bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of women participating in a human papillomavirus-based screen-triage-and treat strategy for cervical cancer prevention in Malawi
Authors: Lee Fan , McGue Shannon , Chapola John , Dunda Wezzie , Tang Jennifer H. , Ndovie Margret , Msowoya Lizzie , Mwapasa Victor , Smith Jennifer S. , Chinula Lameck
Published: February 2024

Objective

To explore the experiences of Malawian women who underwent a human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screen-triage-treat algorithm for cervical cancer (CxCa) prevention. This algorithm included GeneXpert® HPV testing of self-collected vaginal samples, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and colposcopy for HPV-positive women, and thermal ablation of ablation-eligible women.

Method

In-depth interviews were conducted with participants of a trial that evaluated the feasibility of a HPV-based screen-triage-treat algorithm among women living with HIV and HIV negative women in Lilongwe, Malawi. Participants were recruited from 3 groups: 1) HPV-negative; 2) HPV-positive/VIA-negative; 3) HPV-positive/VIA-positive and received thermal ablation. Interviews explored baseline knowledge of CxCa and screening, attitudes towards self-collection, and understanding of test results. Content analysis was conducted using NVIVO v12.

Results

Thematic saturation was reached at 25 interviews. Advantages of HPV self-collection to participants were convenience of sampling, same-day HPV results and availability of same-day treatment. There was confusion surrounding HPV-positive/VIA-negative results, as some participants still felt treatment was needed. Counseling, and in particular anticipatory guidance, was key in helping participants understand complex screening procedures and results. Overall, participants expressed confidence in the HPV screen-triage-treat strategy.

Discussion

HPV testing through self-collected samples is a promising tool to increase CxCa screening coverage. A multi-step screening algorithm utilizing HPV self-testing, VIA triage and thermal ablation treatment requires proper counseling and anticipatory guidance to improve patient understanding. Incorporating thorough counseling in CxCa screening programs can change women’s perspectives about screening, build trust in healthcare systems, and influence healthcare seeking behavior towards routine screening and prevention.
Remarkable response to third-generation EGFR-TKI plus crizotinib in a patient with pulmonary adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR and ROS1 co-mutation: a case report
Authors: Wu Zhiming , Zhang Zelin , Zhang Dongdong , Li Zengyan
Published: February 2024

Background

Driver oncogene mutations, such as c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were previously believed to be mutually exclusive in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Only sporadic cases of ROS1 and EGFR co-mutations have been reported. Hence, appropriate treatment options for these patients are still controversial.

Case presentation

A 48-year-old female patient presented at our hospital complaining of a persistent cough that had been ongoing for a month. A chest computed tomography showed a mass in the left lung along with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Pathological analysis of bronchoscopic biopsy and lung mass puncture confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with stage IIIC left lung adenocarcinoma with a clinical stage of cT2N3M0. Next-generation sequencing analysis conducted at both puncture sites revealed an EFGR 19 deletion mutation combined with ROS1 rearrangement. The lung mass exhibited a higher mutation abundance. Treatment with a combination of third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and crizotinib yielded satisfactory results. During the follow-up period, the mass significantly reduced and almost disappeared.

Conclusion

The co-mutation of EGFR and ROS1 is a rare phenomenon. Nevertheless, the combination of EGFR-TKI and crizotinib treatment appears to hold promise in providing positive results for patients, with manageable side effects. This therapeutic approach has the potential to enhance patients’ overall prognosis.
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa as a new anticancer molecular strategy in breast histology via Her2, IL33, EGFR, and MUC1
Authors: Situmorang Putri Cahaya , Ilyas Syafruddin , Syahputra Rony Abdi , Sari Reka Mustika , Nugraha Alexander Patera , Ibrahim Alek
Published: February 2024

The prevalence of breast cancer among patients in Indonesia is significant. Indonesian individuals maintain the belief that cancer cannot be cured alone by pharmaceuticals and treatment; herbal remedies must be used in conjunction. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, also known as Haramonting, is an indigenous Indonesian medicinal plant renowned for its copious antioxidant properties. The objective of study was to assess the impact of haramonting on breast cancer by examining the expression of various biomarker proteins associated with breast cancer. Haramonting was administered to breast cancer model mice at different doses over a period of 30 days. Subsequently, blood and breast samples were obtained for immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Authors have discovered that there has been a notable rise in the proliferation of epithelial cells in the duct lobes, resulting in the formation of ducts and lobules. Additionally, the researchers discovered that the breasts exhibited distinct clinical and histological alterations. Haramonting possesses the capacity to restore the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to normal levels in the blood serum of rats afflicted with cancer. The histopathological analysis of the breast tissue revealed elevated levels of Her2, IL33, EGFR, and MUC1. The authors also discovered a notable increase in the growth of epithelial cells, with two or more layers of cells reaching towards the centre of the duct. The size of the epithelial cells exhibits variability; however, this state ameliorates with the administration of a dosage of 300 mg/kgBW of this botanical specimen. This study proposes that Haramonting may be effective in treating breast cancer.
Beyond recidivism: reconceptualizing success through relational health for trauma-exposed youth experiencing juvenile justice involvement
Authors: Zelechoski Amanda D. , Bohner Janet , Perry Bruce D.
Published: February 2024

Youth who have histories of trauma exposure face unique barriers and needs in navigating the juvenile justice system. Accordingly, reliance on recidivism as the primary “success” metric falls short for trauma-impacted youth and may actually prolong their justice involvement. Caregivers and juvenile justice professionals (i.e., judges, attorneys, detention and probation staff, case managers, and mental health clinicians) often struggle to identify and adequately address these challenges and pitfalls. This policy brief provides an overview of specialized considerations for traumatized youth with respect to common policies and practices, namely mandated placement, treatment, and timelines. Specific examples and actionable recommendations are provided to assist juvenile justice professionals and treatment providers with systemic efforts to more appropriately and effectively customize juvenile justice policies and programs for these extremely vulnerable youth.
An analysis of the role of college students' core self-evaluation in the relationship between extracurricular physical exercise and academic stress
Authors: Zhu Guanren , Cao Wenwen , Yin Yutong , Bai Shengchao
Published: February 2024

Objective

To explore the role of college students' core self-evaluation in the association between extracurricular physical exercise and academic stress, and to provide a reference and basis for effectively alleviating current college students' academic stress.

Methods

A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to conduct an online survey using the China College Student Mental Health Screening Scale, the Core Self-Esteem Scale, and a self-developed questionnaire for 1,249 college students from 8 junior colleges in Jiangsu Province, China, in January 2023, and analyses were conducted using bivariate correlation and mediation effect tests.

Results

More than half of the students were worried about lagging behind other students in their studies and worrying about exams, as well as more than half of the students had <2 h of extracurricular physical exercise per week in terms of academic stress. Significant correlations were found between extracurricular physical exercise time and core self-evaluation (r = 0.225, p < 0.01), academic stress (r = −0.317, p < 0.01), and between core self-evaluation and academic stress (r =−0.371, p < 0.01). Extracurricular physical exercise had a negative predictive effect on academic stress (effect = −0.306, 95%CI: −0.361~-0.251) and partially through the mediating path of core self-evaluation, (effect = −0.067, 95%CI: −0.091~-0.046), with a mediating effect of 21.9%. Among them, the mediating effect of core self-evaluation was highest in “worrying about lagging behind other students in their studies” and “worrying about exams”, which accounted for 24.4% and 24.3% respectively.

Conclusion

Currently, college students have different degrees of academic stress; extracurricular physical exercise can reduce academic stress through direct effects, and also through the indirect effect of improving the level of core self-evaluation, and active extracurricular physical exercise has become an important way to promote students' physical and mental health.
Prosociality predicts changes in leisure activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Konishi Naoki , Kimura Motohiro , Takeda Yuji
Published: February 2024

Several studies suggest that leisure activities enhance well-being. In line with this perspective, a recent study indicates that augmenting indoor leisure activities to compensate for diminished outdoor pursuits could sustain or enhance well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study was designed to identify personality traits that predict such behavioral shifts in indoor versus outdoor leisure activities during the pandemic. The present study included 657 participants (Mage = 41.08) and measured 12 personality traits that a previous study reported were associated with health-protective behaviors during COVID-19. Our findings indicate that the rise in indoor leisure activities correlated with prosocial tendencies toward family and friends/acquaintances (but not strangers), self-centered interest, resilience, and Big Five personality traits. Conversely, the decline in outdoor activities was linked solely to prosociality toward family and friends/acquaintances. Further interaction analysis uncovered that prosocial tendencies toward close relations predicted increased indoor activities as an alternative to outdoor engagements. We concluded that prosociality promoted behavioral changes that significantly prevented infections in intimate others, and it could maintain personal well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic by facilitating behavior change.
Anxiety predicts math achievement in kindergarten children
Authors: Svraka Bernadett , Álvarez Carolina , Szücs Dénes
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Math anxiety (MA) is an academic anxiety about learning, doing, and evaluating mathematics, usually studied in school populations and adults. However, MA likely has its origins before children go to school. For example, studies have shown that general anxiety (GA) for everyday events is less separable from MA in primary than in early secondary school. This suggests that GA may be a precursor of MA. For this reason, here, we have examined whether GA is already associated with math achievement at the end of kindergarten.

Methods

We tested 488 Hungarian kindergarten children aged 5.7 to 6.9 years (55% girls) and analyzed the effect of GA, sex, and family SES on math achievement in kindergarten children.

Results

Strikingly, confirming results from primary school children, we found that GA negatively correlated with math achievement already in this preschool population. Higher GA levels had a stronger negative effect on girls’ than boys’ math achievement. However, there were no significant sex differences in math achievement in kindergarten. Additionally, family socioeconomic status was the strongest predictor of math achievement.

Discussion

We speculate that high GA in preschool is a plausible early precursor of later high MA. Early interventions could aim to control GA levels before children start formal schooling.
The association between family functioning and problem behaviors among Chinese preschool left-behind children: the chain mediating effect of emotion regulation and psychological resilience
Authors: Qiao Tianqi , Sun Yan , Ye Pingzhi , Yan Jingfeng , Wang Xinxin , Song Zhanmei
Published: February 2024

Objective

The family environment has a significant impact on the psychological and behavioral development of children, especially those who are left behind in preschool and experience parent-child separation at a young age. These children face a greater risk of family dysfunction, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. While numerous studies have established a connection between family functioning and problem behaviors, few have explored the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship. Our study seeks to address this gap by examining how emotion regulation and psychological resilience mediate the link between family functioning and problem behavior.

Methods

The sample consisted of 940 preschool children (51.5% male, 48.5% female) with a mean age of 5.07 ± 0.80. The main guardians of the children were given the Family Assessment Device, Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation Scale, the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers (2nd edition), and the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales to assess their family functioning, emotion regulation, psychological resilience, and problem behavior respectively.

Results

Lower family functioning was associated with more severe problem behaviors in preschool left-behind children, and emotion regulation and psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between family functioning and problem behaviors, respectively. In addition, emotion regulation and psychological resilience were also chain mediators between family functioning and problem behaviors.

Conclusion

The study’s findings highlighted the crucial role of emotional regulation and psychological resilience in the correlation between family functioning and problem behaviors. It is recommended that policymakers and educators place a high priority on the cultivation of internal psychological resources, such as emotional regulation and resilience, in preschool-aged children when designing interventions to address problem behaviors.
Association of SLC6A3 variants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a genetic association study of dopamine-related genes in schizophrenia
Authors: Kogure Masanobu , Kanahara Nobuhisa , Miyazawa Atsuhiro , Shiko Yuki , Otsuka Ikuo , Matsuyama Koichi , Takase Masayuki , Kimura Makoto , Kimura Hiroshi , Ota Kiyomitsu , Idemoto Keita , Tamura Masaki , Oda Yasunori , Yoshida Taisuke , Okazaki Satoshi , Yamasaki Fumiaki , Nakata Yusuke , Watanabe Yoshinori , Niitsu Tomihisa , Hishimoto Akitoyo , Iyo Masaomi
Published: February 2024

Background

Most genetic analyses that have attempted to identify a locus or loci that can distinguish patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) from those who respond to treatment (non-TRS) have failed. However, evidence from multiple studies suggests that patients with schizophrenia who respond well to antipsychotic medication have a higher dopamine (DA) state in brain synaptic clefts whereas patients with TRS do not show enhanced DA synthesis/release pathways.

Patients and methods

To examine the contribution (if any) of genetics to TRS, we conducted a genetic association analysis of DA-related genes in schizophrenia patients (TRS, n = 435; non-TRS, n = 539) and healthy controls (HC: n = 489).

Results

The distributions of the genotypes of rs3756450 and the 40-bp variable number tandem repeat on SLC6A3 differed between the TRS and non-TRS groups. Regarding rs3756450, the TRS group showed a significantly higher ratio of the A allele, whereas the non-TRS group predominantly had the G allele. The analysis of the combination of COMT and SLC6A3 yielded a significantly higher ratio of the putative low-DA type (i.e., high COMT activity + high SLC6A3 activity) in the TRS group compared to the two other groups. Patients with the low-DA type accounted for the minority of the non-TRS group and exhibited milder psychopathology.

Conclusion

The overall results suggest that (i) SLC6A3 could be involved in responsiveness to antipsychotic medication and (ii) genetic variants modulating brain DA levels may be related to the classification of TRS and non-TRS.
Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review
Authors: Zukerman Naomi , Bottone Emily , Low Maya , Ogourtsova Tatiana
Published: February 2024

Background

Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs, e.g., cerebral palsy) and their caregivers face lifelong and impactful challenges, particularly during life-transition periods such as adolescence. One's resilience emerges as an essential ability to navigate this vulnerable phase. Resilience is a complex concept that embeds multiple factors on various levels. Little is known about what resilience factors are pivotal in youth with NDDs and their families as they transition into adolescence and how these are addressed as part of existing targeted interventions.

Objectives

This review explored the concept of resilience in youth with NDDs and their families. Specific aims included describing salient resilience factors in adolescents with NDDs and their families and to describe how resilience is addressed as part of targeted interventions.

Methods

Using the Arskey and O'Malley framework, six steps were undertaken, including a comprehensive literature search (n = 5 databases), transparent study selection, detailed data extraction with a coding scheme (n = 46 factors), results' collating with numerical and inductive content analysis, and consultation with three key stakeholders.

Results

The study screened 1,191 publications, selecting fifty-eight (n = 58; n = 52 observational and n = 6 intervention) studies. Findings revealed that resilience in this context is closely linked to more than forty factors across four levels (individual; family; school/peers; and community). Pivotal factors include social and emotional competence, optimism, and family/peer relationships. While existing interventions targeting resilience show promising results, few programs are available and generalizable to different NDDs. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of addressing resilience factors that are not targeted in existing interventions: caregivers' self-efficacy and self-esteem, as well as youth's and caregiver's confidence. Preferences for and advantages of online delivery for support programs and individual/group features also emerged.

Conclusion

The review emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to support youth with NDDs and their families during adolescence transition. To enhance their resilience, recognizing caregivers' roles, customizing interventions, and exploring new implementation formats are avenues that align with the current evidence and opportunities for practical development in this field.
Climatic and anthropogenic impacts on the water balance of Issyk-Kul Lake through its main catchments
Authors: Uwamahoro Solange , Liu Tie , Nzabarinda Vincent , Li Zheng yang , Umugwaneza Adeline , Maniraho Albert Poponi , Kayumba Patient Mindje , Gulakhmadov Aminjon , Anming Bao , Abdullaev Farkhod
Published: February 2024

Lake Issyk-Kul is an endorheic lake in arid Central Asia that is vital to the region's ecological sustainability and socio-economic development. Climate change and anthropogenic water consumption led to fluctuations in the lake's water level, which affected the water resource. The goal of this study was to examine the impacts of climate change and human activities on the Issyk-Kul water balance by combining the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) scenarios with hydrological modeling. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to incorporate signals of future precipitation and temperature changes. According to the scenarios, the total discharge of the three catchments showed an overall increasing trend with a maximum value of 28.02%. The snow and ice-melt water from March to August was revealed, and the increasing trends only occurred from March to May, with the snow and ice melting peak variations ranging from 0.5% to 2%. The high increase in change appeared in northern catchment of the lake. There was an exceptional upward precipitation trend over the northern catchment, with annual increases ranging from 0.7 to 14.5%, and an average annual temperature of 1.72°C. With slight similarities, the total runoff would increase for all catchments, with an average annual value of 10.6%. The northern catchment was significantly more sensitive to precipitation and warming than the southeastern catchments. Under land use land cover change, average annual discharge decreased with agricultural expansion, with discharge differences ranging from −0.005 to −1.06 m3/s. The findings are useful for decision-makers addressing the challenges of climate change mitigation and local water resource management.
An evaluation of energy and carbon budgets in diverse cropping systems for sustainable diversification of rainfed uplands in India's eastern hill and plateau region
Authors: Pan Rabi Sankar , Mali Santosh S. , Kumar Rakesh , Naik Sushanta Kumar , Upadhyay Pravin Kumar , Shinde Reshma , Jha Bal Krishna , Jeet Pawan , Das Anup
Published: February 2024

With increasing cost and use of energy in agriculture, the traditional practice of mono-cropping of rice in upland is neither sustainable nor eco-friendly. It is necessary to identify crop diversification options with high energy efficiency, productivity, and low global warming potential (GWP). In this experiment, an inclusive system analysis was accomplished for 3 years (2016–2019) of five mono-cropping production (MCP) systems namely rice (R), finger millet (FM), black gram (BG), horse gram (HG), pigeon pea (PP), and four intercropped systems viz. R+BG, R+HG, FM+ BG, and FM + HG. The key objective was to evaluate the flow of energy, carbon balance, and GWP of these varied production systems. Puddled rice was recorded as an energy-exhaustive crop (27,803 MJ ha−1), while horse gram was noted to have the lowest energy use (26,537 MJ ha−1). The total energy output from pigeon pea (130,312 MJ ha−1) and diversified intercropped systems (142,135 MJ ha−1) was 65.3% and 80.3% higher than mono-cultured systems, respectively. Rice and rice-based intercropping production systems showed higher carbon footprints (1,264–1,392 kg CO2 eq. ha−1). Results showed that R+BG and R+HG were the most energy-efficient production systems, having higher energy ratio (5.8 and 6.0), higher carbon efficiency (7.41 and 8.24), and carbon sustainability index (6.41 and 7.24) as against 3.30, 3.61, and 2.61 observed under sole cropping production systems. On average, rice and rice-based production systems had 7.4 times higher GWP than other production systems. In productivity terms, pigeon pea and FM+HG had higher rice equivalent yields of 8.81 and 5.79 t ha−1 and benefit-cost ratios of 2.29 and 1.87, respectively. Thus, the present study suggests that pigeon pea and finger millet-based intercropping systems were the most appropriate crop diversification options for the rainfed upland agro-ecosystem of the eastern region of India.
Detection of Avian Orthoavulavirus-1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 with neuro-viscerotropic tropism in some backyard pigeons (Columbidae) in Eastern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Mubarak Abdullah I. A. , Al-Kubati Anwar A. G. , Sheikh Abdullah , Abdelaziz Adel M. , Hussen Jamal , Kandeel Mahmoud , Falemban Baraa , Hemida Maged Gomaa
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Avian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV1) has a wide host range, including domestic and wild birds. The present study aimed to identify the currently circulating AOAV1 strains from some outbreaks in some backyard pigeons in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia (ERSA).

Methods

Tracheal/cloacal swabs and tissue specimens were collected from eight backyards in Al-Ahsa, ERSA, between January 2021 and March 2023. Samples were tested for the presence of AOAV1 using commercial real-time RT-PCR. Part of the fusion gene was also amplified by gel-based RT-PCR, and the obtained amplicons were sequenced.

Results and discussion

AOAV1 was detected in samples from the eight flocks. The retrieved sequences from samples of 6/8 pigeon backyards are reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on the obtained sequences from these backyard pigeons showed the segregation of the obtained sequences in AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1. Clinically, nervous manifestations were dominant in pigeons infected with both genotypes. Respiratory manifestations and significantly higher overall mortality rate were induced by genotype VI.2.1. The deduced amino acid sequences of the fusion protein cleavage site (FPCS) showed that all the detected isolates belong to velogenic strains. Differences in clinical profiles induced by the natural infection of pigeons with AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 were reported. The present findings highlight the potential roles of some backyard pigeons in the long-distance spread and cross-species transmission of the reported AOAVI genotypes. Further research is required to perform biotyping and pathotyping of the reported strains.
Impact of Deficit Irrigation Strategies Using Saline Water on Soil and Peach Tree Yield in an Arid Region of Tunisia
Authors: Toumi Ines , Ghrab Mohamed , Zarrouk Olfa , Nagaz Kamel
Published: February 2024

Sustainable fruit orchard development in arid areas is severely affected by the scarcity of fresh water. To mitigate the lack of fresh water, the use of low-quality water for irrigation is becoming a common practice in several margin areas. However, salinity is considered one of the most important environmental constraints limiting the successful crop production. Therefore, the effects of deficit irrigation strategies using saline water (3.1 dS m−1) on soil water content, soil salinity, and yield of commercial peach orchard were investigated. Three irrigation treatments were considered: a Control, full irrigated (FI); and partial root-zone drying (PRD50); and deficit irrigation (DI) strategies irrigated at 50% ETc. These levels of water supply allowed for contrasting watering conditions with clear distinction between irrigation treatments. The differential pattern in soil moisture was accompanied by that of soil salinity with an increase in all FI treatments (16–25%). The results indicated that soil salinity increased with increasing water supply and evaporative demand during the growing season from January (3.2 dS m−1) to August (6.6 dS m−1). Deficit irrigation strategies (DI, PRD50) induced more soil salinity along the row emitter compared to the Control due to insufficient leaching fractions. By the end of the growing season, the soil salinity under long-term saline drip irrigation remained stable (5.3–5.7 dS m−1). An efficient leaching action seemed to be guaranteed by rainfall and facilitated by sandy soil texture, as well as the high evaporative demand and the important salt quantity supplied, which maintain the deficit irrigation strategies as valuable tools for water saving and improving water productivity. The significant water saving of 50% of water requirements induced a fruit yield loss of 20%. For this reason, DI and PRD50 could be reasonable irrigation management tools for saving water and controlling soil salinity in arid areas and on deep sandy soil.
Improvement of Winter Wheat Aboveground Biomass Estimation Using Digital Surface Model Information Extracted from Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-Based Multispectral Images
Authors: Guo Yan , He Jia , Zhang Huifang , Shi Zhou , Wei Panpan , Jing Yuhang , Yang Xiuzhong , Zhang Yan , Wang Laigang , Zheng Guoqing
Published: February 2024

Aboveground biomass (AGB) is an important indicator for characterizing crop growth conditions. A rapid and accurate estimation of AGB is critical for guiding the management of farmland and achieving production potential, and it can also provide vital data for ensuring food security. In this study, by applying different water and nitrogen treatments, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a multispectral imaging spectrometer was used to acquire images of winter wheat during critical growth stages. Then, the plant height (Hdsm) extracted from the digital surface model (DSM) information was used to establish and improve the estimation model of AGB, using the backpropagation (BP) neural network, a machine learning method. The results show that (1) the R2, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and relative predictive deviation (RPD) of the AGB estimation model, constructed directly using the Hdsm, are 0.58, 4528.23 kg/hm2, and 1.25, respectively. The estimated mean AGB (16,198.27 kg/hm2) is slightly smaller than the measured mean AGB (16,960.23 kg/hm2). (2) The R2, RMSE, and RPD of the improved AGB estimation model, based on AGB/Hdsm, are 0.88, 2291.90 kg/hm2, and 2.75, respectively, and the estimated mean AGB (17,478.21 kg/hm2) is more similar to the measured mean AGB (17,222.59 kg/hm2). The improved AGB estimation model boosts the accuracy by 51.72% compared with the AGB directly estimated using the Hdsm. Moreover, the improved AGB estimation model shows strong transferability in regard to different water treatments and different year scenarios, but there are differences in the transferability for different N-level scenarios. (3) Differences in the characteristics of the data are the key factors that lead to the different transferability of the AGB estimation model. This study provides an antecedent in regard to model construction and transferability estimation of AGB for winter wheat. We confirm that, when different datasets have similar histogram characteristics, the model is applicable to new scenarios.
The Influence of Human Agricultural Activities on the Quality of Selected Fluvisols from the Vistula River Valley, Poland—Preliminary Research
Authors: Furtak Karolina , Gawryjołek Karolina , Marzec-Grządziel Anna , Niedźwiecki Jacek
Published: February 2024

Studies on the impact of human agricultural activities on the soil microbiome and soil quality are extremely important, but such studies on floodplains in river valleys are lacking. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the impact of blackcurrant cultivation on Fluvisols located in the Vistula River valley (Poland). The dehydrogenases (DHa) and phosphatases (acid-AcP, and alkaline-AlP) activities, carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) contents of the microbial biomass, the metabolic potential of the microbial community (EcoPlate™ Biolog) and taxonomic diversity of the soil microbiome were determined (next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene). Enzymatic activity and metabolic potential and diversity (EcoPlate™) were higher in the soils from meadows, but MBC and MBN and biodiversity indices derived from NGS were higher in the cultivated soils. It can be confirmed that human activities affect the physicochemical, biological and microbiological parameters of Fluvisols. This may indicate that microorganisms are numerically more abundant and taxonomically more diverse in the cultivated soils, but are more active in the soils from meadows.
Ectopic Pregnancy and T-Cell Lymphoma in a Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris): Possible Comorbidity and a Comparative Pathology Perspective
Authors: Raso Caterina , Galietta Valentina , Eleni Claudia , Innocenti Marco , Fonti Niccolò , Palmerini Tiziana , Grillo Mauro , Calderini Pietro , Borgogni Elena
Published: February 2024

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening disease that affects humans and other mammals. Tumors causing ruptures of the reproductive tract have been identified as possible predisposing factors in human and veterinary medicine. We here describe a case of concomitant ectopic pregnancy and lymphoma in a Eurasian red squirrel found deceased in Italy and submitted to the public health laboratory Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana (IZSLT) for post-mortem examination. A full-term partially mummified ectopic fetus in the abdomen and a large fibrinonecrotic tubal scar adjacent to the right ovary were observed at necropsy. The tubal scar is likely the point of tubal rupture through which the fetus displaced. Histology revealed the presence of neoplastic cells referable to lymphoma infiltrating the ovary, spleen, small intestine, heart and peripancreatic adipose tissue. The lymphoma was further characterized as T-cell-type using immunohistochemistry. We suggest that the lymphoma, by involving the ovary, played a pathogenetic role in the development of a secondary EP by altering the genital tract at the structural and hormonal levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of concomitant ovarian lymphoma and EP in animals and humans in the literature.
Unraveling the Complex Interactions: Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Bacterial Survival against ZnO and Lanthanum-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Navarro-López Diego E. , Perfecto-Avalos Yocanxóchitl , Zavala Araceli , de Luna Marco A. , Sanchez-Martinez Araceli , Ceballos-Sanchez Oscar , Tiwari Naveen , López-Mena Edgar R. , Sanchez-Ante Gildardo
Published: February 2024

The rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global health challenge. Due to their unique properties, metal oxide nanoparticles show promise in addressing this issue. However, optimizing these properties requires a deep understanding of complex interactions. This study incorporated data-driven machine learning to predict bacterial survival against lanthanum-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The effect of incorporation of lanthanum ions on ZnO was analyzed. Even with high lanthanum concentration, no significant variations in structural, morphological, and optical properties were observed. The antibacterial activity of La-doped ZnO nanoparticles against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. Nanoparticles induce 60%, 95%, and 55% bacterial death against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Algorithms such as Multilayer Perceptron, K-Nearest Neighbors, Gradient Boosting, and Extremely Random Trees were used to predict the bacterial survival percentage. Extremely Random Trees performed the best among these models with 95.08% accuracy. A feature relevance analysis extracted the most significant attributes to predict the bacterial survival percentage. Lanthanum content and particle size were irrelevant, despite what can be assumed. This approach offers a promising avenue for developing effective and tailored strategies to reduce the time and cost of developing antimicrobial nanoparticles.
Dietary Puerarin Supplementation Improves Immune Response and Antioxidant Capacity of Sows
Authors: Cao Shanchuan , Li Xinglai , Yin Heng , Wang Juan , Liu Jingbo
Published: February 2024

Puerarin is an isoflavone extracted from Pueraria mirifica, a wildlife leguminous plant. It has been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. However, the effects of directly adding puerarin to the diets of sows, in terms of reproductive performance and antioxidant properties, have not been reported. For this study, 240 sows with varying parities were selected and randomly divided into six treatment groups using a two × three experimental design. The six treatment groups consisted of two diets (control and puerarin) and three parities (zero, one, and two parities or more). The puerarin group was supplemented with 1 g/kg of puerarin. The experiment commenced with mating and continued until 21 days post-delivery. The sow reproductive performance was not affected by supplementing their diets with puerarin (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with puerarin significantly increased the daily body weight (BW) gain of piglets and their mean BW at weaning (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, sows in the puerarin group had significantly higher glutathione peroxidase activity in serum and also significantly increased immunoglobulin A and G levels in serum, colostrum, and milk, but significantly lower malondialdehyde concentration in serum (p < 0.05). Thus, puerarin improved the immune response and antioxidant capacity of sows and increased the daily BW gain of their offspring.
Group Contribution Revisited: The Enthalpy of Formation of Organic Compounds with “Chemical Accuracy” Part V
Authors: Meier Robert J. , Rablen Paul R.
Published: February 2024

Group Contribution (GC) methods to predict thermochemical properties are eminently important in chemical process design. Following our earlier work in which a Group Contribution (GC) model was presented to account for the gas-phase heat of formation of organic molecules which, for the first time, revealed chemical accuracy (1 kcal/mol or 4 kJ/mol), we here present Group Contribution parameters for a range of additional series of molecules allowing the application to a wider range of molecules whilst, mostly, retaining chemical accuracy. The new classes of molecules include amines, alkylesters, and various substituted benzenes, including t-butyl-benzenes, phenols, methoxybenzenes, anilines, benzaldehydes, and acetophenones, and finally furans and indoles/indolines. As in our previous works on this theme, again the critical selection of experimental data was crucial. Not meeting the criterion for chemical accuracy occurred when steric interactions such as nearest neighbour substituents on a benzene ring were present, something which does not fit with the characteristics of the Group Contribution method. We also report some cases for which the experimental value does not seem correct, but where both the G4 and GC model values agree well. In general, in line with accounts in the literature, the G4 method performs really well. Contrary to other related works, we have applied conformational averaging to obtain a slightly more realistic G4 result. Although the difference is generally only a few kJ/mol, this may still be relevant when attempting the development of a model with chemical accuracy, e.g., 4.2 kJ/mol.
Physico-Chemical, Sensory, and Nutritional Properties of Shortbread Cookies Enriched with Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus Powders
Authors: Sławińska Aneta , Jabłońska-Ryś Ewa , Gustaw Waldemar
Published: February 2024

Mushrooms, due to their basic composition and the presence of numerous mycochemicals, can be used to improve various food matrices. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of replacing wheat flour (2%, 4%, 6% w/w) with mushroom lyophilisates from cultivated mushrooms—A. bisporus and P. ostreatus—on the technological quality, basic nutritional and elemental composition, antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP), total polyphenol content (TPC), and sensory evaluation of shortbread cookies. The functional properties of blended flours were also determined, such as bulk density (BD), water- and oil-holding capacity (WHC, OHC), swelling capacity (SW), and water solubility index (WSI). The results show that the amounts of protein, fiber, and ash were higher in cookies enriched with mushrooms than in control cookies. The enriched products, depending on the amount of mushroom powder used and the mushroom species, had a higher content of zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, and copper. The increase in the addition of mushroom powder resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the TPC content and antioxidant properties. The use of composite flours contributed to a significant increase in hardness (at 6% mushroom powder) and a change in color parameters, with lower whiteness and a greater ΔE recorded for cookies with A. bisporus lyophilisate. In the sensory evaluation, the samples enriched with P. ostreatus powder received higher scores compared with control samples, while the cookies with A. bisporus flour were evaluated lower than the control.
A Lightweight Forest Pest Image Recognition Model Based on Improved YOLOv8
Authors: Jiang Tingyao , Chen Shuo
Published: February 2024

In response to the shortcomings of traditional pest detection methods, such as inadequate accuracy and slow detection speeds, a lightweight forestry pest image recognition model based on an improved YOLOv8 architecture is proposed. Initially, given the limited availability of real deep forest pest image data in the wild, data augmentation techniques, including random rotation, translation, and Mosaic, are employed to expand and enhance the dataset. Subsequently, the traditional Conv (convolution) layers in the neck module of YOLOv8 are replaced with lightweight GSConv, and the Slim Neck design paradigm is utilized for reconstruction to reduce computational costs while preserving model accuracy. Furthermore, the CBAM attention mechanism is introduced into the backbone network of YOLOv8 to enhance the feature extraction of crucial information, thereby improving detection accuracy. Finally, WIoU is employed as a replacement for the traditional CIOU to enhance the overall performance of the detector. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved model exhibits a significant advantage in the field of forestry pest detection, achieving precision and recall rates of 98.9% and 97.6%, respectively. This surpasses the performance of the current mainstream network models.
Research Progress on the Manufacturing of Screw-Shaped Parts in Screw Compressors
Authors: Wang Yongfei , Xiong Linhua , Feng Dongxiao , Liu Xiaoming , Zhao Shengdun
Published: February 2024

Screw compressors are highly researched and developed prospects in industry because of their long service life, high transmission efficiency, low footprint and low vibration. As the key core part of the screw compressor, the screw is a typical, long-shaft, complex profile part. Its processing method, manufacturing accuracy and quality have an extremely important impact on the performance of the whole screw compressor. In this work, the research progress on the manufacturing of screw-shaped parts in screw compressors is summarised from the aspects of the cutting process, solid plastic forming, casting and additive manufacturing. The merits and demerits of these manufacturing processes are provided and discussed, which is conducive to the development of the high-efficiency, precise and high-performance forming process of screw-shaped parts. Additionally, a novel forming process is proposed to solve the problems of serious material waste and low production efficiency for the screw-shaped parts. In the proposed process, the semi-solid spherical grain is firstly prepared by radial forging and the isothermal treatment of long-shaft raw materials. The large strain energy can be stored in the bar by the radial forging of long-shaft raw materials, which is used to induce the generation of semi-solid spherical grains with the assistance of the isothermal procedure. After that, the screw is fabricated by the high-efficiency semi-solid closed extrusion process.
Application of High-Resolution Terahertz Gas Spectroscopy for Studying the Composition of Thermal Decomposition Products in Human Urine of Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Vaks Vladimir , Domracheva Elena , Chernyaeva Maria , Anfertev Vladimir , Maslennikova Anna , Atduev Vagif , Atduev Kurban , Rodionov Mikhail
Published: February 2024

The results of using nonstationary high-resolution THz spectroscopy for detecting a characteristic set of metabolites of thermal decomposition products of urine from prostate cancer patients, aimed at identifying specific markers, are presented. Studies of the composition of biological fluid in prostate cancer were carried out using 12 urine samples from cancer patients and 4 samples from conditionally healthy volunteers. Differences in the composition and content of substances in the urine samples of cancer patients compared to the urine of conditionally healthy volunteers were identified, which allows preliminary conclusions to be drawn about substances promising for use as markers of prostate cancer in urine. The presented approach is promising for developing a method for noninvasive study of the composition of biological fluids, which makes it possible to identify metabolite markers of various pathologies and diseases.
Analysis of Primary Air Pollutants’ Spatiotemporal Distributions Based on Satellite Imagery and Machine-Learning Techniques
Authors: Li Yanyu , Zhang Meng , Ma Guodong , Ren Haoyuan , Yu Ende
Published: February 2024

Accurate monitoring of air pollution is crucial to human health and the global environment. In this research, the various multispectral satellite data, including MODIS AOD/SR, Landsat 8 OLI, and Sentinel-2, together with the two most commonly used machine-learning models, viz. multi-layer backpropagation neural network (MLBPN) and random forest (RF), have been employed to analyze the spatiotemporal distributions of the primary air pollutant from 2019 to 2022 in Guanzhong Region, China. In the conducted experiments, the RF-based model, using the MODIS AOD data, has generally demonstrated the “optimal” estimation performance for the ground-surface concentrations of the primary air-pollutants. Then, the “optimal” estimation model has been employed to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of the various air pollutants—in terms of temporal distribution, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 in the research area showed a decreasing trend from 2019 to 2022, while the annual average concentration of CO remained relatively stable and the annual average concentration of O3 slightly increased; in terms of the spatial distribution, the air pollution presents a gradual increase from west to east in the research area, with the distribution of higher concentrations in the center of the built-up areas and lower in the surrounding rural areas. The proposed estimation model and spatiotemporal analysis can provide reliable methodologies and data support for the further study of the air pollution characteristics in the research area.