bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Oxide Layer of 10Mn5 Medium Manganese Steel for Wear Protection in High-Temperature Friction during Hot Stamping
Authors: Teng Huan , Wang Yiwen , Wang Wurong , Zhao Yangyang , Wei Xicheng , Zhao Hongshan
Published: March 2023

A custom-designed high-temperature sliding-on-sheet-strip (SOSS) tribo-tester was used to simulate the high-temperature friction process of 10Mn5 medium manganese steel bare plate under actual hot stamping conditions. To reveal its high-temperature friction mechanism in the hot forming process, the high-temperature friction behavior of 10Mn5 steel and 22MnB5 steel was compared. The scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy spectrum analyzer (EDS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to investigate the structure of the oxide layer, composition of physical phase, wear surface morphology and elemental composition. The results show that the average coefficient of friction of 10Mn5 steel is 12.7% lower than that of 22MnB5 steel. The cross-section of both steel consists of an oxide layer, an alloying element-rich layer and the matrix. The oxide layer of 10Mn5 steel is mainly composed of Fe3O4, approximately 63.7%, while that of 22MnB5 is mainly composed of Fe2O3, approximately 66.9%. The complete and less flaking scale of 10Mn5 steel provides good wear protection, and the mechanism is abrasive with slight adhesive wear. Meanwhile, oxide particles and fragments are embedded in the 22MnB5 surface thus increasing the wear, and the mechanism evolves into severe abrasive and adhesive wear. The difference in the mechanism between the two steels is mainly caused by different austenitizing temperatures, which for 10Mn5 is lower than 22MnB5, about 100 °C. This makes the thermal stress of 10Mn5 from the temperature difference between the furnace and the environment not enough to break the scale and decrease abrasion.
Rise of the BQ.1.1.37 SARS-CoV-2 Sublineage, Italy
Authors: Focosi Daniele , Spezia Pietro Giorgio , Capria Anna-Lisa , Gueli Federico , McConnell Scott , Novazzi Federica , Pistello Mauro
Published: March 2023

BQ.1.1 has dominated the Europe and Americas COVID-19 wave across the 2022–2023 winter, and further viral evolution is expected to escape the consolidating immune responses. We report here the emergence of the BQ.1.1.37 variant in Italy, peaking in January 2022 before suffering competition by XBB.1.*. We attempted to correlate the potential fitness of BQ.1.1.37 with a unique two-amino acid insertion within the Spike protein.
Masked Hypertension and Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response to Exercise: A Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cuspidi Cesare , Gherbesi Elisa , Faggiano Andrea , Sala Carla , Carugo Stefano , Grassi Guido , Tadic Marijana
Published: March 2023

Aim: Whether exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) to exercise represents a marker of masked hypertension (MH) in individuals with no prior history of hypertension is still unclear. We investigated this issue through a review and a meta-analysis of studies providing data on this association in normotensive individuals undergone both to dynamic or static exercise and to 24 h blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Design: A systematic search was performed using Pub-Med, OVID, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases from inception up to 31 December 2022. Studies were identified by using the following search terms: “masked hypertension”, “out-of-office hypertension”, “exercise blood pressure”, “exaggerated blood pressure exercise”, “exercise hypertension”. Results: Nine studies including a total of 387 participants with MH and 406 true normotensive controls were considered. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) at rest were significantly higher in MH individuals than in sustained normotensives: 126.4 ± 1.4/78.5 ± 1.8 versus 124.0 ± 1.4/76.3 ± 1.3 mmHg (SMD: 0.21 ± 0.08, CI: 0.06–0.37, p = 0.007 for SBP; 0.24 ± 0.07, CI: 0.08–0.39, p = 0.002 for DBP). The same was true for BP values at peak exercise: 190.0 ± 9.5/96.8 ± 3.7 versus 173.3 ± 11.0/88.5 ± 1.8 mmHg (SMD 1.02 ± 0.32, CI: 0.39–1.65, p = 0.002 for SBP and 0.97 ± 0.25, CI: 0.47–1.96, p < 0.0001 for DBP). The likelihood of having an EBPR was significantly greater in MH than in their normotensive counterparts (OR: 3.33, CI: 1.83–6.03, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that EBPR reflects an increased risk of MH and that BP measurement during physical exercise aimed to assess cardiovascular health may unmask the presence of MH. This underscores the importance of BP measured in the medical setting at rest and in dynamic conditions in order to identify individuals at high cardiovascular risk due to unrecognized hypertension.
Symptomatic COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Hospital Cohort Data between May 2020 and April 2021, Risk Factors and Medicolegal Implications
Authors: Maranto Marianna , Zaami Simona , Restivo Vincenzo , Termini Donatella , Gangemi Antonella , Tumminello Mario , Culmone Silvia , Billone Valentina , Cucinella Gaspare , Gullo Giuseppe
Published: March 2023

Pregnancy does not appear to increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but some physiological changes, such as the reduction of residual functional volumes, elevation of the diaphragm, and impaired cellular immunity, may increase the risk of severe disease and result in a higher risk of complications. The article’s primary objective is to evaluate the factors associated with symptomatic COVID-19 disease in pregnancy. The secondary objective is to describe maternal and neonatal outcomes and cases of vertical transmission of the infection. All pregnant women hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection were included in a prospective study in the UOC of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AOOR Villa Sofia—Cervello, Palermo, between May 2020 and April 2021. The patients who requested the termination of the pregnancy according to Law 194/78 were excluded. We included 165 pregnancies with a total number of 134 deliveries. Overall, 88.5% of the patients were asymptomatic at the time of admission and 11.5% were symptomatic. Of them, 1.8% of the patients required hospital admission in the intensive care unit. Symptoms occurrences were positively associated with the increase in maternal BMI (OR 1.17; p = 0.002), the prematurity (OR 4.71; p = 0.022), and at a lower birth weight (OR 0.99; p = 0.007). One infant tested positive for SARS-CoV2 nasopharyngeal swab; 11.4% of newborns had IgG anti SARS-CoV2 at birth; IgM was positive in 2.4% of newborns. There was no difference statistically significant difference in the vertical transmission of the infection among the group of symptomatic pregnant women and that of asymptomatic pregnant women.
Animal Detection and Counting from UAV Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Rančić Kristina , Blagojević Boško , Bezdan Atila , Ivošević Bojana , Tubić Bojan , Vranešević Milica , Pejak Branislav , Crnojević Vladimir , Marko Oskar
Published: March 2023

In the last decade, small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) have become increasingly popular in the airborne observation of large areas for many purposes, such as the monitoring of agricultural areas, the tracking of wild animals in their natural habitats, and the counting of livestock. Coupled with deep learning, they allow for automatic image processing and recognition. The aim of this work was to detect and count the deer population in northwestern Serbia from such images using deep neural networks, a tedious process that otherwise requires a lot of time and effort. In this paper, we present and compare the performance of several state-of-the-art network architectures, trained on a manually annotated set of images, and use it to predict the presence of objects in the rest of the dataset. We implemented three versions of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) architecture and a Single Shot Multibox Detector (SSD) to detect deer in a dense forest environment and measured their performance based on mean average precision (mAP), precision, recall, and F1 score. Moreover, we also evaluated the models based on their real-time performance. The results showed that the selected models were able to detect deer with a mean average precision of up to 70.45% and a confidence score of up to a 99%. The highest precision was achieved by the fourth version of YOLO with 86%, as well as the highest recall value of 75%. Its compressed version achieved slightly lower results, with 83% mAP in its best case, but it demonstrated four times better real-time performance. The counting function was applied on the best-performing models, providing us with the exact distribution of deer over all images. Yolov4 obtained an error of 8.3% in counting, while Yolov4-tiny mistook 12 deer, which accounted for an error of 7.1%.
The Roles of Clinical Psychologists in Burns Care: A Case Study Highlighting Benefits of Multidisciplinary Care
Authors: Cartwright Anna V. , Pounds-Cornish Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

The British National Burn Care Standards highlight the importance of routine psychosocial screening to optimise psychological well-being following burn injury. Routine screening enables clinicians to identify those who may benefit from further psychological intervention. In this case, we outline how active follow-up from routine psychosocial screening and early intervention supports psychological recovery from a burn injury and how multidisciplinary care can be incorporated into cognitive therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. This case also illustrates how psychologists are well positioned within physical healthcare to notice themes arising in patient care and use this to inform service development, for example, through staff training.
A Novel Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Detecting and Classifying Non-Functional Requirements of Mobile Apps Issues
Authors: Yahya Abdulsamad E. , Gharbi Atef , Yafooz Wael M. S. , Al-Dhaqm Arafat
Published: March 2023

As a result of the speed and availability of the Internet, mobile devices and apps are in widespread usage throughout the world. Thus, they can be seen in the hands of nearly every person, helping us in our daily activities to accomplish many tasks with less effort and without wasting time. However, many issues occur while using mobile apps, which can be considered as issues of functional or non-functional requirements (NFRs). Users can add their comments as a review on the mobile app stores that provide for technical feedback, which can be used to improve the software quality and features of the mobile apps. Minimum attention has been given to such comments by scholars in addressing, detecting, and classifying issues related to NFRs, which are still considered challenging. The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid deep learning model to detect and classify NFRs (according to usability, reliability, performance, and supportability) of mobile apps using natural language processing methods. The hybrid model combines three deep learning (DL) architectures: a recurrent neural network (RNN) and two long short-term memory (LSTM) models. It starts with a dataset construction extracted from the user textual reviews that contain significant information in the Arabic language. Several experiments were conducted using machine learning classifiers (MCLs) and DL, such as ANN, LSTM, and bidirectional LSTM architecture to measure the performance of the proposed hybrid deep learning model. The experimental results show that the performance of the proposed hybrid deep learning model outperforms all other models in terms of the F1 score measure, which reached 96%. This model helps mobile developers improve the quality of their apps to meet user satisfaction and expectations by detecting and classifying issues relating to NFRs.
Optimal Scheduling Strategy of Regional Power System Dominated by Renewable Energy Considering Physical and Virtual Shared Energy Storage
Authors: Chai Zhe , Liu Junhui , Zhang Yihan , Chen Yuge , Zhang Kunming , Liu Chang , Yang Meng , Yin Shuo , Qiu Weiqiang , Lin Zhenzhi , Yang Li
Published: March 2023

In view of the current situation of the global energy crisis and environmental pollution, the energy industry transition and environmental governance are urgently needed. To deal with the problem above, the construction of a power system dominated by renewable energy (PSDRE) with wind turbine (WT), photovoltaic (PV), biomass power (BP), and other clean, low-carbon, renewable energy sources as the principal part has become a consensus all over the world. However, the random and uncertain power output of renewable energy will not only put pressure on the power system but also lead to the unreasonable and insufficient usage of renewable energy. In this context, the energy storage (ES) effects of flexible resources, such as physical energy storage of batteries and demand response (DR), are analyzed first. Next, a modeling method for the operational characteristics of physical and virtual shared energy storage (PVSES) in regional PSDRE (RPSDRE) is proposed. Finally, an optimal scheduling strategy for RPSDRE that considers PVSES is proposed to achieve coordination of WT, PV, PVSES, and other flexible resources. The case study on RPSDRE in Lankao county, Kaifeng city, Henan province of China verifies the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed strategy.
Coupled Electromagnetic–Thermal Modelling of Dynamic Performance for Modular SPM Machines
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Guang-Jin , Zhu Zi-Qiang , Ren Bo , Chong Yew Chuan
Published: March 2023

This paper presents coupled electromagnetic (EM)–thermal modelling of the steady-state dynamic performances, such as torque speed curve and the efficiency map, for surface-mounted permanent magnet machines. One important feature of such a model is that it considers the demagnetization caused by magnet temperature rise at different rotor speeds. EM-only simulations, which often assume that the machines operate under constant temperature, have been widely used in the literature. However, the interaction between EM and thermal performances could lead to very different dynamic performance prediction. This is because the material properties, e.g., magnet remanence, coercivity, and copper resistivity are temperature-dependent. The temperature rise within electrical machines reduces torque/power density, PM eddy current losses, and iron losses but increases copper loss. Therefore, the coupled EM–thermal modelling is essential to determine accurate temperature variation and to obtain accurate EM performances of electrical machines. In this paper, the coupled EM–thermal modelling is implemented for both modular and non-modular machines to reveal the advantages of the modular machine under different operating conditions. The results show that the modular machine generally has better dynamic performance than the non-modular machine because the introduced flux gaps in alternate stator teeth can boost both EM and thermal performance.
Short-Term Growth Response of Young Pine (Pinus silvestris) Seedlings to the Different Types of Soil Media Mixture with Phosphogypsum Formulations under Poland Forest Environmental Conditions
Authors: Oszako Tomasz , Pasławski Tomasz , Szulc Wieslaw , Rutkowska Beata , Rutkiewicz Artur , Kukina Olga , Bakier Sławomir , Borowik Piotr
Published: March 2023

The production of phosphoric acid produces “waste heaps” that have not yet been tapped, but which have the character of weak fertilizers and can perhaps be reintroduced into the elemental cycle in the forests. Two variants of mixing with organic ash and with sewage sludge were carried out. One-year-old pine seedlings (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Trzebieź forest district (northern Poland) were planted in pots with soil that also came from the same field. Preparations containing phosphogypsum were applied topically to the soil in four doses (1, 2, 3 and 5 t/ha). The trial, which lasted one growing season, was conducted in four replicates. At the end of the trial, the height of the above-ground parts and root length, needle and root area, root neck diameter and photosynthetic performance were measured. The phosphogypsum-based preparations used showed no harmful (toxic) effects on the potted pine seedlings during the six-month trial period. The loosely prepared preparation made from a mixture of phosphogypsum and organic ash began to have a positive effect on the development of the seedlings’ root system, and it was also easier to mix with the soil surface than phosphogypsum with sewage sludge, which also contained a sticky form. The photosynthetic performance of one-year-old pine seedlings decreased after one growing season following the application of phosphogypsum preparations and most of the growth parameters tested did not differ from the control, so observations over a longer period (at least two to three growing seasons) are required. However, dosages of 1 and 2 t/ha seem to be the most promising, and these lower dosages are more economical to manage in nurseries or plantations, especially on poor sites. Formulations should be tested for heavy metals and their effects on seedling development. Testing should also be continued to monitor changes in the microbiome.
Size Effect on Hygroscopicity of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood by Simultaneous Dynamic Vapour Sorption
Authors: Han Liuyang , Yu Dehao , Liu Tiantian , Han Xiangna , Xi Guanglan , Guo Hong
Published: March 2023

Hygroscopicity is one of the most important properties of wood and plays a decisive role in its dimensional stability. In this context, conservation plans for waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) and relevant waterlogged artefacts must be created. The size of the sample required for a moisture sorption assessment may affect the results for (and thus the perception of) the hygroscopicity of a testing artefact. Herein, to investigate the effects of the sample size on the hygroscopicity of WAW as measured via dynamic vapour sorption (DVS), typical WAW and recent (i.e., sound) wood are processed into four differently sized samples, ranging in thickness from 200 mesh to millimetre. The equilibrium moisture contents (EMCs) of the wood samples are simultaneously measured using simultaneous DVS. The sorption isotherms show that the EMC values of the recent wood at each relative humidity increase as the sample size decreases, with the superfine powder sample achieving the highest EMC of all of the recent samples. Although the WAW has a higher EMC than that of recent wood, the effect of the size of the WAW sample on its hygroscopic properties is surprisingly not as pronounced as that for the recent wood. In addition, the hysteresis between the samples of different sizes of the archaeological wood is significantly smaller than that for the reference samples. Furthermore, regarding the standard deviations of the parameters obtained from the Guggenheim Anderson de Boer and Hailwood–Horrobin models, the values for WAW are all much smaller than those for the reference wood. This further verifies the disappearance of the size effect of the hygroscopicity for WAW.
Biomethane Potential in Anaerobic Biodegradation of Commercial Bioplastic Materials
Authors: Üveges Zsuzsanna , Damak Mariem , Klátyik Szandra , Ramay Muhammad Wajahat , Fekete György , Varga Zsolt , Gyuricza Csaba , Székács András , Aleksza László
Published: March 2023

Bioplastics have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional plastics, marketed as environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. They provide a variety of methods for efficient waste management contributing to the goals of the circular economy. At their end-of-life stage, bioplastics can generate added value through aerobic and anaerobic biological treatments (composting or anaerobic digestion). In this study, biomethane potential (BMP) tests were carried out under mesophilic conditions on eight different catering biodegradable plastics available in the market and certified as being biodegradable under industrial composting conditions. Chemical analysis of the biodegradable plastics included elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. Key differences were observed in total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS) contents between the studied biopolymer products. TS values ranged between 85.00 ± 0.26% (Product 8) and 99.16 ± 0.23% (Product 4), whereas VS content ranged between 64.57 ± 0.25 %wm (Product 6) and 99.14 ± 0.17 %wm (Product 4). Elemental analysis (elements C, H, N, S, and O) was used to estimate the theoretical methane production (ThBMP) of each product. The highest ThBMP (538.6 ± 8.7 NmL/gVS) was observed in Product 4 correlated with the highest C and H contents, while the lowest ThBMP (431.8 ± 6.1 NmL/gVS) was observed in Product 2. Significant differences were recorded between BMP values according to the chemical composition of the polymers. The average of BMP values ranged between 50.4 ± 2.1 NmL/gVS and 437.5 ± 1.0 NmL/gVS. Despite being characterized by the same composition (cellulose/cellulose derivatives and calcium carbonate), Products 2, 3, and 6 revealed significant differences in terms of TS, VS, ThBMP, and BMP. Furthermore, a significant statistical relationship (p < 0.001) was found between time (days) and BMP values of the eight products (R2 = 0.899–0.964) during the initial phase. The study confirmed that cellulose-based materials can convert efficiently under mesophilic conditions into methane, at a relatively short retention time; hence, they can be regarded as a promising material for co-digestion with feedstock in industrial anaerobic biogas plants. In contrast, biodegradation of polylactic acids (PLA) does not occur under mesophilic conditions, and hence, pre-treatment of the polymers is recommended. Moreover, PLA-containing products are highly affected by the presence of other components (e.g., polybutylene adipate terephthalate and cellulose/cellulose derivatives).
Effects of Metal and Metal Ion on Biomethane Productivity during Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Manure
Authors: Yu Liang , Kim Do-Gyun , Ai Ping , Yuan Hairong , Ma Jingwei , Zhao Quanbao , Chen Shulin
Published: March 2023

To overcome major limiting factors of microbial processes in anaerobic digestion (AD), metal and metal ions have been extensively studied. However, there is confusion about the effects of metals and metal ions on biomethane productivity in previous research. In this study, Zn and Zn2+ were selected as representatives of metals and metal ions, respectively, to investigate the effects on biomethane productivity. After the metals and metal ions at different concentrations were added to the batch AD experiments under the same mesophilic conditions, a Zn dose of 1 g/L and a Zn2+ dose of 4 mg/L were found to cause the highest biomethane production, respectively. The results indicate that metal (Zn) and metal ion (Zn2+) have different mechanisms to improve AD performance. There may be two possible explanations. To act as conductive materials in interspecies electron transfer (IET), relatively high doses of metals (e.g., 1 g/L of Zn, 10 g/L of Fe) are needed to bridge the electron transfer from syntrophic bacteria to methanogenic archaea in the AD process. As essential mineral nutrients, the AD system requires relatively low doses of metal ions (e.g., 4 mg/L of Zn2+, 5 mg/L of Fe2+) to supplement the component of various enzymes that catalyze anaerobic reactions and transformations. This research will provide clear insight for selecting appropriate amounts of metals or metal ions to enhance biomethane productivity for industrial AD processes.
The Influence of Flavonoid Dihydroquercetin on the Enzymatic Processes of Dough Ripening and the Antioxidant Properties of Bread
Authors: Kalinina Irina , Fatkullin Rinat , Naumenko Natalya , Popova Natalia , Stepanova Darya
Published: March 2023

Bread is an integral part of the diet of the world population. Development of bread enriched with biologically active substances, including antioxidants, could be good nutritional support for human health. Among well-studied antioxidants, we can highlight dihydroquercetin, a flavonoid with outstanding antioxidant properties, such as anti-inflammatory activity, immunostimulatory properties, anti-cancer properties, and others. At the same time, the technology of bread enrichment must consider the possible negative effects of the additive on the technological processes and properties of the final product. The present work was carried out to evaluate the effect of dihydroquercetin on the enzymatic processes occurring during dough maturation and the antioxidant properties of the finished bread. Dihydroquercetin was added in amounts of 0.05 g, 0.07 g, and 0.1 g per 100 g of wheat flour and fermented with commercial baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The kinetics of pH and total titratable acidity (TTA) during dough fermentation showed that dihydroquercetin caused slight slowing of enzymatic processes. However, the dosage of dihydroquercetin did not cause statistically significant changes in the yeast concentration, which reached a level of 108 KOU/g after 2 h in all dough samples. Loss of dihydroquercetin during fermentation was established at a level of 20–25%. At the same time, an increase in the total amount of flavonoids in the dough after 2 h of fermentation and an increase in values of antioxidant activity were noted. The antioxidant properties of the bread also increased when it was enriched with dihydroquercetin (about 3.5–4 times) despite the fact that the total quantitative loss of antioxidant in the technological process was considerable (about 40%). A protective effect of the bread matrix on flavonoids during digestion was shown. Dihydroquercetin loss was about 25% regardless of the amount applied. This work clearly showed that addition of dihydroquercetin to a bread formulation represents a promising strategy for increasing the antioxidant properties of bread.
Using TRIS-Buffered Plasma-Activated Water to Reduce Pathogenic Microorganisms on Poultry Carcasses with Evaluation of Physicochemical and Sensory Parameters
Authors: Große-Peclum Vanessa , Siekmann Lisa , Krischek Carsten , Avramidis Georg , Ochs Christian , Viöl Wolfgang , Plötz Madeleine
Published: March 2023

Foodborne diseases are mainly caused by the contamination of meat or meat products with pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we first investigated the in vitro application of TRIS-buffered plasma-activated water (Tb-PAW) on Campylobacter (C.) jejuni and Escherichia (E.) coli, with a reduction of approx. 4.20 ± 0.68 and 5.12 ± 0.46 log10 CFU/mL. Furthermore, chicken and duck thighs (inoculated with C. jejuni or E. coli) and breasts (with natural microflora) with skin were sprayed with Tb-PAW. Samples were packed under a modified atmosphere and stored at 4 °C for 0, 7, and 14 days. The Tb-PAW could reduce C. jejuni on days 7 and 14 (chicken) and E. coli on day 14 (duck) significantly. In chicken, there were no significant differences in sensory, pH-value, color, and antioxidant activity, but %OxyMb levels decreased, whereas %MetMb and %DeoMb increased. In duck, we observed slight differences in pH-value, color, and myoglobin redox forms for the Tb-PAW, which were not perceived by the sensory test persons. With only slight differences in product quality, its application as a spray treatment may be a useful method to reduce C. jejuni and E. coli on chicken and duck carcasses.
Probiotic Properties of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis NA-3 and In Vitro Comparative Evaluation of Live and Heat-Killed Cells for Antioxidant, Anticancer and Immunoregulatory Activities
Authors: Xu Xiaoqing , Qiao Yu , Peng Qing , Shi Bo
Published: March 2023

Some Latiactobacilli are often used as probiotics due to their functional activities, including antioxidant, anticancer and immunoregulation effect. Loigolactobacillus coryniformis NA-3 obtained from our laboratory is a promising probiotic according to the previous study. Coculture, the Oxford cup test and disk-diffusion methods were used to evaluate the probiotic properties and antibiotic resistance of L. coryniformis NA-3. The antioxidant activities of live and heat-killed L. coryniformis NA-3 were assessed via radicals’ scavenging ability. The potential anticancer and immunoregulatory capacity was determined in vitro using cell lines. The results indicate that L. coryniformis NA-3 has antibacterial activity and cholesterol removal ability and is sensitive to most antibiotics. Dead L. coryniformis NA-3 can scavenge free radicals as well as live strains. Live L. coryniformis NA-3 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells; however, dead cells cannot. After RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with live and heat-killed L. coryniformis NA-3, the production of NO, IL-6, TNF-α and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was induced. The increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in treated macrophages mediates the production of NO. In conclusion, L. coryniformis NA-3 showed potential probiotic properties, and the heat-killed strain also exhibited activities similar to those of live bacteria, suggesting the possible value of its further application in the food processing and pharmaceutical industries.
Cultural Adaptation of a Health Literacy Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals Working in the Primary Care Setting with Older Adults
Authors: Efthymiou Areti , Kalaitzaki Argyroula , Rovithis Michael
Published: March 2023

Healthcare professionals’ health literacy (HL) knowledge and skills influence their interaction with older adults. Healthcare professionals, when effectively communicating with older adults, can empower and enhance patients’ skills to make informed decisions about their health. The study aimed to adapt and pilot test a HL toolkit to enhance the HL skills of health professionals working with older adults. A mixed methodology of three phases was used. Initially, the healthcare professionals’ and older adults’ needs were identified. Following a literature review of existing tools, a HL toolkit was selected, translated, and adapted into Greek. The HL toolkit was introduced to 128 healthcare professionals as part of 4 h webinars; 82 healthcare professionals completed baseline and post assessments, and 24 healthcare professionals implemented it in their clinical practice. The questionnaires used included an interview on HL knowledge, communication strategies, and self-efficacy using a communication scale. HL and communication strategies knowledge (13 items) and self-efficacy in communication (t = −11.127, df = 81, p < 0.001) improved after the end of the HL webinars, and improvement was retained during the follow-up after 2 months (H = 8.99, df = 2, p < 0.05). A culturally adapted HL toolkit was developed to support the needs of healthcare professionals working with older adults, taking into consideration their feedback in all phases of the development.
Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Its Effects amongst Nurses in the Selected Intellectual Disability Unit of the Limpopo Province
Authors: Muthelo Livhuwani , Sinyegwe Nakisani Faith , Phukubye Thabo Arthur , Mbombi Masenyani Oupa , Ntho Tshepo Albert , Mothiba Tebogo Maria
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic continuously highlights the need for occupational health and safety among healthcare professionals. Physical and mental health safety resulting from needle prick injuries, stress, infections, and chemical hazards are priority work-related musculoskeletal disorders for nurses, including those working in the intellectual disability unit. The intellectual disability unit provides basic nursing care to patients with known mental disabilities, such as learning, problem-solving, and judgment problems, which demand diverse physical activities. Nevertheless, the safety of nurses within the unit receives little attention. Thus, we adopted a quantitative cross-sectional epidemiological survey design to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders amongst nurses working in the intellectual disability unit at the selected hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A self-administered questionnaire collected data from 69 randomly selected nurses from the intellectual disability unit. Data were extracted, coded, and captured in MS Excel format (2016) and imported into the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), software version 25.0, for analysis. The study reported a low (38%) prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the intellectual disability unit, with significant effects on nursing care and staffing. The effects of these WMSDs included missing work, interference with the daily routine, disturbance with sleeping patterns after work, and absenteeism from work. Since intellectually disabled patients depend entirely on nurses for the basic activities of daily living, this paper recommends the incorporation of physiotherapy among nurses in the intellectual disability unit to treat the incidence of lower back pain while mitigating nurses missing work or absenteeism.
Development and Validation of a Risk Scoring Tool for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants Based on a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Zhumei , Wang Lili , Wang Yang , Zhang Min , Xu Yanqin , Liu Annuo
Published: March 2023

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common serious pulmonary morbidity in preterm infants with high disability and mortality rates. Early identification and treatment of BPD is critical. Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a risk scoring tool for early identification of preterm infants that are at high-risk for developing BPD. Methods: The derivation cohort was derived from a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for BPD. The statistically significant risk factors with their corresponding odds ratios were utilized to construct a logistic regression risk prediction model. By scoring the weights of each risk factor, a risk scoring tool was established and the risk stratification was divided. External verification was carried out by a validation cohort from China. Results: Approximately 83,034 preterm infants with gestational age < 32 weeks and/or birth weight < 1500 g were screened in this meta-analysis, and the cumulative incidence of BPD was about 30.37%. The nine predictors of this model were Chorioamnionitis, Gestational age, Birth weight, Sex, Small for gestational age, 5 min Apgar score, Delivery room intubation, and Surfactant and Respiratory distress syndrome. Based on the weight of each risk factor, we translated it into a simple clinical scoring tool with a total score ranging from 0 to 64. External validation showed that the tool had good discrimination, the area under the curve was 0.907, and that the Hosmer–Lemeshow test showed a good fit (p = 0.3572). In addition, the results of the calibration curve and decision curve analysis suggested that the tool showed significant conformity and net benefit. When the optimal cut-off value was 25.5, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.897 and 0.873, respectively. The resulting risk scoring tool classified the population of preterm infants into low-risk, low-intermediate, high-intermediate, and high-risk groups. This BPD risk scoring tool is suitable for preterm infants with gestational age < 32 weeks and/or birth weight < 1500 g. Conclusions: An effective risk prediction scoring tool based on a systematic review and meta-analysis was developed and validated. This simple tool may play an important role in establishing a screening strategy for BPD in preterm infants and potentially guide early intervention.
Analysis of the Low-Carbon Transition Effect and Development Pattern of Green Credit for Prefecture-Level Cities in the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Li Jingcheng , Li Menggang , Wang Tianyang , Feng Xiuqin
Published: March 2023

Green credit is a vital instrument for promoting low-carbon transition. However, designing a reasonable development pattern and efficiently allocating limited resources has become a challenge for developing countries. The Yellow River Basin, a critical component of the low-carbon transition in China, is still in the early stages of green credit development. Most cities in this region lack green credit development plans that suit their economic conditions. This study examined the impact of green credit on carbon emission intensity and utilized a k-means clustering algorithm to categorize the green credit development patterns of 98 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin based on four static indicators and four dynamic indicators. Regression results based on city-level panel data from 2006 to 2020 demonstrated that the development of green credit in the Yellow River Basin can effectively reduce local carbon emission intensity and promote low-carbon transition. We classified the development patterns of green credit in the Yellow River Basin into five types: mechanism construction, product innovation, consumer business expansion, rapid growth, and stable growth. Moreover, we have put forward specific policy suggestions for cities with different development patterns. The design process of this green credit development patterns is characterized by its ability to achieve meaningful outcomes while relying on fewer numbers of indicators. Furthermore, this approach boasts a significant degree of explanatory power, which may assist policy makers in comprehending the underlying mechanisms of regional low-carbon governance. Our findings provide a new perspective for the study of sustainable finance.
Clinical Usefulness of a Short Version of the Internet Addiction Test to Screen for Probable Internet Addiction in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Tateno Masaru , Horie Kazumasa , Shirasaka Tomohiro , Nanba Kotaro , Shiraishi Eri , Tateno Yukie , Kato Takahiro A.
Published: March 2023

Internet addiction (IA) is defined as the condition of being addicted to all sorts of activities on the Internet. Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), may be susceptible to IA. Early detection and intervention for probable IA are important to prevent severe IA. In this study, we investigated the clinical usefulness of a short version of the Internet Addiction Test (s-IAT) for the screening of IA among autistic adolescents. The subjects were 104 adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. They were requested to answer 20 questions from the original Internet Addiction Test (IAT). In the data analysis process, we comparatively calculated the sum of scores to the 12 questions of s-IAT. In total, 14 of the 104 subjects were diagnosed as having IA based on the face-to-face clinical interview that was regarded as the gold standard. Statistical analysis suggested that the optimal cut-off for s-IAT was at 35. When we applied the cut-off of 70 on the IAT, only 2 of 14 subjects (14.3%) with IA were screened positive, whereas 10 (71.4%) of them were screened by using the cut-off point of 35 on s-IAT. The s-IAT might be useful for the screening of IA in adolescents with ASD.
Heart Rate Recovery Assessed by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Relationship with Prognosis
Authors: Dewar Amy , Kass Lindsy , Stephens Robert C. M. , Tetlow Nicholas , Desai Terun
Published: March 2023

Background: The use of exercise testing has expanded in recent decades and there is a wealth of information examining the prognostic significance of exercise variables, such as peak oxygen consumption or ventilatory measures whilst exercising. However, a paucity of research has investigated the use of recovery-derived parameters after exercise cessation. Heart rate recovery (HRR) has been considered a measure of the function of the autonomic nervous system and its dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular risk. Objectives: We aim to provide an overview of the literature surrounding HRR and its prognostic significance in patients with cardiovascular disease undertaking an exercise test. Data Sources: In December 2020, searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were performed using key search terms and Boolean operators. Study Selection: Articles were manually screened and selected as per the inclusion criteria. Results: Nineteen articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Disagreement exists in methodologies used for measuring and assessing HRR. However, HRR provides prognostic mortality information for use in clinical practice. Conclusions: HRR is a simple, non-invasive measure which independently predicts mortality in patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease; HRR should be routinely incorporated into clinical exercise testing.
Active or Passive Aging? Analysis of Selected Socioeconomic Factors in the Polish Population
Authors: Biernat Elżbieta , Krzepota Justyna , Sadowska Dorota
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to identify the factors that determined the participation of people aged 60 years and older in physical activity (PA) at least once or more frequently in the year before the survey. The analysis included sociodemographic variables, any certificate of disability, level of physical fitness, and declared sports skills. The study used data from the “Participation of Poles in Sports and Physical Recreation in 2012” survey (designed and conducted by Statistics Poland). Questionnaires from 2724 people qualified for analysis. An analysis of frequency and odds ratio (followed by logistic regression analysis) was used to evaluate the determinants of participation of older adults in PA. Participation in PA was declared by 23.7%, most often by older adults aged 60–64 years (chi2 = 67.72; p < 0.001). With age, the likelihood of participation in PA declined until the age of 75, when the percentage of active participants increased to 27.4%. Of the variables analyzed (logistic regression model), only very good (p < 0.001) and good (p = 0.002) levels of self-rated physical fitness, secondary (p = 0.014) or tertiary (p = 0.003) education, and a higher number of declared sports skills (p < 0.001) had a favorable effect on the frequency of participation in PA. The low PA of Poles aged 60 years and over (especially those entering retirement age) requires social intervention. Instead of focusing sports policy on increasing the number of participants, it seems more reasonable to focus on individuals living in rural areas with lower socio-professional status and physical fitness. It is necessary to use an individual approach (according to abilities, skill level, and needs) and create systems of interrelations that would provide older adults with support (including the use of social resources).
Spatial Distribution and Pollution Level of Heavy Metals in Street Dust of the City of Suwałki (Poland)
Authors: Skorbiłowicz Mirosław , Trybułowski Łukasz , Skorbiłowicz Elżbieta
Published: March 2023

This paper presents an analysis of the content and spatial distribution of heavy metals (HM) in street dust in Suwałki, a city located in northeastern Poland. The HM content of street dust was also evaluated using the geochemical index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and contamination factor (CF), and local HM sources were identified using chemometric methods. The arithmetic averages of HM contents in dust arranged in the following order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb, were 11,692.80, 215.97, 194.78, 142.84, 63.59, 17.50, 17.04 mg∙kg−1, respectively. Higher values than the local background occurred for Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. The values of Igeo, CF, and EF indicate that the highest pollution in dust is due to Zn and Cu. The spatial distribution of metals was evaluated using maps of HM content in road dust samples from Suwałki. The spatial distribution of HM showed areas with high contents of Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb located mainly in the central and eastern parts of the city. In these areas, high traffic volume, the presence of shopping centers, administrative buildings and bus stops dominate. Statistical models of multivariate analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA) identified two sources of HM. The first source of pollution was associated with local industrial activity and motor vehicle travel, and the second with natural sources.
Different Approaches to Appraising Systematic Reviews of Digital Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion Using AMSTAR 2 Tool: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: De Santis Karina Karolina , Matthias Katja
Published: March 2023

High-quality systematic reviews (SRs) can strengthen the evidence base for prevention and health promotion. A 16-item AMSTAR 2 tool allows the appraisal of SRs by deriving a confidence rating in their results. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess and compare two approaches to appraising 30 SRs of digital interventions for physical activity (PA) promotion using AMSTAR 2. Approach 1 (appraisals with 2/16 items) was used to identify SRs with critically low confidence ratings. Approach 2 (appraisals with all 16 items) was used (1) to derive the confidence ratings, (2) to identify SR strengths and weaknesses, and (3) to compare SR strengths among subgroups of SRs. The appraisal outcomes were summarized and compared using descriptive statistics. Approach 1 was quick (mean of 5 min/SR) at identifying SRs with critically low confidence ratings. Approach 2 was slower (mean of 20 min/SR), but allowed to identify SR strengths and weaknesses. Approach 2 showed that confidence ratings were low to critically low in 29/30 SRs. More strengths were identified in SRs with review protocols relative to SRs without review protocols and in newer SRs (published after AMSTAR 2 release) relative to older SRs. Only two items on AMSTAR 2 can quickly identify SRs with critical weaknesses. Although most SRs received low to critically low confidence ratings, SRs with review protocols and newer SRs tended to have more strengths. Future SRs require review protocols and better adherence to reporting guidelines to improve the confidence in their results.
Preventive Gambling Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Monreal-Bartolomé Alicia , Barceló-Soler Alberto , García-Campayo Javier , Bartolomé-Moreno Cruz , Cortés-Montávez Paula , Acon Esther , Huertes María , Lacasa Víctor , Crespo Sofía , Lloret-Irles Daniel , Sordo Luis , Clotas Bote Catrina , Puigcorbé Susanna , López-Del-Hoyo Yolanda
Published: March 2023

Gambling disorder in youth is an emerging public health problem, with adolescents and young adults constituting a vulnerable age group for the development of gambling-related problems. Although research has been conducted on the risk factors for gambling disorder, very few rigorous studies can be found on the efficacy of preventive interventions in young people. The aim of this study was to provide best practice recommendations for the prevention of disordered gambling in adolescents and young adults. We reviewed and synthesized the results of existing RCTs and quasi-experimental studies covering nonpharmacological prevention programs for gambling disorder in young adults and adolescents. We applied the PRISMA 2020 statement and guidelines to identify 1483 studies, of which 32 were included in the systematic review. All studies targeted the educational setting, i.e., high school and university students. Most studies followed a universal prevention strategy, that particularly targeted adolescents, and an indicated prevention strategy for university students. The reviewed gambling prevention programs generally showed good results in terms of reducing the frequency and severity of gambling, and also regarding cognitive variables, such as misconceptions, fallacies, knowledge, and attitudes towards gambling. Finally, we highlight the need to develop more comprehensive prevention programs that incorporate rigorous methodological and assessment procedures before they are widely implemented and disseminated.