Free will is difficult to classify with respect to determinism or indeterminism, and its phenomenology in consciousness often shows both aspects. Initially, it is felt as unlimited and indeterminate will power, with t...Free will is difficult to classify with respect to determinism or indeterminism, and its phenomenology in consciousness often shows both aspects. Initially, it is felt as unlimited and indeterminate will power, with the potentiality of multiple choices. Thereafter, reductive deliberation is led by determinism to the final decision, which realises only one of the potential choices. The reductive deliberation phase tries to find out the best alternative and simultaneously satisfying vague motivations, contextual conditions and personal preferences. The essential sense of free will is the introduction of personal preferences, which allows a higher diversity of reactions to vague motivations. With an oversimplified model of determinism as a chain of events, incompatibilists define ＂free＂ as ＂undetermined＂ so that determinism becomes incompatible with any free choice between alternatives. In consciousness, free will requires a more complex model of network determinism as well as the consideration of unconsciousness as a causal factor. When ＂free＂ defined as ＂undetermined＂ is applied to the context of consciousness, it should be reinterpreted as ＂unconscious of being determined＂ or not aware of underlying determinism. Lacking information on determinism generates a feeling of ＂free＂ in consciousness and, therefore, gives the impression of indeterminism. Lacking information may be induced by an uncertain future without determined events--an unconscious past with biological reactions suddenly emerging from the unconsciousness or an unknown present unable to distinguish determinism of complex events. Therefore, at the level of human consciousness, the experience of free will is associated with apparent indeterminism although it is based on unconscious determinism. The concepts of compatibilism and incompatibilism are only two different aspects of the same phenomenon and correspond to consciousness and unconsciousness. Nevertheless, they can be considered together with a free will concept based on relativity depending on two different reference frames--the first person＇s experience frame or the Laplace＇s demon frame with knowledge on every molecule of the universe. Only relativity of the free will concept avoids the contradiction between ＂free＂ and ＂unfree＂ for the same phenomenon and could be a compromise for considering compatibilism and incompatibilism equally.展开更多
Current sciences fail in understanding the future trends of human beings＇ behaviors and cultures. From the hunting tribes to the agricultural society, the civilized country, and then to the industrial society, none o...Current sciences fail in understanding the future trends of human beings＇ behaviors and cultures. From the hunting tribes to the agricultural society, the civilized country, and then to the industrial society, none of these developments is the results of human beings＇ reasonable proposal. The human beings are ＂developed＂, i.e. pushed forward by certain invisible forces. As being cultural, they are dominated by their cultural concepts. To explore the source of every civilization＇s concepts, the formation history of its mythological concepts during the pre-historic period or at the beginning of its civilization shall be studied first. By interpreting the first literature works at the beginning of western civilization, the temporary mythologists reveal the rule that mythological concepts dominate the ritual behaviors and narrative expressions. This paper interprets the historical narratives in Records of the Grand Historian.＂ Annals of the First Emperor of Qin, to reproduce the concepts that dominate China＇s national rulers, present the theory of Mythological Concepts＇ Determinism, and correspond to the counter-force of ideology put forward by Friedrich Engels in his later years and the religious concepts＇ determinism by Max Weber, so as to illustrate the mythological concepts＇ function as the prototype code of ideology, and refer to a common and effective directory approach of social science studies.展开更多
Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the con...Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the controversial issue whether a human being possesses free will to make free choices or is determined. It is the stance of this study that if one does not have free will then one cannot be morally responsible for one＇s actions and consequently praise and blame would then have no value. The paper, therefore, is of the view that notwithstanding the many bonds within which they live, humans, with their special dignity, have free will that operate within the respective constraints set by the bonds of human life. Furthermore, since morality involves good and bad, the paper asserts that for an act to be designated as morally good or bad, it implies that the agent was free to perform the said act or do otherwise to merit praise or blame respectively. Thus, for human freedom to be significant, it must be responsible.展开更多
Urban development has acquired an important magnitude in touristic places in Greece. Many villages, especially in seaside areas have adapted to touristic requirements by the necessary infrastructures and activities. P...Urban development has acquired an important magnitude in touristic places in Greece. Many villages, especially in seaside areas have adapted to touristic requirements by the necessary infrastructures and activities. Pogonia, located in Vonitsa Etoloakarnanias, is a village which has welcomed the opportunity of touristic development. As a result, the house settlements increased 57.5% during the last 8 years. Urban growth modelling using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was applied in order to simulate the urban development in Pogonia village using two methods: determinism and stochasticity. The variables used for deterministic simulation were: distances to roads, urban areas and coastline, slope and elevation. It was found that urban development can be better described using the network of distances between all urban settlements (stochastic approach) rather than using determinism. This can be explained by the importance of the neighbourhood relationships and the interaction between urban settlements, occurred within the interconnected network of the self-organized urban system.展开更多
The existing interpretation of quantum mechanics is contrary to common sense. The existing quantum mechanical interpretation schemes are puzzling. The confusing theory is unconvincing, and needs to be amended and comp...The existing interpretation of quantum mechanics is contrary to common sense. The existing quantum mechanical interpretation schemes are puzzling. The confusing theory is unconvincing, and needs to be amended and completed. The successful interpretation program of quantum mechanics of local-realism and determinism is undoubtedly the most attractive. Preparing the interpretation program deserves to be chosen as a research goal. It is a very good premise to believe that an object particle consists of light-knot of monochromatic waves. According to this premise, the erroneous recognition about “superposition principle, wave-particle duality and uncertainty principle” can be corrected. Under this premise, above research goal is achieved by establishing, applying quantum mechanics inverse measurement theory, adhering to the principle that there must be a complete empirical chain in the derivation process of experimental conclusion, and using the side effect caused by accompanying-light to explain the diffraction experiment of object particles. Electron secondarily diffraction and other experiments directly prove that there is the measurement (observation) which may not destroy quantum coherence. The diffraction experiments of all kinds of particles show that the Keeping and playing of the coherence of moving particles in the vacuum have nothing to do with their previous experience. These are the existing experiments, to be found, that support the theory of quantum inverse measurements. The verification experiment of quantum inverse measurement is designed. The absolute superiorities of quantum inverse measurement and the new view of measurement of quantum mechanics are listed. These superiorities are that: it has the characteristics of local-realism and determinism;it is not contrary to common sense and there is no confusing place;it can predict several phenomena that cannot be predicted by other theories. A solid theoretical foundation has been laid for “correctly understanding the microscopic world” and establishment of local realism quantum mechanics.展开更多
Growth in arthropods in general and in insects in particular, is supposed to be discontinuous and occurs during moulting. In Culicidae in general and <i> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"&...Growth in arthropods in general and in insects in particular, is supposed to be discontinuous and occurs during moulting. In Culicidae in general and <i> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anopheles</span></i></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> in particular, the number of moults is five with the fourth which gives the pupae. It is known that moulting in insects is a genetic and physio</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">logical phenomenon. Most physiological reactions are triggered by chemical or physical stimuli. The pressure exerted by the growth of the larval body on the exocuticle is one of the triggers of moulting. The objective of this work was therefore to determine the exact timing of the first three moults that determine the growth of <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">An. gambiae</span></i></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> larvae from egg hatch to pupation to highlight the role of increased larval size in the stimulation of moulting. We therefore, undertook to rear larvae of this anopheline species</span><i> </i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in the laboratory under conditions close to their natural environment from hatching to pupation. The length and width of the head, thorax and abdomen were recorded daily. Data analysis showed that the size of the head and thorax remained constant for the first three days (D0 to D2) of development and ab</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">domen’s length for the first two days and then increased daily until day seven (D7) when it stopped. These observations led us to say that the M1 moult occurs at end of the third day of development and the M3 moult at end of the eighth day;the M2 moult could not be determined. All these observations led </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to the conclusion that the larval growth of <i> </i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">An. gambiae</span></i></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> has a continuous</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> regimen and the growth of the head and thorax of the larva plays a crucial role in the onset of moulting.</span>展开更多
Dreiser’s Sister Carrie and Lao She’s Camel Xiangzi are two classic novels.Both of them demonstrate the decisive influence of environmental factors on the characters’destiny.This paper tries to explore their tragic...Dreiser’s Sister Carrie and Lao She’s Camel Xiangzi are two classic novels.Both of them demonstrate the decisive influence of environmental factors on the characters’destiny.This paper tries to explore their tragic fates comparatively based on environmental determinism.Actually,the two protagonists of two novels were both dream chasers in social changes at first,and then they transformed into strugglers under the oppression of patriarchy and biological power,and eventually they became victims of the social values under the fateful role of the environment.Obviously,the fights between the two protagonists and the environment have certain enlightening effects on current human life and the process of urbanization.展开更多
The relationship between language and thought has long been a topic of great interest in the field of linguistics,especially in psycholinguistics.Herder,Humboldt,Trendelenburg Sapir,Whorf,Gui Shichun,Lian Shuneng,and ...The relationship between language and thought has long been a topic of great interest in the field of linguistics,especially in psycholinguistics.Herder,Humboldt,Trendelenburg Sapir,Whorf,Gui Shichun,Lian Shuneng,and Bao Human are some of the well-known scholars who have conducted research on the relationship between language and thought.With regard to the relationship between language and thought,there are three main viewpoints.The first group of scholars,represented by Sapir and Whorf,supports linguistic determinism.Some scholars believe that language and thought are mutually independent.However,others believe that language and thought are inseparable.Beginning from Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and their theory of linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity,this article agrees with the influence of language over thought but refutes the extreme viewpoint of linguistic determinism from several points,proving the independence and mutual influence of language and thought.This article finally concludes that the preferred relationship between language and thought should be that they are independent but interactive.展开更多
This essay intends to find out the key functions of environment in different periods of Buck's life by further analysis of the author and the novel itself.Besides,under the direction of environmental determinism,t...This essay intends to find out the key functions of environment in different periods of Buck's life by further analysis of the author and the novel itself.Besides,under the direction of environmental determinism,this essay analyzes the reasons that Buck changes into a wild wolf from a civilized dog.展开更多
Objective To explore the factors influencing public health behaviors in China in the context of COVID-19 pandemic,and to propose suggestions and countermeasures for enhancing public health behaviors.Methods A public h...Objective To explore the factors influencing public health behaviors in China in the context of COVID-19 pandemic,and to propose suggestions and countermeasures for enhancing public health behaviors.Methods A public health behavior system based on Bandura’s reciprocal determinism was constructed,and public health behavior was analyzed from the perspective of the interaction of health awareness,health behavior and environment.Results and Conclusion The public health behavior was analyzed through the public health behavior system based on Bandura’s reciprocal determinism,and the results and conclusions were draw.The public can be urged to develop better health beliefs and form better health behaviors by strengthening publicity and interventions,improving personal awareness,and increasing government investment.展开更多
The paper is the first part of the study of turbulence by using probability dentity functions in which the concept of the grossly determined selutions to the Lundgren’s model equation is introduced, and the equations...The paper is the first part of the study of turbulence by using probability dentity functions in which the concept of the grossly determined selutions to the Lundgren’s model equation is introduced, and the equations for the grossly determiners are derived.展开更多
The Internet of Things(IoT)has orchestrated various domains in numerous applications,contributing significantly to the growth of the smart world,even in regions with low literacy rates,boosting socio-economic developm...The Internet of Things(IoT)has orchestrated various domains in numerous applications,contributing significantly to the growth of the smart world,even in regions with low literacy rates,boosting socio-economic development.This study provides valuable insights into optimizing wireless communication,paving the way for a more connected and productive future in the mining industry.The IoT revolution is advancing across industries,but harsh geometric environments,including open-pit mines,pose unique challenges for reliable communication.The advent of IoT in the mining industry has significantly improved communication for critical operations through the use of Radio Frequency(RF)protocols such as Bluetooth,Wi-Fi,GSM/GPRS,Narrow Band(NB)-IoT,SigFox,ZigBee,and Long Range Wireless Area Network(LoRaWAN).This study addresses the optimization of network implementations by comparing two leading free-spreading IoT-based RF protocols such as ZigBee and LoRaWAN.Intensive field tests are conducted in various opencast mines to investigate coverage potential and signal attenuation.ZigBee is tested in the Tadicherla open-cast coal mine in India.Similarly,LoRaWAN field tests are conducted at one of the associated cement companies(ACC)in the limestone mine in Bargarh,India,covering both Indoor-toOutdoor(I2O)and Outdoor-to-Outdoor(O2O)environments.A robust framework of path-loss models,referred to as Free space,Egli,Okumura-Hata,Cost231-Hata and Ericsson models,combined with key performance metrics,is employed to evaluate the patterns of signal attenuation.Extensive field testing and careful data analysis revealed that the Egli model is the most consistent path-loss model for the ZigBee protocol in an I2O environment,with a coefficient of determination(R^(2))of 0.907,balanced error metrics such as Normalized Root Mean Square Error(NRMSE)of 0.030,Mean Square Error(MSE)of 4.950,Mean Absolute Percentage Error(MAPE)of 0.249 and Scatter Index(SI)of 2.723.In the O2O scenario,the Ericsson model showed superior performance,with the highest R^(2)value of 0.959,supported by strong correlation metrics:NRMSE of 0.026,MSE of 8.685,MAPE of 0.685,Mean Absolute Deviation(MAD)of 20.839 and SI of 2.194.For the LoRaWAN protocol,the Cost-231 model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.921 in the I2O scenario,complemented by the lowest metrics:NRMSE of 0.018,MSE of 1.324,MAPE of 0.217,MAD of 9.218 and SI of 1.238.In the O2O environment,the Okumura-Hata model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.978,indicating a strong fit with metrics NRMSE of 0.047,MSE of 27.807,MAPE of 27.494,MAD of 37.287 and SI of 3.927.This advancement in reliable communication networks promises to transform the opencast landscape into networked signal attenuation.These results support decision-making for mining needs and ensure reliable communications even in the face of formidable obstacles.展开更多
Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common, bothersome and relatively under diagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its determin...Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common, bothersome and relatively under diagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out in the Diabetology Units of the Buea and Limbe Regional Hospitals involving 332 male patients with diabetes and aged over 21 years. Data was analyzed using Stata and R version 3.5.3. Results: The mean age of the participants was 55years. Most participants (64.46%) were married. About half (50.60%) of the participants actively consumed alcohol, 11.45% were smokers and 57.83% were sedentary. 18 participants (5.42%) recorded high risk sexual behaviour. 54.32% of participants had a comorbidity and 43.90% were overweight. The prevalence of diabetic ED was 78.92%. Age, Fasting Blood Sugar and Glycated hemoglobin were found to be positive determinants of diabetic ED (odds ratio (OR) = 0.77, 95% CI −0.1 - 0.07). Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic ED in this hospital population study is high, and both physician and patient—initiated measures are needed to reduce this prevalence and improve awareness, recognition and care of this condition.展开更多
In today’s society,parallel manipulators(PMs)are widely used in industrial production,aerospace,and other fields,where their forward kinematic analyses often serve as the foundation for various tasks,such as design,c...In today’s society,parallel manipulators(PMs)are widely used in industrial production,aerospace,and other fields,where their forward kinematic analyses often serve as the foundation for various tasks,such as design,calibration,and control.In the past few decades,this issue has seemingly been repeatedly addressed using various numerical methods,intelligent algorithms,and algebraic tools.While it is undeniable that solving the equations is easier with current technology,the problem of“how to formulate solvable equations”is often overlooked.This analysis issue typically involves establishing non-linear,multi-parameter,high-dimensional,and strong-coupled mathematical equations,which,from a geometric perspective,is also considered a process of solving a spatial polyhedron.When considering the temporal dimension of motion between two isomorphic polytopes,based on calculus theory,it has been found that this non-linear problem can be transformed into the superposition of multiple iteratively linear equations.Consequently,we propose an original method for the forward kinematic analysis of PMs,namely the finite-step-integration(FSI)method.In this study,the mathematical principles and modeling methods of the FSI method are elucidated,and the modeling and programming processes of the FSI method are demonstrated using general 6-UPS and 3-UPS/S manipulators as examples.Through the analysis of its unique algebraic structure,the methods for singularity determination and motion tracking characteristic analysis are investigated.This method addresses the long-standing challenges in the forward kinematic modeling of PMs,which is applicable for design,calibration,and control,while also offering novel insights for modeling and solving certain non-linear engineering problems.展开更多
[Objectives]To investigate optimal storage methods and shelf life determination for several representative bagged traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)decoctions under centralized preparation conditions in intelligent TCM...[Objectives]To investigate optimal storage methods and shelf life determination for several representative bagged traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)decoctions under centralized preparation conditions in intelligent TCM pharmacies.[Methods]First,the nourishing formula was prepared and packaged in bags.Under the three storage conditions of 37℃before cold storage(including full high temperature),cold storage before 37℃(including full cold storage),and alternating 37℃and cold storage,the 30 d cycle was investigated to determine the total microbial colony count,so as to determine a reasonable storage method of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.Secondly,five representative prescriptions were prepared and packaged in bags,stored under 37℃,room temperature and cold conditions.The investigation period was 30 d.The pH,total bacterial count and soluble solid content were measured,and the changes of each index were analyzed to obtain the shelf life of the bagged Chinese medicine decoction.[Results]First,the nourishing formula was investigated for 30 d.The microbial results of refrigeration after 1-2 d of 37℃,complete refrigeration and 37℃cooling with an alternate interval of 2 d or less met the requirements,while the microbial results of refrigeration after 3 d or above of 37℃,refrigeration after 1-5 d and then 37℃,complete 37℃,37℃and cooling with an alternate interval of 3 d or above excessive microorganism.Second,under the condition of 37℃storage,the pH of the five prescriptions decreased significantly,the total microbial colonies exceeded the standard,and the solid content decreased significantly.However,under the condition of room temperature and cold storage,the pH,total microbial colonies,and solid content of the five prescriptions remained stable.[Conclusions]The first is to refrigerate the decoction after 1-2 d of 37℃,completely refrigerate it,and refrigerate the decoction with an alternate interval of 2 d or less at 37℃.The shelf life can last for 30 d.Several storage conditions are conducive to guiding the development of the storage mode of the decoction.Second,under the conditions of cold storage,all the indexes were stable,and the shelf life of the five representative formulas was 30 d.展开更多
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic had a profound societal impact in the United States which was associated with a decrease in overall life expectancy and an increase in substance abuse and fire...BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic had a profound societal impact in the United States which was associated with a decrease in overall life expectancy and an increase in substance abuse and firearm injury.Our under-standing of changes in mortality trends during the pandemic and its effect on organ availability for transplantation is limited.AIM To examine the trends of substance abuse and firearm injury fatalities during COVID-19 and a potential correlation with organ transplantation.METHODS Crude rates of population-based deaths among adults(18-75 years)from firearm injury and substance abuse from the period of 2014-2021 were obtained from centers of disease control wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research database.Crude rates of causes of donor(18-75 years)deaths from 2014-2021 were obtained from the united network for organ sharing database.RESULTS Average annual percentage change(AAPC)deaths among the United States population were 16.4%from substance abuse and 3.4%from firearm injury.AAPC in cause of death among organ donors was 10.9%from drug intoxication and 2.1%from firearm injury.There was a significant(P<0.001)and progressive increase in mortality from both causes during the pandemic(2020-2021)and significant correlation(P<0.001)between population and donor causes of death.COVID-19 exacerbated trends in substance abuse and firearm mortality with a consequent increase in organ donation from donors who died from these two causes.CONCLUSION Identifying the socioeconomic and regional disparities associated with increase in deaths from substance abuse and firearms can help guide post-pandemic healthcare policies and mitigate their impact on organ transplantation.展开更多
New opportunities and challenges for information representation and processing are brought about by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.This study offers a new decision-making method that decreases inform...New opportunities and challenges for information representation and processing are brought about by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.This study offers a new decision-making method that decreases information distortion and increases computational efficiency by fusing the nested probabilistic linguistic terms with the EDAS decision-making method approach.Firstly,we introduce the concept,property,and demonstration of the cosine similarity of nested probabilistic linguistic terms,which allows for a more precise measurement of the degree of departure between their content.Secondly,the attribute weights are generated using the normalised attribute information difference value approach,which is based on the premise that attributes with bigger differences in evaluation information are more significant.Furthermore,the proposed method is utilised to address a supplier selection issue related to the procurement of medical equipment.Ultimately,the method is proven to be feasible and superior by comparison assessments with other measuring methods and decision-making methods.展开更多
BACKGROUND Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)frequently experience exacerbations requiring multiple hospitalizations over prolonged disease courses,which predispose them to generalized anxiety d...BACKGROUND Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)frequently experience exacerbations requiring multiple hospitalizations over prolonged disease courses,which predispose them to generalized anxiety disorder(GAD).This comorbidity exacerbates breathing difficulties,activity limitations,and social isolation.While previous studies predominantly employed the GAD 7-item scale for screening,this approach is somewhat subjective.The current literature on predictive models for GAD risk in patients with COPD is limited.AIM To construct and validate a GAD risk prediction model to aid healthcare professionals in preventing the onset of GAD.METHODS This retrospective analysis encompassed patients with COPD treated at our institution from July 2021 to February 2024.The patients were categorized into a modeling(MO)group and a validation(VA)group in a 7:3 ratio on the basis of the occurrence of GAD.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to construct the risk prediction model,which was visualized using forest plots.The model’s performance was evaluated using Hosmer-Lemeshow(H-L)goodness-of-fit test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.RESULTS A total of 271 subjects were included,with 190 in the MO group and 81 in the VA group.GAD was identified in 67 patients with COPD,resulting in a prevalence rate of 24.72%(67/271),with 49 cases(18.08%)in the MO group and 18 cases(22.22%)in the VA group.Significant differences were observed between patients with and without GAD in terms of educational level,average household income,smoking history,smoking index,number of exacerbations in the past year,cardiovascular comorbidities,disease knowledge,and personality traits(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower education levels,household income<3000 China yuan,smoking history,smoking index≥400 cigarettes/year,≥two exacerbations in the past year,cardiovascular comorbidities,complete lack of disease information,and introverted personality were significant risk factors for GAD in the MO group(P<0.05).ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve for predicting GAD in the MO and VA groups was 0.978 and 0.960.The H-L test yieldedχ^(2) values of 6.511 and 5.179,with P=0.275 and 0.274.Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted and actual GAD occurrence risks.CONCLUSION The developed predictive model includes eight independent risk factors:Educational level,household income,smoking history,smoking index,number of exacerbations in the past year,presence of cardiovascular comorbidities,level of disease knowledge,and personality traits.This model effectively predicts the onset of GAD in patients with COPD,enabling early identification of high-risk individuals and providing a basis for early preventive interventions by nursing staff.展开更多
Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence diseases with environmental components, like vector-borne parasitic diseases. This study aims to examine how these factors influence vector-born...Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence diseases with environmental components, like vector-borne parasitic diseases. This study aims to examine how these factors influence vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) transmission in Chad and provide recommendations for policy improvements. Methods: The study adopts the WHO Conceptual Framework of SDOH to compare two regions in Southern Chad: Kouh-Est, which has an ongoing vector control program, and Grand-Sido, which lacks such a program. The study includes both nomadic and sedentary populations to provide a comprehensive understanding of the SDOH influencing VBPDs. Households were randomly selected. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, literacy, knowledge of VBPDs and protective measures, and access to education and health facilities were collected. Results: A total of 202 households from 17 villages, including 820 participants, were surveyed. Agriculture, livestock, and fishing were the main occupations, involving 84.1% of participants. Literacy was low, with 36.7% non-educated, 47.7% completing primary school, 14.5% secondary school, and only 0.3% reaching tertiary education. Most villages lacked schools beyond the primary level, and nomadic populations were significantly less educated than sedentary ones (p Conclusion: Educational deficiencies, lack of protective measures against vectors, inadequate healthcare resources, and lifestyle conditions aggravated by poor road infrastructure, limited transportation, and economic constraints contribute to worsened VBPDs outcomes in these rural populations. Addressing these systemic issues in the surveyed communities is essential for improving health equity and VBPDs outcomes in these regions specifically and in similar populations settings more broadly.展开更多
Multi-photon polymerization is a well-established,yet actively developing,additive manufacturing technique for 3D printing on the micro/nanoscale.Like all additive manufacturing techniques,determining the process para...Multi-photon polymerization is a well-established,yet actively developing,additive manufacturing technique for 3D printing on the micro/nanoscale.Like all additive manufacturing techniques,determining the process parameters necessary to achieve dimensional accuracy for a structure 3D printed using this method is not always straightforward and can require time-consuming experimentation.In this work,an active machine learning based framework is presented for determining optimal process parameters for the recently developed,high-speed,layer-by-layer continuous projection 3D printing process.The proposed active learning framework uses Bayesian optimization to inform optimal experimentation in order to adaptively collect the most informative data for effective training of a Gaussian-process-regression-based machine learning model.This model then serves as a surrogate for the manufacturing process:predicting optimal process parameters for achieving a target geometry,e.g,the 2D geometry of each printed layer.Three representative 2D shapes at three different scales are used as test cases.In each case,the active learning framework improves the geometric accuracy,with drastic reductions of the errors to within the measurement accuracy in just four iterations of the Bayesian optimization using only a few hundred of total training data.The case studies indicate that the active learning framework developed in this work can be broadly applied to other additive manufacturing processes to increase accuracy with significantly reduced experimental data collection effortforoptimization.展开更多
文摘Free will is difficult to classify with respect to determinism or indeterminism, and its phenomenology in consciousness often shows both aspects. Initially, it is felt as unlimited and indeterminate will power, with the potentiality of multiple choices. Thereafter, reductive deliberation is led by determinism to the final decision, which realises only one of the potential choices. The reductive deliberation phase tries to find out the best alternative and simultaneously satisfying vague motivations, contextual conditions and personal preferences. The essential sense of free will is the introduction of personal preferences, which allows a higher diversity of reactions to vague motivations. With an oversimplified model of determinism as a chain of events, incompatibilists define ＂free＂ as ＂undetermined＂ so that determinism becomes incompatible with any free choice between alternatives. In consciousness, free will requires a more complex model of network determinism as well as the consideration of unconsciousness as a causal factor. When ＂free＂ defined as ＂undetermined＂ is applied to the context of consciousness, it should be reinterpreted as ＂unconscious of being determined＂ or not aware of underlying determinism. Lacking information on determinism generates a feeling of ＂free＂ in consciousness and, therefore, gives the impression of indeterminism. Lacking information may be induced by an uncertain future without determined events--an unconscious past with biological reactions suddenly emerging from the unconsciousness or an unknown present unable to distinguish determinism of complex events. Therefore, at the level of human consciousness, the experience of free will is associated with apparent indeterminism although it is based on unconscious determinism. The concepts of compatibilism and incompatibilism are only two different aspects of the same phenomenon and correspond to consciousness and unconsciousness. Nevertheless, they can be considered together with a free will concept based on relativity depending on two different reference frames--the first person＇s experience frame or the Laplace＇s demon frame with knowledge on every molecule of the universe. Only relativity of the free will concept avoids the contradiction between ＂free＂ and ＂unfree＂ for the same phenomenon and could be a compromise for considering compatibilism and incompatibilism equally.
文摘Current sciences fail in understanding the future trends of human beings＇ behaviors and cultures. From the hunting tribes to the agricultural society, the civilized country, and then to the industrial society, none of these developments is the results of human beings＇ reasonable proposal. The human beings are ＂developed＂, i.e. pushed forward by certain invisible forces. As being cultural, they are dominated by their cultural concepts. To explore the source of every civilization＇s concepts, the formation history of its mythological concepts during the pre-historic period or at the beginning of its civilization shall be studied first. By interpreting the first literature works at the beginning of western civilization, the temporary mythologists reveal the rule that mythological concepts dominate the ritual behaviors and narrative expressions. This paper interprets the historical narratives in Records of the Grand Historian.＂ Annals of the First Emperor of Qin, to reproduce the concepts that dominate China＇s national rulers, present the theory of Mythological Concepts＇ Determinism, and correspond to the counter-force of ideology put forward by Friedrich Engels in his later years and the religious concepts＇ determinism by Max Weber, so as to illustrate the mythological concepts＇ function as the prototype code of ideology, and refer to a common and effective directory approach of social science studies.
文摘Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the controversial issue whether a human being possesses free will to make free choices or is determined. It is the stance of this study that if one does not have free will then one cannot be morally responsible for one＇s actions and consequently praise and blame would then have no value. The paper, therefore, is of the view that notwithstanding the many bonds within which they live, humans, with their special dignity, have free will that operate within the respective constraints set by the bonds of human life. Furthermore, since morality involves good and bad, the paper asserts that for an act to be designated as morally good or bad, it implies that the agent was free to perform the said act or do otherwise to merit praise or blame respectively. Thus, for human freedom to be significant, it must be responsible.
文摘Urban development has acquired an important magnitude in touristic places in Greece. Many villages, especially in seaside areas have adapted to touristic requirements by the necessary infrastructures and activities. Pogonia, located in Vonitsa Etoloakarnanias, is a village which has welcomed the opportunity of touristic development. As a result, the house settlements increased 57.5% during the last 8 years. Urban growth modelling using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was applied in order to simulate the urban development in Pogonia village using two methods: determinism and stochasticity. The variables used for deterministic simulation were: distances to roads, urban areas and coastline, slope and elevation. It was found that urban development can be better described using the network of distances between all urban settlements (stochastic approach) rather than using determinism. This can be explained by the importance of the neighbourhood relationships and the interaction between urban settlements, occurred within the interconnected network of the self-organized urban system.
文摘The existing interpretation of quantum mechanics is contrary to common sense. The existing quantum mechanical interpretation schemes are puzzling. The confusing theory is unconvincing, and needs to be amended and completed. The successful interpretation program of quantum mechanics of local-realism and determinism is undoubtedly the most attractive. Preparing the interpretation program deserves to be chosen as a research goal. It is a very good premise to believe that an object particle consists of light-knot of monochromatic waves. According to this premise, the erroneous recognition about “superposition principle, wave-particle duality and uncertainty principle” can be corrected. Under this premise, above research goal is achieved by establishing, applying quantum mechanics inverse measurement theory, adhering to the principle that there must be a complete empirical chain in the derivation process of experimental conclusion, and using the side effect caused by accompanying-light to explain the diffraction experiment of object particles. Electron secondarily diffraction and other experiments directly prove that there is the measurement (observation) which may not destroy quantum coherence. The diffraction experiments of all kinds of particles show that the Keeping and playing of the coherence of moving particles in the vacuum have nothing to do with their previous experience. These are the existing experiments, to be found, that support the theory of quantum inverse measurements. The verification experiment of quantum inverse measurement is designed. The absolute superiorities of quantum inverse measurement and the new view of measurement of quantum mechanics are listed. These superiorities are that: it has the characteristics of local-realism and determinism;it is not contrary to common sense and there is no confusing place;it can predict several phenomena that cannot be predicted by other theories. A solid theoretical foundation has been laid for “correctly understanding the microscopic world” and establishment of local realism quantum mechanics.
文摘Growth in arthropods in general and in insects in particular, is supposed to be discontinuous and occurs during moulting. In Culicidae in general and <i> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Anopheles</span></i></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> in particular, the number of moults is five with the fourth which gives the pupae. It is known that moulting in insects is a genetic and physio</span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">logical phenomenon. Most physiological reactions are triggered by chemical or physical stimuli. The pressure exerted by the growth of the larval body on the exocuticle is one of the triggers of moulting. The objective of this work was therefore to determine the exact timing of the first three moults that determine the growth of <i></i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">An. gambiae</span></i></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> larvae from egg hatch to pupation to highlight the role of increased larval size in the stimulation of moulting. We therefore, undertook to rear larvae of this anopheline species</span><i> </i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in the laboratory under conditions close to their natural environment from hatching to pupation. The length and width of the head, thorax and abdomen were recorded daily. Data analysis showed that the size of the head and thorax remained constant for the first three days (D0 to D2) of development and ab</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">domen’s length for the first two days and then increased daily until day seven (D7) when it stopped. These observations led us to say that the M1 moult occurs at end of the third day of development and the M3 moult at end of the eighth day;the M2 moult could not be determined. All these observations led </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to the conclusion that the larval growth of <i> </i></span><i><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">An. gambiae</span></i></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> has a continuous</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> regimen and the growth of the head and thorax of the larva plays a crucial role in the onset of moulting.</span>
基金This work is the one of the results of“Study on ethical Ethics of Mantel’s Fiction”(Project Number:2021GH016)supported by key humanities and social science research project among universities in Zhejiang Province.
文摘Dreiser’s Sister Carrie and Lao She’s Camel Xiangzi are two classic novels.Both of them demonstrate the decisive influence of environmental factors on the characters’destiny.This paper tries to explore their tragic fates comparatively based on environmental determinism.Actually,the two protagonists of two novels were both dream chasers in social changes at first,and then they transformed into strugglers under the oppression of patriarchy and biological power,and eventually they became victims of the social values under the fateful role of the environment.Obviously,the fights between the two protagonists and the environment have certain enlightening effects on current human life and the process of urbanization.
文摘The relationship between language and thought has long been a topic of great interest in the field of linguistics,especially in psycholinguistics.Herder,Humboldt,Trendelenburg Sapir,Whorf,Gui Shichun,Lian Shuneng,and Bao Human are some of the well-known scholars who have conducted research on the relationship between language and thought.With regard to the relationship between language and thought,there are three main viewpoints.The first group of scholars,represented by Sapir and Whorf,supports linguistic determinism.Some scholars believe that language and thought are mutually independent.However,others believe that language and thought are inseparable.Beginning from Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and their theory of linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity,this article agrees with the influence of language over thought but refutes the extreme viewpoint of linguistic determinism from several points,proving the independence and mutual influence of language and thought.This article finally concludes that the preferred relationship between language and thought should be that they are independent but interactive.
文摘This essay intends to find out the key functions of environment in different periods of Buck's life by further analysis of the author and the novel itself.Besides,under the direction of environmental determinism,this essay analyzes the reasons that Buck changes into a wild wolf from a civilized dog.
基金Shenyang Social Science Foundation Project 2020(No.SZ202001L).
文摘Objective To explore the factors influencing public health behaviors in China in the context of COVID-19 pandemic,and to propose suggestions and countermeasures for enhancing public health behaviors.Methods A public health behavior system based on Bandura’s reciprocal determinism was constructed,and public health behavior was analyzed from the perspective of the interaction of health awareness,health behavior and environment.Results and Conclusion The public health behavior was analyzed through the public health behavior system based on Bandura’s reciprocal determinism,and the results and conclusions were draw.The public can be urged to develop better health beliefs and form better health behaviors by strengthening publicity and interventions,improving personal awareness,and increasing government investment.
文摘The paper is the first part of the study of turbulence by using probability dentity functions in which the concept of the grossly determined selutions to the Lundgren’s model equation is introduced, and the equations for the grossly determiners are derived.
文摘The Internet of Things(IoT)has orchestrated various domains in numerous applications,contributing significantly to the growth of the smart world,even in regions with low literacy rates,boosting socio-economic development.This study provides valuable insights into optimizing wireless communication,paving the way for a more connected and productive future in the mining industry.The IoT revolution is advancing across industries,but harsh geometric environments,including open-pit mines,pose unique challenges for reliable communication.The advent of IoT in the mining industry has significantly improved communication for critical operations through the use of Radio Frequency(RF)protocols such as Bluetooth,Wi-Fi,GSM/GPRS,Narrow Band(NB)-IoT,SigFox,ZigBee,and Long Range Wireless Area Network(LoRaWAN).This study addresses the optimization of network implementations by comparing two leading free-spreading IoT-based RF protocols such as ZigBee and LoRaWAN.Intensive field tests are conducted in various opencast mines to investigate coverage potential and signal attenuation.ZigBee is tested in the Tadicherla open-cast coal mine in India.Similarly,LoRaWAN field tests are conducted at one of the associated cement companies(ACC)in the limestone mine in Bargarh,India,covering both Indoor-toOutdoor(I2O)and Outdoor-to-Outdoor(O2O)environments.A robust framework of path-loss models,referred to as Free space,Egli,Okumura-Hata,Cost231-Hata and Ericsson models,combined with key performance metrics,is employed to evaluate the patterns of signal attenuation.Extensive field testing and careful data analysis revealed that the Egli model is the most consistent path-loss model for the ZigBee protocol in an I2O environment,with a coefficient of determination(R^(2))of 0.907,balanced error metrics such as Normalized Root Mean Square Error(NRMSE)of 0.030,Mean Square Error(MSE)of 4.950,Mean Absolute Percentage Error(MAPE)of 0.249 and Scatter Index(SI)of 2.723.In the O2O scenario,the Ericsson model showed superior performance,with the highest R^(2)value of 0.959,supported by strong correlation metrics:NRMSE of 0.026,MSE of 8.685,MAPE of 0.685,Mean Absolute Deviation(MAD)of 20.839 and SI of 2.194.For the LoRaWAN protocol,the Cost-231 model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.921 in the I2O scenario,complemented by the lowest metrics:NRMSE of 0.018,MSE of 1.324,MAPE of 0.217,MAD of 9.218 and SI of 1.238.In the O2O environment,the Okumura-Hata model achieved the highest R^(2)value of 0.978,indicating a strong fit with metrics NRMSE of 0.047,MSE of 27.807,MAPE of 27.494,MAD of 37.287 and SI of 3.927.This advancement in reliable communication networks promises to transform the opencast landscape into networked signal attenuation.These results support decision-making for mining needs and ensure reliable communications even in the face of formidable obstacles.
文摘Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common, bothersome and relatively under diagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out in the Diabetology Units of the Buea and Limbe Regional Hospitals involving 332 male patients with diabetes and aged over 21 years. Data was analyzed using Stata and R version 3.5.3. Results: The mean age of the participants was 55years. Most participants (64.46%) were married. About half (50.60%) of the participants actively consumed alcohol, 11.45% were smokers and 57.83% were sedentary. 18 participants (5.42%) recorded high risk sexual behaviour. 54.32% of participants had a comorbidity and 43.90% were overweight. The prevalence of diabetic ED was 78.92%. Age, Fasting Blood Sugar and Glycated hemoglobin were found to be positive determinants of diabetic ED (odds ratio (OR) = 0.77, 95% CI −0.1 - 0.07). Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic ED in this hospital population study is high, and both physician and patient—initiated measures are needed to reduce this prevalence and improve awareness, recognition and care of this condition.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52105035 and 62203094)the Special Central Funds for Guiding Local Scientific and Technological Development,China(Grant No.236Z1801G)+2 种基金the Higher Education Youth Top Talent Project of Hebei Province,China(Grant No.BJK2024042)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,China(Grant Nos.E2021203109 and F2023501021)the Graduate Student Innovation Capability Training and Support Project of Hebei Province,China(Grant No.CXZZBS2024053).
文摘In today’s society,parallel manipulators(PMs)are widely used in industrial production,aerospace,and other fields,where their forward kinematic analyses often serve as the foundation for various tasks,such as design,calibration,and control.In the past few decades,this issue has seemingly been repeatedly addressed using various numerical methods,intelligent algorithms,and algebraic tools.While it is undeniable that solving the equations is easier with current technology,the problem of“how to formulate solvable equations”is often overlooked.This analysis issue typically involves establishing non-linear,multi-parameter,high-dimensional,and strong-coupled mathematical equations,which,from a geometric perspective,is also considered a process of solving a spatial polyhedron.When considering the temporal dimension of motion between two isomorphic polytopes,based on calculus theory,it has been found that this non-linear problem can be transformed into the superposition of multiple iteratively linear equations.Consequently,we propose an original method for the forward kinematic analysis of PMs,namely the finite-step-integration(FSI)method.In this study,the mathematical principles and modeling methods of the FSI method are elucidated,and the modeling and programming processes of the FSI method are demonstrated using general 6-UPS and 3-UPS/S manipulators as examples.Through the analysis of its unique algebraic structure,the methods for singularity determination and motion tracking characteristic analysis are investigated.This method addresses the long-standing challenges in the forward kinematic modeling of PMs,which is applicable for design,calibration,and control,while also offering novel insights for modeling and solving certain non-linear engineering problems.
文摘[Objectives]To investigate optimal storage methods and shelf life determination for several representative bagged traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)decoctions under centralized preparation conditions in intelligent TCM pharmacies.[Methods]First,the nourishing formula was prepared and packaged in bags.Under the three storage conditions of 37℃before cold storage(including full high temperature),cold storage before 37℃(including full cold storage),and alternating 37℃and cold storage,the 30 d cycle was investigated to determine the total microbial colony count,so as to determine a reasonable storage method of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.Secondly,five representative prescriptions were prepared and packaged in bags,stored under 37℃,room temperature and cold conditions.The investigation period was 30 d.The pH,total bacterial count and soluble solid content were measured,and the changes of each index were analyzed to obtain the shelf life of the bagged Chinese medicine decoction.[Results]First,the nourishing formula was investigated for 30 d.The microbial results of refrigeration after 1-2 d of 37℃,complete refrigeration and 37℃cooling with an alternate interval of 2 d or less met the requirements,while the microbial results of refrigeration after 3 d or above of 37℃,refrigeration after 1-5 d and then 37℃,complete 37℃,37℃and cooling with an alternate interval of 3 d or above excessive microorganism.Second,under the condition of 37℃storage,the pH of the five prescriptions decreased significantly,the total microbial colonies exceeded the standard,and the solid content decreased significantly.However,under the condition of room temperature and cold storage,the pH,total microbial colonies,and solid content of the five prescriptions remained stable.[Conclusions]The first is to refrigerate the decoction after 1-2 d of 37℃,completely refrigerate it,and refrigerate the decoction with an alternate interval of 2 d or less at 37℃.The shelf life can last for 30 d.Several storage conditions are conducive to guiding the development of the storage mode of the decoction.Second,under the conditions of cold storage,all the indexes were stable,and the shelf life of the five representative formulas was 30 d.
文摘BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic had a profound societal impact in the United States which was associated with a decrease in overall life expectancy and an increase in substance abuse and firearm injury.Our under-standing of changes in mortality trends during the pandemic and its effect on organ availability for transplantation is limited.AIM To examine the trends of substance abuse and firearm injury fatalities during COVID-19 and a potential correlation with organ transplantation.METHODS Crude rates of population-based deaths among adults(18-75 years)from firearm injury and substance abuse from the period of 2014-2021 were obtained from centers of disease control wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research database.Crude rates of causes of donor(18-75 years)deaths from 2014-2021 were obtained from the united network for organ sharing database.RESULTS Average annual percentage change(AAPC)deaths among the United States population were 16.4%from substance abuse and 3.4%from firearm injury.AAPC in cause of death among organ donors was 10.9%from drug intoxication and 2.1%from firearm injury.There was a significant(P<0.001)and progressive increase in mortality from both causes during the pandemic(2020-2021)and significant correlation(P<0.001)between population and donor causes of death.COVID-19 exacerbated trends in substance abuse and firearm mortality with a consequent increase in organ donation from donors who died from these two causes.CONCLUSION Identifying the socioeconomic and regional disparities associated with increase in deaths from substance abuse and firearms can help guide post-pandemic healthcare policies and mitigate their impact on organ transplantation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant numbers 72101168,71571123China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under grant number 2021M692259.
文摘New opportunities and challenges for information representation and processing are brought about by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.This study offers a new decision-making method that decreases information distortion and increases computational efficiency by fusing the nested probabilistic linguistic terms with the EDAS decision-making method approach.Firstly,we introduce the concept,property,and demonstration of the cosine similarity of nested probabilistic linguistic terms,which allows for a more precise measurement of the degree of departure between their content.Secondly,the attribute weights are generated using the normalised attribute information difference value approach,which is based on the premise that attributes with bigger differences in evaluation information are more significant.Furthermore,the proposed method is utilised to address a supplier selection issue related to the procurement of medical equipment.Ultimately,the method is proven to be feasible and superior by comparison assessments with other measuring methods and decision-making methods.
基金Supported by the Henan Provincial Health Commission,No.232102310145.
文摘BACKGROUND Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)frequently experience exacerbations requiring multiple hospitalizations over prolonged disease courses,which predispose them to generalized anxiety disorder(GAD).This comorbidity exacerbates breathing difficulties,activity limitations,and social isolation.While previous studies predominantly employed the GAD 7-item scale for screening,this approach is somewhat subjective.The current literature on predictive models for GAD risk in patients with COPD is limited.AIM To construct and validate a GAD risk prediction model to aid healthcare professionals in preventing the onset of GAD.METHODS This retrospective analysis encompassed patients with COPD treated at our institution from July 2021 to February 2024.The patients were categorized into a modeling(MO)group and a validation(VA)group in a 7:3 ratio on the basis of the occurrence of GAD.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to construct the risk prediction model,which was visualized using forest plots.The model’s performance was evaluated using Hosmer-Lemeshow(H-L)goodness-of-fit test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.RESULTS A total of 271 subjects were included,with 190 in the MO group and 81 in the VA group.GAD was identified in 67 patients with COPD,resulting in a prevalence rate of 24.72%(67/271),with 49 cases(18.08%)in the MO group and 18 cases(22.22%)in the VA group.Significant differences were observed between patients with and without GAD in terms of educational level,average household income,smoking history,smoking index,number of exacerbations in the past year,cardiovascular comorbidities,disease knowledge,and personality traits(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower education levels,household income<3000 China yuan,smoking history,smoking index≥400 cigarettes/year,≥two exacerbations in the past year,cardiovascular comorbidities,complete lack of disease information,and introverted personality were significant risk factors for GAD in the MO group(P<0.05).ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve for predicting GAD in the MO and VA groups was 0.978 and 0.960.The H-L test yieldedχ^(2) values of 6.511 and 5.179,with P=0.275 and 0.274.Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted and actual GAD occurrence risks.CONCLUSION The developed predictive model includes eight independent risk factors:Educational level,household income,smoking history,smoking index,number of exacerbations in the past year,presence of cardiovascular comorbidities,level of disease knowledge,and personality traits.This model effectively predicts the onset of GAD in patients with COPD,enabling early identification of high-risk individuals and providing a basis for early preventive interventions by nursing staff.
文摘Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence diseases with environmental components, like vector-borne parasitic diseases. This study aims to examine how these factors influence vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) transmission in Chad and provide recommendations for policy improvements. Methods: The study adopts the WHO Conceptual Framework of SDOH to compare two regions in Southern Chad: Kouh-Est, which has an ongoing vector control program, and Grand-Sido, which lacks such a program. The study includes both nomadic and sedentary populations to provide a comprehensive understanding of the SDOH influencing VBPDs. Households were randomly selected. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, literacy, knowledge of VBPDs and protective measures, and access to education and health facilities were collected. Results: A total of 202 households from 17 villages, including 820 participants, were surveyed. Agriculture, livestock, and fishing were the main occupations, involving 84.1% of participants. Literacy was low, with 36.7% non-educated, 47.7% completing primary school, 14.5% secondary school, and only 0.3% reaching tertiary education. Most villages lacked schools beyond the primary level, and nomadic populations were significantly less educated than sedentary ones (p Conclusion: Educational deficiencies, lack of protective measures against vectors, inadequate healthcare resources, and lifestyle conditions aggravated by poor road infrastructure, limited transportation, and economic constraints contribute to worsened VBPDs outcomes in these rural populations. Addressing these systemic issues in the surveyed communities is essential for improving health equity and VBPDs outcomes in these regions specifically and in similar populations settings more broadly.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation(NSF)through grant numbers CMMI-2135585 and CMMI-2229143J.EJ.acknowledges the National Science Foundation for support under the Graduate Research Fellowship Program(GRFP)under grant number DGE-1842166.
文摘Multi-photon polymerization is a well-established,yet actively developing,additive manufacturing technique for 3D printing on the micro/nanoscale.Like all additive manufacturing techniques,determining the process parameters necessary to achieve dimensional accuracy for a structure 3D printed using this method is not always straightforward and can require time-consuming experimentation.In this work,an active machine learning based framework is presented for determining optimal process parameters for the recently developed,high-speed,layer-by-layer continuous projection 3D printing process.The proposed active learning framework uses Bayesian optimization to inform optimal experimentation in order to adaptively collect the most informative data for effective training of a Gaussian-process-regression-based machine learning model.This model then serves as a surrogate for the manufacturing process:predicting optimal process parameters for achieving a target geometry,e.g,the 2D geometry of each printed layer.Three representative 2D shapes at three different scales are used as test cases.In each case,the active learning framework improves the geometric accuracy,with drastic reductions of the errors to within the measurement accuracy in just four iterations of the Bayesian optimization using only a few hundred of total training data.The case studies indicate that the active learning framework developed in this work can be broadly applied to other additive manufacturing processes to increase accuracy with significantly reduced experimental data collection effortforoptimization.
