bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcatheter closure of tubular PDA with amplatzer plug 4 in preterm infants weighing between 900 and 3,400 g: the pros and cons
Authors: Mini Nathalie , Schneider Martin B. E. , Schneider Katja
Published: October 2023

Objective

To our knowledge, no prior study has focused on the outcome of PDA occlusion using an Amplatzer™ Vascular Plug 4 (AP4) in ill preterm infants. This study aims to highlight the pros and cons of AP4 in this cohort.

Methods

Between 2020 and 2022, 26 ill preterm infants underwent PDA closure in our centre. The median age, weight, and gestational age were 60 days (11–180 days), 1,900g (900–3,400 g), and 25 weeks (22–33 weeks), respectively. The indication of the intervention was hemodynamically significant PDA. A medical trial with non-steroid medication failed to close the ducts in all patients. Follow-up using echocardiography was done 24, 48, and 72 h after the intervention.

Results

Of 26 ducts, 21 were successfully closed with AP4. Five ducts shorter than 7 mm were unsuitable for AP4 and were closed with the Amplatzer Piccolo device. The median radiation time was 4 min (3–9 min). No early plug-related complications or deaths were documented. Plug-related jailing of the left pulmonary artery as a late complication was 9.5%, and LPA reintervention was required. All ducts were closed after 48 h.

Conclusion

Implantation of the AP4 using a 4 F 0.38 guide wire-compatible catheter without inserting a long sheath makes the closure of tubular ducts with this device feasible and uncomplicated with a short intervention time. However, the limited sizes with fixed lengths of the AP4 make it unsuitable for ducts wider than 4.5 mm and shorter than the chosen device length, which can increase the risk of significant left pulmonary stenosis. A wide range of plug diameters and lengths is required to accommodate the large and short ducts.
Evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on serum uric acid in asymptomatic hyperuricemia population: a randomized controlled clinical trial study protocol
Authors: Yu Ling-ling , Li Chen-nan , Fang Meng-yue , Ma Yan , Wang Bo , Lin Feng-ping , Liu Wen-hua , Tu Sheng-hao , Chen Zhe , Xie Wen-xi , Zhang Rui-yuan , Huang Yao , Zheng Cui-hong , Wang Yu
Published: October 2023

Background

The clinical dangers of asymptomatic hyperuricemia to human health have become increasingly prominent over the past 20 years. Previous studies have shown the potential benefits of acupuncture on uric acid levels in the body. However, definitive evidence is lacking. Our objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on serum uric acid (SUA) in individuals with asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Methods

This is a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial. A total of 180 eligible patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia will be recruited at three hospitals in China. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 16 sessions of manual acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. Patients will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be the change in SUA levels at week 8 after randomization. Secondary outcomes will include dynamic changes in SUA levels, efficacy rates, proportion of gout flare, body weight, and acute medication intake. The MGH Acupuncture Sensation Scale and adverse events related to acupuncture will be measured after each treatment. A blinding assessment will be performed on patients who receive at least one session of acupuncture. Data analyses will be performed on a full analysis set and a per-protocol set.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been obtained from the Clinical Trial Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (approval no. 2021-S135). Written informed consent will be obtained from enrolled patients. The findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05406830
Thermal performance of three horizontal ground heat exchanger systems: comparison of linear-loop, spiral-coil and slinky-coil arrangements
Authors: Hu Linwei , Rizvi Zarghaam Haider , Tobber Lisa , Wuttke Frank
Published: October 2023

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are highly efficient for heating and cooling buildings. Among the different types of ground source heat pumps, horizontal ground heat exchangers (HGHEs) gaining popularity due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of installation and high regeneration capacity. However, studies on the interaction and influence of the local environment with the HGHE and the thermal performance influenced by the arrangement and performance of the HGHE are insufficient. This study uses a three-dimensional numerical model to simulate three types of HGHEs, including linear-loop, spiral-coil, and slinky-coil arrangements. Instead of just one unit, three units are connected in series or parallel. The model considers the energy balance and the heat transfer and exchange processes between the heat exchanger and the soil. Simulation of cooling and heating for 1 year revealed that the slinky-coil arrangement is the most affected by heat fluxes at the ground surface, because of its maximum length, which leads to its lowest coefficient of performance (COP) value. The thermal performance of linear-loop and spiral-coil arrangements is similar, but considering the material cost, the linear-coil arrangement has the lowest installation cost and operating cost for 30 years.
The biomimetic potential of novel adaptations in subterranean animals
Authors: Hesselberg Thomas
Published: October 2023

Subterranean habitats can be considered harsh conditions with lack of light, low nutrients levels and constant high humidity. To thrive under such conditions, cave-adapted species have evolved a range of novel morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations. These adaptations might have significant biomimetic potential. Biomimetics or biologically inspired design is a relatively new interdisciplinary field that aims to harness the processes and mechanisms in nature that have been optimised over millions of years’ evolution to improve our own technology. There are two main approaches to biologically inspired design—the problem-driven approach starting with an engineering problem and searching through biological equivalents and the solution-driven approach, which starts with a biological example or solution followed by the identification of a suitable engineering application. While the former approach is the most popular and is favoured by engineers, the latter remains the most successful and is typically driven by fundamental biological research. However, few biomimetic solutions or concepts have so far been described from subterranean habitats despite the rich potential. In this review paper, I first outline the theory behind biologically inspired design before I review the few biomimetic related studies of cave adapted organisms mainly based on the exceptional lateral line systems in blind cave fish. However, the main body of the review focuses on identifying and discussing subterranean adaptations with a particular strong potential including biomimetics sensors, adhesion in high humidity and wet conditions and biomaterials
Native lagomorphs facilitate noxious weeds in a semi-arid rangeland
Authors: Garrett Shantell M. , Chigbrow Darrel , du Toit Johan T.
Published: October 2023

Rangeland management has traditionally focused on the grazing effects of livestock, or on wild ungulates because they are potential competitors with livestock. However, herbivory by smaller herbivores, such as lagomorphs, could play a much greater role in shaping the plant community than is commonly thought. Being selective feeders with high mass-specific metabolic rates, we hypothesized that lagomorphs impose an herbivory regime on the rangeland that differs from that of ungulates and drives the plant community toward a different composition. We used an 8-year exclosure experiment with three plot types (complete exclosure, partial exclosure, open rangeland), each 5.95 m2, to separate the effects of grazing by lagomorphs (jackrabbits and cottontails) from the effects of the large grazers (mainly cattle and bison) on vegetation structure and plant community composition. We replicated the experiment across 20 sites in a semiarid rangeland in the western US. The plant community in the complete exclosure plots (lagomorphs and ungulates excluded) developed a fivefold greater standing crop of grass than the open rangeland but supported the lowest biomass, density, and aerial cover of forbs. Partial exclosure plots (ungulates excluded, lagomorphs included) developed a community with higher forb phytomass (33.6% increase relative to open rangeland) and lower forb species richness (16.4% decrease relative to open rangeland). This effect was mainly caused by the encroachment of noxious weeds, including Salsola tragus (prickly Russian thistle/tumbleweed), which covered up to 37% of the ground in plots that lagomorphs had exclusive access to. We infer that selective grazing by lagomorphs facilitates noxious weeds that are elsewhere controlled to some extent by (a) the coarse grazing and trampling effects of large ungulates and (b) competition with native herbaceous species. For semiarid rangelands that have been degraded by livestock grazing, our complete and partial exclosures show that a reduction in stocking rate might not return the rangeland to its former state due to a hysteresis effect resulting from the facilitation of noxious weeds by lagomorphs. Rangeland management should be informed by an understanding of the entire food web, which includes the direct and indirect grazing effects of small herbivores such as lagomorphs.
The black book on Turin's pre-removal detention center (CPR). When legal turns political
Authors: Veglio Maurizio
Published: October 2023

The paper describes how NGOs, lawyers' associations and civil society reacted to the suicide of a young man from Guinea while detained in Turin's Pre-Removal Detention Centre (CPR), where migrants are detained for the sole purpose of deportation. Deprivation of freedom without any criminal record entails a legal scandal, something that challenges the rule of law: the limitation of freedom is reserved to non-EU citizens who now come under the jurisdiction of lay judges (Justice of the Peace), despite decisions on personal freedom are exclusively handled by full professional judges. Furthermore, the legal ground for the detention of undocumented migrants is surprisingly fragile and fragmentary, often resorting to mere ministerial circulars where a law should be mandatory. Defying almost 25 years of indifference, silent acceptance and ignorance, the network of activists launched a campaign to shut the CPR down, publishing the Black Book on Turin's CPR and raising the public attention against the segregation of migrants through individual accounts and lived experiences.
Sex- and age-specific aspects of human peripheral T-cell dynamics
Authors: Mika Justyna , Yoshida Kengo , Kusunoki Yoichiro , Candéias Serge M. , Polanska Joanna
Published: October 2023

Background

The diversity of the antigenic T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire clonally expressed on T lymphocytes is a key element of the adaptive immune system protective functions. A decline in diversity in the older adults is associated with health deterioration. This diversity is generated by the rearrangement of TRB genes coding for TCR chains during lymphocyte differentiation in the thymus, but is essentially maintained by peripheral T lymphocytes proliferation for most of life. Deep sequencing of rearranged TRB genes from blood cells allows the monitoring of peripheral T cell repertoire dynamics. We analysed two aspects of rearranged TRB diversity, related to T lymphocyte proliferation and to the distribution of the T cell clone size, in a collection of repertoires obtained from 1 to 74 years-old donors.

Results

Our results show that peripheral T lymphocytes expansion differs according to the recombination status of their TRB loci. Their proliferation rate changes with age, with different patterns in men and women. T cell clone size becomes more heterogeneous with time, and, in adults, is always more even in women. Importantly, a longitudinal analysis of TRB repertoires obtained at ten years intervals from individual men and women confirms the findings of this cross-sectional study.

Conclusions

Peripheral T lymphocyte proliferation partially depends on their thymic developmental history. The rate of proliferation of T cells differing in their TRB rearrangement status is different in men and women before the age of 18 years old, but similar thereafter.
The tumor micro-environment in pediatric glioma: friend or foe?
Authors: Messiaen Julie , Jacobs Sandra A. , De Smet Frederik
Published: October 2023

Brain tumors are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality related to cancer in children, where high-grade glioma harbor the worst prognosis. It has become obvious that pediatric glioma differs significantly from their adult counterparts, rendering extrapolations difficult. Curative options for several types of glioma are lacking, albeit ongoing research efforts and clinical trials. As already proven in the past, inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity plays an important role in the resistance to therapy and thus implicates morbidity and mortality for these patients. However, while less studied, the tumor micro-environment (TME) adds another level of heterogeneity. Knowledge gaps exist on how the TME interacts with the tumor cells and how the location of the various cell types in the TME influences tumor growth and the response to treatment. Some studies identified the presence of several (immune) cell types as prognostic factors, but often lack a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms, possibly leading to contradictory findings. Although the TME in pediatric glioma is regarded as “cold”, several treatment options are emerging, with the TME being the primary target of treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to study the TME of pediatric glioma, so that the interactions between TME, tumoral cells and therapeutics can be better understood before, during and after treatment. In this review, we provide an overview of the available insights into the composition and role of the TME across different types of pediatric glioma. Moreover, where possible, we provide a framework on how a particular TME may influence responses to conventional- and/or immunotherapy.
Pedagogical impact of integration of musculoskeletal anatomy blended learning on physiotherapy education
Authors: Delafontaine Arnaud , Saiydoun Gabriel , Frigout Jérôme , Fabeck Laurent , Degrenne Olivier , Sarhan François-Régis
Published: October 2023

Background

In physiotherapy education, blended learning is recognized to be more effective compared to traditional teaching. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of a musculoskeletal anatomy blended learning program on skills developed by students.

Methods

We conducted an observational retrospective monocentric study in a French physiotherapy school named “X.” Ninety-two first-year students in the 2017–18 baseline group (students with traditional face-to-face learning), and ninety-eight first-year students and ninety-five second-year students in the 2018–19 and 2019–20 blended learning experimental groups was included. A success rate of the anatomy final written exam, defined by the percentage of students scoring 50% or above, was analyzed between 2017 and 2020. We also evaluated the pedagogical value of musculoskeletal e-learning and its usefulness for preparing the student for their anatomy final written exam at «X».

Results

We observed an improvement in the success rate of the anatomy final written exam between the 2017–18 baseline group, 2018–19 and 2019–2020 experimental groups during first (Kruskal–Wallis = 74.06, df = 2, p < 0.001) and second semester (Kruskal–Wallis = 173.6, df = 2, p < 0.001). We obtained a data survey and questionnaire response rate of 74% (n = 89/120) for the 2018–19 and 62% (n = 72/116) for the 2019–20 experimental groups. Concerning questionnaire response, they were no significant statistical difference between 2018–19 and 2019–20 experimental groups.

Conclusion

Blended learning could improve student success rate of the anatomy final written exam and learning of professional physiotherapy skills.
Unraveling the rate-limiting step in microorganisms' mediation of denitrification and phosphorus absorption/transport processes in a highly regulated river-lake system
Authors: Ding Jiewei , Yang Wei , Liu Xinyu , Zhao Qingqing , Dong Weiping , Zhang Chuqi , Liu Haifei , Zhao Yanwei
Published: October 2023

River–lake ecosystems are indispensable hubs for water transfers and flow regulation engineering, which have frequent and complex artificial hydrological regulation processes, and the water quality is often unstable. Microorganisms usually affect these systems by driving the nutrient cycling process. Thus, understanding the key biochemical rate-limiting steps under highly regulated conditions was critical for the water quality stability of river–lake ecosystems. This study investigated how the key microorganisms and genes involving nitrogen and phosphorus cycling contributed to the stability of water by combining 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing using the Dongping river–lake system as the case study. The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower in lake zones than in river inflow and outflow zones (p < 0.05). Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Microbacterium were the key microorganisms associated with nitrate and phosphate removal. These microorganisms contributed to key genes that promote denitrification (nirB/narG/narH/nasA) and phosphorus absorption and transport (pstA/pstB/pstC/pstS). Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that environmental factors (especially flow velocity and COD concentration) have a significant negative effect on the key microbial abundance (p < 0.001). Our study provides theoretical support for the effective management and protection of water transfer and the regulation function of the river–lake system.
Does in-vehicle automation help individuals with Parkinson’s disease? A preliminary analysis
Authors: Giang Wayne C.W. , Zheng Haolan , Gibson Beth , Patel Bhavana , Ramirez-Zamora Adolfo , Winter Sandra , Jeghers Mary , Li Yuan , Classen Sherrilene
Published: October 2023

Introduction

PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects, according to the ICF, body systems (cognitive, visual, and motor), and functions (e.g., decreased executive functions, decreased visual acuity, impaired contrast sensitivity, decreased coordination)—all which impact driving performance, an instrumental activity of daily living in the domain of “Activity” and “Participation” according to the ICF. Although there is strong evidence of impaired driving performance in PD, few studies have explored the real-world benefits of in-vehicle automation technologies, such as in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), for drivers with PD. These technologies hold potential to alleviate driving impairments, reduce errors, and improve overall performance, allowing individuals with PD to maintain their mobility and independence more safely and for longer periods. This preliminary study aimed to fill the gap in the literature by examining the impact of IVIS and ADAS on driving safety, as indicated by the number of driving errors made by people with PD in an on-road study.

Methods

Forty-five adults with diagnosed PD drove a 2019 Toyota Camry equipped with IVIS and ADAS features (Toyota Safety Sense 2.0) on a route containing highway and suburban roads. Participants drove half of the route with the IVIS and ADAS systems activated and the other half with the systems deactivated.

Results

The results suggest that systems that assume control of the driving task, such as adaptive cruise control, were most effective in reducing driving errors. Furthermore, individual differences in cognitive abilities, particularly memory, were significantly correlated with the total number of driving errors when the systems were deactivated, but no significant correlations were present when the systems were activated. Physical capability factors, such as rigidity and bradykinesia, were not significantly correlated with driving error.

Discussion

Taken together, these results show that in-vehicle driver automation systems can benefit drivers with PD and diminish the impact of individual differences in driver cognitive ability.
Effect of adjuvant radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in elder women with early-stage breast cancer: a propensity-score matching analysis
Authors: Han Tingting , Shi Mingwei , Chen Qiwei , Chen Dongbo , Hao Jiqing
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The study aimed to explore the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in elder women with early-stage breast cancer (BC).

Methods

BC patients with 70-79 years of age, stage T1‐2N0‐1M0, undergoing BCS were screened in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. The clinicopathological characteristics were balanced with propensity-score matching (PSM) method. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of adjuvant RT on BC patients.

Results

Ultimately, 12,310 patients treated with adjuvant RT and 4837 patients treated with no RT, were involved in the analysis. Overall, patients treated with adjuvant RT was associated with a better breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) (HR: 1.980 [1.596- 2.456], P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.214 [1.966- 2.494], P < 0.001) than those who did not undergo RT. After 1:1 PSM, adjuvant RT still performed advantage in both BCSS (HR: 1.918 [1.439- 2.557], P < 0.001) and OS (HR: 2.235 [1.904- 2.624], P < 0.001). In the multivariate COX analysis of BCSS, widowed, divorced and separated patients, tumor grade III, T2 stage, N1 stage, no RT, molecular subtypes with luminal B and triple negative were associated with a shorter BCSS (P < 0.05). In the multivariate COX analysis of OS, age ≥74 years, widowed, divorced and separated patients, tumor grade II/III, T2 stage, no RT, no chemotherapy, molecular subtypes with triple negative were associated with a shorter OS (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the advantages of adjuvant RT were observed in all subgroup analysis.

Conclusion

Adjuvant RT after BCS can improve both BCSS and OS in elderly patients with early-stage BC. Additionally, all subgroups analysis-derived BCSS and OS were in support of RT.
Lung adenocarcinoma in a patient with Lynch syndrome: a case report and literature review
Authors: Hodges Alan , Sun Kai , Sheu Tiffany G. , Bernicker Eric H.
Published: October 2023

This article presents a case of a 62-year-old Vietnamese woman with a history of Lynch syndrome (LS), who developed lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR L858R mutation. LS is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by a pathogenic germline variant in DNA mismatch repair genes, often leading to microsatellite instability. While LS is primarily associated with gastrointestinal, endometrial, ovarian, and urologic tract cancers, lung cancer accounts for less than 1% of LS-related cancers, with only six cases of LS-related lung cancer previously reported in the literature. The patient underwent multiple lines of treatment for her lung adenocarcinoma, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, stereotactic body radiation therapy, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab, amivantamab, and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan, but all resulted in only a partial response followed by a progressive disease. This case highlights the complex interplay of genetic cancer predisposition syndromes and the development of spontaneous driver mutations in the disease course and the subsequent management of tumors arising in these patients.
Case report: A compound heterozygous mutations in ASNS broadens the spectrum of asparagine synthetase deficiency in the prenatal diagnosis
Authors: Zhu Linyan , Sun Yixi , Xu Yuqing , Jin Pengzhen , Ding Huiqing , Dong Minyue
Published: October 2023

Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by severe progressive microcephaly, global developmental delay, spastic quadriplegia, and refractory seizures. ASNSD is caused by variations of the ASNS gene. The present study showed a Chinese family with a fetus suffering microcephaly. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the disease-associated genetic variants. Compound heterozygous variants c.97C>T p. (R33C) and c.1031-2_1033del were identified in the ASNS gene and the variants were inherited from the parents. The mutation site c.97C>T was highly conserved across a wide range of species and predicted to alter the local electrostatic potential. The variant c.1031-2_1033del was classified pathogenic. However, there is no case report of prenatal diagnosis of ASNSD. This is the first description of fetal compound mutations in the ASNS gene leading to ASNSD, which expanded the spectrum of ASNSD.
Reimbursement decision-making system in Poland systematically compared to other countries
Authors: Mela Aneta , Rdzanek Elżbieta , Jaroszyński Janusz , Furtak-Niczyporuk Marzena , Jabłoński Mirosław , Niewada Maciej
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Our objective was to analyze and compare systematically and structurally reimbursement systems in Poland and other countries.

Methods: The systems were selected based on recommendations issued by the Polish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariffication (AHTAPol), which explicitly referred to other countries and agencies). Consequently, apart from Poland, the countries included in the analysis were England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Relevant information and data were collected through a systematic search of PubMed (Medline), Embase and The Cochrane Library as well as competent authority websites and grey literature sources.

Results and discussion: In most of the countries, the submission of a reimbursement application is initiated by a pharmaceutical company, and only a few countries allow it before a product is approved for marketing. All of the agencies analyzed are independent and some have regulatory function of reimbursement decision making body. A key criterion differentiating the various agencies in terms of HTA is the cost-effectiveness threshold. Most of the countries have specific mechanisms to improve access to expensive specialty drugs, including cancer drugs and those used for rare diseases. Reimbursement systems often lack consistency in appreciating the same stages, leading to heterogeneous decision-making processes. The analysis of recommendations issued in different countries for the same medicinal product will allow a better understanding of the relations between the reimbursement system, HTA assessment, stakeholders involvement and decision on reimbursement of innovative drugs.
New terminology of medication adherence enabling and supporting activities: ENABLE terminology
Authors: Kardas Przemyslaw , Aarnio Emma , Agh Tamas , van Boven Job F. M. , Dima Alexandra Lelia , Ghiciuc Cristina Mihaela , Kamberi Fatjona , Petrova Guenka Ivanova , Nabergoj Makovec Urska , Trečiokienė Indrė
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Medication non-adherence negatively affects the effectiveness of evidence-based therapies and sustainability of healthcare systems. Lack of agreed terminology of medication adherence enabling and supporting activities leads to underuse of the available tools. The ENABLE COST Action was aimed at proposing a new terminology for these activities in order to help both scientific research and its clinical application.

Methods: Initial discussions within the ENABLE Working Groups allowed for the conceptualization of four interlinked terms related to adherence, i.e., “medication adherence technology”, “medication adherence enhancing intervention”, “best practice” and “reimbursement”. The iterative process of internal discussion was structured around two dedicated international workshops. Moreover, extensive stakeholder consultations have been organised, including an interactive online survey used to assess the level of agreement with, and the clarity of relevant terms and definitions proposed.

Results: Detailed analysis of the results of this process allowed for fine-tuning of the items, and finally, for proposing the final set of definitions. Across all the three phases of this process, the definitions were substantially modified to better reflect the concepts, simplify the language, and assure completeness and cohesiveness of terminology. Feedback obtained from the stakeholders helped this process and confirmed that the final terms and definitions were well received by the experts active in the field of medication adherence.

Discussion: Covering the gap in the existing terminology, this work proposes a cohesive set of terms and definitions applicable to medication adherence enabling and supporting activities. Promoting evidence-based approach to this field, this terminology may help research, clinical practice and policy.
In the Face of a Pandemic: “I Felt the Same as When the War Started”—A Qualitative Study on COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Bosankic-Cmajcanin Nina , Musa Sanjin , Draganovic Selvira
Published: October 2023

Objectives: To conduct qualitative study with different target groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to explore their views on barriers and drivers for COVID-19 vaccination, and to see if and how barriers and drivers vary between urban and rural locations, and different professional roles.

Methods: The theoretical framework underpinning the study is the capability-opportunity-motivation (COM-B) behavior change framework, which has been adapted to monitor vaccine related behavior and attitudes. Data was collected from June to September 2022 through moderated discussions in focus groups. The total of 162 participants participated in 16 focus groups.

Results: Among the key barriers to successful immunization identified across target groups were insufficient knowledge about vaccines, pandemic fatigue, concerns about the rapid development of the vaccine and its effectiveness, lack of confidence in the healthcare system. Some of the main drivers of vaccination against COVID-19 were confidence in science and expert recommendations.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 immunization policy undergoes continuous changes, as do the pandemic prospects; we encourage further research to track the evolution of vaccine related attitudes, inform immunization policy, and create evidence-based interventions.
Presenteeism, Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress among Portuguese Workers in a Private Social Solidarity Institution during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Maurício Ana Catarina , Laranjeira Carlos
Published: October 2023

Under normal circumstances, the working population exhibits high levels of psychological distress and presenteeism, a scenario which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, few studies have analyzed presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the current research. We aimed to explore the levels of presenteeism and associated factors, job satisfaction, and psychological distress in a sample of Portuguese workers in a Private Social Solidarity Institution (the acronym in Portugal is IPSS). In 2022, an observational, cross-sectional survey of workers from an IPSS in the central region of Portugal was conducted. The study included a total of 71 employees who granted written permission. The survey collected general and professional information, as well as the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (S20/23), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Presenteeism was reported by 32 (45.1%) workers and sickness absence by 38 (54.3%). Most of the individual S20/23 evaluations indicated a greater level of satisfaction (mean  ≥  4.5 pts.), except for the question related to salary, which received a higher level of dissatisfaction (mean = 3.36  ±  1.9 pts.). Around 50.7% of participants had a high or very high risk of suffering or of suffering a mental disorder. The correlation matrix indicated a significant moderate positive correlation between presenteeism and job satisfaction and a significant moderate negative correlation between presenteeism and psychological distress (p < 0.01). We found five predictors for presenteeism: marital status, quality of sleep, sickness absenteeism, health perception, and psychological distress (R2 = 0.358). We anticipate that our results will spark more studies about the practical consequences of presenteeism for fostering better health and well-being at work.
Enhancing Upland Rice Growth and Yield with Indigenous Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Isolate at N-Fertilizers Dosage
Authors: Harahap Rahma Tia , Azizah Isnaniar Rahmatul , Setiawati Mieke Rochimi , Herdiyantoro Diyan , Simarmata Tualar
Published: October 2023

Upland rice farming plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on the growth of upland rice. The bioassay and pot experiments were conducted to select the capable isolates of PGPR and to investigate the effect of the PGPR inoculant on the N fertilizer efficiency and agronomic traits of upland rice. The bacterial isolates were identified through a biochemical analysis and tested under controlled greenhouse conditions. The selected PGPR inoculant was formulated as a liquid biofertilizer (LB). The three capable isolates were obtained to fix nitrogen, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), organic acid, and nitrogenase activity and were identified through a biomolecular analysis as Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp. The application of the LB into the soil at a dose of 10 L ha−1 and 50 kg ha−1 N resulted in a grain yield of 29.81 g pot−1 and a relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value of 235.08%, signifying a significant improvement over the conventional method. Several variables, including the number of grains, number of panicles, root length, 1000-grain weight, population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and nitrogen uptake exhibited a strong correlation with the grain yield, accounting for 97.80% of the observed variation. These findings show the enormous potential of PGPR isolates, specifically of Delftia tsuruhatensis strain D9, Delftia sp. strain MS2As2, and Bacillus sp., in significantly enhancing the upland rice output in Indonesia. Furthermore, the use of an LB as a biofertilizer in conjunction with nitrogen fertilization provides a viable and sustainable way to increase yields and enhance the overall sustainability of the region’s upland rice farming systems.
Atomization Characteristics of a Hollow Cone Nozzle for Air-Assisted Variable-Rate Spraying
Authors: Yuan Feixiang , Gu Chenchen , Yi Kechuan , Dou Hanjie , Li Si , Yang Shuo , Zou Wei , Zhai Changyuan
Published: October 2023

During variable-rate spraying in orchards, the atomization characteristics and distribution of droplets in and out of the target area can be affected by the sprayer pressure. In this study, a variable-rate spraying control system test bench was designed, and a hollow cone nozzle QY82.317.22 was selected. The droplet atomization characteristics, including volume median diameter (Dv0.5), the relative span of the droplet spectrum, and droplet velocity at different spray pressures, were studied at distances ranging from 0.4 to 2.4 m from the nozzle orifice with an air velocity of 10 m/s at the nozzle orifice position. The effects of longitudinal distance, transverse distance, and spray pressure on Dv0.5, relative span, and droplet velocity were analysed by multiple linear regression analysis, and the regression model was established. The experimental results show that at a longitudinal distance of 1.8 m, Dv0.5 ranges from 120 to 150 μm, meeting the requirements for optimal droplet size for controlling crawling pests and plant diseases on crop leaves; and the relative span is 1.2, indicating a wide droplet spectrum. At different pressure conditions, Dv0.5 decreases as pressure increases. Through multiple linear regression analysis, the longitudinal distance, the transverse distance, and the spray pressure have high significance for Dv0.5 and the droplet velocity. The longitudinal distance and the transverse distance have a highly significant effect on the relative span. In this study, the mathematical relational model of droplet characteristics at different spatial positions and different pressures was established, providing an agricultural reference for predicting the droplet characteristics at different spatial positions to achieve the best application effect. This model is conducive to the effective use of pesticides and reduces environmental pollution.
Significance of Phosphate Nano-Fertilizers Foliar Application: A Brief Real-Field Study of Quantitative, Physiological Parameters, and Agro-Ecological Diversity in Sunflower
Authors: Ernst Dávid , Kolenčík Marek , Šebesta Martin , Ďurišová Ľuba , Kšiňan Samuel , Tomovičová Lenka , Kotlárová Nikola , Kalúzová Mária , Černý Ivan , Kratošová Gabriela , Žitniak Čurná Veronika , Ivanič Porhajašová Jana , Babošová Mária , Dobročka Edmund , Qian Yu , Swamiappan Sasikumar , Illa Ramakanth , Gayathri Radhakrishnan Shankara , Sunil B. Ratna , Ducsay Ladislav
Published: October 2023

One of the challenges in agriculture practices is guaranteeing an adequate and bioavailable phosphorus supply for plants on phosphorus-deficient soils. A promising alternative lies in the utilization of phosphate nano-fertilizers (NFs) through spray applications. Therefore, this short-term study aimed to investigate the yet undetermined widespread impact of P-NFs on crops characterized by broad leaves, an intensive rate of photosynthesis, and belonging to the oilseed plant, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). To achieve this, NFs were applied at lower concentrations of various phosphate-based NFs, including (i) nano-hydroxylapatite (nano-Hap) and (ii) a mixture of nano-calcium zinc phosphate and macro-sized parascholzite (nano/macro-ZnPhos), in comparison to the NF-free control. The study was carried out under authentic field conditions during the 2022 vegetation season at the Dolná Malanta site within the Central European Region. The empirical evidence presented herein indicates that the utilization of biocompatible and bioactive nano-Hap, initially engineered for biomedical applications, and nano/macro-ZnPhos, now foliarly applied at reduced concentrations, elicited a statistically significant elevation in quantitative parameters and seasonal physiological responses. The parameters analyzed included head diameter, dry head weight, seed yield per hectare, nutritional seed oiliness, etc. as well as the physiological normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), stomatal conductance index (Ig), and crop water stress index (CWSI). In terms of agro-ecological terrestrial bio/diversity, it was evident that the nano/macro-ZnPhos was the most hospitable variant for the terrestric insect community, but surprisingly, the agronomically more popular nano-Hap showed only statistically insignificant changes in the diversity of the detected communities. However, the relevance of outcomes highlighted using nano-fertilizers, supporting the concept of precision and sustainable agriculture under field conditions.
Identifying Critical Regulators in the Viral Stress Response of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using Large-Scale Transcriptomics Data
Authors: Shahriari Amir Ghaffar , Majláth Imre , Aliakbari Massume , Ghodoum Parizipour Mohamad Hamed , Tahmasebi Aminallah , Nami Fatemeh , Tahmasebi Ahmad , Taherishirazi Mohsen
Published: October 2023

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation has been globally restricted by many plant viruses such as the Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), and Brome mosaic virus (BMV). Herein, the transcriptome of wheat was in silico analyzed under mono- (WSMV, BSMV, or BMV), bi- (BMV&BSMV, BMV&WSMV, and BSMV&WSMV), and tripartite (WSMV, BSMV, and BMV) infections using the RNA-seq technique. Total numbers of 1616/270, 5243/690 and 5589/2183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up/down-regulated during the bipartite infection of BMV&BSMV, BMV&WSMV and BSMV&WSMV, respectively, while the tripartite infection resulted in the up/down-regulation of 6110/2424 DEGs. The NAC and bHLH were the most commonly presented transcription factor (TF) families in WSMV, BMV, and BSMV infection, while C2H2, bHLH, and NAC were the TF families involved in BMV&WSMV, BMV&BSMV, and BSMV&WSMV infections, respectively. The RLK-Pelle_DLSV was the most commonly expressed protein kinase (PK) family in all infection patterns. Promoter analysis showed that the motifs involved in gene expression, CUL4 RING ubiquitin ligase complex, stress response, brassinosteroid response, and energy-related pathways were significantly induced in wheat plants under bipartite infections. The gene expression network analysis showed that a defense-related gene, i.e., allene oxide synthase (AOS) gene, serves as a crucial hub in tripartite infections.
Effects of Different Tillage Practices on Slope Erosion Characteristics of Peanut Field
Authors: Liang Xinlan , Song Ke , Zhang Youheng , Huang Hongliang , Wang Yong , Cao Ying
Published: October 2023

Under three rainfall intensities (60–90–120 mm/h) and four tillage practices (longitudinal ridge tillage, cross ridge tillage, flat tillage and hole sowing), field experiments was conducted during the podding stage of peanuts to investigate the changes in hydrodynamic parameters and the erosion response on purple soil slope cropland in order to reveal the soil and water conservation benefits of different tillage practices. The results showed that: (1) The sediment yield of the four tillage practices was ranked in descending order: longitudinal ridge tillage, flat tillage, hole sowing, and cross ridge tillage. Under the same rainfall intensity, there were no significant differences in runoff among these four tillage practices (p > 0.05), whereas sediment yield varied significantly. (2) The average flow velocity, Reynolds number, and Froude number of each treatment were positively correlated with rainfall intensity, while the resistance coefficient was negatively correlated. Flat tillage and cross ridge tillage were intermediate. The Reynolds number and Froude number of each treatment did not exceed the critical value and were generally within the laminar flow range, except for the longitudinal ridge tillage treatment at 120 mm/h rainfall intensity. (3) The sediment yield intensity on the slope was negatively correlated with the resistance coefficient, following a power function. The runoff shear stress and runoff power on each treatment were both positively correlated with sediment yield intensity in a linear manner. Compared to longitudinal ridge tillage, the other three tillage practices showed much better soil and water conservation benefits. Among them, cross ridge tillage exhibited the best water storage and soil conservation effects. In terms of hydraulics, longitudinal ridge tillage and flat tillage increased the erosive force required for sediment initiation and suppressed erosion occurrence. The research results were of great significance in revealing the characteristics of runoff erosion in purple soil areas and controlling tillage practices for soil erosion in purple soil areas.
The Integrated Effects of Biostimulant Application, Mechanical Weed Control, and Herbicide Application on Weed Growth and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield
Authors: Gazoulis Ioannis , Kanatas Panagiotis , Antonopoulos Nikolaos , Kokkini Metaxia , Tsekoura Anastasia , Demirtzoglou Triantafyllia , Travlos Ilias
Published: October 2023

A field trial was conducted (2020–2021) in a randomized complete block design arranged according to the split-plot design to evaluate the integrated effects of an alternative fertilization practice based on the application of a microbial biostimulant in combination with different weed control methods on weed growth and maize productivity. Two fertilization practices, conventional (CF) and alternative (AF), formed the main plots. The CF supplied maize with 160 kg N ha−1. The AF included a foliar application of the biostimulant NitroStim®, which contains N2-fixing bacteria (1 × 1012 colony forming units; CFU L−1) along with a 50% lower fertilizer incorporation rate (80 kg N ha−1). Four weed control treatments formed the subplots: one inter-row mechanical cultivation (M1), two inter-row mechanical cultivations (M2), tembotrione application (99 g a.i. ha−1; H), and an untreated control (CON). Combined over the years (p ≥ 0.05), fertilization, weed control, and their interactions affected (p ≤ 0.05) weed density and biomass, maize grain yield, and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN). The AF reduced weed biomass by 28% compared to the CF. M1 resulted in a high value (389 g m−2). M2 and H reduced weed biomass compared to (M1 ≥ 70%). Weed biomass dropped below 35 g m−2 in the AF × H and AF × M2 subplots. Observations on weed density were similar. The AF resulted in 12 and 56% higher maize grain yield and PFPN than the CF, respectively. M2 increased grain yield by 18 and 25% compared to M1 and CON, respectively, and was not different from H. Moreover, AF × H and AF × M2 were the highest-yielding interactions (≥12,000 kg grain ha−1). AF × M2 increased PFPN by 56, 58, 64, and 67% compared to CF × H, CF × M2, CF × M1, and CF × CON, respectively, while AF × H resulted in similar PFPN.