bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Alcohol Use Disorder Interventions in General Health Care Settings in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mushi Dorothy , Francis Joel M. , Moshiro Candida , Hanlon Charlotte , Teferra Solomon
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this, AUD is often not detected in health care settings, which contributes to a wide treatment gap. Integrating services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in general health care settings is among the recommended strategies to narrow this treatment gap. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on integration of AUD interventions in general health care settings in sub–Saharan Africa.

Methods

We searched four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Africa Wide Information) for publications up to December 2020. The search strategy focused on terms for alcohol use, alcohol interventions, and sub-Saharan African countries. Studies that reported AUD interventions in general health care settings in sub–Saharan Africa were eligible for inclusion. Over 3,817 potentially eligible articles were identified. After the removal of duplicates and screening of abstracts, 56 articles were included for full article review. Of these, 24 papers reporting on 22 studies were eligible and included in a narrative review.

Results

Of the 24 eligible articles, 19 (80%) described AUD interventions that were being delivered in general health care settings, 3 (12%) described plans or programs for integrating AUD interventions at different levels of care, including in health facilities, and 2 (8%) studies reported on AUD interventions integrated into general health care settings.

Conclusions

This review shows that there is limited evidence on the integration of AUD interventions in health care settings in sub-Saharan Africa. There is an urgent need for studies that report systematically on the development, adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of integrated AUD interventions in health care settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Improved Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in Postpartum Depression Disorder: Associations With Individual Target-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment Effects
Authors: Zhang Yao , Mu Yunfeng , Li Xiang , Sun Chuanzhu , Ma Xiaowei , Li Sanzhong , Li Li , Zhang Zhaohui , Qi Shun
Published: March 2022

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a depressive condition that is associated with a high risk of stressful life events, poor marital relationships, and even suicide. Neuroimaging techniques have enriched our understanding of cerebral mechanisms underlying PPD; namely, abnormalities in the amygdala-insula-frontal circuit might contribute to the pathogenesis of PPD. Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) is a recently validated neuroscience-informed accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocol. It has been shown to be effective, safe, tolerable, and rapid acting for treating treatment-resistant depression, and may be a valuable tool in the treatment of PPD. The purpose of the current study was to detect inter-hemispheric connectivity changes and their relationship with the clinical treatment effects of rTMS. Resting-state fMRI data from 32 patients with PPD treated with SAINT were collected and compared with findings from 32 age matched healthy controls. Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) was used to analyze the patterns of interhemispheric intrinsic functional connectivity in patients with PPD. Scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, and the relationships between these clinical characteristics and VMHC were the primary outcomes. Patients with PPD at baseline showed reduced VMHC in the amygdala, insula, and medial frontal gyrus compared with the HCs. These properties showed a renormalization after individualized rTMS treatment. Furthermore, increased connectivity between the left and right insula after SAINT was significantly correlated with the improvement of EPDS scores. Our results reveal the disruptions in the intrinsic functional architecture of interhemispheric communication in patients with PPD, and provide evidence for the pathophysiological mechanisms and the effects of rTMS.
Open Online Courses for Strengthening Laboratory-Based Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pakistan
Authors: Saeed Noureen , Zeeshan Mohammad , Farooqi Joveria , Shakoor Sadia , Jabeen Kausar , Malik Faisal Riaz , Rao Jason , Hasan Rumina
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Quality-assured antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) depends upon the knowledge and skills of laboratory staff. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, such types of knowledge and skills are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use openaccess online courses to improve the knowledge of laboratory staff involved in the detection and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Methodology

Seven online modules comprising 22 courses aimed at strengthening the laboratory detection of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were developed. The courses were uploaded onto the websitewww.parn.org.pk. Participants had an option of selecting courses of their interest. Online registration and completion of a pre-course assessment (pre-test) were essential for enrolment. However, participation in post-course assessment (post-test) was optional. The number of registered participants and the proportion of participants who completed each course were computed. A pairedt-test was used to assess the increase between mean pre- and post-test scores. The association between the participants working in public vs. private laboratories and course completion rates were determined using the chi-square test.

Results

A total of 227 participants from Pakistan (March 2018 to June 2020) were registered. The largest number of registered participants and the highest completion rate were noted for AST and biosafety courses, while quality-related courses attracted a lower interest. A comparison of pre- and post-test performance using the paired mean score for the individual courses showed a statistically significant (the value ofp< 0.05) improvement in 13/20 assessed courses. A higher course completion rate was observed in participants from public vs. private sector laboratories (56.8 vs. 30.8%, the value ofp= 0.005).

Conclusions

Our study suggests a promising potential for open online courses (OOCs) toward addressing knowledge gaps in laboratory practice in resource limited settings.
Patient Readiness for Remote Healthcare Services in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From European Countries
Authors: Borda Marta , Grishchenko Natalia , Kowalczyk-Rólczyńska Patrycja
Published: March 2022

Despite the fact that remote services were successfully implemented in most European social and health systems before 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented development of health and social care services provided in this form. This paper compares the readiness of patients to use the digital solutions in healthcare systems implemented in EU countries, in response to the current pandemic situation. In the study, technological, health insurance, and demographic variables were selected on the basis of substantive criteria. Next, the linear ordering method was applied to make a ranking of the analyzed countries according to the level of patients' readiness to use digital healthcare services. The main findings show that the Netherlands and Ireland are characterized by the highest level of patients' readiness for using remote healthcare services. On the other hand, Romania and Bulgaria are among the countries with the lowest readiness. The study also made it possible to group European countries according to the level of patients' preparedness.
Social Robots in Applied Settings: A Long-Term Study on Adaptive Robotic Tutors in Higher Education
Authors: Donnermann Melissa , Schaper Philipp , Lugrin Birgit
Published: March 2022

Learning in higher education scenarios requires self-directed learning and the challenging task of self-motivation while individual support is rare. The integration of social robots to support learners has already shown promise to benefit the learning process in this area. In this paper, we focus on the applicability of an adaptive robotic tutor in a university setting. To this end, we conducted a long-term field study implementing an adaptive robotic tutor to support students with exam preparation over three sessions during one semester. In a mixed design, we compared the effect of an adaptive tutor to a control condition across all learning sessions. With the aim to benefit not only motivation but also academic success and the learning experience in general, we draw from research in adaptive tutoring, social robots in education, as well as our own prior work in this field. Our results show that opting in for the robotic tutoring is beneficial for students. We found significant subjective knowledge gain and increases in intrinsic motivation regarding the content of the course in general. Finally, participation resulted in a significantly better exam grade compared to students not participating. However, the extended adaptivity of the robotic tutor in the experimental condition did not seem to enhance learning, as we found no significant differences compared to a non-adaptive version of the robot.
Women Trust Their OBGYNs to Provide Preexposure Prophylaxis: An Opportunity for HIV Prevention
Authors: Danvers Antoinette A. , Chew Murphy Emma , Avila Karina , Gonzalez-Argoti Tatiana , Edwards Angelic Rivera , Hoffman Susie , Mantell Joanne E. , Bauman Laurie J. , Dolan Siobhan M.
Published: March 2022

Objective

The objective of this study was to understand how women perceive the role of their Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OBGYN) in screening for and providing preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.

Methods

We recruited women ages 18–45 years receiving obstetric or gynecological care at an academic medical center in the Bronx, NY. Thirty participants were enrolled: 10 seeking care for family planning, 10 seeking prenatal care, and 10 seeking care for a sexually transmitted infection. We screened participants for HIV acquisition risk using a PrEP screening tool. We conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed, and entered into Dedoose for analysis of themes using a grounded theory approach.

Results

Sixty percent of the participants were Latinx and 33% African American. Seventy percent had one or more risk factors for HIV acquisition based on the PrEP screening tool, indicating they would benefit from a PrEP discussion. Three main themes emerged from the analysis of interview data. Participants viewed OBGYNs as experts in sexual and reproductive healthcare and believed they were experts in PrEP. Participants were concerned about “PrEP stigma”, being judged by their clinicians as being sexually promiscuous if they expressed a need for PrEP. Lastly, when participants trusted their OBGYN, that trust became a facilitator for women to consider PrEP and offset stigma as a barrier to identifying patients who are candidates for PrEP.

Conclusion

Women established in care with an OBGYN are enthusiastic about having access to PrEP services incorporated into their sexual and reproductive healthcare. A universal approach to HIV prevention would avert stigma surrounding HIV care and prevention.
A Cross-Check of the Reflectance Models to Be Used in Interpretation of Observations of Regolith-Like Surfaces
Authors: Tishkovets Victor P. , Petrova Elena V.
Published: March 2022

Many current and proposed programs of satellite remote sensing of the Earth and other celestial bodies rely upon measurements of the intensity and polarization of light scattered by these bodies. These measurement data are interpreted by searching for the best fits to light-scattering characteristics precalculated with some theoretical models. For regolith-like surfaces, i.e., discrete densely packed random media, the light-scattering models are still under development and they work under different approaches. Here, to estimate the difference between the reflectance characteristics yielded by these procedures, we compare the results of simulations performed according to five frequently used approximate models of a semi-infinite particulate medium. Special attention is paid to taking into account the weak-localization effect. The models differ by the scattering matrixes of a volume element and the dependence of the imaginary part of the effective refractive index on the filling factor. The volume element is an individual spherical particle or a randomly oriented cluster of particles. The cases of modifying the scattering matrix by the static structure factor correction or by subtracting the contribution of the mean field are also considered. The values for the size parameter of particles or monomers in the clusters and the refractive index were assumed at 1.76 and 1.50 + i0.0001, respectively; and two values for the filling factor (defined as a volume fraction occupied by particles in the medium), 20 and 10%, were considered. Our analysis shows that the angular dependences of the intensity and the linear polarization degree obtained with the considered models are rather close to each other. Moreover, they agree with the corresponding characteristics for a large cloud of particles (N is equal to or exceeds 106) with the filling factor up to 20%, which were obtained by approximate methods but well follow the trends found in rigorous simulations for smaller ensembles of particles (Penttilä et al., J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 2021, 262, 107524). Hence, these approximate models are equally acceptable to the interpretation of the results of observations.
How Heavy Lifting Lightens Our Lives: Content Analysis of Perceived Outcomes of Masters Weightlifting
Authors: Huebner Marianne , Arrow Holly , Garinther Alex , Meltzer David E.
Published: March 2022

Although the benefits of sport participation for older adults has been well-documented, the traditionally masculine sport of weightlifting has only recently become popular among older women, who now participate at rates comparable to men in the United States. This study describes the self-reported effects of participating in Masters-level Olympic weightlifting on other aspects of life. Contrasting with previous studies of Masters athletes in other sports, the gender balance and broad age range of our sample allowed us to explore whether the self-reported impact of sport on older adults was similar or different across age groups (35–44, 45–59, 60, and older) for both men and women. A total of 352 (191 women, 159 men, 2 other) who completed a survey of Masters lifters registered with the United States national organization (USAW) responded to an open-ended question about how weightlifting has affected other aspects of their life. Across gender and age categories, responses indicated that weightlifting has a positive impact on physical health (strength, mobility, fitness) and on psychological (mental health benefits, stress reduction) and social aspects such as community connections. Female lifters mentioned psychological benefits such as increased confidence and help with stress and depression more commonly than male lifters; older lifters were more likely than middle-aged lifters to mention physical health benefits. Competition was a prominent theme across genders and age groups. The themes mentioned by participants are consistent with previous literature on sports that are less strongly gender-typed than weightlifting.
GRADE IT—A Literacy-Based Assessment Tool for Generating Research-Based Assessment Data to Evidence the ImpacT of Anti-doping Education via Athletes' Capability to Make the Right Decision
Authors: Blank Cornelia , Gatterer Katharina , Overbye Marie , Schobersberger Wolfgang , Streicher Bernhard , Petróczi Andrea
Published: March 2022

The International Standard for Education (ISE) mandates Code Signatories to plan, deliver, and evaluate anti-doping education. Performance-based evaluation of anti-doping education requires alignment between educational goals, content, and defined outcomes. Based on an existentialist teaching and learning philosophy, we aimed to develop and test an anti-doping impact evaluation tool, to assess the impact of anti-doping education on doping awareness, literacy (DAL), perceived trust, and legitimacy. We propose that the impact of anti-doping education is best captured through assessment of situation-specific (social) cognitive mediators of actions that influence athletes' choices in the context of sport-related goals. In phase one, we aimed to develop and test the Generating Research-based Assessment Data to Evidence the ImpacT of anti-doping education (GRADE IT) evaluation tool that comprised a set of social cognitive components: anti-doping knowledge, DAL, perceived trust, and legitimacy of anti-doping (organizations). In phase two we assessed whether anti-doping education impacts knowledge, the three DAL stages (functional, interactive, and critical literacy), perceived trust and legitimacy. Phase one enrolled 986 junior elite athletes, and we showed that all GRADE IT components performed well. After revision of the tool for phase two, we validated the assumption that anti-doping education impacts the likelihood that athletes will make the “right” choice (based on a new set of data from 1,255 junior elite athletes). Comprehensive education was associated with higher scores for all stages of DAL, as well as perceived trust and legitimacy. Even athletes reporting no education had positive scores for all included outcomes, supporting the assumption that most athletes wish to engage in clean sport behaviors and might need anti-doping education not to prevent them from doping, but rather to reinforce their commitment to clean sport. In conclusion, GRADE IT, which is available in 23 languages, is a suitable tool for application to young, emerging athletes to satisfy the ISE requirement for evaluating anti-doping education programs. Researchers and practitioners alike are advised to collect additional data to further validate the tool for adult athletes, and to apply it longitudinally to identify if changes in doping prevention policies have a delayed effect on DAL, perceived trust, and legitimacy.
Transplacental Transmission of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Authors: Ryu Jihoon , Kang Gi-Jong , Kim Onnuri , Park Jae-Yeon , Shin Hyun-Jin
Published: March 2022

Because the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a critical pathogen resulting in rapid spreading and high mortality rates in piglets, understanding of the transmission route of PEDV is required for its controlling. Until now, it is well known that PEDV transmission routes are various, such as fecal–oral route, contaminated feed, farmworkers, and transport vehicles. However, unlike several swine-infected viruses, there were no reports of vertical transmission with PEDV. In our study, we confirmed possible vertical transmission of PEDV. We confirmed PEDV in piglet testicles and umbilical cords from PEDV-positive sow. These findings are direct evidence that PEDV is transmitted vertically through placenta. This is the first report on transplacental transmission of PEDV and will be very important information for controlling PED.
Intraoperative Protective Mechanical Ventilation in Dogs: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Rodrigues Renata R. , Ambrósio Aline M. , Engbruch Aline M. , Gonçalves Lucas A. , Villela Paula A. , Sanchez Ana F. , Fantoni Denise T.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To evaluate gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, and hemodynamic impact of mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume (VT) in dogs with the use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or preceded by alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM).

Study Design

Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Animals

Twenty-one healthy client-owned mesocephalic healthy dogs, 1–7 years old, weighing 10–20 kg, and body condition scores 4–6/9 admitted for periodontal treatment.

Methods

Isoflurane-anesthetized dogs in dorsal recumbency were ventilated until 1 h with a volume-controlled ventilation mode using 8 mL kg−1of VT. The dogs were distributed in 2 groups: in the ARM group, PEEP starts in 0 cmH2O, increasing gradually 5 cmH2O every 3 min, until reach 15 cmH2O and decreasing in the same steps until 5 cmH2O, maintaining this value until the end; and PEEP group, in which the pressure 5 cmH2O was instituted from the beginning of anesthesia and maintained the same level up to the end of the anesthesia. Cardiopulmonary, metabolic, oxygenation parameters, and respiratory mechanics were recorded after the anesthesia induction (baseline—BL), 15, 45, and 75 min after BL and during the recovery.

Results

The ARM increased the static compliance (Cst) (15 min after baseline) when compared with baseline moment (24.9 ± 5.8 mL cmH20−1vs. 20.7 ± 5.4 mL cmH20−1–p= 0.0364), oxygenation index (PaO2/FIO2) (505.6 ± 59.2 mmHg vs. 461.2 ± 41.0 mmHg—p= 0.0453) and reduced the shunt fraction (3.4 ± 2.4% vs. 5.5 ± 1.6%—p= 0.062). In the PEEP group, no statistical differences were observed concerning the variables evaluated. At the beginning of the evaluation, the driving pressure (DP) before ARM was significantly greater than all other evaluation time points (6.9 ± 1.8 cmH20).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The use of 8 mL kg−1of VTand 5 cmH20 PEEP without ARM maintain adequate oxygenation and mechanical ventilation in dental surgeries for up to 1 h. The use of ARM slightly improved compliance and oxygenation during the maneuver.
Identification of Key Candidate Genes for Beak Length Phenotype by Whole-Genome Resequencing in Geese
Authors: Huang Jianhua , Wang Cong , Ouyang Jing , Tang Hongbo , Zheng Sumei , Xiong Yanpeng , Gao Yuren , Wu Yongfei , Wang Luping , Yan Xueming , Chen Hao
Published: March 2022

The domestic goose is an important economic animal in agriculture and its beak, a trait with high heritability, plays an important role in promoting food intake and defending against attacks. In this study, we sequenced 772 420-day-old Xingguo gray geese (XGG) using a low-depth (~1 ×) whole-genome resequencing strategy. We detected 12,490,912 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using the standard GATK and imputed with STITCH. We then performed a genome-wide association study on the beak length trait in XGG. The results indicated that 57 SNPs reached genome-wide significance levels for the beak length trait and were assigned to seven genes, including TAPT1, DHX15, CCDC149, LGI2, SEPSECS, ANAPC4, and Slc34a2. The different genotypes of the most significant SNP (top SNP), which was located upstream of LGI2 and explained 7.24% of the phenotypic variation in beak length, showed significant differences in beak length. Priority-based significance analysis concluded that CCDC149, LGI2, and SEPSECS genes in the most significant quantitative trait locus interval were the most plausible positional and functional candidate genes for beak length development in the XGG population. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanism of the beak length phenotype in geese, but also lay the foundation for further studies to facilitate the genetic selection of traits in geese.
Study on Buckling Characteristics of a Convex Tape-Shaped Ti-Ni Shape Memory Alloy Element for Application to Passive Vibration Isolator Devices and Force Limit Devices
Authors: Cho Hiroki , Nagamatsu Sho , Sasaki Takumi
Published: March 2022

The tape-shaped Ti-Ni shape memory alloy (SMA) shows negative or quasi-zero stiffness during post-buckling deformation, and this characteristic can be applied to passive vibration isolator devices and force limit devices. Design calculation of the buckling load and the negative stiffness gradient after buckling of tape-shaped SMA element are required to apply the SMA element to these devices. When the cross-section of the SMA element is convex tape shaped, an improvement in buckling properties is expected. In this study, the effects of the curvature of the cross-section on the buckling characteristics of convex tape-shaped SMA elements were investigated by the 3D finite element method (3D-FEM) and material testing. The results of the study indicate that the buckling load and negative stiffness gradient of convex tape-shaped SMA elements tend to increase with increasing curvature of the cross-section. Furthermore, when the convex tape-shaped SMA elements buckled in the convex direction of the cross-section, the loading stress was approximately equivalent to that of buckling a flat tape-shaped SMA elements. Therefore, the convex tape-shaped SMA element is considered to be more suitable for device application compared to the flat tape-shaped SMA element, because the buckling characteristics of convex tape-shaped SMA elements can be controlled by adjusting the curvature of the cross-section without changing the dimensions.
Balanced Use of Zn, Cu, Fe, and B Improves the Yield and Sucrose Contents of Sugarcane Juice Cultivated in Sandy Clay Loam Soil
Authors: Majeed Abdul , Rashid Imran , Niaz Abid , Ditta Allah , Sameen Aysha , Al-Huqail Asma A. , Siddiqui Manzer H.
Published: March 2022

Balanced use of micronutrients in soils is essential for optimized nutrient use efficiency, environmental conservation and long-term sustainability of agro-ecological systems. As a result, maintaining correct micronutrient levels in the soil is essential not only to meet plant needs and maintain agricultural productivity but also to avoid nutrient build-up. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient application on the yield and sucrose content expressed as the polarization of sugar cane juice (POL%) under field conditions. There were seven treatments, viz. T0 = No micronutrient application (control); T1 = ZnSO4 at the rate of 30 kg ha−1; T2 = CuSO4 at the rate of 10 kg ha−1; T3 = FeSO4 at the rate of 30 kg ha−1; T4 = borax at the rate of 2 kg ha−1; T5 = half dose of ZnSO4, CuSO4, FeSO4 and borax at the rate of 15, 5, 15 and 1 kg ha−1 and T6 = full dose of ZnSO4, CuSO4, FeSO4 and borax at the rate of 30, 10, 30 and 2 kg ha−1, arranged in randomized complete block design in triplicate. With the application of ZnSO4 at 30 kg ha−1 along with recommended doses of NPK, 30% more income was generated as compared with the control. Fist plant and ratoon crop yields were 19.08% and 22.03% higher, respectively, than in the control. Similarly, Zn application resulted in 5.91% and 8.64% greater sucrose contents (POL%) in plant and ratoon crops, respectively, when compared with the control. The application of ZnSO4 at the rate of 30 kg ha−1 along with recommended doses of NPK had a significant impact on the yield and sucrose contents of sugarcane.
Soil—Plant Relationships in Soybean Cultivated under Conventional Tillage and Long-Term No-Tillage
Authors: da Silva Gustavo Ferreira , Calonego Juliano Carlos , Luperini Bruno Cesar Ottoboni , Chamma Larissa , Alves Erilene Romeiro , Rodrigues Sérgio Augusto , Putti Fernando Ferrari , da Silva Vicente Mota , de Almeida Silva Marcelo
Published: March 2022

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] have great economic prominence in the world, and soil management systems can directly interfere with their yield through changes in soil physical-hydric properties. Thus, the aim of this research was to verify the relationship between yield components, physiological traits, root development, and soil physical-hydric properties in soybean yields grown under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, SP, Brazil, with two treatments: soybeans grown under conventional tillage and no tillage. It is a long-term experiment, conducted since 1986. The main variables that influenced soybean yield were plant height, relative leaf water content, root dry matter, soil penetration resistance, and soil accumulated water infiltration. Physiological components of the plant and soil water showed a significant and negative correlation with soybean yield. On the other hand, the root development and soil physical components were positively correlated with soybean yield. However, the yield components were not significant. The no-tillage system resulted in 7.8% more soybean productivity compared to conventional tillage. Soybean yield depends on the physical properties and the water storage capacity of the soil, as well as on the physiological traits and the root development of the plant.
Study on the Nutrient Optimal Management Strategy of High and Stable Annual Yield in the Rice–Wheat System: A 10-Year Term Experiment
Authors: Zhang Guofa , Zhang Jianwei , Xu Lei , Zhou Yan , Hou Pengfu , Yang Fei , Li Weiwei , Liu Zhenghui , Ding Yanfeng , Li Ganghua
Published: March 2022

What strategy of nutrient management can maintain the high and stable annual yield in rice–wheat systems under climate change? A 10-year term experiment was conducted in the rice–wheat system to investigate the effect of optimal nutrient management on crop yield and meteorological drivers of year-to-year fluctuations in rice and wheat yield. Treatments were as follows: conventional fertilization (CF, as control), fertilizer postponing (FP, with the same amount fertilization as CF and increasing rate and times of panicle fertilizer) with/without straw incorporation (including only straw returned in rice (W) or wheat (R) season, and both straw incorporation (WS), RFP (reducing amount based on FP) with/without organic fertilizer. Results showed that FP with/without straw incorporation increased 10-year average yields of rice, wheat, and annual by 4.5~6.5%, 3.8~7.2%, and 4.8~6.8%, respectively, while RFP with/without organic fertilizer did not markedly reduce wheat yield, compared with CF. Effect of optimal treatments on wheat and rice yield stability was different; among the annual yield stability in FP + WRS was the greatest due to increasing and a stable number of spikelets and dry matter accumulation (DMA) after heading. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation (CV) of DMA during rice jointing-heading (21.6~30.0%) and heading-maturity stage (20.1~27.9%) was higher than before jointing (13.9~16.7%), which were affected by day photosynthetically active radiation (explain: 26%) and the number of rainy days (explain: 34%), respectively, using Stepwise regression; in contrast, in wheat season, the fluctuation of DMA before jointing was the highest (CV: 83.8~109.9% (before jointing) vs. 61.1~97.4% (heading-mature stage) vs. 33.7~46.3% (jointing-heading period), 55% of its variations was impacted by day-night temperature differences, the number of rainy days and photosynthetically active radiation accumulation. Our finding suggested that nutrient management to increase and stable the DMA after rice jointing and before wheat jointing could maintain the high and stable annual yield in rice–wheat systems.
Natural Control of Weed Invasions in Hyper-Arid Arable Farms: Allelopathic Potential Effect of Conocarpus erectus against Common Weeds and Vegetables
Authors: Alsharekh Anfal , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Alatar Abdulrahman A. , Abdel-Salam Eslam M.
Published: March 2022

Utilization of plant allelopathic potential to control weed infestations provides an effective, cost-efficient, labor-free, and environmentally acceptable alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. Conocarpus erectus, known as buttonwood, belongs to the Combretaceae family with high contents of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity. There have been no studies on the allelopathic potential of C. erectus. The present study (1) examined the allelopathic potential of C. erectus against selected weeds (Chenopodium murale and Amaranthus viridis) and crops (Solanum lycopersicum and Cucumis sativus) via investigating the growth inhibition ability of its aqueous extract, and (2) identified the potential allelochemicals found in this plant. Aqueous extracts were prepared from leaves, roots, and seeds of C. erectus by immersing the dried powder of the examined plant parts in sterile distilled water for 24 h on a shaker set to 180 rpm. The resulting filtrate was considered as 100% solution, and then dilutions were made to various concentrations (75%, 50%, and 25%). C. erectus leaves and seeds showed the highest rate of inhibition at all concentrations against Chenopodium murale and Amaranthus viridis grown in either Petri dishes or pots. Conversely, all the studied extracts did not show any toxic effects against tomato and cucumber plants grown in pots. In Petri dishes, a slight reduction in growth was observed. HPLC analysis of total phenolic contents in C. erectus methanolic extracts showed that leaves have the highest contents of gallic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid (153.963, 69.135, and 39.801 ppm, respectively). The finding of the current study demonstrated that the part of the plant and the concentration of extraction have a significant effect on phytotoxicity. The positive results of this study might be used to develop environmentally-friendly herbicides for agricultural purposes.
Fine Mapping of qWCR4, a Rice Chalkiness QTL Affecting Yield and Quality
Authors: Shi Huan , Zhu Yun , Yun Peng , Lou Guangming , Wang Lu , Wang Yipei , Gao Guanjun , Zhang Qinglu , Li Xianghua , He Yuqing
Published: March 2022

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) chalkiness greatly reduces the rice quality and the commercial value. In this study, qWCR4, a previously reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) of white-core rate (WCR), was confirmed by a BC5F2 segregation population and further fine mapped to a 35.26 kb region. In the qWCR4 region, LOC_Os04g50060 and LOC_Os04g50070 showed significant differences in expression level in endosperm between two NILs, whereas four other genes had no expression. Starch granules in the central endosperm of chalky grains from NIL(J23B) with higher WCR exhibited a typically round and loosely packed morphology. NIL(J23B) with higher WCR accompanied a higher seed filling speed. Moreover, qWCR4J23B (qWCR4 allele in J23B) increased WCR, grain numbers per plant, seed setting rate, grain width, and thousand-grain weight, contributing to a superior yield per plant. All in all, our research results not only lay a foundation for map-based cloning of qWCR4 but also provide new genetic resources for rice yield and quality breeding.
Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Outcome Due to Multidrug Resistant Organisms in Paediatric Liver Transplant Patients in the Era of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Screening
Authors: Verma Anita , Vimalesvaran Sunitha , Dhawan Anil
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are a growing problem in liver transplant recipients (LTR), associated with high morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the impact of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and active screening of MDRO on the epidemiology and outcomes in paediatric LTR. (2) Methods: Single-centre retrospective review of paediatric LTR from January 2017 to December 2018. (3) Results: Ninety-six children were included; 32 (33%) patients were colonised with ≥1 MDRO and 22 (23%) patients had MDRO infections. Median (IQR) duration for start of infection was 9.5 (1.8–16.0) days. Colonisation rate with Gram-positive MDRO was 15.6%, with infection rate of 6.2%; majority due to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). Colonisation with Gram-negative MDRO was 27.0%, with infection rate of 16.6%; majority due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae. Colonisation and infection rate due to Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was 6% and 3%, respectively, during screening and AMS, compared to historical control of 25% and 30%, respectively, without screening and AMS. There was significant reduction in VRE and CRE infection during AMS period in comparison to historical control. Pre-transplant risk factors including bacterial infections pre-transplant (p < 0.01), diagnosis of biliary atresia (p = 0.03), exposure to antibiotics (p < 0.01), EBV viraemia (p = 0.01), and auxiliary transplantation (p < 0.01) were associated with post-transplant MDRO infections. Patients with MDRO infections had longer length of hospital and paediatric intensive care unit stay days (p < 0.01) but associated with no mortality. (4) Conclusions: Our results demonstrate low incidence of colonisation and infections with MDRO, which were associated with high morbidity but no mortality in paediatric LTR. There was significant reduction in MRSA, VRE, and CRE during AMS period compared to pre-AMS era. Some risk factors are unavoidable but antibiotic overuse, early initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy and effective infection prevention strategies can be monitored with multifaceted approach of AMS and screening of MDRO. With limited therapeutic options for MDRO and efficacy data of newer antibiotics in paediatric LTR, robust infection control practices are of paramount importance.
Improvement of Antioxidant Properties in Fruit from Two Blood and Blond Orange Cultivars by Postharvest Storage at Low Temperature
Authors: Carmona Lourdes , Sulli Maria , Diretto Gianfranco , Alquézar Berta , Alves Mónica , Peña Leandro
Published: March 2022

Numerous studies have revealed the remarkable health-promoting activities of citrus fruits, all of them related to the accumulation of bioactive compounds, including vitamins and phytonutrients. Anthocyanins are characteristic flavonoids present in blood orange, which require low-temperature for their production. Storage at low-temperature of blood oranges has been proven to be a feasible postharvest strategy to increase anthocyanins in those countries with warm climates. To our knowledge, no studies comparing the effect of postharvest storage effect on phenylpropanoid accumulation in cultivars with and without anthocyanins production have been published. We have investigated the effect of postharvest cold storage in flavonoid accumulation in juice from Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck in two different oranges: Pera, a blond cultivar, and Moro, a blood one. Our findings indicate a different response to low-temperature of fruit from both cultivars at biochemical and molecular levels. Little changes were observed in Pera before and after storage, while a higher production of phenylpropanoids (3.3-fold higher) and flavonoids (1.4-fold higher), including a rise in anthocyanins from 1.3 ± 0.7 mg/L to 60.0 ± 9.4 mg/L was observed in Moro concurrent with an upregulation of the biosynthetic genes across the biosynthetic pathway. We show that postharvest storage enhances not only anthocyanins but also other flavonoids accumulation in blood oranges (but not in blond ones), further stimulating the interest in blood orange types in antioxidant-rich diets.
COVID-19, Oxidative Stress and Male Reproduction: Possible Role of Antioxidants
Authors: Sengupta Pallav , Dutta Sulagna , Roychoudhury Shubhadeep , D’Souza Urban John Arnold , Govindasamy Kadirvel , Kolesarova Adriana
Published: March 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) involves a complex pathogenesis and with the evolving novel variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the long-term impacts of the unceasing COVID-19 pandemic are mostly uncertain. Evidence indicates deleterious impact of this disease upon male reproductive health. It is concerning that COVID-19 may contribute to the already global declining trend of male fertility. The adverse impacts of COVID-19 on male reproduction may primarily be attributed to the induction of systemic inflammatory responses and oxidative stress (OS), which operate as a vicious loop. Bringing the systemic inflammation to a halt is critical for ‘putting out’ the ‘cytokine storm’ induced by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The possibility of OS playing a prime role in COVID-19-mediated male reproductive dysfunctions has led to the advocacy of antioxidant therapy. An array of antioxidant defense medications has shown to be effective in experimental and clinical studies of COVID-19. The present review thus discusses the possibilities as to whether antioxidant drugs would contribute to combating the SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced male reproductive disruptions, thereby aiming at kindling research ideas that are needed for identification and treatment of COVID-19-mediated male reproductive impairments.
Generative Adversarial CT Volume Extrapolation for Robust Small-to-Large Field of View Registration
Authors: Puiu Andrei , Reaungamornrat Sureerat , Pheiffer Thomas , Itu Lucian Mihai , Suciu Constantin , Ghesu Florin Cristian , Mansi Tommaso
Published: March 2022

Intraoperative Computer Tomographs (iCT) provide near real time visualizations which can be registered with high-quality preoperative images to improve the confidence of surgical instrument navigation. However, intraoperative images have a small field of view making the registration process error prone due to the reduced amount of mutual information. We herein propose a method to extrapolate thin acquisitions as a prior step to registration, to increase the field of view of the intraoperative images, and hence also the robustness of the guiding system. The method is based on a deep neural network which is trained adversarially using self-supervision to extrapolate slices from the existing ones. Median landmark detection errors are reduced by approximately 40%, yielding a better initial alignment. Furthermore, the intensity-based registration is improved; the surface distance errors are reduced by an order of magnitude, from 5.66 mm to 0.57 mm (p-value = 4.18×10−6). The proposed extrapolation method increases the registration robustness, which plays a key role in guiding the surgical intervention confidently.
Study on the Evolution Law and the Orientation Criterion of a Plastic Zone in Rock Surrounding a Circular Roadway in a Three-Dimensional Non-Isobaric Stress Field
Authors: Liu Hongtao , Han Zijun , Han Zhou , Guo Xiaofei , Huo Tianhong , Wei Shengjie , Luo Zilong , Ma Jiquan
Published: March 2022

The original rock stress field is mainly divided into the σHZ-dominant stress field, the σZ-dominant stress field, and the σH-dominant stress field. Via theoretical analysis, the plastic zone morphology and the orientation of roadway surrounding rock under a three-dimensional stress field are studied in depth, and the theory is verified by numerical simulation. The results show that in the σHZ-dominant stress field, the plastic failure mode changes from elliptical to quasi-circular to butterfly, and the optimized angle range of the roadway orientation is determined by three principal stresses. In the σZ-dominant stress field, the shape of the plastic zone transforms from butterfly to ellipse, the optimized angle range of the roadway orientation is 50–90°, and the butterfly hidden danger zone is in the 0–50° range. In the σH-dominated stress field, the shape of the plastic zone transits from ellipse to butterfly. The optimized angle range of the roadway orientation is 0–40°, and 50–90° is the butterfly hidden danger zone.
GCTD3: Modeling of Bipedal Locomotion by Combination of TD3 Algorithms and Graph Convolutional Network
Authors: Phan Bui Khoi , Nguyen Truong Giang , Nguyen Ngoc Dat
Published: March 2022

In recent years, there has been a lot of research using reinforcement learning algorithms to train 2-legged robots to move, but there are still many challenges. The authors propose the GCTD3 method, which takes the idea of using Graph Convolutional Networks to represent the kinematic link features of the robot, and combines this with the Twin-Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient algorithm to train the robot to move. Graph Convolutional Networks are very effective in graph-structured problems such as the connection of the joints of the human-like robots. The GCTD3 method shows better results on the motion trajectories of the bipedal robot joints compared with other reinforcement learning algorithms such as Twin-Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient, Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient and Soft Actor Critic. This research is implemented on a 2-legged robot model with six independent joint coordinates through the Robot Operating System and Gazebo simulator.
Juniper communis L. Essential Oils from Western Romanian Carpathians: Bio-Structure and Effective Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Dumitrescu Eugenia , Muselin Florin , Dumitrescu Carmen S. , Orasan-Alic Sergiu A. , Moruzi Răzvan F. , Doma Alexandru O. , Mohamed Erieg A. , Cristina Romeo T.
Published: March 2022

The antibacterial activity of four bacterial standard strains that are naturally encountered in humans and animals was investigated by using bioactive compounds from commercial essential oils of Juniperus communis that were collected from the Western Romanian Carpathians. The Juniper communis essential oils, volatile compounds, were recognized through the GC–MS methodology by comparing identified spectra with those held in the NIST 02, Wiley 275 library. The ratio of each component was calculated based on the peak areas of the GC, without utilizing correction factors. The CLSI standardized micro-dilution was used to determine antimicrobial activity, employing 10−3 dilutions of fresh culture, with inoculums equivalent to a standard of 0.5 McFarland being prepared for testing. Four bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), were investigated, using 96-well micro-dilution plates. Over each micro-dilution well, the essential oils were poured, introducing gradually 2, 4, 8, and 10 µL/well, respectively. The results were expressed as ±SEM and analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test, considering the differences statistically provided when p < 0.05 or lower. The juniper essential oil originating from the Western Romanian Carpathians is rich in four main volatile compounds: β-pinene (34.02%), 1α-pinene (30.43%), p-cymol (20.25%), and β-myrcene (10.20%). The juniper communis essential oil reduced bacterial density for all four strains tested, but compared to Gram-negative bacteria, in our case; a considerably higher antibacterial effectiveness was detected for Gram-positives, with peak reduction of Staphylococcus aureus, recommending the Romanian essential oil as a beneficial antibacterial resource.
Using Conceptual Recurrence and Consistency Metrics for Topic Segmentation in Debate
Authors: Ho Jaejong , Ha Hyoji , Lee Seok-Won , Lee Kyungwon
Published: March 2022

We propose a topic segmentation model, CSseg (Conceptual Similarity-segmenter), for debates based on conceptual recurrence and debate consistency metrics. We research whether the conceptual similarity of conceptual recurrence and debate consistency metrics relate to topic segmentation. Conceptual similarity is a similarity between utterances in conceptual recurrence analysis, and debate consistency metrics represent the internal coherence properties that maintain the debate topic in interactions between participants. Based on the research question, CSseg segments transcripts by applying similarity cohesion methods based on conceptual similarities; the topic segmentation is affected by applying weights to conceptual similarities having debate internal consistency properties, including other-continuity, self-continuity, chains of arguments and counterarguments, and the topic guide of moderator. CSseg provides a user-driven topic segmentation by allowing the user to adjust the weights of the similarity cohesion methods and debate consistency metrics. It takes an approach that alleviates the problem whereby each person judges the topic segments differently in debates and multi-party discourse. We implemented the prototype of CSseg by utilizing the Korean TV debate program MBC 100-Minute Debate and analyzed the results by use cases. We compared CSseg and a previous model LCseg (Lexical Cohesion-segmenter) with the evaluation metrics Pk and WD. CSseg had greater performance than LCseg in debates.