bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phloem Tissue Development in Response to Freeze Injury to Trunks of Apple Trees1
Authors: Simons Roy K.
Published: August 2022

A subfreezing temperature caused trunk splitting in 13-year-old apple trees of the cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Starking’ growing on EM VII rootstock. ‘Starkrimson’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ on a seedling rootstock and ‘Jonared’/EM VII were unaffected by the freeze. No splitting occurred below the graft union of any tree. Phloem, 8 months after the initial injury, showed extreme variation in the development of periderm throughout the injured tissues. The sieve elements, sieve plates, and phloem-ray cells in the functioning phloem were distorted and necrotic depending upon severity of injury. Cellular structure showed evidence of injury a considerable distance beyond the wound and some of the injured areas had subsequently healed. In severe but closed wounds parenchyma was the only wound tissue evident. In some cases, this tissue developed into a narrow band of phloem capable of translocation. Callus tissue formed in areas adjacent to the periderm. Dilation tissues were evident within split phloem-ray cells. In some areas the phloem-ray cells were killed and translocatable metabolites accumulated in the sieve-plate area. Some of the injured tissue was necrotic and translocation appeared impossible.
Adenylate Kinase in Sweet and Sour Lemon Fruits1
Authors: Abou-Zamzam A. M. , Wallace A.
Published: August 2022

Studies with adenylate kinase (IUBN 2.7.4.3) activity in soluble and mitochondrial fractions from sweet lemon, Citrus limettioides, Tanaka, and sour lemon Citrus limon, L., were conducted. These species differ greatly in organic acid contents of fruits. These studies involved distribution, pH optimum, Mg++ requirement, inhibition of NaF, and equilibrium constant determination. The total adenylate kinase activity for the soluble and mitochondrial fractions was about 34% higher in extracts from sour lemons than in those from sweet lemons. The enzyme preparations from sweet lemons were more sensitive to inhibition by NaF than those from sour lemon. In both lemons, mitochondrial adenylate kinase activity was only 6–8% of the total adenylate kinase activity. Enzymatic breakdown of AMP to adenosine was higher in the soluble fraction than in the mitochondrial fraction.
Salt and Acid Effects on Citrus Leaf Abscission1
Authors: Barmore Charles R. , Biggs R. H.
Published: August 2022

Using leaf expiants of Citrus madurensis Lour. cv. ‘Calamondin’, it was demonstrated that many chemicals will accelerate the abscission processes at concentrations of 10−2 to 10−1M. Representative of classes of chemicals tested were mineral acids, bases, and salts; organic acids and salts; non-ionic organic compounds. Several observations were made: Low (< 3) or high (> 13) pH will accelerate the abscission processes; cations and anions do differ in the capacity to accelerate the abscission processes but those that were most effective were active in the concentration range of 10−2 to 10−1M; inorganic PO4−3 was as effective on abscission as the organic anions tested; acceleration of abscission by these various agents at 10−2M was accomplished without visible tissue damage.
Factors Controlling Residues of 2-Aminobutane in Citrus Fruits Fumigated for Decay Control1
Authors: Grierson W. , Hayward F. W.
Published: August 2022

Fumigation with 2-aminobutane (2-AB) provides effective and convenient decay control for citrus fruits, but the temporary residue tolerance of 20 ppm can easily be exceeded. Factors found to control residues were the cultivar, concentration of 2-AB, temperature, duration of fumigation, and load (as a percentage of maximum capacity) in the fumigation chamber. The simplest procedure was to evaporate the entire charge of 2-AB as rapidly as possible. Residues in ‘Dancy’ tangerines and ‘Temples’ were higher than in oranges. Safe dosages for waxed fruit in poly bags and master cartons fumigated for 3 hr in full cabinets at various temperatures were (in ml/100 cu ft): 80 ml at 85° F, 110 ml at 70°, and in excess of 150 ml at 50° and below. Risk of exceeding tolerance at 40° and lower was minimal. Use of a chlorinated hydrocarbon, Quick Color, to eliminate explosion hazard had no consistent effect upon 2-AB residues.
Response of Mature Avocado Fruits to Ethylene Treatments Before and After Harvest12
Authors: Gazit S. , Blumenfeld A.
Published: August 2022

Unpicked avocado fruit showed no response to ethylene treatments given at 50 ppm for 48 hr. Picked ‘Hass’ fruit did not respond to ethylene treatments given immediately after harvest. A good response was observed to treatment given 25 or 49 hr after harvest. This may be explained by assuming the existence of an endogenous factor inhibiting ethylene action.
In situ Observations on Plum Root Growth1
Authors: Bhar D. S. , Mason G. F. , Hilton R. J.
Published: August 2022

In situ root growth of young plum trees (myrobalan rootstock on which ‘Shiro’ plum was budded) was studied for one season at the University of Guelph rhizotron. Root growth of this combination, at the field-transplant stage, began before leaf growth and extended past leaf fall. Relatively large roots of myrobalan stock made some winter growth in length, below frost penetration. The rate of growth during July to mid-September was twice that of the balance of the season, corresponding closely to shoot and trunk increments. Root diameter and elongation rate are positively correlated. Irregular and patchy suberization was the rule with the young plum roots.
Relationship of Stage of Ripeness to Composition and Keeping Quality Highbush Blueberries1
Authors: Ballinger W. E. , Kushman L. J.
Published: August 2022

‘Wolcott’ blueberries were harvested at 8 stages of development (small, deep green to overripe) on 3 dates in 1963 and on 4 dates in 1964 from 2 plantings in eastern North Carolina. As the fruit developed, per cent acid decreased while pH, per cent soluble solids, sugar (per cent of fresh weight and mg/berry), soluble solids/acid ratio (SS/A), anthocyanin content and berry weight increased. Acid content (mg/berry) increased during early stages but decreased rapidly during later stages of development. Anthocyanin content (mg/cm2 of berry surface) was significantly correlated with sugar/acid ratio and SS/A ratio. An increase in incidence of decay of 10 punctured or bisected fruit samples after 9 to 11 days at 70°F, or 21 days at 32° plus 6 days at 70°, was associated with an increase in ripeness. In culture solutions with acid and sugar levels paralleling those of fruit of various degrees of ripeness, growth of both Alternaria and Botrytis spp. decreased as the level of acid in culture solution increased. Thus, the acid composition of blueberry fruit appears to afford a mechanism of resistance to decay-producing organisms. This indicates a potential for selecting varieties with high-keeping quality through selection of clones high in acid. The increase in anthocyanin (Acy) content as berries develop indicates a potential means of sorting blueberries electronically, according to their Acy content.
Relationship Between Azalea Bud Morphology and Effectiveness of Methyl Decanoate, a Chemical Pinching Agent1
Authors: Sill Lois Z. , Nelson Paul V.
Published: August 2022

Tests in which tips of outer enclosing leaves of vegetative azalea buds were dipped in 4.2% methyl decanoate emulsion indicated that the pinching agent does not translocate in sufficient quantity to kill the meristem. Direct contact must be achieved. A morphological comparison of the vegetative buds of an azalea cultivar responding poorly, ‘White Gish’, and one responding readily, ‘Coral Bells’, to pinching agents indicated that the former has (1) an abnormally long enclosing sheath of leaves and (2) a greater number of trichomes per unit area of leaf surface within the sheath. Both factors can contribute to a reduction in the movement of pinching agent to the meristematic tissue.

A comparative study of vegetative and reproductive buds of the azalea cultivar, ‘Red Wing’, gives an account of the reduced effectiveness of pinching agents in reproductive buds. In the young reproductive bud a greater number of leaf primordia layers and in the older reproductive bud the presence of a thick cuticle on the outer scales as well as the presence of numerous closely overlapping scales reduces penetration of the pinching agent emulsion.
Variation in the Abscission Response of Aging Citrus Fruit and Leaf Explants to Ethylene and 2, 4-D1
Authors: Ismail M. A.
Published: August 2022

Fruit and leaf explants of ‘Pineapple’ orange were aged for 2 to 36 hr after excision and prior to treatment with ethylene or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Abscission of fruit explants, aged for various durations, was accelerated by ethylene applied as early as 2 hr after excision but was delayed by 2,4-D administered within 26 hr after excision. Leaf explants did not exhibit an abscission response to ethylene up to 20 hr following excision, but they became responsive at 28 hr. The growth substance, 2,4-D, was effective in delaying abscission of leaf explants aged for 44 hr. Ethylene, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethrel), and cycloheximide failed to accelerate abscission in young ‘Valencia’ orange fruit (3.1 to 3.8 cm diam.) while they greatly accelerated abscission in mature fruit. Citrus leaf, but not mature fruit explants, exhibit the 2-stage abscission phenomenon in response to auxin and ethylene. Results suggest the possibility of differential abscission promotion in mature vs immature ‘Valencia’ orange fruits.
Inheritance of Resistance to Common Lettuce Mosaic1
Authors: Ryder Edward J.
Published: August 2022

Two sources of resistance to lettuce mosaic are described. Resistance is inherited as a single recessive gene. The same gene occurs in both sources. Symptoms on resistant plants are small chlorotic areas distributed sparsely on leaf surface. Later leaves may have more severe symptoms.
Katalizör Olarak PtAu/CNT Nanokompozit Kullanılarak Sodyum Borhidrür ve Potasyum Borhidrürün Hidrolizinden Hidrojen Üretimi
Authors: AVCI HANSU Tulin , ÖZARSLAN Saliha
Published: August 2022

Yenilenebilir enerji tükenme tehlikesi ile karşı karşıya olan fosil kaynakların yerine
kullanılabilecek güçlü bir adaydır. Bu bağlamda yenilenebilir enerji ve temiz enerji kaynağı olarak
hidrojen dikkat çekmektedir. Bu çalışmada hidrojen deposu olan metal hidritlerden sodyum bor hidrür
(NaBH4) ve potasyum bor hidrürün (KBH4) hidrolizi sonucu hidrojen üretimi incelendi. Hidroliz
reaksiyonlarında kullanılacak olan monometalik ve bimetalik katalizörler sentezlendi. Sentezlenen bu
katalizörlerin yüzey karakterizasyonu X-ışını kırınımı spektroskopisi (XRD) ve yüzey alanı analizi
(BET) analizleri kullanılarak yapıldı. Yapılan hidroliz deneyleri sonucunda NaBH4 ortamında %10
Pt80Au20/CNT katalizörü KBH4 ortamında %10 Pt60Au40/CNT katalizörü monometalik %10 Pt/CNT
katalizörüne göre daha iyi katalitik aktivite göstermiştir
Benzonorbornadien Oksit’in Mikrodalga Destekli ve Montmorillonite-K10 Katalizli Alkolizi: Wagner–Meerwein Düzenlenmesi ile Regioseçici Yeni Alkoksi Alkollerin Sentezi
Authors: KOÇAK Ramazan
Published: August 2022

Bu çalışmada, benzonorbornadien epoksitinin alkollerle mikrodalga destekli halka açılma tepkimeleri incelendi. Ucuz ve çevreci heterojen montmorillonite-K10 katalizörü eşliğinde yüksek verim ile kısa reaksiyon süresinde (10 dakikaya kadar) Wagner–Meerwein düzenlenmesi ile regioseçici olarak yeni alkoksi alkoller sentezlendi. Ürünler sadece süzme ile saflaştırıldı.
New Solution Approaches for Multi-Objective Solid Transportation Problem Using Some Aggregation Operators
Authors: KARA Nurdan , KÖÇKEN Hale
Published: August 2022

A solid transportation problem emerges when the decision variables are represented by three items: the source, the destination, and the mode of transport. In applications, the STP generally requires considering multiple objectives such as cost minimization, time minimization, security level maximization, etc. In this way, a multi-objective solid transportation problem arises. This paper deals with the solution of the problem and analyzes the effect of several important fuzzy aggregation operators on the solution of the problem. In this context, the most commonly used aggregation operators are investigated for this problem. To explain the solution approach, a numerical example from the literature is given and a Pareto-optimal solution set is provided to offer the decision-maker. Furthermore, graphical comparisons and sensitivity analysis are presented with the solution obtained.
Tendencias poblacionales, distribución y evaluación de la metodología de censos de aves acuáticas nidificantes en Euskadi durante 2005-2017
Authors: Arizaga Juan , Fernández-García José María
Published: August 2022

Los objetivos de este artículo son (1) calcular tendencias poblacionales para las aves acuáticas reproductoras en Euskadi durante el periodo 2005-2017, (2) estimar la importancia de los distintos humedales según su relevancia para las aves acuáticas nidificantes y (3) evaluar la metodología del programa de censo, con el fin de detectar posibles sesgos o carencias y proponer, en consecuencia, mejoras. De un total de 23 especies, 10 (43,5%) mostraron una tendencia incierta para el periodo 2005-2017. En el resto, la tendencia fue al alza en 6 especies, a la baja en 2 y estable en 5. En su conjunto, el programa de censo se ajustó bien a la monitorización de zampullines y somormujos, anátidas, rállidos y algunos limícolas, pero presentó déficits para especies coloniales que pueden criar fuera de humedales, como muchas ardeidas y cigüeña blanca, así como para las que utilizan hábitats fluviales. En estos casos, es recomendable llevar a cabo programas de censo de carácter complementario. Excluyendo tramos fluviales, los humedales más importantes para la reproducción de aves acuáticas en Euskadi se ubican en Álava. No obstante, los de la zona cantábrica, particularmente Urdaibai y Txingudi, muestran características particulares, dando lugar así a una alta riqueza y diversidad estructural para el conjunto del territorio.
Exploring the Target and Mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba on Sjogren’s
Syndrome
Authors: Wu Fangping , Wu Guolin , Li Tianyi , Lu Wenwen , Fu Tianxiao , Zhang Zhenyi
Published: August 2022

Background:

Radix Paeoniae Alba is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It can accelerate
salivary secretion and alleviate the dry mouth of patients with Sjogren’s syndrome (SS).
Although it is widely used in clinical treatment, its target and mechanism remain unclear.

Objective:

This study aims to analyze the main components of Radix Paeoniae Alba, explore the
target genes, and propose the possible mechanism for Radix Paeoniae Alba’s acceleration of salivary
secretion.

Methods:

The main active components and potential targets of Radix Paeoniae Alba were searched
through the TCMSP database. Efforts were made to search for the related genes of Sjogren’s syndrome
in OMIM and GeneCards databases. Cytoscape v3.8.0 software was used to link target
genes of active components and key genes of the disease. The software Autodock vina1.1.2. was
adopted to simulate the interaction between active components and target genes. Human submandibular
gland (HSG) cells were used in vitro experiments to verify the results of our analysis.

Results:

β-Sitosterol, the main component of Radix Paeoniae Alba, may intervene in the disease
through CHRM3. Molecular docking shows β-Sitosterol has a high affinity with CHRM3, and the
interaction between CHRM3 and β-Sitosterol is the basis of biological activity. The in vitro experiments
showed that β-Sitosterol could significantly up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression
levels of both CHRM3 and secretion-related genes in HSG cells.

Conclusion:

Our study shows that the chemical components of Radix Paeoniae Alba have a positive
effect on the related mechanism of salivary secretion. We found that β-Sitosterol can promote
the expression of CHRM3, stimulate salivary secretion, treat Sjogren’s syndrome and potentially
improve its prognosis.
Structure, Distribution, Regulation, and Function of Splice Variant Isoforms of Nitric Oxide Synthase Family in the Nervous System
Authors: Hosseini Nasrin , Kourosh-Arami Masoumeh , Nadjafi Shabnam , Ashtari Behnaz
Published: August 2022

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with various physio-pathological functions in the body. There are three main NOS isoforms, including the endothelial (eNOS), inducible (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS), that exist in the peripheral organs and nervous systems of humans and rodents. Moreover, NOS includes other identified NOS isoforms, such as retinal Muller glial cells (mNOS), mitochondrial (mtNOS), penile (PnNOS), testis-specific (TnNOS), and invertebrate Drosophila NOS (dNOS), which are the lesser-known types. It is proposed that the versatile functions of NOS isoforms depend on various NOS splice variant subtypes and their expression in the neural (e.g., brain, and spinal cord) and non-neuronal tissues (e.g., lung, kidney, liver, and GI tract). Therefore, this review summarizes the NOS subtypes, splice variants, targeted splicing expression in the body, and their proposed physio-pathological functions. At last, alternative NOS subtypes and isoforms, which have previously received scant attention, will be addressed in this article.
A Methodical and Performance-based Investigation of Alzheimer Disease
Detection on Magnetic Resonance and Multimodal Images
Authors: C. Keerthika , Lal Anisha M.
Published: August 2022

Background:

In recent years, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has received more attention in the
field of medical imaging, which leads to cognitive disorders. Physicians mainly rely on MRI imaging
to examine memory impairment, thinking skills, judge functional abilities, and detect behavioral abnormalities
for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.

Objective:

Early diagnosis of AD has become a challenging and strenuous task with conventional
methods. The diagnostic procedure becomes complicated due to the structure and heterogeneous dimensions
of the brain. This paper visualizes and analyzes the publications on AD and furnishes a detailed
review based on the stages involved in the early detection of the disease.

Methods:

This paper also focuses on assorted stages of disease detection such as image preprocessing,
segmentation, feature extraction, classification, and optimization techniques that have been used in the
diagnosis of AD during the past five years. It also spotlights the deep learning models used in assorted
stages of detection. This paper also highlights the benefits of each method for assorted modalities of
images.

Results:

AD has been analyzed with various computational methods on a few datasets, which leads to
high computation time and loss of important features. Hybrid methods can perform better in every
diagnosis stage of AD than others. Finally, the assorted datasets used for the diagnosis and investigation
of Alzheimer's disease were analyzed and explored using a computerized system for future scope.

Conclusion:

From the review papers, we can conclude that DNN has greater accuracy in MR images
and CNN +AEC has the best accuracy in the multimodal images.
Methodological Verification-based Screening of the Representative Ingredients for Traditional Chinese Medicine: Taking Astragalus as an Example for Interfering with Cervical Cancer
Authors: Sun Hao , Wang Dan , Xu Mengjin , Gao Yi , Li Fan
Published: August 2022

Background:

The screening of effective ingredients is the bridge between the research of efficacy and the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine. Although promising virtual screening has emerged as an attractive alternative, an ideal strategy is still urgently required due to the characteristics of multi-ingredients and multi-targets of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to develop a methodological verification-based novel screening strategy capable of comprehensively assessing the ability of compounds to perturb disease networks, thereby identifying representative ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine interventions in complex diseases.

Methods:

In this article, we take astragalus interfering with cervical cancer as an example. First, a multifunctional clustering disease network model was constructed; second, the several drugs and their decoys were used for molecular docking with disease network clusters for methodological verification and determining the best scoring criteria. Third, the representative ingredients of astragalus were screened according to the best scoring criteria. Finally, the effects of the representative ingredients on cervical cancer SiHa cells were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis.

Results:

Three representative ingredients of astragalus were betulinic acid, hederagenin and methylnissolin, which perturbed the apoptosis, stabilization of p53, and G1/S transition cluster as a whole, respectively. CCK-8 assay showed that the IC50 value of betulinic acid, hederagenin and methylnissolin at 48 h was 28.84, 101.90, and 187.40 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry showed that these three representative ingredients could significantly induce early apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Western blot analysis showed that betulinic acid treatment significantly increased p53 expression, while hederagenin and methylnissolin did not.

Conclusions:

This study has provided new ideas for the screening of effective ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, and established a foundation for elucidating the overall mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine
Managing Power Flow in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with Auxiliary Hybrid
Energy Source coupled with Bidirectional Converter Using PI Control
Authors: Srivastava Swapnil , Yadav Kanchan , Maurya Sanjay Kumar
Published: August 2022

Background:

The overall performance of the hybrid electric vehicle is mainly governed by the energy storage systems characteristics with respect to their power and energy density. The batteries have a good energy density, while the supercapacitor (SC) has a good power density.

Method:

This paper presents a hybrid auxiliary source combined with a battery and the supercapacitor to use both characteristics of auxiliary energy source for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) application. The PI control technique is used for managing the power flow so that the supercapacitor fulfills the transient power and the battery supplies the steady-state power. The parameters of controllers are tuned by Ziegler Nichols and frequency response-based method.

Result:

The performance of the controller is evaluated by error coefficients (IAE, ISE, ITAE and ITSE). The model with different tuning parameters is simulated for fixed and variable reference inputs. The speed, dc bus voltage, and error coefficients are evaluated for the battery alone and battery-SC combinations.

Conclusion:

The value of error-based parameters suggests that controller parameters tuned by the frequency response-based method provide better results. The error coefficients for battery-supercapacitor combination are lower as compared to battery-alone systems indicating the better performance of hybrid input.
Research Progress on Improving the Stability of Paraffin Emulsion:
A Mini-Review
Authors: Liang Yu , Xia Endong , Li Haiyan , Wang Zidong , Ma Shoutao
Published: August 2022

Paraffin emulsion is a highly dispersed, thermodynamically unstable system.
Emulsifiers play a key role in promoting emulsion formation and improving emulsion
stability. However, a single emulsifier has limitations in maintaining emulsion stability,
usually, it is necessary to compound more than two emulsifiers or add other additives to
make the paraffin emulsion have better stability. Therefore, how to keep paraffin emulsion high dispersibility and stability for a long time are the problems that the majority of
researchers have been concerned about. This paper expounded the instability mechanism
of paraffin wax emulsion. The process of paraffin emulsion destabilization is the process
of gradually reducing the free energy of the system and the interaction force between
emulsion droplets determines the speed of emulsion destabilization. Sedimentation and
stratification, flocculation, coalescence, and Ostwald Ripening were the main factors
leading to paraffin instability; the prevention and improvement methods are proposed for
the above four mechanisms. From the instability mechanism, the factors affecting the
stability of paraffin emulsion mainly include the mechanical strength and film elasticity
of the interface film, the interfacial charge or obstruction between the emulsion droplets,
the appropriate system viscosity, and the uniform droplet size distribution will affect the
stability of the paraffin emulsion. Through literature research, several methods to improve the stability of paraffin emulsion were summarized. Polar paraffin has good emulsifying properties, compounding with paraffin can not only reduce the amount of emulsifier but also enhance the stability of paraffin emulsion, adding thickeners can reduce the
Brownian motion of droplets and improve the chemical and mechanical stability of wax
emulsions, the addition of ionic surfactants can reduce the diffusion rate of the dispersed
phase, the addition of inorganic salts can make the emulsion droplets generate strong repulsion when they are close to each other, and improve the stability of the emulsion, the
addition of small molecular alcohols can improve the flexibility of the oil-water interface
film properties, reduce the surface tension coefficient of the emulsion, and increase the
stability of the paraffin emulsion. This paper can provide a theoretical reference for the
research on the stability of paraffin emulsion.
Trends in Health Quality–Related Publications Over the Past Three Decades: Systematic Review
Authors: Mendlovic Joseph , Mimouni Francis B , Arad Iris , Heiman Eyal
Published: August 2022

Background

Quality assessment in health care is a process of planned activities with the ultimate goal of achieving a continuous improvement of medical care through the evaluation of structure, process, and outcome measures. Physicians and health care specialists involved with quality issues are faced with an enormous and nearly always increasing amount of literature to read and integrate. Nevertheless, the novelty and quality of these articles (in terms of evidence-based medicine) has not been systematically assessed and described.

Objective

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the number of high-evidence journal articles (according to the pyramid of evidence), such as randomized control trials, systematic reviews, and ultimately, practice guidelines, increases over time, relative to lower-evidence journal articles, such as editorials, reviews, and letters to the editors.

Methods

We used PubMed database to retrieve relevant articles published during the 31-year period between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 2021. The search was conducted in April 2022. We used the keywords “quality care,” “quality management,” “quality indicators,” and “quality improvement” and limited the search fields to title and abstract in order to limit our search results to articles nearly exclusively related to health care quality.

Results

During this 31-year evaluation period, there was a significant cubic increase in the total number of publications, reviews, clinical trials (peaking in 2017, with a sharp decline until 2021), controlled trials (peaking in 2016, with a sharp drop until 2021), randomized controlled trials (peaking in 2017, with a sharp drop until 2021), systematic reviews (nearly nonexistent in the 1980s through 1990s to a peak of 222 in 2021), and meta-analyses (from nearly none in the 1980s through 1990s to a peak of approximately 40 per year in 2020). There was a linear increase in practice guidelines from none during 1989-1991 to approximately 25 per year during 2019-2021, including a cubic increase in editorials, peaking in 2021 at 125 per year, and in letters to the editor, peaking at 50-78 per year in the last 4 years (ie, 2018-2021).

Conclusions

Over the past 31 years, the field of quality in health care has seen a significant yearly increase of published original studies with a relative stagnation since 2015. We suggest that contributors to this dynamic field of research should focus on producing more evidence-based publications and guidelines.
User Behavior of a Publicly Available, Free-to-Use, Self-guided mHealth App for Depression: Observational Study in a Global Sample
Authors: Su Langting , Anderson Page Lyn
Published: August 2022

Background

Reducing the burden of depression is a global health concern. Self-guided mobile health (mHealth) apps are one approach to address this problem. However, there is little research on self-guided mHealth apps in a global sample or on how they are used in the real world. These gaps in our knowledge must be addressed to bring the promise of mHealth apps for reducing the global burden of depression closer to reality.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to examine the naturalistic user behavior of MoodTools, a publicly available, free-to-use, self-guided mHealth app designed to improve symptoms of depression, in a global community sample.

Methods

Mobile analytics data were collected from all unique downloads of the Android version of MoodTools between March 1, 2016, and February 28, 2018. Due to the deidentification and data aggregation process, no demographic or personal identifying information was tied to individual user data. All information was stored in aggregated, anonymized data files on Google Analytics’ storage database. Google’s software development kit was used to securely capture data about the number of downloads, location of downloads, number of app sessions, frequency and duration of app sessions, time between app sessions, and user retention, allowing for examination of which app’s tools were viewed and for how long, including Information (psychoeducation), Test (self-monitoring using the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), Thought Diary (targeting negative cognitions), Activities (behavioral activation), Videos (curated from YouTube), and Safety Plan (safety plan development and links to quickly access crisis management resources).

Results

MoodTools was used by 158,930 people from 198 countries, including countries where English was not the primary language and in low- and middle-income countries. After the initial download, 51.14% (n=81,277) of users returned to the app after the initial download, and retention rates decreased with each subsequent app session. The typical person used the app for 3 sessions for a total of 12 minutes over 90 days. The most frequently visited tools were Test and Thought Diary (n=393,549, 24.32%). On average, users completed and reviewed the results of the PHQ-9 for 49 seconds and 53 seconds, respectively, and spent 3 minutes and 5 seconds on Thought Diary.

Conclusions

Self-guided mHealth apps could be one approach (among the many needed) to reduce the burden of depression. Observational data collected in this study show a global interest in MoodTools, including in low- and middle-income countries and countries where English is not the primary language. Future research is needed to determine whether people who use self-guided apps experience improvement in depressive symptoms, and if so, what “dosage” provides a meaningful benefit.
Postgraduate-Year-1 Residents’ Perceptions of Social Media and Virtual Applicant Recruitment: Cross-sectional Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Plack Daniel L , Abcejo Arnoley S , Kraus Molly B , Renew J Ross , Long Timothy R , Sharpe Emily E
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

The dissemination of information about residency programs is a vital step in residency recruitment. Traditional methods of distributing information have been printed brochures, websites, in-person interviews, and increasingly, social media. Away rotations and in-person interviews were cancelled, and interviews were virtual for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to describe postgraduate-year-1 (PGY1) residents’ social media habits in regard to residency recruitment and their perceptions of the residency programs’ social media accounts in light of the transition to virtual interviews.

METHODS

A web-based 33-question survey was developed to evaluate personal social media use, perceptions of social media use by residency programs, and perceptions of the residency program content. Surveys were sent in 2021 to PGY1 residents at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota who participated in the 2020-2021 interview cycle.

RESULTS

Of the 31 program directors contacted, 22 (71%) provided permission for their residents to complete the survey. Of 219 residents who received the survey, 67 (30%) completed the survey. Most respondents applied to a single specialty, and greater than 61% (41/67) of respondents applied to more than 30 programs. The social media platforms used most regularly by the respondents were Instagram (42/67, 63%), Facebook (36/67, 54%), and Twitter (22/67, 33%). Respondents used the program website (66/67, 99%), residents (47/67, 70%), and social media (43/67, 64%) as the most frequent resources to research programs. The most commonly used social media platforms to research programs were Instagram (38/66, 58%), Twitter (22/66, 33%), and Doximity (20/66, 30%). The type of social media post ranked as most interesting by the respondents was “resident life outside of the hospital.” In addition, 68% (39/57) of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their perception of a program was positively influenced by the residency program’s social media account.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multispecialty survey of PGY1 residents participating in the 2020-2021 virtual interview season, respondents preferred Instagram to Twitter or Facebook for gathering information on prospective residency programs. In addition, the program website, current residents, and social media platforms were the top-ranked resources used by prospective applicants. Having an up-to-date website and robust social media presence, particularly on Instagram, may become increasingly important in the virtual interview environment.
Association of meal contents/timing and chronotype/social jetlag evaluated by data accumulated in the food-log app: a cross-sectional study (Preprint)
Authors: Nitta Lyie , Tahara Yu , Shinto Takae , Makino Saneyuki , Kuwahara Mai , Tada Ayako , Abe Nanako , Michie Mikiko , Shibata Shigenobu
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Chronotype (morningness-eveningness) and irregular sleeping habits or social jetlag (SJL) are related to eating behavior and health. Previous studies have only analyzed the association of sleep behavior with meal skipping, mealtime, mealtime regularity, and daily total energy/nutrient intake, while none have discussed the contents of each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

OBJECTIVE

Detailed eating habits among each chronotype and individual basic characteristics were investigated.

METHODS

Meal pattern datasets of participants (men, n=1,352; women, n=3,605; age 20–64 years) were obtained as averages over a 1-month period using the data stored in the food-log app. The relationships between food logs, chronotype/SJL measured by the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, other basic characteristics, and health parameters were examined.

RESULTS

Evening chronotype and larger SJL were related to higher body weight, lower breakfast and higher dinner intake, lower breakfast and higher night snack frequencies, later food time, irregular mealtimes, and lower physical activity. Although there were many significant changes in time-dependent daily nutrient intake with chronotype/SJL, multiple regression analyses revealed specific nutrients. Morning chronotype and smaller SJL correlated with higher fiber intake and lower lipid intake when the daily total amount of each nutrient was analyzed. Morning chronotype was also correlated with higher breakfast carbohydrate and lunch fiber, as well as lower dinner carbohydrate and dinner protein levels. Smaller SJL was associated with higher breakfast carbohydrate and lunch fiber intake and lower daily total energy intake.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study revealed that people who were morning chronotype or had small SJL showed healthy dietary conditions (higher fiber and lower lipid intake with bigger breakfast and lower dinner amount) with healthy body composition.
Screening for Melanoma in an Unsheltered Male Using Teledermatology: A Street Medicine Perspective (Preprint)
Authors: Eachus Emily , Rasul Taha , Henderson Armen
Published: August 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

Skin cancers are concerning for unsheltered people experiencing homelessness (PEH) because of their high amount of sun exposure. Currently, there is little data on the prevalence of skin cancers in PEH. Skin disease is often untreated in PEH due to lack of access to healthcare, particularly for specialists. Miami Street Medicine (MSM) is an organization that provides PEH in the Miami Health District with medical care in a non-clinical street setting, near overpasses, sidewalks, and encampments.
We present a case of an unsheltered 59-year-old male with a pigmented, 2x2 cm facial lesion that had developed over 15 years. Through a teledermatology consultation, his lesion was highly suspicious for melanoma and further evaluation was recommended. Due to lack of insurance, he could not be seen at any dermatology clinic. Coincidentally two weeks later, he developed cellulitis of his lower extremity and had to be admitted to the local safety-net hospital through the Emergency Department. By coordinating with his primary inpatient team, MSM was able to include a biopsy as part of his hospital stay. The results demonstrated melanoma in situ. The vital course of action was to ensure treatment before metastasis. After registration for insurance and follow-up with a surgical oncology team, he is weeks from excision and reconstruction surgery. His unsheltered status made follow-up difficult, but MSM bridged the gap from the street to the clinical setting by incorporating teledermatology into patient evaluations, and leveraging connections with community shareholders. This case also represents the barriers to care for cancer-based dermatologic outreach among PEH.
Banking Credit Risk Analysis with Naive Bayes Approach and Cox Proportional Hazard
Authors: Antika Dwi Putri , Fatekurohman Mohamat , Tirta I Made
Published: August 2022

Credit is needed for some people for certain purposes. In credit, it takes a party that can be used as an intermediary such as a bank. The debtor may not be able to make payments according to the original policy or even cause losses where the Bank may lose the opportunity to earn interest, causing a decrease in total income. This problem is included in the case of non-performing loans. In statistics, the duration of time between a person not making a payment on time until a non-current loan occurs can be predicted using survival analysis. Meanwhile, to predict credit status, you can use classification or prediction methods in machine learning to find out how much influence the predictor variable has. In this study, with a different case, focusing on the credit risk case of how a bank decides to provide credit to prospective debtors using the classifier method found in Machine Learning, namely Naive Bayes and Cox regression from survival analysis. Through the evaluation test of the naive bayes classifier model using accuracy values, confusion matrix and ROC, it can be concluded that this model is a model with good performance for predicting credit status. Multinomial nave Bayes in this study has a higher performance value than Gaussian Naïve Bayes and Bernoulli Naïve Bayes which is 92%. Through cox regression, it is obtained that income factors and loan history have a major influence on determining credit status.
Spatial Characterization of Water quality for human consumption from well in the county of Barcarena - PA
Authors: Pantoja Danielle Nazaré Salgado Mamede , Ribeiro Hebe Morganne Campos , Loiola Rosane do Socorro Pompeu de , Costa Gysele Maria Morais , Rocha Ronaldo Magno , Santos Washington Aleksander Savaris dos
Published: August 2022

The exploitation of groundwater in the world assumes an important role due to its low cost, but this facility makes it more vulnerable to contamination. In this context, this study characterized the physical-chemical, toxicological and microbiological aspects of 165 samples of water for human consumption from wells from different sources of supply in the county of Barcarena-PA, which is divided into two regions: Barcarena headquarters and Industrial, in the period from 2017 to 2019. A water quality index was prepared to assess the water quality standard. Total Coliform bacteria were detected in 43.64% and E. coli in 15.76% of the water samples, most of which were untreated. Considering the physical-chemical and toxicological parameters, some, such as pH and aluminum, presented average values in disagreement with Brazilian legislation. Thus, a heterogeneity of contamination was observed in the Headquarters and Industrial regions, where the first presented alteration in the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters and the second, greater amount of metals and lower pH values. As for the index, only three categories of water quality were evidenced in the municipality:
Amazon Environmental Perspective Presented in Teaching Books used in the Public Network of Porto Velho/Ro
Authors: Leite Geanne Ferreira , Melo Elizete Vieira de , Batista Anaile Cristina Vieira de Melo , Carvalho Emanuela Sá Moreira
Published: August 2022

This article brings as an object of study the symbolic representations of the Amazon in texts from textbooks used in the public network of Porto Velho/RO. This object inquires the question: How is the Brazilian Amazon portrayed in textbooks distributed in public schools? For that, qualitative research was carried out, legitimized from the Cultural Analysis under the support of Cultural Studies. From a qualitative approach, it is intended to detect the symbolic constructions in the selected texts, to analyze the production of meaning effects regarding ideologies, imaginaries, silencing and discursive formations. In the data analysis, the meanings established in various modes of production (verbal and non-verbal) were questioned, since their materiality produces meanings for interpretation. It is concluded that the symbolic representations of the Amazon in the analyzed texts, assert the discursive effect of a green, uncivilized imaginary. There is a silencing of other regional characteristics to superimpose others, ideological, of a rural character, of an undeveloped place, without progress in “El dorado” without technology and urbanization.
gravação ambiental feita pela vítima de crime
Authors: Martins Charles , Ávila Thiago Pierobom de
Published: August 2022

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar o alcance interpretativo do art. 8º-A, § 4º, da Lei n. 9.296/1996, introduzido pela Lei n. 13.964/2019, que estabelece que apenas poderão ser utilizadas no processo penal as gravações ambientais feitas por um dos interlocutores sem o consentimento do outro “em matéria de defesa”. Indagou-se: são lícitas as gravações ambientais realizadas por vítima de crime? Quanto à metodologia, utiliza-se do raciocínio indutivo com uso de revisão bibliográfica nacional e estrangeira e de decisões judiciais sobre o tema, especialmente dos EUA, Alemanha, Portugal, cortes europeia e interamericana de direitos humanos e do STF. Conclui-se que as gravações ambientais possuem uma tipicidade de violação dos direitos fundamentais à imagem e voz, bem como o direito ao auditório. Tal tipicidade é indicativa de ilicitude. Todavia, o princípio da proporcionalidade funciona como causa excludente da ilicitude. Assim, a situação de legítima defesa probatória pela vítima de crime pode justificar o uso de gravações clandestinas, sempre que o direito a ser protegido tiver valor superior à expectativa de privacidade e de proteção à voz e à imagem do autor de crime. Conclui-se com a necessidade de uma interpretação conforme à Constituição, para se entender o que a cláusula significa “em matéria de defesa de direitos fundamentais”.
Unlawful prosecution in the case regarding the destruction of a forest eco-system
Authors: Solodov Denis , Zębek Elżbieta
Published: August 2022

The overall complexity of the subject matter and the required high level of expertise make environmental crime investigations quite a challenging task for law enforcement. The clandestine nature of environmental offences combined with the environmental law’s intricacy is among the reasons behind prosecutorial failures. The authors analyze a criminal case regarding illegal deforestation, which eventually ended up in an acquittal. By retracing the steps that led to wrongful prosecution and accusations in this criminal case, the authors reflect on some legal and practical challenges concerning environmental crime investigations in Europe and in Poland, including the problem of timely detection of environmental infringements, the use of proper evidence-gathering procedures, as well as the issues related to the methodology of environmental damage assessment. In this regard, the authors analyze the provisions of the Environmental Compliance Assurance Guidance “Combating environmental crimes and related infringements” adopted by the EU Commission in 2021.
Imputazioni ingiuste e rimborso delle spese legali da parte dello Stato
Authors: Pascucci Nicola
Published: August 2022

Il contributo esamina l’art. 1 commi 1015 ss. l. 178/2020 e il d. interm. 20 dicembre 2021, che introducono per la prima volta nell’ordinamento processuale penale italiano una disciplina generale sul rimborso delle spese legali agli imputati assolti da parte dello Stato. Le previsioni costituiscono un notevole passo avanti, ma presentano gravi e diffuse criticità nel perimetro applicativo, nei termini di presentazione dell’istanza e nei rapporti con altri istituti processuali. Anche la loro collocazione, al di fuori del codice di procedura penale, pare inopportuna. Inoltre, le somme stanziate dallo Stato (otto milioni di euro annui) sono del tutto insufficienti a garantire l’effettività della disciplina, se rapportate al numero di assoluzioni, desumibili dalle statistiche ufficiali. L’Autore delinea proposte di riforma, anche alla luce dei dati ministeriali sul numero e sull’esito dei procedimenti.
Investigação criminal, reconhecimento de pessoas e erros judiciais:
Authors: Schietti Cruz Rogerio
Published: August 2022

A investigação criminal deve ser eficiente na tarefa de identificar autores de crimes e fornecer elementos para o início da ação penal, sem, todavia, violar os direitos dos suspeitos. Os procedimentos policiais adotados atualmente em inquéritos policiais são simplistas, sobretudo em investigações relativas à criminalidade de rua, geralmente direcionadas a obter confissões dos suspeitos e depoimentos de testemunhas. As falhas de procedimento, em geral, surgem com a Polícia, se mantém com o Ministério Público e produzem seus efeitos mais dramáticos com a decisão judicial, especialmente nos casos em que a vítima é convidada para um ato de reconhecimento formal do suspeito. Essa realidade motivou, no Brasil, a mudança do entendimento do Superior Tribunal de Justiça, que passou a exigir o cumprimento fiel das disposições do Código de Processo Penal. O próximo passo na correção de tais erros depende de uma transformação da rotina policial, com a fiscalização do Ministério Público e a rejeição da prova ilícita pelo juiz, por meio da adoção de critérios que imprimam racionalidade ao procedimento policial, por meio da apropriação do conhecimento científico acumulado sobre a dinâmica dos reconhecimentos equivocados.