bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the locational approach towards optimal siting of air quality monitoring stations in India
Authors: Choudhary Sanjay , Kaur Harshita , Saharan Virendra Kumar , Kumar Nand
Published: September 2022

Increasing Air Pollution levels globally has been one of the major environmental risks on the ecosystem having multiplier effects on the human health. As a result, the need for regulating bodies to keep an eye on and evaluate pollution levels has grown, particularly in urban areas where human activity and population density are concentrated. Air quality monitoring thus becomes essential in creating and developing strategies to achieve the objectives of sustainable environmental policies. In India, there has been certain measures to set up air quality monitoring stations (AQMS) which are referred to form various action plans to improve the overall air quality in the country. The paper examines various approaches toward locating AQMS throughout the world and in India. It also discusses the approach of single or multi-pollutant monitoring worldwide with the use of various spatial tools and techniques. The guidelines and initiatives for locating optimal AQMS are examined in the study resulting in the formulation of various evaluation criteria which can be practiced for a holistic air quality management. The research aims to bridge the research gap and provide recommendations for an optimum approach to locating air quality monitoring stations in the urban areas of India and the world for better air quality management.
Decreased lincomycin B content by regulating osmotic pressure in fermentation of Streptomyces lincolnensis
Authors: Li Shengkai , Zhang Liwen , Gao Shuhong
Published: September 2022

Lincomycin, a clinically important antibiotic against gram-positive bacteria, is a sulfur-containing metabolite produced by Streptomyces lincolnensis. The content of lincomycin B is an important evaluation index of fermentation quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaCl as an osmotic regulator on lincomycin production. Based on the flask experiment, the optimal initial osmotic pressure for lincomycin fermentation was in the range between 0.860–1.355 Osmol/kg. The effect of osmotic pressure on the fermentation of lincomycin in 15 L bioreactor showed that the content of lincomycin B in the broth was decreased to 5.78% when adding 10 g/L NaCl while the content of lincomycin B was 8.20% in the control. During the fermentation process, the intracellular homocysteine and S-adenosylmethionine was higher when adding 10 g/L NaCl, which could provide more methyl donor for lincomycin production, causing the reduction of lincomycin B. Besides, high-throughput RNA sequencing was applied to study the mechanism of osmotic regulation on lincomycin fermentation. Under osmotic stimulation, the transcription of 23 genes in lincomycin biosynthesis cluster were significantly up-regulated at 41 h and the transcription of genes in HMP and EMP was up-regulated while the transcription of genes in TCA cycle were decreased. Notably, the genes involved in sulfur assimilation, mycothiol, ergothioneine and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis were up-regulated, which can provide more methyl donor (S-adenosylmethionine) and sulfur donor (mycothiol and ergothioneine) during lincomycin fermentation. This might be the reason of increased lincomycin A production and decreased lincomycin B content. Our study provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying osmotic pressure regulation on lincomycin fermentation and may be applied to improve secondary metabolite production.
Risk early warning analysis of Asian Games contestants based on improved BP neural network
Authors: Liu Zhi , Xin Guangjie
Published: September 2022

Sports is a complex sports system, which fundamentally determines the objectivity and randomness of sports risks, and risks can often be predicted by certain methods. The occurrence of any risk event has its inevitability and chance, usually the result of the accumulation of risk factors to a certain stage. The occurrence of risks often needs to meet certain conditions and taking necessary means to control the existing risk factors is an effective means to reduce risks. In this study, a BP neural network model for risk early warning of Asian Games players was established, and the constructed Asian Games players' participation risk early warning model was effective and had high prediction accuracy. The network training accuracy of the early warning model is 0.003328, indicating that the model can explain about 99% of the data samples. Between the actual value and the predicted value of the model prediction results, except for individual absolute errors reaching 0.09, the remaining errors are all less than 0.05. In addition, the predicted risk of participating in the Asian Games is mainly concentrated in the two levels of medium police and light police , with light police accounting for 35%.
Psychological Treatment of a BRCA gene mutation carrier in a Clinical Genetics Service using Solution Focused Therapy (SFT): – A Case Study
Authors: Firth Clare , Tripathi Vishakha
Published: September 2022

This case study employs solution-focused therapy (SFT) to alleviate anxiety and bereavement symptoms in a patient with a BRCA2 gene mutation. The patient was referred to therapy following treatment for breast cancer after describing high cancer anxiety and low mood in relation to two family bereavements and her breast cancer treatment. She completed 10 sessions of SFT over 12 months. The patient reported improvements in her mood and reduction in anxiety symptoms by the fifth session. There was a set-back in therapy at the sixth session which was attributed to bereavement anniversaries and the onset of the COVID pandemic. Over four more sessions the patient resumed the improvements, and five months after the end of sessions she reported that the improvements had been sustained. She felt that the therapy had allowed her to reconnect with her existing strengths and resources and successfully move forward from her genetic cancer diagnosis.
WITHDRAWN: GRP75 modulates endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria coupling and accelerates Ca 2+ -dependent endothelial cells apoptosis in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Li Yan , Li Hong-Ying , Shao Jun , Zhu Lingpeng , Xie Tian-Hua , Cai Jiping , Wang Wenjuan , Cai Meng-Xia , Wang Zi-Li , Yao Yong , Wei Ting-Ting
Published: September 2022

Background
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial dysfunction play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The communication between the mitochondria and the ER is mediated by a functional subdomain referred to as the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM). However, the mechanism underlying material exchange between the ER and mitochondria are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the role of IP3R1-GRP75-VDAC1 axis in modulating Ca2+ homeostasis in RMECs.
Methods
In this study, we established high glucose (HG) and advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs)-induced human retinal vascular endothelial cells (RMECs) models in vitro, and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR model in vivo. CCK8 assay and Calcein-AM/PI double stain were used to detect cell viability.The ER-Tracker Red Kit and MitoTracker-Green are used to co-localize ER and mitochondria. Mitochondrial Ca2+ was detected using Rhod-2 AM. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) was used to examine the interaction between IP3R1, GRP75 and VDAC1. MitoSOX™ Red Probe, mPTP Assay, and JC-1 Assay are used to measure mitochondrial function. Evans blue dye, retinal PAS staining, and TUNEL assay were used to assess retinal function.
Results
Our data demonstrated that there was increased ER-mitochondria coupling in the RMECs, which was accompanied by elevated mitochondrial calcium ions (Ca2+) and mitochondrial dysfunction (mitochondrial membrane potential, ΔΨm; and mitochondrial ROS) under HG or AGEs transferred ER Ca2+ into the mitochondria. Elevated mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations led to an increase in mitochondrial ROS and a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential. These events resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction and elevation of mitochondrial permeability, which induced cytoplasmic Cyt c/Caspase-3-mediated cell apoptosis. The above phenomenon was reversed by BAPTA-AM (an intracellular calcium chelator) and tunicamycin (TUN), a common ERS inducer. In addition, 4-PBA, (an ERS inhibitor), was shown to reverse retinal dysfunction in STZ-induced DR rats.
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrated that DR fuels the formation of ER-mitochondria coupling via the IP3R1-GRP75-VDAC1 axis, which facilitates transport of Ca2+ from the ER to the mitochondria, eventually leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of endothelial cells. Our results demonstrated that inhibition of ER-mitochondrial coupling, including inhibition of GRP75 or Ca2+ overload, may be a potential therapeutic target in DR.
Introducing Exogenous Energy From Hydrocolloid Wound Dressing Disrupting Human Hair Follicle Metabolism
Authors: Embí Abrahám A.
Published: September 2022

The development in 2016 of a novel Potassium Ferricyanide of formula (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) based tabletop microscopy method enabled for the recording of electromagnetic energy emissions from plants and animal tissue. The microscopy method was subsequently validated and used to document inter-tissue energy exchanges of both, human blood and catalase proper with a hair follicle. As of recent in vitro research using hair follicles as sentinels support expanding an endogenous irradiation theory as disease causing mechanism introduced in 1956 and revisited in 2016 to now also include non-biological exogenous irradiation emitted by hydrocolloid based wound dressings (WD). Videos and still images are presented validating the findings of energy emitted by a small fragment of a hydrocolloid based WD penetrating a 1mm glass slide and unexpectedly delaying the evaporation time of a Potassium Ferricyanide solution surrounding a freshly plucked human hair follicle. Absorption of Incoming electromagnetic radiation is a property of (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]). The introduction of energy from an exogenous non-biological material, namely a hydrocolloid wound dressing fragment justifies inclusion in future research protocols
Sociodemographic Correlates of Low Health Literacy Skills among Cancer Survivors: National Findings from BRFSS 2016 and Implications for Precision Survivorship Care
Authors: Chen Qi , Moore John , Noel Lailea , von Sternberg Kirk , Jones Barbara
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to examine the prevalence of low health literacy skills among cancer survivors and their sociodemographic correlates.

Methods

This study used 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. We conducted weighted Chi-square test and logistic regression to compare the difference in prevalence of low health literacy skills between cancer survivors and non-cancer survivors. We used multiple and multinominal logistic regressions to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristic (sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, employment and household income) and three health literacy skills (difficulty obtaining, difficulty understanding oral, and difficulty understanding written health information).

Results

Difficulty understanding oral and written information is greater among cancer survivors than non-cancer survivors. Low educational attainment and income were associated with greater difficulties with all three health literacy skills. Young adult, male, and Hispanic cancer survivors have more difficulties obtaining health information. For cancer survivors, the odds of having difficulties in three health literacy skills versus the odds of having no difficulties were higher for those who were younger than 65, Hispanic, unemployed, with education levels lower than some college and with household income under $25,000.

Conclusion

Sex, age, race/ethnicity, income, employment and education are significant indicators of different health literacy skills among cancer survivors.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Oncology providers seek to better communicate with cancer survivors from diverse backgrounds. Intervention programs need to be tailored for different skills with different populations to meet their expectation in terms of age, language, knowledge based and culture backgrounds.
Age and feeding habits of Caml grenadier Macrourus caml in Cosmonauts Sea
Authors: Xu Siqing , Sun Peng , Zhang Chi , Li Jianchao , Xi Xiaoyu , Ma Shuyang , Zhang Wenchao , Tian Yongjun
Published: September 2022

Macrourus caml is a main by-catch in the Southern Ocean fishery, and a main prey species of Antarctic toothfish, which plays an important role in Southern Ocean ecosystem. In this study, age estimation and stomach content analysis were conducted by using samples collected from the Cosmonauts Sea in 2021. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the age and diet of grenadier Macrourus caml and to explore the feeding habits of Macrourus caml. Stomach content analysis showed that Macrourus caml mainly fed on Malacostraca and Sagittoidea, especially the Malacostraca accounting for over 50%. The feeding habits of male and female Macrourus caml were similar. Before maturation, Macrourus caml mainly fed on Malacostraca and Cnidaria. After maturation, Macrourus caml mainly fed on algae, Malacostraca and Sagittoidea. The feeding bias decreased and the feeding range became wider with aging. The results would provide reference for exploring the nutritional status of Antarctic benthic fish in the ecosystem.
An in-situ study of the thermal decomposition of AIBN radical chemistry using a dual mode EPR resonator
Authors: Magri Giuseppina , Barter Michael , Fletcher-Charles Jack , Choi Heungjae , Slocombe Daniel , Richards Emma , Folli Andrea , Porch Adrian , Murphy Damien M.
Published: September 2022

A custom-built dual mode EPR resonator was used to study the radical chemistry of AIBN thermal decomposition. This resonator enables both simultaneous in situ heating using microwaves and EPR measurements to be performed. The thermal decomposition of AIBN was compared following conventional heating methods and microwave induced (or dielectric) heating methods. Under both heating conditions, the radicals formed and detected by EPR include the 2-cyano-2-propyl (CP●) and 2-cyano-2-propoxyl (CPO●) radicals. Under aerobic conditions, the observed relative distribution of these radicals as observed by EPR is similar following slow heating by conventional or dielectric methods. In both conditions, the kinetically favored CPO● radicals and their adducts dominate the EPR spectra up to temperatures of approximately 80-90 °C. Under anaerobic conditions, the distribution can be altered as less CPO● is available. However, the observed results are notably different when rapid heating (primarily applied using a MW induced T-jump) is applied. As the higher reaction temperatures are achieved on a faster time scale, none of the ST●-CPO adducts are actually visible in the EPR spectra. The more rapid and facile heating capabilities created by microwaves may therefore lead to the non-detection of radical intermediates compared to experiments performed using conventional heating methods.
Assessment of watershed health propensity using reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability based-standard precipitation drought index and GIS: A case study of northern Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq
Authors: Al-Temmeme Ammar , Al-Abadi Alaa M.
Published: September 2022

A quantitative evaluation of watershed health based on climatic variability is essential for watershed management. This study used a well-known reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability water resources performance framework to assess watershed health for 7 transboundary sub-watersheds between Iraq and Iran, based on a standard precipitation drought index (SPI). The assumption is that rainfall variability is one of the main climatic factors that affect watershed health. The grided monthly rainfall data of PERSIANN (Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks) type for 37 water years (1981–2018) were used to calculate SPI and the RRV indicators were calculated with an SPI threshold of 0.1 adapted from previous studies. The non-parametric seasonal Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were used to investigate the trend and value of trend of rainfall and SPI dataset, respectively. The temporal and spatial variation of RRV and watershed health index (WHI) derived from RRV was mapped using geographic information system (GIS). Results revealed that rainfall data did not show any trend, while SPI showed a slightly decreasing trend. The findings of the study noted that RRV had the lowest values of 0.35, 0.19, and 1.45 for the 2017–2018 water year, while the highest values (0.96, 0.99, and 21.06) were recorded for the 1991–1992 node year. Based on the calculated RRV values in most years of the study, all sub-watersheds were considered unhealthy from the standpoint of SPI. Based on the spatial analysis, the northern and northeastern sub-watersheds had less rainfall anomaly and thus appeared relatively healthy as compared to the other parts of the study area.
Meandered CPW-fed Hexagonal Ring fractal Multi-band antenna loaded with Labyrinth Resonator
Authors: Jayarenjini Jayarenjini N
Published: September 2022

A multiband Coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed Hexagonal ring fractal antenna loaded with Labyrinth resonator is proposed, fabricated and measured. The CPW-fed antenna consists of a Labyrinth Resonator (LR)which is fixed on the reverse side of the substrate and iterated Hexagonal Ring fractal on top of FR4. Effects of fractal iterations and the position of the resonator are optimized for multiband characteristics and better performance of the antenna. The impedance matching of the proposed antenna is improved by the introduction of the meandered feedline. The designed antenna has a fractional bandwidth of about 87.93% (3.67-9.43 GHz), 11.21% (9.77-10.93 GHz) and 10.96% (12.93-14.43GHz) in simulation and about 94.63% (3.42-9.43 GHz), 14.17%(9.83-11.33GHz) and 14.46% (12.95-14.97 GHz) in measurement. The overall dimension is 30 × 30 × 1.6 mm3. The experimental and simulated results of a novel meandered CPW-fed printed monopole antenna with LR are reported here, which cover up the entire Ultra Wide Band frequency spectrum with a reflection coefficient of better than -10dB.
Burden of neurological diseases in the Philippines as revealed by web searches: an infodemiological study
Authors: Alonto Anisah Hayaminnah , Apor Almira Doreen Abigail , Jamora Roland Dominic
Published: September 2022

Background
Due to the real time acquisition of big data from the internet, analysis of Google queries is now recognized as a valuable tool to explore and predict human behavior and interests. It has been suggested that online data can be correlated with actual health data. Although the data is not structured nor systematic, the huge data from search engines can easily identify frequencies and trends on diseases and other health concepts from a population perspective. Moreover, internet data with the use of web search advertising nowadays may not only reveal the interest of the general population but also the interests of healthcare industry as reflected by the bid prices in search terms for medications.
Objectives
In this study, we aimed to analyze the searches related to neurological diseases and nervous system drugs in the Philippines. We analyzed the monthly search volumes from Google, the most commonly used search engine in the country, and the bid prices in the web search advertising to infer the interests of the general population and the healthcare industry respectively.
Methods
Data used in this study was obtained from the Google Ads Application Programming Interface (API). This study evaluated the population’s interest in neurological disorders by using the search volumes related to neurology, either disease diagnosis or medications, as this can be a good proxy for the interest of the general population. Bid values generated in API was used as a proxy for the interests of the healthcare industry.
Results
Among the neurologic diseases listed, the most searched were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), migraine, and Alzheimer’s disease. ADHD has been one of the most popular health-related hashtag in social media, hence making it the most searched neurologic disease despite not being in the most prevalent diseases in the 2019 global burden of neurological disorders.
The most commonly searched drugs were medications for secondary stroke prevention such as oral antihypertensives (amlodipine, losartan, carvedilol), lipid-lowering agents (atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin), and antiplatelets (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel). Other most searched drugs were analgesics such as acetaminophen, tramadol, diclofenac, and morphine.
Conclusion
Web searches may reflect the interest of the general population and the healthcare industry and may be influenced by the frequency or social impact of the disease.
3 D Echocardiographic evaluation of Right ventricular functions . a prognostic study in pediatric population with critical pulmonary stenosis undergoing balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.
Authors: Nour Amira , ElShahed Ghada , Zidan Mostafa , Ezzeldin Dina
Published: September 2022

Background :
To evaluate RV functional indices using 3D echocardiography in infants with critical pulmonary stenosis undergoing balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and to evaluate RV indices as follow up parameters in infants with critical PS.
Results:
A total of 60 patients underwent BPV with median age of 8.5 ( range 2- 12 months ). 3D echo revealed lower RV volumes ( P <0.001) , higher FAC( P< 0.001) , higher TAPSE ( P< 0.001) , higher EF ( P < 0.001), , lower basal , mid and longitudinal RV dimension ( P< 0.001) . FAC , TAPSE and RV basal and longitudinal diameter were significantly larger by 3d echo than by 2D echo (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
In patients with critical PS undergoing BPV , assessment of RV indices using 3 D echo is more reliable and effective method to assess RV volumes and function in comparison with conventional 2D echocardiography.
Convergent genomic signatures of high-altitude adaptation among six independently evolved mammals
Authors: Lyu Tianshu , Zhou Shengyang , Fang Jiaohui , Wang Lidong , Shi Lupeng , Dong Yuehuan , Zhang Honghai
Published: September 2022

The species living in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau provide an excellent model system for studying the relationship between molecular convergent evolution and adaptation. Distant species experiencing the same selection pressure (i.e., hypoxia, low temperature and strong ultraviolet radiation) are likely to evolve similar genetic adaptations independently. Here, we performed comparative genomics studies on six independently evolved high-altitude species. The results also showed that the convergent evolution of the six species was mainly reflected at the level of rapidly evolving genes, and the functions of these rapidly evolving genes were mainly related to hypoxia response and DNA damage repair. In addition, we found that high-altitude species had more gene family changes than their low-altitude relatives, except for the order Lagomorpha. The results also show that the convergence of gene family contraction of high-altitude species is much greater than that of expansion, revealing a possible pattern of species in adapting to high-altitude. Furthermore, we detected positive selection signature in four genes related to hypoxia response and ultraviolet radiation damage in these six species (FYCO1, ERBIN, SCAMP1 and CXCL10). Our study reveals that hypoxia response might play an important role in the adaptation of independently evolved species to high-altitude environment, providing a basic perspective for further exploring the high-altitude adaptation mechanism of different related species in the future.
Covid-19 and women’s attitude to work: commitment, effectivity and participation
Authors: Brunetti Irene , Corsini Lorenzo , Martelli Irene
Published: September 2022

In this paper we assess the Covid-19’s and lockdown’s impact on the attitude and capability of women toward work and labour force participation. We use data that we gathered from an online survey on women working conditions before and during the lockdown as well as their perspective on post-lockdown situation. We use Item Response Theory to estimate a latent measure that captures the capability of women to commit fruitfully in their work activities. Our results suggest a predictable worsening of the women working conditions and perspectives, but they also show that this worsening was not symmetric across all the categories of women.
The lockdown was particularly detrimental to women: i) working in the private sector, ii) in the younger age class (below 35) and iii) with less than tertiary education level. Interestingly, these categories were faring quite well in the pre-pandemic situation. We also find that some categories that performed poorly in terms of working capability before the pandemic were not the most hit by the Covid emergency. Our findings point to a severe risk of a withdrawal of women in terms of labour force participation and ask for policy actions to support the categories particularly exposed to this risk.
JEL CODES: C81, J6, J22
Descriptive pilot study on physiological improvements and microbiota modulation after colon cleansing in a group of young adult overweight women
Authors: CA Gonzalez-Correa , LO Tapasco-Tapasco , Gomez-Buitrago PA
Published: September 2022

Background
The colon is now considered as key to wellbeing, health and disease and intestinal microbiota (IM) modulation is becoming a therapeutic target for some medical conditions. Interventions for this modulation range from the traditional ones based basically on diet and exercise, to intestinal fecal (microbiota/microbiome) transplantations, through the consumption of pro- pre- and syn-biotics.
Objectives
In this descriptive pilot study, we propose a 6-day colon cleansing protocol to modulate IM and obtain visible improvements in a selected set of 22 physiological variables associated with being overweight and obesity: 11 physical, 9 chemical and 2 biological (Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio – F/BR, and the prevalence of Akkermansia muciniphila).
Methods
We worked with a convenience sample of 12 young adult overweight female volunteers, divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group, each with n = 6.
Results
Here, we show that favorable changes in all selected variables are present in the experimental group immediately after the treatment and a month later, without further intervention, and that the changes observed in the physical and chemical variables are highly correlated with the changes in the F/BR.
Conclusion
Being overweight or obese, in the same way as most chronic non communicable diseases (NCDs), are associated with unhealthy life habits, which produce epigenetic changes and alterations in the IM equilibrium (dysbiosis). As life habits are modifiable, NCDs are considered as preventable. Microbiota modulation at the beginning of a slimming intervention to restore that equilibrium (eubiosis) could prove very useful as an adjuvant to changes in diet and physical activity and improve their effectiveness. The preliminary results provided by this descriptive pilot study are very encouraging and merit a future larger clinical study in order to get solid statistical support for this proposal.
Bitstream generators using Multiple-Recursive Matrix Methods
Authors: Bishoi Susil Kumar , Senapati Kedarnath , Shankar B R
Published: September 2022

The word-oriented multiple-recursive matrix methods (MRMMs), introduced by Niederreiter, posses very attractive properties as they take advantage of the modern word-based processors and thus increase the throughput. Secondly, the bitstream produced by MRMM has excellent statistical properties with a high period except for low linear complexity. To increase the linear complexity, we study the cascade connection of word-oriented finite shift registers and then investigate their periodicity and linear complexity in case of MRMMs. We also extend the concept of alternating step generator and bit-oriented nonlinear combination generator to respective word-oriented generators.
MSC Classification: 94A55 , 94A60 , 15B33 , 12E20 and 12E05
The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the retina
Authors: Tabaa Khaled , Hammoud Taghrid
Published: September 2022

Aim
A retrospective study was undertaken at Damascus Hospital to investigate retinopathy and associated disorders in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM).
Methods
Between June and August 2022, Damascus Hospital patients with T2DM were found. In the archive department, patients' files were referred to, as were the results of eye examinations and digital fundus imaging, as well as the lab values requested for them when they visited the hospital. An ophthalmologist identified and classified the existence and severity of DR.
Results
The study included 77 diabetic patients, 33 of whom were males (45%) and 40 of whom were females (55%). The patients' median age was 56.15 years, and the average duration of diabetes was 16.41 years. We discovered non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 47 of the sample patients (64%), while proliferative diabetic retinopathy was detected in only 24 (33%). The proportion of diabetic retinopathy patients who did not have regulated glucose readings was 43% (p value 0.0346). The percentage of females who had no proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 75%, whereas males were 52%, resulting in a p value of 0.0370. We did not find any meaningful relationships between the presence of diabetic retinopathy and high total cholesterol values.
Conclusion
Type II diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for retinopathy, and female patients are more affected. Therefore, it is critical to keep blood glucose levels normal or close to normal, with periodic assessment by expert doctors to determine the extent of this condition's development.
A Simple and Low Cost Method for Traffic Sign Measurement Based on GPS and Epipolar Geometry
Authors: Shan Guo-hang , Jia Shuang-cheng , li Qian
Published: September 2022

Traffic sign is an important part of traffic signals, as well as an important element of high-precision navigation maps. This article provides a low-cost and high-efficiency technical solution for traffic sign drawing of high-precision navigation maps. Based on a monocular camera and GPS receiver mounted on a vehicle, this paper uses a series of mathematical methods to get accurate geographic coordinates of traffic signs, including selecting two images that are more suitable in space and time interval, exacting and matching features, solving pose, triangulation. The measurement results in this paper are compared with the actual perimeter of the traffic signs, which shows that the measurement method in this paper can meet the relative accuracy requirement of 6% in most cases, the accuracy of our method is the state-of-the-art.
An integrated soft computing-based criteria interdependencies and intuitionistic fuzzy information to evaluate the urban concrete bridge maintenance models
Authors: Asgari Ahmad , Adlparvar Mohammad Reza , Shahbazi Mahtiam
Published: September 2022

Given the advances in technology and the development of urban development and progress in people's lifestyles, the use of bridges is considered as an important and necessary way of esophageal communication. Bridges are one of the most important tools for connecting roads and different cities, which connect different areas and create connections between people. One of the most important and necessary measures in the bridge industry is related to the repair and maintenance of bridges, which cost less than building a bridge and help to create connections between people. To this end, the present study examines the effects affecting the maintenance and repair of bridges in urban contexts and for this issue an approach under conditions of intuitive fuzzy uncertainty based on analytic network process and comprise solution methods to calculate weights and option ranking offers. Finally, in order to validate the proposed method, a case study is used along with a comparison of the proposed method and existing methods in the literature. The final results indicate the strength and efficiency of the proposed method in calculating weights and ranking options for the project of maintenance and repair of urban bridges in Rasht.
Indoor Vegetable Garden with a Solar Energy Bonus
Authors: Jensen Merle H.
Published: September 2022

Homes of the not-too-distant future may have their own year-round vegetable gardens in greenhouses that double as solar energy collectors. Such a demonstration is presently in operation at the Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL) of the Univ. of Arizona and is funded by the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The model is a research and development tool to evaluate the economic and environmental desirability of developing such a unit as part of residential buildings to reduce the requirements for fossil fuels and at the same time enhance the home environment and add an increment of food production potential.
The Induction of Fruit Set in Cucumbers by Chlorflurenol with or without Pollination1
Authors: Cantliffe Daniel J.
Published: September 2022

Cucumbers, [Cucumis sativus L. cvs. Triple Cross (pickling) and Gemini (slicing)], were grown in the field in the spring and fall under conditions of normal pollination (uncaged) and conditions precluding pollination (caged). When about 5 pistillate flowers were open, some plants from both treatments were sprayed with 100 ppm methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene (chlorflurenol). Very few fruit were produced by either cultivar unless plants were pollinated or treated with chlorflurenol. The most fruit per plant were produced on pollinated, chlorflurenol-treated plants. Numbers of fruit from chlorflurenol-treated plants equalled that of pollinated plants. Chlorflurenol application reduced fruit size in ‘Triple Cross’. No viable seeds developed in fruit from unpollinated plants and chlorflurenol reduced seed number in pollinated fruits.
Reciprocal Differences for Plant and Ear Characteristics in Sweet Corn1
Authors: Hansen Leon A. , Baggett James R.
Published: September 2022

Reciprocal differences were found for tassel date, silk date, plant height, ear height, shank length, husk extension, tip blanking, row number and ear length in a diallel cross of 7 sweet com inbreds (Zea mays L.). Reciprocal differences were not detected for first ear weight. Reciprocal differences were large enough in some crosses to have important breeding implications.
A Chemical Method of Pruning Young Pecan Trees1
Authors: Malstrom Howard L. , McMeans Jack L.
Published: September 2022

Dikegulac [sodium salt of 2,3:4,6 bis-0-1(1-methylethylidene) α-L-xylo-2-hexulofuranosonic acid] applied at 0.25 and 0.5% 6 weeks before leaf fall delayed bud break and promoted lateral shoot development on twigs of 5-year-old pecan trees (Carya illinoensis (Wang.) Koch) the following spring. Foliar applications made 3 weeks after bud break retarded shoot growth and damaged leaflets while increasing lateral shoot development. Mechanical pruning of untreated trees did not induce lateral branching.
Comparison of ‘Rival’ and ‘Tilton’ Apricots for Canning1
Authors: Drake S. R. , Toyama T. K. , Carter G. H.
Published: September 2022

‘Rival’ a new cultivar of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) developed for the Pacific Northwest, if peeled, produces a processed product that is equal to, or superior to ‘Tilton’, a standard canning cultivar, in shear values, succulometer values, Vitamin C content, objective and sensory color, flavor, and texture.
Influence of Pollen Grain Stage at the Time of Hand Pollination as a Factor on Fruit Set of Cherimoya1
Authors: Saavedra E.
Published: September 2022

Preliminary research to investigate additional factors to increase results obtained by hand pollination in cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) revealed that the first flowers to open gave a poorer fruit set with hand pollination than later ones. Flowers that opened earliest had the majority of the pollen grains in the tetrad stage with thick walls, full of starch and did not germinate. Flowers that opened later had a greater proportion of individual pollen grains, no starch grains, and greater cytoplasmic streaming. Many grains germinated after a few hours.
The Myth of Progress Forever1
Authors: Martin Franklin W.
Published: September 2022

What has happened in the field of agriculture in the United States during the last 50 years is unprecedented, unbelievable, spectacular, and commendable. During this period naturally good soils, favorable weather, development of varieties and techniques, and the massive use of energy have made North American farming the most productive ever known. Because of the rich yields obtained, the United States can be called the bread basket of the world, the sure source of abundance.
Persistence of Daminozide Residues in Apple Spurs under Different Climatic Conditions1
Authors: Edgerton L. J. , Unrath C. R. , Forshey C. G. , Lisk D. J.
Published: September 2022

Comparisons are made between residues of succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide (daminozide) in spurs of ‘Delicious’ in the dormant season in North Carolina and in New York. In North Carolina daminozide residue resulting from early season application was dissipated by the end of December and little or no carry over effect was noted in the succeeding crop. In New York a similar early season application may result in significant levels of daminozide in spurs in December.
Effect of a Prestorage CO2 Treatment on the Quality of ‘d'Anjou’ Pears after Regular or Controlled Atmosphere Storage1
Authors: Couey H. Melvin , Wright Theodore R.
Published: September 2022

A prestorage carbon dioxide treatment of ‘d'Anjou’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) reduced stem decay, tended to reduce scuffing, and improved flavor retention after either regular (RA) or controlled (CA) atmosphere storage. The CO2 treated pears remained firmer than non-treated pears in RA but not in CA. The CO2 treatment followed by RA or CA storage did not affect soluble solids, acidity or color of pears.
Chemical Inhibition of Sprouting of Avocado Stumps1
Authors: Boswell S. B. , Lee B. W. , McCarty C. D.
Published: September 2022

Ammonium sulfamate (Animate X) gave the best results for controlling resprouting of tree stumps of avocado (Persea americana Mill.).
Effect of Genotype on the Elemental Concentration of Pecan Leaves1
Authors: Sparks Darrell , Madden George D.
Published: September 2022

Leaf concentration of N, K, Ca, Fe, and Na but not P, Mg, B, Cu, Zn, Al, and Si of pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch], following applications of uniform rates of fertilizer, differed among 39 cultivars and selections after 4 growing seasons.
Growth of Turfgrasses as Affected by Atrinal and Embark1
Authors: Parups E. V. , Cordukes W. E.
Published: September 2022

Sodium 2, 3+4, 6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonate (Atrinal) retarded the growth of turfgrasses grown in the greenhouse but not in the field. N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-][(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] acetamide (Embark) inhibited field-grown turf initially but regrowth, later in the season, was greater than in the control plots.
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol-6000 on Pepper Seed1
Authors: Yaklich R. W. , Orzolek M. D.
Published: September 2022

Seeds of 2 cultivars of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were invigorated by presoaking in a −8 bar solution of polyethylene glycol-6000 (240 g/liter H2O) at 15°C for 5 days. Invigorated seed germinated and emerged faster than noninvigorated in the greenhouse and laboratory, but not in the field. In the last field planting, yield from invigorated ‘Yolo Wonder L.’ was significantly greater than the control seed. Various seed treatments (KC1, KNO3, indoleacetic acid and gibberellic acid) in combination with the osmoticum did not affect invigoration.
A Philosophy for Graduate Study in Horticulture1
Authors: Smock R. M.
Published: September 2022

Does the horticulturist have to train to be a generalist? Rightly or wrongly, the horticulture grad student is becoming more and more of a specialist. Ideally, he should have majors and minors in about 8 subjects like chemistry, physics, plant anatomy, soils, biochemistry, plant physiology, plant pathology and at least one branch of horticulture such as floriculture. This is, of course, humanly impossible. Then besides being a physiologist and a specialist in some branch of horticulture he should also be what H. B. Tukey, Sr. used to call a “plantsman.” This is again humanly impossible. So the student must compromise. In my youth we almost all minored in anatomy or morphology at Ohio State. This has fallen into disfavor so that now we find some grad students working with tissues they can’t even identify. I would also like to make a plug for the plantsman aspect of training. Can the grad student grow a flower or an apple tree? Tissue culture is great but can he or she give tender loving care to a plant in the great out of doors? Can the pomology major prune a peach tree? If the grad student can only converse about DNA or phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase, he may belong in plant physiology and not in horticulture.
An Assessment of Two Genes for Cercospora Leaf Spot Resistance in the Southernpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)1
Authors: Fery R. L. , Dukes P. D.
Published: September 2022

The gene Cls1 and the recessive gene cls2 each conditions a high level of resistance to a leaf spot incited by Cercospora cruenta Sacc. Two Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) resistant breeding lines, CR 17-1-34 (homozygous for Cls1) and Ala. 963.8 (homozygous for cls2), were crossed with each other and with each of 3 susceptible cultivars. The F1 and F2 progenies of these crosses, the backcrosses of the CR 17-1-34 × Ala. 963.8 cross, and the parental lines were grown in a field experiment in which a natural CLS epiphytotic was allowed to develop. Cls1 was completely dominant in all crosses; no evidence was found that either modifying factors or environment had any significant impact on its expression. The cls2 allele was found not to be a complete recessive under weak epiphytotic conditions, but an incomplete dominant that was highly influenced by the environment when in the heterozygous condition. Cls1 and cls2 were neither allelic nor linked.
Effects of Azide Soil Treatments on Quality and Yield of Sweet Potatoes1
Authors: Constantin Roysell J. , Hernandez Travis P.
Published: September 2022

Sweet potatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] grown on azide treated soils, with or without the addition of other herbicidal treatments, were similar in quality and yield as those grown on untreated soil in all experiments except one. During 1972-75 no differences were observed in yield, dry matter, protein, fiber and carotenoid contents, firmness, percent splitting of the canned roots, and baking quality. During 1976 azide treatments in the intermediate range resulted in increased yield of U.S. No. 2 grade roots over the control. The heavier application of azide resulted in an increase in carotenoid content and percentage of split sweet potatoes after canning. All other quality variables, grade and yield were similar to the control during the 1976 season. Data in general show no adverse effects on quality or yield of sweet potatoes as a result of azide soil treatments when applied alone or in combination with other herbicides.
Effect of Nutrition on Dieback of Germinating ‘Curtis’ Pecan Seedlings1
Authors: Sparks Darrell
Published: September 2022

‘Curtis’ pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang) K. Koch] seeds were germinated in perlite and treated with either deionized water, a complete nutrient solution or a nutrient solution minus B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, S, or Zn. All seedlings receiving deionized water died back, 23% died back in the minus B treatment, 82% when Ca was omitted, and none when treated with a complete nutrient solution.
‘Liberty’ Grape1
Authors: Mortensen J. A.
Published: September 2022

‘Liberty’ is a new red-fruited grape cultivar with resistance to Pierce’s disease, an essential character for successful grape production in Florida. The name ‘Liberty’ commemorates our nation’s bicentennial.
‘Sovereign Coronation’ Grape1
Authors: Denby L. G.
Published: September 2022

‘Sovereign Coronation’ (Fig. 1) is an early-midseason, seedless, black fresh-market grape of mild, ‘Concord’ character, maturing at Summerland in early to mid-September.
Tissue Culture of Salpiglossis sinuata L. from Leaf Discs1
Authors: Lee Chi Won , Skirvin Robert M. , Soltero Ana Isel , Janick Jules
Published: September 2022

In vitro propagation from leaf tissues has been reported in various solanaceous plants including Petunia hybrida, P. inflata (6), Lycopersicon esculentum (5), Nicotiana tabacum (3), Solanum nigrum, S. dulcamara, and Physalis peruviana (7). Tissue culture of Salpiglossis sinuata was first reported by Hughes et al. (1) who found that the plantlets generated from anther culture were normal diploids derived from sporophytic tissue. We have since found that adventitious shoots of salpiglossis can be readily generated from leaf discs5 in vitro using a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (4). Salpiglossis leaf discs respond dramatically to variation in auxin and cytokinin concentration (2) and are excellent material for classroom demonstration of tissue-culture techniques.
Defoliating Nursery Stock with Combinations of Ethephon, Endothall, and Cycloheximide1
Authors: Adisesh C. R. , Still S. M.
Published: September 2022

Single applications of 250 or 500 ppm (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) and 250 or 500 ppm 7-oxabicyclo (2,2,1) heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (endothall) along with 5 or 10 ppm of [3-(2-[3,5-dimethyl-2-oxocyclohexyl]-2hydroxyethyl)-glutarimide (cycloheximide) provided the greatest defoliation on 1-year old ‘Delicious’, ‘Winesap’, and ‘Hopa’ apples (Malus spp.) and 1-year seedlings of apple and Pyrus calleryana Decne. These combinations caused high shoot and bud damage to certain cultivars which would not make them suitable for nursery utilization. The addition of endothall significantly increased defoliation.
Concentration and Application Time of Ancymidol for Growth Retardation of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poellniz. cv. Mace1
Authors: Carlson W. H. , Schnabel S. , Schnabel J. , Turner C.
Published: September 2022

‘Mace’ kalanchoe usually produces dense foliage with a cluster of long cymes, but under optimal growing conditions plants grow excessively tall and quality is decreased. Growth retardation of ‘Mace’ has been achieved with daminozide (2), chlormequat (Carlson, unpublished data), ethephon (3), and ancymidol (3). Of these four compounds, ancymidol was the most effective The present study was conducted to determine the effect of increasing ancymidol concn applied at specific time periods during flower inducing (short day) conditions.
Influence of Fertilization and Watering on Acclimatization of Aphelandra squarrosa Nees cv. Dania1
Authors: Conover Charles A. , Poole Richard T.
Published: September 2022

Greenhouse-grown ‘Dania’ aphelandra receiving 0.9 kg N, 0.4 kg P and 0.8 kg K/100 m2 per month were as tall as plants receiving 2 or 3 × levels and general appearance was equal. Plants watered daily or semi-weekly were larger than those watered weekly. Best plants after 8 weeks indoors under 0.8 klx of cool white fluorescent light for 12 hours daily were those produced on the lowest fertilizer level or those watered daily at any fertilizer level. Soluble salts measured on a 1.2 by volume basis at experiment termination indicated high plant grade was associated with salts levels generally below 1000 ppm.
A Self-contained Solar-heated Greenhouse1
Authors: Whitcomb Carl E.
Published: September 2022

A self-contained solar-heated greenhouse was devised consisting of a quonset structure covered with 3 layers of polyethylene which serves as a solar collector. Water mist circulates between the inner 2 poly layers and the heated water is stored in a sand bed in the floor.