Robust distributed fixed-time cooperative hunting control for multi-quadrotor with obstacles avoidance.

This paper addressed the robust distributed fixed-time cooperative hunting problem of multiple quadrotors subject to disturbances in obstacles environment. To handle the underactuated issue inherent in quadrotor dynamics, an inner-outer (attitude-position) loop cascade control configuration is proposed to achieve the cooperative flight control of quadrotors. For position subsystem, as the information of target cannot be accessible to all quadrotors, a distributed fixed-time observer is devised to estimate the target's information. To improve the system's robustness, a fixed-time extended state observer is designed to reject disturbances actively. Based on two observers, the sliding mode position encirclement control protocol with repulsive force is presented to avoid obstacles and encircle the target within a fixed time. For attitude subsystem, a sliding mode attitude tracking control protocol is proposed such that tracking errors can converge to zero even under disturbances. The stability analysis is performed to show the stabilization of the whole closed-loop system with fixed-time convergence. Finally, two sets of comparison simulation are provided to show the superiority of the developed control strategy.

Modern educational needs of specialists in the public health system.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: Studying the opinion of public health system workers (emlpoyees) regarding existing educational problems and needs in the context of continuous professional development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Bibliosemantic, medical-statistical, sociological methods are used in the study. The research program provided for conducting sociological surveys of public health specialists in different regions of the country regarding the establishment of priority training topics for public health specialists; preferred methods of learning; barriers to access to education, etc. The scientific base of the research the regional centers for disease control and prevention have become. Statistical processing and mathematical analysis of materials was carried out using methods of statistical analysis. RESULTS: Results: The research has found that the priority topics of training for public health specialists are issues of epidemiology (which were indicated as very important by 67.7±3.7 and as important by 22.0±3.2 per 100 respondents); emergency and disaster management (67.7±3.7 and 31.1±3.6 per 100 respondents), quality and safety (53.0±3.9 and 38.4±3.8), practices based on on evidence (42.1±3.9 and 45.7±3.9) eHealth and digitalization (40.2±3.8 and 38.4±3.8), statistics (38.4±3.8 and 51 ,2±3.9), research methodology (32.9±3.7 and 51.2±3.9) and research ethics (12.8±2.6 and 67.7±3.7, respectively). Webinars (62.2±3.8 per 100 respondents) and online training (60.4±3.8), classroom (42.1±3.9) and hybrid (40.2±3.8) were identified as preferred forms. teaching. The obstacles to the continuous professional development of public health specialists are a lack of time and a lack of finances, a lack of information about desired training programs, their regulations, insufficient support from management, military aggression and the problems caused by it, etc. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The priority topics of training for public health specialists, preferred methods of training and barriers to access to training determined in the course of the study are the basis for improving the organization of continuous professional development of employees of public health centers.

Routine Automated Assessment Using Surgical Intelligence Reveals Substantial Time Spent Outside the Patient's body in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of surgical intelligence to routinely and automatically assess the proportion of time spent outside of the patient's body (out-of-body-OOB) in laparoscopic gynecological procedures, as a potential basis for clinical and efficiency-related insights. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of videos of laparoscopic gynecological procedures. SETTING: Two operating rooms at the Gynecology Department of a tertiary medical center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecological procedures between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022 in those two rooms. INTERVENTIONS: A surgical intelligence platform installed in the two rooms routinely captured and analyzed surgical video, using AI to identify and document procedure duration and the amount and percentage of time that the laparoscope was withdrawn from the patient's body per procedure. RESULTS: A total of 634 surgical videos were included in the final dataset. The cumulative time for all procedures was 639 hours, of which 48 hours (7.5%) were OOB segments. Average OOB percentage was 8.7% (SD = 8.7%) for all the procedures and differed significantly between procedure types (p < .001), with unilateral and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies showing the highest percentages at 15.6% (SD = 13.3%) and 13.3% (SD = 11.3%), respectively. Hysterectomy and myomectomy, which do not require the endoscope to be removed for specimen extraction, showed a lower percentage (mean = 4.2%, SD = 5.2%) than the other procedures (mean = 11.1%, SD = 9.3%; p < .001). Percentages were lower when the operating team included a senior surgeon (mean = 8.4%, standard deviation = 9.2%) than when it did not (mean = 10.1%, standard deviation = 6.9%; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Surgical intelligence revealed a substantial percentage of OOB segments in laparoscopic gynecological procedures, alongside associations with surgeon seniority and procedure type. Further research is needed to evaluate how laparoscope removal affects postoperative outcomes and operational efficiency in surgery.

Exploring the perceptions of nursing internship students and their faculty mentors regarding the complexities and hindrances associated with implementing the nursing process within the clinical setting: An in-depth qualitative investigation.

Background: Utilizing the nursing process within clinical settings serves to enhance the scientific stature of the nursing field. Nonetheless, various research findings suggest that nursing internship students encounter difficulties when it comes to implementing the nursing process and may lack the necessary proficiency. Objectives: The aim of this investigation is to identify the perceptions of nursing internship students and their faculty mentors regarding the complexities and hindrances associated with implementing the nursing process within the clinical setting. Design: A qualitative content analysis. Participants: Nursing internship students and their faculty mentors from the Isfahan School of Nursing and Midwifery. Methods: In this study, individual interviews were conducted with 13 participants. The data for this study were gathered through these semi-structured interviews and subsequently analyzed using the Granheim and Lundman method. To ensure the validity and reliability of the data, the evaluative criteria of Lincoln and Guba were employed. Results: The obstacles unveiled in this study can be categorized into three primary domains, each with its own subcategories: 1-Student role ambiguity (1-1 Lack of practical autonomy; 1-2 Insufficient proficiency in the nursing process; 1-3 Motivational deficiency). 2- Organizational Challenges (2-1 Shortage of nursing staff; 2-2 Suboptimal interpersonal dynamics); And 3- Gradual Erosion of the Nursing Process. Conclusion: Recognizing the paramount importance of the nursing process in enhancing patient care quality is universally accepted. Therefore, it is imperative to systematically identify and tackle the challenges associated with its application. This study highlights that these challenges stem from various factors, including the multifaceted roles assumed by nursing students, organizational shortcomings within healthcare institutions, and the neglect or erosion of the nursing process in specific clinical settings. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring the effective utilization of the nursing process within the nursing profession and for optimizing patient care outcomes.

Comparisons of stakeholders' influences, inter-relationships, and obstacles for circular economy implementation on existing building sectors.

Buildings are energy- and resource-hungry: their construction and use account for around 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions; they consume around 40% of all the energy produced; they are responsible for over 35% of the EU's total waste generation; and account for about 50% of all extracted (fossil) materials. Therefore, they present a significant challenge to meeting national and international Net Zero targets of reducing greenhouse emissions and fossil resource use. The CircularB Project, is at the heart of this issue, which will underpin synergies of multi-scale circular perspectives (from materials, to components, to assets and built environments), digital transformation solutions, data-driven and complexity science, stakeholder behavioral science, and interdisciplinary capabilities towards achievable, affordable and marketable circular solutions for both new and existing buildings, for sustainable urban design, and for circular built environments across Europe. This paper contributes to the project by deriving new insights into the stakeholders' influences, inter-relationships, and obstacles in the implementation of circular economy concepts on existing building stocks in Europe, which represent over 90% of whole building assets. In order to identify and derive the insights, our study is rigorously based on (i) a robust critical literature review of key documentations such as articles, standards, policy reports, strategic roadmaps and white papers; and (ii) interviews with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. Uniquely, our work spans across all scales of CE implementation from materials, to products and components, to existing building stocks, and to living built environments. The findings point out the current challenges and obstacles required to be tackled. Inadequacies of financial incentives and governmental enforcement (via policy, legislation, or directive) are commonly found to be the most critical obstacles found throughout Europe. Circular economy is the global challenge and not just a single country can resolve the climate issue without the cooperation of other countries. The insights thus highlight the essential need for harmonized actions and tactical/pragmatic policies promoted and regulated by the European Commission, national and local governments who can dominate the influence, promote inter-relationship, and overcome the barriers towards circular economy much more effectively.

Dynamic 3D Point-Cloud-Driven Autonomous Hierarchical Path Planning for Quadruped Robots.

Aiming at effectively generating safe and reliable motion paths for quadruped robots, a hierarchical path planning approach driven by dynamic 3D point clouds is proposed in this article. The developed path planning model is essentially constituted of two layers: a global path planning layer, and a local path planning layer. At the global path planning layer, a new method is proposed for calculating the terrain potential field based on point cloud height segmentation. Variable step size is employed to improve the path smoothness. At the local path planning layer, a real-time prediction method for potential collision areas and a strategy for temporary target point selection are developed. Quadruped robot experiments were carried out in an outdoor complex environment. The experimental results verified that, for global path planning, the smoothness of the path is improved and the complexity of the passing ground is reduced. The effective step size is increased by a maximum of 13.4 times, and the number of iterations is decreased by up to 1/6, compared with the traditional fixed step size planning algorithm. For local path planning, the path length is shortened by 20%, and more efficient dynamic obstacle avoidance and more stable velocity planning are achieved by using the improved dynamic window approach (DWA).

Comprehensive Investigation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): An In-Depth Analysis of Avionics Systems.

The evolving technologies regarding Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have led to their extended applicability in diverse domains, including surveillance, commerce, military, and smart electric grid monitoring. Modern UAV avionics enable precise aircraft operations through autonomous navigation, obstacle identification, and collision prevention. The structures of avionics are generally complex, and thorough hierarchies and intricate connections exist in between. For a comprehensive understanding of a UAV design, this paper aims to assess and critically review the purpose-classified electronics hardware inside UAVs, each with the corresponding performance metrics thoroughly analyzed. This review includes an exploration of different algorithms used for data processing, flight control, surveillance, navigation, protection, and communication. Consequently, this paper enriches the knowledge base of UAVs, offering an informative background on various UAV design processes, particularly those related to electric smart grid applications. As a future work recommendation, an actual relevant project is openly discussed.

A Psychometric Study of the Arabic Version of the "Searching for Hardships and Obstacles to Shots (SHOT)" Instrument for Use in Saudi Arabia.

Vaccines are considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century and the most cost-effective public health intervention to overcome diseases and disease-associated mortality. This study translated the "Searching for Hardships and Obstacles to Shots" (SHOT) instrument from English to Arabic and conducted a psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version to measure parental barriers to childhood immunization. The cross-sectional study utilized multistage cluster random sampling to recruit parents visiting 70 primary health centers in Jizan. Scale translation and cultural adaptation were used to translate the SHOT survey into Arabic. The survey revealed that the best-factor model was a one-factor solution for "barriers to child immunization." The first principal component explained the highest variance (56.22%), and subsequent components explained decreasing percentages of variance. The third principal component explained the decreased variance (4.61%), and subsequent components explained the decreasing percentages of variance. The overall reliability (determined by Cronbach's alpha) was 0.96. The strong internal consistency of the Arabic version of the SHOT instrument (as indicated by the high Cronbach's alpha coefficients) indicates that researchers and practitioners can confidently use this scale to measure parents' attitudes toward and perceptions of vaccinations. Furthermore, the study results will help policymakers develop programs or interventional initiatives to overcome these barriers.

Enhancing tomato disease resistance through endogenous antifungal proteins and introduced nematode-targeting dsRNA of biocontrol agent Bacillus velezensis HS-3.

BACKGROUND: As a type of biological control agent (BCA), Bacillus velezensis possesses the efficacy of inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms, promoting plant growth, and overcoming continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). However, there is limited reporting on the optimization of the cultivation conditions for such biocontrol agents and their role as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery vectors. RESULTS: In this study, a Bacillus velezensis strain HS-3 was isolated from the root zone of tomato plants with in vitro anti-Botrytis cinerea activity. The investigation into active compounds revealed that HS-3 predominantly employs proteins with molecular weights greater than 3 kDa for its antifungal activity. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis identified various proteases and chitosanase, further suggesting that HS-3 most likely employs these enzymes to degrade fungal cell walls for its antifungal effect. To optimize the production of extracellular proteins, fermentation parameters for HS-3 were systematically optimized, leading to an optimized medium (OP-M). HS-3 cultured in OP-M demonstrated enhanced capacity to assist tomato plants in withstanding CCOs. However, the presence of excessive nematodes in diseased soil resulted in the disease severity index (DSI) remaining high. An RNA interference mechanism was further introduced to HS-3, targeting the nematode tyrosine phosphatase (TP) gene. Ultimately, HS-3 expressing dsRNA of TP in OP-M effectively assisted tomatoes in mitigating CCOs, reducing DSI to 2.2% and 17.8% of the control after 45 and 90 days of growth, respectively. CONCLUSION: The advantages of Bacillus velezensis in crop disease management and the mitigation of CCOs become even more pronounced when utilizing both optimized levels of endogenous enzymes and introduced nematode-targeting dsRNA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Obstacles for using assistive technology in centres of special needs in the UAE.

Assistive technology (AT) represents one way to improve access and participation in the school and home environments of people with disabilities (PWDs). This study analyzed the obstacles to AT acquisition, knowledge, use, recommendation, and training in special needs centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the perspective of professionals (teachers and therapists). A questionnaire was developed and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The questionnaire was distributed to all special-needs centers in the UAE via Survey Monkey, and 78 responses were received. The results indicate the nature of obstacles to AT use in special education centers in the UAE, with obstacles related to parents having the highest mean. The results also indicated a statistically significant difference in professionals' perception of obstacles to using AT based on experience level, center location, and level of education. Implications for further research and recommendations for policy and practice are provided.

Use of assistive technology (AT) enhances accessibility for students with disabilities. Therefore, it is imperative for centers and schools to actively seek access to AT tools and services to meet the needs of students with disabilities.Educational institutions must establish clear AT policies and legislation to provide AT tools for students with disabilities and address barriers to their implementation.Qualitative studies should be conducted to better understand the obstacles perceived by students with disabilities, teachers, principals, other staff, and parents as well as to gather recommendations for improvement.

Essential factors, advanced strategies, challenges, and approaches involved for efficient expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli.

Producing recombinant proteins is a major accomplishment of biotechnology in the past century. Heterologous hosts, either eukaryotic or prokaryotic, are used for the production of these proteins. The utilization of microbial host systems continues to dominate as the most efficient and affordable method for biotherapeutics and food industry productions. Hence, it is crucial to analyze the limitations and advantages of microbial hosts to enhance the efficient production of recombinant proteins on a large scale. E. coli is widely used as a host for the production of recombinant proteins. Researchers have identified certain obstacles with this host, and given the growing demand for recombinant protein production, there is an immediate requirement to enhance this host. The following review discusses the elements contributing to the manifestation of recombinant protein. Subsequently, it sheds light on innovative approaches aimed at improving the expression of recombinant protein. Lastly, it delves into the obstacles and optimization methods associated with translation, mentioning both cis-optimization and trans-optimization, producing soluble recombinant protein, and engineering the metal ion transportation. In this context, a comprehensive description of the distinct features will be provided, and this knowledge could potentially enhance the expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli.

Accumulation patterns of tobacco root allelopathicals across different cropping durations and their correlation with continuous cropping challenges.

Introduction: Continuous cropping challenges have gradually emerged as pivotal factors limiting the sustainable development of agricultural production. Allelopathicals are considered to be the primary obstacles. However, there is limited information on allelopathic accumulation across various continuous cropping years and its correlation with the associated challenges. Methods: Tobacco was subjected to varying planting durations: 1 year (CR), 5 years (CC5), 10 years (CC10), and 15 years (CC15). Results: Our findings unveiled discernible disparities in tobacco growth patterns across diverse continuous cropping periods. Notably, the most pronounced challenges were observed in the CC5 category, characterized by yield reduction, tobacco black shank outbreaks, and a decline in beneficial flora. Conversely, CC15 exhibited a substantial reduction in challenges as the continuous cropping persisted with no significant differences when compared to CR. Within the tobacco rhizosphere, we identified 14 distinct allelopathic compounds, with 10 of these compounds displaying noteworthy variations among the four treatments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that eight allelopathic compounds exhibited autotoxic effects on tobacco growth, with MA, heptadecanoic acid, and VA ranking as the most potent inhibitors. Interaction network highlighted the pivotal roles of VA and EA in promoting pathogen proliferation and impeding the enrichment of 13 beneficial bacterial genera. Furthermore, a structural equation model elucidated that MA and EA primarily exert direct toxic effects on tobacco, whereas VA fosters pathogen proliferation, inhibits the enrichment of beneficial bacteria, and synergistically exacerbates the challenges associated with continuous cropping alongside EA. Discussion: These findings suggested discernible disparities in tobacco growth patterns across the various continuous cropping periods. The most pronounced challenges were observed in CC5, whereas CC15 exhibited a substantial reduction in challenges as continuous cropping persisted. VA may play a pivotal role in this phenomenon by interacting with pathogens, beneficial bacterial genera, and EA.

Barriers to Mental Illness Treatment in Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Mental illness is a disorder that can cause impairment and disability, affecting mood, thinking, and behavior; therefore, early intervention will reduce morbidity. This study aims to evaluate all the personal, family, societal, and medical barriers that prevent mental health patients from seeking consultation and treatment. METHODS: In Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 463 individuals aged 18 and above. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire, which consisted of two parts. The first part included sociodemographic data, while the second part contained subsections of society/family, personal, and medical barriers. RESULTS: The results showed that 379 (81.9%) indicated that society and family barriers impacted them, whereas 325 (70.3%) believed that personal barriers hindered seeking help. However, 294 (63.5%) opted for medical barriers as a hindrance. Regarding the highest barriers, 120 of the total respondents (25.9%) saw psychiatric illness as a source of shame and stigma, 166 respondents (35.9%) said that the psychiatric patient is seen as crazy, 159 of them (34.3%) believed it is tough for anyone to talk about their feelings and emotions and 183 respondent (39.5%) feared that psychiatric illness would decrease the chance of marriage to the appropriate person. Our findings also indicated a low trust in hospital treatment, hence a loss of confidence in using medications. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that societal stigma is the most common barrier preventing people from seeking mental health consultation. Many barriers differ significantly between males and females.

Investigating the temperature distribution behavior and flow parameters of argon fluid in a nanochannel with changing dimensions of the obstacle using the molecular dynamics (MD) method.

This article, examines the flow of argon inside a nanochannel with respect to the molecular dynamics (MD) in the free molecular flow regime using LAMMPS software. The nanochannel is made of copper featuring a square cross-section and obstacles of varying dimensions and values. In this study, the flow of argon fluid is three-dimensional. To gain a deeper understanding of the effect of solid walls within the nanochannel and their influence on flow behavior, the research is simulated in a nanochannel with all side walls for the 3D model and without side walls for the 2D model. This research assesses the effect of the obstacles' dimensions and values on the nanochannel wall surface and areas above the wall surface. The total dimensions of all simulated two- and three-dimensional atomic structures with a square cross-section are assumed to be 60 × 60 × 100 Å3. and the presence of square obstacles (with dimensions of 8 × 8 × 8 Å3) and rectangular obstacles (with dimensions of 8 × 18 × 8 Å3) is examined. This study seeks to understand the influence on flow behavior, temperature distribution, density, heat flux, velocity, and thermal conductivity coefficient. This study is simulated using a time step of 1 fs for 10,000 time steps, involving approximately 10,000-15,000 argon and copper atoms. The results of this research indicate that obstacles with structures of P and R and larger dimensions increase the number of solid atoms exhibiting stronger attractive forces. Compared to a smooth nanochannel, the thermal exchange between fluid and solid atoms results in a density increase of 17.5 % and 17.3 %, respectively. On the other hand, in the 3D nanochannel, the sidewalls of the nanochannel have reduced the effect of the presence of R and P obstacles with larger dimensions, which comparing to a smooth nanochannel, have increased the density by 8.21 % and 7.53 %, respectively. The obstacles with different spatial positions (P and R structures) in the two-dimensional nanochannel cause a rise in the thermal conductivity coefficient. The P structure obstacles have a better effect on the thermal conductivity coefficient in the 2D nanochannel compared to the R structure. In the three-dimensional nanochannel, utilizing smaller obstacles proves to be more effective because it results in better atom distribution or temperature distribution due to increased atomic collisions in the central region compared to the wall regions.

Strengths and Obstacles of Health Informatics and Health Information Management Education and Professions in Hail City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study.

Health and higher education ministries in Saudi Arabia recognize the need for a highly qualified workforce specializing in health informatics and information management (HIIM). Therefore, KSA colleges and universities offer HIIM programs, health information systems, and health information technology. It is critical to investigate the HIIM professions and education in Hail City due to differences in these educational programs. This study examined HIIM professions and education in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, and provided strategies and recommendations. Based on a qualitative research approach, we interviewed 39 academicians, health informaticians, and other stakeholders in Hail City. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) framework was used to explore HIIM status and make recommendations. According to participants, HIIM Saudi professionals in Hail City have been growing and motivated, as have the university's undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Informants indicated several weaknesses, but many opportunities were found, including Saudi Vision 2030 and a new HIIM faculty at the University of Hail. According to our findings, relevant specialties control HIIM leadership while unspecialized academicians provide instruction. The extraordinary transmission of digital health in Saudi Arabia promises to enhance HIIM professions and education strengths and opportunities and reduce their weaknesses and threats.

System-Level Factors Affecting Long-Term Care Wait Times: A Scoping Review.

Waitlists for long-term care (LTC) continue to grow, and it is anticipated aging populations will generate additional demand. While literature focuses on individual-level factors, little is known about system-level factors contributing to LTC waitlists. We considered these factors through a scoping review. Inclusion/exclusion included publication year (2000-2022), language, paper focus, and document type. A total of 815 abstracts were identified, only 17 studies were included. Through qualitative content analysis, 10 key factors were identified: (1) waitlist management styles, (2) inconsistent standards of admission, (3) personnel shortage, (4) insufficient community-based care, (5) inequitable distribution of services, (6) lack of system integration, (7) unintended consequences of insurance plans, (8) ranking preferences, (9) the debate of supply and demand, and (10) financial incentives. Targeting interventions to address waitlist management, community-based care capacity, and demographic trends could improve access. More research is needed to address system-level barriers to timely LTC access.

Caregivers' concerns through health professionals' eyes.

OBJECTIVES: Advancements in medicine and science have enabled more and more people to live longer with a chronic medical condition, namely cancer. Nevertheless, the palliative care (PC) approach continues to be introduced and incorporated later in the lives of patients and families dealing with such conditions. Thus, the need for individuals to care for this population in our society is increasing, giving rise to the so-called "informal caregivers." The present study intends to examine the main obstacles faced by informal caregivers taking care of a cancer patient receiving PC based on what health professionals working in these settings perceive and write down. To achieve this goal, the written files of 2 Portuguese palliative care institutions were analyzed. METHODS: An inductive thematic analysis was conducted, focusing on the contact between health professionals and family caregivers and based on the notes taken by health professionals. RESULTS: Three main overarching themes were identified: (1) burden, (2) intra-family impact of the illness, and (3) network vulnerabilities. Included in this are the emphasis on the role of the family and social support, the high levels of psychological morbidity and caregiver burden present over this period, and a great need for information about the illness. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: This study provided a broader awareness regarding the daily struggle experienced by family caregivers, particularly those who juggle between "roles." It is vital to understand the scope of the obstacles experienced by caregivers during the terminal phase of their loved one's illness, given how important it is to address the family's needs. Future studies and practitioners should consider these observations and topics when considering new approaches for this population, as they ought to be quite focused and short in time in order to meet people's needs.

Flour beetles prefer corners over walls and are slowed down with increasing habitat complexity.

Movement affects all key behaviours in which animals engage, including dispersal and habitat use. The red flour beetle, known as a cosmopolitan pest of stored products, was the subject of our study. We examined whether the beetles preferred corners, walls or open areas, and how turns or obstacles in corridors delayed the beetles' arrival at a target cell. Beetles spent significantly more time in corners than expected by chance, while they spent considerably less time in open areas than expected. However, no significant difference was observed between areas with two or three surrounding walls. This could be attributed to the beetles' stronger attraction to corners than crevices or the insufficient proximity of the third wall to the other two. Movement through the corridor was delayed by turns or obstacles, expressed in arrival probabilities, arrival times, time in the corridor or movement speed. Obstacles on the corridor's perimeter had a stronger effect on the beetle movement than those in the corridor's centre owing to the beetles' tendency to follow walls. The research is important also for applied purposes, such as better understanding beetle movement, how to delay their arrival to new patches, and where to place traps.

Health professionals' experience and perceived obstacles with managing patients' medication information in Norway: cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Access to correct and up to date medication information is crucial for effective patient treatment. However, persistent discrepancies exist. This study examines the experiences and challenges health professionals encounter while utilizing current digital solutions in the Norwegian healthcare system to manage patients' medication information. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis using quantitative survey data was conducted to investigate how health professionals managed patients' medication information. Content analysis was used to analyze free-text responses concerning challenges they encountered when transferring medication information and to identify factors deemed necessary for implementing the Shared Medication List in Norway. RESULTS: A total of 262 doctors and 244 nurses responded to the survey. A higher percentage of doctors (72.2%) expressed concerns regarding obtaining accurate and updated medication lists than nurses (42.9%), particularly for patients with polypharmacy (35.3%) or transitioning between primary and specialist care services (27.6%). The patient's verbal information was the main source for hospital doctors (17%) to obtain an overview of the patient's medication usage, while general practitioners (19%) and nurses (working in both primary and specialist care services, 28% and 27% respectively) predominantly relied on electronic prescriptions. Doctors, in particular general practitioners, reported carrying excessive responsibilities in coordinating with other health actors (84.8%) and managing patients' medication information. The vast majority of both doctors (84.4%) and nurses (82.0%) were in favor of a Shared Medication List. However, about a third of doctors (36.3%) and nurses (29.8%) expressed the need for a more balanced responsibility in updating and managing patients' medication information, while ensuring compatibility with existing digital systems. CONCLUSIONS: Fragmented resources for medication information and unclear responsibilities were prevalent concerns among both professional groups. Doctors voiced more concern than nurses about the accuracy of patients' medication list. While both groups are positive about a shared medication list, successful implementation requires proactive training initiatives and clearer role clarification.

Pigmentiphaga kullae CHJ604 improved the growth of tobacco by degrading allelochemicals and xenobiotics in continuous cropping obstacles.

Plant autotoxicity is considered to be one of the important causes of continuous cropping obstacles in modern agriculture, which accumulates a lot of allelochemicals and xenobiotics and is difficult to solve effectively. To overcome tobacco continuous obstacles, a strain Pigmentiphaga kullae CHJ604 isolated from the environment can effectively degrade these compounds in this study. CHJ604 strain can degrade 11 types of autotoxicity allelochemicals and xenobiotics (1646.22 µg/kg) accumulated in the soil of ten-years continuous cropping of tobacco. The 11 allelochemicals and xenobiotics significantly reduced Germination Percentage (GP), Germination Index (GI), and Mean Germination Time (MGT) of tobacco seeds, and inhibited the development of leaves, stems, and roots. These negative disturbances can be eliminated by CHJ604 strain. The degradation pathways of 11 allelochemicals and xenobiotics were obtained by whole genome sequence and annotation of CHJ604 strain. The heterologous expression of a terephthalate 1,2-dioxygenase can catalyze 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde, respectively. The phthalate 4,5-dioxygenase can catalyze phthalic acid, diisobutyl phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate. These two enzymes are conducive to the simultaneous degradation of multiple allelochemicals and xenobiotics by strain CHJ604. This study provides new insights into the biodegradation of autotoxicity allelochemicals and xenobiotics as it is the first to describe a degrading bacterium of 11 types of allelochemicals and xenobiotics and their great potential in improving tobacco continuous obstacles.