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Found 6525 publications
Psychometric Validation of the Modified, Short Version of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale in Serbian
Publication Name: Sexual Health and Compulsivity
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Page Range: 105-128
Description:
Pornography is used worldwide, and 3% of individuals may experience problematic pornography use (PPU, i.e. poorly controlled use resulting in significant distress and negative consequences). Therefore, instruments gauging PPU are needed in nation-specific languages. This study aimed to validate a modified version of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale-6 (PPCS-6) in the Serbian language among 1413 adults (52.9% males) aged from 18 to 54 (Mag e = 24.96, SD = 4.46). Exploratory factor analysis on the sample’s random half yielded a single factor explaining 43% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis on the sample’s other half revealed an acceptable model fit. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was acceptable. The scale exhibited configural and partial metric invariance across genders and convergent validity. Latent profile analysis identified that 8.1% of the participants were at risk of experiencing PPU. In comparison, this value was 9.6% based on a calculated cutoff score (≥ 19) with acceptable values (.69 and.96) of sensitivity and specificity. To conclude, the Serbian modified version of the PPCS-6 appears to be a valid and reliable scale for screening PPU.
Open Access: Yes
Nutritional and functional aspects of European cereal-based fermented foods and beverages
Publication Name: Food Research International
Publication Date: 2025-05-01
Volume: 209
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
European cereal-based fermented foods (ECBFFs) and alcoholic beverages have been fundamental components of regional diets for centuries, providing unique flavor profiles, essential nutrients, and a diverse array of health benefits. These foods, which encompass breads, beverages, and porridges, derive their functional and culinary properties from the activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. This review examines the nutritional and functional characteristics of ECBFFs, with a focus on their microbial composition and fermentation processes. It highlights various ECBFFs and alcoholic beverages, including conventional and sourdough breads, tarhana, boza, kvass, and beers examining their health-promoting properties and potential for commercial expansion. Key findings from the literature show that certain ECBFFs are abundant in prebiotics and probiotics, primarily due to the fermentation processes involving lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. These microorganisms generate bioactive compounds such as organic acids, bacteriocins, and phenolic compounds, which exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. ECBFFs can also enhance digestibility, improve mineral bioavailability, and support gut health, thereby promoting overall well-being. From a commercial perspective, products like Yosa and Proviva demonstrate the feasibility of developing innovative ECBFFs that align with contemporary dietary preferences. The future of ECBFFs is promising, offering extensive opportunities for research, innovation, and large-scale commercialization to meet the increasing consumer demand for functional, plant-based foods.
Open Access: Yes
Heritability and Trends in Selected Udder Traits and Their Relation to Milk Production in Holstein-Friesian Cows
Publication Name: Animals
Publication Date: 2025-05-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study aimed to evaluate the heritability (h2) estimates of some important udder conformation traits, their relationship to each other and with production, and their phenotypic and genetic trends over a 10-year period in relatively high-yielding Holstein-Friesian cows. A total of 15,032 cows from six herds in Hungary were tested for milk (MY), butterfat (FY), and protein (PY) production yields over 305 days in first lactation. In addition, their udder conformation was scored for udder attachment (FU), rear udder height (RUH), central ligament (CL), udder depth (UD), front teat placement (FTP), and udder texture (UT) on a 1–9 linear udder score scale. REML and BLUP single-step animal model and linear regression model were used for data analysis and estimation. The production traits of the cows were quite reasonable, with 10,179.4 kg milk, 380.3 kg fat, and 333.1 kg protein in a standard lactation of 305 days. The scores of the udder conformation traits (5.4 to 6.1) were slightly above the mean of 5 on a linear scale of 1–9. The h2 for MY, FY, and PY were obtained from 0.30 to 0.35, while those for udder traits were from 0.22 to 0.41. Phenotypic (rp ) and genetic (rg ) correlations for the relationship between production and udder conformation were weak or negligible (ranged from −0.33 to +0.15). Most of the associations between different udder traits were generally weak, but moderate positive correlations were observed between FU and UD (rp = 0.42, rg = 0.50 or 0.57), and between FU and UT (rp = 0.36, rg = 0.33 or 0.35). There were increasing genetic trends in the milk production (b = 2.2 to 16.5), but the studied udder conformation traits did not change over time (b = 0.00 to 0.03). In our study, despite an increase in milk yield over the studied ten-year period, udder conformation traits did not change. Therefore, considering that udder conformation scores were slightly above average and that udder traits were included in the selection index, we believe that it may be necessary to reconsider the udder conformation scoring system and its inclusion in the selection index.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/ani15091276
Real-time and parallel quality control processing on industrial production lines
Publication Name: Pollack Periodica
Publication Date: 2008-12-01
Volume: 3
Issue: 3
Page Range: 105-111
Description:
The subject of the article is the evaluation of three acoustical algorithms on industrial production lines. The algorithm is used for the inspection of work-pieces in a noisy industrial environment. High efficiency performance requirements restricted running time and expected precise results make these inspections problematic. A sequential and two parallel algorithms and processing methods for these measurements were developed. These algorithms are real-time and multi-channel processing methods on industrial production lines. They carry out series of precision measurements in the time frame available. After the inspection the quality class and usability of the pieces are determined. These computer-aided inspections are more effective than human measurements because they are more precise, can be repeated multiple times, even with different quality requirements. They are usable on high-speed industrial production lines to obtain results in digital format. © 2008 Akadémiai Kiadó.
Open Access: Yes
Stabilization of Expansive Soils Using Mechanical and Chemical Methods: A Comprehensive Review
Publication Name: Civil Engineering and Architecture
Publication Date: 2021-08-01
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Page Range: 1289-1294
Description:
The presence of expansive soils on construction sites is problematic in geotechnical engineering. The swell-shrink behaviour makes these soils not suitable to be used in their natural state. The expansive soil damages cause financial loss yearly more than floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes combined. Moreover, the cost of cut to spoil of expansive soils during construction projects has continued to rise because of the high cost of earthworks, haulage, and the increasing scarcity of spoil areas because of the built environment. Nonetheless, a proper stabilization technique can significantly enhance the expansive soil's properties. The research project attempts to review, report the limits and merits of mechanical and chemical methods utilized to stabilize expansive soils in line with their efficiency, environmental concerns, and cost-effectiveness. A review of mechanical and chemical treatment techniques is conducted in this regard. Ultimately, each stabilization method exhibits its merits and limitations. The lack of standards for the treatment of swelling soils is a significant problem in engineering practice. Specialists in the domain of soil treatment must work together to obtain an optimized stabilization approach and protocol. Moreover, engineers should perform a geoenvironmental assessment appropriate for chemical stabilization methods and additives utilized. This research work contributes as a guideline in the selection and application of chemical and mechanical stabilization methods.
Open Access: Yes
Nonlinear simulation of a nondestructive testing measurement system
Publication Name: Physica B Condensed Matter
Publication Date: 2006-02-01
Volume: 372
Issue: 1-2
Page Range: 373-377
Description:
A nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment has been fabricated. The description of the measurement set-up with some measured crack signals applying a Hall-type sensor, furthermore, the T,Ψ-Ψ potential formulation of the nonlinear eddy current field problem in the time domain can be found in this paper. The hysteresis characteristic of the material has been simulated by the previously developed neural network (NN) based isotropic vector hysteresis model. The nonlinear system of equations has been solved by the fixed-point iteration scheme via the polarization method. Comparisons between the results of the 3D simulations and the measurements are also presented. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access: Yes
Hard tick infestation of birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Falconiformes) in the Western Palearctic: New data and literature review
Publication Name: Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases
Publication Date: 2026-05-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Tick infestation of songbirds has been extensively studied at global and regional scales but relevant data on birds of prey remain scarce and fragmentary. Raptors are of particular epidemiological relevance because their large size, wide-ranging movements and nesting habits may facilitate long-distance dispersal of ticks, and endophilic tick species (e.g. from prey animals) may even persist in their re-used nests. In this study, we aimed to compensate for the lack of comprehensive data in this context. First, more than 1800 birds of prey were examined at 61 sites in Central and South-Eastern Europe, encompassing both continental and Mediterranean climatic regions. Ticks (n = 839) were obtained from 98 birds representing 13 raptor species from three avian orders. Twelve tick species were identified, the most abundant being Rhipicephalus turanicus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Ixodes ricinus. Several previously unknown tick–host associations were revealed. Molecular-phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences of Ixodes arboricola from Tawny Owls (Strix aluco) clustered separately from other conspecific sequences, raising the possibility that Ixodes strigicola Schulze and Schlottke, 1929 is a valid species. Owls proved to be the most heavily tick-infested, particularly Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) nestlings. Endophilic and rodent-associated tick species were significantly more common on owls and on bird species nesting in cavities or buildings, whereas diurnal raptors were predominantly infested by generalist and exophilic ticks. These patterns highlight the importance of nesting ecology and prey composition in shaping tick assemblages on raptors. The results provide novel insights into tick–raptor associations, contribute new records of tick species from birds of prey, and improve our understanding of the role of raptors in tick maintenance and dispersal which appears to be particularly important in the case of cavity-nesting species. In addition to field sampling, a comprehensive database from nearly 150 published sources revealed that 32 tick species have been reported from birds of prey in the Western Palearctic to date.
Open Access: Yes
Parametric cushioning lattice insole based on finite element method and machine learning: A preliminary computational analysis
Publication Name: Journal of Biomechanics
Publication Date: 2025-05-01
Volume: 184
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The cushioning performance of insole has always been a critical consideration in its design. While the development of intelligent methods and the emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) technology have enhanced design freedom and convenience, a standardized approach to guide designers in selecting optimal materials and structures for specific scenarios is still lacking. This study aims to propose a controllable parameterized lattice cushioning insole (PLI) by integrating finite element (FE) and machine learning (ML) methods. The insole performance can be adjusted by modifying the structural parameters (a, b) and the internal strut thickness (t). The findings indicate that PLI, under the optimal parameter combination (a = 2.54, b = 3.56, t = 3.15), can reduce plantar pressure by up to 44.45 %, which may be achieved by increasing the contact between the footwear and the foot. The data-driven PLI optimization design method proposed in this study significantly enhances the cushioning performance of insole structures, simplifies the optimization process for selecting insole structures or materials, and provides a systematic and efficient solution for insole design. Although the initial preparation of material data is time-intensive, the trained model eliminates the need for repeated laboratory gait analysis or plantar pressure measurements, offering a foundational reference for clinical applications in insole structure design.
Open Access: Yes
An hybrid training method for B-spline neural networks
Publication Name: 2005 IEEE International Workshop on Intelligent Signal Processing Proceedings
Publication Date: 2005-12-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 165-170
Description:
Current and past research has brought up new views related to the optimization of neural networks. For a fixed structure, second order methods are seen as the most promising. From previous works we have shown how second order methods are of easy applicability to a neural network. Namely, we have proved how the Levenberg-Marquard possesses not only better convergence but how it can assure the convergence to a local minima. However, as any gradient-based method, the results obtained depend on the startup point. In this work, a reformulated Evolutionary algorithm - the Bacterial Programming for Levenberg-Marquardt is proposed, as an heuristic which can be used to determine the most suitable starting points, therefore achieving, in most cases, the global optimum. © 2005 IEEE.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: DOI not available
