bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dependence of Structural and Optical Performance of Lanthanum Fluoride Antireflective Films on O Impurities
Authors: Lu Wenli , Pan Bo , Miao Ruiying , Yang Bingzheng , Yu Chuang , Zhang Dongwei , Chen Dehong , Han Liguo , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: August 2022

Lanthanum fluoride (LaF3) thin films were deposited on the Ge substrate using the molybdenum boat evaporation method. The effect of films’ oxygen impurity on the infrared optical properties has been investigated for the first time in this report. With the increase in oxygen content in the films, the F content decreases, and the O/F ratio decreases from 0.160 to 0.055. XRD patterns reveal that the presence of O impurity destroys the crystal structure integrity of the LaF3 films and leads to the intensification of infrared absorption. The average transmittance decreases from 58.1% to 52.2%, and the peak transmittance decreases from 59.9% to 54.5%. Additionally, the refractive index and extinction coefficient of LaF3 films with different oxygen content are obtained by fitting the transmittance test data. The results show that the refractive index and extinction coefficient of the films in 8–12 μm increase with the increase in oxygen content, the average refractive index increases from 1.339 to 1.478, and the extinction coefficient increases from 0.001 to 0.030. In this paper, the influence of oxygen impurity in the LaF3 film on its infrared optical properties is revealed, which lays a theoretical foundation for the development of high-performance LaF3 infrared antireflective film.
RETRACTED: Hamza et al. Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Vitamin D in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Induced in a Rat Model: Pancreatic Tissues. Coatings 2021, 11, 317
Authors: Hamza Reham , Al-Eisa Rasha , El-Shenawy Nahla
Published: August 2022

The journal retracts the following article: “Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Vitamin D in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Induced in a Rat Model: Pancreatic Tissues [...]
Morphology and Crystal Structure of Cu2NiSn(S,Se)4 Thin Films Obtained by an Electrodeposition-Annealing Process
Authors: Stanchik Aliona , Asmalouskaya Tatsiana , Rakitin Vladimir , Gremenok Valery , Gapanovich Mikhail , Trukhanova Ekaterina , Zubar Tatiana , Trukhanov Alex , Trukhanov Sergei
Published: August 2022

Today, an actual task of photovoltaics is the search for new light-absorbing materials for solar cells, which will make them more efficient and economically affordable. Semiconductor Cu2NiSn(S,Se)4 (CNTSSe) thin films are promising materials due to suitable optical and electrical properties. This compound consists of abundant, inexpensive, and low-toxicity elements. However, few results of studying the properties of CNTSSe films have been presented in the literature. This paper presents the results of studying the morphology, phase composition, and crystal structure of the CNTSSe films, which were first obtained by high-temperature annealing of electrodeposited Ni/Cu/Sn/Ni precursors on glass/Mo substrates in chalcogen vapor. The films were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It has been found that sequential electrochemical deposition makes it possible to obtain the Ni/Cu/Sn/Ni precursors of the required quality for further synthesis of the films. It is shown that high-temperature annealing in chalcogen vapor in air makes it possible to synthesize stable polycrystalline CNTSSe films. The obtained results confirm that the production of CNTSSe films is suitable for use in solar cells by the proposed method, which can be improved by more precise control of the precursor composition and annealing conditions.
Diffusion of Tracer Atoms in Al4Ba Phases Studied Using Perturbed Angular Correlation Spectroscopy
Authors: Newhouse Randal , Cawthorne Samantha , Collins Gary S. , Zacate Matthew O.
Published: August 2022

The Al4Ba crystal structure is the most common structure among binary intermetallic compounds. It is well suited for accommodating large atoms of group II elements and is often the intermediate phase closest to the terminal phase. It is, therefore, of interest to characterize diffusion properties of compounds with this tetragonal crystal structure. In the present study, 111In perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy was used to study solute site occupation and atom movement in In4Ba, Al4Ba, Al4Eu, Al4Sr, and Ga4Sr. The indium tracer and its daughter cadmium were found to occupy only the two Al-type sublattices in these compounds through detection of nuclear quadrupole interactions with axially symmetric EFGs. Measurements with increasing temperature revealed merging of signals due to dynamical averaging of these interactions as Cd atoms jumped at increasing rates between alternating sublattices. The jump rates were estimated to be between 8 kHz and 2 MHz at about 350 °C for Al4Eu and at about 450 °C for In4Ba and Al4Ba. Fits of spectra using Blume’s stochastic model allowed determination of activation enthalpies for average Cd jump rates between alternating Al sublattices in Al4Sr and Ga4Sr to be 1.16(3) eV and 1.47(3) eV, respectively. This result was used to estimate transverse diffusivities of Cd.
Implications of Oncology Trial Design and Uncertainties in Efficacy-Safety Data on Health Technology Assessments
Authors: Trapani Dario , Tay-Teo Kiu , Tesch Megan E. , Roitberg Felipe , Sengar Manju , Altuna Sara C. , Hassett Michael J. , Genazzani Armando A. , Kesselheim Aaron S. , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: August 2022

Background: Advances in cancer medicines have resulted in tangible health impacts, but the magnitude of benefits of approved cancer medicines could vary greatly. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process used to inform resource allocation through a systematic value assessment of health technology. This paper reviews the challenges in conducting HTA for cancer medicines arising from oncology trial designs and uncertainties of safety-efficacy data. Methods: Multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar) and grey literature (public health agencies and governmental reports) were searched to inform this policy narrative review. Results: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data from clinical trials and other relevant sources of evidence has made HTA for cancer medicines challenging. The approval of cancer medicines through expedited pathways has increased in recent years, in which surrogate endpoints or biomarkers for patient selection have been widely used. Using these surrogate endpoints has created uncertainties in translating surrogate measures into patient-centric clinically (survival and quality of life) and economically (cost-effectiveness and budget impact) meaningful outcomes, with potential effects on diverting scarce health resources to low-value or detrimental interventions. Potential solutions include policy harmonization between regulatory and HTA authorities, commitment to generating robust post-marketing efficacy-safety data, managing uncertainties through risk-sharing agreements, and using value frameworks. Conclusion: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data is a central problem for conducting HTA of cancer medicines, potentially resulting in misinformed resource allocation.
Changes in Inflammatory Markers Predict the Prognosis of Resected Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Child–Pugh A
Authors: Zhou Jing , Yang Daofeng
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: The reasons for changes in the inflammatory markers of patients with surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma are unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of an inflammatory status with the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, who underwent surgical resection. (2) Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 91 patients with Child A hepatocellular carcinoma, who had received surgical resection, to explore the influence of preoperative inflammatory markers and postoperative changes on the prognosis. (3) Results: The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and its alteration were independent prognostic factors. Patients with a low PLR had a significantly better recurrence-free survival (RFS) than those with a high PLR (1-year RFS of 88.5% versus 50.0%; 3-year RFS of 62.1% versus 25.0%, p = 0.038). The patients with a low PLR showed a significantly better overall survival (OS) than those with a high PLR (1-year OS of 98.9% versus 75.0%; 3-year OS of 78.2% versus 25.0%, p = 0.005). The patients whose PLR had increased at 6 months after operation showed a worse OS than patients whose PLR had decreased (1-year OS of 96.3% versus 98.4%; 3-year OS of 63.0% versus 79.7%, p = 0.048). However, neither the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio nor Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index had any prognostic significance. (4) Conclusions: The PLR and its alteration are significant prognostic factors for the RFS and OS of patients with Child A hepatocellular carcinoma who had received curative surgery.
Spatial-Temporal Variations in Dietary Consumption of Two Dominant Rodent Species (Rhabdomys dilectus and Lophuromys acquilus) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Authors: Thomas Suzana M. , Soka Geofrey E. , Mulungu Loth S. , Makonda Fortunatus B. S.
Published: August 2022

Understanding the resource partitioning and diet of sympatric species is vital for conservation and management. From April 2020 to March 2021, a study on the dietary consumption of Rhabdomys dilectus and Lophuromys acquilus was conducted on Mount Kilimanjaro. Rodent trapping was conducted in agricultural fields, fallow land, and moorland habitats during dry and wet seasons. Sherman live traps and snap traps were alternately placed in transect lines for three consecutive nights. We calculated the percentage occurrence and contribution of dietary items, niche breadth, and niche overlap of the two species across habitats and seasons. Both species consumed all the examined food items. The most abundant components were vegetative materials and seeds/starch, followed by invertebrates. R. dilectus and L. acquilus preferably consumed seeds and invertebrates, respectively, as their primary food source. Niche breadth differed significantly between species (W = 650, p = 0.002), habitat (Kruskal–Wallis chi-squared = 6.82, df = 2, p = 0.03), and season (W = 700, p = 0.000). There was a considerable niche overlap in diet (ranging from 0.84 to 0.98) between the species and was relatively higher in the dry season compared with wet season. Despite the observed niche overlap, spatial-temporal variations in dietary consumption between the two species can serve as a mechanism of resource portioning enabling their coexistence.
Applicable Life-History and Molecular Traits for Studying the Effects of Anhydrobiosis on Aging in Tardigrades
Authors: Nagwani Amit Kumar , Kaczmarek Łukasz , Kmita Hanna
Published: August 2022

Anhydrobiosis is induced by loss of water and indicates dehydration tolerance. Survival of dehydration is possible through changes at different levels of organism organization, including a remarkable reduction in metabolic activity at the cellular level. Thus, anhydrobiosis may be regarded as an anti-aging strategy. Accordingly, two hypotheses named after popular stories, “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, were proposed to explain the effect of anhydrobiosis on aging. The two hypotheses predict the presence (The Picture of Dorian Gray) or absence (Sleeping Beauty) of observable aging symptoms for animals undergoing anhydrobiosis. Predictions of these hypotheses have rarely been tested, and the cellular level has not been addressed. Tardigrades appear to be a useful model for studying the effect of anhydrobiosis on aging, as they are able to enter and survive anhydrobiosis at any stage of life, although not with the same success for all species. In this review, we discuss anhydrobiosis and aging mechanisms as well as tardigrade diversity and indicate possible multilevel markers that can be used to study the impact of anhydrobiosis on tardigrade aging. This review provides data on tardigrade diversity that may also be useful for human aging studies.
Artificial Intelligence in Colon Capsule Endoscopy—A Systematic Review
Authors: Moen Sarah , Vuik Fanny E. R. , Kuipers Ernst J. , Spaander Manon C. W.
Published: August 2022

Background and aims: The applicability of colon capsule endoscopy in daily practice is limited by the accompanying labor-intensive reviewing time and the risk of inter-observer variability. Automated reviewing of colon capsule endoscopy images using artificial intelligence could be timesaving while providing an objective and reproducible outcome. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the available literature on artificial intelligence for reviewing colonic mucosa by colon capsule endoscopy and to assess the necessary action points for its use in clinical practice. Methods: A systematic literature search of literature published up to January 2022 was conducted using Embase, Web of Science, OVID MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL. Studies reporting on the use of artificial intelligence to review second-generation colon capsule endoscopy colonic images were included. Results: 1017 studies were evaluated for eligibility, of which nine were included. Two studies reported on computed bowel cleansing assessment, five studies reported on computed polyp or colorectal neoplasia detection and two studies reported on other implications. Overall, the sensitivity of the proposed artificial intelligence models were 86.5–95.5% for bowel cleansing and 47.4–98.1% for the detection of polyps and colorectal neoplasia. Two studies performed per-lesion analysis, in addition to per-frame analysis, which improved the sensitivity of polyp or colorectal neoplasia detection to 81.3–98.1%. By applying a convolutional neural network, the highest sensitivity of 98.1% for polyp detection was found. Conclusion: The use of artificial intelligence for reviewing second-generation colon capsule endoscopy images is promising. The highest sensitivity of 98.1% for polyp detection was achieved by deep learning with a convolutional neural network. Convolutional neural network algorithms should be optimized and tested with more data, possibly requiring the set-up of a large international colon capsule endoscopy database. Finally, the accuracy of the optimized convolutional neural network models need to be confirmed in a prospective setting.
Incorporation of Fluoride into Human Teeth after Immersion in Fluoride-Containing Solutions
Authors: Storsberg Jana , Loza Kateryna , Epple Matthias
Published: August 2022

Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride as a protective agent against caries. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of fluoride-uptake by human tooth mineral during immersion into fluoride-containing aqueous solutions as different pH. Human teeth were immersed in fluoride-containing solutions to assess the extent of fluoride incorporation into tooth enamel. A total of 16 extracted teeth from 11 patients were immersed at 37 °C for one minute into aqueous fluoride solutions (potassium fluoride; KF) containing either 250 ppm or 18,998 ppm fluoride (1-molar). Fluoride was dissolved either in pure water (neutral pH) or in a citrate buffer (pH 4.6 to 4.7). The elemental surface composition of each tooth was studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in combination with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The as-received teeth contained 0.17 ± 0.16 wt% fluoride on average. There was no significant increase in the fluoride content after immersion in 250 ppm fluoride solution at neutral or acidic pH values. In contrast, a treatment with a 1-molar fluoride solution led to significantly increased fluoride concentrations by 0.68 wt% in water and 9.06 wt% at pH 4.7. Although such fluoride concentrations are far above those used in mouth rinses or toothpastes, this indicates that fluoride can indeed enter the tooth surface, especially at a low pH where a dynamic dissolution-reprecipitation process may occur. However, precipitations of calcium fluoride (globuli) were detected in no cases.
Mission Planning for Low Altitude Aerial Drones during Water Sampling
Authors: Hodgson Michael E. , Vitzilaios Nikolaos I. , Myrick Michael L. , Richardson Tammi L. , Duggan Matt , Sanim Kazi Ragib I. , Kalaitzakis Michail , Kosaraju Bhanuprakash , English Caitlyn , Kitzhaber Zechariah
Published: August 2022

Mission planning for small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) as a platform for remote sensors goes beyond the traditional issues of selecting a sensor, flying altitude/speed, spatial resolution, and the date/time of operation. Unlike purchasing or contracting imagery collections from traditional satellite or manned airborne systems, the sUAS operator must carefully select launching, landing, and flight paths that meet both the needs of the remote sensing collection and the regulatory requirements of federal, state, and local regulations. Mission planning for aerial drones must consider temporal and geographic changes in the environment, such as local weather conditions or changing tidal height. One key aspect of aerial drone missions is the visibility of the aircraft and communication with the aircraft. In this research, a visibility model for low-altitude aerial drone operations was designed using a GIS-based framework supported by high spatial resolution LiDAR data. In the example study, the geographic positions of the visibility of an aerial drone used for water sampling at low altitudes (e.g., 2 m above ground level) were modeled at different levels of tidal height. Using geospatial data for a test-case environment at the Winyah Bay estuarine environment in South Carolina, we demonstrate the utility, challenges, and solutions for determining the visibility of a very low-altitude aerial drone used in water sampling.
Teaching English to First-year Students in Russia: Addressing the Challenges of Distance Learning
Authors: Karpovich Irina , Borschenko Galina , Koroleva Yuliana , Krepkaia Tatiana
Published: August 2022

(1) The aim of this study is to investigate the psychological climate in first-year students’ academic groups in Russia after they experienced the period of distance learning at the initial stage of university studies (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and to find out how different it is compared with the academic groups of first-year students whose university studies were not influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to collect data using A. N. Lutoshkin’s questionnaire with closed-ended questions. The questionnaire determines the psychological climate in students’ academic groups. (3) Results: The results of the study reveal considerable differences in the psychological climate of the investigated groups. The findings suggest that the students whose university studies were not influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic considered their academic groups to have more mutual understanding, a greater desire to cooperate with other teams, a better mood in the team, a greater desire to participate in the joint affairs, etc., in comparison with the students who experienced a period of distance learning at the initial stage of their studies. (4) Conclusions: The transition to distance learning allows students to continue their studies under epidemiological restrictions. However, the factors affecting the speed of the adaptation of first-year students in distance learning and the determination of the degree of their influence on the socio-psychological state of the students remain insufficiently studied. This study contributes to the field by defining the peculiarities of the psychological climate in first-year students’ academic groups after they experienced a period of distance learning at the initial stage of university studies. It also specifies how the psychological climate is different from the academic groups of first-year students who were taught in a traditional format. As psychological climate plays a crucial role for EFL instruction, measures must be taken to ease the first-year students’ adaptation process while studying online.
Evaluation of Solder Joint Reliability in 3D Packaging Memory Devices under Thermal Shock
Authors: Zhou Shuai , Lin Zhenpei , Qiu Baojun , Wang Han , Xiong Jingang , He Chang , Zhou Bei , Pan Yiliang , Huang Renbin , Bao Yiliang , Cai Nian
Published: August 2022

In 3D packaging memory devices, solder joints are critical links between the chip and the printed circuit board (PCB). Under severe working conditions, cracks inevitably occur due to thermal shock. If cracks grow in the solder joint, the chip will be disconnected with the PCB, causing its function failure. In this paper, the reliability of solder joints under thermal shock are evaluated for 3D packaging memory devices by means of the SEM and finite element analysis. As microscopically studied by the SEM, it is found out that the main failure mechanism of solder joints in such test is the thermal fatigue failure of solder joints. Finite element analysis shows that cracks are caused by the accumulation of plastic work and creep strain. The initiation and growth of cracks are mainly influenced by the inelastic strain accumulation. The trends of cracks are influenced by the difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of epoxy resin and that of the chip.
Intelligent Network Solution for Improved Efficiency in 6G-Enabled Expanded IoT Network
Authors: Rana Ankita , Taneja Ashu , Saluja Nitin , Rani Shalli , Singh Aman , Alharithi Fahd S. , Aldossary Sultan Mesfer
Published: August 2022

The fast-moving world relies on intelligent connected networks to support the numerous applications of the expanded Internet-of-Things (IoT). The evolving communication requirements of this connected world require a new sixth generation (6G) radio to enable intelligent interaction with the massive number of connected objects. The energy management of billions of connected devices supporting massive Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications is the main challenge. These IoT devices and connected nodes are energy limited, and hence, energy-aware solutions are needed to enable seamless information flow between these communicating nodes. This paper presents an intelligent network solution for improved energy efficiency in a 6G-enabled expanded IoT network. A cell-free massive multiple input multiple output (mMIMO) technology is utilized for maximum energy efficiency with optimum network resource allocation. A practical power consumption model is proposed for the designed network topology which contains all the power components related to data transmission and circuit power. The proposed scheme aims to achieve maximum energy efficiency by the optimal allocation of pilot reuse factor and access point (AP) density for a given number of antennas at each AP and number of users. It is observed that the maximum energy efficiency of 5.2362 Mbit/Joule is achieved at the AP density of 29 and pilot reuse factor of 4 with PMMSE receive combining. In the end, the role of energy efficiency and area throughput tradeoff on the system performance is also evaluated, which suggests that both the energy efficiency and area throughput can be jointly increased until maximum energy efficiency is reached at a point.
A Configurable Accelerator for Keyword Spotting Based on Small-Footprint Temporal Efficient Neural Network
Authors: He Keyan , Chen Dihu , Su Tao
Published: August 2022

Keyword spotting (KWS) plays a crucial role in human–machine interactions involving smart devices. In recent years, temporal convolutional networks (TCNs) have performed outstandingly with less computational complexity, in comparison with classical convolutional neural network (CNN) methods. However, it remains challenging to achieve a trade-off between a small-footprint model and high accuracy for the edge deployment of the KWS system. In this article, we propose a small-footprint model based on a modified temporal efficient neural network (TENet) and a simplified mel-frequency cepstrum coefficient (MFCC) algorithm. With the batch-norm folding and int8 quantization of the network, our model achieves the accuracy of 95.36% on Google Speech Command Dataset (GSCD) with only 18 K parameters and 461 K multiplications. Furthermore, following a hardware/model co-design approach, we propose an optimized dataflow and a configurable hardware architecture for TENet inference. The proposed accelerator implemented on Xilinx zynq 7z020 achieves an energy efficiency of 25.6 GOPS/W and reduces the runtime by 3.1× compared with state-of-the-art work.
RCS Measurement and Characteristic Analysis of a Sea Surface Small Target with a Shore-Based UHF-Band Radar
Authors: Xia Xiaoyun , Li Xin , Shui Penglang , Zhang Yushi , Li Qingliang
Published: August 2022

Effectiveness verification of weapon equipment and the selection of stealth material are inseparable from target radar cross-section (RCS) measurement. For RCS characteristic analysis of sea surface small targets, a fishing vessel was measured using a shore-based ultra-high-frequency (UHF) band radar. In this article, a full program of RCS measurement and characteristic analysis is presented, and three strategies are adopted to guarantee its high precision. For this, a scheme was designed for RCS dynamic measurement, along with the construction of a two-stage median filter to improve target positioning precision, and an RCS estimation procedure with sea clutter removal is elaborated upon, which increases RCS accuracy. Note that the test range satisfies the far-field criterion, and the multipath effect is modified by external calibration in our data. The measurement results reveal that the RCS level of the sea surface small target is sensitive to the aspect angle and wave height at a low grazing angle, but the RCS fluctuation characteristic is not. Therefore, the aspect angle and wave condition must be considered for sea surface small target detection, classification, or identification.
Achieving Green Innovation in Energy Industry through Social Networks, Green Dynamic Capabilities, and Green Organizational Culture
Authors: Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Javed Asad , Radulescu Magdalena , Yousaf Zahid , Secara Carmen Gabriela , Tolea Claudia
Published: August 2022

This research paper aims to evaluate the effect of social networks on the green innovation of energy sector firms working around the globe. The study also evaluated green dynamic capabilities’ mediating, and green organizational culture’s moderating role in the association of the social networks and green innovation. The study will help electricity production and distribution firms to become more environmentally proactive and achieve green innovation. For this research, study data were collected from employees working in the energy sector firms of Pakistan. Standardized scales were adapted from previous studies and a questionnaire was developed using ‘Google Docs’ and distributed using Facebook. From different energy sectors of Pakistan,476 respondents filled the questionnaires. To examine the research hypotheses, we chose energy firms that act as small and medium enterprises and face problems in the achievement of green innovation. For testing the proposed relationships, descriptive statistics, regression, and correlation analyses were used. The results supported all the hypotheses of the study. Current research has various theoretical and practical implications for managers of the energy industry, and governments.
Analytical and Numerical Analyses on Vertical Site Responses of Submarine Permafrost in Polar Ocean
Authors: Chen Yunyu , Li Qiang , Wen Minjie , Wang Yifei , Duan Weiwei
Published: August 2022

Submarine permafrost is widely distributed in polar ocean, which has an important impact on polar engineering and subsea energy exploitation. According to the frozen porous medium theory, an analytical solution of the one-dimensional vertically dynamic response of the submarine permafrost is derived by using the Laplace transform and the separation variable method. Using the general forms of partial differential equations and the pressure acoustics module in COMSOL software, a finite element model of submarine permafrost overlying a seawater layer is established. The results show that the degraded solution agrees well with the existing results of the vertically dynamic response of the saturated soil layer in the seabed, and the analytical and numerical solutions are in good agreement. The water depth, saturation and temperature have important effects on the dynamic responses of submarine permafrost. When the soil layer is fully saturated, the water depth has a weak effect on resonance frequency. However, if not fully saturated, even a small amount of air bubbles will have a significant impact on the resonance frequency of the soil layer, and this effect increases with the increase of water depth. The effect of temperature on the nearly saturated permafrost layer is also significantly higher than that on the saturated permafrost layer.
The Productivity and the Costs Forwarding Wood of a Farm Tractor with a Trailer in Late Thinning and Cutting in Gaps of Forests
Authors: Dudek Tomasz , Janas Dominik
Published: August 2022

The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency and the direct costs of wood forwarding with a farm tractor with a trailer in a gap cutting and in the late thinning of a stand. The forwarding productivity was determined by the timing method. The unit costs of wood harvesting were calculated on the basis of annual own costs. With the same set, short wood harvesting is more productive in a stand with a cut over the entire surface than in group cutting. It resulted from a shorter time of accumulating a larger load and higher driving speeds. Most of the forwarding time is spent on loading, so stacking the logs in an orderly manner, preferably in bundles, can improve performance. Better use of the loading case increases productivity and reduces unit costs. The speed of the forwarding is independent of the cutting category and the volume of the load. The speed of the forwarding is influenced by the arrangement of the remains of branches, soil conditions, the condition of the skidding trails, and the weight of the load. In flat and less demanding terrain, an agricultural tractor with a trailer will be a good alternative to a forwarder.
Evidence of a Climate-Change-Induced Shift in European Beech Distribution: An Unequal Response in the Elevation, Temperature and Precipitation Gradients
Authors: Klopčič Matija , Rozman Andrej , Bončina Andrej
Published: August 2022

Climate is a strong predictor of the geographic distribution of tree species, and thus climate change may trigger shifts in the distribution of a tree species and/or its demographic structure. In the study, we aim to comprehensively compare the distributions of four life stages of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) (i.e., regeneration, recruitment, young trees and mature trees) in forests in Slovenia, Central Europe, which are characterized by strong gradients of elevation (ELV), temperature (TEMP) and precipitation (PREC) to detect possible shifts in distribution and demography. Beech life stages were surveyed on 3366 plots. To depict disparities between ELV, TEMP and PREC distributions of beech life stages, we applied several non-parametric methods: basic statistical tests to study differences in medians, means, and 1st and 9th deciles; generalized additive models to study shifts in the optimum; and extreme value analysis to study shifts at the trailing and leading edges. A substantial shift in juvenile beech stages upward and toward colder sites was detected. However, the shift was not uniform along the distributions; the most significant shift was detected at the leading edge of ELV (+73 m) and TEMP (−2.6 °C), but surprisingly there was no beech movement identified at the trailing edge. The observed shift may be a result of the interplay between climate change, high spatial variability in microclimate, unexceptional droughts in the recent past, changes in forest use and possible limitations in the migration ability of beech and its adaptation capacity.
Parents’ Perceptions of UK Forest School: Descriptive and Evaluative Aspects
Authors: Arvanitis Alexios , Touloumakos Anna K. , Barrable Alexia
Published: August 2022

Parental support for children’s Forest School (FS) education is likely connected to the parents’ own views about FS. We investigated parents’ perceptions of FS by performing a qualitative study on parents’ views, as expressed in an online forum for parents (Mumsnet). Findings were grouped into two main categories, descriptive (what FS is) and evaluative (FS is good or bad). Thematic analysis revealed five dimensions of evaluation: skills and knowledge, nature connectedness and physical/mental health, structure, inclusivity and enjoyment. Along these dimensions we uncovered tensions between opposing views. We also identified two strategies for dealing with these tensions, dismissal and balance. This is the first study that identifies dimensions of evaluation for FS and potential parent satisfaction. The implications are discussed.
Low-Severity Wildfire Shifts Mixed Conifer Forests toward Historical Stand Structure in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Authors: Sakulich John , Poulos Helen M. , Gatewood Richard G. , Wogan Kelsey A. , Marks Christopher , Taylor Alan H.
Published: August 2022

Wildfire is an important natural disturbance agent, shaping mixed conifer forest structure throughout the Southwestern United States. Yet, fire exclusion caused by late 19th century livestock grazing followed by human fire suppression has altered forest structure by increasing forest density, basal area, and canopy cover in recent decades. Changes in the abundance and vertical and horizontal continuity of fuels have increased the potential for high-severity fire, which construes a major regional forest management concern. In May 2016, the Coyote Fire burned through a network of permanent forest monitoring plots in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. This study employed a repeated-measures sampling design to quantify the effects of low- to moderate-severity wildfire on forest stand structure, species composition, fuels, and tree mortality using hierarchical cluster analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), and paired t-tests. The 2016 Coyote Fire reduced live tree density in small-diameter size classes, but produced minimal changes in canopy stand structure and fuel loadings, despite nearly a century of fire exclusion and pre-fire tree densities that were four-times higher they were prior to last major wildfire in the early 1900s. Small-diameter surface fuel loadings (1 h and 10 h fuels) did not significantly change after fire, although 1000 h fuels increased significantly (p < 0.05), likely from the addition of new fuel from fire-caused tree mortality. While the wildfire reduced live tree density, the nMDS analysis indicated that the wildfire did not trigger major shifts in tree species composition. However, the wildfire triggered significant decreases in seedlings and small-diameter trees (<30 cm DBH) (p < 0.05). Although the fire thinned the forest, the persistence of fuels and increases in dead small-diameter trees heighten the need for additional fuel reduction treatments to mitigate the risk of future high-severity fire under extreme fire weather. Management of low-severity fire in this forest type may provide opportunities to reduce fuels and restore more desirable stand structure to enhance forest resilience to landscape fire.
NR2F2 Regulates Cell Proliferation and Immunomodulation in Whartons’ Jelly Stem Cells
Authors: Ma Li , Huang Min , Liao Xiaohua , Cai Xiyu , Wu Qiang
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Wharton’s Jelly stem cells (WJ-MSCs) are multipotent mesenchymal stem cells that can proliferate rapidly and have low immunogenicity. Therefore, WJ-MSCs have gained considerable attention in the fields of immunomodulation and disease treatment and have entered clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to study the underlying mechanisms of WJ-MSCs proliferation, immune regulation, and disease treatment. Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group F Member 2 (NR2F2) is a transcription factor that is involved in the regulation of many different genes. However, it remains unknown how NR2F2 regulates stem cell identity in WJ-MSCs. (2) Methods: We used RNAi technology to knock down NR2F2 in WJ-MSCs, and studied the regulatory role of NR2F2 in WJ-MSCs by MTT, flow cytometry, RNA-seq, and other methods. We also utilized a co-culture system in which NR2F2-depleted WJ-MSCs with MH7A and HCT116/HepG2 were used to investigate the role of NR2F2 in immunomodulation and the inhibition of cancer cell growth. (3) Results: NR2F2 knockdown resulted in decreased expressions of Cyclin D1 and CDK4, slower cell proliferation, and increased expressions of IL6 and IL8. Furthermore, Cyclin D1, CDK4, and inflammatory factors were increased in human rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocyte line MH7A if co-cultured with NR2F2 depleted WJ-MSCs. In addition, we observed increased p53, decreased BCL-2, and increased cell apoptosis in liver cancer cell line HepG2 if co-cultured with NR2F2-depleted WJ-MSCs. (4) Conclusions: NR2F2 not only plays an important role in the cell cycle and immune regulation of WJ-MSCs but also has potential effects on the WJ-MSCs treatment of related diseases.
Genetics of Pediatric Epilepsy: Next-Generation Sequencing in Clinical Practice
Authors: Blazekovic Antonela , Gotovac Jercic Kristina , Meglaj Sarah , Duranovic Vlasta , Prpic Igor , Lozic Bernarda , Malenica Masa , Markovic Silvana , Lujic Lucija , Petelin Gadze Zeljka , Juraski Romana , Barišic Nina , Baric Ivo , Borovecki Fran
Published: August 2022

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with diverse phenotypic characteristics and high genetic heterogeneity. Epilepsy often occurs in childhood, so timely diagnosis and adequate therapy are crucial for preserving quality of life and unhindered development of a child. Next-generation-sequencing (NGS)-based tools have shown potential in increasing diagnostic yield. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of genetic testing and to investigate the diagnostic utility of targeted gene panel sequencing. This retrospective cohort study included 277 patients aged 6 months to 17 years undergoing NGS with an epilepsy panel covering 142 genes. Of 118 variants detected, 38 (32.2%) were not described in the literature. We identified 64 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants with an overall diagnostic yield of 23.1%. We showed a significantly higher diagnostic yield in patients with developmental delay (28.9%). Furthermore, we showed that patients with variants reported as pathogenic presented with seizures at a younger age, which led to the conclusion that such children should be included in genomic diagnostic procedures as soon as possible to achieve a correct diagnosis in a timely manner, potentially leading to better treatment and avoidance of unnecessary procedures. Describing and discovering the genetic background of the disease not only leads to a better understanding of the mechanisms of the disorder but also opens the possibility of more precise and individualized treatment based on stratified medicine.
Interspecific and Intraspecific Hybrid Rootstocks to Improve Horticultural Traits and Soil-Borne Disease Resistance in Tomato
Authors: Vanlay Mean , Samnang Song , Jung Hee-Jong , Choe Phillip , Kang Kwon Kyoo , Nou Ill-Sup
Published: August 2022

Tomato rootstocks are important to increase yield and control soil-borne pathogens, increasing vigor for a longer crop cycle and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. This study, conducted in the greenhouse of Sunchon National University during the period from 2019 to 2022, aimed to identify local soil-borne-disease resistant interspecific and intraspecific tomato hybrid rootstocks. The 71 interspecific hybrids (S. lycopersicum × S. habrochaites) showed that the germination vigor (GV) was less than Maxifort, except for several combinations. The germination rate (GP) of cross-species hybrids showed a different pattern according to the hybrid combinations, of which three combinations showed less than 30%. The horticultural traits, such as GV and GP, of the intraspecies hybrid (S. l × S. l) combination were significantly improved compared to that of Maxifort. In 71 combinations (S. l × S. h) and 25 combinations (S. l × S. l), MAS was used to evaluate the resistance of eight genes related to soil-borne pathogens, four genes related to vector-mediated pathogens, and three genes related to air-borne pathogens. The results showed that the new hybrid combination had improved resistance over the commercial-stock Maxifort. Therefore, interspecies and intraspecies hybrid techniques for breeding commercial rootstocks can be utilized as a way to improve horticultural properties and resistance to soil-borne diseases in tomato.
Municipal Support of Diabetes Management in Daycare, Kindergarten and School: A Qualitative Study of Differences, Challenges and Potentials
Authors: Johansen Lise Bro , Nannsen Anne Østergaard , Iken Mia Sørensen , Madsen Mette , Kristensen Kurt , Pilgaard Kasper Ascanius , Schou Anders Jørgen , Hangaard Stine , Mouritsen Annette Korsholm , Andersen Anette , Grabowski Dan
Published: August 2022

Diabetes care during institutional hours is a major challenge affecting the whole family. The aim of this study was to highlight challenges and potentials regarding municipal support in relation to diabetes care of children in school, kindergarten, and daycare. The dataset consists of 80 semi-structured online interviews with 121 municipal employees from 74 (of 98) municipalities in Denmark. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis produced four main themes: (1) Institutional staff initially feel insecure about diabetes care responsibilities, (2) There is a high degree of parental involvement and responsibilities during institutional hours, (3) The roles of health employees vary, and (4) Fluctuating allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) creates challenges. The findings of this nationwide qualitative study show that, even though Denmark guarantees, by law, the child’s right to support in diabetes self-care in school and childcare institutions, diabetes management in Denmark still needs to be improved, with a view to ensuring equal support for all children with diabetes.
Compositional Data Analysis of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Results from Hospital Airborne Microbiome Samples
Authors: Perrone Maria Rita , Romano Salvatore , De Maria Giuseppe , Tundo Paolo , Bruno Anna Rita , Tagliaferro Luigi , Maffia Michele , Fragola Mattia
Published: August 2022

The compositional analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing datasets is applied to characterize the bacterial structure of airborne samples collected in different locations of a hospital infection disease department hosting COVID-19 patients, as well as to investigate the relationships among bacterial taxa at the genus and species level. The exploration of the centered log-ratio transformed data by the principal component analysis via the singular value decomposition has shown that the collected samples segregated with an observable separation depending on the monitoring location. More specifically, two main sample clusters were identified with regards to bacterial genera (species), consisting of samples mostly collected in rooms with and without COVID-19 patients, respectively. Human pathogenic genera (species) associated with nosocomial infections were mostly found in samples from areas hosting patients, while non-pathogenic genera (species) mainly isolated from soil were detected in the other samples. Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus pettenkoferi, Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum, and jeikeium were the main pathogenic species detected in COVID-19 patients’ rooms. Samples from these locations were on average characterized by smaller richness/evenness and diversity than the other ones, both at the genus and species level. Finally, the ρ metrics revealed that pairwise positive associations occurred either between pathogenic or non-pathogenic taxa.
Swap Up Your Meal: A Mass Media Nutrition Education Campaign for Oklahoma Teens
Authors: Wagner Dana E. , Seneres Gabrielle , Jones Elisabeth , Brodersen Kelli A. , Whitsitt-Paulson Sjonna
Published: August 2022

To address a statewide need for obesity prevention, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust launched Swap Up in 2021, a mass media nutrition education effort for teens, ages 13–18. Swap Up utilizes the SAVI messaging approach, an audience-centric message development framework that recognizes barriers to healthy living and offers realistic solutions. Five months into the campaign, an online survey was conducted (n = 200) to assess short-term program goals related to campaign delivery, engagement, and relevance. A secondary, long-term goal related to documenting and understanding self-reported changes in past month nutrition-related behaviors was also explored. A majority of participants (72%) reported aided awareness of the campaign brand logo/advertisements, and awareness (83%) of at least one main message. Nearly half (44%) of the participants reported at least one engagement with digital media. Main message recognition, perceived relevance, and self-reported nutritional behaviors were consistently highest among those reporting both campaign awareness and digital engagement. Ultimately, Swap Up reached and delivered nutrition education messages to Oklahoma teens within the first year of launch, as intended, and was associated with self-reported changes in recent behavior. This study provides evidence that SAVI offers a promising approach for nutrition education, and underscores why digital and social media engagement strategies are critical for mass media teen behavior change campaigns. Campaign implementation and evaluation are ongoing.
Occupational Dust Exposure and Respiratory Protection of Migrant Interior Construction Workers in Two Chinese Cities
Authors: Chen Jinfu , Cheng Bowen , Xie Wei , Su Min
Published: August 2022

Migrant interior construction workers are increasing in China. Construction workers are at an increased risk of work-related illness (WRI) due to prolonged exposure to and inhalation of dust. Dust concentrations in the air can be reduced significantly with effective respiratory protection measures. We assessed the dust exposure and factors associated with respiratory protection of migrant interior construction workers. The total dust concentration in the workplace ranged from 0.07 to 335.27 mg/m3, with a total dust exceedance rate of 50.00%. The respiratory dust loading ranged from 0.03 to 220.27 mg/m3, with a respiratory dust exceedance rate of 71.42 %. The highest total dust concentration occurred when masons were polishing cement walls. We performed a questionnaire survey of 296 persons in two cities in China, in which 87.84% had no respiratory protection or only one protection measure. Gender, workplace, respiratory disease, and protective attitude all had an effect on the level of respiratory protection. The dust exposure in most jobs exceeds hygiene standards. The respiratory protection of migrant interior construction workers in China is inadequate.