Search Results (19,104)

This review aims to compare the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using visible and near-infrared diode laser wavelengths to that of the dry needling technique (DNT) on the management of orofacial pain in patients with Temporomandibular Disorder Myofascial Pain Syndrome (TMD/MPS) in term of effectiveness, speed of recovery, and lasting of treatment. A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was carried out to identify the relevant clinical trials published between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2024. The included studies were limited to human subjects who had orofacial pain associated with Axis 1 of TMD/MPS, involving two genders with age >18 years and were treated either with photobiomodulation using diode laser with wavelengths ranging from 600 up to 1200 nanometer (nm), or with the dry needling (DN) technique (superficial SDN or deep DDN), as a non-pharmacological therapies to decrease the intensity of orofacial pain associated with TMD/MPS. The risk of bias for included studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool (for randomized studies). Three distinct meta-analyses were performed to quantify the pooled effects of PBM and DN in the management of TMD/MPS myofascial pain and deactivation of myofascial trigger points (MTPs). The meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 from Cochrane. The confidence interval (CI) was established at 95% and p-values of less than 0.05 (p < 0.05) were considered statistically significant. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Qualitative data were extracted and summarized in tables for each group study, while quantitative data were reported as Mean and Standard Deviation (SD) values for assessment variables in each sub-group study. The results among groups were systematically evaluated to draw the final conclusion. A rigorous electronic and manual search revealed 4150 possible articles. Following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, twelve eligible studies were included in the analysis. Both PBMT and DNT were found to be effective in controlling the myalgia pain and primary symptoms associated with TMD/MPS, as well as deactivating the MTPs. DNT was statistically superior in terms of recovery time while PBMT was the more effective long-term therapy. Full article

Underwater sonar is the primary remote sensing and imaging modality within turbid environments with poor visibility. The two-dimensional (2-D) images of a target near the air–sea interface (or resting on a hard seabed), acquired by forward-scan sonar (FSS), are generally corrupted by the ghost and sometimes mirror components, formed by the multipath propagation of transmitted acoustic beams. In the processing of the 2-D FSS views to generate an accurate three-dimensional (3-D) object model, the corrupted regions have to be discarded. The sonar tilt angle and distance from the sea surface are two important parameters for the accurate localization of the ghost and mirror components. We propose a unified optimization technique for improving both the measurements of these two parameters from inexpensive sensors and the accuracy of a 3-D object model using 2-D FSS images at known poses. The solution is obtained by the recursive updating of sonar parameters and 3-D object model. Utilizing the 3-D object model, we can enhance the original images and generate synthetic views for arbitrary sonar poses. We demonstrate the performance of our method in experiments with the synthetic and real images of three targets: two dominantly convex coral rocks and a highly concave toy wood table. Full article

The freeze concentration of liquid foods generates a by-product that has few academic studies and no industrial application: the ice fraction of each concentration stage. Sugar-free carbonated beverages were produced from the addition of 20% residual ice fraction (stage 1—I120 and stage 2—I220) of the gravitational block freeze concentration process, and the result was compared with a control beverage produced with 20% guabiroba juice (J20). The physicochemical properties, carotenoid content, total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin C, and antioxidant activity were analyzed for all samples. There was no significant difference between J20 and I220 for the total solid content and total soluble solids. For the total phenolic compounds (TPC), the I220 content was 151.3% higher than that of the original juice J20 and, for antioxidant activity, 295.8% higher for ABTS and 130.2% higher for DPPH. The I220 beverage presented 159% more vitamin C content than the beverage containing juice (J20). The same behavior was observed for each carotenoid content, with 168% more for the I220 sample. The total color difference revealed no difference visible to the naked eye for the three formulated beverages (∆E < 3.0; p < 0.05). The promising results of the bioactive compounds from guabiroba juice retained in the ice fraction can add value to this process waste in the formulation of new products due to the remaining functional appeal of the original fruit matrix. Full article

Vertical stratification in marine sediment profiles indicates physical and chemical sedimentary processes and, thus, is the first step in sedimentary research and in studying their relationship with global climate change. Traditional technologies for studying vertical stratification have low efficiency; thus, new technologies are highly needed. Recently, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR) has been explored to rapidly determine sediment parameters, such as clay content, particle size, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and so on. Here, we explored vertical stratification in a sediment column in the South China Sea using VNIR. The sediment column was 160 cm and divided into 160 samples by 1 cm intervals. All samples were classified into three layers by depth, that is, 0–50 cm (the upper layer), 50–100 cm (the middle layer), and 100–160 cm (the bottom layer). Concentrations of TC and TN in each sample were measured by Elementa Vario EL III. Visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra of each sample were collected by Agilent Cary 5000. A global model and several classification models for vertical stratification in sediments were established by a Support Vector Machine (SVM) after the characteristic spectra were identified using Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling. In the classification models, K-means clustering and Density Peak Clustering (DPC) were employed as the unsupervised clustering algorithms. The results showed that the stratification was successful by VNIR, especially when using the combination of unsupervised clustering and machine learning algorithms. The correct classification rate (CCR) was much higher in the classification models than in the global model. And the classification models had a higher CCR using K-means combined with SVM (94.8%) and using DPC combined with SVM (96.0%). The higher CCR might be derived from the chemical classification. Indeed, similar results were also found in the chemical stratification. This study provided a theoretical basis for the rapid and synchronous measurement of chemical and physical parameters in sediment profiles by VNIR. Full article

The complexity of urban road scenes at night and the inadequacy of visible light imaging in such conditions pose significant challenges. To address the issues of insufficient color information, texture detail, and low spatial resolution in infrared imagery, we propose an enhanced infrared detection model called LFIR-YOLO, which is built upon the YOLOv8 architecture. The primary goal is to improve the accuracy of infrared target detection in nighttime traffic scenarios while meeting practical deployment requirements. First, to address challenges such as limited contrast and occlusion noise in infrared images, the C2f module in the high-level backbone network is augmented with a Dilation-wise Residual (DWR) module, incorporating multi-scale infrared contextual information to enhance feature extraction capabilities. Secondly, at the neck of the network, a Content-guided Attention (CGA) mechanism is applied to fuse features and re-modulate both initial and advanced features, catering to the low signal-to-noise ratio and sparse detail features characteristic of infrared images. Third, a shared convolution strategy is employed in the detection head, replacing the decoupled head strategy and utilizing shared Detail Enhancement Convolution (DEConv) and Group Norm (GN) operations to achieve lightweight yet precise improvements. Finally, loss functions, PIoU v2 and Adaptive Threshold Focal Loss (ATFL), are integrated into the model to better decouple infrared targets from the background and to enhance convergence speed. The experimental results on the FLIR and multispectral datasets show that the proposed LFIR-YOLO model achieves an improvement in detection accuracy of 4.3% and 2.6%, respectively, compared to the YOLOv8 model. Furthermore, the model demonstrates a reduction in parameters and computational complexity by 15.5% and 34%, respectively, enhancing its suitability for real-time deployment on resource-constrained edge devices. Full article

Cobaltocenium-containing (co)polysiloxanes (Cc-PDMSs) with terminal and side groups were synthesized by the reaction of catalyst-free hydroamination between ethynylcobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate and polysiloxanes comprising amino moieties as terminal and side groups. The conversion of NH₂ groups in the polymers reaches 85%. The obtained (co)polysiloxanes “gelate” due to an increase in their molecular weight by approx. 30 times, when stored at room temperature over one week. “Gelated” Cc-PDMSs remain soluble in most polar solvents. The structure of Cc-PDMSs and the mechanism of “gelation” were established by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ²⁹Si{¹H}, ¹⁹F{¹H}, ³¹P{¹H} nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. As determined by cyclic voltammetry, Cc-PDMSs possess redox properties (Co^II/Co^III transitions at E_1/2 = −1.8 and −1.3 V before and after “gelation”, respectively). This synthetic approach allows to increase the molecular weights of the synthesized polysiloxanes functionalized with cobaltocenium groups easily, leading to their higher film-forming ability, which is desirable for some electronic applications. Cc-PDMSs can be utilized as redox-active polymer films in modified electrodes, electrochromic devices, redox-active coatings, and components for batteries. Full article

Safety culture is a key feature between employees’ job performance and organizational commitment. Hotel businesses are an important component of the service sector, and a customer-oriented approach in these businesses increases organizational performance. Therefore, the increased organizational commitment of employees plays an important role in the implementation of a customer-oriented approach. In this study, hotel safety culture, which is one of the important factors for business performance sustainability, is examined. In addition, the effect of hotel safety culture on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and customer-oriented behavior is examined. In this context, the research data were collected from the employees of 5-star hotels operating in Antalya and Doha through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM 4.0. As a result of the research, some significant effects were found between the variables in the hypothetical research model. Based on the results obtained, theoretically, in support of the studies in the literature, a positive relationship was found between perceived safety culture and employees’ job performance. Accordingly, as practical suggestions, it is recommended that hotel managers take measures to increase the safety culture (staff training, increasing physical measures, making warning signs visible, etc.). Full article

A novel and efficient method for synthesizing Au-decorated ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with enhanced photocatalytic activity is presented. The synthesis involves a two-step process: hydrothermal preparation of ZnO NPs followed by nonthermal plasma-assisted deposition of Au nanoparticles on their surface. Comprehensive characterization of the ZnO and ZnO–Au NPs was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Optical properties were evaluated via UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence measurements. The synthesized ZnO NPs displayed a hexagonal wurtzite structure, and the successful deposition of Au NPs was confirmed by TEM and XPS analysis, along with Raman and fluorescence data showing the quenching effect caused by Au. The incorporation of Au nanoparticles led to the appearance of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at 540 nm, enhancing visible light absorption and improving photocatalytic performance. Notably, the methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency increased from 78% with pure ZnO NPs to 91.6% with ZnO–Au NPs under UV-Vis irradiation, demonstrating superior photocatalytic activity. This study introduces a simple and scalable method for synthesizing plasmonic ZnO-Au hybrid nanomaterials using plasma technology and highlights the critical role of Au NPs in enhancing photocatalytic performance by reducing electron–hole recombination. Full article

The fusion of infrared and visible images together can fully leverage the respective advantages of each, providing a more comprehensive and richer set of information. This is applicable in various fields such as military surveillance, night navigation, environmental monitoring, etc. In this paper, a novel infrared and visible image fusion method based on sparse representation and guided filtering in Laplacian pyramid (LP) domain is introduced. The source images are decomposed into low- and high-frequency bands by the LP, respectively. Sparse representation has achieved significant effectiveness in image fusion, and it is used to process the low-frequency band; the guided filtering has excellent edge-preserving effects and can effectively maintain the spatial continuity of the high-frequency band. Therefore, guided filtering combined with the weighted sum of eight-neighborhood-based modified Laplacian (WSEML) is used to process high-frequency bands. Finally, the inverse LP transform is used to reconstruct the fused image. We conducted simulation experiments on the publicly available TNO dataset to validate the superiority of our proposed algorithm in fusing infrared and visible images. Our algorithm preserves both the thermal radiation characteristics of the infrared image and the detailed features of the visible image. Full article

Achieving light-induced manipulation of controlled self-assembly in nanosized structures is essential for developing artificially dynamic smart materials. Herein, we demonstrate an approach using a non-photoresponsive hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) macrocycle to control the self-assembly and disassembly of nanostructures in response to light. The present system comprises a photoacid (merocyanine, 1-MEH), a pseudorotaxane formed by two H-bonded macrocycles, dipyridinyl acetylene, and zinc ions. The operation of such a system is examined according to the alternation of self-assembly through proton transfer, which is mediated by the photoacid upon exposure to visible light. The host–guest complexation between the macrocycle and bipyridium guests was investigated by NMR spectroscopy, and one of the guests with the highest affinity for the ring was selected for use as one of the components of the system, which forms the host–guest complex with the ring in a 2:1 stoichiometry. In solution, a dipyridine and the ring, having no interaction with each other, rapidly form a complex in the presence of 1-MEH when exposed to light and thermally relax back to the free ring without entrapped guests after 4 h. Furthermore, the addition of zinc ions to the solution above leads to the formation of a polypseudorotaxane with its morphology responsive to photoirradiation. This work exemplifies the light-controlled alteration of self-assembly in non-photoresponsive systems based on interactions between the guest and the H-bonded macrocycle in the presence of a photoacid. Full article

Detailed analysis covered the optical and structural properties of Eu³⁺-doped NaY₉Si₆O₂₆ oxyapatite phosphors, which were obtained via hydrothermal synthesis. X-ray diffraction patterns of NaY₉Si₆O₂₆:xEu³⁺ (x = 0, 1, 5, 7, 10 mol% Eu³⁺) samples proved a single-phase hexagonal structure (P63/m (176) space group). Differential thermal analysis showed an exothermic peak at 995 °C attributed to the amorphous to crystalline transformation of NaY₉Si₆O₂₆. Electron microscopy showed agglomerates composed of round-shaped nanoparticles ~53 nm in size. Room temperature photoluminescent emission spectra consisted of emission bands in the visible spectral region corresponding to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) f-f transitions of Eu³⁺. Lifetime measurements showed that the Eu³⁺ concentration had no substantial effect on the rather long ⁵D₀-level lifetime. The Eu³⁺ energy levels in the structure were determined using room-temperature excitation/emission spectra. Using the ⁷F₁ manifold, the Nv-crystal field strength parameter was calculated to be 1442.65 cm⁻¹. Structural, electronic, and optical properties were calculated to determine the band gap value, density of states, and index of refraction. The calculated direct band gap value was 4.665 eV (local density approximation) and 3.765 eV (general gradient approximation). Finally, the complete Judd–Ofelt analysis performed on all samples confirmed the experimental findings. Full article

In this study, we examined how the nonlinearity α of the Langevin equation influences the behavior of extremes in a generated time series. The extremes, defined according to run theory, result in two types of series, run lengths and surplus magnitudes, whose complex structure was investigated using the visibility graph (VG) method. For both types of series, the information measures of the Shannon entropy measure and Fisher Information Measure were utilized for illustrating the influence of the nonlinearity α on the distribution of the degree, which is the main topological parameter describing the graph constructed by the VG method. The main finding of our study was that the Shannon entropy of the degree of the run lengths and the surplus magnitudes of the extremes is mostly influenced by the nonlinearity, which decreases with with an increase in α. This result suggests that the run lengths and surplus magnitudes of extremes are characterized by a sort of order that increases with increases in nonlinearity. Full article

Ultraviolet solar radiation at the Earth’s surface significantly impacts both human health and ecosystems. A biologically effective daily radiant exposure (BEDRE) model is proposed for various biological processes with an analytical formula for its action spectrum. The following processes are considered: erythema formation, previtamin D3 synthesis, psoriasis clearance, and inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virions. The BEDRE model is constructed by multiplying the synthetic BEDRE value under cloudless conditions by a cloud modification factor (CMF) parameterizing the attenuation of radiation via clouds. The CMF is an empirical function of the solar zenith angle (SZA) at midday and the daily clearness index from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) measurements on board the second-generation Meteosat satellites. Total column ozone, from MERRA-2 reanalysis, is used in calculations of clear-sky BEDRE values. The proposed model was trained and validated using data from several European ground-based spectrophotometers and biometers for the periods 2014–2023 and 2004–2013, respectively. The model provides reliable estimates of BEDRE for all biological processes considered. Under snow-free conditions and SZA < 45° at midday, bias and standard deviation of observation-model differences are approximately ±5% and 15%, respectively. The BEDRE model can be used as an initial validation tool for ground-based UV data. Full article

The photocatalytic decomposition of ammonia to produce N₂ and H₂ was achieved using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanohybrids. The physical modification of ferrocene-dye-encapsulated CNTs by amphiphilic C₆₀-dendron yielded nanohybrids with a dye/CNT/C₆₀ coaxial heterojunction. Upon irradiation with visible light, an aqueous solution of NH₃ and dye@CNT/C₆₀-dendron nanohybrids produced both N₂ and H₂ in a stoichiometric ratio of 1/3. The action spectra of this reaction clearly demonstrated that the encapsulated dye acted as the photosensitizer, exhibiting an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 0.22% at 510 nm (the λ_max of the dye). This study reports the first example of dye-sensitized ammonia decomposition and provides a new avenue for developing efficient and sustainable photocatalytic hydrogen production systems. Full article

Early blight and ladybug beetle infestation are important factors threatening potato yields. The current research on disease classification using the spectral differences between the healthy and disease-stressed leaves of plants has achieved good progress in a variety of crops, but less research has been conducted on early blight in potato. This paper proposes a CARS-SPA-GA feature selection method. First, the raw spectral data of potato leaves in the visible/near-infrared light region were preprocessed. Then, the feature wavelengths were selected via competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and the successive projection algorithm (SPA), respectively. Then, the two sets of wavelengths were reorganized and duplicates were removed, and secondary feature selection was conducted with genetic algorithm (GA). Finally, the feature wavelengths were fed into different classifiers and the parameters were optimized using a real-coded genetic algorithm (RCGA). The experimental results show that the feature wavelengths selected by the CARS-SPA-GA method accounted only for 9% of the full band, and the classification accuracy of the RCGA-optimized support vector machine (SVM) classification model reached 98.366%. These results show that it is feasible to classify early blight and ladybug beetle infestation in potato using visible/near-infrared spectral data, and the CARS-SPA-GA method can substantially improve the accuracy and detection efficiency of potato pest and disease classification. Full article