Functional Confirmation Using a Medical X-Ray System of a Semiconductor Survey Meter

In recent years, semiconductor survey meters have been developed and are in increasing demand worldwide. This study determined if it is possible to use the X-ray system installed in each medical facility to calculate the time constant of a semiconductor survey meter and confirm the meter’s function. An additional filter was attached to the medical X-ray system to satisfy the standards of N-60 to N-120, more copper plates were added as needed, and the first and second half-value layers were calculated to enable comparisons of the facility’s X-ray system quality with the N-60 to N-120 quality values. Next, we used a medical X-ray system to measure the leakage dose and calculate the time constant of the survey meter. The functionality of the meter was then checked and compared with the energy characteristics of the meter. The experimental results showed that it was possible to use a medical X-ray system to reproduce the N-60 to N-120 radiation quality values and to calculate the time constant from the measured results, assuming actual leakage dosimetry for that radiation quality. We also found that the calibration factor was equivalent to that of the energy characteristics of the survey meter.

Spatial structural characteristics of the Deda ancient landslide in the eastern Tibetan Plateau:Insights from Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics and the Microtremor Survey Method

It is of crucial importance to investigate the spatial structures of ancient landslides in the eastern Tibetan Plateau’s alpine canyons as they could provide valuable insights into the evolutionary history of the landslides and indicate the potential for future reactivation.This study examines the Deda ancient landslide,situated in the Chalong-ranbu fault zone,where creep deformation suggests a complex underground structure.By integrating remote sensing,field surveys,Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics(AMT),and Microtremor Survey Method(MSM)techniques,along with engineering geological drilling for validation,to uncover the landslide’s spatial feature s.The research indicates that a fault is developed in the upper part of the Deda ancient landslide,and the gully divides it into Deda landslide accumulation zoneⅠand Deda landslide accumulation zoneⅡin space.The distinctive geological characteristics detectable by MSM in the shallow subsurface and by AMT in deeper layers.The findings include the identification of two sliding zones in the Deda I landslide,the shallow sliding zone(DD-I-S1)depth is approximately 20 m,and the deep sliding zone(DD-I-S2)depth is 36.2-49.9 m.The sliding zone(DD-Ⅱ-S1)depth of the DedaⅡlandslide is 37.6-43.1 m.A novel MSM-based method for sliding zone identification is proposed,achieving less than 5%discrepancy in depth determination when compared with drilling data.These results provide a valuable reference for the spatial structural analysis of large-deepseated landslides in geologically complex regions like the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Basic Survey Scheduling for the Wide Field Survey Telescope(WFST)

Aiming at improving the survey efficiency of the Wide Field Survey Telescope, we have developed a basic scheduling strategy that takes into account the telescope characteristics, observing conditions, and weather conditions at the Lenghu site. The sky area is divided into rectangular regions, referred to as “tiles,” with a size of2°. 577 × 2°. 634 slightly smaller than the focal area of the mosaic CCDs. These tiles are continuously filled in annulars parallel to the equator. The brightness of the sky background, which varies with the moon phase and distance from the moon, plays a significant role in determining the accessible survey fields. Approximately 50connected tiles are grouped into one block for observation. To optimize the survey schedule, we perform simulations by taking into account the length of exposures, data readout, telescope slewing, and all relevant observing conditions. We utilize the Greedy Algorithm for scheduling optimization. Additionally, we propose a dedicated dithering pattern to cover the gaps between CCDs and the four corners of the mosaic CCD array, which are located outside of the 3° field of view. This dithering pattern helps to achieve relatively uniform exposure maps for the final survey outputs.

Enhancing landslide hazards survey and management to reduce the loss of human lives and properties

Landslides are pervasive geohazards that pose a serious threat to human lives,property,and crucial engineering constructions.Annually,landslides lead to tens of thousands of fatalities(see the paper of"List of typical catastrophic landslides from March 2004 to February 2024"in this issue,doi:10.31035/cg2024079)and cause economic damages amounting to billions of dollars around the world,as well as disrupting crucial infrastructures such as railways,highways。

Field survey and analysis on near-fault severely damaged high-speed railway bridge in 2022 M6.9 Menyuan earthquake

The 2022 M6.9 Menyuan earthquake caused severe damage to a high-speed railway bridge,which was designed for high-speed trains running at speeds of above 250 km/h and is located right next to the fault.Bridges of this type have been widely used for rapidly constructing the high-speed railway network,but few bridges have been tested by near-fault devastating earthquakes.The potential severe impact of the earthquake on the high-speed railway is not only the safety of the infrastructure,trains and passengers,but also economic loss due to interrupted railway use.Therefore,a field survey was carried out immediately after the earthquake to collect time-sensitive data.The damage to the bridge was carefully investigated,and quantitative analyses were conducted to better understand the mechanism of the bridge failure.It was found that seismic action perpendicular to the bridge’s longitudinal direction caused severe damage to the girders and rails,while none of the piers showed obvious deformation or cracking.The maximum values of transverse displacement,out-of-plane rotation and twisting angle of girders reached 212.6 cm,3.1 degrees and 19.9 degrees,respectively,causing severe damage to the bearing supports and anti-seismic retaining blocks.These observations provide a basis for improving the seismic design of high-speed railway bridges located in near-fault areas.

Survey on performance of vertical slot and nature-like fishways at Angu hydropower station, Southwest China

To restore dam-blocked natural fish migratory passages,a growing number of artificial fishways have been built in water conservancy and hydropower projects in China.The Angu hydropower station involved diverse important fish habitats in the lower reaches of the Daduhe River in Southwest China.Therefore,a vertical slot fishway(VSF)and a nature-like fishway(NLF)were built near the backwater area of the reservoir to connect the upstream and downstream habitats.Hydrodynamic and aquatic ecological surveys were conducted after the completion of the project to estimate the fish passing effect of the two fishways.The results indicated that both fishways were in effective operation and could maintain the desired hydrodynamic conditions and be used by several local fish species.During the survey,149 fish from 15 species and 111 fish from 17 species were captured by the traps in the VSF and NLF,respectively,while 1263 fish from 27 species were found in the downstream area.Some species captured in the VSF were not found in the NLF,and vice versa,which implied the different preferences of fish.Meanwhile,3789 signals including 2099 upward ones and 1690 downward ones were monitored with an ultrasonic fish detector at the inlet of the VSF.These findings revealed the characteristics of fish species observed in and near the fishways and provided valuable insights into the different fish passing capabilities of VSFandNLF.

Nationwide questionnaire survey on pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan

BACKGROUND Pediatric pancreatic tumors are rare and account for<0.1%of all childhood cancers.The primary treatment for pancreatic tumors is surgical resection.However,because of the lack of knowledge regarding pediatric pancreatic tumors,no comprehensive treatment plans for pediatric pancreatic tumors have been developed.AIM To compared the clinical features,treatment methods,and prognosis of pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan with those in other countries.METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 213 pediatric surgical units in Japan.Pancreatic tumors that were not surgically treated were excluded from the survey.The primary survey investigated the number of patients aged 0-18 years who underwent pancreatic tumor surgery and the type of tumors managed during the 22-year study period(from January 1,2000 to December 31,2021)by post card.The secondary survey assessed the clinical images,treatment methods,and tumor outcomes via email.RESULTS The primary survey enrolled 228 patients.In the secondary survey,213 patients were eventually enrolled.The most common type of pancreatic tumor was solid pseudopapillary neoplasm(SPN)[n=164(77.0%)],followed by pancreatoblastoma[n=16(7.5%)],pancreatic endocrine tumor[n=14(6.6%)],non-epithelial tumor[n=9(4.2%)],pancreatic tumor[n=7(3.3%)],and metastatic pancreatic tumor[n=3(1.4%)].Overall,123(57.7%)patients underwent distal pancreatectomy,of whom 49 underwent laparoscopic surgery.Forty-four(20.7%)patients underwent enucleation,of whom eight underwent laparoscopic surgery.Thirty-two(15.0%)patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy,of whom one underwent laparoscopic surgery.All patients with SPN,including those with distant metastases and recurrent disease,survived.CONCLUSION SPN was more common in Japan than in other countries.Regardless of the histological type,resection is the most effective treatment for pediatric pancreatic tumors.

Diagnostic values of questionnaires of Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey and College of Optometrists Vision Development Quality of Life in the screening of convergence insufficiency

AIM:To compare and analyse the diagnostic efficacy of the College of Optometrists Vision Development Quality of Life Questionnaire(COVD-QOL)and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey(CISS)in detecting convergence insufficiency and to compare their diagnostic value in clinical applications.METHODS:Using the diagnostic test method,62 adult patients with convergence insufficiency(age:24.74±3.75y)and 62 normal participants(age:23.61±3.13y)who visited the Optometry Clinic of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2021 to January 2023 were included.All subjects completed the CISS and COVD-QOL.Statistical analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the CISS and COVD-QOL and comparison and joint experimental analysis of their diagnostic efficacy were performed.RESULTS:The sensitivity of the CISS and COVD-QOL for convergence insufficiency was 64.5%and 71.0%,respectively,while the specificity was 96.8%and 67.7%,respectively.Compared to the CISS alone,the combination of the CISS and COVD-QOL demonstrated lower sensitivity and specificity.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CISS,COVD-QOL and CISS combined with COVD-QOL were 0.806,0.694 and 0.782,respectively.CONCLUSION:Considering the low sensitivity of the CISS and the low specificity of the COVD-QOL,it is recommended to supplement these questionnaires with other screening tests for the detection of convergence insufficiency.

油茶象甲Curculio chinensis基因组Survey测序分析

油茶象甲Curculio chinensis Chevrolat是危害中国特有木本油料树种——油茶的专性蛀果害虫,也是中国林业危险性有害生物之一,在中国不同油茶产区均有分布,对油茶的为害呈加重趋势。为了深入研究其遗传基础和寄主适应性,确定适合鞘翅目象甲科基因组测序研究策略,首先采取Survey测序,之后做深度基因组测序和大规模种群测序。研究采用二代高通量测序技术(MGISEQ-2000),测定了油茶象甲基因组大小,并估计该物种基因组的杂合度、重复率和GC含量。结果显示:油茶象甲基因组大小约为1356.82 Mb,测序深度达到50×;K-mer分析油茶象甲基因组虽然具有杂合峰,但杂合率较低,为1.20%;基因组重复序列含量约为77%。该研究结果对于揭示油茶象甲适应性进化具有重要意义,可为后续构建完整基因组和多种群基因组测序提供策略选择依据。

Intelligent pavement condition survey:Overview of current researches and practices

Automated pavement condition survey is of critical importance to road network management.There are three primary tasks involved in pavement condition surveys,namely data collection,data processing and condition evaluation.Artificial intelligence(AI)has achieved many breakthroughs in almost every aspect of modern technology over the past decade,and undoubtedly offers a more robust approach to automated pavement condition survey.This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on data collection systems,data processing algorithms and condition evaluation methods proposed between 2010 and 2023 for intelligent pavement condition survey.In particular,the data collection system includes AI-driven hardware devices and automated pavement data collection vehicles.The AI-driven hardware devices including right-of-way(ROW)cameras,ground penetrating radar(GPR)devices,light detection and ranging(LiDAR)devices,and advanced laser imaging systems,etc.These different hardware components can be selectively mounted on a vehicle to simultaneously collect multimedia information about the pavement.In addition,this article pays close attention to the application of artificial intelligence methods in detecting pavement distresses,measuring pavement roughness,identifying pavement rutting,analyzing skid resistance and evaluating structural strength of pavements.Based upon the analysis of a variety of the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence methodologies,remaining challenges and future needs with respect to intelligent pavement condition survey are discussed eventually.

A Survey on the Contents of Calcium and Its Interaction Elements in Pig Feeds in Guangdong Province

[Objective]The paper was to study the contents of calcium(Ca)and its interaction elements in pig feeds in Guangdong Province.[Method]Creep feed,nursery feed,piglet feed,pregnant sow feed and lactating sow feed were randomly taken from different manufacturers for testing.[Result]The average contents of copper(Cu),iron(Fe),manganese(Mn),zinc(Zn),magnesium(Mg),and vitamin D,(VD)in all kinds of feeds exceeded the Chinese feed additive standards.The contents of trace elements like Cu,Fe,Mn,and Zn were significantly higher than the standard additions.The contents of Cu,Fe,and Mn in piglet feeds were increased by 27.16 times,4.47 times and 24.27 times,respectively,and that of Zn was increased by 16.99 times;the ratio of Mg average addition amount to the standard addition was 4.18-5.38;the average contents of Ca and phosphorus(P)in feeds were lower than the standard additions,among which Ca decreased by 0.18%-0.44%,P decreased by 0.07%-0.32%,and the proportions of Ca and P were lower than the standard proportion except piglet feed;VD;addition in pig feeds was significantly higher than the standard addition,in which the content of creep feed was 20.76 times of the standard addition;the average addition of fluorine(F)was increased with the increase of age,and the highest was up to 20.06 mg/kg.[Conclusion]There is a great dfference in the addition of each element in pig feeds,and most of them are higher than the standard additions.

中国龙船花基因组Survey分析

中国龙船花Ixora chinensis是一种兼备药用与观赏价值的传统中药材,解析中国龙船花的基因组特征信息,可为其全基因组测序和药效成分生物合成的分子机制研究奠定理论基础。本研究利用Survey基因组测序技术,使用K-mer分析方法对中国龙船花基因组特征信息展开评估,获得基因组重复度、杂合度以及GC含量等信息。Survey高通量测序获得Raw Data 47.63 Gb,过滤后Clean data 45.62 Gb。K-mer分析表明,基因组大小588.35 Mb,杂合度1.5598%,重复度64.49%,GC含量35.71%,中国龙船花基因组呈现高杂合度、高重复度、基因组庞大的特征。

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants in Nigeria:An online survey

BACKGROUND Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.AIM To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.METHODS An online cross-sectional survey(observational study)was conducted between February 2021 and May 2021,using a questionnaire hosted on SurveyMonkey.The invitation to take part in the poll was sent out to participants through social networking platforms.A logistic regression was used to determine which sociodemographic factors were associated with vaccine acceptance constructs.RESULTS A total of 1800 persons responded to the survey,a larger proportion of whom were males(53.9%)and within the age group of 21-30 years(29.4%)and earned an average income of less than$500 per month(43.3%).Only 0.56%of participants had a high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection,while only 1.11%had a perceived risk of dying from COVID-19.The perception rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among participants was 51.1%,while the acceptance rate was 63.9%.There was no significant association between the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and related determinants assessed,particularly age(χ²=3.049,P=0.550),sex(χ²=0.102,P=0.749),average income(χ²=3.802,P=0.875),and religion(χ²=2.819,P=0.420).Participants with chronic conditions demonstrated a higher acceptance rate compared to the general population.CONCLUSION Despite the positive perception observed and substantial vaccine acceptance rate among the study participants,more public health interventions are still needed to enhance vaccine acceptability in Nigeria.

Violence study of healthcare workers and systems in the Caribbean:ViSHWaS-Caribbean study

BACKGROUND Violence against healthcare workers(HCWs)in the Caribbean continues to prevail yet remains underreported.Our aim is to determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.AIM To determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.METHODS This research adopted an online cross-sectional survey approach,spanning over eight weeks(between June 6th and August 9th,2022).The survey was generated using Research Electronic Data Capture forms and followed a snowballing strategy to contact individuals using emails,social media,text messages,etc.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables that influence violence,including gender,age,years of experience,institution type,and night shift frequency.RESULTS The survey was completed by 225 HCWs.Females comprised 61%.Over 51%of respondents belonged to the 21 to 35 age group.Dominica(n=61),Haiti(n=50),and Grenada(n=31)had the most responses.Most HCWs(49%)worked for government academic institutions,followed by community hospitals(23%).Medical students(32%),followed by attending physicians(22%),and others(16%)comprised the most common cadre of respondents.About 39%of the participants reported experiencing violence themselves,and 18%reported violence against colleague(s).Verbal violence(48%),emotional abuse(24%),and physical misconduct(14%)were the most common types of violence.Nearly 63%of respondents identified patients or their relatives as the most frequent aggressors.Univariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that female gender(OR=2.08;95%CI:1.16-3.76,P=0.014)and higher frequency of night shifts(OR=2.22;95%CI:1.08-4.58,P=0.030)were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing violence.More than 50%of HCWs felt less motivated and had decreased job satisfaction post-violent conduct.CONCLUSION A large proportion of HCWS in the Caribbean are exposed to violence,yet the phenomenon remains underreported.As a result,HCWs’job satisfaction has diminished.

Research surveys and their evolution:Past,current and future uses in healthcare

Research surveys are believed to have originated in antiquity with evidence of them being performed in ancient Egypt and Greece.In the past century,their use has grown significantly and they are now one of the most frequently employed research methods including in the field of healthcare.Modern validation techniques and processes have allowed researchers to broaden the scope of qualitative data they can gather through these surveys such as an individual’s views on service quality to nationwide surveys that are undertaken regularly to follow healthcare trends.This article focuses on the evolution and current utility of research surveys,different methodologies employed in their creation,the advantages and disadvantages of different forms and their future use in healthcare research.We also review the role artificial intelligence and the importance of increased patient participation in the development of these surveys in order to obtain more accurate and clinically relevant data.

Dietary Surveys Carried out among Diabetic Patients Hospitalized in the Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases Department of the C.H.U-B

A varied and balanced diet has always been essential in the optimal management of diabetes. The objective of this work was to evaluate dietary surveys among 50 diabetic patients hospitalized in the metabolic and endocrine diseases department of the Brazzaville Hospital and University Center. This survey was carried out using two methods: dietary history and 24-hour recall. The results relating to the dietary history revealed in the patients a dietary imbalance characterized by snacking at meals, non-compliance with a balanced diet and a high frequency of consumption of foods rich in simple sugar. and saturated fats. Regarding the 24-hour recall, the survey showed that the average blood sugar levels of hospitalized patients increased depending on the number of meals. This meant that these hyperglycemias (2 to 5 g/L) observed in these patients exceeded three meals per day and required, among other things, an increase in insulin intake or doses. The age groups of diabetic patients were also divided. These age groups had partly defined the types of diabetes encountered. Regarding body mass index, women had a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 compared to men. This increase in body mass index was explained by being overweight or even obese due to excess body fat.

Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-Up of Seismic Survey Offshore Activities in Brazil

Follow-up of environmental impacts is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, closely related to the effectiveness of the instrument. EIA follow-up has been receiving a lot of interest from scientists and practitioners, though it is recognized as one of the weakest points of EIA systems globally. Also, EIA follow-up is influenced by the context, mainly in terms of the types of projects or activities and their related impacts on the environment. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the investigation of the follow-up stage applied to the activity of seismic survey coupled with offshore oil & gas exploitation in Brazil. Research was based on a qualitative approach that included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with analysts involved in EIA processes, and sought to generate evidence of effectiveness of the EIA follow-up as conducted by the Federal Environment Agency (Ibama) in order to situate the practice of follow-up in the broader context of international best practice principles. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, due to the peculiarities of offshore seismic survey, it is necessary to promote adaptations in the procedures for monitoring impacts in order to ensure proper alignment with the principles and conceptual foundations that guide EIA practice. Specifically, the timing of the execution of the activity imposes challenges for its integration into the “conventional” cycle that has guided the monitoring of the impacts in the EIA of projects.

黄鲫的全基因组survey分析与微卫星分布特征

对黄鲫进行了全基因组测序,并进行了survey分析和微卫星特征研究,旨在评估其基因组基本信息并为进一步研究该物种的遗传多样性和进化提供重要信息。研究表明,黄鲫基因组大小约为815Mb,重复序列比例为39.69%,杂合率为1.77%;通过初步组装,得到的ContigN50为35836bp,ScaffoldN50为107605bp。此外,在全基因组范围内,检测出了14.562379个微卫星位点,相对丰度约1713个·Mb^(-1);其中,二碱基重复最常见(90.64%),其次为单碱基重复(5.52%),6碱基重复较少(0.24%)。微卫星重复拷贝数主要分布在6~15次之间,AC/GT和AG/CT是最常见的2碱基重复类型。这些研究结果为黄鲫的遗传学及进化生物学研究提供了重要的信息,并且为黄鲫的遗传多样性保护提供了有用的分子标记。

鳓鱼全基因组survey分析及微卫星位点分布

为研究鳓鱼(Ilisha elongata)的遗传演化概况,对鳓鱼基因组进行了高通量测序并开展了survey分析和基因组范围内的遗传标记开发。K-mer分析结果显示,鳓鱼基因组大小约为692.8 Mb,杂合率为0.18%,重复序列比例为39.6%。基因组初步组装Scaffold N50为27694 bp,Contig N50为6306 bp。利用MISA软件对鳓鱼基因组的微卫星标记(simple sequence repeat,SSR)进行检索和分析,总共检测到786123个SSR位点,相对丰度为1204个/Mb。在所有类型中,重复最多的是二碱基,占SSR总量的75.94%,其SSR重复频率主要集中在6~28次;其次为单碱基和四碱基,分别占SSR总量的15.31%和4.25%。对二碱基类型而言,AC型具有最多的重复数量,为131732个,单碱基重复数量最多的则是A型,有48775个。研究结果表明,鳓鱼基因组经组装后可得到高质量的全基因组序列,经过筛选的SSR位点可为后续的遗传分子标记开发提供有力支持,研究结果可为鳓鱼种质资源管理和保护、生物进化和群体遗传等研究工作提供基础资料。

A Survey Study of Kindergarten Teachers’Use of ChatGPT to Support Instructional Design

With the rapid development of information technology,Artificial Intelligence(AI)is gradually applied to a wide range of fields,especially the powerful ability of ChatGPT to bring infinite possibilities for education,but teachers’attitudes toward using it are not yet clear.The study investigates the use of ChatGPT by kindergarten teachers to support instructional design using questionnaires and interviews to explore the attitudes and perceptions of kindergarten teachers toward its use.The results indicate that kindergarten teachers hold positive preferences for technology acceptance,perceived self-efficacy,and learning attitudes toward using ChatGPT for instructional design.Meanwhile,the study argues that more research is needed in the future to focus on how kindergarten teachers can aptly use ChatGPT to improve the quality of instruction in realistic instructionenvironments.