, availability, operability, and affordability are also key. However, the varying level of sound degradation of commercially available devices may impact dogs’ recognition of the played-back sounds. This study evaluates how different audio devices affect the response to human speech in dogs. Study 1 tested dogs’ responses to trained verbal action cues delivered via Augmentative Interspecies Communication (AIC) buttons, loudspeakers, and direct human speech. Study 2 tested Gifted Word Learner (GWL) dogs’ accuracy in retrieving named toys using the same devices. Study 3 investigated whether GWL dogs could learn new toy names through recorded voice played via loudspeakers and generalize these to direct human speech. Results consistently showed that dogs’ responses to verbal cues were significantly affected by the device type, with the best performance observed for direct human speech and the lowest performance for AIC buttons. Our findings show that the level of sound degradation significantly affects dogs’ recognition of recorded speech and suggest that current commercially available AIC devices are not recommended for testing effective recognition of the recorded words.
Author Correction: Digital twin-driven strategic demolition plan for circular asset management of bridge infrastructures
CoolWalks for active mobility in urban street networks
Elevated Fab glycosylation of autoantibodies maintained during B cell depletion therapy
The association between upper tarsal conjunctiva appearance and corneal biomechanical weakening in refractive surgery candidates
Abstract Current evidence suggests allergic conjunctivitis and contact lens use may affect corneal biomechanics, but the relationship between conjunctival changes and biomechanical abnormalities remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether upper tarsal conjunctival roughness and redness are associated with corneal biomechanical weakening in refractive surgery candidates without ectatic corneal disease. Conducted at Chiang Mai University LASIK Center between July 2023 and January 2024, conjunctival roughness and redness were graded using the Institute for Eye Research (IER) scales, while corneal biomechanics were assessed through Corvis parameters. The study included 434 eyes from 217 participants (70.5% female), with a mean age of 33.4 years (SD 8.3). Ocular allergy was reported by 23.0% (50/217) of participants, and 54.4% (236/434) had a history of contact lens use. The median conjunctival roughness score was 2 (IQR 0, 5). Conjunctival roughness score was positively correlated with biomechanical indices, particularly the deformation amplitude (DA) ratio (coefficient 0.009, 95% confidence interval 0.001 to 0.017, p = .04), suggesting weakened biomechanical property. No significant association was found between conjunctival redness and corneal biomechanics. In conclusion, upper tarsal roughness may associate with biomechanical weakening of the cornea, though these changes were insufficient to significantly affect the Corvis Biomechanical Index (CBI).
Theoretical insights in catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) using Pd/Fe nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon
Improved MRAS observer with rotor flux correction terms and FLC-based adaptive law for sensorless induction motor drives
Impact of fine-tuning parameters of convolutional neural network for skin cancer detection
Spectrophotometric and smartphone-based colorimetric methods utilizing polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped silver nanoparticles for determining doxorubicin in human plasma samples
Study on the mutual interference and propagation characteristics of three-dimensional vibration during shield tunnel construction in hard rock strata
Investigating the association between polyunsaturated fatty acids and osteomyelitis by Mendelian randomization
The association between vitamin D and restless legs syndrome following acute ischemic stroke
Characteristics of bacteria based self healing rubberized concrete for sustainable and durable construction
Abstract Developing longer-lifespan concrete with minimized surface cracking is crucial for sustainable construction. This study investigates self-healing rubberized concrete incorporating 15% recycled rubber waste as a sand replacement. To enhance strength and flexibility through crack closure, bacteria Sporosarcina Pasteurii and Rhizobium Leguminosarum were introduced at 20% of the water volume. Slump, compressive and flexural strength, SEM, and EDX were the tests performed to identify the effects of bacteria and rubber on the concrete characteristics. The results illustrated that the use of rubber as a partial replacement for sand significantly reduced concrete workability and mechanical performance, with slump, compressive strength, and flexural strength decreasing by up to 77%, 49%, and 47%, respectively. However, incorporating SpP and RL bacteria, particularly at concentrations of 1010 + 1010 and 1014 + 1010, effectively mitigated these negative effects. The improvement in compressive strength and flexural strength was up to 98.7% and 137.4%, respectively for mixture containing SpP and RL bacteria at concentration 1010 +1010 compared to mixture containing 15% rubber only. Complete crack self-healing was achieved in SHRC mixtures after 80 days. Microstructure analysis revealed that the formation of calcium carbonate in large quantities within the concrete matrix, which works to heal cracks and fill voids. Thus, using rubber with bacteria to heal cracks could be a cost-effective solution that helps to increase tire rubber recycling rates.