bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Euler iteration augmented physics-informed neural networks for time-varying parameter estimation of the epidemic compartmental model
Authors: Ning Xiao , Li Xi-An , Wei Yongyue , Chen Feng
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Differential equations governed compartmental models are known for their ability to simulate epidemiological dynamics and provide highly accurate descriptive and predictive results. However, identifying the corresponding parameters of flow from one compartment to another in these models remains a challenging task. These parameters change over time due to the effect of interventions, virus variation and so on, thus time-varying compartmental models are required to reflect the dynamics of the epidemic and provide plausible results.

Methods: In this paper, we propose an Euler iteration augmented physics-informed neural networks(called Euler-PINNs) to optimally integrates real-world reported data, epidemic laws and deep neural networks to capture the dynamics of COVID-19. The proposed Euler-PINNs method integrates the differential equations into deep neural networks by discretizing the compartmental model with suitable time-step and expressing the desired parameters as neural networks. We then define a robust and concise loss of the predicted data and the observed data for the epidemic in question and try to minimize it. In addition, a novel activation function based on Fourier theory is introduced for the Euler-PINNs method, which can deal with the inherently stochastic and noisy real-world data, leading to enhanced model performance.

Results and Discussion: Furthermore, we verify the effectiveness of the Euler-PINNs method on 2020 COVID-19-related data in Minnesota, the United States, both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the simulation results demonstrate its accuracy and efficiency. Finally, we also perform predictions based on data from the early stages of the outbreak, and the experimental results demonstrate that the Euler-PINNs method remains robust on small dataset.
Action potential variability in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes obtained from healthy donors
Authors: Carvalho A. B. , Coutinho Keyla Cristiny da Silva , Barbosa Raiana Andrade Quintanilha , Campos Dilza Balteiro Pereira de , Leitão Isabela de Carvalho , Pinto R. S. , Dos Santos D. Silva , Farjun Bruna , De Araújo Dayana da Silva , Mesquita Fernanda Cristina Paccola , Monnerat-Cahli G. , Medei E. H. , Kasai-Brunswick Tais Hanae , De Carvalho A. C. Campos
Published: December 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSC) have been used for disease modelling, after differentiation into the desired cell type. Electrophysiologic properties of cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells are extensively used to model cardiac arrhythmias, in cardiomyopathies and channelopathies. This requires strict control of the multiple variables that can influence the electrical properties of these cells. In this article, we report the action potential variability of 780 cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells obtained from six healthy donors. We analyze the overall distribution of action potential (AP) data, the distribution of action potential data per cell line, per differentiation protocol and batch. This analysis indicates that even using the same cell line and differentiation protocol, the differentiation batch still affects the results. This variability has important implications in modeling arrhythmias and imputing pathogenicity to variants encountered in patients with arrhythmic diseases. We conclude that even when using isogenic cell lines to ascertain pathogenicity to variants associated to arrythmias one should use cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells using the same differentiation protocol and batch and pace the cells or use only cells that have very similar spontaneous beat rates. Otherwise, one may find phenotypic variability that is not attributable to pathogenic variants.
COVID-19 and athletes: Endurance sport and activity resilience study—CAESAR study
Authors: Śliż Daniel , Wiecha Szczepan , Ulaszewska Katarzyna , Gąsior Jakub S. , Lewandowski Marcin , Kasiak Przemysław Seweryn , Mamcarz Artur
Published: December 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictions influenced athletic societies, although current knowledge about mild COVID-19 consequences on cardiopulmonary and physiologic parameters remains inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the impact of mild COVID-19 inflection on cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) performance among endurance athletes (EA) with varied fitness level.

Materials and Methods: 49 EA (nmale = 43, nfemale = 6, mean age = 39.94 ± 7.80 yr, height = 178.45 cm, weight = 76.62 kg; BMI = 24.03 kgm−2) underwent double treadmill or cycle ergometer CPET and body analysis (BA) pre- and post-mild COVID-19 infection. Mild infection was defined as: (1) without hospitalization and (2) without prolonged health complications lasting for >14 days. Speed, power, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), pulmonary ventilation, blood lactate concentration (at the anaerobic threshold (AT)), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and maximum exertion were measured before and after COVID-19 infection. Pearson’s and Spearman’s r correlation coefficients and Student t-test were applied to assess relationship between physiologic or exercise variables and time.

Results: The anthropometric measurements did not differ significantly before and after COVID-19. There was a significant reduction in VO2 at the AT and RCP (both p < 0.001). Pre-COVID-19 VO2 was 34.97 ± 6.43 ml kg·min−1, 43.88 ± 7.31 ml kg·min−1 and 47.81 ± 7.81 ml kg·min−1 respectively for AT, RCP and maximal and post-COVID-19 VO2 was 32.35 ± 5.93 ml kg·min−1, 40.49 ± 6.63 ml kg·min−1 and 44.97 ± 7.00 ml kg·min−1 respectively for AT, RCP and maximal. Differences of HR at AT (p < 0.001) and RCP (p < 0.001) was observed. The HR before infection was 145.08 ± 10.82 bpm for AT and 168.78 ± 9.01 bpm for RCP and HR after infection was 141.12 ± 9.99 bpm for AT and 165.14 ± 9.74 bpm for RCP. Time-adjusted measures showed significance for body fat (r = 0.46, p < 0.001), fat mass (r = 0.33, p = 0.020), cycling power at the AT (r = −0.29, p = 0.045), and HR at RCP (r = −0.30, p = 0.036).

Conclusion: A mild COVID-19 infection resulted in a decrease in EA’s CPET performance. The most significant changes were observed for VO2 and HR. Medical Professionals and Training Specialists should be aware of the consequences of a mild COVID-19 infection in order to recommend optimal therapeutic methods and properly adjust the intensity of training.
Origin and evolutionary history of Populus (Salicaceae): Further insights based on time divergence and biogeographic analysis
Authors: Liu Xia , Wang Zhaoshan , Wang Wei , Huang Qinqin , Zeng Yanfei , Jin Yu , Li Honglei , Du Shuhui , Zhang Jianguo
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Populus (Salicaceae) species harbour rich biodiversity and are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. However, the origin and biogeography of Populus remain poorly understood.

Methods

We infer the divergence times and the historical biogeography of the genus Populus through phylogenetic analysis of 34 chloroplast fragments based on a large sample.

Results and Discussion

Eurasia is the likely location of the early divergences of Salicaceae after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction, followed by recurrent spread to the remainder of the Old World and the New World beginning in the Eocene; the extant Populus species began to diversity during the early Oligocene (approximately 27.24 Ma), climate changes during the Oligocene may have facilitated the diversification of modern poplar species; three separate lineages of Populus from Eurasia colonized North America in the Cenozoic via the Bering Land Bridges (BLB); We hypothesize that the present day disjunction in Populus can be explained by two scenarios: (i) Populus likely originated in Eurasia and subsequently colonized other regions, including North America; and (ii) the fact that the ancestor of the genus Populus that was once widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and eventually wiped out due to the higher extinction rates in North America, similar to the African Rand flora. We hypothesize that disparities in extinction across the evolutionary history of Populus in different regions shape the modern biogeography of Populus. Further studies with dense sampling and more evidence are required to test these hypotheses. Our research underscores the significance of combining phylogenetic analyses with biogeographic interpretations to enhance our knowledge of the origin, divergence, and distribution of biodiversity in temperate plant floras.
CRISPR-Cas technology opens a new era for the creation of novel maize germplasms
Authors: Wang Youhua , Tang Qiaoling , Pu Li , Zhang Haiwen , Li Xinhai
Published: December 2022

Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important food crops in the world with the greatest global production, and contributes to satiating the demands for human food, animal feed, and biofuels. With population growth and deteriorating environment, efficient and innovative breeding strategies to develop maize varieties with high yield and stress resistance are urgently needed to augment global food security and sustainable agriculture. CRISPR-Cas-mediated genome-editing technology (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated)) has emerged as an effective and powerful tool for plant science and crop improvement, and is likely to accelerate crop breeding in ways dissimilar to crossbreeding and transgenic technologies. In this review, we summarize the current applications and prospects of CRISPR-Cas technology in maize gene-function studies and the generation of new germplasm for increased yield, specialty corns, plant architecture, stress response, haploid induction, and male sterility. Optimization of gene editing and genetic transformation systems for maize is also briefly reviewed. Lastly, the challenges and new opportunities that arise with the use of the CRISPR-Cas technology for maize genetic improvement are discussed.
A conditional embrace—Swedish LGBTQ+ spaces through the eyes of ethnic minority non-heterosexual individuals
Authors: Miller Emelie Louise
Published: December 2022

Introduction

In research on sexuality, marginalized sub-groups within sexual minorities have often been overlooked. From the vantage point of Sweden, internationally ranked as an exemplary progressive nation in equality issues and LGBTQ+ rights, and with an increasingly diversified population, the lived experiences of ethnic minority non-heterosexual people are still very much lacking in voice and visibility. The present study aimed to examine experiences within Swedish non-heterosexual spaces, held by ethnic minority non-heterosexual individuals.

Method

A thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 22 Swedish non-heterosexual individuals, 13 cis-men and nine cis-women, with diverse first- and second-generation immigration backgrounds, was conducted.

Results

Two main themes were identified. The first theme, “Constantly contested identities,” is composed of the sub-themes “Ingrained, intersecting ideals” and “Prejudiced spaces,” and the second theme, “Effects and counteractions,” of the sub-themes “Never fully human” and “Representation and separatism.” The results, presented starting from a more theoretical level, moving to situated knowledge, and finally to psychological and practical implications, demonstrate that ethnic minority non-heterosexual people experience problematic and intersecting ideals, with related discrimination, in various Swedish non-heterosexual settings. Experiences of alienation, exotification, and tokenism were common among the participants and had negative psychological effects, including multiple-minority stress and a constant outsider feeling. Representation and participation in separatist forums were utilized as primary strategies to counteract the negative effects.

Discussion

The findings shed light on previously under-researched ideals and actions within Swedish LGBTQ+ spaces, and raises questions about how positive belonging can be achieved for multiple-minorities. Further research and continued critical discussions about ethnic minority non-heterosexual people's plight within non-heterosexual settings in Sweden, and beyond, is advocated.
Breaking up with my idol: A qualitative study of the psychological adaptation process of renouncing fanship
Authors: He Yiqing , Sun Ying
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

This study aimed to explore the psychological adaptation process of renouncing fanship due to para-loveshock in the context of fandom culture.

Methods

We adopted netnography to explore social media platforms used by fans in China (Weibo, WeChat, and Douban) as research fields for 3 years.

Results

(1) The process of “breaking up with” or renouncing an idol can be divided into three phases: the resistance phase with acute stress, the negotiation phase with bargaining, and the recovery phase with attachment reconstruction. In the resistance phase, fans displayed acute stress responses due to loveshock in psychological, physical, and behavioral aspects. In the negotiation phase, fans faced four barriers to renouncement: cognitive dissonance, emotional attachment, behavioral dependence, and social threat. They bargained within the three types of cognitive framework before deciding to “leave” or “re-follow” their idol. In the recovery phase, fans adopted two types of strategies to promote recovery: healing the past and facing the future. Healing the past involved public outcry, sharing their breakup plans, cognitive reconstruction, and seeking closure to the fan role. Facing the future involved switching environments, seeking new interests, and inhibiting the re-intrusion of trauma cues. (2) Internal factors affecting the psychological adaptation process of renouncement include the level of initiative, attribution styles, experience, attachment status and core belief systems, and alternative lifestyles; external factors include social support, peer pressure from the fan community, life stressors, and types and impact of traumatic events. (3) Based on the two dimensions of orientation and commitment, fans were classified into four types: short-term rational, short-term passionate, bounded loyal, and unconditionally loyal, corresponding to non-traumatic, stressful, accumulated, and traumatic breakup processes, respectively. (4) The post-renouncement growth of fans mainly manifested in the development of mental modes, coping skills toward trauma, emotional adaptation experience, and behavior patterns.

Implications

This investigation of the recovery process from para-loveshock after renouncement of fanship can provide theoretical and practical insights into the development of psychological resilience for fans, reduction of the psychological distress and negative outcomes, and public governance on social media platform and cyber pop culture industry.
Idiosyncratic biases in the perception of medical images
Authors: Wang Zixuan , Manassi Mauro , Ren Zhihang , Ghirardo Cristina , Canas-Bajo Teresa , Murai Yuki , Zhou Min , Whitney David
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Radiologists routinely make life-altering decisions. Optimizing these decisions has been an important goal for many years and has prompted a great deal of research on the basic perceptual mechanisms that underlie radiologists’ decisions. Previous studies have found that there are substantial individual differences in radiologists’ diagnostic performance (e.g., sensitivity) due to experience, training, or search strategies. In addition to variations in sensitivity, however, another possibility is that radiologists might have perceptual biases—systematic misperceptions of visual stimuli. Although a great deal of research has investigated radiologist sensitivity, very little has explored the presence of perceptual biases or the individual differences in these.

Methods

Here, we test whether radiologists’ have perceptual biases using controlled artificial and Generative Adversarial Networks-generated realistic medical images. In Experiment 1, observers adjusted the appearance of simulated tumors to match the previously shown targets. In Experiment 2, observers were shown with a mix of real and GAN-generated CT lesion images and they rated the realness of each image.

Results

We show that every tested individual radiologist was characterized by unique and systematic perceptual biases; these perceptual biases cannot be simply explained by attentional differences, and they can be observed in different imaging modalities and task settings, suggesting that idiosyncratic biases in medical image perception may widely exist.

Discussion

Characterizing and understanding these biases could be important for many practical settings such as training, pairing readers, and career selection for radiologists. These results may have consequential implications for many other fields as well, where individual observers are the linchpins for life-altering perceptual decisions.
Corrective feedback, individual differences in working memory, and L2 development
Authors: Liao Yi , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2022

The present study investigated the differential effects of explicit corrections, meta-linguistic corrective feedback (CF), and analogy-based CF on L2 learners' acquisition of English third-person singular form -s and whether and how individual differences in working memory (WM) mediate such effects. One hundred secondary school English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners at a junior middle school in inland China were randomly assigned to the explicit correction group (EG), the meta-linguistic CF group (MG), the analogy-based CF group (AG), and the control group (CG). Learners performed both an information-gap activity and a picture-description activity where their errors on target structure were treated according to their group assignment. The Untimed Grammatical Judgement Test (UGJT) and the Elicited Oral Production Test (EOPT) were used to measure learners' resulting performance. Learners' WM was measured with operation span test. Results revealed that (1) compared to the control group, all the CF groups significantly improved their performance of English third-person singular form -s over time; (2) explicit corrections and meta-linguistic CF displayed superior advantages over analogy-based CF on the immediate posttest. However, the three CF groups demonstrated no significant difference in their performance of English third-person singular form -s on the delayed posttest; (3) WM was only able to predict the effects of analogy-based CF but not explicit corrections and meta-linguistic CF; and (4) analogy-based CF was more favorable to learners with higher WM who can regulate their limited attentional resources more efficiently, whereas explicit corrections and meta-linguistic CF equalize learning opportunities for all learners with different levels of WM. The findings of this study suggest optimal, profile-matched pedagogical options for L2 learning through identifying CF conditions that cater to the needs of young learners with different levels of WM.
Technically sleeping? A clinical single-case study of a commercial sleep robot
Authors: Støre Siri Jakobsson , Tillfors Maria , Wästlund Erik , Angelhoff Charlotte , Clarke Annika Norell
Published: December 2022

The Somnox sleep robot is promoted as sleep enhancing. The current study investigated individual effects, the acceptability and the safety of, and experiences with, a 3-week intervention in adults with insomnia. A repeated ABA single-case design (n = 4) was used to evaluate the effects of the sleep robot compared with baseline, as measured with a sleep diary and actigraphy. Pre-, post-, and 1-month follow-up assessments were conducted, measuring symptoms of insomnia, level of somatic arousal, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Questions about adherence were included in the sleep diary. Individual interviews were conducted post intervention to explore the participants’ experiences with the sleep robot. The sleep diary and actigraphy data showed marginal differences, and if something, often a slight deterioration in the intervention phase. Three participants reported improvements regarding their sleep in the interviews compared with baseline, which mirrored the results on the questionnaires (insomnia and arousal) for two of the participants. The same three participants adhered to the intervention. Stable or improved self-assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety, and information from the individual interviews, suggest that the intervention is safe for adults with insomnia. The results regarding the effects of the sleep robot were mixed, and ought to be scrutinized in larger studies before confident recommendations can be made. However, the study supports the acceptability and safety of the intervention in adults with insomnia.
Girls Get WISE—A programming model for engaging girls+ in STEM
Authors: Franz-Odendaal Tamara A. , Marchand Sally
Published: December 2022

The majority of STEM disciplines in Canada are male-dominated and there is a significant lack of programming available to girls. The Girls Get WISE program is a university-based program that is funded by the federal government, the university, and corporate sponsorship. This program is delivered in person by educational professionals, science students, and past participants. By engaging girls in hands-on interactive STEM activities in a safe and fun space, this program provides an opportunity for young women to showcase their talents and excitement for science-based topics. The features of this program and its evaluation over a 10 year period are described here.
Graph schema and best graph type to compare discrete groups: Bar, line, and pie
Authors: Zhao Fang , Gaschler Robert
Published: December 2022

Different graph types may differ in their suitability to support group comparisons, due to the underlying graph schemas. This study examined whether graph schemas are based on perceptual features (i.e., each graph type, e.g., bar or line graph, has its own graph schema) or common invariant structures (i.e., graph types share common schemas). Furthermore, it was of interest which graph type (bar, line, or pie) is optimal for comparing discrete groups. A switching paradigm was used in three experiments. Two graph types were examined at a time (Experiment 1: bar vs. line, Experiment 2: bar vs. pie, Experiment 3: line vs. pie). On each trial, participants received a data graph presenting the data from three groups and were to determine the numerical difference of group A and group B displayed in the graph. We scrutinized whether switching the type of graph from one trial to the next prolonged RTs. The slowing of RTs in switch trials in comparison to trials with only one graph type can indicate to what extent the graph schemas differ. As switch costs were observed in all pairings of graph types, none of the different pairs of graph types tested seems to fully share a common schema. Interestingly, there was tentative evidence for differences in switch costs among different pairings of graph types. Smaller switch costs in Experiment 1 suggested that the graph schemas of bar and line graphs overlap more strongly than those of bar graphs and pie graphs or line graphs and pie graphs. This implies that results were not in line with completely distinct schemas for different graph types either. Taken together, the pattern of results is consistent with a hierarchical view according to which a graph schema consists of parts shared for different graphs and parts that are specific for each graph type. Apart from investigating graph schemas, the study provided evidence for performance differences among graph types. We found that bar graphs yielded the fastest group comparisons compared to line graphs and pie graphs, suggesting that they are the most suitable when used to compare discrete groups.
Investigating the association between diabetes and mental health: A train-and-test approach
Authors: Kang Weixi
Published: December 2022

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. Research has demonstrated a relationship between diabetes and various mental health issues, which include psychiatric disorders and other problems that are specific for people living with diabetes. Although previous studies have shed light on the associations between diabetes and various types of mental health issues with a focus on depression and anxiety, much less is known about how diabetes is associated with other dimensions of mental health such as social dysfunction and anhedonia and loss of confidence in a large nationally representative survey from the United Kingdom. The aim of the current study is to replicate the factor structure of the GHQ-12 and investigate how diabetes is related to general mental health and dimensions of mental health. By adopting a train-and-test approach to data from the UKHLS including 2,255 diabetes patients and 14,585 age and sex-matched participants who indicated that they were not clinically diagnosed with diabetes, the current study found that hypotheses are well-supported by the results.
Challenges and added value of measuring embodied variables in psychotherapy
Authors: Nyman-Salonen Petra , Kykyri Virpi-Liisa , Penttonen Markku
Published: December 2022

Research on embodied aspects of clinical encounters is growing, but discussion on the premises of including embodied variables in empirical research is scarce. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that embodied aspects of psychotherapy interaction are vital in developing a therapeutic alliance, and these should be considered to better understand the change process in psychotherapy. However, the field is still debating which methods should be used and which features of the embodied aspects are relevant in the clinical context. The field lacks methodological consistency as well as a theoretical model. In the Relational Mind research project, we have studied the embodied aspects of interaction in the context of couple therapy for almost a decade and have gained experience with the positive and negative aspects of studying embodied variables in quantitative and qualitative studies. We have set out to develop the methodology (or procedures) for studying embodied variables in a multiperson setting, concentrating on interpersonal synchrony of sympathetic nervous system responses and movements, and we have strived to create methods for integrating information from different embodied modalities. In this narrative review, we share our experiences of the challenges and added value of studying embodied aspects in psychotherapy. The research field urgently needs an ongoing discussion of what researchers should take into consideration when studying the embodied aspects of interaction. We urge researchers to collaborate between research groups to jointly decide on the basic parameters of studies on the different embodied modalities of the research so that the individual researcher can become more aware of the impact the methodological choices have on their studies, results, and interpretations. We also see the use of embodied variables as having added value in the clinical work of psychotherapists, since it not only deepens our understanding about what is helpful in psychotherapy but will enable fine-tuning therapy processes to better suit clients who are verbally less fluent.
Investigating geographical accessibility and site suitability of medical laboratories in Kermanshah-Iran
Authors: Almasi Ali , Reshadat Sohyla , Zangeneh Alireza , Khezeli Mehdi , Rajabi Gilan Nader , Saeidi Shahram
Published: December 2022

Introduction

One of the major challenges in developing countries is the inappropriate spatial distribution of medical laboratory centers (MLCs) which can lead to injustice in access to health services. This study aimed to investigate the accessibility to and site suitability of MLCs in Kermanshah Metropolis by GIS.

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from the Iran Statistical Center and Deputy of Treatment of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. We used Arc/GIS 10.6 software, AHP technique, and network analysis tools to determine the access status of Kermanshah citizens to MLCs in 2019 and site selection for MLCs. The layers used in this study included population density, city development trends, compatible and incompatible land uses, pathways, land slope, river area, and access radius.

Results

About 70% of households had inappropriate access to all MLCs in walking scenario. This ratio was 31.26% for 5 min, 9.58% for 10 min, and 6.09% for 15 min driving. Comparisons between public and private MLCs showed that in walking scenario, 88% of households had improper access to public and 80% to private MLCs. Based on 5 and 10 min of driving, 57 and 19% of households had inappropriate access to public MLCs, and 45 and 17% to private MLCs, respectively. Also, with 15 min of driving, 8% of households had improper access to public and 18% to private MLCs. Findings showed that scores provided for population density criteria were (0.298), distance from existing laboratories (0.213), proximity to pathways (0.175), consistent land use (0.129), city development trend (0.087), distance from riverfront (0.053), distance from incompatible land uses (0.015), and land slope (0.03). The final model was obtained by overlaying the layers. The model showed a 9-degree range from very bad to very good in Kermanshah city for the construction of laboratory centers (CR<0.01).

Conclusion

The site selection model showed that the location of the proposed centers can be in the north and outskirts of the city to facilitate citizens' access to the MLCs. These results emphasize the justice in the spatial distribution of MLCs for the benefit of deprived populations as a global value.
Patient satisfaction for telemedicine health services in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Authors: Kaur Karuna Nidhi , Niazi Farah , Thakur Ruchi , Saeed Shazina , Rana Shweta , Singh Harpreet
Published: December 2022

Introduction

In the year 2019, the whole world witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has negatively impacted the health care delivery system. This has risen the necessity among health systems across the world to deliver health care services through telemedicine. This systematic review would assess the level of patient satisfaction with telemedicine health services during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology

The literature search was conducted in June 2022 using “PubMed” “Google Scholar” and “Embase” databases. A total of eight articles were included. ROBVIS Analysis was performed for the assessment of bias. Descriptive statistics were performed using Microsoft Excel.

Results

All included studies were conducted in seven countries/states/cities: India (n = 2), Philippines (n = 1), Saudi Arabia (n = 1), UAE (n = 1), Los Angeles (n = 1), Iran (n = 1), and New York City (n = 1). Most used telemedicine tools were voice calls, video calls and messaging/email. Maximum patients used video for consultation (5 out of 9 studies) followed by voice call (4 out of 8 studies), messaging/emails (2 out of 8 studies) and other telemedicine Apps (2 out of 8 studies). Overall, the level of satisfaction was found highest amongst studies conducted in developed countries/states/cities such as New York City (94.9%), Los Angeles (82.7%), UAE (81%) and Saudi Arabia (77.9%) in contrast to studies conducted in developing countries which includes Philippines (82%), India (73.9; 51.3%) and Iran (43.4%).

Conclusion

Most of the participants were found to be satisfied with the quality of telemedicine they were offered. This systematic review will help to improve telemedicine services which will eventually improve the health care delivery system.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero.
Modeling the resumption of work and production of enterprises during COVID-19: An SIR-based quantitative framework
Authors: Zhao Hongchao , Huang Zili , Xu Lei , Tang Junqing , Chen Yuang
Published: December 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has evolved beyond being a public health crisis as it has exerted worldwide severe economic impacts, triggering cascading failures in the global industrial network. Although certain powerful enterprises can remain its normal operation during this global shock, what's more likely to happen for the majority, especially those small- and medium-sized firms, is that they are experiencing temporary suspension out of epidemic control requirement, or even permanent closure due to chronic business losses. For those enterprises that sustain the pandemic and only suspend for a relatively short period, they could resume work and production when epidemic control and prevention conditions are satisfied and production and operation are adjusted correspondingly. In this paper, we develop a novel quantitative framework which is based on the classic susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) epidemiological model (i.e., the SIR model), containing a set of differential equations to capture such enterprises' reactions in response to COVID-19 over time. We fit our model from the resumption of work and production (RWP) data on industrial enterprises above the designated size (IEDS). By modeling the dynamics of enterprises' reactions, it is feasible to investigate the ratio of enterprises' state of operation at given time. Since enterprises are major economic entities and take responsibility for most output, this study could potentially help policy makers better understand the economic impact caused by the pandemic and could be heuristic for future prevention and resilience-building strategies against suchlike outbreaks of public health crises.
Can classical surface plasmon resonance advance via the coupling to other analytical approaches?
Authors: Geilfuss David , Boukherroub Rabah , Dostalek Jakub , Knoll Wolfgang , Masson Jean-Francois , Baeumner Antje J. , Szunerits Sabine
Published: December 2022

For nearly 40 years, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis has been used to better understand the binding interaction strength between surface immobilized bioreceptors and the analytes of interest. The advantage of surface plasmon resonance, over other affinity sensing approaches such as Western blots and ELISAs approaches, resides in its possibility to reveal binding kinetics in a label-free manner. The concept of surface plasmon resonance has in addition been widely employed for the development of biosensors capitalizing on its direct assay format, short response times, simple sample treatments along with multiplexed sensing possibilities. To this must be added the possibility to reach high sensitivity due to the capability of surface plasmon resonance to detect very small changes in refractive index at the sensing interfaces in particular for analytes of larger size such as cells (e.g., bacteria), proteins, peptides and oligonucleotides. Challenges inherent to all affinity approaches call for further research and include non-specific surface binding events, mass transportation restrictions, steric hindrance, and the risk of data misinterpretation in case of lack of selective analyte binding. This opinion article is devoted to outlining the different approaches proposed to address these challenges by e.g., coupling with fluorescence read out, electrochemical sensing, mass spectroscopy analysis and more recently to integrate lateral flow concepts into surface plasmon resonance. Other plasmonic methods such as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) will not be considered in detail, as such techniques have nowadays their own standing.
Neurophysiological and clinical outcome measures of the impact of electrical stimulation on spasticity in spinal cord injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Massey Sarah , Vanhoestenberghe Anne , Duffell Lynsey
Published: December 2022

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine whether non-invasive electrical stimulation (ES) is effective at reducing spasticity in people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched in April 2022. Primary outcome measures were the Ashworth scale (AS), Modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Pendulum test and the Penn spasm frequency scale (PSFS). Secondary outcomes were the Hoffman (H)- reflex, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and posterior-root reflexes (PRRs). A random-effects model, using two correlation coefficients, (Corr=0.1,Corr=0.2) determined the difference between baseline and post-intervention measures for RCTs. A quantitative synthesis amalgamated data from studies with no control group (non-RCTs). Twenty-nine studies were included: five in the meta-analysis and 17 in the amalgamation of non-RCT studies. Twenty studies measured MAS or AS scores, 14 used the Pendulum test and one used the PSFS. Four measured the H-reflex and no studies used MEPs or PRRs. Types of ES used were: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS), functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling and FES gait. Meta-analyses of 3 studies using the MAS and 2 using the Pendulum test were carried out. For MAS scores, non-invasive ES was effective at reducing spasticity compared to a control group (p = 0.01,Corr=0.1;p = 0.002,Corr=0.2). For Pendulum test outcomes, there was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control groups. Quantitative synthesis of non-RCT studies revealed that 22 of the 29 studies reported improvement in at least one measure of spasticity following non-invasive ES, 13 of which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Activation of the muscle was not necessary to reduce spasticity. Non-invasive ES can reduce spasticity in people with SCI, according to MAS scores, for both RCT and non-RCT studies, and Pendulum test values in non-RCT studies. This review could not correlate between clinical and neurophysiological outcomes; we recommend the additional use of neurophysiological outcomes for future studies. The use of TSCS and TENS, which did not induce a muscle contraction, indicate that activation of afferent fibres is at least required for non-invasive ES to reduce spasticity.
Global variations and drivers of nitrous oxide emissions from forests and grasslands
Authors: Yu Lijun , Zhang Qing , Tian Ye , Sun Wenjuan , Scheer Clemens , Li Tingting , Zhang Wen
Published: December 2022

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are highly variable due to the complex interaction of climatic and ecological factors. Here, we obtained in-situ annual N2O emission flux data from almost 180 peer-papers to evaluate the dominant drivers of N2O emissions from forests and unfertilized grasslands at a global scale. The average value of N2O emission fluxes from forest (1.389 kg Nha-1yr-1) is almost twice as large as that from grassland (0.675 kg Nha-1yr-1). Soil texture and climate are the primary drivers of global forest and grassland annual N2O emissions. However, the best predictors varied according to land use and region. Soil clay content was the best predictor for N2O emissions from forest soils, especially in moist or wet regions, while soil sand content predicted N2O emissions from dry or moist grasslands in temperate and tropical regions best. Air temperature was important for N2O emission from forest, while precipitation was more efficient in grassland. This study provides an overall understanding of the relationship between natural N2O emissions and climatic and environmental variables. Moreover, the identification of principle factors for different regions will reduce the uncertainty range of N2O flux estimates, and help to identify region specific climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Consumer preference and willingness to pay for low-residue vegetables: Evidence from discrete choice experiments in China
Authors: Wang Jian , Zhou Liangru , Ni Zhilong , Wu Wenhao , Liu Guoxiang , Fu Wenqi , Zhang Xin , Tian Jing
Published: December 2022

Introduction

This study aims to investigate consumers' cognition, preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for celery with low pesticide residues, and to provide evidence from a consumer perspective for government food safety regulation.

Method

A survey was conducted on the population over the age of 18 in 6 provinces of Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan, Hebei and Heilongjiang in China, in order to improve the representativeness of sample. The study carried out a survey of respondents' cognitive attitudes towards low-residue vegetables, and applied a discrete choice model (DCE) to simulate different scenarios of consumers buying vegetables. The DCE included residue level, appearance, taste, and price and finally constructed 24 choice sets. Respondents' preference for low-residue celery and WTP were analyzed using a mixed logit model.

Result

A total of 1292 respondents were surveyed. The model results showed that consumers had the highest positive preference for pesticide-free celery. For the Chinese consumers, price was the most important attribute, followed by the residue level, taste, and appearance. Consumer WTP for pesticide-free celery was11.17CNY/500g. Factors affecting consumer preferences were age, gender, income, education, whether they had children, or paid attention to pesticide residue in vegetables, and related reports of pesticide residue exceed the standard in vegetables.

Conclusion

Our study is more finely divided at the residue level, and the findings provide useful information for producers and policy makers.
Utilization of marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii as a feed additive in seawater-tolerant Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus 1758) strain
Authors: Huervana Fredson H. , Dionela Cleresa S. , de la Torre Eirene Dorothy S. , del Castillo Carmelo S. , Traifalgar Rex Ferdinand M.
Published: December 2022

The low omega-3 content of tilapia flesh, when compared to marine fish, affects its marketability. In marine animals, the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) can be linked to the oil produced by marine diatoms. Among the marine diatoms, the genusThalassiosirais known to exhibit high content of HUFAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thus, in this study, the use of marine diatomThalassiosira weissflogiias a dietary additive in the seawater-tolerant Nile Tilapia strain was evaluated. One hundred ninety-two, 1.40 ± 0.05g seawater tilapia were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups in 4 replicates. The first treatment group was fed with a control diet (D0), without the diatoms while treatments 1, 2, and 3 were each fed with diets supplemented withT. weissflogiipaste at 2.55% (D1), 6% (D2), and 12% (D3), respectively for 60 days. The diets were isonitrogenous, isolipodic and the omega-3 and omega-6 requirements were satisfied. Results demonstrated that D1 had the highest percent weight gain among treatments. Although not significantly different, other parameters such as percent survival, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed intake had desirable results in D1. The proximate composition of seawater tilapia showed that % crude protein was highest in D0 but % crude lipid was highest in D1. The fatty acid composition of tilapia in D1 had the highest omega-3 content at 9.29 mg/g tissue and also had the highest n3:n6 at 2.19. Muscle growth-related genes (MyoDandMYG) were up-regulated while liver genes involved in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis (oni-fads2andelvol5) were down-regulated in D1 as compared to D0. Feeding the diatom-supplemented diet to tilapia had no significant effects on hepatic cells and intestinal morphology. The results suggested that a 2.55% supplementation dose ofT. weissflogiicould promote growth and enhance the tissue content of omega-3 fatty acids of the seawater strainOreochromis niloticus.
Image Quality Enhancement with Applications to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Obstacle Detection
Authors: Wang Zhaoyang , Zhao Dan , Cao Yunfeng
Published: December 2022

Aiming at the problem that obstacle avoidance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) cannot effectively detect obstacles under low illumination, this research proposes an enhancement algorithm for low-light airborne images, which is based on the camera response model and Retinex theory. Firstly, the mathematical model of low-illumination image enhancement is established, and the relationship between the camera response function (CRF) and brightness transfer function (BTF) is constructed by a common parameter equation. Secondly, to solve the problem that the enhancement algorithm using the camera response model will lead to blurred image details, Retinex theory is introduced into the camera response model to design an enhancement algorithm framework suitable for UAV obstacle avoidance. Thirdly, to shorten the time consumption of the algorithm, an acceleration solver is adopted to calculate the illumination map, and the exposure matrix is further calculated via the illumination map. Additionally, the maximum exposure value is set for low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) pixels to suppress noise. Finally, a camera response model and exposure matrix are used to adjust the low-light image to obtain an enhanced image. The enhancement experiment for the constructed dataset shows that the proposed algorithm can significantly enhance the brightness of low-illumination images, and is superior to other similar available algorithms in quantitative evaluation metrics. Compared with the illumination enhancement algorithm based on infrared and visible image fusion, the proposed algorithm can achieve illumination enhancement without introducing additional airborne sensors. The obstacle object detection experiment shows that the proposed algorithm can increase the AP (average precision) value by 0.556.
Sustainable Industrial Sotol Production in Mexico—A Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Madrid-Solórzano Juan Manuel , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Martínez Cámara Eduardo , Blanco Fernández Julio , Jiménez Macías Emilio
Published: December 2022

Sotol is a distilled spirit made in the north of Mexico produced from the wild plant Dasylirion wheeleri. Although sotol was awarded the Designation of Origin (DO) in 2002 and has an economic influence on the DO region, its environmental profile has not been determined. For that reason, this paper reports a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of the industrial sotol production process in the Mexican state of Chihuahua to determine any significant environmental impacts caused by sotol production from raw material acquisition to the packaging stage. The LCA was modeled using SimaPro 8.5.2 software (PRé Sustainability, Amersfoort, The Netherlands) and the environmental impacts were calculated using the CML-IA baseline v3.03/EU25 impact assessment technique. The findings reveal that sotol beverage manufacturing considerably affects three of the eleven impact categories selected and that the harvesting and bottling stages have the greatest negative environmental impact of all the sotol production stages. According to empirical data, one bottle (750 mL) of sotol results in a higher carbon dioxide value than any other spirit evaluated in earlier LCA studies, with white, rested, and aged sotol generating 5.07, 5.12, and 5.13 kg CO2 eq, respectively. Other drinks, such as mescal, classic gin, and whisky generate only 1.7, 0.91, and 2.25 kg CO2 eq, respectively. In conclusion, sotol distillery companies should start to decrease road transport of raw materials used in the packaging stage and begin to cultivate sotol instead of extracting it from the wild as strategies to achieve cleaner production.