bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adequate Intake of Dietary Fiber May Relieve the Detrimental Impact of Blood Lead on Dyslipidemia among US Adults: A Study of Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Fengzhan , Jiang Haoqi , Wang Chen , Zhao Qihong , Yang Wanshui , Hu Anla
Published: October 2023

Lead (Pb) exposure is a well-established risk factor for dyslipidemia, and people are exposed to it in multiple ways daily. Dietary fiber is presumed to improve lipid metabolism disorders, but it is still unknown whether it can relieve the detrimental impact of Pb on dyslipidemia. We used publicly accessible data from the 2011–2016 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 2128 US adults were enrolled for the subsequent analysis. Heavy metal concentrations in blood were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A weighted logistic regression was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The dose–response relationship between blood heavy metals and dyslipidemia was explored using a weighted restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. After fully adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, gender, race, education level, ratio of family income to poverty, marital status, body mass index, physical activity, waist circumference, smoke, alcohol drinking and history of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes), a positive association between blood Pb levels and dyslipidemia risk was revealed (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.40). Dietary fiber intake may significantly modify the association between blood Pb levels and dyslipidemia (p-interaction = 0.049), with a stronger association (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.52) being revealed in individuals with an inadequate intake of dietary fiber (<14 g/1000 kcal/day), but a null association (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.72–1.42) being observed in those with an adequate intake of dietary fiber (≥14 g/1000 kcal/day). Moreover, the weighted RCS analysis showed that compared with the average blood Pb exposure level (4.24 µg/dL), a lower blood Pb exposure level (3.08 µg/dL) may contribute to the risk of dyslipidemia in the group with an inadequate dietary fiber intake. Our findings suggest that Pb exposure in blood may be a risk factor for dyslipidemia. However, an adequate dietary fiber intake may offset the risk of dyslipidemia caused by blood Pb exposure. Since avoiding Pb exposure in daily life is difficult, increasing dietary fiber intake in the future might be a promising approach to alleviate dyslipidemia caused by Pb exposure.
Potential Defence Mechanisms Triggered by Monosodium Glutamate Sub-Chronic Consumption in Two-Year-Old Wistar Rats
Authors: Moldovan Octavia-Laura , Vari Camil-Eugen , Tero-Vescan Amelia , Cotoi Ovidiu Simion , Cocuz Iuliu Gabriel , Tabaran Flaviu Alexandru , Pop Romelia , Fülöp Ibolya , Chis Rafael Florin , Lungu Ioana-Andreea , Rusu Aura
Published: October 2023

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid (GLA), used as a flavour enhancer. MSG is considered a controversial substance. It is incriminated in disturbing the antioxidant system, but also has beneficial effects, as GLA metabolism plays a crucial role in homeostasis. This study highlights which positive or negative aspects of MSG sub-chronic consumption are better reflected in subjects potentially affected by advanced age. Daily doses of MSG were administered to four groups of two-year-old Wistar rats for 90 days: (I) 185 mg/kg bw, (II) 1500 mg/kg bw, (III) 3000 mg/kg bw and (IV) 6000 mg/kg bw, compared to a MSG non-consumer group. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct and total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea levels were analysed; stomach, liver and kidney samples were subjected to histopathological analysis. Although, in most cases, there were no statistical differences, interesting aspects of the dose–effect relationship were observed. After MSG sub-chronic consumption, the positive aspects of GLA seem to be reflected better than the negative ones. The hormesis effect, with low-level reactive oxygen species’ protective effects and GLA metabolism, may represent the hypothesis of a potential defence mechanism triggered by MSG sub-chronic consumption in ageing rats.
Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Improved Glucose Metabolism in Prediabetic Mice by Regulating Duodenal Contraction
Authors: Li Doudou , Zhang Xiaoke , Fan Yanna , Zhang Yannan , Tao Xiujuan , Yang Jianjun
Published: October 2023

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have been shown to exert an antiglycemic effect. Emerging evidence suggests that patients with hyperglycemia have a hypercontractility of duodenum, and targeting duodenal contraction of duodenum can be beneficial to glucose metabolism. However, it is unknown whether LBPs can improve glucose metabolism by regulating the hypercontractility of the duodenum. Our aim was to explore the effect of LBPs on duodenal contraction in prediabetic mice and also preliminarily investigate the mechanism. The results showed that LBPs improved glucose homeostasis by decreasing the duodenal amplitude of contraction rather than frequency. Moreover, LBPs ameliorated the gut microbiota composition and the levels of short-chain fatty acids, especially acetic acid, which might bind to the receptor on neurons to regulate the contraction of the duodenum. Acetic acid was hypothesized to play a key role in the above process. Then, acetic acid was determined to exert an antiglycemic effect as expected. In conclusion, LBPs may rely on acetic acid to regulate duodenal contraction to ameliorate glucose metabolism in prediabetic mice, which provides a new therapeutic strategy to treat dysglycemia.
Estimating Completely Remote Sensing-Based Evapotranspiration for Salt Cedar (Tamarix ramosissima), in the Southwestern United States, Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Chatterjee Sumantra , Kandiah Ramanitharan , Watts Doyle , Sritharan Subramania , Osterberg John
Published: October 2023

Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is a prerequisite for water management in arid regions. Field based methods estimate point-wise ET accurately, but the challenge is in estimating ET over a region with high accuracies. Machine learning based approaches were taken to estimate ET over a large spatial scale using the Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB) technique. The BREB method depends on terrestrial energy balance equations to estimate ET. Thus, remote sensing-based parameters representing variables in the energy balance equation, and vegetation index representing plant health conditions were used in the model. The study was conducted in the arid areas of the southwestern United States, where dense patches of Salt cedar consume water from the primary water source. The preliminary model used enhanced vegetation index (EVI), global horizontal irradiance (GHI), surface temperature (TS), and relative humidity (RH) as parameters. The k-nearest neighbor method consistently generated poor accuracies. When all the parameters were used, accuracies of the other models varied within 90–94%. When one predictor parameter was dropped, the best model produced accuracies between 90 to 93%, which dropped to 87–92% when a second variable was dropped. Random forest and support vector machine with radial kernel consistently produced the best predictive accuracies.
Regulatory Effect Evaluation of Warming and Cooling Factors on Urban Land Surface Temperature Based on Multi-Source Satellite Data
Authors: Wang Yuchen , Zhang Yu , Ding Nan
Published: October 2023

Various physical characteristics of urban impervious surfaces (ISAs) and urban green spaces (UGSs) collectively regulate environmental temperatures through heating and cooling processes. However, current research often analyzes each regulating factor as an independent variable when examining its relationship with land surface temperature (LST), with limited studies considering the combined contribution weights of all regulating factors. Based on multi-source remote sensing data and ground observations from the near summers of 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the built-up area of Xuzhou City, numerical values and spatial distributions of 15 regulating factors, including ISA density (fi), land surface albedo (Albedo), population density (Population), anthropogenic heat flux (AHF), maximum ISA patch index (LPIISA), natural connectivity of ISA patches (COHESIONISA), aggregation index of ISA patches (AIISA), average shape index of ISA patches (SHAPE_MNISA), UGS density (fv), evapotranspiration (ET), UGS shading index (UGSSI), maximum UGS patch index (LPIUGS), natural connectivity of UGS patches (COHESIONUGS), aggregation index of UGS patches (AIUGS), and average shape index of UGS patches (SHAPE_MNUGS), were separately extracted within the study area. Using geographically weighted regression models and bivariate spatial autocorrelation models, we separately obtained the quantitative and spatial correlations between the 15 regulating factors and LST. The results revealed that all selected regulating factors exhibited high goodness-of-fit and significant spatial correlations with LST, which led to their categorization into eight warming factors and seven cooling factors. The factor detection of the Geographic Detector further reveals the combined contribution of all regulating factors to LST. The results indicate that cooling factors collectively have higher explanatory power for LST compared to warming factors, with UGSSI contributing the most to LST, while Population contributed the least. Furthermore, the interaction detection results of the Geographic Detector have highlighted variations in the explanatory power of different factor combinations on LST. Ultimately, it has identified factor combinations that have proven to be most effective in mitigating the urban heat environment across three scenarios: warming factors alone, cooling factors alone, and a combination of both warming and cooling factors. The suggested factor combinations are as follows: fi ∩ Albedo, fi ∩ LPIISA, UGSSI ∩ fv, UGSSI ∩ LPIUGS, fi ∩ UGSSI, and Albedo ∩ UGSSI. Therefore, our findings hold the potential to provide a valuable reference for urban planning and climate governance. Tailoring factor combinations to the local context and selecting the most effective ones can enable cost-effective mitigation of the urban heat environment.
Classification of Coniferous and Broad-Leaf Forests in China Based on High-Resolution Imagery and Local Samples in Google Earth Engine
Authors: Yuan Xiaoguang , Liang Yiduo , Feng Wei , Li Junhang , Ren Hongtao , Han Shuo , Liu Mengqi
Published: October 2023

As one of the world’s major forestry countries, accurate forest-type maps in China are of great importance for the monitoring and management of forestry resources. Classifying and mapping forest types on a large scale across the country is challenging due to the complex composition of forest types, the similarity of spectral features among forest types, and the need to collect and process large amounts of data. In this study, we generated a medium-resolution (30 m) forest classification map of China using multi-source remote sensing images and local samples. A mapping framework based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) was constructed mainly using the spectral, textural, and structural features of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 remote sensing images, while local acquisition data were utilized as the mapping channel for training. The proposed method includes the following steps. First, local data processing is performed to obtain training and validation samples. Second, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data are processed to improve the classification accuracy by using the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and the red-edge position index (REPI) computed based on the S2A data. Third, to improve classification efficiency, useless bands are removed and important bands are retained through feature importance analysis. Finally, random forest (RF) is used as a classifier to train the above features, and the classification results are used for mapping and accuracy evaluation. The validation of the samples showed an accuracy of 82.37% and a Kappa value of 0.72. The results showed that the total forest area in China is 21,662,261.17 km2, of which 1,127,294.42 km2 of coniferous forests account for 52% of the total area, 981,690.98 km2 of broad-leaf forests account for 45.3 % of the total area, and 57,275.77 km2 of mixed coniferous and broad-leaf forests account for 2.6% of the total area. Upon further evaluation, we found that textural and structural features play a greater role in classification compared to spectral features. Our study shows that combining multi-source high-resolution remote sensing imagery with locally collected samples can produce forest maps for large areas. Our maps can accurately reflect the distribution of forests in China, which is conducive to forest conservation and development.
Statistical Analysis of High–Energy Particle Perturbations in the Radiation Belts Related to Strong Earthquakes Based on the CSES Observations
Authors: Wang Lu , Zhang Zhenxia , Zhima Zeren , Shen Xuhui , Chu Wei , Yan Rui , Guo Feng , Zhou Na , Chen Huaran , Wei Daihui
Published: October 2023

Earthquakes (EQs) are a significant natural threat to humanity. In recent years, with advancements in space observation technology, it has been put forward that the electromagnetic effects of earthquakes can propagate into space in various ways, causing electromagnetic radiation and plasma disturbances in space and leading to high–energy particle precipitation. The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) is specifically designed for monitoring the space electromagnetic environment. In our study, we select 78 strong earthquakes from September 2018 to February 2023 (global earthquakes with M ⩾ 7.0 and the major seismic regions in China with M ⩾ 6.0). We focus on 10∘ of the latitude and longitude around the epicenter, spanning from 15 days before the earthquake to 5 days after, and look for anomalies in spatial evolution and temporal evolution. We present some typical cases of electron flux perturbation and summarize the anomalies of all 78 cases to look for regularity in EQ–related particle anomalies. Notably, we introduce two cases of simultaneous electromagnetic and energetic particle anomalies during earthquakes. And we propose a conjecture that the particle precipitation may be the result of wave–particle interactions triggered by seismic activity.
Robust Hand Gesture Recognition Using a Deformable Dual-Stream Fusion Network Based on CNN-TCN for FMCW Radar
Authors: Zhu Meiyi , Zhang Chaoyi , Wang Jianquan , Sun Lei , Fu Meixia
Published: October 2023

Hand Gesture Recognition (HGR) using Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radars is difficult because of the inherent variability and ambiguity caused by individual habits and environmental differences. This paper proposes a deformable dual-stream fusion network based on CNN-TCN (DDF-CT) to solve this problem. First, we extract range, Doppler, and angle information from radar signals with the Fast Fourier Transform to produce range-time (RT) and range-angle (RA) maps. Then, we reduce the noise of the feature map. Subsequently, the RAM sequence (RAMS) is generated by temporally organizing the RAMs, which captures a target’s range and velocity characteristics at each time point while preserving the temporal feature information. To improve the accuracy and consistency of gesture recognition, DDF-CT incorporates deformable convolution and inter-frame attention mechanisms, which enhance the extraction of spatial features and the learning of temporal relationships. The experimental results show that our method achieves an accuracy of 98.61%, and even when tested in a novel environment, it still achieves an accuracy of 97.22%. Due to its robust performance, our method is significantly superior to other existing HGR approaches.
Lossless Data Compression for Time-Series Sensor Data Based on Dynamic Bit Packing
Authors: Hwang Sang-Ho , Kim Kyung-Min , Kim Sungho , Kwak Jong Wook
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we propose a bit depth compression (BDC) technique, which performs bit packing by dynamically determining the pack size based on the pattern of the bit depth level of the sensor data, thereby maximally reducing the space wastage that may occur during the bit packing process. The proposed technique can dynamically perform bit packing according to the data’s characteristics, which may have many outliers or several multidimensional variations, and therefore has a high compression ratio. Furthermore, the proposed method is a lossless compression technique, which is especially useful as training data in the field of artificial intelligence or in the predictive analysis of data science. The proposed method effectively addresses the spatial inefficiency caused by unpredictable outliers during time-series data compression. Additionally, it offers high compression efficiency, allowing for storage space savings and optimizing network bandwidth utilization while transmitting large volumes of data. In the experiment, the BDC method demonstrated an improvement in the compression ratio of up to 247%, with 30% on average, compared with other compression algorithms. In terms of energy consumption, the proposed BDC also improves data transmission using Bluetooth up to 34%, with 18% on average, compared with other compression algorithms.
Research on Development Characteristics and Landslide Dam Hazard Prediction of Zhuangfang Landslide in the Upper Reaches of the Nu River
Authors: Di Yong , Wei Yunjie , Tan Weijia , Xu Qiang
Published: October 2023

The upper reaches of the Nu River have strong tectonic activities and broken rock mass structures, often causing landslide disasters. The Zhuangfang landslide has apparent signs of surface deformation, and there is a risk of further sliding and blocking of the river. Taking the Zhuangfang landslide as an example, this paper analyzes the development characteristics and stability through geological field surveys, a drone aerial survey, field drilling, and GEO5 geotechnical engineering software. Then through the indoor tests and RAMMS numerical simulation software, the parameters of the landslide are determined, and the risk of a landslide dam is analyzed. Our results demonstrated that the Zhuangfang landslide is a large-scale landslide with a volume of about 4.5 × 106 m3. The front edge of the landslide is seriously deformed and is in an under-stable state, with risks of sliding and river blockage. The numerical simulation results showed that the total movement time of the landslide was 130 s, and the landslide entered the Nu River at 55 s. However, the landslide does not completely block the river and cannot form a landslide dam. The study proposed a parameter inversion method to determine the landslide mass parameters based on RAMMS numerical simulation software. The related results of this study can provide a reference for the sustainable development of the ecological environment in the Nu River Basin.
Contribution of the Sediment Flow Connectivity Index (SfCI) in Landscape Archaeology Investigations: Test Case of a New Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Zingaro Marina , Scicchitano Giovanni , Palmentola Paola , Piscitelli Arcangelo , Refice Alberto , Roseto Rodolfo , Scardino Giovanni , Capolongo Domenico
Published: October 2023

The integration of geomorphological analysis in archaeological investigations is essential to describe physical geography and land morphology in order to understand the relationship between the environment and human activities. Recently, the sediment flow connectivity index (SfCI) has been demonstrated to be a powerful geomorphic indicator for defining the most sensitive areas to geomorphological modifications in a catchment. This work presents the experimental application of the SfCI for a landscape archaeological analysis in order to assess the contribution of the index to potentially recognize, monitor, and interpret the historical evidence in the evaluation of landscape evolution. The investigation was performed in the basin of Lama Camaggi in the Apulia region (southern Italy), characterized by precious archaeological evidence found on the surface during field surveys in the years 2001–2002 and 2012–2013. The results show (1) the correlation between high-sediment-connectivity areas and areas with high densities of archaeological sites, and (2) the capacity of the SfCI to identify surface processes that may potentially affect the readability of the archaeological records to support data interpretation. These results confirm the advantage of applying an interdisciplinary approach in archaeology and opens innovative research scenarios.
A Scenario-Based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Allocation of Pistachio Processing Facilities: A Case Study of Zarand, Iran
Authors: Ebrahimi Sirizi Mohammad , Taghavi Zirvani Esmaeil , Esmailzadeh Abdulsalam , Khosravian Jafar , Ahmadi Reyhaneh , Mijani Naeim , Soltannia Reyhaneh , Jokar Arsanjani Jamal
Published: October 2023

Site selection and allocation of manufacturing and processing facilities are essential to sustainable economic productivity of a given product while preserving soil, the environment, and biodiversity. An essential criterion when evaluating various approaches to model land suitability for pistachio processing facilities is their adaptability to accommodate diverse perspectives and circumstances of managers and decision makers. Incorporating the concept of risk into the decision-making process stands as a significant research gap in modeling land suitability for pistachio processing facilities. This study presents a scenario-based multi-criteria decision-making system for modeling the land suitability of pistachio processing facilities. The model was implemented based on a stakeholder analysis as well as inclusion of a set of influential criteria and restrictions for an Iranian case study, which is among the top three producers. The weight of each criterion was determined based on the best-worst method (BWM) after the stakeholder analysis. Then, the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) model was used to prepare maps of spatial potential for building a pistachio processing factory in different decision-making scenarios, including very pessimistic, pessimistic, intermediate, optimistic, and very optimistic attitudes. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of very-high- and high-potential regions to changes in the weight of the effective criteria was evaluated and proved that the most important criteria were proximity to pistachio orchards, proximity to residential areas, proximity to the road network, and proximity to industrial areas. Overall, 327 km2 of the study area was classified as restricted, meaning that they are not suitable locations for pistachio processing. The average estimated potential values based on the proposed model for very pessimistic, pessimistic, intermediate, optimistic, and very optimistic scenarios were 0.19, 0.47, 0.63, 0.78, and 0.97, respectively. The very-high-potential class covered 0, 0.41, 8.25, 39.64, and 99.78 percent of the study area based on these scenarios, respectively. The area of suitable regions for investment decreased by increasing risk aversion in decision making. The model was more sensitive to changes in the weights of proximity to residential areas, proximity to pistachio orchards, and proximity to transportation hubs. The proposed approach and the achieved findings could be of broader use to respective stakeholders and investors. Given the suitability of arid regions for planting pistachio and its relatively high profitability, the local authorities and decision makers can promote further expansion of the orchards, which can lead to better welfare of farmers and reducing rural-urban migration in the region.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: The Mediating Effect of Coping and the Moderating Role of Management Support
Authors: Vrontis Demetris , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Galati Antonino
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted most industries, including the hospitality and tourism industry. This is one of the first studies to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of individuals in the hospitality and tourism industry. With the help of the literature and theories, a theoretical model is developed, which is later validated through structural equation modeling, using a survey of 314 usable respondents from the hospitality and tourism industry. This study finds that coping has a significant mediating effect on individuals’ psychological well-being and that management support plays a considerably significant role in hospitality and tourism employees’ psychological well-being.
Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Carbon Emissions in Mixed-Use Villages: A Sustainable Development Study of the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Wu Yiqun , Sun Yuan , Zhou Congyue , Li Yonghua , Wang Xuanli , Yu Huifang
Published: October 2023

With the progression of novel urbanization, rural regions are increasingly characterized by mixed-use features, where work and living activities intersect, resulting in a significant surge in per capita carbon emissions. This research article aims to elucidate the spatio-temporal relationship of carbon emissions in rural areas and their association with mixed-use intensity from a sustainable development perspective. For the study, we selected four of the most representative mixed-use village types in the Yangtze River Delta region. Using the STING method, each rural space was delineated into micro-level mixed-use units. Subsequently, a quantitative evaluation model was constructed to gauge the relationship between mixed-use intensity and carbon emissions. This was complemented by employing GIS simulations to analyze the spatio-temporal attributes of carbon emissions in mixed-use villages. Our findings indicate that (1) different types of villages display considerable disparities in mixed-use intensity and carbon emissions. Their correlation also varies significantly, with traditional agricultural villages exhibiting the lowest values of 0.338 and 0.356, while E-commerce-centric villages recorded the highest at 0.674 and 0.653. (2) The carbon emissions of rural units manifest diverse patterns that include dispersed distribution, core aggregation, linear decay, and dissipative fragmentation. These correspond to traditional agriculture, industrial production, tourism service, and E-commerce villages, respectively. (3) The carbon emissions of mixed-use villages exhibit cyclical fluctuations over time, with different magnitudes observed across villages. Traditional agricultural villages display the smallest fluctuations (within 30%), while those centered around tourism services can experience fluctuations exceeding 150%. Building on these insights, we delved deep into the challenges faced by each village type in enhancing the quality of work and living while concurrently achieving energy conservation and emission reduction. Based on these aspects, we propose a sustainable low-carbon development pathway tailored for mixed-use villages.
Sustainable Use of Marine Macroalga Sargassum muticum as a Biosorbent for Hazardous Crystal Violet Dye: Isotherm, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Modeling
Authors: Fawzy Mustafa A. , Aloufi Abeer S. , Hassan Sedky H. A. , Alessa Abdulrahman H. , Alsaigh Ahmad A. , Koutb Mostafa , Abdel-Rahim Ismail R.
Published: October 2023

The pollution of aquatic bodies by synthetic dyes is regarded as one of the most significant environmental issues, which has prompted greater research into effective and sustainable removal techniques. Even though there have been major efforts in the previous few decades, more study is still necessary to fully examine the long-term performance and usable applicability of adsorbents and different adsorption techniques for the removal of dye. In the present study, a brown marine macroalga Sargassum muticum was used as an effective and sustainable biosorbent for the crystal violet (CV) dye removal from aqueous solutions. The biosorbent was characterized by analysis of SEM, EDX, and FTIR. In order to evaluate the optimum conditions of CV biosorption, several parameters have been examined as a function of contact time, algal dose, initial concentration of CV, and pH. The maximum CV removal was obtained at 60 min contact time, 10 g/L algal dosage, 30 mg/L initial concentration of CV, and pH 6. The isothermal models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin are best explained the equilibrium data obtained. At the optimum conditions, the maximum biosorption capacity of the algal biomass achieved from the Langmuir model was 39.1 mg/g. The kinetic adsorption models were also better explained using the pseudo-second-order and Elovich model, and the effect of the boundary layer was indicated using the intraparticle diffusion model as well as the chemisorption-controlled biosorption process. Thermodynamically, the process of CV biosorption was shown to be random, spontaneous, and endothermic. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism of CV dye biosorption onto algal biomass is regulated by hydrogen bond formation, electrostatic interaction, and ion exchange. These findings revealed that the biomass of S. muticum is a sustainable and promising material for the biosorption of water pollutants.
Scientific Knowledge Map Study of Therapeutic Landscapes and Community Open Spaces: Visual Analysis with CiteSpace
Authors: Han Yan , Liang Yuehui
Published: October 2023

The pursuit of a healthy and comfortable living environment is a key developmental objective for human society. Therapeutic landscapes play a significant role in improving environmental conditions within these spaces. However, current research suggests that there is still much to be explored in this field, particularly in communal open spaces. Based on the Web of Science literature database and using the CiteSpace visualization tool, this study launched a literature review search on the existing research content on therapeutic landscapes in community spaces by means of publication volume analysis, spatial distribution, keyword analysis, co-citation clustering analysis, keyword timeline, and co-occurring word analysis. Based on the research results, the current status and direction of related research are outlined, and the research hotspots and future trends in this field are analyzed. Current research comprises multiple interdisciplinary branches, such as geography, public space, modern medicine, care, horticultural therapy, urban ecology, and more, with theoretical research, caregiving, spatial territories, and research methodology as the main research vectors. It is clear from this study that the current research on community therapeutic landscapes suffers from a lack of coordination between theoretical and practical development, and the related design practice activities are in a vulnerable stage of development. In terms of the population served, specialized research will be one of the directions of development, as there has been a gradual increase in the number of spatial research on the prevention and complementary treatment of various diseases for subdivided groups. At the same time, the research focus in this field has shifted from the physical health of users to their mental health, leading to a trend of public service development with the objective of social health.
Long-Term Geospatial Observations of the Drang Drung and Pensilungpa Glaciers, North Western Himalaya, India, from 1976 to 2020
Authors: Jasrotia Avtar Singh , Ahmad Suhail , Thakur Praveen Kumar , Ridwan Qamer , Wani Zishan Ahmad , Alamri Saad Abdurahamn M. , Siddiqui Sazada , Moustafa Mahmoud
Published: October 2023

Drang Drung and Pensilungpa are neighbouring glaciers in the western Himalayas, sharing the same meteorological conditions and climate zone. The Drang Drung glacier is a clean glacier, whereas the Pensilungpa glacier is notable for its considerable accumulation of debris. The present study explores the topographical features of the Drang Drung and Pensilungpa glaciers and investigates how topography affects their response to climate change. Additionally, a comparison is made between these glaciers with others in the basin to assess their representativeness of the region. The study utilized Landsat Imagery and ASTER GDEM data from 1976 to 2020. The results revealed that the mean accumulation area ratio (AAR) for Drang Drung and Pensilungpa was 54% and 49%, respectively, during this period. Drang Drung has lost 8.16 km2 (10.73%) of its area, while Pensilungpa has lost 2.25 km2 (9.84%) of its area. The debris cover of Pensilungpa increased from 1.86 km2 in 1976 to 2.32 km2 in 2020, whereas the debris cover area of Drang Drung has increased comparatively more, from 4.01 km2 to 4.76 km2. Within the same time frame, the snowline altitude (SLA) shifted upward by an average of 104 m and 88 m for Drang Drung Pensilungpa, respectively. Further, our findings revealed a substantial connection between the size of glaciers and the speed at which their area is diminishing. The mean slope was identified as a key factor in influencing the rate at which the area is lost, and the retreat rates of the glaciers. The reduction in glacial area, increased debris coverage, and changes in SLA are key indicators of ice volume loss under prevailing climatic conditions. The present study recommends that long-term field-based data and the incorporation of multi-temporal satellite imagery are crucial to mitigate uncertainties in detecting changes in Himalayan glaciers. These approaches would contribute to a more accurate understanding of glacial changes, and would aid in forecasting future scenarios considering ongoing global warming trends.
Molecular Epidemiology of Rotavirus A in Calves: Evolutionary Analysis of a Bovine G8P[11] Strain and Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of G6 Lineages in the Americas
Authors: Louge Uriarte Enrique L. , Badaracco Alejandra , Spetter Maximiliano J. , Miño Samuel , Armendano Joaquín I. , Zeller Mark , Heylen Elisabeth , Späth Ernesto , Leunda María Rosa , Moreira Ana Rita , Matthijnssens Jelle , Parreño Viviana , Odeón Anselmo C.
Published: October 2023

Rotavirus A (RVA) causes diarrhea in calves and frequently possesses the G6 and P[5]/P[11] genotypes, whereas G8 is less common. We aimed to compare RVA infections and G/P genotypes in beef and dairy calves from major livestock regions of Argentina, elucidate the evolutionary origin of a G8 strain and analyze the G8 lineages, infer the phylogenetic relationship of RVA field strains, and investigate the evolution and spatio-temporal dynamics of the main G6 lineages in American countries. Fecal samples (n = 422) from diarrheic (beef, 104; dairy, 137) and non-diarrheic (beef, 78; dairy, 103) calves were analyzed by ELISA and semi-nested multiplex RT-PCR. Sequencing, phylogenetic, phylodynamic, and phylogeographic analyses were performed. RVA infections were more frequent in beef (22.0%) than in dairy (14.2%) calves. Prevalent genotypes and G6 lineages were G6(IV)P[5] in beef (90.9%) and G6(III)P[11] (41.2%) or mixed genotypes (23.5%) in dairy calves. The only G8 strain was phylogenetically related to bovine and artiodactyl bovine-like strains. Re-analyses inside the G8 genotype identified G8(I) to G8(VIII) lineages. Of all G6 strains characterized, the G6(IV)P[5](I) strains from “Cuenca del Salado” (Argentina) and Uruguay clustered together. According to farm location, a clustering pattern for G6(IV)P[5] strains of beef farms was observed. Both G6 lineage strains together revealed an evolutionary rate of 1.24 × 10−3 substitutions/site/year, and the time to the most recent common ancestor was dated in 1853. The most probable ancestral locations were Argentina in 1981 for G6(III) strains and the USA in 1940 for G6(IV) strains. The highest migration rates for both G6 lineages together were from Argentina to Brazil and Uruguay. Altogether, the epidemiology, genetic diversity, and phylogeny of RVA in calves can differ according to the production system and farm location. We provide novel knowledge about the evolutionary origin of a bovine G8P[11] strain. Finally, bovine G6 strains from American countries would have originated in the USA nearly a century before its first description.
Diagnostic Accuracy of a Point-of-Care Immunoassay for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies, Feline Leukemia Virus Antigen, and Dirofilaria immitis Antigen
Authors: Singh Seema , Davenport Kristen A. , Schooley Elizabeth , Ruggiero Anthony , Nassar Salam , Buch Jesse , Chandrashekar Ramaswamy
Published: October 2023

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are retroviral infections of cats worldwide whose clinical manifestations range from mild to severe disease. In both cases, infected cats can live a long life with proper care and should be managed to prevent infection of other cats. Dirofilaria immitis, the nematode that causes heartworm disease, can infect cats in any region where dogs are infected. Though cats are more resistant to infection, clinical diseases in the form of heartworm-associated respiratory disease can cause death. Screening for these infectious diseases enables veterinarians to manage their cases and prevent the spread to other cats. We describe the diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care immunoassay for FIV, FeLV, and heartworm, compared to reference methods commonly available through reference laboratories to the practicing veterinarian. For FIV, we report 100% sensitivity (95% confidence limits (CL): 96.2–100%) and 97.8% specificity (95% CL: 95.4–99.4%). For FeLV, we report 100% sensitivity (95% CL: 97.7–100%) and 99.2% specificity (95% CL: 97.1–99.9%). And for heartworm, we report 90.2% sensitivity (95% CL: 76.9–97.3%) and 100% specificity (95% CL: 98.3–100%). Veterinarians may expect this performance relative to the reference methods they use for confirmatory serological testing.
Impact of Water Level Fluctuation on Microplastic Transportation and Redistribution in a Floodplain Lake System
Authors: Zhang Ying , Dai Wenhong , Liu Xiang
Published: October 2023

Microplastic contamination is a challenge in aquatic systems. Among these, floodplains exhibit their cyclical hydrological patterns with substantial fluctuations in water levels caused by annual floods or discharges from rivers into lakes. The influence of water level fluctuation on microplastics within complex floodplain systems has received limited attention in existing studies. This study employs hydrological data and a physics-based hydrodynamic model to assess the effects of water level fluctuations on the transport and redistribution of microplastics within Poyang Lake from 2018 to 2025. High spatiotemporal distribution variability in microplastic concentrations was found within the flood and drought periods. Furthermore, the residence rate of microplastics was assessed based on the microplastic concentration variations in the computational time. A gradual drop in the average discharge rate of microplastics was assessed at the outlet of Poyang Lake. The microplastics are more likely to drain into the Yangtze River in the high water-level period. Meanwhile, under the influence of hydrodynamics, local topography, and water level fluctuation, an accumulation of microplastics appears on the shallow shoals of the western and eastern regions of Poyang Lake, especially in the Gan River. Overall, by means of numerical simulation, the aim of our study is to serve as a reference and advance our understanding of the transportation patterns of microplastics at the aquatic–terrestrial interface.
Necessary measures to support small and medium-sized businesses in Russia against the backdrop of new sanctions and restrictions
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Abdrakhimov A. B. , Avdalyan A. B. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

The article analyzes the measures of state support for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and evaluates their effectiveness in the current conditions of geopolitical instability and the presence of sanctions and restrictions introduced by foreign countries. The conclusions about increasing the efficiency of measures and their expansion in order to raise the share of small and medium-sized businesses in the formation of state economic indicators are drawn.
KEPASTIAN HUKUM PENYELESAIAN PERSELISIHAN HUBUNGAN KERJA ANTARA TENAGA KERJA INDONESIA YANG BEKERJA DI KEDUTAAN ASING BERDASARKAN PRANATA HUKUM KETENAGAKERJAAN
Authors: Yusuf Darmawan
Published: October 2023

Setiap warga negara Indonesia berhak mendapatkan pekerjaan serta mendapat imbalan dan perlakuan yang adil dan layak dalam hubungan kerja yang dikenal dengan secara dogmatik dan normatif. Hubungan kerja diatur dalam Undang-Undang No. 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan, sekarang dicabut dengan Undang-Undang No. 11 Tahun 2020 tentang Cipta Kerja, khusus klaster “ketenagakerjaan”. Terdapat isu hukum bahwasanya terdapat Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI) yang bekerja di Kedutaan Asing, sementara tempatnya bekerja termasuk di luar wilayah hukum Negara Republik Indonesia. Seharusnya, jika terjadi perselisihan diajukan ke Arbitrase Internasional, akan tetapi kenyataannya diajukan ke Pengadilan Hubungan Industrial (PHI). Pemeriksaan perkara dilakukan sampai Mahkamah Agung RI. Adapun perkara tersebut telah berkekuatan hukum tetap, yaitu: Putusan Mahkamah Agung RI No. 376K/Pdt.Sus-PHI/2013, tertanggal 29 Oktober 2013 dan Putusan Mahkamah Agung RI No. 696 K/Pdt.Sus-PHI/2016, tertanggal 15 September 2016. Adapun permasalahannya, bagaimana penyelesaian perselisihan ketenagakerjaan terhadap TKI yang bekerja di Kedutaan Asing. Metode penelitian ini adalah penelitian hukum normatif. Putusan pengadilan didapat dari Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Agung RI di Jakarta. Hasil penelitian bahwasanya secara hukum tempat Tenaga Kerja Indonesia tersebut bekerja adalah berada di luar wilayah Negara Republik Indonesia. Oleh sebab itu, secara hukum tidak berlaku hukum Negara Republik Indonesia, ditambah lagi pihak yang digugat adalah Duta Besar sebagai orang yang memiliki kekebalan diplomatik (immunity). Namun, ternyata Mahkamah Agung RI tetap menghukum pihak tergugat untuk membayar hak-hak normatif pekerja.
Intravascular Hemolysis and AKI in Children Undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Strong Amy E. , Zee Jarcy , Fulchiero Rosanna , Kilbaugh Todd J. , Connelly James , Makeneni Spandana , Campos Diego , Laskin Benjamin L. , Denburg Michelle R.
Published: October 2023

Key Points

The incidence of AKI while undergoing ECMO in pediatric patients is high and independently increases mortality.

Laboratory markers consistent with intravascular hemolysis increase the hazard of a composite outcome of AKI or RRT while undergoing ECMO.

Further research into appropriate monitoring or treatment of ECMO-associated hemolysis may lead to important interventions to prevent AKI.

Background

AKI is common in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), with a variety of proposed mechanisms. We sought to describe the effect of laboratory evidence of ECMO-associated intravascular hemolysis on AKI and RRT.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients treated with ECMO at a single center over 10 years. The primary outcome was a composite of time to RRT or AKI (by creatinine-based Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria) after ECMO start. Serum creatinine closest to ECMO start time was considered the pre-ECMO baseline and used to determine abnormal kidney function at ECMO start. The patient's subsequent creatinine values were used to identify AKI on ECMO. Multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the effect of separate markers of intravascular hemolysis on the time to the composite outcome after controlling for confounders.

Results

Five hundred and one children were evaluated with a median age 1.2 years, 56% male. Four separate multivariable models, each with a different marker of hemolysis (plasma-free hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), minimum platelet count, and minimum daily hemoglobin), were used to examine the effect on the composite outcome of AKI/RRT. An elevated plasma-free hemoglobin, the most specific of these hemolysis markers, demonstrated an almost three-fold higher adjusted hazard for the composite outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 2.9; P value < 0.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 5.6). Elevated LDH was associated with an adjusted HR of 3.1 (P value < 0.01; 95% CI, 1.7 to 5.5). Effect estimates were also pronounced in a composite outcome of only more severe AKI, stage 2+ AKI/RRT: HR 6.6 (P value < 0.01; 95% CI, 3.3 to 13.2) for plasma-free hemoglobin and 2.8 (P value < 0.01; 95% CI, 1.5 to 5.6) for LDH.

Conclusions

Laboratory findings consistent with intravascular hemolysis on ECMO were independently associated with a higher hazard of a composite outcome of AKI/RRT in children undergoing ECMO.
FIVE-YEAR RADIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP OF ASYMPTOMATIC IMPACTED THIRD MOLAR TEETH WITH COMPLETED APICAL ROOT DEVELOPMENT
Authors: DEDEOĞLU Numan , ÇELİK ÖZEN Duygu
Published: October 2023

Third molar teeth can stay impacted due to systemic factors, space deficiency, pathology or an anatomical obstacle. The positions, angles, follicle sizes, and impaction statuses of impacted third molars can change over time. The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in the position, inclination, angle, and follicular width of impacted third molars at the end of a 5-year follow-up on panoramic radiographs. Retrospective analyses of a total of 98 impacted third molar teeth were carried out on panoramic radiographs taken at 5-year intervals for 31 patients who presented to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at Faculty of Dentistry for various reasons between 2013 and 2021. The mean angle of the examined impacted third molars with the occlusal plane was 26.725±27.31° at the beginning of the 5-year follow-up and 26.399±28.46° at the end of the follow-up. There was a 5° angular change(inclination) in 4(8.2%) impacted molars. In the examinations of the panoramic radiographs taken at 5-year intervals, no pathologic change around any impacted third molar or resorption in neighboring teeth was observed. There were inclination changes in 2(4%) of the impacted molars and position changes in 11(22.4%). The changes may be occur in the position, inclination, angle, and follicular width of asymptomatic impacted teeth in time. It is important that asymptomatic impacted teeth can be followed radiographically to evaluate the effects of changes in position, inclination, angle and follicle width over time on the impacted tooth and surrounding tissues and to prevent complications that may occur after a possible impacted third molar extraction.
Ética profissional e bioética: contribuições do ensino de homeopatia e fitoterapia em liga estudantil de medicina para o desenvolvimento de humanidades e competência cultural
Authors: Silva Felipe Freire Souza , Musmanno Patrícia Guimarães , Bolognani Fábio de Almeida , Gorini Cláudia Correia , De Freitas Janete Vieira , Pyrrho Alexandre dos Santos , Lage Celso Luiz Salgueiro , Varricchio Marcia Cristina Braga Nunes
Published: October 2023

O presente artigo recupera a presença e a trajetória da Homeopatia ao longo de 20 anos na Faculdade de Medicina de Petrópolis, cujos resultados baseados em evidências, geraram ações que cooperaram com o desenvolvimento da percepção dos alunos e demais profissionais sobre sua participação no bem-estar, ética ambiental e sustentabilidade. O percurso foca a relevância de pesquisa básica, além de atenção e assistência clínica, enquanto estratégias para a difusão do ensino no centro universitário enquanto especialidade médica. Também visando ao incremento qualitativo de sua percepção quanto à sua eficiência, enquanto terapêutica complementar, em ambulatório-escola do Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias da UNIFASE-FMP e no Serviço de Homeopatia da 7ª Enfermaria do Hospital Geral Santa Casa da Misericórdia no Rio de Janeiro.