bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of Shenqi Fuzheng injection combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qiao Chenxi , Hu Shuaihang , Wang Dandan , Cao Kangdi , Wang Zhuo , Wang Xinyan , Ma Xiumei , Li Zheng , Hou Wei
Published: August 2023

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) combined with platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Seven electronic databases, including CNKI and Wanfang, were comprehensively searched to screen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until May 1, 2022. The quality of each trial was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and systematic reviews were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3, and the results were expressed as relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The primary outcome measures were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). The secondary outcome measures were quality of life and toxicity. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the number of days of SFI single-cycle treatment and combined PBC regimen.

Results

A total of 44 RCTs involving 3475 patients were included in the study. The meta-analysis results showed that, compared with PBC alone, SFI combined with PBC significantly improved the ORR (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.18–1.37, P < 0.00001), DCR (RR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.08–1.15, P < 0.00001), and quality of life (RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.31–1.52, P < 0.00001). It also reduced chemotherapy-induced hemoglobin reduction (RR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.48–0.67, P < 0.00001), leukopenia (RR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.53–0.71, P < 0.00001), thrombocytopenia (RR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.55–0.70, P < 0.00001), and simple bone marrow suppression (RR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.41–0.73, P < 0.0001). Nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.52–0.77, P < 0.00001), diarrhea (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.37–0.64, P < 0.00001), and simple digestive tract reactions (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.49–0.80, P = 0.0002) also decreased with the treatment of SFI.

Conclusion

SFI combined with PBC for the treatment of advanced NSCLC improved the ORR, DCR, and quality of life, and reduced the incidence of myelosuppression and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. However, considering the limitations of existing evidence, further verification using high-quality RCTs is required.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-7-0026, identifier INPLASY202270026.
Resting energy expenditure in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: accuracy of available prediction formulas and development of population-specific methods
Authors: Borsani Barbara , Biganzoli Giacomo , Penagini Francesca , Bosetti Alessandra , Pendezza Erica , Perico Veronica , Biganzoli Elia , Verduci Elvira , Zuccotti Gian Vincenzo
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Energy requirements are difficult to estimate in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Resting energy expenditure (REE), necessary to implement personalized nutritional interventions, is most commonly estimated using prediction formulae since indirect calorimetry, the reference method, is not available in all nutrition units. The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate the accuracy of the most commonly used REE prediction formulae developed for healthy children, in children with CP; (2) to assess the accuracy of the REE population-specific formula for CP children proposed in our preliminary report; (3) to develop new population-specific methods.

Methods

REE was measured by indirect calorimetry in 100 children and adolescents with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (SQCP) and estimated on the basis of predictive formulas selected by the clinicians [World Health Organization (WHO), Harris-Benedict, Schofield weight, Schofield weight & height, Oxford, Mifflin formulae and a population-specific formula for CP children developed in our preliminary report].

Results

100 children with SQCP (35 girls, 35%) classified as level V according to gross motor function classification system (GMFCS-V); 64% with oral nutrition, 29% total enteral nutrition (nasogastric tube feeding, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, percutaneous endoscopic transgastric jejunostomy) and 7% mixed nutrition. The median (IQR) REE was 41.96 (17.5) kcal/kg/day.

Statistical analysis highlighted a proportional bias between the indirect calorimetry and all considered predictive formulae for REE determination. By studying the relationship between the bias and the mean values of REE, specific conversion equations were obtained. With a pre-specified model having as predictors the variable weight and the variable Triceps Skinfold (TSF) and, as response the variable REE measured by indirect calorimetry, a predictive nomogram was developed to estimate the REE in this population of children.

Conclusions

We suggest using predictive formulae for healthy children with caution, and where possible carrying out indirect calorimetry to assess REE in children with CP. However, we propose a new tool which could be developed to become an additional help for assessment of REE in the clinical practice.

Future objectives will be to obtain a larger sample size, in a multicenter perspective study, to build a specific predictive model for the REE of the studied population.
Comparison of three fixation methods in paediatric metaphyseal-diaphysis junction fracture of the distal radius: a retrospective study in two centres
Authors: Jianyi Jiang , Chaoyu Liu , Lian Meng , Ge Meng , Hailong Ma , Jun Sun , Guoqiang Jia
Published: August 2023

Background

The distal radial metaphyseal-diaphysis junction fractures (DRMDJ) have various treatment methods and are easily lead to complications. This study aims to compare the anterograde elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN-A), retrograde K-wire fixation (KW-R), and retrograde precision-shaping elastic intramedullary nailing (ESIN-RPS) for the treatment of pediatric DRMDJ fractures.

Materials and methods

A total of 113 patients with DRMDJ fractures (36 in the ESIN-A group, 52 in the KW-R group, and 25 in the ESIN-RPS group) from two centres were retrospectively analysed. Perioperative operation time, intraoperative bleeding, fluoroscopy times, alignment rate and angulation on radiography were compared among the three groups. Forearm rotation, healing, wrist function, and complications were compared at the last follow-up.

Results

The mean operation times of the three groups were as follows: KW-R (72 ± 13 min) > ESIN-A (65 ± 18 min) > ESIN-RPS (52 ± 11 min), with a significant difference (P < 0.01). The incision length and intraoperative blood loss of ESIN-A (1.8 ± 0.2 cm; 8.3 ± 3.7 ml) were significantly higher than ESIN-RPS (1.4 ± 0.8 cm; 5.5 ± 2.7 ml) (P < 0.05), respectively. The postoperative alignment rate on the anteroposterior (AP) and the lateral plane of ESIN-RPS (93.1 ± 4.4%; 95.01 ± 2.8%) was significantly greater than that of KW-R (82.1 ± 6.8%; 88.5 ± 4.5%) and ESIN-A (79.2 ± 5.2%; 83.2 ± 2.5%) (P < 0.01). The residual angulation of ESIN-RPS (3.3 ± 1.2°; 2.9 ± 0.8°) was significantly greater than that for ESIN-A (5.1 ± 1.7°; 4.9 ± 2.1°) and KW-R (6.6 ± 2.8°; 7.5 ± 1.6°) (P < 0.05). The excellent and good ratio of ESIN-RPS (95.8%) was significantly higher than that of ESIN-A (86.5%) and KW-R (86.1%) according to the Gartland-Werley standard. There was a significant difference in delayed union between the KW-R and ESIN-A (P < 0.05). Additionally, there were two cases of radial nerve injury in the ESIN-A group, one case of tendon rupture in the ESIN-RPS group, and one case of tendon rupture in the KW-R group. The ESIN-RPS group had significantly fewer complications than the KW-R group (P < 0.05). The ESIN-A group also had significantly fewer complications than the KW-R group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with ESIN-A and KW-R, ESIN-RPS has the advantages of a shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, less radiation, better alignment, and fewer complications. The ESIN-RPS was suggested as an optimal choice for paediatric DRMDJ fractures.
The efficacy and safety of post-stroke cognitive impairment therapies: an umbrella review
Authors: Li Yongbiao , Cui Ruyi , Liu Shaobo , Qin Zhiping , Sun Wenjing , Cheng Yong , Liu Qingshan
Published: August 2023

Background: Stroke survivors are at significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment, which affects patients’ independence of activities of daily living (ADLs), social engagement, and neurological function deficit. Many studies have been done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) treatment, and due to the largely inconsistent clinical data, there is a need to summarize and analyze the published clinical research data in this area.

Objective: An umbrella review was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PSCI therapies.

Methods: Three independent authors searched for meta-analyses and systematic reviews on PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science to address this issue. We examined ADL and Barthel index (BI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), neurological function deficit as efficacy endpoints, and the incidence of adverse events as safety profiles.

Results: In all, 312 studies from 19 eligible publications were included in the umbrella review. The results showed that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, cell therapies, acupuncture, and EGB76 can improve the MoCA and ADL, and the adverse effects were mild for the treatment of PSCI. Moreover, Vinpocetine, Oxiracetam, Citicoline, thrombolytic therapy, Actovegin, DL-3-n-Butylphthalide, and Nimodipine showed adverse events or low article quality in patients with PSCI. However, the research evidence is not exact and further research is needed.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that ACEI inhibitors (Donepezil) and NMDA antagonists (Memantine), EGB761, and acupuncture are the ADL and BI, MoCA, and neurological function deficit medication/therapy, respectively, for patients with PSCI.

Clinical Trial Registration:https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-11-0139/; Identifier: INPLASY2022110139.
Review on the protective activity of osthole against the pathogenesis of osteoporosis
Authors: Chen Jincai , Liao Xiaofei , Gan Juwen
Published: August 2023

Osteoporosis (OP), characterized by continuous bone loss and increased fracture risk, has posed a challenge to patients and society. Long-term administration of current pharmacological agents may cause severe side effects. Traditional medicines, acting as alternative agents, show promise in treating OP. Osthole, a natural coumarin derivative separated from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson and Angelica pubescens Maxim. f., exhibits protective effects against the pathological development of OP. Osthole increases osteoblast-related bone formation and decreases osteoclast-related bone resorption, suppressing OP-related fragility fracture. In addition, the metabolites of osthole may exhibit pharmacological effectiveness against OP development. Mechanically, osthole promotes osteogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and BMP-2/Smad1/5/8 signaling pathways and suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity. Thus, osthole may become a promising agent to protect against OP development. However, more studies should be performed due to, at least in part, the uncertainty of drug targets. Further pharmacological investigation of osthole in OP treatment might lead to the development of potential drug candidates.
Induced expression modes of genes related to Toll, Imd, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway-mediated immune response in Spodoptera frugiperda infected with Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Li Jihu , Mao Yongkai , Yi Jiequn , Lin Mingjiang , Xu Hanliang , Cheng Yinjie , Wu Han , Liu Jianbai
Published: August 2023

Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the most harmful pests that attack maize and other major food crops and causes huge economic loss every year in China and other countries and regions. Beauveria bassiana, a kind of entomological fungus that is highly pathogenic to pests, is harmless to the environment and human beings. However, at present, S. frugiperda has gradually developed resistance to many pesticides and microbial insecticides. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted to analyze the differences in gene expression between B. bassiana-infected and -uninfected S. frugiperda. More than 160 Gb of clean data were obtained as 150-bp paired-end reads using the Illumina HiSeq™ 4000 platform, and 2,767 and 2,892 DEGs were identified in LH36vsCK36 and LH144vsCK144, respectively. In order to explore the roles of JAK/STAT, Toll, and Imd signaling pathways in antifungal immune response in S. frugiperda against B. bassiana infection, the expression patterns of those signaling pathway-related genes in B. bassiana-infected S. frugiperda were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, antifungal activity experiments revealed that the suppression of JAK/STAT, Toll, and Imd signaling pathways by inhibitors could inhibit the antifungal activity to a large extent and lead to increased sensitivity of S. frugiperda to B. bassiana infection, indicating that JAK/STAT, Toll, and Imd signaling pathways and their associated genes might be involved in the synthesis and secretion of antifungal substances. This study implied that JAK/STAT, Toll, and Imd signaling pathways played crucial roles in the antifungal immune response of the S. frugiperda larvae, in which the related genes of these signaling pathways could play special regulatory roles in signal transduction. This study would improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying innate immunity and provide the basis for a wide spectrum of strategies against antifungal resistance of S. frugiperda.
Production of phytolith and PhytOC and distribution of extractable Si Pools in aerobic rice as influenced by different Si sources
Authors: Anjum Mohsina , Prakash Nagabovanalli Basavarajappa
Published: August 2023

Phytoliths are composed of 66 to 91% SiO2 and 1 to 6% organic carbon (C) known as phytolith occluded carbon (PhytOC). PhytOC is critical for long-term C storage in the agroecosystem. A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of three different sources of exogenous Si, i.e., diatomaceous earth (DE), silicic acid (SA) and rice husk biochar (RHB) on 1) plant phytolith, C content in phytolith and PhytOC content in different rice organs; 2) relationship between plant phytolith, C content in phytolith, PhytOC content, and soil properties (soil physicochemical properties and readily soluble silicon pools). Different Si sources produced significantly higher phytolith, PhytOC content, and readily soluble Si pools (CCSi, AASi, and ASi) than the control (RDF), with treatment receiving 4 t RHB ha-1 outperforming the other treatments. Phytolith and PhytOC production were found to be significantly correlated to soil organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), 0.01 M CaCl2 extractable Si (CCSi) and amorphous Si (ASi) content in the soil. Redundancy analysis showed that treatments receiving 4 t RHB ha-1 have a stronger relationship with the CCSi and ASi which majorly contributed to the higher phytolith and PhytOC production. Thus, practices such as Si fertilizers and RHB application have a high potential for phytolith production and PhytOC sequestration, a critical mechanism of the global biogeochemical C sink.
Copper boosts the biostimulant activity of a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate in basil: morpho-physiological and metabolomics insights
Authors: Rouphael Youssef , Carillo Petronia , Ciriello Michele , Formisano Luigi , El-Nakhel Christophe , Ganugi Paola , Fiorini Andrea , Miras Moreno Begoña , Zhang Leilei , Cardarelli Mariateresa , Lucini Luigi , Colla Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

In addition to be used as a plant protection agent, copper (Cu) is also an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. The bioavailability of Cu in agricultural systems can be limited due to its specific physical–chemical characteristics, leading to imbalances in plant production. To address this issue, an experimental trial was conducted on Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in protected conditions to comparatively evaluate the effects of a vegetable protein hydrolysate (VPH), free Cu and Cu complexed with peptides and amino acids of vegetal origin (Cu and Cu-VPH, respectively), and a combination of VPH and Cu-VPH (VPH+Cu-VPH). The study showed that the combined application of VPH+Cu-VPH led to a significant average increase of 16.3% in fresh yield compared to the untreated Control and Cu treatment. This finding was supported by an improved photosynthetic performance in ACO2 (+29%) and Fv/Fm (+7%). Furthermore, mineral analysis using ICP OES demonstrated that Cu and Cu-VPH treatments determined, on average, a 15.1-, 16.9-, and 1.9-fold increase in Cu in plant tissues compared to control, VPH, and VPH+Cu-VPH treatments, respectively. However, the VPH+Cu-VPH treatment induced the highest contents of the other analyzed ions, except for P. In particular, Mg, Mn, Ca, and Fe, which take part in the constitution of chlorophylls, water splitting system, and photosynthetic electron transport chain, increased by 23%, 21%, 25%, and 32% compared to respective controls. Indeed, this improved the photosynthetic efficiency and the carboxylation capacity of the plants, and consequently, the physiological and productive performance of Genovese basil, compared to all other treatments and control. Consistently, the untargeted metabolomics also pointed out a distinctive modulation of phytochemical signatures as a function of the treatment. An accumulation of alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenylpropanoids was observed following Cu treatment, suggesting an oxidative imbalance upon metal exposure. In contrast, a mitigation of oxidative stress was highlighted in Cu-VPH and VPH+Cu-VPH, where the treatments reduced stress-related metabolites. Overall, these results highlight an interaction between Cu and VPH, hence paving the way towards the combined use of Cu and biostimulants to optimize agronomic interventions.
Maize seed appearance quality assessment based on improved Inception-ResNet
Authors: Song Chang , Peng Bo , Wang Huanyue , Zhou Yuhong , Sun Lei , Suo Xuesong , Fan Xiaofei
Published: August 2023

Current inspections of seed appearance quality are mainly performed manually, which is time-consuming, tedious, and subjective, and creates difficulties in meeting the needs of practical applications. For rapid and accurate identification of seeds based on appearance quality, this study proposed a seed-quality evaluation method that used an improved Inception-ResNet network with corn seeds of different qualities. First, images of multiple corn seeds were segmented to build a single seed image database. Second, the standard convolution of the Inception-ResNet module was replaced by a depthwise separable convolution to reduce the number of model parameters and computational complexity of the network. In addition, an attention mechanism was applied to improve the feature learning performance of the network model and extract the best image information to express the appearance quality. Finally, the feature fusion strategy was used to fuse the feature information at different levels to prevent the loss of important information. The results showed that the proposed method had decent comprehensive performance in detection of corn seed appearance quality, with an average of 96.03% for detection accuracy, 96.27% for precision, 96.03% for recall rate, 96.15% for F1 value of reconciliation, and the average detection time of an image was about 2.44 seconds. This study realized rapid nondestructive detection of seeds and provided a theoretical basis and technical support for construction of intelligent seed sorting equipment.
Media for advocacy of mental health in the Ethiopian context. Current practice, gaps, and future directions
Authors: Anbessie Mohammed N. , Belete Yonas L. , Ayele Biniyam A. , Valcour Victor , Kavanagh Niall , Prioleau Caroline , Yohannis Kalkidan
Published: August 2023

Media plays a crucial role in reshaping societal attitudes and behaviors towards individuals with mental illness. It contributes to improved rights of people living with mental health conditions and access to care services. However, in Ethiopia, mental health advocacy faces obstacles such as deep-rooted misconceptions, fear, and discrimination about mental illness, as well limited engagement of stakeholders and language barriers. Both mainstream and social media play a large role in disseminating mental health topics in Ethiopia. However, they need organized initiatives and efforts in order to be successful in promoting mental health awareness to the public. Implementing a comprehensive strategy comprising public awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, responsible reporting, and increased coverage of mental health topics is crucial. The World Health Organization also emphasizes the role of health ministries in supporting mental health advocacy efforts. By promoting education, challenging stigmas, and improving access to mental health services, media advocacy can contribute to creating a more informed and supportive society for individuals with mental illness in Ethiopia.
The impact of internet use on residents’ happiness in China
Authors: Sun Yongqiang , Gao Jing , Zhang Xiaolin , Cheng Yaoxing
Published: August 2023

Using data from the 2018 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study investigates the impact of internet use on residents’ happiness. Empirical results show that internet use significantly enhances residents’ happiness. Considering the possible endogeneity problem, a two-stage tool variable estimation is carried out with ownership of a mobile phone as the tool variable. After overcoming the endogenous problem and conducting a series of robustness tests, the conclusion is still valid. The action mechanism finds that social interaction frequency and socioeconomic status (SES) play significant mediating effects in the process of internet use affecting happiness. Specifically, internet use significantly increases the social interaction frequency of residents and enhances their SES. The improvement of social interaction frequency and SES will significantly increase residents’ happiness. Therefore, this paper gives policy recommendations from the perspectives of regulating and deepening internet use, increasing the frequency of communication among residents, and improving their SES to better enhance their happiness.
Non-communicable disease multimorbidity among tribal older adults in India: evidence from Study on Global AGEing and adult health, 2015
Authors: Sinha Abhinav , Kanungo Srikanta , Bhattacharya Debdutta , Kaur Harpreet , Pati Sanghamitra
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Multimorbidity defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries such as India. With India aiming to achieve universal health coverage, it is imperative to address the inequalities in accessing healthcare, especially among vulnerable groups such as tribal. Moreover, changing lifestyle has led to the emergence of multimorbidity among tribals in India. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and assess the correlates of multimorbidity among tribal older adults in India.

Methods

We employed nationally representative data from the World Health Organization's Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health conducted in 2015. We included 522 participants aged ≥50 years who reported their caste to be ‘Scheduled Tribe' in the survey. A multivariable regression model assessed the association between multimorbidity and various attributes.

Results

Arthritis, cataract, and hypertension were the most common chronic conditions. The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was ~22.61%. We observed a higher likelihood of having multimorbidity among respondents aged ≥80 years [AOR: 4.08 (1.17–14.18)] than the younger age groups, and among the most affluent group [AOR: 2.64 (1.06–6.56)] than the most deprived class.

Conclusion

The prevalence of multimorbidity among tribal older adults is emerging which cannot be overlooked. Health and wellness centers may be a window of opportunity to provide egalitarian and quality preventive and curative services to achieve universal health coverage. Future studies should explore the outcomes of multimorbidity in terms of healthcare utilization, expenditure, and quality of life in this group.
Social mobility and perinatal depression in Black women
Authors: Hawkins Melissa , Mallapareddi Arun , Misra Dawn
Published: August 2023

Background

Higher socioeconomic position is associated with better birth outcomes and maternal mental health, although this relationship is less consistent for Black women. The literature is limited on the impact of social mobility across the life course on mental health of pregnant women. This study examines the impact of perceived financial status across the life-course on depressive symptoms during pregnancy among Black women.

Methods

Data were from the Life-course Influences of Fetal Environments (LIFE) retrospective cohort study among pregnant Black women in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. Depressive symptoms in the two weeks prior to birth were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Social mobility was determined at three intervals over the life course using self-report of financial status during childhood, adolescence, and current age in pregnancy.

Results

1,410 pregnant women participated, ranging in age from 18 to 45 years old. CES-D scores ranged from 0 to 53 (mean = 15.3) and 26% of the sample reported high depressive symptoms. In each age interval, higher financial status was associated with significant protective effect on depressive symptoms, and the magnitude of the effect increased across the life course. Trajectory analysis demonstrated that both the upward (4.51; 95% CI, 2.43–6.6) and downward (4.04; 95% CI, 2.62–5.46 and 3.09; 95% CI, 1.57–4.62) life-course social mobility groups had increased mean CES-D scores compared to the static social mobility group.

Conclusion

This study describes the importance of previous childhood and current financial status effects on mental health in Black pregnant women.
Heart rate variability of elite female rowers in preparation for and during the national selection regattas: a pilot study on the relation to on water performance
Authors: DeBlauw Justin A. , Stein Jesse A. , Blackman Carolyn , Haas Melissa , Makle Seraya , Echevarria Isis , Edmonds Rohan , Ives Stephen J.
Published: August 2023

Elite athletes require a delicate balance of physiological and psychological stress and recovery—essential for achieving optimal performance. Monitoring heart rate variability (HRV) provides a non-invasive estimation of both physiological and psychological stress levels, offering potentially valuable insights into health, performance, and adaptability. Previous studies, primarily conducted on male participants, have shown an association between HRV and performance in the context of rowing training. However, given the rigorous nature of rowing training, it is crucial to investigate HRV in elite rowers, particularly during the U.S. national selection regattas (NSR).

Purpose

To comprehensively analyze elite female rowers, evaluating acute changes in HRV and subjective psychometrics during the NSR.

Methods

Five elite female rowers (26 ± 2 years, 180 ± 8 cm, 82 ± 8 kg, 19 ± 6%fat) were recruited and tracked prior to and during NSR I and II. Morning HRV measures were completed using photoplethysmography (HRV4training) along with self-reported levels of fatigue, soreness, rating of perceived exertion, mentally energy and physical condition.

Results

Significant decreases were observed in log transformed root-mean square of successive differences (LnRMSSD;p = 0.0014) and fatigue (p = 0.01) from pre-to-during NSR, while mental energy (p = 0.01), physical condition (p = 0.01), and motivation (p = 0.006) significantly increased. These psychometric measures returned to pre-NSR levels, at post-NSR (allp < 0.05), though HRV remained slightly suppressed. NSR on-water performance was not correlated to LnRMSSD or the change in LnRMSSD (p > 0.05).

Discussion

HRV and psychometric measures are sensitive to the stress of elite rowing competition in females. However, HRV was not associated with on-water rowing performance during an elite rowing competition.
Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya
Authors: Buleti Sylvia Imbuhila , Kuyah Shem , Olagoke Adewole , Gichua Moses , Were Samuel , Chidawanyika Frank , Martin Emily A.
Published: August 2023

Push-pull technology provides farmers in East Africa with an eco-friendly strategy that increases crop yield and household income in smallholder cereal systems by controlling pests and improving soil health. Though promising for a sustainably intensified production, push-pull has been used at limited scale, primarily in maize-and sorghum-based production systems. Expanding the scope, applicability and acceptance of the practice in smallholder farming systems, will leverage the full potential of push-pull as a widely applicable sustainable farming practice. Using key informant interviews and focus group discussions, we explored farmers’ needs and perceived pathways for integrating push-pull and other sustainable intensification practices in synergy with existing cropping systems in Kisumu, Vihiga and Siaya Counties in Western Kenya. We found that farmers in the region typically grow and intercrop a variety of crops, with maize being the most common crop. Farmers commonly practice crop-livestock farming, intercropping, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer use, and use improved varieties to increase maize production. Across the counties, integration of food legumes, agroforestry and crop-livestock farming, were identified as fundamental pathways for stretching the benefits of push-pull. Limitations to farmers’ aspirations and key enablers for facilitating spontaneous adoption of identified sustainable intensification practices for push-pull farming systems are discussed.
Optimized Tensor Decomposition and Principal Component Analysis Outperforming State-of-the-Art Methods When Analyzing Histone Modification Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Profiles
Authors: Turki Turki , Roy Sanjiban Sekhar , Taguchi Y.-H.
Published: August 2023

It is difficult to identify histone modification from datasets that contain high-throughput sequencing data. Although multiple methods have been developed to identify histone modification, most of these methods are not specific to histone modification but are general methods that aim to identify protein binding to the genome. In this study, tensor decomposition (TD) and principal component analysis (PCA)-based unsupervised feature extraction with optimized standard deviation were successfully applied to gene expression and DNA methylation. The proposed method was used to identify histone modification. Histone modification along the genome is binned within the region of length L. Considering principal components (PCs) or singular value vectors (SVVs) that PCA or TD attributes to samples, we can select PCs or SVVs attributed to regions. The selected PCs and SVVs further attribute p-values to regions, and adjusted p-values are used to select regions. The proposed method identified various histone modifications successfully and outperformed various state-of-the-art methods. This method is expected to serve as a de facto standard method to identify histone modification. For reproducibility and to ensure the systematic analysis of our study is applicable to datasets from different gene expression experiments, we have made our tools publicly available for download from gitHub.
Dynamic Surface-Based Adaptive Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Electrohydrostatic Actuators
Authors: Han Xudong , Fu Yongling , Wang Yan , Wang Mingkang , Zhu Deming
Published: August 2023

The control accuracy and stability of the electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) are directly impacted by parameter uncertainty, disturbance uncertainty, and non-matching disturbance, which negatively impacts aircraft rudder maneuvering performance and even results in rudder chatter. A dynamic surface-based adaptive active disturbance rejection control (DSAADRC) is proposed as a solution for these issues. It does this by developing a novel parametric adaptive law driven by the combination of tracking error, parameter estimation error, and state estimation error to estimate the unknown parameters, using three low-order ESOs to estimate and compensate the uncertain disturbances online, and employing a dynamic surface method to obtain the differential values of virtual control signals in the backstepping method to deal with non-matching disturbances. In this research, a Lyapunov stability analysis demonstrates that the method can achieve the position tracking accuracy of the EHA under time-varying external disturbances after first establishing an EHA dynamics model with nonlinearity and uncertainty, followed by the design of an adaptive active disturbance rejection control method based on dynamic surfaces for the uncertainties and perturbations. In contrast to control strategies like Robust Control (RC) and Adaptive Robust Control (ARC), simulation and experiment comparison shows that the method has stronger anti-disturbance under time-varying external disturbances.
Star-Identification System Based on Polygon Recognition
Authors: Ramos-Alcaraz Gustavo E. , Alonso-Arévalo Miguel A. , Nuñez-Alfonso Juan M.
Published: August 2023

Accurate attitude determination is crucial for satellites and spacecraft. Among attitude determination devices, star sensors are the most accurate. Solving the lost-in-space problem is the most critical function of the star sensor. Our research introduces a novel star-identification system that utilizes a polygon-recognition algorithm to assign a unique complex number to polygons created by stars. This system aims to solve the lost-in-space problem. Our system includes a full solution with a lens, image sensor, processing unit, and algorithm implementation. To test the system’s performance, we analyzed 100 night sky images that resembled what a real star sensor in orbit would experience. We used a k-d tree algorithm to accelerate the search in the star catalog of complex numbers. We implemented various verification methods, including internal polygon verification and a voting mechanism, to ensure the system’s reliability. We obtained the star database used as a reference from the Gaia DR2 catalog, which we filtered, to eliminate irrelevant stars, and which we arranged by apparent magnitude. Despite manually introducing up to three false stars, the system successfully identified at least one star in 97% of the analyzed images.
The Use of Chosen Physicochemical Indicators for Estimation of Pork Meat Quality
Authors: Antosik Katarzyna , Krzęcio-Nieczyporuk Elżbieta , Sieczkowska Halina , Zybert Andrzej , Tarczyński Krystian
Published: August 2023

The present work aimed to estimate the usefulness and effectiveness of selected physicochemical indicators in the evaluation of meat quality as well as culinary and processing value using a simple and canonical phenotypic correlation method. Studies were carried out in 495 porkers. The most relationships were obtained for the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) breakdown indicator (R1), electrical conductivity (EC) and glycolytic potential (GP) with meat quality traits that are non-diagnostic criteria, i.e., lipids and protein content, water holding capacity (WHC), technological yield (TY), drip loss (DL) and meat tenderness (MT). The results of this study indicate that about 62% of the variability in meat quality is the result of the initial level of glycogen in muscle tissue. The strong relationship between EC2 and pH24 (acidity of the muscle tissue at 24 h after slaughter) parameters and a wide spectrum of traits of meat quality (sets covering the parameters of the culinary and processing quality of meat and indicating the volume of drip loss), as well as with the pH1 and R1 criteria confirms the possibility to perform a quick and cheap ‘on line’ classification of qualitative meat properties in meat processing plants.
Advancing Agricultural Crop Recognition: The Application of LSTM Networks and Spatial Generalization in Satellite Data Analysis
Authors: Gafurov Artur , Mukharamova Svetlana , Saveliev Anatoly , Yermolaev Oleg
Published: August 2023

This study addresses the challenge of accurate crop detection using satellite data, focusing on the application of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. The research employs a “spatial generalization” approach, where a model trained on one geographic area is applied to another area with similar vegetation conditions during the growing season. LSTM networks, which are capable of learning long-term temporal dependencies, are used to overcome the limitations of traditional machine learning techniques. The results indicate that LSTM networks, although more computationally expensive, provide a more accurate solution for crop recognition compared with other methods such as Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Random Forest algorithms. The accuracy of LSTM networks was found to be 93.7%, which is significantly higher than the other methods. Furthermore, the study showed a high correlation between the real and model areas of arable land occupied by different crops in the municipalities of the study area. The main conclusion of this research is that LSTM networks, combined with a spatial generalization approach, hold great promise for future agricultural applications, providing a more efficient and accurate tool for crop recognition, even in the face of limited training data and complex environmental variables.
Influence of Sediment, Plants, and Microorganisms on Nitrogen Removal in Farmland Drainage Ditches
Authors: Guo Chenyao , Zhang Qisen , Hu Yawei , Zhao Qiang , Li Qiangkun , Wu Jingwei
Published: August 2023

The removal of nitrogen from water is a consequence of the synergistic action of plant uptake, sediment sorption, and microbial decomposition. However, there is a lack of long-term experimental studies on the effects of each component in the process of nitrogen removal. In this study, we investigated the effect of sediment, plants, and microorganisms on nitrogen removal by setting up three systems: water–sterilized sediment, water–sediment, and water–sediment–plant. The nitrogen removal effect followed the following rank order of effectiveness: the “water–sediment–plant” system > the “water–sediment” system > the “water–sterilized sediment” system. The ditch sediment had a strong enrichment effect for nitrogen. In addition, the migration rate of nitrogen in the sediment with different depths was different. The ammonia-nitrogen migration rate in the sediment showed an increasing trend with time and depth. The nitrate-nitrogen migration process in the sediment showed a trend of enrichment toward the middle layer (15.0–25.0 cm). Aquatic plants and microorganisms can promote the removal of nitrogen in water, with the average purification rates of 13.92% and 19.92%, respectively.
Changes of Soil Nitrogen Fractions and nirS-Type Denitrifier Microbial Community in Response to N Fertilizer in the Semi-Arid Area of Northeast China
Authors: Li Yingjie , Wang Meng , Li Qian , Zhang Lei , Qin Yubo , Sun Bo , Liu Hang
Published: August 2023

The denitrification process is one of the important processes in the soil nitrogen (N) cycle, and is closely related to the loss of soil N fertilizer. Five treatments were included in this study: N0 (control, no N application); N90 (N application rate 90 kg ha−1); N150 (N application rate 150 kg ha−1); N210 (N application rate 210 kg ha−1); and N270 (N application rate 270 kg ha−1), to study the effect of different N application rates on the soil nirS-type denitrifying bacterial community structure, the influence of key enzyme activities during the denitrification process, and the main environmental factors affecting the variation of the denitrifying bacterial community in maize field soil under the mulched fertigation system in the semi-arid region of Northeast China. The results showed that increasing N fertilizer application significantly increased the contents of soil inorganic N and acid-hydrolyzable organic N, but significantly decreased pH. N fertilizer significantly increased nitrate reductase (NAR) activity and nitrite reductase (NIR) activity. Excessive application of N fertilizer significantly increased the nirS gene copy numbers, and, at the same time, significantly decreased the diversity of nirS-type soil denitrifying bacteria. Proteobacteria was the dominant denitrifying phylum in all treatments, and N application promoted the growth of Bradyrhizobium belonging to this phylum. The application of N fertilizer significantly changed the community structure of nirS denitrifying bacteria, and the NO3−-N content was the most important factor for this observation. Soil organic matter (SOM) and non-hydrolyzable N (NHN) indirectly affected the denitrifying bacterial community structure through NAR activity and NIR activity, while soil total N (TN) and nitrate N (NO3−-N) indirectly affected yield through denitrifying bacterial community structure. Although increasing N fertilizer was beneficial in increasing soil nutrients, the community structure of nirS-type denitrifying bacteria changed significantly. This is attributed to the increase in soil NO3−-N accumulation caused by a large amount of N application. The results of this research provide an important scientific basis for further research on the response mechanism of farmland soil denitrifying microorganisms to different N fertilizer managements under the mulched fertigation system in the semi-arid region of Northeast China.
Evaluation of Salicylic Acid Effects on Growth, Biochemical, Yield, and Anatomical Characteristics of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Plants under Salt Stress Conditions
Authors: Mady Emad , Abd El-Wahed Ahmed H. M. , Awad Asaad H. , Asar Turky O. , Al-Farga Ammar , Abd El-Raouf Hany S. , Randhir Reena , Alnuzaili Ehab S. , El-Taher Ahmed M. , Randhir Timothy O. , Hamada Fatma A.
Published: August 2023

Salt stress is a major issue in agriculture and crop production that influences global food security. Mitigation options to address salt stress through agronomic practices can help manage this issue. Experiments were performed in two summer seasons in an experimental farm to test the impact of three salinity levels (S): 300 (control), 1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm, and two salicylic acid (SA) levels, including 1.0 and 1.50 mM, and their interaction on growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) hybrid Suma. The results showed that increasing S levels up to 3000 ppm reduced plant and fruit physical characteristics, as well as leaf and fruit chemical characteristics, especially leaf total chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water, fruit nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents, which led to a reduction in total yield per plant. However, an insignificant effect was observed in the control level and 1000 ppm saline water in leaf area, fruit length, leaf total chlorophyll content, fruit phosphorus content, and total yield per plant. In contrast, leaf sugars, proline contents, electrolyte leakage, fruit TSS (total soluble solids), and ascorbic acid contents were improved with S levels up to the concentration of 3000 ppm compared to the control. However, tested parameters were significantly higher due to the SA foliar spray of 1.0 mM besides photosynthetic pigments of leaves enhanced by using 1.0 and 1.50 mM. Using 1.0 mM SA concentration alleviated the adverse impact of S on eggplant plants until 1000 ppm saline water, reflecting an increase in eggplant yield. The anatomical structure of eggplant leaves revealed positive variations in mature leaf blades in both the stressed and SA-treated plants. Based on these results, the use of SA at a concentration of 1.0 mM may lessen the negative impacts of salt on the growth of eggplant, which increases the overall yield.
In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Characteristics, Estimated Utilizable Crude Protein and Metabolizable Energy Values of Grass Silages, Concentrate Feeds and Their Mixtures
Authors: Muqier X , Eknæs Margrete , Prestløkken Egil , Jensen Rasmus Bovbjerg , Eikanger Katrine Sømliøy , Karlengen Inger Johanne , Trøan Gisken , Vhile Stine Gregersen , Kidane Alemayehu
Published: August 2023

Four formulations of concentrate feeds, three contrasting qualities of grass silages, and mixtures of the silages (55%) and concentrates (45%, dry weight) were tested for in vitro fermentation kinetics, in vitro dry matter degradation (IVDMD), utilizable crude protein (uCP), and metabolizable energy (ME) values. The concentrates were pelleted control concentrate for dairy cows (CONT-P); pelleted alkaline concentrate with ammoniated cereal grains (ALKA-P); mash form concentrate with ALKA-P main ingredients but with feed-grade urea and barley replacing ammoniated cereal grain (UREA-M); and mash form of ALKA-P ingredients prior to alkalization (ALKA-M). The grass silages were early cut, late cut, and a mixture (1:1) of early and late cut. The objectives were to test if the feeds differed in the tested parameters within each feed category and assess the modulatory effect of concentrate feeds on the grass silage fermentation characteristics in the mixed diets. No interaction effects of the concentrate feeds by silage quality were observed for the tested parameters in the mixed diets. For concentrates, the pelleted diets were higher (p < 0.05) in IVDMD and molar proportion of propionate but lower in butyrate. The ALKA-P produced the highest estimated uCP (p < 0.01). For silages, uCP, ME, total short-chain fatty acids (VFAs), and molar proportions of propionate and branched-chain VFAs decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing stage of maturity. In conclusion, the ALKA-P could match the CONT-P in uCP and ME values and fermentation characteristics. Results for silages and their mixtures with concentrates highlight the importance of silage quality in dietary energy and protein supply for ruminants.
Sedline® Miscalculation of Depth of Anaesthesia Variables in Two Pigs Due to Electrocardiographic Signal Contamination
Authors: Mirra Alessandro , Hight Darren , Kovacevic Alan , Levionnois Olivier Louis
Published: August 2023

Two young (11-week-old) pigs underwent sole propofol anaesthesia as part of an experimental study. The depth of anaesthesia was evaluated both clinically and using the electroencephalography(EEG)-based monitor Sedline; in particular, the patient state index, suppression ratio, raw EEG traces, and its spectrogram were assessed. Physiological parameters and electrocardiographic activity were continuously monitored. In one pig (Case 1), during the administration of high doses of propofol, the Sedline-generated variables suddenly indicated an increased EEG activity while this was not confirmed by observation of either the raw EEG or its spectrogram. In the second pig (Case 2), a similar event was recorded during euthanasia with systemic pentobarbital. Both events happened while the EEG activity was isoelectric except for signal interferences and synchronous in rhythm and shape with the electrocardiographic activity. The suggestion of increased brain activity based on the interpretation of the Sedline variables was suspected wrong; most probably due to electrocardiographic interferences. In pigs, the patient state index and suppression ratio, as calculated by the Sedline monitor, could be influenced by the electrocardiographic activity contaminating the EEG trace, especially during otherwise isoelectric periods (strong EEG depression). Visual interpretation of the raw EEG and of the spectrogram remains necessary to identify such artefacts.