bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizing Spatial Patterns of Amazon Rainforest Wildfires and Driving Factors by Using Remote Sensing and GIS Geospatial Technologies
Authors: Ma Cong , Pu Ruiliang , Downs Joni , Jin He
Published: June 2022

Known as the “lung of the planet”, the Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the Earth’s oxygen. Once a carbon pool for mitigating climate change, the Brazilian Amazônia Biome recently has become a significant carbon emitter due to increasingly frequent wildfires. Therefore, it is of crucial importance for authorities to understand wildfire dynamics to manage them safely and effectively. This study incorporated remote sensing and spatial statistics to study both the spatial distribution of wildfires during 2019 and their relationships to 15 environmental and anthropogenic factors. First, broad-scale spatial patterns of wildfire occurrence were explored using kernel density estimation, Moran’s I, Getis-Ord Gi*, and optimized hot spot analysis (OHSA). Second, the relationships between wildfire occurrence and the environmental and anthropogenic factors were explored using several regression models, including Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), global (quasi) Poisson, Geographically-weighted Gaussian Regression (GWGR), and Geographically-weighted Poisson Regression (GWPR). The spatial analysis results indicate that wildfires exhibited pronounced regional differences in spatial patterns in the vast and heterogeneous territory of the Amazônia Biome. The GWPR model outperformed the other regression models and explained the distribution and frequency of wildfires in the Amazônia Biome as a function of topographic, meteorologic, and environmental variables. Environmental factors like elevation, slope, relative humidity, and temperature were significant factors in explaining fire frequency in localized hotspots, while factors related to deforestation (forest loss, forest fragmentation measures, agriculture) explained wildfire activity over much of the region. Therefore, this study could improve a comprehensive study on, and understanding of, wildfire patterns and spatial variation in the target areas to support agencies as they prepare and plan for wildfire and land management activities in the Amazônia Biome.
Cognitive Decline in Older People with Multiple Sclerosis—A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Chiang Hsueh-Sheng , Khera Alka , Stopschinski Barbara E. , Stuve Olaf , Hart John , Kelley Brendan , Nguyen Trung
Published: June 2022

Several important questions regarding cognitive aging and dementia in older people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are the focus of this narrative review: Do older PwMS have worse cognitive decline compared to older people without MS? Can older PwMS develop dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that may be accelerated due to MS? Are there any potential biomarkers that can help to determine the etiology of cognitive decline in older PwMS? What are the neural and cellular bases of cognitive aging and neurodegeneration in MS? Current evidence suggests that cognitive impairment in MS is distinguishable from that due to other neurodegenerative diseases, although older PwMS may present with accelerated cognitive decline. While dementia is prevalent in PwMS, there is currently no consensus on defining it. Cerebrospinal fluid and imaging biomarkers have the potential to identify disease processes linked to MS and other comorbidities—such as AD and vascular disease—in older PwMS, although more research is required. In conclusion, one should be aware that multiple underlying pathologies can coexist in older PwMS and cause cognitive decline. Future basic and clinical research will need to consider these complex factors to better understand the underlying pathophysiology, and to improve diagnostic accuracy.
The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Patients Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ali Umar Abdul , Iftikhar Nadia , Amat-ur-Rasool Hafsa , Ahmed Mehboob , Hafeez Javeria , Carter Wayne G.
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on global health. Post-infection, patients may experience mental health difficulties and therefore require suitable psychological treatment and support. The objective of this study was to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on patients who were recovering from the physical effects of the disease, and to examine socio-demographic correlates within one month of treatment at a tertiary healthcare facility in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was employed that utilized the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5. A questionnaire was administered to 250 patients, with data collected over three months. Mild to extremely severe scores of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by approximately 43%, 52% and 42% of participants, respectively, and 8% developed PTSD. The incidence of depression, anxiety, stress or PTSD was not significantly associated with gender, age or previous interaction with COVID-19 patients. Depression was significantly associated with levels of education, severity of COVID-19 disease and a patient’s current condition. Anxiety was associated with healthcare worker status. The severity of disease and a patient’s current condition were also linked to the levels of anxiety, stress and the presence of PTSD. Collectively, these results indicate that a high percentage of patients recovering from COVID-19 experience psychological distress.
How Little Do We Know about HIV and STIs Prevention? Results from a Web-Based Survey among the General Population
Authors: De Vito Andrea , Colpani Agnese , Zauli Beatrice , Meloni Maria Chiara , Fois Marco , Fiore Vito , Pintus Giovanni Antonio , Nardi Vincenzo Gesualdo , Babudieri Sergio , Madeddu Giordano
Published: June 2022

Background: Prevention campaigns have led to a significant decrease in new HIV diagnoses in Western Europe, while other sexual transmitted infections (STIs) have shown an opposite trend. Several educational programs are promoted among young students, whereas informational campaigns addressing the general population are scarce. We aimed to investigate the level of awareness regarding STIs among the general population. Methods: We proposed a questionnaire regarding STIs and HIV to the general population in Italy. We assigned 1 point to correct, 0.5 point to partially correct, and 0 point to wrong answers. We collected data about age, sex, region of origin, level of education and whether they were health workers. Results: Overall, 2183 people answered the questionnaire, of which 555 aged over 50 years old. Being male, older than 50 years old, retired or unemployed, not educated, and no regular use of condoms were associated with lower scores. Only 16% of participants knew the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) campaign. Overall, 2131 (97.6%) people think more educational campaigns should be offered. Of interest, 80% said the questionnaire led them to learn more about HIV and STIs. Conclusion: Our study reveals several gaps in general population awareness about HIV and STIs, especially among people aged over 50 years old. Most participants stated that the questionnaire was a learning opportunity. These data suggest that improvement of knowledge could start from easy-to-dispose medium, such as surveys and questionnaires delivered through social media. Furthermore, particular attention should be paid to population segmentation and campaign tailoring to enhance interventions effectiveness. Our data reinforce the need for more informational and educational campaigns tailored to the specific segments of the population.
Ectopic Intrauterine Device Revealed by Ureteral Colic in a 37-Week Pregnant Woman: Case Report
Authors: Matei Alexandra , Dimitriu Mihai Cornel Traian , Pacu Irina , Ionescu Crîngu
Published: June 2022

Copper T intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a popular long-acting reversible contraceptive method. The most common reasons for contraceptive failure are expulsion and extrauterine migration. We report a case of a 28-year-old female, G13P3, 37 weeks pregnant, who presented to the hospital for left abdominal flank pain. The patient was admitted for treatment of left ureteral colic. The woman went into labour, and Caesarean Section was performed due to foetal distress. During the surgery, an inspection of the peritoneal cavity revealed a copper IUD embedded in the granulous tissue located in the left lateral abdominal region, which was extracted. No uterine scar tissue could be identified macroscopically. The migration of an IUD in the abdominal cavity is a rare finding, and coexistence with third-trimester pregnancy is an infrequent but serious event due to potential visceral complications. Higher gravidity can be associated with an increased risk of IUD migration in women with a non-scarred uterus.
Treatment of Knee Osteochondral Fractures
Authors: Cordunianu Mihai Alexandru , Antoniac Iulian , Niculescu Marius , Paltanea Gheorghe , Raiciu Anca Daniela , Dura Horatiu , Forna Norin , Carstoc Ioana Dana , Cristea Mihai Bogdan
Published: June 2022

Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) that are frequently encountered in skeletally immature and adult patients are more common than once thought, and their incidence rate is rising. These lesions can appear in many synovial joints of the body, such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, and ankle, occurring most often in the knee. The term osteochondral lesion includes a vast spectrum of pathologies such as osteochondritis dissecans, osteochondral defects, osteochondral fractures, and osteonecrosis of the subchondral bone. When considering this, the term osteochondral fracture is preserved only for an osteochondral defect that combines disruption of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. These fractures commonly occur after sports practice and are associated with acute lateral patellar dislocations. Many of these lesions are initially diagnosed by plain radiographs; however, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can add significant value to the diagnosis and treatment. Treatment methods may vary depending on the location and size of the fracture, fragment instability, and skeletal maturity. The paper reports a 14-year-old boy case with an osteochondral fracture due to sports trauma. The medical approach involved an arthrotomy of the knee, drainage of the hematoma, two Kirschner wires (K-wires) for temporary fixation to restructure anatomic alignment, and a titanium Herbert screw fixing the fracture permanently. The patient had a favorable postoperative outcome with no residual pain, adequate knee stability, and a normal range of motion. The mobility of the knee was fully recovered.
The Early Dynamic Change in Cardiac Enzymes and Renal Function Is Associated with Mortality in Patients with Fulminant Myocarditis on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Analysis of a Single Center’s Experience
Authors: Ho Ching-Lin , Ju Teressa Reanne , Lee Chi Chan , Lin Hsin-Ti , Wang Alexander-Lee , Chen Robert Jeenchen , Lin You-Cian
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) could result in hemodynamic derangement and fatal arrhythmia. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) is used to maintain organ perfusion in FM patients complicating cardiogenic shock. The present study aims to assess the static and dynamic factors in association with mortality in FM patients on V-A ECMO (2) Methods: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled between 2013 to 2019 for analysis (3) Results: In-hospital survival rate was 78.5%. There was no statistical difference in demographics and baseline laboratory data between survivors and non-survivors. However, within 24 h after ECMO support, CK-MB increased by 96.8% among non-survivors, but decreased by 23.7% among survivors (p = 0.022). Troponin I increased by 378% among non-survivors and 1.7% among survivors (p = 0.032). Serum creatinine increased by 108% among non-survivors, but decreased by 8.5% among survivors (p = 0.005). The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested an increase in serum creatinine by 68% within 24 h after ECMO support was associated with increased mortality with an area under the curve of 0.91. (4) Conclusions: V-A ECMO is an excellent tool to support FM patients with cardiogenic shock. The early dynamic change of renal function and cardiac enzymes may be useful for outcome assessment.
The Impact of Telemedicine on Parkinson’s Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian Online Survey
Authors: Ruggiero Fabiana , Lombi Linda , Molisso Maria Takeko , Fiore Giorgio , Zirone Eleonora , Ferrucci Roberta , Pirola Elena , Locatelli Marco , Barbieri Sergio , Mameli Francesca
Published: June 2022

Traditionally, medical care and research in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been conducted through in-person visit. The recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly impacted the delivery of in-person clinical care. We conducted an online survey to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on access to telehealth care, interviewing both PD patients and neurologists. Survey responses were collected from 1 March to 31 May 2021 through an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire, on the ‘Qualtrics’ platform. In total, 197 patients and 42 neurologists completed the survey. In our sample, 37.56% of PD patients and 88.10% of neurologists reported having used alternatives to in-person visits, while 13.70% of PD patients and 40.48% of neurologists used telemedicine. Data showed that respondents were generally satisfied with the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relational dimension between patient and neurologist seems to be the factor that most positively affected the telemedicine experience, contributing greatly to a more patient-centred care. Current findings suggest the need to improve the access to telehealth services for patients with PD. The technology has the potential to improve the care of frail patients, especially when availability of face-to-face visits is limited.
Hypothetical Model of How a Clinical Remount Procedure Benefits Patients with Existing Dentures: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Cheng Chi-Hsiang , Atsuta Ikiru , Koyano Kiyoshi , Ayukawa Yasunori
Published: June 2022

The clinical remount procedure, which involves remounting the dentures on an articulator with interocclusal records, can effectively reduce occlusal discrepancies. This procedure can be applied not only to new dentures but also to those already in service; however, research in this field is still scarce. This narrative review aims to establish a hypothetical mechanism and possible indications and contraindications for this technique as a basis for further research. Current studies have revealed a high prevalence of malocclusion in delivered dentures. Performing a clinical remount on these existing dentures would enhance the oral function of the denture wearer and would enable effective and accurate correction of the accumulated errors in the jaw relationship in a stable working environment. This technique should be performed if a patient has poor masticatory function or occlusion-related complaints. However, performing a clinical remount on dentures with an excessive anterior–posterior discrepancy between the centric relation and the maximal intercuspal position or on dentures with extremely low occlusal vertical dimension, is considered less effective. The clinical remount procedure remains an essential skill both for fabricating quality dentures and maintaining those already in service.
Encouraging People with Spinal Cord Injury to Take Part in Physical Activity in the COVID-19 Epidemic through the mHealth ParaSportAPP
Authors: Marco-Ahulló Adrià , Montesinos-Magraner Lluïsa , González Luís-Millan , Crespo-Rivero Teresa , Launois-Obregón Patricia , García-Massó Xavier
Published: June 2022

Background: Although mHealth tools have great potential for health interventions, few experimental studies report on their use by people with spinal cord injuries in physical activity. Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the ParaSportAPP on different physical and psychological variables in people with paraplegia. Methods: Fourteen of these subjects made up the final sample. All the participants performed two pre-tests (control period) and a post-test with 8 months between the evaluations (COVID-19 broke out between pre-test 2 and the post-test). The ParaSportAPP was installed on their smartphones when they performed pre-test 2. The same tests were performed in the same order in all the evaluations: (i) the questionnaires PASIPD, HADS, RS-25; SCIM III and AQoL-8D, (ii) respiratory muscle strength, (iii) spirometry and (iv) cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results: The results showed no differences in any of the variables studied between the measurement times. Conclusions: Although none of the variables experienced improvements, the ParaSportAPP mobile application was able to lessen the impact of the pandemic on the variables studied.
Changes in Maximum Mandibular Mobility Due to Splint Therapy in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders
Authors: Wiechens Bernhard , Paschereit Svea , Hampe Tristan , Wassmann Torsten , Gersdorff Nikolaus , Bürgers Ralf
Published: June 2022

Splint therapy is widely used in the treatment of myofascial pain, but valid studies on the efficacy of this therapy are rare. The purpose of the present study was to investigate which qualifiable and quantifiable effects of splint therapy are detectable. For this purpose, 29 patients (21 women, mean age 44.6 ± 16 years) diagnosed with myofascial pain (RDC/TMD) were investigated in this prospective clinical trial (10/6/14An). Patients were treated with Michigan splints applied overnight for three months. Before (T1) and after three months of treatment (T2), patients were registered with an electronic ultrasound device with qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the registrations and a qualitative assessment of pain symptoms using a verbal analog scale. Significant differences were found between maximum mouth opening (MMP) (p < 0.001) and right condylar movement (CM) at MMP (p = 0.045). Qualitative assessment revealed that 24 of 29 patients experienced an improvement in pain symptoms, 17 of whom experienced complete remission. The results of the qualitative and quantitative analysis provide indications of the effectiveness of the splint therapy. In addition to quantitative measurements, the ultrasound facebow technique was also able to provide qualitative information.
Association of Hypertension and Organ-Specific Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Connaughton Morgan , Dabagh Mahsa
Published: June 2022

Hypertension and cancer are two of the leading global causes of death. Hypertension, known as chronic high blood pressure, affects approximately 45% of the American population and is a growing condition in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia and Europe. On the other hand, cancer resulted in approximately 10 million deaths in 2020 worldwide. Several studies indicate a coexistence of these two conditions, specifically that hypertension, independently, is associated with an increased risk of cancer. In the present study, we conducted a meta-analysis initially to reveal the prevalence of hypertension and cancer comorbidity and then to assess which organ-specific cancers were associated with hypertension by calculating the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Our analysis shows that hypertension plays a role in cancer initiation. Our extended analysis on how the hypertension-associated angiogenesis factors are linked to cancer demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 appear to be two key factors facilitating cancer in hypertensive patients. This work serves as an important step in the current assessment of hypertension-promoted increased risk of 19 different cancers, particularly kidney, renal cell carcinoma, breast, colorectal, endometrial, and bladder. These findings provide new insight into how to treat and prevent cancer in hypertensive patients.
Affect and Cognitive Closure in Students—A Step to Personalised Education of Clinical Assessment in Psychology with the Use of Simulated and Virtual Patients
Authors: Walkiewicz Maciej , Zalewski Bartosz , Guziak Mateusz
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Since there was no general model of competencies to determine a successful clinical assessment, we based our study on the many skills that are needed to perform one. We analysed students’ learning performance based on inner determinants, such as affect and cognitive closure, with the use of two teaching methods (i.e., simulated patient (SP) or virtual patient (VP)). Methods: The sample comprised 56 fifth-year clinical psychology students. The need for closure (NFC) and efficacy in fulfilling the need for closure (EFNC) were measured using standardised questionnaires. The authors’ VP and SP tools were used to teach and measure the effectiveness of learning psychological interview techniques and clinical reasoning. Clinical interview skills included building contact with the patient, gathering important information and making mistakes. Clinical reasoning skills were divided into eight dimensions for the assessment of mental health. Results: Affect and cognitive closure are important psychological variables in anticipating and developing interview and clinical reasoning skills for psychology students. The simulated patient was more effective for interview skills, while the virtual patient was a beneficial teaching tool for most clinical reasoning skills. Virtual patient training was a useful teaching method for students with a low EFNC, probably because it provided a stable and strong structure. Simulated patient training was effective for people with a high EFNC, presumably because it allowed them to build on their advanced structuring skills. Conclusions: Affect and cognitive closure can be used to identify students’ learning abilities to provide a more personalised education. The results of the present study may be useful for evaluating different teaching methods, monitoring their effectiveness and enhancing students’ performance.
Healthcare Utilization and Smoking among South Carolina’s Long-Term Uninsured
Authors: Torrence Caitlin , Truong Khoa , Sivaraj Laksika B. M.
Published: June 2022

Cigarette smoking and tobacco-related health conditions have continued to rise among persons of low social economic status. This study explored the association between healthcare utilization and smoking among the long-term uninsured (LTU). The sample consisted of South Carolina residents who had been without healthcare insurance for at least 24 months. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate differences in the likelihood of delaying healthcare due to cost and/or not filling a needed prescription between smokers and non-smokers. Among LTU, smoking was a significant predictor of delaying healthcare at the 10% level (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.99–1.86); the sensitivity analysis strengthened this association at the 5% level (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.06–1.93). Smoking was a significant predictor of not filling needed prescriptions (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.06–1.96). While neglected healthcare utilization was common among the LTU, this problem was more severe among smokers. The wider gap in access to healthcare services among the LTU, especially LTU who smoke, warrants further attention from the research community and policy makers.
Assistive Technologies, Robotics, Automatic Machines: Perspectives of Integration in the Health Domain
Authors: Giansanti Daniele
Published: June 2022

Assistive technologies, robotics, and automatic machines are becoming important elements of the human health domain [...]
An Exploratory Case Study of the Types of Resources Black Boys Use to Support Their Mental Health
Authors: Ribeiro Brown Brittany , Williams Ed-Dee G. , Abelson Jamie M. , Chandrakapure Arushi , Watkins Daphne C.
Published: June 2022

Black adolescent boys experience mental health challenges because of their exposure to a greater frequency and severity of psychosocial stressors. This study used a sample of Black boys at a high school in southeastern Michigan as a case study to understand the types of resources Black boys might use to support their mental health. After conducting a rigorous analysis of the study data using a rapid and an accelerated data reduction technique, four themes helped us answer the question: What kinds of mental health support resources are Black boys using? Four themes emerged from our analysis: online resources, community and trusted individuals, self-reliance, and additional needs. This case study is a springboard for further work to tailor a mental health education and support intervention, such as the YBMen Project, for Black boys and for building additional support amid the multiple crises occurring that impact their mental health and safety. Findings have implications for future research, practice, and policy to improve the mental health of Black boys in high school.
Subjective Wellbeing and Its Associated Factors among University Community during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Malaysia
Authors: Dinsuhaimi Syaheedatul Iman , Ab Razak Asrenee , Liza-Sharmini Ahmad Tajudin , Wan Mohammad Wan Mohd Zahiruddin , Yaakub Azhany , Othman Azizah , Daud Aziah , Musa Kamarul Imran , Draman Nani , Besari Alwi
Published: June 2022

Lockdown implementation during COVID-19 pandemic has caused many negative impacts in various aspect of life, including in the academic world. Routine disruption to teaching and learning environment has raised concerns to the wellbeing of university staff and students. This study aimed to examine the subjective wellbeing of the university community in Northern Malaysia during lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and the factors affecting it. An online cross-sectional survey involving 1148 university staff and students was conducted between March and April 2020. The research tools include the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) to assess subjective wellbeing and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress 21 (DASS-21) scale for psychological distress. While we found the subjective wellbeing score in our study population was stable at 7.67 (1.38), there was high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress with 27.4%, 18.4%, and 11.5%, respectively. The students reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to staff. The PWI score was seen to be inversely affected by the depression and stress score with a reduction in the PWI score by 0.022 (95% CI −0.037 to −0.007) and 0.046 (95% CI −0.062 to −0.030) with every one-unit increment for each subscale, respectively. Those who perceived to have more difficulty due to the lockdown also reported low subjective wellbeing. Thus, it is crucial to ensure policies and preventative measures are in place to provide conducive teaching and learning environment. Additionally, the detrimental psychological effects especially among students should be addressed proactively.
Human Activity Recognition Based on Embedded Sensor Data Fusion for the Internet of Healthcare Things
Authors: Issa Mohamed E. , Helmi Ahmed M. , Al-Qaness Mohammed A. A. , Dahou Abdelghani , Abd Elaziz Mohamed , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, the emerging information technologies in smart handheld devices are motivating the research community to make use of embedded sensors in such devices for healthcare purposes. In particular, inertial measurement sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in smartphones and smartwatches can provide sensory data fusion for human activities and gestures. Thus, the concepts of the Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT) paradigm can be applied to handle such sensory data and maximize the benefits of collecting and analyzing them. The application areas contain but are not restricted to the rehabilitation of elderly people, fall detection, smoking control, sportive exercises, and monitoring of daily life activities. In this work, a public dataset collected using two smartphones (in pocket and wrist positions) is considered for IoHT applications. Three-dimensional inertia signals of thirteen timestamped human activities such as Walking, Walking Upstairs, Walking Downstairs, Writing, Smoking, and others are registered. Here, an efficient human activity recognition (HAR) model is presented based on efficient handcrafted features and Random Forest as a classifier. Simulation results ensure the superiority of the applied model over others introduced in the literature for the same dataset. Moreover, different approaches to evaluating such models are considered, as well as implementation issues. The accuracy of the current model reaches 98.7% on average. The current model performance is also verified using the WISDM v1 dataset.
Gamma Radiation (60Co) Induces Mutation during In Vitro Multiplication of Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews)
Authors: Serrano-Fuentes María Karen , Gómez-Merino Fernando Carlos , Cruz-Izquierdo Serafín , Spinoso-Castillo José Luis , Bello-Bello Jericó Jabín
Published: June 2022

In vitro mutagenesis is an alternative to induce genetic variation in vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews), which is characterized by low genetic diversity. The objective of this study was to induce somaclonal variation in V. planifolia by gamma radiation and detect it using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Shoots previously established in vitro were multiplied in Murashige and Skoog culture medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−1 BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). Explants were irradiated with different doses (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Gy) of 60Co gamma rays. Survival percentage, number of shoots per explant, shoot length, number of leaves per shoot, and lethal dose (LD50) were recorded after 60 d of culture. For molecular analysis, ten shoots were used for each dose and the donor plant as a control. Eight ISSR primers were selected, and 43 fragments were obtained. The percentage of polymorphism (% P) was estimated. A dendrogram based on Jaccard’s coefficient and the neighbor joining clustering method was obtained. Results showed a hormetic effect on the explants, promoting development at low dose (20 Gy) and inhibition and death at high doses (60–100 Gy). The LD50 was observed at the 60 Gy. Primers UBC-808, UBC-836 and UBC-840 showed the highest % P, with 42.6%, 34.7% and 28.7%, respectively. Genetic distance analysis showed that treatments without irradiation and with irradiation presented somaclonal variation. The use of gamma rays during in vitro culture is an alternative to broaden genetic diversity for vanilla breeding.
A Comparative Study between Vis/NIR Spectroradiometer and NIR Spectroscopy for the Non-Destructive Quality Assay of Different Watermelon Cultivars
Authors: Ibrahim Ayman , Daood Hussein G. , Égei Márton , Takács Sándor , Helyes Lajos
Published: June 2022

In light of the great technological progress in non-destructive quality detection methods, sweetness is no longer the essential parameter in evaluating watermelon quality. There is an aspiration to determine physicochemical quality characteristics to enable us to select the best cultivars, agricultural practices, and harvest dates. In the present work, three different watermelon cultivars (Lady, Galander, and Style) were harvested at three consecutive harvest times. Two pieces were taken from each watermelon sample, one from the middle (part A) and the other from the ends (part B), to track the intensity of quality parameters inside the watermelon. Parts A and B were subjected to Vis/NIR spectroradiometer (475:1075 nm), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (950:1650 nm), and high-performance liquid chromatography to assess the physicochemical quality. Calibration and prediction models were conducted using partial least squares regressions (PLS). The results indicated that the harvesting time significantly influenced the color and chemical parameters. Quality parameters concentrations markedly degraded towards late harvest. The highest concentrations of quality parameters were sighted for the middle zone (part A), especially in the Galander cultivar. Spectroradiometer achieved the best coefficient of prediction (R2P) ≃ 0.88 and 0.81 attached with the lowest value of the standard error of prediction (SEP) ≃ 0.03 and 1.06 for chroma (C*) and yellowness index (YI). However, the findings showed the superiority of the NIRS compared to the Vis-NIR method. The highest R2P was achieved by values 0.92, 0.91, 0.90, 0.89, 0.85, and 0.85 for lycopene, total carotenoids, vitamin C, β-carotene, γ-content, and TSS, respectively. It could be concluded that the NIRS has the ability to monitor the maturity development and determine the harvest dates practically and reliably.
Incorporating aSPI and eRDI in Drought Indices Calculator (DrinC) Software for Agricultural Drought Characterisation and Monitoring
Authors: Tigkas Dimitris , Vangelis Harris , Proutsos Nikolaos , Tsakiris George
Published: June 2022

The agricultural sector is vulnerable to extreme phenomena such as droughts, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments and in regions where water infrastructure is limited. Devising preparedness plans, including means for efficient monitoring and timely identification of drought events, is essential for informed decision making on drought mitigation and water management, especially for the water-dependant agricultural sector. This paper presents the incorporation of two new drought indices, designed for agricultural drought identification, in Drought Indices Calculator (DrinC) software. These indices, namely the Agricultural Standardized Precipitation Index (aSPI) and the Effective Reconnaissance Drought Index (eRDI), require commonly available meteorological data, while they employ the concept of effective precipitation, taking into account the amount of water that contributes productively to plant development. The design principles of DrinC software leading to the proper use of the indices for agricultural drought assessment, including the selection of appropriate reference periods, calculation time steps and other related issues, are presented and discussed. The incorporation of aSPI and eRDI in DrinC enhances the applicability of the software towards timely agricultural drought characterisation and analysis, through a straightforward and comprehensible approach, particularly useful for operational purposes.
Contribution of Non-Rainfall Water Input to Surface Soil Moisture in a Tropical Dry Forest
Authors: Guerreiro Maria Simas , de Andrade Eunice Maia , de Sousa Marcos Makeison Moreira , Brasil José Bandeira , Filho Jacques Carvalho Ribeiro , de Queiroz Palácio Helba Araújo
Published: June 2022

Non-rainfall water input to surface soil moisture is essential to ecosystems, especially in dry climates, where a water deficit may persist for several months. Quantifying the impact of water gains by soil moisture at night will help to understand vegetation dynamics in dry regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the non-rainfall water contribution to soil moisture content at the soil surface and how it minimizes the water stress on plants with predominantly surface roots. The experiment was conducted in a low-latitude, semiarid environment with a dry tropical forest regenerating for 42 years. The soil moisture and soil temperature were measured at one-minute intervals from June 2019 to August 2019 using four capacitive humidity sensors and thermometers, installed at depths of 5 and 10 cm. the soil moisture increased significantly (p < 0.05) during the night at both depths from June to August, when there was no rainfall. There is a definite contribution of nightly gains to alleviate vegetation water stress during the dry months. These results show the importance of dew for water availability and for dry tropical forests species in the months of water deficit.
Startup of Demo-Scale Anaerobic Digestion Plant Treating Food Waste Leachate: Process Instability and Recovery
Authors: Shin Seung Gu , Kim Su In , Hwang Seokhwan
Published: June 2022

A demo-scale (600 m3 working volume) anaerobic digester treating food waste leachate was monitored during its startup period. The operation strategy was adjusted twice (i.e., three distinct phases) during the operation to recover the process from instability. During the first phase, the organic loading rate (OLR) > 2.7 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/m3∙day corresponded to volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation along with a decreasing pH, resulting in the drop in biogas yield to 0.43 ± 0.9 m3/kg CODin. During phase 2, fast recovery of this process was aimed at using a sequencing batch operation. One batch cycle (5 to 2 days) consisted of the combined drawing and feeding step (5 h), the reacting step (91 to 17 h), and the settling step (24 h). The duration of the reacting step was determined for each cycle such that (1) the biogas production ceased before the cycle end and (2) the residual VFA concentration was < 1 g/L. In total, 11 cycles were operated with a gradual increase in biogas yield to 0.55 m3/kg CODin with the absence of any sign of system disturbance. After phase 2, the digester was fed at the designed OLR of 4.1 ± 0.3 kg COD/m3∙day. The biogas yield was elevated to 0.58 ± 0.2 m3/kg CODin during phase 3 with the residual VFA concentration maintained at 2.2 ± 0.6 g/L. Methanogen populations, as determined by real-time PCR, did not change significantly throughout the period. These results imply that the adaptation of this process to the OLR of ca. 4 kg COD/m3∙day was not due to the increase in methanogen population but due to the elevation of its activity. Overall, this study suggests that the sequencing batch operation with adjustable cycle duration can be one successful recovery strategy for biogas plants under system instability.
Mediating Factors Explaining the Associations between Solid Fuel Use and Self-Rated Health among Chinese Adults 65 Years and Older: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Yu Qiutong , Cheng Yuqing , Li Wei , Zuo Genyong
Published: June 2022

Exposure to indoor air pollution from cooking with solid fuel has been linked with the health of elderly people, although the pathway to their association is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects between solid fuel use and self-rated health by using structural equation modeling (SEM) with the baseline data from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 7831 elderly people aged >65 years from the CLHLS. SEM was used to analyze the pathways underlying solid fuel use and self-rated health. We estimated indirect effects of sleep quality (β = −0.027, SE = 0.006), cognitive abilities (β = −0.006, SE = 0.002), depressive symptoms (β = −0.066, SE = 0.007), systolic blood pressure (β = 0.000, SE = 0.000), and BMI (β = −0.000, SE = 0.000) on the association between solid fuel and the self-rated health using path analysis. Depressive symptoms emerged as the strongest mediator in the relationship between solid fuel use and self-rated health in the elderly. Interventions targeting sleep quality, cognitive abilities, depressive symptoms, systolic blood pressure, and BMI could greatly reduce the negative effects of solid fuel use on the health of the elderly population.
Infectious Diseases Associated with Desert Dust Outbreaks: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vergadi Eleni , Rouva Glykeria , Angeli Maria , Galanakis Emmanouil
Published: June 2022

Background: Desert dust outbreaks and dust storms are the major source of particulate matter globally and pose a major threat to human health. We investigated the microorganisms transported with desert dust particles and evaluated their potential impact on human health. Methods: A systematic review of all reports on the association between non-anthropogenic desert dust pollution, dust microorganisms and human health is conducted. Results: In total, 51 articles were included in this review. The affected regions studied were Asia (32/51, 62.7%) followed by Europe (9/51, 17.6%), America (6/51, 11.8%), Africa (4/51, 7.8%) and Australia (1/51, 2.0%). The Sahara Desert was the most frequent source of dust, followed by Asian and American deserts. In 39/51 studies the dust-related microbiome was analyzed, while, in 12/51 reports, the association of desert dust with infectious disease outbreaks was examined. Pathogenic and opportunistic agents were isolated from dust in 24/39 (61.5%) and 29/39 (74.4%) of the studies, respectively. A significant association of dust events with infectious disease outbreaks was found in 10/12 (83.3%) reports. The infectious diseases that were mostly investigated with dust outbreaks were pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, COVID-19, pulmonary tuberculosis and coccidioidomycosis. Conclusions: Desert dust outbreaks are vehicles of a significant number of pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms and limited data indicate an association between dust events and infectious disease outbreaks. Further research is required to strengthen the correlation between dust events and infectious diseases and subsequently guide preventive public health measures.
Resilience Interventions Conducted in Western and Eastern Countries—A Systematic Review
Authors: Blessin Manpreet , Lehmann Sophie , Kunzler Angela M. , van Dick Rolf , Lieb Klaus
Published: June 2022

Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of psychological interventions to foster resilience. However, little is known about whether the cultural context in which resilience interventions are implemented affects their efficacy on mental health. Studies performed in Western (k = 175) and Eastern countries (k = 46) regarding different aspects of interventions (setting, mode of delivery, target population, underlying theoretical approach, duration, control group design) and their efficacy on resilience, anxiety, depressive symptoms, quality of life, perceived stress, and social support were compared. Interventions in Eastern countries were longer in duration and tended to be more often conducted in group settings with a focus on family caregivers. We found evidence for larger effect sizes of resilience interventions in Eastern countries for improving resilience (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28 to 0.67; p < 0.0001; 43 studies; 6248 participants; I2 = 97.4%). Intercultural differences should receive more attention in resilience intervention research. Future studies could directly compare interventions in different cultural contexts to explain possible underlying causes for differences in their efficacy on mental health outcomes.
Cultivating a Healthy Living Environment for Adolescents in the Post-COVID Era in Hong Kong: Exploring Youth Health Needs
Authors: Ho Cheuk-yeung , Lee Albert
Published: June 2022

Studies have shown that adolescents now have a higher exposure to health risks than those in the past, and Hong Kong adolescents are no exception, particularly with the social crisis in 2019 and then the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Data from health care services for children and adolescents only represent the tip of the clinical iceberg, and health profiles, including living habits, lifestyles, data on health status, and health service utilization, are not always readily available for effective planning to cultivate a healthy living environment. In this paper, an exploratory study on secondary school students was conducted in one district of Hong Kong that has the potential and resources to become a healthy city. Students were found to have a high prevalence of poor sleep quality and quantity; excess screen time; physical inactivity; an insufficient intake of healthy food; emotional disturbance, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs); and irregular attendance to student health services. A multivariate analysis showed that excessive time on social media websites, short sleeping hours, symptoms of PTSD, and a lack of regular exercise were independently associated with emotional distress. Youth service providers should re-orientate student health services, moving away from routine services to be more outreaching in order to cultivate a supportive living and learning environment, promoting better health for adolescents.
Quantitative Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Benggang Landforms Based on a Geographical Detector
Authors: Liao Kaitao , Song Yuejun , Xie Songhua , Luo Yichen , Liu Quan , Lin Hui
Published: June 2022

As a unique phenomenon of soil erosion in the granite-red-soil hilly area of southern China, Benggang has seriously affected agricultural development and regional sustainable development. However, few studies have focused on the driving factors and their interactions with Benggang erosion at the regional scale. The primary driving forces of Benggang erosion were identified by the factor detector of the geographical detector, and the interaction between factors was determined by the interaction detector of the geographical detector. The 10 conditioning driving factors included terrain, hydrology, vegetation, soil, geomorphology, and land use. Benggang erosion in Ganzhou City principally occurred in the granite-red-soil forest hill, characterized by an elevation below 400 m above sea level, slope below 25° of concavity, a distance to the gully less than 500 m, a vegetation coverage of 40–60%, and an average rainfall erosivity of 6400–7000 MJ·mm/(hm2·h·a). The key driving factors for Benggang erosion were rainfall erosivity, elevation, and land use. Moreover, the interaction of any two factors was stronger than that of a single factor, and the nonlinear enhancement factors had a stronger synergistic effect on erosion. Therefore, the comprehensive influence of many factors must be considered when predicting and preventing Benggang erosion.
A Comprehensive Spatio-Temporal Model for Subway Passenger Flow Prediction
Authors: Zhang Zhihao , Han Yong , Peng Tongxin , Li Zhenxin , Chen Ge
Published: June 2022

Accurate subway passenger flow prediction is crucial to operation management and line scheduling. It can also promote the construction of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Due to the complex spatial features and time-varying traffic patterns of subway networks, the prediction task is still challenging. Thus, a hybrid neural network model, GCTN (graph convolutional and comprehensive temporal neural network), is proposed. The model combines the Transformer network and long short-term memory (LSTM) network to capture the global and local temporal dependency. Besides, it uses a graph convolutional network (GCN) to capture the spatial features of the subway network. For the sake of the stability and accuracy for long-term passenger flow prediction, we enhance the influence of the station itself and the global station and combine the convolutional neural networks (CNN) and Transformer. The model is verified by the passenger flow data of the Shanghai Subway. Compared with some typical data-driven methods, the results show that the proposed model improves the prediction accuracy in different time intervals and exhibits superiority in prediction stability and robustness. Besides, the model has a better performance in the peak value and the period when passenger flow changes quickly.