bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and hoarding behavior: A moderated multi-mediation model
Authors: Gong Yanping , Tan Yuxuan , Huang Rong
Published: August 2022

Hoarding behavior may not only interfere with hoarders’ daily lives but may also endanger the community. However, few studies have investigated the role of personality characteristics in hoarding behavior. We hypothesized that dispositional mindfulness would be negatively associated with hoarding behavior, and tested mechanisms and gender differences in this association. An online survey was conducted in a sample of 533 Chinese adults (262 women, Mage = 26.82; SD = 6.30). Regression-based analyses showed that mindfulness was associated with less hoarding behavior through higher self-esteem and lower emotion dysregulation. Moreover, gender moderated the mediating effect of emotion dysregulation in the association between mindfulness and hoarding behavior. Specifically, the indirect association was only significant for women. These findings provide a deeper understanding of how, why, and for whom dispositional mindfulness is negatively associated with hoarding behavior, they provide support for self-completion theory and the cognitive-behavioral model of hoarding, and they have heuristic value for future research.
Pain acceptance and illness intrusiveness in low-back pain: A longitudinal study
Authors: Simoncsics Eszter , Konkolý Thege Barna , Stauder Adrienne
Published: August 2022

Background

In chronic pain syndromes, acceptance of pain may be a better approach than pain control. So far, little data have been available on how pain and its acceptance affect illness intrusiveness among patients with low-back pain (LBP).

Objective

The present longitudinal study evaluates the impact of pain acceptance on illness intrusiveness in patients with LBP.

Methods

Study participants were asked to complete the following questionnaires during their visit (T1) at one of four diverse rheumatologic outpatient clinics, and then 2–3 months later (T2) via phone or online: Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ), Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (IIRS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Patient Health Questionnaire Depression subscale (PHQ9), and socioeconomic data.

Results

One hundred and twenty-seven individuals completed the questionnaires at baseline (31 having acute, 15 subacute and 81 chronic low back pain) and 97 at follow-up. Illness intrusiveness was negatively correlated with chronic pain acceptance both at T1 (r = −0.39) and T2 (r = –0.44). Illness intrusiveness scores have not changed significantly from T1 (M = 28.59 SD = 13.08) to T2 (M = 28.24, SD = 15.76). In a multiple regression model—including pain intensity, functional status, pain acceptance, depression severity, age, sex and educational level—the independent predictors of follow-up illness intrusiveness scores were lower pain acceptance and higher depression scores.

Conclusions

In our study, patients with acute, subacute and chronic low back pain reported similar levels of illness intrusiveness. In addition, illness intrusiveness scores have not changed significantly during the 2-month follow-up period and pain acceptance proved to be a significant independent predictor of illness intrusiveness among patients with chronic low-back pain.
Recurrent suicide attempts affect normalization of HPA axis dysregulation after recovery from major depression
Authors: Hennings Johannes M. , Ising Marcus , Uhr Manfred , Holsboer Florian , Lucae Susanne
Published: August 2022

More than 700,000 people worldwide die by suicide every year, and the number of suicide attempts is estimated as 20 times higher, most of them being associated with psychiatric disorders, especially major depression. Knowledge about effective methods for preventing suicide attempts in individuals at high risk for suicide is still scarce. Dysregulation of the neuroendocrine stress response system, i.e., the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, is one of the most consistent neurobiological findings in both major depression and suicidality. While the HPA axis is mostly overactive in depression, individuals with a history of suicide attempts exhibit an attenuated hormonal response to stress. It is unknown, however, whether the HPA axis is constantly attenuated in repeated suicide attempters or whether it regains normal responsivity after recovery from depression. Using the combined dexamethasone suppression/corticotropin-releasing hormone (dex/CRH) test, we assessed HPA axis regulation in acute depression (N = 237) and after recovery with respect to previous suicide attempts. Patients without previous suicide attempts show normalization of the stress hormone response to the second dex/CRH (basal ACTH response and cortisol response) after recovery from acute depression, while patients with multiple previous SA show an increased ACTH response. The change in HPA axis responsivity in patients with only one previous SA lies between the response patterns of the other groups with no change in HPA axis reactivity. Our findings suggest that patients with a history of suicide attempts belong to a subgroup of individuals that exhibit a distinct pattern of stress hormone response during acute depression and after recovery. Future studies may extend our approach by investigating additional psychological stress tasks to gain a broader understanding of the stress pathology of recurrent suicide attempters.
A meta-analysis of co-occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt: Implications for clinical intervention and future diagnosis
Authors: Ye Zhiyu , Xiong Fang , Li Wentian
Published: August 2022

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempt (SA) are risk behaviors that lead to physical injury and even death in individuals, and are a very powerful risk factor when both occur together, with individuals presenting with more severe psychological and behavioral problems. Due to the different demographic characteristics of different study subjects, an overall understanding of the incidence and occurrence of this co-occurrence is lacking to clarify the focus of clinical interventions and future research directions.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted for relevant studies in English and Chinese that reported data on co-occurring non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts as of May 2022. The incidence of co-occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt (NSSI + SA) was calculated using Stata version 16.0 software based on a random-effects model, and the differences in incidence in different populations were compared by subgroups of age group, comorbidity, and time of occurrence. The study was written in strict accordance with PRISMA norms and registration was completed on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42022329095).

Results

A total of 37 studies (139,573 individuals) were included for meta-analysis, and the combined incidence of non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempt co-occurrence was 9.6%. Among different groups, the prevalence of NSSI + SA was 10, 11, 6, and 26% in adolescents and young adults, adults, the general population, and people with mental illness, respectively, and the co-occurrence of NSSI + SA within 12 months was 17%.

Conclusion

There is a significant group with a history of both non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts and presenting with more severe symptoms clinically. Targeted prevention and intervention are urgently needed, but the direction of intervention needs further research on the occurrence trajectory of this co-occurrence.

Systematic Review Registration

http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42022329095, identifier: CRD42022329095.
The impact of national centralized drug procurement on health expenditures for lung cancer inpatients: A difference-in-differences analysis in a large tertiary hospital in China
Authors: Zhang Yuan-jin , Ren Yan , Zheng Quan , Tan Jing , Yao Ming-hong , Huang Yun-xiang , Zhang Xia , Zou Kang , Zhao Shao-yang , Sun Xin
Published: August 2022

The availability and affordability of medicines remain major health challenges around the world. In March 2019, the Chinese government introduced a pilot National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) program in order to reduce drug prices and improve the affordability of effective and safe medicines. This study aimed to assess the impact of NCDP policy on health expenditures of cancer patients. Using inpatient discharge records from a large hospital in the pilot city, we performed a difference-in-differences design to estimate the change in health expenditures before and after the policy. We found that the implementation of NCDP was associated with a significant decrease in total expenditures (14.13%) and drug expenditures (20.75%) per inpatient admission. There were also significant reductions in non-drug-related expenditures, including a 7.65% decrease in health service expenditures, a 38.28% decrease in diagnosis expenditures, and a 25.31% decrease in consumable material expenditures per inpatient admission. However, the NCDP implementation was associated with a 107.97% increase in the traditional Chinese medicine expenditures. Overall, the study provided evidence that the NCDP policy has achieved its goals of high-quality and affordable healthcare. The drug expenditures of lung cancer patients revealed a continuous decline, and the policy may have spillover effects on other healthcare expenditures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of NCDP on policy-related expenditures and health outcomes.
Decrements in lung function and respiratory abnormalities associated with exposure to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione in coffee production workers
Authors: Virji Mohammed Abbas , Fechter-Leggett Ethan D. , Groth Caroline P. , Liang Xiaoming , Blackley Brie H. , Stanton Marcia L. , LeBouf Ryan F. , Harvey R. Reid , Bailey Rachel L. , Cummings Kristin J. , Cox-Ganser Jean M.
Published: August 2022

Coffee production workers are exposed to complex mixtures of gases, dust, and vapors, including the known respiratory toxins, diacetyl, and 2,3-pentanedione, which occur naturally during coffee roasting and are also present in flavorings used to flavor coffee. This study evaluated the associations of these two α-diketones with lung function measures in coffee production workers. Workers completed questionnaires, and their lung function was assessed by spirometry and impulse oscillometry (IOS). Personal exposures to diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and their sum (SumDA+PD) were assigned to participants, and metrics of the highest 95th percentile (P95), cumulative, and average exposure were calculated. Linear and logistic regression models for continuous and binary/polytomous outcomes, respectively, were used to explore exposure-response relationships adjusting for age, body mass index, tenure, height, sex, smoking status, race, or allergic status. Decrements in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ppFEV1) and forced vital capacity (ppFVC) were associated with the highest-P95 exposures to 2,3-pentanedione and SumDA+PD. Among flavoring workers, larger decrements in ppFEV1 and ppFVC were associated with highest-P95 exposures to diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and SumDA+PD. Abnormal FEV1, FVC, and restrictive spirometric patterns were associated with the highest-P95, cumulative, and average exposures for all α-diketone metrics; some of these associations were also present among flavoring and non-flavoring workers. The combined category of small and peripheral airways plus small and large airways abnormalities on IOS had elevated odds for highest-P95 exposure to α-diketones. These results may be affected by the small sample size, few cases of abnormal spirometry, and the healthy worker effect. Associations between lung function abnormalities and exposure to α-diketones suggest it may be prudent to consider exposure controls in both flavoring and non-flavoring settings.
Service innovation in small neighborhood family firms: An advanced approach to enhance employee's performance through social and psychological rewards
Authors: Sadiq Muhammad Waqas , Hameed Javaria , Huo Chunhui , Abdullah Muhammad Ibrahim
Published: August 2022

This research study focuses on the employee's job performance of private small firms during the post COVID-19 situation. After the COVID these small family firms try to regain their business, but their efforts are not that much successful. This situation creates a financial crisis in these firms, and they are unable to provide sufficient monetary rewards to their employees. This situation creates unrest among the employees of these small firms. To manage this issue, social rewards and psychological rewards played their role. The study uses a causal research design with a correlational study design in a non-contrived environment. Minimal researcher interference has been assured. AMOS 24 has dealt with the mediation in study design with bootstrap methodology. The study was conducted on 250 employees of different private small family firms across Punjab province using a proportionate stratified sampling technique. A study's finding suggests that top management enhances employee performance in their organizations by introducing the organization's psychological rewards. In contrast, introducing social rewards does not significantly impact employee performance while considering satisfaction and motivation as a mediating variable.
Feasibility of a national open data policy in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chigwada Josiline
Published: August 2022

A study on the feasibility of a national open data policy in Zimbabwe was done to document open government data globally and in Zimbabwe. The study showcases the benefits of open government data and the opportunities and challenges toward the development of a national open data policy. Web content analysis and document analysis were used to collect data concerning the readiness of the country in implementing open data activities. The open data barometer was used to gather qualitative data which is essential in assessing the preparedness of the country in opening up government and research data. Content analysis was used to analyse the data which was presented thematically based on the objectives of the study. The findings indicated that the Government of Zimbabwe has endorsed a couple of open data frameworks though some projects are done by non-governmental organizations. The major challenge is implementation of these conventions and commitment to make the data accessible. The results indicated that open data must be made available and accessible within Zimbabwe as a matter of national policy. The author recommends the need for advocacy and continuous awareness creation among the stakeholders so that a national open data policy can be crafted and enacted. The enactment of a national open data policy would guide the use of and access to government data and research data which is valuable in research.
Automatic selection of coordinate systems for learning relative and absolute spatial concepts
Authors: Sagara Rikunari , Taguchi Ryo , Taniguchi Akira , Taniguchi Tadahiro
Published: August 2022

Robots employed in homes and offices need to adaptively learn spatial concepts using user utterances. To learn and represent spatial concepts, the robot must estimate the coordinate system used by humans. For example, to represent spatial concept “left,” which is one of the relative spatial concepts (defined as a spatial concept depending on the object’s location), humans use a coordinate system based on the direction of a reference object. As another example, to represent spatial concept “living room,” which is one of the absolute spatial concepts (defined as a spatial concept that does not depend on the object’s location), humans use a coordinate system where a point on a map constitutes the origin. Because humans use these concepts in daily life, it is important for the robot to understand the spatial concepts in different coordinate systems. However, it is difficult for robots to learn these spatial concepts because humans do not clarify the coordinate system. Therefore, we propose a method (RASCAM) that enables a robot to simultaneously estimate the coordinate system and spatial concept. The proposed method is based on ReSCAM+O, which is a learning method for relative spatial concepts based on a probabilistic model. The proposed method introduces a latent variable that represents a coordinate system for simultaneous learning. This method can simultaneously estimate three types of unspecified information: coordinate systems, reference objects, and the relationship between concepts and words. No other method can estimate all these three types. Experiments using three different coordinate systems demonstrate that the proposed method can learn both relative and absolute spatial concepts while accurately selecting the coordinate system. The proposed approach can be beneficial for service robots to flexibly understand a new environment through the interactions with humans.
Factors Associated With Abnormal Initial 24-Hour Urine Studies in Pediatric Nephrolithiasis: Can We Better Select Patients for Evaluation?
Authors: Moyer Andrea , Ellison Jonathan S. , Medairos Robert , Sheridan Katherine R. , Paloian Neil J.
Published: August 2022

Background

Children, especially adolescents, constitute the most rapid growing demographic of nephrolithiasis. Due to the risks of recurrent stone disease, a 24-h urine analysis is recommended for the evaluation of children at risk of recurrent nephrolithiasis or those who are otherwise interested in further evaluation. However, data regarding patients most likely to have abnormal urine studies are sparse. We aim to identify predictors of abnormal 24-h urine studies in children presenting for evaluation of nephrolithiasis.

Methods

A retrospective review of children ≤17 years of age with a diagnosis of nephrolithiasis at both primary children’s hospitals within our state from 2012 to 2017 was performed. Children with an adequate initial 24-h urine study (creatinine ≥9 mg/kg/24 h) not on a thiazide or potassium citrate during the study were included. Factors associated with any abnormality [calcium ≥4 mg/kg; oxalate ≥45 mg/1.73 m2; citrate ≤310 mg/1.73 m2 (girls) or ≤365 mg/1.73 m2 (boys)] were evaluated as well as magnesium, uric acid, volume, sodium, and phosphorus.

Results

A total of 111 children were included, 69 of whom (62%) had at least one abnormal result. Of factors hypothesized to be associated with an abnormal 24-h urine study, only sex was significant (p = 0.001). Boys had a greater proportion of hypercalciuria (55%) and hypocitraturia (73%) and a slightly lower proportion of hyperoxaluria (48%) than those in girls.

Conclusion

Male sex was the only factor associated with an abnormal 24-h urine study, largely driven by increased rates of hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia in boys.
Manipulating resistance to mungbean yellow mosaic virus in greengram (Vigna radiata L): Through CRISPR/Cas9 mediated editing of the viral genome
Authors: Talakayala Ashwini , Mekala Gopala Krishna , Reddy Malireddy K. , Ankanagari Srinivas , Garladinne Mallikarjuna
Published: August 2022

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated protein (CRISPR/Cas9) is an adaptive immune system of bacteria to counter the impending viral pathogen attack. With persistent improvements, CRISPR has become a versatile tool for developing molecular immunity against viruses in plants. In the current report, we utilized the Cas9 endonuclease and dual 20 bp-gRNAs targeting two different locations in single-stranded DNA-A of AC1 (rep protein) and AV1 (coat protein) of mungbean yellow mosaic virus for achieving resistance in greengram. The cotyledonary nodal explants were infected with Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring pMDC100-Cas9 with AC1 and AV1 gRNA cassettes and generated transgenic plants. The integration of Cas9 and gRNA cassettes in the transformed plants of greengram were confirmed by PCR and dot blot assays. Agroinfiltrated T2 transgenic lines exhibited minimal mosaic symptoms. A drastic reduction in the accumulation of AC1 and AV1 was observed in T2 transformed lines. The T7EI assay indicated that AC1 fragments were edited at a frequency of 46%, 32%, 20%, and AV1 at 38.15%, 40%, and 21.36% in MYMV infected greengram lines T2-6-2-3, T2-6-4-4, and T2-6-4-7, respectively. The manipulation of resistance to MYMV through the editing of the pathogen genome using the CRISPR/Cas9 tool can be a powerful approach to combat viruses and develop resistance in greengram.
Clinical Application of a Bird-Beak-Type Z-Shaped Asymmetrical Flap in the Reconstruction of the Inner Canthus
Authors: Huang Ze-Chun , Yan Dan , Huang Li-Fang , Yang Hao-Yan , He Bin , Zhang An-Li , Li Shuai-Hua
Published: August 2022

Objective

To introduce a new surgical method for the repair of a large inner canthus combined with tissue loss at the inner canthal angle of the eye by using a bird-beak-type z-shaped asymmetrical flap and to summarize its clinical effect.

Method

A total of 56 patients with a large inner canthus were randomly selected, and a bird-beak-type z-shaped asymmetrical flap was used on the nasal side of the lower eyelid to repair and reconstruct the inner canthal folds. The inner canthal point was located according to physiological aesthetics. The short and long arms of the z-shaped asymmetrical flap were separated, replaced, fixed, and shaped to reconstruct the skin folds of the inner canthus and restore its aesthetic morphology.

Results

All incisions after surgery achieved primary healing, and all 56 cases were followed up for 6–20 months (average 8.6 months). The caruncula lacrimalis was moderately exposed, the inner canthal angles possessed a natural appearance, and the results of the surgery were satisfactory. Five patients developed scar hyperplasia within one month after surgery, and arnica gel was applied topically for 3–6 months until the scar faded or disappeared, but no obvious scars were seen in the surgical area of the remaining patients. In two patients, the internal canthi were asymmetrical, but this improved after adjustment.

Conclusion

Repair of a large inner canthus and tissue loss at the inner canthal angle of the eye using a bird-beak-type z-shaped asymmetrical flap is a simple operation, resulting in minimal trauma. Postoperatively, the inner canthal angle possessed a natural appearance with no obvious scarring.
Case report: Unilateral transnasal endoscopic marsupialization of nasopalatine duct cyst
Authors: Kagoya Ryoji , Iwanami Tomoko , Mochizuki Makoto , Kondo Kenji , Ito Ken
Published: August 2022

Nasopalatine duct cyst (NPDC) is the most common type of non-odontogenic cysts of the jaw. It has been treated with complete surgical resection using a sublabial or palatine approach. However, complete removal of the cyst can be accompanied by postoperative complications including oronasal fistula. Recently, endoscopic marsupialization for the disease has been advocated, but there are still few reports regarding the surgery. Herein, we report a case of NPDC that was treated with unilateral transnasal endoscopic marsupialization. A 43-year-old man with no relevant previous medical history was referred to our hospital for the treatment of lesion occupying the right nasal cavity. A computerized tomography scan of the sinus revealed an egg-shaped lesion with a well-defined border centered on the lower half of the nasal cavity and hard palate. Based on the site of the lesion, it was considered to be NPDC. Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization was performed to diagnose and improve nasal obstruction. Histopathological examination revealed stratified squamous epithelium without atypia, which was consistent with NPDC. Although the patient noticed paresthesia of the right upper incisor area, symptoms improved 3 months after surgery. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article. Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization for NPDC is minimally invasive and useful; however, it is necessary to build evidence for an appropriate excision range based on the position and size of the lesion.
Clinical evaluation of toll-like receptor-5 agonist for radiation-induced oral mucositis in beagle dogs
Authors: Ko Jaeeun , Kim Jaehwan , Choi Yang-Kyu , Nahm Sang-Soep , Kim Jayon , Seo Sun-Min , Seo Jin-Seok , Lee Woojong , Chung Weon Kuu , Eom Kidong
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and validate the radiomitigative effect of KMRC011, against radiation-induced oral mucositis in beagle dogs. Clinical safety was evaluated by assessing tolerability, complete blood tests, and plasma biochemistry after drug administration. The radiomitigative effect of KMRC011 was evaluated macropathologically and histopathologically after inducing oral mucositis iatrogenically using 20 Gy irradiation. The plasma concentration of interleukin-6 was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as a biomarker of KMRC011 bioreactivity. Decreased tolerability, increased neutrophil count, hepatic enzyme concentration, C-reactive protein concentration, and interleukin-6 concentration after the administration was observed and ceased within 24 h without additional treatment. Although all animals included in the present study developed severe mucositis in the late course of the study, animals administered KMRC011 showed less erythema, ulcer, inflammatory infiltration. These results suggest that KMRC011 may be used as an adjuvant for radiotherapy without severe adverse effects, especially during short-term radiotherapy, such as hypofractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic radiotherapy.
Case report: Application of three-dimensional technologies for surgical treatment of portosystemic shunt with segmental caudal vena cava aplasia in two dogs
Authors: Kang Jinsu , Yang Myungryul , Kwon Yonghwan , Jeong Chorok , Kim Namsoo , Heo Suyoung
Published: August 2022

This case report describes the application of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for the surgical treatment of portosystemic shunt (PSS) with segmental caudal vena cava (CVC) aplasia. Two client-owned dogs were diagnosed with PSS along with segmental CVC aplasia using computed tomography. Through 3D volume and surface rendering, the vascular anatomic anomaly of each patient was identified in detail. A patient-specific 3D vascular model was used for preoperative planning. According to the plan established based on the 3D rendered image and printed model, shunt occlusion was performed using cellophane banding in the first case. An ameroid constrictor was used in the second case. Both patients showed good recovery without any clinical symptoms or complications. The use of 3D technologies in small animals has many advantages, and its use in vascular surgery, as in these cases, is also a therapeutic option worth considering.
Antigenic alteration of 2017-2018 season influenza B vaccine by egg-culture adaption
Authors: Wilson Jo L. , Zhou Ruifeng , Liu Hsuan , Rothman Richard , Fenstermacher Katherine Z. , Pekosz Andrew
Published: August 2022

Influenza B Viruses (IBV) have caused an increasing number of cases over the last 15 years. The focus of this study was to assess the role of egg adapted mutants in IBV vaccines on the reactivity of serum from vaccinated or IBV infected individuals. We focused on the 2017-2018 IBV season as this was a significant influenza year with reported low vaccine effectiveness by the CDC. Patient samples were obtained from Johns Hopkins Adult Emergency Room for virus isolation and antigenic characterization. Antigenic characterization was evaluated using neutralizing antibody assays. Viral characterization was carried out using viral genome sequencing and structural modeling, MDCK-SIAT1 growth curves, MDCK Plaque assays and human primary nasal epithelial cell (hNEC) growth curves. In our analysis, we found that in the vaccine strains of both IBV lineages, there was an amino acid change at position 197 (B/Brisbane HA Numbering) that leads to a loss of glycosylation. Our antigenic evaluation shows that there is a significant difference in neutralizing antibody titers between the egg adapted vaccine for the B/Yamagata lineage compared to representative clinical isolates from that season and the cell cultured vaccine. We propose that this loss of a glycosylation site is an important site for propagation in the allantois and that this common site change may play a role in antigenic recognition and therefore immune protection from circulating viruses. Screening egg cultured vaccine viruses for egg adapted mutants, further transitioning vaccine production to mammalian culture models (MDCK) or investigating new models of influenza vaccination may be necessary to improve efficacy of the seasonal influenza vaccine for protection from IBV.
Automated Pixel-Level Deep Crack Segmentation on Historical Surfaces Using U-Net Models
Authors: Elhariri Esraa , El-Bendary Nashwa , Taie Shereen A.
Published: August 2022

Crack detection on historical surfaces is of significant importance for credible and reliable inspection in heritage structural health monitoring. Thus, several object detection deep learning models are utilized for crack detection. However, the majority of these models are powerful at most in achieving the task of classification, with primitive detection of the crack location. On the other hand, several state-of-the-art studies have proven that pixel-level crack segmentation can powerfully locate objects in images for more accurate and reasonable classification. In order to realize pixel-level deep crack segmentation in images of historical buildings, this paper proposes an automated deep crack segmentation approach designed based on an exhaustive investigation of several U-Net deep learning network architectures. The utilization of pixel-level crack segmentation with U-Net deep learning ensures the identification of pixels that are important for the decision of image classification. Moreover, the proposed approach employs the deep learned features extracted by the U-Net deep learning model to precisely describe crack characteristics for better pixel-level crack segmentation. A primary image dataset of various crack types and severity is collected from historical building surfaces and used for training and evaluating the performance of the proposed approach. Three variants of the U-Net convolutional network architecture are considered for the deep pixel-level segmentation of different types of cracks on historical surfaces. Promising results of the proposed approach using the U2−Net deep learning model are obtained, with a Dice score and mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 71.09% and 78.38% achieved, respectively, at the pixel level. Conclusively, the significance of this work is the investigation of the impact of utilizing pixel-level deep crack segmentation, supported by deep learned features, through adopting variants of the U-Net deep learning model for crack detection on historical surfaces.
Numerical Analysis on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of an X-wing Flapping Vehicle with Various Tails
Authors: Li Huadong , Li Daochun , Shen Tong , Bie Dawei , Kan Zi
Published: August 2022

X-shaped flapping wings have excellent maneuverability and flight capabilities under low-Reynolds-number conditions. An appropriate tail can extend the range of a vehicle and improve its stability. This study takes two typical configurations, the inverted T-tail and the inverted V-tail, as the research object. Considering the wings’ flexible deformation in the flapping process, the computational fluid dynamics method was used to calculate the vehicles’ aerodynamic characteristics, taking into account the aerodynamic interaction effect of the wings and tail. The results show that the wake of flapping wings can significantly reduce the forward flight performance of the tails. The maximum L/D ratio of the two tails decreased by about 38%, and the static stability was also dramatically reduced in the forward flight. The inverted V-tail has better performance in fast forward flight, while the inverted T-tail had better control characteristics at low speeds. The relationship between the tail layouts and aerodynamic performance is also discussed. When the inverted V-tail is in the optimal position, the longitudinal control moment can be doubled in the hovering state. This research provides a reference for the design and arrangement of flapping wings with tails, which is beneficial to the performance improvement of vehicles.
Experimental Study on the Effect of Rubbing Mode on Radial Crack Initiation in Labyrinth Seal Fins of Shrouded Turbine Blade
Authors: Yang Yicheng , Mi Zhaoguo , Zhang Wencan , Chang Jiaqi , Liu Yongjun , Zhong Bintao , Yang Weihua
Published: August 2022

The labyrinth-honeycomb seals have been widely used in aero-engine. However, radial cracks appear on labyrinth seal fins of shrouded turbine blade in use. To clarify the rubbing mode of radial crack initiation, a high-speed rubbing test bench was designed. The effects of five rubbing modes on crack initiation were studied. Through the test, it is found that cracks would be formed at the junction of the fin tip and side of the labyrinth seal fins under all five modes. When two successive rubbing modes are different, the temperature of the last rubbing can be lower than that of it alone rubbing, and simultaneous radial and axial rubbing can inhibit each other. Radial rubbing mainly affects the initiation of cracks on fin tip, while axial rubbing mainly affects the initiation of cracks on the side. Moreover, the rubbing temperature is mainly affected by radial force.
Effect of Explant Origin and Medium Plant Growth Regulators on In Vitro Shoot Proliferation and Rooting of Salvia tomentosa, a Native Sage of the Northeastern Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Martini Aikaterini N. , Vlachou Georgia , Papafotiou Maria
Published: August 2022

Salvia tomentosa is a perennial sage of the maquis vegetation, strongly aromatic, with medicinal and ornamental value. Aiming to facilitate the promotion of the species in the floriculture sector, its micropropagation was studied in terms of the effect of explant origin and medium plant growth regulators on in vitro cultures establishment, shoot proliferation and rooting. Shoot tip or single node explants excised from either in vitro grown seedlings or greenhouse plants grown from cuttings of mature plants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) at concentrations 0.0–3.2 mg L−1 in combination with 0.0, 0.01 and 0.1 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Infections were the biggest problem for establishing cultures from greenhouse plants, while explants from in vitro seedlings showed hyperhydricity, especially the nodal ones. In the multiplication stage, high BA concentrations reduced explant response to produce shoots as well as the length of shoots produced, and although they increased shoot number per responding explant, a large number of shoots were hyperhydrated especially in explants of seedling origin. In general, the highest multiplication indexes, relevant to normal shoots, were given by the hormone-free medium or one with low BA concentration, and by shoot tip explants originated from greenhouse adult plants. The highest rooting rates (70–78%) were achieved either at full or half strength hormone-free or with 0.1 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) medium. Increasing IBA resulted in an increase in root number, but a decrease in rooting rate and root length. Ex vitro acclimatization was highly successful (92–96%) in peat-perlite (1:1 v/v) substrate. The micropropagation protocol developed will contribute to the promotion of S. tomentosa in the floriculture and pharmaceutical industry and will be a tool for breeding programs targeting high value products.
Intestinal S100/Calgranulin Expression in Cats with Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy and Intestinal Lymphoma
Authors: Riggers Denise S. , Gurtner Corinne , Protschka Martina , Böttcher Denny , von Bomhard Wolf , Alber Gottfried , Winter Karsten , Steiner Joerg M. , Heilmann Romy M.
Published: August 2022

Diagnosing chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) in cats and differentiation from intestinal lymphoma (IL) using currently available diagnostics is challenging. Intestinally expressed S100/calgranulins, measured in fecal samples, appear to be useful non-invasive biomarkers for canine CIE but have not been evaluated in cats. We hypothesized S100/calgranulins to play a role in the pathogenesis of feline chronic enteropathies (FCE) and to correlate with clinical and/or histologic disease severity. This retrospective case-control study included patient data and gastrointestinal (GI) tissues from 16 cats with CIE, 8 cats with IL, and 16 controls with no clinical signs of GI disease. GI tissue biopsies were immunohistochemically stained using polyclonal α-S100A8/A9 and α-S100A12 antibodies. S100A8/A9+ and S100A12+ cells were detected in all GI segments, with few significant differences between CIE, IL, and controls and no difference between diseased groups. Segmental inflammatory lesions were moderately to strongly correlated with increased S100/calgranulin-positive cell counts. Clinical disease severity correlated with S100A12+ cell counts in cats with IL (ρ = 0.69, p = 0.042) and more severe diarrhea with colonic lamina propria S100A12+ cells with CIE (ρ = 0.78, p = 0.021) and duodenal S100A8/A9+ cells with IL (ρ = 0.71, p = 0.032). These findings suggest a role of the S100/calgranulins in the pathogenesis of the spectrum of FCE, including CIE and IL.
Effect of Dietary Ramie Powder at Various Levels on the Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Serum Biochemical Indices and Antioxidative Capacity of Yanling White Geese
Authors: Chen Fengming , He Jieyi , Wang Xin , Lv Tuo , Liu Chunjie , Liao Liping , Li Zibo , Zhou Jun , He Bingsheng , Qiu HuaJiao , Lin Qian
Published: August 2022

To investigate the effects of different levels of ramie powder (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich.) (i.e., 0%, 6%, 12% and 24%) on the production performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidative capacity and intestinal development of Yanling white geese, a total of 256 geese at 56 days of age were randomly divided into four groups and fed a control diet and the control diet supplemented with 6%, 12% and 24% ramie powder, respectively, for 42 days. The results show that dietary supplementation with 12% ramie powder significantly increased the average final weight (p < 0.05) and tended to improve the average daily gain (ADG) and feed/gain ratio (F/G) of the test geese (0.05 < p < 0.10). Moreover, the dietary inclusion of 12 and 24% ramie powder improved meat qualities by reducing the L* value (p < 0.05) and cooking loss (0.05 < p < 0.10) of thigh muscle. Compared with the control group, the ramie powder supplementation at different levels increased the serum activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione, promoting the antioxidative capacity of the body (0.05 < p < 0.10). This study demonstrates that moderate ramie powder is beneficial to the production performance of Yanling white geese and has the potential to be used as a poultry feed ingredient. In conclusion, 12% was the proper supplementation rate of ramie powder in Yanling white geese feed.
Suitable Habitats of Chrysolophus spp. Need Urgent Protection from Habitat Fragmentation in China: Especially Suitable Habitats in Non-Nature Reserve Areas
Authors: Wang Peng , Xia Wancai , Zhou Enhua , Li Yanhong , Hu Jie
Published: August 2022

Over the past few years, the wild population of Chrysolophus spp. has decreased remarkably. Habitat fragmentation is a significant cause for this serious threat to the survival of Chrysolophus spp. population. In order to further understand the distribution of potentially suitable habitats of Chrysolophus spp., we used the maximum entropy model to predict the potentially suitable habitats of C. pictus and C. amherstiae in China based on the known distribution. According to the prediction results of the model, we calculated the landscape pattern index to compare the fragmentation of the two species’ potential suitable habitats in nature reserves and non-nature reserves. The results showed that the potentially suitable habitat for Chrysolophus spp. only accounted for a small area of China. The suitable habitats for C. pictus were mainly in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, and other provinces, and the model predicts a total area of 359,053.06 km2. In addition, the suitable habitats for C. amherstiae were mainly distributed in the three-parallel-river area, with a potential total area of 215,569.83 km2. The model also showed that there was an overlap of suitable habitats between the two species in the western edge of the Sichuan Basin. Previously, hybrids of the two pheasants have already been found in this same overlapping area predicted by the model. The landscape pattern index showed that in the potentially suitable habitat for Chrysolophus spp., the fragmentation of non-nature reserve areas was higher than that of nature reserve areas. The results revealed the distribution of potentially suitable habitats for Chrysolophus spp. in China and highlighted that the suitable habitats in non-nature reserve areas were in urgent need of conservation, thereby providing a key reference for the conservation of the Chrysolophus spp. population in the future.
High-Resolution Ultrasonographic Anatomy of the Carpal Tendons of Sporting Border Collies
Authors: Entani Maria Grazia , Franini Alessio , Barella Gabriele , Saleri Roberta , De Rensis Fabio , Spattini Giliola
Published: August 2022

Recent literature has demonstrated that high-resolution ultrasonographic anatomy of the canine carpus is possible; however, only the structures of the dorsal face were described. The aims of this prospective study were: (1) to describe the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the carpal tendons in sporting Border Collies; (2) to measure the height, length, and thickness of the tendon at the radial ulnar notch level in order to create a baseline reference for the breed, and (3) to describe a standardised protocol to ultrasonographically evaluate the carpal faces and visible tendinous structures. A pilot study based on ten cadaveric front limbs was used to identify the structures. A subsequent clinical phase of the study using twenty-six Border Collies was recorded. The tendons of the Extensor Carpi Radialis, Extensor Digitorum Communis, and Extensor Digitorum Lateralis were identified and followed from the tenomuscular junction to the distal insertion on the dorsal face of the digits. On the lateral face, the tendon of the Extensor Carpi Ulnaris was recognised and followed. On the palmar face, the two heads of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris tendon ending on the accessory carpal bone, the adjacent Flexor Digitorum Superficialis tendon, and the deep and medially located Flexor Digitorum Profundus tendon were seen and followed. The Flexor Carpi Radialis and the Abductor Pollicis Longus tendons were seen in the medial carpal face. The ulnar notch of the radius was used as the measurement and starting point of the ultrasonography. These data could be used as a standard reference in the case of chronic overuse and trauma-induced changes in the canine carpus.
Publisher’s Note: Arthropoda—An Open Access, International Journal on Arthropods Research
Authors: Stefenelli Giulia
Published: August 2022

MDPI has been publishing Insects (ISSN: 2075-4450) [...]
Warming Climate and Elevated CO2 Will Enhance Future Winter Wheat Yields in North China Region
Authors: Shoukat Muhammad Rizwan , Cai Dongyu , Shafeeque Muhammad , Habib-ur-Rahman Muhammad , Yan Haijun
Published: August 2022

The projected climate change substantially impacts agricultural productivity and global food security. The cropping system models (CSM) can help estimate the effects of the changing climate on current and future crop production. The current study evaluated the impact of a projected climate change under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) on the grain yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain by adopting the CSM-DSSAT CERES-Wheat model. The model was calibrated and evaluated using observed data of winter wheat experiments from 2015 to 2017 in which nitrogen fertigation was applied to various growth stages of winter wheat. Under the near-term (2021–2040), mid-term (2041–2060), and long-term (2081–2100) SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the future climate projections were based on five global climate models (GCMs) of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The GCMs projected an increase in grain yield with increasing temperature and precipitation in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections. In the mid-term, 13% more winter wheat grain yield is predicted under 1.3 °C, and a 33 mm increase in temperature and precipitation, respectively, compared with the baseline period (1995–2014). The increasing CO2 concentration trends projected an increase in average grain yield from 4 to 6%, 4 to 14%, and 2 to 34% in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections, respectively, compared to the baseline. The adaptive strategies were also analyzed, including three irrigation levels (200, 260, and 320 mm), three nitrogen fertilizer rates (275, 330, and 385 kg ha−1), and four sowing times (September 13, September 23, October 3, and October 13). An adaptive strategy experiments indicated that sowing winter wheat on October 3 (traditional planting time) and applying 275 kg ha−1 nitrogen fertilizer and 260 mm irrigation water could positively affect the grain yield in the North China Plain. These findings are beneficial in decision making to adopt and implement the best management practices to mitigate future climate change impacts on wheat grain yields.
Sodium Channels Involved in the Initiation of Action Potentials in Invertebrate and Mammalian Neurons
Authors: Romanova Daria Y , Balaban Pavel M , Nikitin Evgeny S
Published: August 2022

Living organisms react to external stimuli to adapt their activity to the environment for survival. Acquired information is encoded by neurons by action potentials (APs) in a series of discrete electrical events. Rapid initiation of the AP is critical for fast reactions and strongly relies on voltage-activated Na+-selective channels (NaVs), which are widely expressed by both invertebrate and vertebrate neurons. Intuitively, NaVs of higher mammals should be activated faster than those of any other species. In addition to improved NaV channel structure, central mammalian neurons also demonstrate a patterned distribution of specific types of NaV1 channels at and near the site of AP initiation within the axonal initial segment (AIS). The AIS has different types of fast Nav1 channels and is thought to provide the biological basis for efficient frequency coding of information. In the present work, we review data related to the channels underlying fast initiation of action potentials in vertebrates and invertebrates, along with their evolution, distribution, and known specific roles. Current research has established that all mammalian NaV1 (1.1–1.9) channels share a similar structure, with 4 conservative transmembrane D-domains with a highly homologous sequence, but significant differences in the length of the functional cytoplasmic linkers. Similarly, the structure of NaV1 channels in invertebrates is generally similar to that of mammals, but it shows high variability across the evolutionary tree in the length of the linkers. AP initiation in mammalian cortical neurons is mediated by NaV1.2 and NaV1.6 channels, whereas interneurons mostly rely on NaV1.1 channels in their firing. Although invertebrate NaV1 channels normally display relatively slow kinetics, their activation is fast enough to produce APs, even in simple animals such as Placozoa. Remarkably, fast sodium-based excitability is not limited to animals. Recently, a photosynthetic prokaryote has been found to show rapidly activated sodium currents provided by their independently evolved single D-domain EuKatB sodium channels.