bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability and change in genetic and environmental influences on depressive symptoms in response to COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Picardi Angelo , Fagnani Corrado , Gigantesco Antonella , Toccaceli Virgilia , Stazi Maria Antonietta , Medda Emanuela
Published: February 2023

Background

The rapid spread of the new Coronavirus and the consequent restrictions to contain transmission generated an unprecedented psychological impact on the general population. The Italian Twin Registry performed a longitudinal study to investigate to what extent genetic and environmental influences contributed to changes in depressive symptoms.

Methods

Data from adult twins were collected. All participants completed an online questionnaire including the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) just before (February 2020) and immediately after the Italian lockdown (June 2020). Genetic modeling based on Cholesky decomposition was used to estimate the role of genetic (A) and both shared (C) and unshared (E) environmental factors in the observed longitudinal course of depressive symptoms.

Results

Longitudinal genetic analysis was based on 348 twin pairs (215 monozygotic and 133 dizygotic pairs) with a mean age of 42.6 years (range 18–93 years). An AE Cholesky model provided heritability estimates for depressive symptoms of 0.24 and 0.35 before and after the lockdown period, respectively. Under the same model, the observed longitudinal trait correlation (0.44) was approximately equally contributed by genetic (46%) and unshared environmental (54%) influences, while longitudinal environmental correlation was lower than genetic correlation (0.34 and 0.71, respectively).

Conclusions

Although the heritability of depressive symptoms was rather stable across the targeted time window, different environmental as well as genetic factors seemed to act before and after the lockdown, which suggests possible gene-environment interaction.
The relative and interactive effects of urinary multiple metals exposure on hyperuricemia among urban elderly in China
Authors: Huang Chao , Gao Erwei , Xiao Feng , Wu Qiongzhen , Liu Wei , Luo Yi , Ren Xiaohu , Chen Xiao , He Kaiwu , Huang Haiyan , Sun Qian , Wu Desheng , Liu Jianjun
Published: February 2023

Objective

Independent and interactive effects of multiple metals levels in urine on the risk of hyperuricemia (HUA) in the elderly were investigated.

Methods

A total of 6,508 individuals from the baseline population of the Shenzhen aging-related disorder cohort were included in this study. We detected urinary concentrations of 24 metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, fitted unconditional logistic regression models, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression models for the selection of metals as well as unconditional stepwise logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline logistic regression models for assessing the associations of urinary metals and HUA risk, and finally applied generalized linear models to determine the interaction with urinary metals on the risk of HUA.

Results

Unconditional stepwise logistic regression models showed the association between urinary vanadium, iron, nickel, zinc, or arsenic and HUA risk (all P < 0.05). We revealed a negative linear dose–response relationship between urinary iron levels and HUA risk (Poverall < 0.001, Pnonliner = 0.682), a positive linear dose–response relationship between urinary zinc levels and HUA risk (Poverall < 0.001, Pnonliner = 0.513), and an additive interaction relationship between urinary low-iron and high-zinc levels and HUA risk (RERI = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.03–0.59; AP = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.02–0.34; S = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.69–3.49).

Conclusion

Urinary vanadium, iron, nickel, zinc, or arsenic levels were associated with HUA risk, and the additive interaction of low-iron (<78.56 μg/L) and high-zinc (≥385.39 μg/L) levels may lead to a higher risk of HUA.
Facilitators and inhibitors in hospital-to-home transitional care for elderly patients with chronic diseases: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Sun Mengjie , Liu Lamei , Wang Jianan , Zhuansun Mengyao , Xu Tongyao , Qian Yumeng , Dela Rosa Ronnell
Published: February 2023

Background

Chronic diseases are long-term, recurring and prolonged, requiring frequent travel to and from the hospital, community, and home settings to access different levels of care. Hospital-to-home transition is challenging travel for elderly patients with chronic diseases. Unhealthy care transition practices may be associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes and readmission rates. The safety and quality of care transitions have gained global attention, and healthcare providers have a responsibility to help older adults make a smooth, safe, and healthy transition.

Objective

This study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of what may shape health transitions in older adults from multiple perspectives, including older chronic patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Methods

Six databases were searched during January 2022, including Pubmed, web of science, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL (EBSCO), and PsycINFO (Ovid). The qualitative meta-synthesis was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The quality of included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative research appraisal tool. A narrative synthesis was conducted informed by Meleis's Theory of Transition.

Results

Seventeen studies identified individual and community-focused facilitators and inhibitors mapped to three themes, older adult resilience, relationships and connections, and uninterrupted care transfer supply chain.

Conclusion

This study identified potential transition facilitators and inhibitors for incoming older adults transitioning from hospital to home, and these findings may inform the development of interventions to target resilience in adapting to a new home environment, and human relations and connections for building partnerships, as well as an uninterrupted supply chain of care transfer at hospital-home delivery.

Systematic review registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022350478.
Challenges and perspectives in MS-based omics approaches for ecotoxicology studies: An insight on Gammarids sentinel amphipods
Authors: Calabrese Valentina , Salvador Arnaud , Clément Yohann , Brunet Thomas Alexandre , Espeyte Anabelle , Chaumot Arnaud , Geffard Olivier , Degli-Esposti Davide , Ayciriex Sophie
Published: February 2023

The aquatic environment is one of the most complex biosystems, as organism at all trophic levels may be exposed to a multitude of pollutants. As major goals, ecotoxicology typically investigates the impact of toxic pollutants on the ecosystems through the study of sentinel organisms. Over the past decades, Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based omics approaches have been extended to sentinel species both in laboratory and field exposure conditions. Single-omics approaches enable the discovery of biomarkers mirroring the health status of an organism. By covering a restricted set of the molecular cascade, they turn out to only partially satisfy the understanding of complex ecotoxicological effects. In contrast, a more complete understanding of the ecotoxicity pathways can be accessed through multi-omics approaches. In this perspective, we provide a state-of-the-art and a critical evaluation on further developments in MS-based single and multi-omics studies in aquatic ecotoxicology. As case example, literature regarding Gammarids freshwater amphipods, non-model sentinel organisms sensitive to pollutants and environmental changes and crucial species for downstream ecosystems, will be reviewed.
Mindfulness for adaptation to analog and new technologies emergence for long-term space missions
Authors: Le Roy Barbara , Martin-Krumm Charles , Trousselard Marion
Published: February 2023

Long-term space missions require a good understanding of human adaptation to hostile environments in space. Some professional environments have space constraints that are isolating, confined, extreme, or unusual constraints. They can serve as space analogs for studying challenge adaptation as their environmental constraints disrupt the balance between the demands of the environment and the resources mobilized by individuals. This disruption in homeostasis leads to increased stress, decreased performance, and poor overall health for these professionals. Nevertheless, as analogs, these professional environments can also offer information for better identifying the individual psychological and cognitive resources that are effective in adapting to the constraints caused by these exceptional environments. Studies suggest that mindfulness (i.e., awareness that emerges by paying attention purposefully, in the present moment, without judgment to the experience that is unfolding moment by moment) may be a relevant candidate for dealing with these issues. Thus, we address mindfulness as a relevant psychological resource to face the constraints of space missions based on experiences in analog environments and military contexts. We propose to open discussions on new countermeasures focused on developing mindfulness, especially through the use of new technologies (e.g., “immersive reality” and others), to increase adaptation to the space environment and offer programs tailored to the needs of astronauts for long space journeys.
Augmented reality as a participation tool for youth in urban planning processes: Case study in Oslo, Norway
Authors: Reaver Kai
Published: February 2023

Augmented reality (AR) allows objects to be digitally simulated in the real world through smartphones, tablets, and headsets. While there are interesting AR technology case studies in participatory urban planning, this type of research has yet to be conducted within a real-life municipal planning scenario. Following the UN Habitat recommendation that further studies in AR as a participatory tool seek to integrate planning with real citizens, we studied the use of AR for the Oslo Trees plan in Norway. The case study consists of field work with AR between 2020 and 2021 over five weeks, with five different groups of youth participants from eight different districts of Oslo, who were tasked with planning a portion of Oslo’s 100,000 new trees. We document how these youths used AR in films, images, drawings, interviews, screen recordings, and recorded presentations. We find that AR is a highly intuitive tool for these youth user groups in design and planning and how the AR schemes impacted the final design of the plan. The use of AR aided users’ ability to generate their own planning proposals on site at scale; nearly all participants increased their understanding of participation, urban planning, architecture, and design in the workshops. In addition, the youths experienced an increased sense of confidence in displaying their design intentions and appreciated being given control of the planning process. However, we also found that location tracking and positioning in AR is imprecise and often “buggy” in the current state of the technology, causing irritation among users. Furthermore, despite the high degree of control afforded to users through AR, experts were still needed to verify which tree proposals were viable, offering important insights into how AR could be designed in the future. We conclude with a discussion on opportunities and barriers for the implementation of AR in participatory urban planning, pointing to the need for a more coordinated and holistic approach to both AR technology development and planning policy if the technology is to be developed further for participatory urban planning.
Maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis
Authors: Ng Beng Kwang , Chuah Joo Ngor , Cheah Fook Choe , Mohamed Ismail Nor Azlin , Tan Geok Chin , Wong Kon Ken , Lim Pei Shan
Published: February 2023

Background

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infection in women of reproductive age group because of vaginal dysbiosis. The impact of BV during pregnancy is still not well defined. The objective of this study is to assess the maternal-fetal outcome in women with BV.

Materials and Methods

A prospective cohort study over one-year duration was conducted from December, 2014 until December, 2015, involving 237 women who presented with abnormal vaginal discharge, preterm labour or preterm prelabour rupture of membrane between 22- and 34-weeks period of gestation. Vaginal swabs were sent for culture and sensitivity, BV® Blue testing and PCR for Gardnerella vaginalis (GV).

Results

BV was diagnosed in 24/237 (10.1%) cases. The median gestational age was 31.6 weeks. GV was isolated from 16 out of 24 (66.7%) in the BV positive group. There was a significantly higher preterm birth rate, below 34 weeks (22.7% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.019) in women with BV. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal outcome such as clinical chorioamnionitis or endometritis. However, placental pathology revealed more than half (55.6%) of women with BV had histologic chorioamnionitis. Neonatal morbidity was significantly higher with exposure to BV, with a lower median birth weight, higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission (41.7% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.010), increased intubation for respiratory support (29.2% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.004) and respiratory distress syndrome (33.3% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

More research is needed to formulate guidelines for prevention, early detection and treatment of BV during pregnancy to reduce intrauterine inflammation and the associated adverse fetal outcomes.
Self-Sustainability Assessment for a High Building Based on Linear Programming and Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Oliveira Carlos , Baptista José , Cerveira Adelaide
Published: February 2023

With excess energy use from non-renewable sources, new energy generation solutions must be adopted to make up for this excess. In this sense, the integration of renewable energy sources in high-rise buildings reduces the need for energy from the national power grid to maximize the self-sustainability of common services. Moreover, self-consumption in low-voltage and medium-voltage networks strongly facilitates a reduction in external energy dependence. For consumers, the benefits of installing small wind turbines and energy storage systems include tax benefits and reduced electricity bills as well as a profitable system after the payback period. This paper focuses on assessing the wind potential in a high-rise building through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, quantifying the potential for wind energy production by small wind turbines (WT) at the installation site. Furthermore, a mathematical model is proposed to optimize wind energy production for a self-consumption system to minimize the total cost of energy purchased from the grid, maximizing the return on investment. The potential of a CFD-based project practice that has wide application in developing the most varied processes and equipment results in a huge reduction in the time and costs spent compared to conventional practices. Furthermore, the optimization model guarantees a significant decrease in the energy purchased at peak hours through the energy stored in energy storage systems (ESS). The results show that the efficiency of the proposed model leads to an investment amortization period of 7 years for a lifetime of 20 years.
Anyone Can Get Old—All You Have to Do Is Live Long Enough: Understanding Mortality and Life Expectancy in European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)
Authors: Rasmussen Sophie Lund , Berg Thomas B. , Martens Helle Jakobe , Jones Owen R.
Published: February 2023

The European hedgehog is in decline, triggering a need to monitor population dynamics to optimise conservation initiatives directed at this species. By counting periosteal growth lines, we determined the age of 388 dead European hedgehogs collected through citizen science in Denmark. The overall mean age was 1.8 years (1.6 years for females and 2.1 years for males), ranging between 0 and 16 years. We constructed life tables showing life expectancies at 2.1 years for females and 2.6 years for males. We discovered that male hedgehogs were more likely to have died in traffic than females, but traffic-related deaths peaked in July for both sexes. A sex difference was detected for non-traffic deaths, as most males died in July, and most females died in September. We created empirical survivorship curves and hazard curves showing that the risk of death for male hedgehogs remains approximately constant with age. In contrast, the risk of death for females increases with age. Most of the collected road-killed individuals died in rural habitats. The degree of inbreeding did not influence longevity. These new insights are important for preparing conservation strategies for the European hedgehog.
Are Currently Selected Laboratory Animals Useful in the Research of How Female Hormones Influence Orthodontic Biomechanics?
Authors: Peruga Małgorzata , Kawala Beata , Sarul Michał , Kotowicz Jakub , Lis Joanna
Published: February 2023

Animal testing was and remains the only method of introducing a certain treatment and medical procedure on humans. On the other hand, animals have their rights resulting from applicable legal acts, including Directive 2010/63/EU and, indirectly, the World Medical Association International Code of Medical Ethics (Helsinki Declaration, 1975, amended 2000). Thus, the question arises whether the credibility of the results of hormonal and orthodontic tests obtained so far and their usefulness for the human population is scientifically justified and worth sacrificing laboratory animals for. Especially that, according to statistical data, about 50% of laboratory animals are euthanized at the conclusion of the experiments. The aim of this article was to determine whether animal experiments are scientifically or morally justified in bringing significant evidence in studies that may validate the influence of changes in the concentration of female hormones secreted by the ovaries in various phases of the menstrual cycle in young patients on the duration of an increased tooth movement rate in orthodontic treatment. Papers reporting the results of the original research into female hormones, either natural or exogeneous ones, likely to alternate the orthodontic tooth movement rate were critically evaluated in terms of animal selection. Thorough analysis supported by veterinary knowledge proved that none of the publications enabled an extrapolation of the results to humans. The evaluation of the relation between the rate of tooth movement upon loading with orthodontic forces and hormones either secreted during the menstrual cycle of women or released from the contraceptives already present in the market, does not require sacrificing laboratory animals.
Pet Ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand: A National Survey of Cat and Dog Owner Practices
Authors: Forrest Rachel , Awawdeh Leena , Pearson Maria , Waran Natalie
Published: February 2023

This study used an online survey distributed between January and March 2019 to adults residing in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) to investigate cat and dog owner practices. Of the 2385 respondents, 885 (37%) owned both cat/s and dog/s, while 652 (28%) and 609 (26%) owned cat/s only or dog/s only, respectively. Nine percent of respondents (n = 212) did not own a cat or dog when the survey was administered. Gaps were identified in the practices of NZ pet owners with regard to regular grooming, immunizations, and deworming treatments. It was also found that many pets, especially cats, were allowed to wander freely both inside and outside the house. Collectively, these gaps in practice raise parasitology and infection concerns which may impact negatively on animal welfare and may increase the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. This study also revealed the need to improve desexing practices, particularly in dogs. Respondents in the survey expressed the wish to have pets regardless of the financial strain they may impose, indicating that future research should focus on reducing the financial burden of pet ownership along with promoting positive pet ownership practices. Our findings suggest the need for better education resources about pet ownership which are easily accessible and target diverse populations. The findings of this study will aid in developing appropriate educational resources to promote animal welfare and increase pet-related knowledge among the NZ populace.
Meiotic Development of Canine Oocytes from Poly-Ovular and Mono-Ovular Follicles after In Vitro Maturation
Authors: Astudillo Igor , Aspee Karla , Palomino Jaime , Peralta Oscar A. , Parraguez Victor H. , De los Reyes Monica
Published: February 2023

Poly-ovular follicles are defined as those with more than one oocyte present in single follicles. The occurrence frequency of this follicle type is higher in canines than that in other species. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro meiotic maturation of dog oocytes from this follicle type in comparison to those from mono-ovular follicles of various sizes (small antral, medium antral, and large antral) considering different phases of the estrus cycle (anestrus, proestrus, estrus, and diestrus). Canine oocytes were obtained separately from the poly-ovular and mono-ovular antral follicles from the ovaries of adult females. In each experimental replicate, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from poly-ovular and mono-ovular follicles were incubated in supplemented TCM-199 at 38.5 °C and 5% CO2 for 72 h. After culturing, the meiotic development of each oocyte was evaluated using epifluorescence microscopy. Meiotic stages were classified into germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), first metaphase (MI), and second metaphase (MII). Data were evaluated using an analysis of variance. Oocytes from poly-ovular follicles at all phases exhibited a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of oocytes arrested at the GV stage than those from mono-ovular follicles, showing the highest rate of GV in small antral follicles during anestrus. In contrast, there were no differences in MII rates (p < 0.05) in oocytes from mono-ovular and poly-ovular follicles during the estrus and diestrus phases in all sizes evaluated, with the highest MII rate in estrus. These results suggest that oocytes from poly-ovular follicles can resume meiosis at a slower rate than those from mono-ovular follicles; however, the maturation in vitro of such oocytes is possible. Furthermore, the relationship between the maturation capacity of oocytes from both poly-ovular and mono-ovular follicles depends on the ovarian cycle and follicular development.
Development of a Method for the Fast Detection of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- and Plasmid-Mediated AmpC β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from Dogs and Cats in the USA
Authors: Seo Kwang-Won
Published: February 2023

Antibiotic resistance, such as resistance to beta-lactams and the development of resistance mechanisms, is associated with multifactorial phenomena and not only with the use of third-generation cephalosporins. Many methods have been recommended for the detection of ESBL and pAmpC β-lactamase production but they are very subjective and the appropriate facilities are not available in most laboratories, especially not in clinics. Therefore, for fast clinical antimicrobial selection, we need to rapidly detect ESBL- and pAmpC β-lactamase-producing bacteria using a simple method with samples containing large amounts of bacteria. For the detection of ESBL- and pAmpC phenotypes and genes, the disk diffusion test, DDST and multiplex PCR were conducted. Of the 109 samples, 99 (90.8%) samples were grown in MacConkey broth containing cephalothin, and 71 samples were grown on MacConkey agar containing ceftiofur. Of the 71 samples grown on MacConkey agar containing ceftiofur, 58 Escherichia coli and 19 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, in particular, harbored β-lactamase genes. Of the 38 samples that did not grow in MacConkey broth containing cephalothin or on MacConkey agar containing ceftiofur, 32 isolates were identified as E. coli, and 10 isolates were identified as K. pneumoniae; β-lactamase genes were not detected in these E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. Of the 78 ESBL- and pAmpC β-lactamase-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae, 55 (70.5%) isolates carried one or more ESBL genes and 56 (71.8%) isolates carried one or more pAmpC β-lactamase genes. Our method is a fast, and low-cost tool for the screening of frequently encountered ESBL- and pAmpC β-lactamase-producing bacteria and it would assist in diagnosis and improve therapeutic treatment in animal hospitals.
Exoplanets Catalogue Analysis: The Distribution of Exoplanets at FGK Stars by Mass and Orbital Period Accounting for the Observational Selection in the Radial Velocity Method
Authors: Ananyeva Vladislava , Ivanova Anastasiia , Shashkova Inna , Yakovlev Oleg , Tavrov Alexander , Korablev Oleg , Bertaux Jean-Loup
Published: February 2023

When studying the statistics of exoplanets, it is necessary to take into account the effects of observational selection and the inhomogeneity of the data in the exoplanets databases. When considering exoplanets discovered by the radial velocity technique (RV), we propose an algorithm to account for major inhomogeneities. We show that the de-biased mass distribution of the RV exoplanets approximately follows to a piecewise power law with the breaks at ~0.14 and ~1.7 MJ. FGK host stars planets group shows an additional break at 0.02 MJ. The distribution of RV planets follows the power laws of: dN/dm α m−3 (masses of 0.011–0.087 MJ), dN/dm α m−0.8…−1 (0.21–1.7 MJ), dN/dm ∝ m−1.7…−2 (0.087–0.21 MJ). There is a minimum of exoplanets in the range of 0.087–0.21 MJ. Overall, the corrected RV distribution of the planets over the minimum masses is in good agreement with the predictions of population fusion theory in the range (0.14–13 MJ) and the new population fusion theory in the range (0.02–0.14 MJ). The distributions of planets of small masses (0.011–0.14 MJ), medium masses (0.14–1.7 MJ), and large masses (1.7–13 MJ) versus orbital period indicate a preferential structure of planetary systems, in which the most massive planets are in wide orbits, as analogous to the Solar system.
The Atlantic Meridional Mode and Associated Wind–SST Relationship in the CMIP6 Models
Authors: Xia Fannyu , Zuo Jinqing , Sun Chenghu , Liu Ao
Published: February 2023

The Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) is the dominant mode of interannual climate variability in the tropical Atlantic, maintained primarily by the positive wind–evaporation–sea surface temperature (SST) feedback in which the wind anomalies lead the SST anomalies by ~2 months. A previous study revealed that climate models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) show poor performance in simulating the AMM-related wind–SST relationship, but the possible causes remain unclear. This study assesses the representation of the AMM and associated wind–SST relationship in the climate models from CMIP6. Results show that most of the CMIP6 models can reasonably reproduce the observed spatial pattern of the AMM, with significant SST and wind anomalies in the northern tropical Atlantic and weak anomalies in the equatorial–southern oceans. However, the simulated wind–SST relationship associated with the AMM varies among the models. In particular, several models fail to capture the observed wind–SST relationship; that is, the simulated wind anomalies peak in boreal spring as in the observations, but no obvious peak occurs in the corresponding SST anomalies. Further analysis suggests the models that fail to capture the observed wind–SST relationship tend to simulate a stronger mean trade wind and a thicker mixed layer in the northern tropical Atlantic, leading to a weaker ocean–atmosphere coupling and, thus, a weaker SST response to the wind forcing. Moreover, there exists a significant out-of-phase relationship between the strength of ocean–atmosphere coupling and mean mixed layer depth among the models, supporting the impact of mean state biases on the AMM variability in the models.
Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics Variability from Ponds Draining Different Landscapes in a Typical Agricultural Watershed
Authors: Liu Zhenjing , Sheng Lu , Zhang Xinyue , Duan Lijie , Jiang Yuanhua , Xiao Qitao
Published: February 2023

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in inland waters (rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and small ponds) plays a significant role in the global carbon cycle and affects global climate change. In addition, DOC is also a vital indicator of the water environment due to its multiple physical, chemical, and ecological roles. Lakes and ponds of small sizes are abundant on a global and regional scale, and a large increase in ponds is expected with global agricultural land expansion. However, the DOC characteristics of ponds in agricultural watersheds are still unclear, posing a challenge to better understanding the carbon cycle of inland waters. In this study, we explored the DOC variability and their influencing factors in ponds draining different landscapes in a typical agricultural watershed to address the issue. The field measurements over a year showed the DOC concentration varied among ponds draining different landscapes. Specifically, the mean DOC concentrations in the natural pond, sewage pond, aquaculture pond, and irrigation pond were (6.17 ± 1.49) mg/L, (12.08 ± 2.92) mg/L, (9.36 ± 2.92) mg/L, and (8.91 ± 2.71) mg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, monthly measurements found the DOC varied across sampling dates. The DOC variability was positively correlated with nutrients, primary production, and precipitation, suggesting anthropogenic loadings, an internal production rate, and hydrological regime that regulated the substantial variability of DOC in these ponds at the watershed scale. Further, large pollutant discharge and high primary production led to peak DOC occurring in the sewage pond. Our results implied that more attention should be paid to ponds in agricultural watersheds to better understand the roles of inland waters in the global carbon cycle.
The Atmospheric Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid in Beijing
Authors: Wang Fan , Wu Jing , Zhuang Yiru , Dong Bingqi , Zhang Yueling , Peng Lin
Published: February 2023

Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), one of the substitutes for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), has been widely discussed around the world. In this study, the atmospheric concentrations of PFHxS in Beijing in the summer and autumn of 2021 were monitored, and the gas–particle partitioning and wet and dry deposition characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the average total concentrations of PFHxS in Beijing in the summer and autumn were 1.61 pg/m3 and 1.41 pg/m3, respectively. The particulate fraction φ of PFHxS was about 48% during the research period, and there was a significant positive correlation between φ and air temperatures. The linear fitting relationship between logKp(gas–particle partition coefficient) and logPL (compound vapor pressure) showed that the absorption between the PFHxS molecule and particulate matter dominated the process of gas–particle partitioning. The total deposition flux of PFHxS was the largest in July and the smallest in October, with values of 55.2 and 23.7 ng/m2, respectively. During the study period, PFHxS in the atmosphere had no obvious health impacts on humans. However, with their extensive use, the possible harmful effects on children should be continuously investigated.
Biological Correlates of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): A Literature Review
Authors: Dell’Osso Liliana , Carpita Barbara , Nardi Benedetta , Bonelli Chiara , Calvaruso Martina , Cremone Ivan Mirko
Published: February 2023

Since the beginning of medical science, much research have focused on the psychopathological effects of traumatic experiences. Despite in past centuries the scientific literature on mental health has been mainly focused on the harmful effects of traumatic occurrences, more recently the idea of “post-traumatic growth” emerged, on the basis of a growing interest in the characteristics of resilience and possible positive consequences of trauma. In this framework, increasing attention is now being paid to the psychological meaning of PTG, with a consistent number of psychopathological and epidemiological studies on this subject, but limited literature focused on neurobiological correlates or eventual biomarkers of this condition. The present work aimed to summarize and review the available evidence on neurobiological correlates of PTG and their psychological and clinical meaning. Results highlighted a variety of biochemical and neurobiological differences between PTG and non-PTG individuals, partially corroborating findings from earlier research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, although promising, findings in this field are still too limited and additional studies on the neurobiological correlates of traumatic experiences are needed in order to gain a better understanding of the subject.
Evaluating the Distinction between Cool and Hot Executive Function during Childhood
Authors: Moriguchi Yusuke , Phillips Steven
Published: February 2023

This article assesses the cool–hot executive function (EF) framework during childhood. First, conceptual analyses suggest that cool EF (cEF) is generally distinguished from hot EF (hEF). Second, both EFs can be loaded into different factors using confirmatory factor analyses. Third, the cognitive complexity of EF is similar across cEF tasks, and the cognitive complexity of cEF is similar to hEF tasks. Finally, neuroimaging analysis suggests that children activate the lateral prefrontal regions during all EF tasks. Taken together, we propose that the cool–hot framework is a useful, though not definitive way of characterizing differences in EF.
Feelings of Personal Relative Deprivation and Subjective Well-Being in Japan
Authors: Ohno Hiroshi , Lee Kyung-Tae , Maeno Takashi
Published: February 2023

Personal relative deprivation (PRD) refers to emotions of resentment and dissatisfaction caused by feeling deprived of a deserved outcome compared to some reference. While evidence suggests that relative deprivation based on objective data such as income affects well-being, subjective PRD has been less explored, especially in the East. This study evaluated the relationship between PRD and subjective well-being based on various aspects in the context of Japan. An online questionnaire survey, including the Japanese version of the Personal Relative Deprivation Scale (J-PRDS5) and various well-being indices, was administered to 500 adult participants, balanced for sex and age. Quantitative data analysis methods were used. PRD significantly correlated with subjective well-being as assessed by various aspects. Through mediation analysis, we found that a strong tendency to compare one’s abilities with others may undermine subjective well-being through PRD. The results also indicated that well-developed human environments may be associated with the maintenance of subjective well-being levels, even when PRD is high. Toward developing future interventions to improve well-being and health, efforts must be undertaken in Japan to monitor PRD and further clarify the mechanism of the association between PRD and the factors that showed a strong relationship in this study.
Personality Trait Patterns Moderate the Simple Model of Environmental Citizenship
Authors: Poškus Mykolas Simas
Published: February 2023

The current study investigates the Simple Model of Environmental Citizenship (SMEC) in a representative sample of Lithuanian emerging adults. The SMEC is a practical model of assessing environmental citizenship and is intended to be simple to use in interventions and longitudinal research. A total of 700 individuals (50% female) with a mean age of 30.6 years participated in the survey. The participants filled in a questionnaire comprising measures assessing all the components of the SMEC as well as a personality trait measure. Participants were clustered by their personality traits and the resulting profiles were used as a moderator for the SMEC. The results revealed that the SMEC functions differently for individuals possessing different personality trait patterns and that in order to promote environmental citizenship or to engage in education for environmental citizenship, different strategies might be more effective for different individuals.
Investigation of the Effect of Air Layer Thickness on the Thermal Performance of the PCM Integrated Roof
Authors: Bhamare Dnyandip K. , Rathod Manish K. , Banerjee Jyotirmay , Arıcı Müslüm
Published: February 2023

Recently, Phase Change Materials (PCM) have become more prevalent in improving buildings’ thermal management. The relative location of the PCM layer is a valuable measure for assessing the thermal performance of building envelopes, in addition to meteorological circumstances and PCM qualities. The optimum air layers between the PCM layer and roof may significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings. In this regard, the influence of air gap layer thickness on the thermal performance of a PCM (HS 29) integrated roof of the test room is investigated experimentally. Experiments are carried out for an unconditioned test room located on the terrace of a laboratory in Surat, India, considering various air layer thickness values (0, 2, 4, and 6 cm) and a fixed PCM layer thickness. Different configurations within the research, including no- PCM and PCM with 0, 2, 4, and 6 cm air layer thickness, are investigated for the effects of diurnal change in room temperature. Results are evaluated based on the peak value, valley value temperatures of different roof layers, and an index (MKR, Measure of Key Response). It is observed that the maximum temperature difference between the PCM-integrated test room and the non-PCM test room is 4 °C to 7 °C. Results showed that, with a higher MKR index of 8.83, a PCM-integrated roof with a 2 cm air layer thickness could reduce the diurnal room temperature variations compared with the non-PCM test room. This conclusion from the current research demonstrates the significance of an air layer provided between the PCM layer and the roof of the building.
Performance of Asphalt Mastic and Asphalt Mixture with Harmless Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash
Authors: Li Erxin , Zhang Xiangyu , Wang Liyong , Wang Rui , Zhang Wei , Chen Chengqin , Zhang Wengang
Published: February 2023

In this paper, harmless municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (H-MSWIFA) was used to replace part of the mineral powder in asphalt mastic prepared with different ratios of filler to asphalt (F/A). Cone penetration (CPT), rotational viscosity, low-temperature bending, and full section fracture energy(FSFET) tests on the prepared H-MSWIFA asphalt mastic were carried out to evaluate the viscosity at room temperature, viscosity at high temperature, tensile property at low temperature, and crack resistance at room temperature of the asphalt mastic with different F/A and different H-MSWIFA content. An asphalt concrete mixture with a nominal maximum particle size of 13 mm (AC-13) with different F/A and H-MSWIFA replacement ratios was prepared. The effects of F/A and H-MSWIFA content on the high-temperature stability, water stability, and low-temperature cracking resistance of the asphalt mixture were studied. The results showed that the shear strength and viscosity of the asphalt mastic increased after H-MSWIFA replaced part of the mineral powder; and the greater the F/A, the greater the shear strength and viscosity of the asphalt mastic. H-MSWIFA can greatly improve the viscosity of asphalt mastic at high temperatures, and with the increase in H-MSWIFA content, the improvement effect becomes more obvious. The high-temperature stability of the asphalt mixture is not related to H-MSWIFA content but mainly depends on the F/A. Both the F/A and the H-MSWIFA replacement ratio can significantly affect the water stability of the asphalt mixture, specifically, the water stability reaches the best value when the F/A is around 1.0, and the addition of H-MSWIFA harms water stability. Both the F/A and the H-MSWIFA replacement ratio can significantly affect the low-temperature cracking resistance of the asphalt mixture. The higher the F/A, the worse the low-temperature crack resistance. At the same time, the addition of H-MSWIFA harms low-temperature cracking resistance. From the point of view of water stability and low-temperature crack resistance of the asphalt mixture, the H-MSWIFA replacement ratio should not be too high.
A Bibliometric Review of Research on the Perceptions of Campus Public Spaces
Authors: Dong Wei , Wu Jinxiu , Chen Yuzhen , Zhou Xin
Published: February 2023

With the rapid development of information and sensory technology, the construction mode of universities and the planning of campus public spaces are confronting great challenges and opportunities. It also brings about new perspectives for reconsidering the relationship between users’ perceptions and the campus environment. This paper reviews the research on the perception of university public spaces over the past 20 years and summarizes the research hotspots by using co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and burst detection analysis through CiteSpace software. The results demonstrate that the overall development of this field experienced three stages: the initial development stage (2000–2007), the rapid growth stage (2008–2017), and the stable development stage (2018–2021). In terms of research content, hotspot studies are emphasized from the perspectives of thermal perceptions, health impact perception, spatial configuration perception, and user activity perception of on-campus space. In addition, this literature review concluded the emerging research tendencies and new quantification methods in recent years, proposing an enormous potential for quantifying campus space research based on new perceptual technologies. It also encourages the research and optimal design of campus spaces for a more student-oriented campus environment based on the study of the student’s perception of the spaces.
Key Design Parameters Analysis and Calculation Theory Research on Bending Performance of Steel–UHPC Lightweight Composite Deck Structure
Authors: Luo Jun , Zheng Lingyun , Pei Bida , Wang Yi , Yan Hanfei , Zhao Jun
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to study the influence of key design parameters (e.g., reinforcement ratio, cover thickness, stud spacing, and thickness of the ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) layer) on the longitudinal and transverse bending performance, as well as the cracking load and ultimate bearing capacity calculation theory of steel–UHPC lightweight composite deck (LWCD) structure. Four transverse bending tests and four longitudinal bending tests on steel–UHPC composite plates and steel–UHPC composite beams were conducted, respectively. The refined finite element models of components with different key design parameters based on ABAQUS were established. The influences of different key design parameters on the transverse and longitudinal flexural behaviors (e.g., load-mid-span displacement curve, cracking stress, stiffness, elastic limit load, critical slip load, ultimate bearing capacity and ductility) were compared and analyzed in detail. The ultimate bearing capacity can be improved by increasing the thickness of UHPC layer and the reinforcement ratio of longitudinal reinforcement, and reducing the cover thickness and the spacing of studs. According to the longitudinal bending characteristics of the steel–UHPC lightweight composite deck structure, the calculation formulas for the cracking load and the ultimate bearing capacity of the steel–UHPC composite beam are proposed, and the calculated values are in good agreement with test results (the errors are basically within 10%), which is convenient for practical engineering applications.
Windows and Doors Extraction from Point Cloud Data Combining Semantic Features and Material Characteristics
Authors: Cheng Baoquan , Chen Shuhang , Fan Lei , Li Yange , Cai Yuanzhi , Liu Zeru
Published: February 2023

Point cloud data have become the primary spatial data source for the 3D reconstruction of building engineering, where 3D reconstructed building information models can improve construction efficiency. In such applications, detecting windows and doors is essential. Previous research mainly used red-green-blue (RGB) information or semantic features for detection, where the combination of these two features was not considered. Therefore, this research proposed a practical approach to detecting windows and doors using point cloud data with the combination of semantic features and material characteristics. The point cloud data are first segmented using Gradient Filtering and Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) to obtain the 3D indoor data without intrusions and protrusions. As input, the 3D indoor data are projected to horizontal planes as 2D point cloud data. The 2D point cloud data are then transformed to 2D images, representing the indoor area for feature extraction. On the 2D images, the 2D boundary of each potential opening is extracted using an improved Bounding Box algorithm, and the extraction result is transformed back to 3D data. Based on the 3D data, the reflectivity of building material is applied to differentiate windows and doors from potential openings, and the number of data points is used to check the opening condition of windows and doors. The abovementioned approach was tested using the point cloud data representing one campus building, including two big rooms and one corridor. The experimental results showed that accurate detection of windows and doors was successfully reached. The completeness of the detection is 100%, and the correctness of the detection is 90.32%. The total time for the feature extraction is 22.8 s for processing 2 million point cloud data, including time from reading data of 10.319 s and time from showing the results of 4.938 s.