bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Expenditure Estimation for Forestry Workers Moving on Flat and Inclined Ground
Authors: Okuda Masayuki , Kawamoto Yutaka , Tado Hiroyuki , Fujita Yoshimasa , Inomata Yuta
Published: May 2023

Forestry workers endure highly physical workloads. Japanese forestry workers experience additional up-and-down movements due to geographical features. Fatigue is a common cause of injury. This pilot study aimed to determine an appropriate method for estimating energy expenditure while moving across inclined ground to simulate a Japanese forest. Six participants wore a portable indirect calorimeter (V˙O2), heart rate (HR) monitor (17 g), accelerometer (20 g; vector magnitude; VM), and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) device. They walked shouldering 20 kg of weight on flat, 15°- and 30°-slopes. The time course of HR was similar to that of V˙O2, but that of VM and the vertical movement varied from that of V˙O2. GNSS cannot correctly detect vertical movements. The HR index (HRI), indicating the ratio of activity HR to resting HR, was significantly correlated with the metabolic equivalent of the task (MET) calculated from V˙O2 (r = 0.932, p < 0.0001), which fit the previously proposed formula for METs (METs = HRI × 6 − 5). However, VM was not correlated with VM (r = 0.354, p = 0.150). We can use HRI to measure the workload of Japanese forestry workers with a small burden in the field.
Treatability Changes of Radiata Pine Heartwood Induced by White-Rot Fungus Trametes versicolor
Authors: Fang Xuan , Xiong Yixin , Li Jiaxin , Ma Xingxia
Published: May 2023

Desired retention and depth into wood are necessary for wood preservatives to provide long-term durability. In general, heartwood of wood is difficult to treat, and bioincising was investigated as a potential technique to improve the treatability of refractory wood and heartwood. In order to study the effects of bioincising treatment with white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor on the pore structure and treatability of radiata pine heartwood, this research conducted tests of mass loss, microscopic structures, pore structure parameters, uptake, and penetration of preservative of radiata pine heartwood specimens incubated by T. versicolor for 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The results showed that the optimal inoculation time of T. versicolor bioincising on radiata pine heartwood was 4 to 8 weeks. At this time, the retention of injected preservatives increased by 5.01%–17.73%, the penetration depth of preservatives increased significantly, and the corresponding mass loss was 3.04%–6.45%. The results of microstructure and pore structure showed that T. versicolor entered the adjacent tracheids via apertures, with less impact on the cell wall, mainly degrading pit membranes and ray parenchyma cells early in the inoculation of radiata pine heartwood. As the structures impeding fluid flow were connected, the porosity of the wood and the range of the main pore size distribution increased significantly, thus increasing the treatability of radiata pine heartwood.
Identifying Cultural Ecosystem Services and Relevant Landscape Elements Provided by Urban Green Space throughout History from an Information Communication Perspective
Authors: Gao Wei , Wang Siyou , Chen Shaotao , Hu Shengjie , Li Hui
Published: May 2023

Throughout the long history of urban expansion and development, some of the natural mountains, lakes, and rivers that were once located on the outskirts of a city have gradually been encircled within it and have become nature in the urban, i.e., they are now in the heart of the city. These are not only green infrastructure for contemporary cities; they have also accumulated a rich cultural heritage and are closely related to the physical health and subjective well-being of city dwellers. The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify the no-material services that the public perceives from UGSs throughout history that contribute to subjective well-being; (2) to analyze which landscape elements are associated with the provision of such services and then to clarify the value of UGSs throughout history and provide a theoretical basis for urban managers. We returned to the original concept of cultural services (information services) to understand how UGSs throughout history, as information sources, have provided subjective well-being to specific groups of people. And we build a classification system for information services based on this understanding. Based on existing research methods on cultural services, we found that collecting information carriers such as texts, images, and interview transcripts is a more effective way to identifying the intangible services provided by a landscape than monetary methods. From understanding of the information communication process, we attempted to integrate the supply and demand indicators of information services. We validated the feasibility of the method of information service identification using Yuexiu Hill in Guangzhou, which has a construction history of 2000 years, as an example. Through the word frequency statistics of 1063 ancient poems (a type of information carrier), elements of the historical landscape of Yuexiu Hill and the information services provided in the past were identified. After that, semantic networks were constructed to analyze the association between elements and services. The results of this study show that information service identification is an effective method of analyzing the effect of the promotion of UGSs throughout history on the subjective well-being of the public. The provision of information services depends on the accumulation and dissemination of environmental information; both natural and cultural elements, especially symbolic elements, play an important role in this process.
Study on Thermal Runaway Risk Prevention of Lithium-Ion Battery with Composite Phase Change Materials
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wang Lu , Xu Chenbo , Wu Hejun , Huang Dongmei , Jin Kan , Xu Xiaomeng
Published: May 2023

To reduce the thermal runaway risk of lithium-ion batteries, a good thermal management system is critically required. As phase change materials can absorb a lot of heat without the need for extra equipment, they are employed in the thermal management of batteries. The thermal management of a Sanyo 26,650 battery was studied in this work by using different composite phase change materials (CPCMs) at different charge–discharge rates. The thorough analysis on the thermal conductivity of CPCMs and the effect of CPCMs was conducted on the maximum surface temperature while charging and discharging. The findings demonstrate the ability of the composite thermal conductivity filler to increase thermal conductivity. It is increased to 1.307 W/(m K) as the ratio of silica and graphene is 1:1 (CPCM-3). The CPCMs can reduce the surface temperature of the cell, and the cooling effect of CPCM-3 is the most obvious, which can reduce the maximum temperature of the cell surface by 13.7 °C and 19 °C under 2 C and 3 C conditions. It is also found that the risk of thermal runaway of batteries under CPCMs thermal management is effectively reduced, ensuring the safe operation of the battery. This research can assist in the safe application of batteries and the development of new energy sources.
Innovations in Forensic Sciences for Human Identification by DNA in the French Gendarmerie during the Last 10 Years
Authors: Sauvagère Stéphane , Pussiau Amaury , Hubac Sylvain , Gouello Audrey , Poussard Alexandre , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Larnane Amel , Siatka Christian , Hermitte Francis
Published: May 2023

The IRCGN (Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is a forensic science institute built by the French Gendarmerie which has the ability to exploit crime scene evidence. Any piece of evidence, anywhere in the world, in any environment, can be examined by IRCGN teams deployed in just a few hours. During the past 10 years, experts specializing in genetics have developed innovative genetic engineering technologies for application in forensic sciences. In this review, we highlight the main innovations and the creation of new tools for human identification, which are fully suited to the French Gendarmerie’s needs. Devices developed by the IRCGN are specific to the Gendarmerie’s purposes.
Real-Time Suitable Predictive Control Using SPaT Information from Automated Traffic Lights
Authors: Bhat Pradeep Krishna , Chen Bo
Published: May 2023

Traffic intersections throughout the United States combine fixed, semi-actuated, and fully actuated intersections. In the case of the semi-actuated and actuated intersections, uncertainties are considered in phase duration. These uncertainties are due to car waiting queues and pedestrian crossing. Intelligent transportation systems deployed in traffic infrastructure can communicate Signal and Phase Timing messages (SPaT) to vehicles approaching intersections. In the connected and automated vehicle ecosystem, the fuel savings potential has been explored. Prior studies have predominantly focused on fixed time control for the driver. However, in the case of actuated signals, there is a different and significant challenge due to the randomness caused by uncertainties. We have developed a predictive control using the SPaT information communicated from the actuated traffic intersections. The developed MPC-based algorithm was validated using model-based design platforms such as AMBER®, Autonomie®, MATLAB®, and SIMULINK®. It was observed that the proposed algorithm can save energy in a single phase, in multiple phase scenarios, and in compelled stopping at stop signs when employed considering communications.
Polymorphisms Analysis of BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B in Tibetan Cashmere Goat (Capra hircus)
Authors: Song Tianzeng , Liu Yacheng , Cuomu Renqing , Tan Yao , A. Wang Cuoji , De Ji , Cao Xiaohan , Zeng Xianyin
Published: May 2023

The Tibetan cashmere goat is a prolific goat breed in China. In sheep breeds, natural mutations have demonstrated that the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) super family ligands, such as growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and their type I receptor (bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR1B), are essential for ovulation and increasing litter size. In this study, 216 female Tibetan cashmere goats were sampled, and candidate genes with fecundity traits were detected via restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequenced. Four polymorphic loci were found in specific amplification fragments of BMP15 and GDF9. Two SNP sites of the BMP15 gene were discovered, namely G732A and C805G. The G732A mutation did not cause the change in amino acids, and the frequencies of each genotype were 0.695 for the GG type, 0.282 for the GA type and 0.023 for the AA type. The C805G mutation caused amino acids to change from glutamine to glutamate. The genotype frequencies were 0.620 for the CC type, 0.320 for the CG type and 0.320 for the CG type. For the GG type 0.060, the G3 and G4 mutations of the GDF9 gene were all homozygous mutations. Two known SNP sites, C719T and G1189A, were detected in the Tibetan cashmere goat GDF9 gene, of which the C719T mutation caused a change of alanine to valine, with a genotype frequency of 0.944 for the CC type and 0.056 for the CT type, whereas no TT type was found. The G1189A mutation caused valine to become isoleucine, and the frequencies of each genotype were 0.579 for the GG type, 0.305 for the GA type and 0.116 for the AA type; G1, B2, B3, B4, FecXH, FecXI, FecXL, G2, G5, G6, G7, G8, FecGE, FecTT and FecB mutations were not found in Tibetan cashmere goats. The results of this study provide a data basis for future studies of BMP15, GDF9 and BMPR1B gene mutations in goats.
Genomic Dynamics and Functional Insights under Salt Stress in Gossypium hirsutum L.
Authors: Anwar Zunaira , Ijaz Aqsa , Ditta Allah , Wang Baohua , Liu Fang , Khan Sana Muhy-Ud-Din , Haidar Sajjad , Hassan Hafiz Mumtaz , Khan Muhammad Kashif Riaz
Published: May 2023

The changing climate is intensifying salt stress globally. Salt stress is a menace to cotton crop quality and yield. The seedling, germination, and emergence phases are more prone to the effects of salt stress than other stages. Higher levels of salt can lead to delayed flowering, a reduced number of fruiting positions, shedding of fruits, decreased boll weight, and yellowing of fiber, all of which have an adverse effect on the yield and quality of the seed cotton. However, sensitivity toward salt stress is dependent on the salt type, cotton growth phase, and genotype. As the threat of salt stress continues to grow, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in plants and to identify potential avenues for enhancing the salt tolerance of cotton. The emergence of marker-assisted selection, in conjunction with next-generation sequencing technologies, has streamlined cotton breeding efforts. This review begins by providing an overview of the causes of salt stress in cotton, as well as the underlying theory of salt tolerance. Subsequently, it summarizes the breeding methods that utilize marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and techniques for identifying elite salt-tolerant markers in wild species or mutated materials. Finally, novel cotton breeding possibilities based on the approaches stated above are presented and debated.
EDLM: Ensemble Deep Learning Model to Detect Mutation for the Early Detection of Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Shah Asghar Ali , Alturise Fahad , Alkhalifah Tamim , Faisal Amna , Khan Yaser Daanial
Published: May 2023

The most common cause of mortality and disability globally right now is cholangiocarcinoma, one of the worst forms of cancer that may affect people. When cholangiocarcinoma develops, the DNA of the bile duct cells is altered. Cholangiocarcinoma claims the lives of about 7000 individuals annually. Women pass away less often than men. Asians have the greatest fatality rate. Following Whites (20%) and Asians (22%), African Americans (45%) saw the greatest increase in cholangiocarcinoma mortality between 2021 and 2022. For instance, 60–70% of cholangiocarcinoma patients have local infiltration or distant metastases, which makes them unable to receive a curative surgical procedure. Across the board, the median survival time is less than a year. Many researchers work hard to detect cholangiocarcinoma, but this is after the appearance of symptoms, which is late detection. If cholangiocarcinoma progression is detected at an earlier stage, then it will help doctors and patients in treatment. Therefore, an ensemble deep learning model (EDLM), which consists of three deep learning algorithms—long short-term model (LSTM), gated recurrent units (GRUs), and bi-directional LSTM (BLSTM)—is developed for the early identification of cholangiocarcinoma. Several tests are presented, such as a 10-fold cross-validation test (10-FCVT), an independent set test (IST), and a self-consistency test (SCT). Several statistical techniques are used to evaluate the proposed model, such as accuracy (Acc), sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), and Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC). There are 672 mutations in 45 distinct cholangiocarcinoma genes among the 516 human samples included in the proposed study. The IST has the highest Acc at 98%, outperforming all other validation approaches.
Review of Applicable Outlier Detection Methods to Treat Geomechanical Data
Authors: Dastjerdy Behzad , Saeidi Ali , Heidarzadeh Shahriyar
Published: May 2023

The reliability of geomechanical models and engineering designs depend heavily on high-quality data. In geomechanical projects, collecting and analyzing laboratory data is crucial in characterizing the mechanical properties of soils and rocks. However, insufficient lab data or underestimating data treatment can lead to unreliable data being used in the design stage, causing safety hazards, delays, or failures. Hence, detecting outliers or extreme values is significant for ensuring accurate geomechanical analysis. This study reviews and categorizes applicable outlier detection methods for geomechanical data into fence labeling methods and statistical tests. Using real geomechanical data, the applicability of these methods was examined based on four elements: data distribution, sensitivity to extreme values, sample size, and data skewness. The results indicated that statistical tests were less effective than fence labeling methods in detecting outliers in geomechanical data due to limitations in handling skewed data and small sample sizes. Thus, the best outlier detection method should consider this matter. Fence labeling methods, specifically, the medcouple boxplot and semi-interquartile range rule, were identified as the most accurate outlier detection methods for geomechanical data but may necessitate more advanced statistical techniques. Moreover, Tukey’s boxplot was found unsuitable for geomechanical data due to negative confidence intervals that conflicted with geomechanical principles.
Effect of Material Composition on Geotechnical Properties—Study on Synthetic Municipal Solid Waste
Authors: Singh Vidit , Uchimura Taro
Published: May 2023

The geotechnical properties of municipal solid waste (MSW) are required to design and maintain a landfill structure. Several landfill failures occurring in recent times have led to the loss of revenue and people. This study aims to investigate the impact of material composition on the geotechnical properties of fresh synthetic municipal solid waste (SMSW), which imitates the real waste produced in India. The study aims to understand the contribution of each material, such as paper, plastic, and organic matter, on the shear behavior of SMSW, which is essential for designing landfills and ensuring their safety and performance. A modified proctor test and a large-scale direct shear test were used to determine the unit weight and shear strength of SMSW, respectively. The synthetic waste’s unit weight and shear strength were found to be consistent with values that had already been published. The shear strength parameters of SMSW include cohesion, which was determined to be at the lower bound of the envelope, and friction angle within the envelope. Lower unit weight, less fine soil-like material, and dry material are thought to be the causes of the observed variation in the behavior of actual waste in synthetic waste. The findings of this experiment demonstrated that as the proportion of paper increases, the cohesion (C) increases, and the friction angle (Φ) decreases. Cohesion and friction angle both decrease as the proportion of plastic increases. Cohesion and friction angle both increase with an increase in the organic percentage. These findings demonstrate that each material contributes differently to the shear behavior of SMSW. Hence, the material composition’s effect should be considered while designing a landfill for improved safety and reliability.
Effects of the Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) on Pulmonary Secondary Infections in Patients with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Retrospective Single Centre Experience
Authors: Berlot Giorgio , Moro Edoardo , Zio Stefano , Zanchi Silvia , Randino Anna , Tomasini Ariella
Published: May 2023

Definitive data on the incidence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in COVID-19 are still lacking, ranging from 29 to 58%. To date, most of the existing literature refers to patients who are not subjected to VAP prevention with selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD). We retrospectively collected data on all COVID-19 patients admitted to our ICU during the second phase of the pandemic with the aim of assessing the occurrence of VAP and the related mortality at 30 days and comparing our findings with the available literature. Of 213 patients, only 74 were eligible for the analysis. An incidence of 6.90 VAP per 1000 days of mechanical ventilation was detected. Apart from a smoking habit (0% vs. 10%, p < 0.005) and diabetes (14% vs. 54%, p = 0.026), patients who developed VAP did not differ significantly from those who did not regarding comorbidities, steroid use, and the severity of COVID-19. VAP were predominantly caused by mono-microbial Gram-negative or fungal infections. Mortality was significantly higher in those who developed VAP (86 vs. 33%, p = 0.002). Our evidence aligned with the available literature in assuming a possible role of SDD in reducing the incidence of VAP in COVID-19 patients, with a possible impact on related mortality and costs.
Dietary Iodine Intake and Related Factors among Secondary School Students in Macao
Authors: Lei Cleandy , Tao Xiaoyu , Xiao Ying
Published: May 2023

Iodine is a crucial micronutrient that is indispensable for optimal physical growth and cognitive maturation. However, the dietary iodine intake status of Macao’s population is unknown. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the dietary iodine intake of Macao secondary school students. Four hundred and twenty-four students filled in a self-developed, 61-item, iodine-specific food frequency questionnaire (I-FFQ). The dietary iodine intake was calculated based on the I-FFQ and food composition database. The median daily iodine intake of the students was 74.4 µg, which is lower than the 150 µg recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The intake frequency of dried seaweed and kelp was also low, with 49.3% and 64.2% of students consuming these foods infrequently over a month. In conclusion, the dietary iodine intake of secondary school students in Macao was inadequate. It is recommended that individuals should take the initiative to gain iodine-related knowledge. Students are advised to eat a variety of iodine-rich foods, such as seaweed and seafood, as part of a healthy, balanced diet to ensure sufficient iodine intake. Furthermore, it will be necessary to measure urinary iodine for the iodine status assessment of the Macao population in future.
From Digital Restitution to Structural Analysis of a Historical Adobe Building: The Escuela José Mariano Méndez in El Salvador
Authors: Santini Silvia , Canciani Marco , Borghese Vittoria , Sabbatini Valerio , Sebastiani Claudio
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, the research in the fields of conservation and restoration is focusing on recording large amounts of data and information in order to obtain highly accurate surveys that include most details of constructions. Documenting and surveying are fundamental activities in achieving the successful preservation of cultural heritage, but also in implementing efficient strengthening interventions of structures. The applications of methods and techniques that link the disciplines of geometrical surveys and structural analyses are still fragmented, and further research is necessary to fully transfer site information into structural models. In this article, the authors propose a methodology with which to link different restoration fields, with the aim of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the interoperability between surveys (carried out through detailed restitution from point clouds), heritage building information modeling (HBIM), and structural analyses to connect three different disciplines. The goal is to find a synthesis model that brings together historical and geometric characteristics, but also physical–mechanical properties, for a structural evaluation through a finite element model (FEM). The case study of the Escuela José Mariano Méndez is analyzed, an extremely damaged historical adobe building in Santa Ana, the second largest city of El Salvador; it is considered fundamental to the national economy, particularly after the “coffee boom” in the late 1800s. The site, located near the historic center, is also known as “Antigua Escuela de Artes y Oficios” and embodies the architectural traditions of the region, being built in adobe and stone. Roma Tre University and the Secretaría de Cultura de la Presidencia (SECULTURA) are partners in this research project to document and restore the historical and cultural value of this site.
Aircrew Health: A Systematic Review of Physical Agents as Occupational Risk Factors
Authors: Russo Ana Carolina , Marqueze Elaine Cristina , Furst Mariana Souza Gomes , Benevides Erika Alvim de Sá e , Roscani Rodrigo Caoduro , Salim Celso Amorim , Guimarães Paulo Cesar Vaz
Published: May 2023

The primary objective of this systematic review was to analyze the main physical agents representing risk factors for commercial aircrew, together with their consequences. The secondary objective was to identify the countries in which studies on the topic were conducted, as well as the quality of the publications available. Thirty-five articles, published between 1996 and 2020, were selected for the review, having met all inclusion criteria. The majority of studies were conducted in the United States, Germany, and Finland and had moderate or low methodological quality of evidence. The main risk factors for aircrew identified in publications were exposure to abnormal air pressure, cosmic radiation, noise, and vibrations. Hypobaric pressure was explored in response to demands for studies on this agent, a factor which may lead to otic and ear barotraumas, as well as acceleration of atherosclerosis of the carotid artery. However, there is a dearth of research exploring this phenomenon.
Structural Racism as an Ecosystem: An Exploratory Study on How Structural Racism Influences Chronic Disease and Health and Wellbeing of First Nations in Canada
Authors: Stelkia Krista
Published: May 2023

Indigenous peoples in Canada experience disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Previous research has identified structural racism as a powerful determinant of health and wellbeing. Mounting evidence demonstrates that First Nations are disproportionately over-represented, compared to other Canadians, in several domains that have been used to measure structural racism in other countries. Despite growing concern of the impact of structural racism on health, there remains little empirical evidence on the impact structural racism has on chronic disease health outcomes of First Nations. This qualitative study examines the complex and intersecting ways in which structural racism can influence chronic disease health outcomes and the overall health and wellbeing of First Nations in Canada. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-five participants, including subject matter experts in health, justice, education, child welfare, politics, and researchers in racism scholarship and First Nations who have lived experience with a chronic condition(s). Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected. Six themes on how structural racism influences chronic disease and the health of First Nations were identified: (1) multiple and intersecting pathways; (2) systems of failure, harm, and indifference; (3) impacts on access to healthcare; (4) colonial policies of structural deprivation; (5) increased risk factors for chronic disease and poor health; and (6) structural burden leading to individual-level outcomes. Structural racism creates an ecosystem that negatively impacts chronic diseases and the health of First Nations. The findings illuminate how structural racism can have micro-level influences at an individual level and can influence one’s chronic disease journey and progression. Recognizing how structural racism shapes our environments may help to catalyze a shift in our collective understanding of the impact of structural racism on health.
The Psychological and Wellbeing Impacts of Quarantine on Frontline Workers during COVID-19 and Beyond
Authors: Holmes Oliver S. , Ellen Steven , Smallwood Natasha , Willis Karen , Delaney Clare , Worth Leon J. , Dolan Shelley , Dunlop Lisa , McDonald Geraldine , Karimi Leila , Rees Megan , Ftanou Maria
Published: May 2023

Objective: The current study investigated the experiences, wellbeing impacts, and coping strategies of frontline workers who participated in “Hotels for Heroes”, an Australian voluntary hotel quarantine program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was open to those who were COVID-19 positive or exposed to COVID-19 as part of their profession. Methods: Frontline workers who had stayed in voluntary quarantine between April 2020 and March 2021 were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, cross-sectional online survey including both quantitative and qualitative responses. Complete responses were collected from 106 participants, which included data on sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, experiences of the Hotels for Heroes program, and validated mental health measures. Results: Mental health problems were prevalent amongst frontline workers (e.g., moderate anxiety symptoms, severe depression symptoms, and greater than usual impact of fatigue). For some, quarantine appeared to be helpful for anxiety and burnout, but quarantine also appeared to impact anxiety, depression, and PTSD negatively, and longer stays in quarantine were associated with significantly higher coronavirus anxiety and fatigue impacts. The most widely received support in quarantine was from designated program staff; however, this was reportedly accessed by less than half of the participants. Conclusions: The current study points to specific aspects of mental health care that can be applied to participants of similar voluntary quarantine programs in the future. It seems necessary to screen for psychological needs at various stages of quarantine, and to allocate appropriate care and improve its accessibility, as many participants did not utilise the routine support offered. Support should especially target disease-related anxiety, symptoms of depression and trauma, and the impacts of fatigue. Future research is needed to clarify specific phases of need throughout quarantine programs, and the barriers for participants receiving mental health supports in these contexts.
Problematic Media Use among Children up to the Age of 10: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Rega Valeria , Gioia Francesca , Boursier Valentina
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Digital screen media use has significantly grown in all age groups and at an increasingly young age, including toddlers, schoolers, and primary school children. Although there is evidence that excessive early childhood media exposure can lead to several negative developmental outcomes, no systematic review on Problematic Media Use (PMU) of children under 10 years old have been provided. The aim of the present systematic review was to identify (i) the main instruments used to measure children’s PMU across different studies; (ii) the risk and protective factors which might increase or reduce children’s PMU; and (iii) the negative outcomes associated with children’s PMU. Methods: This study was conducted following the systematic review guidelines proposed in the PRISMA statement. A total of 35 studies published between 2012–2022 and with a mean sample age between 0 and 10 years old were ultimately included in this literature review. Results: Use of media for more than 2 h a day, male gender, and higher age increased the risk of developing PMU among children. PMU led to several negative consequences for children’s development and well-being (e.g., more problematic behaviors, sleep problems, higher depressive symptoms, lower emotional intelligence, and lower academic achievements). Children who experienced negative psychological symptoms, a dysfunctional parent–child relationship, and difficulties in school context were more prone to develop PMU. However, an authoritative parenting style and restrictive parental mediation reduced the risk of developing PMU among children. Finally, self-report measures specifically designed to get the younger children’s perspective are still few and not so widely used. Conclusions: Overall, this research field is still in its infancy and needs further investigation. Likely, a dysfunctional family system can lead children to experience emotional distress and negative psychological symptoms, which they try to manage by escaping into the virtual world, thus increasing the risk of developing PMU. As the children’s PMU is closely affected by the family environment, future prevention interventions should target both children and their parents to improve their self-regulatory and mentalizing capabilities, as well as parental mediation strategies and general parenting practices.
Workplace Bullying among Healthcare Professionals: A Quanti-Qualitative Survey in a Sample of Women Working in an Italian Healthcare Setting
Authors: Acquadro Maran Daniela , Minniti Davide , Presutti Michele , Alesina Marta , Brizio Adelina , Gatti Paola
Published: May 2023

The main objective of this study was to analyze, in a sample of female healthcare workers in Italy, the training needs to improve positive relationships in the healthcare organization. To better understand these needs, perceived workplace bullying and its consequences in terms of professional commitment and well-being were analyzed from a descriptive and quantitative perspective (or mixed-methods analysis). A questionnaire was completed online in a healthcare facility in northwestern Italy. The participants were 231 female employees. The quantitative data showed that, on average, the sampled population perceived a low burden of WPB. The majority of the sample expressed moderate engagement at work and moderate perception of psychological well-being. It is interesting to note that one element seemed to be overarching in the responses to the open-ended questions: communication, which emerged as a problematic element that affects the entire organization. The research data provide useful evidence for intervention in favor of an environment that helps to recognize the phenomenon and intervene in time, offering the possibility of accepting the discomfort and fatigue of healthcare workers and offering useful interventions to the individual and the team.
Conflict in the EMS Workforce: An Analysis of an Open-Ended Survey Question Reveals a Complex Assemblage of Stress, Burnout, and Pandemic-Related Factors Influencing Well-Being
Authors: Melnyk Halia , Di Tosto Gennaro , Powell Jonathan , Panchal Ashish R. , McAlearney Ann Scheck
Published: May 2023

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinicians provide patient care within a high-stakes, unpredictable, and complex work environment in which conflict is inevitable. Our objective was to explore the extent to which added stressors of the pandemic exacerbated EMS workplace conflict. We administered our survey to a sample of U.S. nationally certified EMS clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2022. Out of 1881 respondents, 46% (n = 857) experienced conflict and 79% (n = 674) provided free-text descriptions of their experience. The responses were analyzed for themes using qualitative content analysis, and they were then sorted into codes using word unit sets. Code counts, frequencies, and rankings were tabulated, enabling quantitative comparisons of the codes. Of the fifteen codes to emerge, stress (a precursor of burnout) and burnout-related fatigue were the key factors contributing to EMS workplace conflict. We mapped our codes to a conceptual model guided by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report on using a systems approach to address clinician burnout and professional well-being to explore implications for addressing conflict within that framework. Factors attributed to conflict mapped to all levels of the NASEM model, lending empirical legitimacy to a broad systems approach to fostering worker well-being. Our findings lead us to propose that active surveillance (enhanced management information and feedback systems) of frontline clinicians’ experiences during public health emergencies could increase the effectiveness of regulations and policies across the healthcare system. Ideally, the contributions of the occupational health discipline would become a mainstay of a sustained response to promote ongoing worker well-being. The maintenance of a robust EMS workforce, and by extension the health professionals in its operational sphere, is unquestionably essential to our preparedness for the likelihood that pandemic threats may become more commonplace.
Workplace-Based Interventions for Mental Health in Africa: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hoosain Munira , Mayet-Hoosain Naafi’ah , Plastow Nicola Ann
Published: May 2023

Mental health problems are one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease. Workplaces provide a valuable and accessible setting for interventions to improve worker health. However, little is known about mental health interventions on the African continent, particularly those based in the workplace. This review aimed to identify and report on the literature about workplace-based interventions for mental health in Africa. This review followed the JBI and PRISMA ScR guidelines for scoping reviews. We searched 11 databases for qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies. The grey literature was included, and no language or date limits were applied. Title and abstract screening and full text review, were completed independently by two reviewers. A total of 15 514 titles were identified, of which, 26 titles were included. The most common study designs were qualitative studies (n = 7) and pre-experimental, single-group, pre-test, post-test studies (n = 6). Workers with depression, bipolar mood disorder, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, alcohol and substance abuse, stress and burnout were included in the studies. The participants were mostly skilled and professional workers. A wide variety of interventions were offered, of which, most were multi-modal. There is a need to develop multi-modal interventions in partnership with stakeholders, particularly for semi-skilled and unskilled workers.
Enantiomeric Separation and Degradation of Benoxacor Enantiomers in Horticultural Soil by Normal-Phase and Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Zhu Haoxiang , Qin Kunrong , Zhang Ping , Wang Haiyang
Published: May 2023

The separation of benoxacor enantiomers on six commercial chiral columns was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) under normal-phase and reversed-phase conditions. The mobile phases included hexane/ethanol, hexane/isopropanol, acetonitrile/water, and methanol/water. The effects of the chiral stationary phases (CSPs), temperature, and mobile phase composition and ratio on the separation of benoxacor enantiomers were examined. Under normal-phase conditions, the two benoxacor enantiomers were completely separated on Chiralpak AD, Chiralpak IC, Lux Cellulose-1, and Lux Cellulose-3 columns and partially separated on a Lux Cellulose-2 column. Under reversed-phase conditions, benoxacor enantiomers were completely separated on a Lux Cellulose-3 column and partially separated on Chiralpak IC and Lux Cellulose-1 columns. Normal-phase HPLC performed better than reversed-phase HPLC for the separation of benoxacor enantiomers. As the column temperature increased from 10 °C to 4 °C, the enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) results indicated that the resolution was strongly affected by the temperature and that the lowest temperature did not always produce the best resolution. An optimized separation method on the Lux Cellulose-3 column was used to investigate the stability of benoxacor enantiomers in solvents and the degradation of benoxacor enantiomers in three types of horticultural soil. Benoxacor enantiomers were stable, and degradation or racemization were not observed in methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, hexane, or water (pH = 4.0, 7.0, and 9.0). In three horticultural soils, the degradation rate of S-benoxacor was faster than that of R-benoxacor, resulting in soil enrichment with R-benoxacor. The results of this study will help to improve the risk assessment of enantiomer levels of benoxacor in the environment.
Blockchain and Machine Learning: A Critical Review on Security
Authors: Taherdoost Hamed
Published: May 2023

Blockchain is the foundation of all cryptocurrencies, while machine learning (ML) is one of the most popular technologies with a wide range of possibilities. Blockchain may be improved and made more effective by using ML. Even though blockchain technology uses encryption to safeguard data, it is not completely reliable. Various elements, including the particular use case, the type of data, and legal constraints can determine whether it is suitable for keeping private and sensitive data. While there may be benefits, it is important to take into account possible hazards and abide by privacy and security laws. The blockchain itself is secure, but additional applications and layers are not. In terms of security, ML can aid in the development of blockchain applications. Therefore, a critical investigation is required to better understand the function of ML and blockchain in enhancing security. This study examines the current situation, evaluates the articles it contains, and presents an overview of the security issues. Despite their existing limitations, the papers included from 2012 to 2022 highlighted the importance of ML’s impact on blockchain security. ML and blockchain can enhance security, but challenges remain; advances such as federated learning and zero-knowledge proofs are important, and future research should focus on privacy and integration with other technologies.
Lightweight Implicit Blur Kernel Estimation Network for Blind Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Khan Asif Hussain , Micheloni Christian , Martinel Niki
Published: May 2023

Blind image super-resolution (Blind-SR) is the process of leveraging a low-resolution (LR) image, with unknown degradation, to generate its high-resolution (HR) version. Most of the existing blind SR techniques use a degradation estimator network to explicitly estimate the blur kernel to guide the SR network with the supervision of ground truth (GT) kernels. To solve this issue, it is necessary to design an implicit estimator network that can extract discriminative blur kernel representation without relying on the supervision of ground-truth blur kernels. We design a lightweight approach for blind super-resolution (Blind-SR) that estimates the blur kernel and restores the HR image based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) and a deep super-resolution residual convolutional generative adversarial network. Since the blur kernel for blind image SR is unknown, following the image formation model of blind super-resolution problem, we firstly introduce a neural network-based model to estimate the blur kernel. This is achieved by (i) a Super Resolver that, from a low-resolution input, generates the corresponding SR image; and (ii) an Estimator Network generating the blur kernel from the input datum. The output of both models is used in a novel loss formulation. The proposed network is end-to-end trainable. The methodology proposed is substantiated by both quantitative and qualitative experiments. Results on benchmarks demonstrate that our computationally efficient approach (12x fewer parameters than the state-of-the-art models) performs favorably with respect to existing approaches and can be used on devices with limited computational capabilities.
Severity Outcomes among Adult Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency and COVID-19 Seen in Emergency Departments, United States, April 2020–August 2021
Authors: Drzymalla Emily , Moonesinghe Ramal , Kolor Katherine , Khoury Muin J. , Schieber Lyna , Gundlapalli Adi V.
Published: May 2023

Primary immunodeficiencies (PIs) are a group of diseases that increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. Few studies have examined the relationship between PI and COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, we used Premier Healthcare Database, which contains information on inpatient discharges, to analyze COVID-19 outcomes among 853 adult PI and 1,197,430 non-PI patients who visited the emergency department. Hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and death had higher odds in PI patients than in non-PI patients (hospitalization aOR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.87–2.98; ICU admission aOR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.19–1.96; IMV aOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.15–1.72; death aOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.08–1.74), and PI patients spent on average 1.91 more days in the hospital than non-PI patients when adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and chronic conditions associated with severe COVID-19. Of the largest four PI groups, selective deficiency of the immunoglobulin G subclass had the highest hospitalization frequency (75.2%). This large study of United States PI patients provides real-world evidence that PI is a risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
Evaluation of Pentraxin 3 and Serum Amyloid A in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Periodontal Disease and Obesity
Authors: Popescu Dora Maria , Gheorghe Dorin Nicolae , Turcu-Stiolica Adina , Soancă Andrada , Roman Alexandra , Ionele Claudiu Marinel , Ciucă Eduard Mihai , Boldeanu Virgil Mihail , Boldeanu Lidia , Pitru Allma , Șurlin Petra
Published: May 2023

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is associated with periodontal tissue inflammation, a condition that precedes alveolar bone resorption. It is also elevated in obese tissues and is a useful biomarker of proinflammatory status. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a proinflammatory and lipolytic adipokine. Adipocytes strongly express SAA, which suggests that it may have a significant role in the production of free fatty acids and local and systemic inflammation. Materials and Methods: We statistically analyzed the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) values of PTX3 and SAA in patients with periodontal disease, who were diagnosed with obesity, and compared them with the values of inflammatory markers from patients diagnosed with one of the diseases and with healthy patients. Results: The patients with obesity and periodontitis had significantly higher levels of PTX3 and SAA than the patients diagnosed with either obesity or periodontitis. Conclusions: These two markers are involved in the association between the two pathologies, as evidenced by the correlations between these levels and some clinical parameters.
Prone Position Ventilation in Severe ARDS due to COVID-19: Comparison between Prolonged and Intermittent Strategies
Authors: Karlis George , Markantonaki Despina , Kakavas Sotirios , Bakali Dimitra , Katsagani Georgia , Katsarou Theodora , Kyritsis Christos , Karaouli Vasiliki , Athanasiou Paraskevi , Daganou Mary
Published: May 2023

Ventilation in a prone position (PP) for 12 to 16 h per day improves survival in ARDS. However, the optimal duration of the intervention is unknown. We performed a prospective observational study to compare the efficacy and safety of a prolonged PP protocol with conventional prone ventilation in COVID-19-associated ARDS. Prone position was undertaken if P/F < 150 with FiO2 > 0.6 and PEEP > 10 cm H2O. Oxygenation parameters and respiratory mechanics were recorded before the first PP cycle, at the end of the PP cycle and 4 h after supination. We included 63 consecutive intubated patients with a mean age of 63.5 years. Of them, 37 (58.7%) underwent prolonged prone position (PPP group) and 26 (41.3%) standard prone position (SPP group). The median cycle duration for the SPP group was 20 h and for the PPP group 46 h (p < 0.001). No significant differences in oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, number of PP cycles and rate of complications were observed between groups. The 28-day survival was 78.4% in the PPP group versus 65.4% in the SPP group (p = 0.253). Extending the duration of PP was as safe and efficacious as conventional PP, but did not confer any survival benefit in a cohort of patients with severe ARDS due to COVID-19.