bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of documents related to the influence of physical activity and functional capacity throughout the aging process: a bibliometric review
Authors: Cabo Carolina A. , Hernández-Beltrán Víctor , Gamonales José M. , Fernandes Orlando , Espada Mário C. , Parraca José A.
Published: August 2024

Physical inactivity can lead to frailty and negative health outcomes in middle-aged to older adults. Sedentary individuals have double the risk of death compared to those who engage in high levels of physical activity (PA). The advantages of practicing PA in older age are significant, with regular, moderate-intensity activity (150 min per week)being consistently linked with a decreased risk of chronic disease, cognitive decline, and mortality. Therefore, the study aimed to carry out a bibliometric review related to the terms “Physical activity,” “Functional capacity” and “Aging” including all the documents published in the Web of Science Core Collection until 31st December 2023. The sample was made up of 231 studies related to the topic. The results reported that the first document was published in 1994. However, there was no continuity in the publication of the documents till 1998, which was the first year with at least one document published. Considering 1998 as the first year, it is observed an exponential growth of 77.4%, between the oldest (1997–2008) and contemporaneous studies (2008–2023), in which “Geriatric Gerontology” was the Web of Science category with the highest number of documents (n = 59). The journal “Experimental Gerontology” was associated with the largest number of published documents (n = 7), being indexed in Quartil 2. The years 2009 had the highest number of citations (n = 1811), with a total of 7 documents published and 2018 with the higher number of documents (n = 25). These results reported the importance of PA in elderly people, and how it influences the risk of falls, improving the balance and the functional capacity. Thus, it is important to carry out programmes to promote physical activity to this population and reduce the risk of falls and the presence of diseases.
Reproductive neuroendocrine defects programmed by prenatal testosterone treatment between gestational days 60–90 are amplified by postnatal obesity in sheep
Authors: Gurule S. C. , Sustaita-Monroe J. F. , King L. N. , Landers R. S. , Garza V. , West S. M. , Bynum S. E. , Perry L. , Padmanabhan V. , Cardoso R. C.
Published: August 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility in women of reproductive age, and obesity can increase the severity and development of the PCOS phenotype. Prenatal testosterone (T) treatment between gestational days 30–90 advanced puberty and disrupted the reproductive and metabolic phenotype in female sheep, recapitulating attributes of women with PCOS, with postnatal obesity amplifying its severity. On the other hand, prenatal T treatment from gestational days 60–90 led to a much milder phenotype. We hypothesized that reproductive neuroendocrine defects programmed by prenatal T treatment between gestational days 60–90 are amplified by postnatal obesity in sheep. Suffolk ewes received T propionate (T; 100 mg) or corn oil (C; vehicle) twice weekly from gestational days 60–90. At 5 months of age, T lambs were assigned to either a maintenance (100% of NRC requirements) or overfed (130% NRC) diet and C lambs were fed the maintenance diet. We compared the timing of puberty (n = 15/group) determined by twice weekly measurement of progesterone concentrations, estradiol positive feedback responsiveness (n = 8/group) determined by assessing LH secretion in response to exogenous estradiol, periovulatory LH dynamics during the second breeding season (n = 8/group) following synchronization with two injections of PGF2α, and progesterone negative feedback (n = 8/group) determined by characterizing LH pulses during the mid-luteal phase between C, T-maintenance and T-overfed groups. Our findings indicate that postnatal obesity: 1) exacerbated reproductive defects and further deteriorated reproductive cyclicity during the second breeding season (adulthood); 2) did not amplify the impairment in estradiol positive feedback in delaying the timing and amplitude of the LH surge, although it reduced the total amount of LH secreted during the preovulatory LH surge; 3) amplified the reduced responsiveness to progesterone negative feedback manifested as an increase in LH pulse amplitude and peak. These observations, in addition to supporting our previous findings that prenatal T treatment results in reproductive neuroendocrine dysfunction and periovulatory disruptions, provide evidence that these neuroendocrine defects programmed between gestational days 60–90 are amplified by postnatal obesity in female sheep.
Plant-induced bacterial gene silencing: a novel control method for bacterial wilt disease
Authors: Jang Seonghan , Kim Doyeon , Lee Soohyun , Ryu Choong-Min
Published: August 2024

Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, a notorious phytopathogen, is responsible for causing bacterial wilt, leading to significant economic losses globally in many crops within the Solanaceae family. Despite various cultural and chemical control strategies, managing bacterial wilt remains a substantial challenge. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the effective use of plant-induced bacterial gene silencing against R. pseudosolanacearum, facilitated by Tobacco rattle virus-mediated gene silencing, to control bacterial wilt symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana. The methodology described in this study could be utilized to identify novel phytobacterial virulence factors through both forward and reverse genetic approaches. To validate plant-induced gene silencing, small RNA fractions extracted from plant exudates were employed to silence bacterial gene expression, as indicated by the reduction in the expression of GFP and virulence genes in R. pseudosolanacearum. Furthermore, treatment of human and plant pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with plant-generated small RNAs resulted in the silencing of target genes within 48 hours. Taken together, the results suggest that this technology could be applied under field conditions, offering precise, gene-based control of target bacterial pathogens while preserving the indigenous microbiota.
Silicon nanoparticles and indole butyric acid positively regulate the growth performance of Freesia refracta by ameliorating oxidative stress under chromium toxicity
Authors: Ahsan Muhammad , Radicetti Emanuele , Jamal Aftab , Ali Hayssam M. , Sajid Mateen , Manan Abdul , Bakhsh Ali , Naeem Muhammad , Khan Jawad Ahmad , Valipour Mohammad
Published: August 2024

Chromium (Cr) toxicity hampers ornamental crops’ growth and post-harvest quality, especially in cut flower plants. Nano-enabled approaches have been developing with phenomenal potential towards improving floricultural crop production under heavy metal-stressed conditions. The current pot experiment aims to explore the ameliorative impact of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs; 10 mM) and indole butyric acid (IBA; 20 mM) against Cr stress (0.8 mM) in Freesia refracta. The results showed that Cr stress significantly reduced morphological traits, decreased roots-stems biomass, abridged chlorophyll (14.7%) and carotenoid contents (27.2%), limited gas exchange attributes (intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) 24.8%, stomatal conductance (gs) 19.3% and photosynthetic rate (A) 28.8%), condensed proline (39.2%) and total protein (40%) contents and reduced vase life (15.3%) of freesia plants by increasing oxidative stress. Contrarily, antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA and H2O2 levels, and Cr concentrations in plant parts were remarkably enhanced in Cr-stressed plants than in the control. However, foliar supplementation of Si-NPs + IBA (combined form) to Cr-stressed plants increased defense mechanism and tolerance as revealed by improved vegetative and reproductive traits, increased biomass, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll 30.3%, carotenoid 57.2%) and gaseous exchange attributes (Ci 33.3%, gs 25.6%, A 31.1%), proline (54.5%), total protein (55.1%), and vase life (34.9%) of metal contaminated plants. Similarly, the improvement in the activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase was recorded by 30.8%, 52.4%, and 60.8%, respectively, compared with Cr-stressed plants. Meanwhile, MDA (54.3%), H2O2 (32.7%) contents, and Cr levels in roots (43.3), in stems (44%), in leaves (52.8%), and in flowers (78.5%), were remarkably reduced due to combine application of Si-NPs + IBA as compared with Cr-stressed nontreated freesia plants. Thus, the hypothesis that the synergistic application of Si-NPs + IBA will be an effective approach in ameliorating Cr stress is authenticated from the results of this experiment. Furthermore, the study will be significant since it will demonstrate how Si-NPs and IBA can work synergistically to combat Cr toxicity, and even when added separately, they can improve growth characteristics both under stressed and un-stressed conditions.
Are psychotic-like experiences associated with aberrant prosocial decision-making behavior?
Authors: Elmers Julia , Gabbert Tana , David Bastian , Scheunemann Jakob , Moritz Steffen
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Deficits in social functioning and decision-making are well-documented in schizophrenia, but their relationship with positive symptoms and social conflicts is poorly understood. We created a new paradigm based on the Dictator Game (DG) to explore differences in social decision-making between individuals experiencing high levels of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), particularly hallucinations and delusions, and controls with less PLEs.

Methods

A large community sample (N = 1,161) completed a DG in an online study whereby extreme groups were built based on the positive subscale of the CAPE.

Results

Overall, participants experiencing PLEs did not act less prosocial than controls but showed a somewhat aberrant decision-making behavior, particularly a pattern of behaving more prosocial in fair situations and generally favoring punishment over compensation relative to controls. Mediation analyses suggest that measures of empathy and Machiavellism have predictive power for prosocial behavior beyond group status.

Discussion

The present study raises the possibility that individuals with high levels of PLEs may be less able to adapt their behavior to the situation at hand than controls. These irregularities might be due to deficits in social cognition which may elicit conflict, thus compromising social functioning and possibly contributing to the formation of positive symptoms.
Brief report: caregivers’ well-being in families with neurodevelopmental disorders members during COVID-19: implications for family therapy
Authors: Sousa Daniela , Ferreira Ana , Sequeira Joana , Monteiro Marilyn J. , Simões Marco , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: August 2024

Neurodevelopmental disorders affect the lifespan of diagnosed individuals and their families. COVID-19 challenged these families with daily routine unpredictability requiring rapid adaptations. Moreover, associations and schools were closed, leaving these families without regular social support. Here, we investigate which individual and family factors can predict the caregiver’s depressive state and overall burden. An online study took place between 2021 and 2022. A total of 32 caregivers (30 women; 48 ± 8.22 years old; range 26 to 63 years old) reported having a family member with a neurodevelopmental disorder, the majority diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Caregivers responded to a protocol to assess the burden, resilience, depressive, anxious, and stress symptomatology, as well as the behavior of the diagnosed individual. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to identify protective and risk factors for the caregivers’ well-being. Caregivers’ depressive state was explained by 29.3% of the variance of the family cohesion factor, indicating that high levels of balanced family cohesion represent a crucial protective factor for reducing the caregiver’s depressive state. Additionally, overall caregiver burden was explained by 17.8% of the variance due to self-perception and 26.4% due to family cohesion, with the caregiver’s self-perception playing an important protective role in the overall perception of burden. The proportion of male and female respondents seems to corroborate the significant role of women in caregiving. These results emphasize the importance of considering both individual and family factors of caregivers during interventions, which have implications for family therapy with families of members diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically with autism.
Global research in schizophrenia and serotonin: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Canul-Medina Gustavo , López-Pech Gael , Jiménez-Trejo Francisco
Published: August 2024

Background

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that affects millions of individuals worldwide. The etiological origin of schizophrenia is heterogeneous, but it has been shown to be associated with dysfunction in serotonin activity, serotonin receptors, and serotonin metabolism in the brain. Bibliometric analysis is a tool used to scrutinise and analyse research activities and evidence in a specific research area. No existing bibliometric analyses have considered both serotonin and schizophrenia.

Methods

We conducted a bibliometric analysis including 12,027 studies related to the schizophrenia–serotonin link published from the inception of the study to 2023 and available in the Scopus database. We used VOSviewer software to identify global trends, analyse the author and editors keywords, the most cited articles and author, as well as the most productive institutes and journals publishing research on schizophrenia–serotonin link.

Results

Most publications related to the link between schizophrenia and serotonin are focused on adult humans and examine topics such as antipsychotic agents, depression, and serotonin uptake inhibitors. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has published the most papers on the schizophrenia–serotonin relationship. Among nations, the United States is the leader in publications. King’s College London is the institution with the highest number of publications, and H. Y. Meltzer is the most influential author. Growing trends in schizophrenia–serotonin research are personalised medicine, alternative medicine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, artificial intelligence, nervous system inflammation, brain-gut axis, and the gut microbiome.

Conclusion

Since 1950, there have been several fluctuations in the number of published studies related to schizophrenia and serotonin. We believe that the development of novel medications and treatments for schizophrenia will be increased in the future, as well as research into genetic risks, psychological factors, and cranial neuroimaging components. Future schizophrenia and serotonin research is likely to focus on personalised medicine, alternative therapies, novel pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Predictive modeling and socioeconomic determinants of diarrhea in children under five in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Kassaw Abdulaziz Kebede , Alebachew Muluneh Ayana , Assefa Ebrahim Msaye , Yimer Ali
Published: August 2024

Background

Diarrheal disease, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates, continues to be a serious public health concern, especially in developing nations such as Ethiopia. The significant burden it imposes on these countries underscores the importance of identifying predictors of diarrhea. The use of machine learning techniques to identify significant predictors of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region is not well documented. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify these issues.

Methods

This study’s data have been extracted from the Ethiopian Population and Health Survey. We have applied machine learning ensemble classifier models such as random forests, logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors, decision trees, support vector machines, gradient boosting, and naive Bayes models to predict the determinants of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 in Ethiopia. Finally, Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) value analysis was performed to predict diarrhea.

Result

Among the seven models used, the random forest algorithm showed the highest accuracy in predicting diarrheal disease with an accuracy rate of 81.03% and an area under the curve of 86.50%. The following factors were investigated: families who had richest wealth status (log odd of −0.04), children without a history of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) (log odd of −0.08), mothers who did not have a job (log odd of −0.04), children aged between 23 and 36 months (log odd of −0.03), mothers with higher education (log odds ratio of −0.03), urban dwellers (log odd of −0.01), families using electricity as cooking material (log odd of −0.12), children under 5 years of age living in the Amhara region of Ethiopia who did not show signs of wasting, children under 5 years of age who had not taken medications for intestinal parasites unlike their peers and who showed a significant association with diarrheal disease.

Conclusion

We recommend implementing programs to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in children under the age of 5 in the Amhara region. These programs should focus on removing socioeconomic barriers that impede mothers’ access to wealth, a favorable work environment, cooking fuel, education, and healthcare for their children.
The clinical value of inflammation index in predicting ICU mortality of critically ill patients with intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Zhao Guang , Gu Yuting , Wang Zhaoxiang , Chen Yuyang , Xia Xiaohua
Published: August 2024

Background

The inflammatory response holds paramount significance in the context of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and exhibits a robust correlation with mortality rates. Biological markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) play crucial roles in influencing the systemic inflammatory response following ICH. This study aims to compare the predictive efficacy of NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, and SIRI concerning the risk of mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) among critically ill patients with ICH. Such a comparison seeks to elucidate their early warning capabilities in the management and treatment of ICH.

Methods

Patients with severe ICH requiring admission to the ICU were screened from the Medical Information Marketplace for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database. The outcomes studied included ICU mortality and 30 day ICU hospitalization rates, based on tertiles of the NLR index level. To explore the relationship between the NLR index and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with ICH, we utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, decision curve analysis (DCA), and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 869 patients (51.9% male) were included in the study, with an ICU mortality rate of 22.9% and a 30 day ICU hospitalization rate of 98.4%. Among the five indicators examined, both the ROC curve and DCA indicated that NLR (AUC: 0.660, 95%CI: 0.617–0.703) had the highest predictive ability for ICU mortality. Moreover, this association remained significant even after adjusting for other confounding factors during multivariate analysis (HR: 3.520, 95%CI: 2.039–6.077). Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, incorporating age, albumin, lactic acid, NLR, and GCS score as variables, we developed a nomogram to predict ICU mortality in critically ill patients with ICH.

Conclusion

NLR emerges as the most effective predictor of ICU mortality risk among critically ill patients grappling with ICH when compared to the other four indicators. Furthermore, the integration of albumin and lactic acid indicators into the NLR nomogram enhances the ability to promptly identify ICU mortality in individuals facing severe ICH.
The role of digital financial inclusion in China on urban—rural disparities in healthcare expenditures
Authors: Zhang Yuyang , Li Keyi , Pang Yumeng , Coyte Peter C.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The digital financial inclusion (DFI) provides opportunities to improve the relative capacity to pay for healthcare services by rural residents who are usually underserved by traditional finance in China. This paper provides empirical evidence on how the development of DFI affects the healthcare expenditure disparities between urban and rural residents.

Methods

We employed the fixed effects model and instrumental variable method to estimate the impact of DFI on the Theil index of urban–rural disparities in healthcare expenditures, using panel data from 31 provinces (2011 ~ 2020) in China. We further adopted a moderating effect model to test whether the intensity of the impact would vary depending on the level of local government health expenditures.

Results

The results suggest a negative association between the development level of DFI and the urban–rural healthcare expenditure disparities in China. For every 1% increase in the DFI index, the Theil index of urban–rural disparities in healthcare expenditures would fall by 0.0013. After changing the measurement method for the dependent variable and adjusting the sample, the results remain robust. Moreover, the result of the moderating effect model indicates that, a high level of government health expenditures is conducive to the impact of DFI.

Discussion

Our research reveals that DFI plays an important role in bridging the urban–rural gap in healthcare expenditures. This finding provides new information for addressing the issue of urban–rural healthcare inequality in China. Chinese government needs to accelerate the construction of digital infrastructure and increase the penetration rate of digital tools in rural areas to promote the beneficial effects of DFI. Additionally, it is also necessary for local government to address the unbalanced allocation of medical resources between urban and rural areas, especially the shortage of rural human resources.
Exploring noninvasive matrices for assessing long-term exposure to phthalates: a scoping review
Authors: Chen Li-wen , Chen Xin , Mo Hua-yan , Shan Chun-han , Zhu Ruo-ping , Gao Hui , Tao Fang-biao
Published: August 2024

The phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one class of the most abundant and frequently studied pseudo-persistent organic pollutants. Noninvasive urine is an effective substrate for evaluating PAE exposure, but repeated sampling is needed to overcome this bias. This adds much work to on-site collection and the cost of detection increases exponentially. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a scope review to describe the detection methods and validity of the use of other noninvasive matrices, such as nails and hair, for assessing long-term exposure to PAEs. The PubMed, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), electronic databases were searched from 1 January 2000 to 3 April 2024, and 12 studies were included. Nine and three studies used hair and nails, respectively, as noninvasive matrices for detecting PAE exposure. Five articles compared the results of nail or hair and urine tests for validity of the assessment of PAE exposure. The preprocessing and detection methods for these noninvasive samples are also described. The results of this review suggest that, compared with nails, hair may be more suitable as a noninvasive alternative matrix for assessing long-term exposure to PAEs. However, sample handling procedures such as the extraction and purification of compounds from hair are not uniform in various studies; therefore, further exploration and optimization of this process, and additional research evidence to evaluate its effectiveness, are needed to provide a scientific basis for the promotion and application of hair detection methods for assessing long-term PAE exposure levels.
A review study on the effects of thermal and non-thermal processing techniques on the sensory properties of fruit juices and beverages
Authors: Zia Hassan , Slatnar Ana , Košmerl Tatjana , Korošec Mojca
Published: August 2024

Alternatives to the conventional thermal processing (TT) of food are an area of research that has grown tremendously in recent decades. The impact of these alternative techniques on the sensory profile of fruit juices has been discussed in the literature but only in a fragmented manner. This review takes a macroscopic approach to discuss the influence of emerging thermal and non-thermal techniques currently used by industries on a commercial scale, like high-pressure processing (HPP), ohmic heating (OH), and pulse electric field processing (PEF), on certain sensory characteristics of fruit juices and beverages. A sensory impression of a product is a result of a complex mixture of several compounds. The sensory profile varies with the type of processing technique due to differences in intensities and the inactivation mechanism for enzymes. Heat plays a role in the generation of flavor and odor-active compounds; hence, a different sensory profile is expected with alternative techniques that operate at ambient temperatures (HPP and PEF) or have short treatment time due to rapid heating (OH). HPP, OH, and PEF positively influence the retention of compounds that contribute to a fresh-like sensory experience. However, enzyme inactivation is often challenging with alternative techniques resulting in higher residual activity, affecting sensory quality during storage. Nevertheless, there is evidence in the literature of products with stable sensory properties during storage after processing with alternative techniques. Additionally, some residual enzyme activity may play a role in flavor enhancement during storage, i.e., the release of aglycones from glycoconjugates by pectolytic enzymes. Multiple factors like fruits’ cultivar, way of cultivation, external growth conditions, and maturity stage at the time of harvest influence its sensory quality and, subsequently, the products derived from them. The review concludes with the impression that there is extensive literature on the effects of HPP on the sensory properties of fruit juices. However, the research is limited in discussing the influence of OH and PEF. Additionally, it is difficult to make a fair and systematic comparison among the different preservation technologies because of the lack of standardization and comprehensive sensory evaluation in the studies in the literature.
Association of the severity and progression rate of periodontitis with systemic medication intake
Authors: Batista-Cárdenas Daniela , Araya-Castillo Agatha , Arias-Campos María Paula , Solís-Rivera Ana Paula , Jiménez-Matarrita Jeniffer , Piedra-Hernández Lucía , Madriz-Montero Luis , Ramírez Karol
Published: August 2024

Background/purpose

Information on the systemic medication profiles of patients with periodontitis is limited. Therefore, this retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between the severity and rate of progression of periodontitis and systemic medication intake using a database of patients who attended the Clinic of Periodontics of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Costa Rica.

Methods

Electronic health records of patients diagnosed with periodontitis based on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions (2017) were evaluated. Individuals were further categorized based on the severity (stage) and rate of progression (grade). Data extracted from the patient records included age, sex, and self-reported medication intake.

Results

In total, 930 records were included. Most of the studied population was middle-aged (36–64 years old); 43.01% were male, and 56.99% were female. Four hundred and fifty-seven patients (49.14%) reported taking at least one systemic medication for a chronic condition. Regarding the periodontal treatment phase, 62.37% underwent steps 1–3, and 37.63% underwent step 4. The most common systemic medications taken were for cardiovascular diseases (42.28%), followed by medications for diabetes (14.46%) and neurologic disorders (14.46%). Most patients (59.35%) were diagnosed with Stage III periodontitis. Grade B (48.28%) was the most prevalent. Calcium channel blockers demonstrated a disease severity-dependent association with the periodontal stage (p = 0.021). In addition, systemic medications for diabetes mellitus were associated with periodontal disease severity and rate of progression (all Ps < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study provides indirect evidence of the association between systemic diseases and periodontitis. The positive association between medications used to treat diabetes and the severity and rate of progression of periodontitis may be due to the underlying disease rather than the medications per se.
Cancer-Induced Resting Sinus Tachycardia: An Overlooked Clinical Diagnosis
Authors: Sakellakis Minas , Reet Jashan , Kladas Michail , Hoge Gregory , Chalkias Athanasios , Radulovic Miroslav
Published: August 2024

Elevated resting heart rate is frequently observed in cancer patients, and is associated with increased mortality. Although specific chemotherapeutic agents can induce cardiotoxicity, the presence of sinus tachycardia in chemotherapy-naive patients suggests other factors likely contribute to this clinical presentation. Despite its prevalence, cancer-associated resting sinus tachycardia has not been fully recognized and comprehensively described as a separate clinical entity. Secondary effects of cancer, especially structural cardiac changes, secretory factors (inflammatory cytokines), and thromboembolic disease can cause resting tachycardia. Alternatively, rapid heart rate may reflect compensatory mechanisms responding to increased metabolic demands, raised cardiac output states, and even pain. Hence, cancer-associated tachycardia presents a clinical dilemma; acute life-threatening conditions (such as sepsis, pulmonary embolism, etc.) must be ruled out, but cancer itself can explain resting sinus tachycardia and more conservative management can avoid unnecessary testing, cost and patient stress. Furthermore, identification and management of cardiac conditions associated with cancer may improve survival and the quality of life of cancer patients.
The Bond Graph Modeling and Experimental Verification of a Hydraulic Inertial Vibration Isolator Including Nonlinear Effects
Authors: Liu Niuniu , Li Cheng , Zhang Liwei , Lei Zhiyang , Yang Jing , Lai Fuqiang
Published: August 2024

Passive vibration isolation techniques with low-frequency characteristics have been a hot topic in the aerospace field. A hydraulic inertial vibration isolator is a highly effective type of isolator for controlling low-frequency vibrations. It typically consists of a main spring, a minor spring, an inertial mass, and a fluid domain. Due to its multi-domain nature, analyzing the isolation mechanism of this type of isolator is challenging. The bond graph method is employed to establish the dynamic model of the isolator. Subsequently, the state equations of the isolator are derived, and the energy equations of both the mechanical and the fluid parts of the isolator are obtained. Based on this, the energy transfer characteristics between the mechanical and fluid domains inside the isolator under external excitation are discussed. The time-domain response of the forces transmitted to the foundation is analyzed. It is shown that the anti-resonance frequency occurs when the forces transmitted to the foundation generated by the main spring and the fluid pressure are equal to that of the minor spring. To verify the proposed method’s correctness, a prototype of the isolator is designed and a carefully designed experiment is conducted. The acceleration transmissibility of the isolator is used to conduct a comparative study. The results show that the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. To depict the dynamic characteristics of the isolator under large amplitude vibration, the nonlinear dynamic model of the isolator is developed, and the corresponding force transmissibility of the isolator is formulated. The energy flow between the mechanical and the fluid domains under this condition is also analyzed. The results indicate that the energy flow responses exhibit a similar change tendency to the force transmissibility. However, the peak of the energy ratio between the mechanical subsystem and the fluid is the same as the linear condition, suggesting that this value is determined by the amplification ratio of the isolator. This research provides enhanced physical insight to understand the dynamic characteristics of this type of isolator and will help to shorten the design cycle of the isolator.
Germination and Vigor of Maize Seeds: Pilot-Scale Comparison of Low-Oxygen and Traditional Storage Methods
Authors: Abadía María Bernadette , Castillo Luciana A. , Alonso Yanela N. , Monterubbianesi María Gloria , Maciel Gisele , Bartosik Ricardo E.
Published: August 2024

Seed quality declines during storage depending on relative humidity, temperature, and oxygen concentration. Low-oxygen atmospheres significantly enhanced the germination and vigor of seeds during storage in laboratory-scale experiments. Low-oxygen atmospheres include self-modified atmospheres, where gas composition changes due to microbial respiration and oxidative processes, as well as modified atmospheres, where gas composition is initially altered from an external source without further adjustments. However, the potential of low-oxygen atmospheres to preserve the quality of maize (Zea mays) seeds in bags of 25–50 kg capacity, like those employed by seed companies and small-scale farmers, remains underexplored, hindering a broader adoption of this storage technology. Our study assessed the feasibility of applying low-oxygen atmospheres for seed storage on the pilot scale, i.e., hermetic containers of 25 kg capacity made of polyethylene and polyamide, under controlled conditions. We first evaluated the ability of the hermetic containers to maintain low oxygen levels over time. Then, we compared the germination and vigor of seeds stored in the hermetic containers under modified and self-modified atmospheres with those stored in traditional poly-paper bags under normal atmospheric conditions. The seeds had 14% moisture content (wet basis) and were stored at 25 °C and 10 °C. Maintaining low oxygen levels in polyethylene–polyamide bags was feasible. Moreover, at 25 °C, modified and self-modified atmospheres maintained higher germination values (95.8% and 94.4%, respectively) compared to traditional storage (68.3%), and both were as effective as refrigeration (97.6%). However, refrigeration was better for preserving seed vigor, with radicle emergence values of 85.2% in self-modified atmospheres and 78.9% in modified atmospheres, compared to 65.0% and 61.2%, respectively, at 25 °C. In conclusion, the advantages of modified atmospheres observed in laboratory-scale studies are achievable on a larger scale with a proper container design, advancing the prospects for the practical application of this technology for the seed industry and small farmers.
Modeling Comprehensive Deficit Irrigation Strategies for Drip-Irrigated Cotton Using AquaCrop
Authors: Du Yalong , Fu Qiuping , Ai Pengrui , Ma Yingjie , Pan Yang
Published: August 2024

The development of a crop production strategy through the use of a crop model represents a crucial method for the assurance of a stable agricultural yield and the subsequent enhancement thereof. There are currently no studies evaluating the suitability of the AquaCrop model for the drip irrigation of Gossypium barbadense in Southern Xinjiang, which is the primary planting region for Gossypium barbadense in China. In order to investigate the performance of the AquaCrop model in simulating the growth of cotton under mulched drip irrigation, the model was locally calibrated and validated according to different irrigation thresholds during a key growth period of two years. The results of the simulation for total soil water (TSW), crop evapotranspiration (ETc), canopy coverage (CC), aboveground biomass (Bio), and seed cotton yield demonstrated a high degree of correlation with the observed data, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of <11.58%. The Bio and yield simulations demonstrated a high degree of concordance with the corresponding measured values, with root mean square error (RMSE) values of 1.23 t ha−1 and 0.15 t ha−1, respectively. However, the predicted yield declined in the verification year, though the prediction error remained below 15%. Furthermore, the estimated evapotranspiration (ETc) value demonstrated a slight degree of overestimation. Generally, the middle and late stages of cotton growth led to an overestimation of the TSW content. However, the prediction error was less than 13.99%. Through the calculation of each performance index of the AquaCrop model, it is found that they are in the acceptable range. In conclusion, the AquaCrop model can be employed as a viable tool for predicting the water response of cotton to drip irrigation under mulched film in Southern Xinjiang. Based on 64 years of historical meteorological data, three years were selected as scenarios for simulation. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that, in a local wet year in Southern Xinjiang, the irrigation quota was 520 mm, and the irrigation cycle was 6 days/time. In normal years, the irrigation quota was 520 mm, with an irrigation cycle of 6 days/time. In dry years, the irrigation quota was 595 mm, with an irrigation cycle of 10 days/time. This allowed for higher seed cotton yields and irrigation water productivity, as well as the maximization of cotton yields and net revenue in the arid oasis area of Southern Xinjiang.
The Effect of Cooking and Simulated Digestion on the Antioxidants and Minerals in Rice Grains: A Predictor for Nutritional Efficiency
Authors: Alotaibi Shaker H. , Babiker Elfadil E. , Alshammari Ghedeir M. , Yahya Mohammed Abdo
Published: August 2024

Antinutrients in rice tend to impair nutrient bioavailability; hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of cooking and simulated digestion on the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of white and brown rice, as well as the bioavailability of some minerals. The rice grains were cooked in a pressure cooker, using a 1:2 (w/v) rice-to-water ratio. The digestion of the cooked rice grains was then simulated using pepsin and pancreatin systems. The phenolic (total, free, and bound) and flavonoid content; antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP); phytic acid and tannin levels; and mineral HCl-extractability were all determined in the raw, cooked, and digested grains. The cooking process significantly lowered (p ≤ 0.05) the phenolic content of the white rice; however, the phenolic content increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) when these cooked grains were digested. The phenolic content of brown rice decreased at a higher rate during cooking than that of white rice, and it recovered at a lower rate after digestion. The flavonoid content in both cooked and digested white and brown rice followed a similar trend with the phenolic content. This reduction in the phenolic and flavonoid content in both types of rice after cooking was associated with a large decrease in antioxidant activity, whereas, after digestion, it was associated with a considerable increase. After cooking, the levels of phytate and tannin in both types of rice decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05), and this drop was even more pronounced in the digested grains. Although the mineral content in the cooked samples of white and brown rice decreased, it recovered after digestion; however, the mineral content remained lower than that of the raw samples. Despite this, there was also a rise in the bioavailability of the minerals in the cooked rice after digestion (p ≤ 0.05), which was considerably higher than the rise in the mineral content itself. The findings indicate that, while cooking rice decreases its phenolic content and antioxidant activity, it also lowers its antinutrient content. Additional benefits were also noted following the simulated digestion.
Development of an Intelligent Service Platform for a Poultry House Facility Environment Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Liu Mulin , Chen Hongxi , Zhou Zhenyu , Du Xiaodong , Zhao Yuxiao , Ji Hengyi , Teng Guanghui
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the poultry breeding industry has been converted into a large-scale, intensive, and intelligent production mode. The Internet of Things (IoT) is under rapid development, which promotes the development of precision livestock farming. In this study, we developed an intelligent service platform for a facility environment based on the IoT structure, utilizing the capabilities of Platform as a Service (PaaS). The platform consists of four layers, including an information perception layer, network layer, management service layer, and application layer. By using the cloud service model with a distributed network architecture, asynchronous data transmission, and a distributed file system, the platform can centrally manage multiple farm’s data. The intelligent service platform includes the following functions: displaying environmental data, water and electricity consumption, data analysis, and managing production data. Over a 500-day trial period in a live poultry house, the platform demonstrated high data integrity (>87%) and resilience against network disruptions and power outages. The data validity of each environmental element exceeded 94%, among which the validity of the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration exceeded 99%. The overall accuracy of the dataset remained relatively high, providing a robust data foundation for further research. Key features included audio analysis, environmental monitoring, and production data management. The platform’s operational status was efficiently communicated via data statistics and email alerts, facilitating timely system recovery. The demonstrated modules included sound recognition, psychrometric charts for visual alerts, and financial analysis tools, offering versatile solutions for integrating PLF models and advanced analytics.
Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting Crop Growth and Productivity: Unique Buckwheat Production in Egypt
Authors: Hassona Mohamed M. , Abd El-Aal Hala A. , Morsy Nahla M. , Hussein Ahmed M. S.
Published: August 2024

Egypt did not previously grow buckwheat, due to the belief that the environment does not meet the factors of growth, development, and productivity in an arid or semiarid region. The present study investigated two species of buckwheat, Fagopyrum tataricum (FT) and Fagopyrum esculentum (FE), which were planted in two different soil, weather, and water property sites, including the first in Belbies City and the second in Sadat City in the middle of January, November, and March for two successive seasons, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. The study uniquely focuses on Egypt to investigate three interactions of location × species, location × sowing date, and species × sowing date on growth and productivity. The parameters measured included plant height (cm), number of branches, internodes, and leaves per plant, fresh weight (gm), number of grains per plant, grain weight of 1 m2, and yield (kg/Ha). Our results indicated significant differences in all measured interactions. For the location × species interaction, FT planted in Belbies City consistently outperformed all other combinations, with a plant height = 97.704 cm in the 1st season and productivity = 859.38 kg/ha in the 1st season, while FE in Sadat showed the lowest growth and productivity. For the interaction of location × sowing date, Belbies × mid-March sowing achieved the highest plant heights of 84.89 cm and 75.44 cm, and productivity of 702.88 kg/ha and 708.21 kg/ha in consecutive seasons. Conversely, Sadat City × Mid-March sowing resulted in the lowest plant heights of 57.500 cm, and 57.667 cm, and productivity of 490.67 kg/ha, and 444.55 kg/ha. The species × sowing date interaction further emphasized the superiority of FT sown in mid-March, which led to the best plant height growth of 95.78 cm in the 1st season and the highest productivity of 837.55 kg/ha in the 1st season. In contrast, FE sown in mid-March exhibited the poorest outcomes. The study provides an understanding of the two-way interactions affecting buckwheat cultivation in Egypt. Our results indicated its viability with appropriate species selection and sowing dates, contributing to agricultural diversity and sustainability.
Human–Robot Interaction through Dynamic Movement Recognition for Agricultural Environments
Authors: Moysiadis Vasileios , Benos Lefteris , Karras George , Kateris Dimitrios , Peruzzi Andrea , Berruto Remigio , Papageorgiou Elpiniki , Bochtis Dionysis
Published: August 2024

In open-field agricultural environments, the inherent unpredictable situations pose significant challenges for effective human–robot interaction. This study aims to enhance natural communication between humans and robots in such challenging conditions by converting the detection of a range of dynamic human movements into specific robot actions. Various machine learning models were evaluated to classify these movements, with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) demonstrating the highest performance. Furthermore, the Robot Operating System (ROS) software (Melodic Version) capabilities were employed to interpret the movements into certain actions to be performed by the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The novel interaction framework exploiting vision-based human activity recognition was successfully tested through three scenarios taking place in an orchard, including (a) a UGV following the authorized participant; (b) GPS-based navigation to a specified site of the orchard; and (c) a combined harvesting scenario with the UGV following participants and aid by transporting crates from the harvest site to designated sites. The main challenge was the precise detection of the dynamic hand gesture “come” alongside navigating through intricate environments with complexities in background surroundings and obstacle avoidance. Overall, this study lays a foundation for future advancements in human–robot collaboration in agriculture, offering insights into how integrating dynamic human movements can enhance natural communication, trust, and safety.
Evaluation of the Improvement Effect of Chemical Fertilizer Combined with Different Additives on Newly Built Paddy Soil
Authors: Wang Nannan , Zhang Tibin , Shi Hao , Zhang Xianhua , Wang Shiwen , Li Hongyi
Published: August 2024

Exploring the effects of different additives on the improvement of newly cultivated farmland in mountainous areas can provide rational soil fertilization plans for regions lacking means of production. We conducted a paddy planting experiment in Ankang City, Shaanxi Province. Six treatments were set up, including sole chemical fertilizer (CK); fertilizer + bacteria agent (NB); chemical fertilizer + alginate bio-organic fertilizer (NO); fertilizer + fulvic acid biomass nutrient solution (NF); chemical fertilizer + acid soil conditioner (NC); fertilizer + silicon–calcium–magnesium–potassium fertilizer (NSi). We collected topsoil samples after paddy harvest, analyzed their physical, chemical, and biological properties, and selected indicators to construct a Total Data Set (TDS) and a Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Soil Quality Index (SQI) was used to evaluate the soil improvement effects after different fertilization regimes. The SQI calculated by the TDS and the MDS showed that the SQI after NF treatment was higher than that under other treatments. The SQI based on the TDS (SQITDS) and the SQI based on the MDS (SQIMDS) were significantly positively correlated with yield. The SQI calculated based on both the TDS and the MDS can objectively reflect the soil fertility quality. The paddy yield and total dry matter accumulation were the highest under the NF treatment, and the SQI was the largest. Thus, the effect of chemical fertilizer combined with fulvic acid biomass nutrient solution on soil fertility was the most significant.