bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucose-6-phosphate 1-Epimerase CrGlu6 Contributes to Development and Biocontrol Efficiency in Clonostachys chloroleuca
Authors: Lv Binna , Guo Yan , Zhao Xue , Li Shidong , Sun Manhong
Published: July 2023

Clonostachys chloroleuca (formerly classified as C. rosea) is an important mycoparasite active against various plant fungal pathogens. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are vital in mycoparasitic interactions; they participate in responses to diverse stresses and mediate fungal development. In previous studies, the MAPK-encoding gene Crmapk has been proven to be involved in mycoparasitism and the biocontrol processes of C. chloroleuca, but its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Aldose 1-epimerases are key enzymes in filamentous fungi that generate energy for fungal growth and development. By protein–protein interaction assays, the glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase CrGlu6 was found to interact with Crmapk, and expression of the CrGlu6 gene was significantly upregulated when C. chloroleuca colonized Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia. Gene deletion and complementation analyses showed that CrGlu6 deficiency caused abnormal morphology of hyphae and cells, and greatly reduced conidiation. Moreover, deletion mutants presented much lower antifungal activities and mycoparasitic ability, and control efficiency against sclerotinia stem rot was markedly decreased. When the CrGlu6 gene was reinserted, all biological characteristics and biocontrol activities were recovered. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase in mycoparasitism and help to further reveal the regulation of MAPK and its interacting proteins in the biocontrol of C. chloroleuca.
Composition of the Anuran Community in a Forest Management Area in Southeastern Amazonia
Authors: Pereira Fabrício Otávio do Nascimento , dos Santos Graciliano Galdino Alves , Serra Anderson Borges , Miranda Cleuton Lima , Araújo Guilherme da Silva , Ruz Emil José Hernández
Published: July 2023

Forest management strategies often compromised the patterns and processes of the naturally dynamic forest ecosystems. As species occurrence and diversity are directly associated with ecological and environment factors, this study evaluated the effect of low-impact forest management on the structure of the anuran community, considering the effects of the environment types generated by the management and the post-exploitation time in the Fazenda Uberlândia, southeastern Amazonia (Portel, Pará, Brazil). Field data were collected in the period of the highest rainfall in the region (February to March 2021) by sampling 84 linear transects (25 m each) at a minimum distance of 500 m between them. The time elapsed since logging that took place in the study sites varied from 2 to 17 years. We analyzed an area without forest management (used as a control) and three environment types formed by logging activities: secondary roads, skid trails, and storage yard. Our results showed no differences in species richness, abundance, and composition of the anuran community with respect to time since exploitation. Meanwhile, we found significant differences across different environment types, suggesting that the observed pattern of richness and abundance may benefit the assembly of anurans in the short term. Still, over a longer period, it may have a homogenizing effect, gradually modifying the anurofauna assemblage in managed areas to favor species adapted to more open environments, resulting in damage to the local diversity of anurans.
Vibration and Position Control of a Two-Link Flexible Manipulator Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Sasaki Minoru , Muguro Joseph , Kitano Fumiya , Njeri Waweru , Maeno Daiki , Matsushita Kojiro
Published: July 2023

In recent years, industries have increasingly emphasized the need for high-speed, energy-efficient, and cost-effective solutions. As a result, there has been growing interest in developing flexible link manipulator robots to meet these requirements. However, reducing the weight of the manipulator leads to increased flexibility which, in turn, causes vibrations. This research paper introduces a novel approach for controlling the vibration and motion of a two-link flexible manipulator using reinforcement learning. The proposed system utilizes trust region policy optimization to train the manipulator’s end effector to reach a desired target position, while minimizing vibration and strain at the root of the link. To achieve the research objectives, a 3D model of the flexible-link manipulator is designed, and an optimal reward function is identified to guide the learning process. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully suppresses vibration and strain when moving the end effector to the target position. Furthermore, the trained model is applied to a physical flexible manipulator for real-world control verification. However, it is observed that the performance of the trained model does not meet expectations, due to simulation-to-real challenges. These challenges may include unanticipated differences in dynamics, calibration issues, actuator limitations, or other factors that affect the performance and behavior of the system in the real world. Therefore, further investigations and improvements are recommended to bridge this gap and enhance the applicability of the proposed approach.
A qLPV-MPC Control Strategy for Trajectory Tracking of Quadrotors
Authors: Rodriguez-Guevara Daniel , Favela-Contreras Antonio , Gonzalez-Villarreal Oscar Julian
Published: July 2023

This article proposes a model predictive control (MPC) strategy for a quadrotor drone trajectory tracking based on a compact state-space model based on a quasi-linear parameter varying (qLPV) representation of the nonlinear quadrotor. The use of a qLPV representation allows for faster execution times, which can be suitable for real-time applications and for solving the optimization problem using quadratic programming (QP). The estimation of future values of the scheduling parameters along the prediction horizon is made by using the planned trajectory based on the previous optimal control actions. The performance of the proposed approach is tested by following different trajectories in simulation to show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Torque-Based Control of a Bio-Inspired Modular Climbing Robot
Authors: Prados Carlos , Hernando Miguel , Gambao Ernesto , Brunete Alberto
Published: July 2023

This article presents a generalizable, low computational cost, simple, and fast gravity compensation method for legged robots with a variable number of legs. It is based on the static problem, which is a reduction in the dynamic model of the robot that takes advantage of the low velocity of climbing robots. To solve it, we propose a method that computes the torque to be applied by each actuator to compensate for the gravitational forces without using the Jacobian matrix for the forces exerted by the end-effector and without using analytical methods for the gravitational components of the model. We compare our method with the most popular method and conclude that ours is twice as fast. Using the proposed gravity compensator, we present a torque-based PD controller for the position of the leg modules, and a body velocity control without dynamic compensation. In addition, we validate the method with both hardware and a simulated version of the ROMERIN robot, a modular legged and climbing robot. Furthermore, we compare our controller with the usual kinematic inverse controllers, demonstrating that the mean angular and linear error is significantly reduced, as well as the power requirements of the actuators.
A New Approach to Soft Continuity
Authors: Kaur Sandeep , Al-shami Tareq M. , Özkan Alkan , Hosny M.
Published: July 2023

The concept of continuity in topological spaces has a very important place. For this reason, a great deal of work has been done on continuity, and many generalizations of continuity have been obtained. In this work, we seek to find a new approach to the study of soft continuity in soft topological spaces in connection with an induced mapping based on soft sets. By defining the *-image of a soft set, we define an induced soft mapping and present its related properties. To elaborate on the obtained results and relationships, we furnish a number of illustrative examples.
Breastfeeding Practices and Postpartum Depression in Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Chávez-Tostado Mariana , Chávez-Tostado Karla Verónica , Cervantes-Guevara Gabino , Cervantes-Cardona Guillermo , Hernandez-Corona Diana Mercedes , González-Heredia Tonatiuh , Méndez-del Villar Miriam , Corona-Meraz Fernanda Isadora , Guzmán-Ornelas Milton Omar , Barbosa-Camacho Francisco José , Álvarez-Villaseñor Andrea Socorro , Cervantes-Pérez Enrique , Fuentes-Orozco Clotilde , Barrera-López Natalia Guadalupe , López-Bernal Noelia Esthela , González-Ojeda Alejandro
Published: July 2023

Background: Breastfeeding is a characteristic process of mammals that ensures delivery of an adequate nutritional supply to infants. It is the gold standard food source during an infant’s first months of life. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, people in quarantine have experienced a wide range of feelings, which may make isolation challenging in terms of maternal health. This study focused on the prevalence of breastfeeding practices and postpartum depression (PPD) among Mexican women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 586 postpartum women who completed an online survey 4−8 weeks after delivery from April to December 2020 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The aim was to identify potentially depressed mothers according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and describe their breastfeeding practices. Results: The mean maternal age was 30.4 ± 4.6 years, the mean EPDS score was 9.6 ± 5.0, and the PPD prevalence according EPDS scores was 27.1%. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was reported by 32.3% of mothers in the first 48 h and by 70.3% of mothers 48 h after delivery. EBF was associated with a lower prevalence of PPD during the first 48 h (p = 0.015) and after the first 48 h (p = 0.001) after delivery. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) was reported by 385 (65.7%) mothers. PPD was less frequent in mothers practicing SSC (20.3%) than it was in those not practicing SSC (40.3%) (p = 0.001). A higher percentage of mothers practiced SSC breastfed (66.9%) and used EBF (150, 79.4%) (p = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Results suggest that the pandemic emergency and restrictions imposed on the population significantly affected the well-being of mothers after birth, and that these effects may have posed risks to the mental health and emotional stability of postpartum mothers. Therefore, encouraging BF or EBF and SSC may improve or limit depressive symptoms in postpartum mothers.
Numerical Simulation of Turbulence Intensity of an Acid Solution during the Strip Steel Pickling Process
Authors: Cui Xiying , Wang Jianhui , Sun Jiawei , Elmi Sahal Ahmed , Li Xuetong , Bai Zhenhua
Published: July 2023

This study aims to enhance the efficiency of pickling processes by investigating the impact of strip speed and acid flow rate on the turbulence of the acid solution within the pickling tank. The research quantitatively evaluates the flow field state and distribution of acid temperature within the pickling tank. Through finite element simulation, factors such as jet velocity, strip motion velocity, and acid temperature are considered to determine the turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, convective heat transfer coefficient, and average temperature of the near-wall layer of the strip surface under the oblique jet. This analysis considers the effects of these parameters on the flow field within the pickling tank. Furthermore, simulations are conducted to assess the turbulence intensity of the acid solution under various conditions. The study reveals that the intake flow rate has a substantial influence on turbulence and temperature rise at the strip exit and inlet, albeit less so, within the acid tank itself. However, an increase in strip speed notably impacts the turbulence within the center of the acid tank. These findings are invaluable for regulating the pickling process and maintaining optimal strip surface quality in industrial production settings.
Revealing the Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Effect on the Biofilm Formation of Diatom Cylindrotheca sp. Using Multimodal Imaging
Authors: Yang Cuiyun , Song Guojuan , Son Jiyoung , Howard Logan , Yu Xiao-Ying
Published: July 2023

Diatoms contribute to carbon fixation in the oceans by photosynthesis and always form biofouling organized by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the marine environment. Bacteria-produced quorum-sensing signal molecules N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) were found to play an important role in the development of Cylindrotheca sp. in previous studies, but the EPS composition change was unclear. This study used the technology of alcian blue staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to directly observe the biofilm formation process. The results showed that AHLs promote the growth rates of diatoms and the EPS secretion of biofilm components. AHLs facilitated the diatom-biofilm formation by a forming process dependent on the length of carbon chains. AHLs increased the biofilm thickness and the fluorescence intensity and then altered the three-dimensional (3D) structures of the diatom-biofilm. In addition, the enhanced EPS content in the diatom-biofilm testified that AHLs aided biofilm formation. This study provides a collection of new experimental evidence of the interaction between bacteria and microalgae in fouling biofilms.
Lichenysin-like Polypeptide Production by Bacillus licheniformis B3-15 and Its Antiadhesive and Antibiofilm Properties
Authors: Zammuto Vincenzo , Rizzo Maria Giovanna , De Pasquale Claudia , Ferlazzo Guido , Caccamo Maria Teresa , Magazù Salvatore , Guglielmino Salvatore Pietro Paolo , Gugliandolo Concetta
Published: July 2023

We report the ability of the crude biosurfactant (BS B3-15), produced by the marine, thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis B3-15, to hinder the adhesion and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 to polystyrene and human cells. First, we attempted to increase the BS yield, optimizing the culture conditions, and evaluated the surface-active properties of cell-free supernatants. Under phosphate deprivation (0.06 mM) and 5% saccharose, the yield of BS (1.5 g/L) increased by 37%, which could be explained by the earlier (12 h) increase in lchAA expression compared to the non-optimized condition (48 h). Without exerting any anti-bacterial activity, BS (300 µg/mL) prevented the adhesion of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus to polystyrene (47% and 36%, respectively) and disrupted the preformed biofilms, being more efficient against S. aureus (47%) than P. aeruginosa (26%). When added to human cells, the BS reduced the adhesion of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus (10× and 100,000× CFU/mL, respectively) without altering the epithelial cells’ viability. As it is not cytotoxic, BS B3-15 could be useful to prevent or remove bacterial biofilms in several medical and non-medical applications.
Modeling of Human-Exoskeleton Alignment and Its Effect on the Elbow Flexor and Extensor Muscles during Rehabilitation
Authors: Rincon Clarissa , Delgado Pablo , Hakansson Nils A. , Yihun Yimesker
Published: July 2023

Human-exoskeleton misalignment could lead to permanent damages upon the targeted limb with long-term use in rehabilitation. Hence, achieving proper alignment is necessary to ensure patient safety and an effective rehabilitative journey. In this study, a joint-based and task-based exoskeleton for upper limb rehabilitation were modeled and assessed. The assessment examined and quantified the misalignment present at the elbow joint as well as its effects on the main flexor and extensor muscles’ tendon length during elbow flexion-extension. The effects of the misalignments found for both exoskeletons resulted to be minimal in most muscles observed, except the anconeus and brachialis. The anconeus muscle demonstrated a relatively higher variation in tendon length with the joint-based exoskeleton misalignment, indicating that the task-based exoskeleton is favored for tasks that involve this particular muscle. Moreover, the brachialis demonstrated a significantly higher variation with the task-based exoskeleton misalignment, indicating that the joint-based exoskeleton is favored for tasks that involve the muscle.
A Look into Pharmacy Practices among the Purépecha Indigenous Community
Authors: Henry Katrin , Axon David R.
Published: July 2023

This report describes the adoption and integration of Western medicine in Cherán K’eri after the social changes in the 1940s which led to the transition from healer to pharmacist. There are various health models that rely heavily on community pharmacies. The place used as the basis for this report was a clinic managed by a Purépecha-speaking physician and pharmacist that served primarily monolingual indigenous Purépecha patients, whose population was around 9550 according to the 2010 census. Twelve major differences were observed between community pharmacies in the United States and the community pharmacies of Cherán. It was also observed that the modern approach to the health of the indigenous population used a combination of Western medicine together with traditional methods and only resorted to short-term therapies with Western medicines lasting five days or less. A formulary from the clinic’s community pharmacy compiled in 2022 listed the 38 most common medications. Medications used included anti-infectives (n = 3), central nervous system (n = 2), endocrine/hormonal (n = 3), gastrointestinal (n = 3), musculoskeletal (n = 17), respiratory or allergy (n = 6), and genitourinary (n = 2).
Self-Mixing Interferometry Cooperating with Frequency Division Multiplexing for Multiple-Dimensional Displacement Measurement
Authors: Guo Dongmei , Xie Zhanwu , Yang Qin , Xia Wei , Yu Yanguang , Wang Ming
Published: July 2023

In this study, a multiple-dimensional displacement measurement technology is demonstrated by using self-mixing interferometry (SMI) cooperating with a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) technique. The proposed SMI configuration with a single laser generates three modulated light beams with different carrier frequencies. Each beam is incident on a planar grating with its own auto-collimation diffraction angle. The diffracted beams return to the laser cavity and then self-mixing interference occurs. An algorithm based on FDM is developed for multiple-dimensional displacement reconstruction from a single SMI signal. Experiments are conducted to verify the proposed approach. This paper shows an attractive sensing system for multiple-dimensional displacement featuring compact configuration, high resolution and better immunity to environmental disturbances.
Membrane-Based Micro-Volume Dialysis Method for Rapid and High-Throughput Protein Crystallization
Authors: Ghosh Raja
Published: July 2023

Protein crystallization techniques are very important in drug development. This paper discusses a membrane-based micro-volume dialysis method suitable for rapid and high-throughput protein crystallization. A droplet of protein solution was deposited on the membrane surface in a micro-volume dialysis device. Crystallizing agents could be added to the protein solution either directly or through the membrane. The crystallization process could easily be monitored in real time under a microscope. Tiny specks, indicative of forming crystals, were observed as early as 30 s from the start of the experiment, and these were clearly distinguishable as tetragonal lysozyme crystals within 2 min. This method is particularly suitable for carrying out screening and optimization experiments, and for studying crystallization kinetics. The easy and direct manner in which protein and crystallizing agents are introduced into the device makes this method amenable to miniaturization and automation. Additionally, this approach would potentially allow for rapid screening of the effects of drug molecules on the crystallization process and the nature of crystal formation.
Emergency Response Plan for Spontaneous Combustion Based on Case-Based Reasoning
Authors: Zeng Jingwei , Jing Guoxun , Zhu Qifeng , Sun Hao
Published: July 2023

In order to avoid missing the best opportunity for emergency rescue in the event of spontaneous combustion and to prevent accidents from developing further, this paper proposed a method to generate an emergency response plan for spontaneous combustion based on case-based reasoning (CBR). Firstly, we adopted Hadoop big data retrieval technology to establish a case library for spontaneous combustion; then, our team applied CBR technology and introduced the differential determination symbol to calculate case similarity; furthermore, we quickly generated an emergency response plan for spontaneous combustion with the help of the Python program; and finally, we used a case to verify the effectiveness of the method. Overall, the results showed that the emergency response plan generated using this proposed method was consistent with the actual situation of the accident case and, compared with other relevant representative algorithms, the results in this paper were more accurate. In practice, this method may be helpful in providing support for generating emergency response plans for spontaneous combustion.
Study on Interaction Characteristics of Injected Natural Gas and Crude Oil in a High Saturation Pressure and Low-Permeability Reservoir
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Zhang Yang , Wang Haifeng , Zhang Nan , Li Qing , Che Zhengjia , Ji Hujun , Li Chunjie , Li Fuyang , Zhang Liang
Published: July 2023

Natural gas injection is considered for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in a high saturation pressure reservoir in block B111 of the Dagang oilfield, China. To investigate the interaction characteristics of injected natural gas and crude oil, the ability for dissolution–diffusion and miscibility–extraction of natural gas in crude oil was tested using a piece of high-temperature and high-pressure PVT equipment. The physical properties and minimum miscible pressure (MMP) of the natural gas–crude oil system and their interaction during dynamic displacement were analyzed using the reservoir numerical simulation method. The results show the following: (1) Under static gas–oil contact conditions, natural gas has a significant dissolution–diffusion and miscibility–extraction effect on the crude oil in block B111, especially near the gas–oil interface. The content of condensate oil in gas phase is 10.14–18.53 wt%, while the content of dissolved gas in oil phase reaches 26.17–57.73 wt%; (2) Under the reservoir’s conditions, the saturated solubility of natural gas injected in crude oil is relatively small. The effect of swelling and viscosity reduction on crude oil is limited. As the pressure increases with more natural gas dissolved in crude oil, the phase state of crude oil can change from liquid to gas; accordingly, the density and viscosity of crude oil will be greatly reduced, presenting the characteristics of condensate gas; (3) The MMP of natural gas and crude oil is estimated to be larger than 40 MPa. It mainly forms a forward-contact evaporative gas drive in block B111. The miscible state depends on the maintenance level of formation pressure. The injected natural gas has a significant extraction effect on the medium and light components of crude oil. The content of C2–C15 in the gas phase at the gas drive front, as well as the content of CH4 and C16+ in the residual oil at the gas drive trailing edge, will increase markedly. Accordingly, the residual oil density and viscosity will also increase. These results have certain guiding significance for understanding gas flooding mechanisms and designing gas injection in block B111.
Thermochemical Upgrading of Heavy Crude Oil in Reservoir Conditions
Authors: Kholmurodov Temurali , Mirzaev Oybek , Affane Boudkhil , Tajik Arash , Romanova Ksenia , Galyametdinov Yuriy , Dengaev Aleksey , Vakhin Alexey
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to enhance the quality of heavy oil through refinement using aquathermolysis with the simultaneous injection of steam and thermally stable nonionic surfactants (NS). To achieve this, the NS R-PPG of the nonionic type was synthesized, and the optimal product structures were characterized using infrared (IR) methods. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the synthesized NS R-PPG was investigated in line with the requirements for surfactants used in heavy oil applications. Subsequently, the study delved into investigating the hydrothermal upgrading of heavy oil with a catalyst, involving the joint participation of steam and surfactants at a temperature of 250 °C. Additionally, we assessed the improved oil characteristics resulting from the experimental process through SARA analysis, elemental analysis, GC, and viscosity reduction evaluations. The experimental results demonstrated distinct effects concerning the presence and absence of surfactants on heavy oil. Based on these findings, we conclude that surfactants play a crucial role in dispersing asphaltene clusters, thereby facilitating the decomposition process under mild thermobaric conditions, leading to a noticeable increase in the content of light fractions. Furthermore, as per the results of the elemental analysis, surfactants contribute significantly to the desulfurization of heavy oil. Overall, the incorporation of surfactants during hydrothermal upgrading resulted in an irreversible reduction in the viscosity of heavy oil, thereby enhancing its overall quality.
Effect of Weld Shape on Temperature Field of Nozzle Flowmeter
Authors: Zhang Yuliang , Tong Jiangbo , Zhu Zuchao
Published: July 2023

Weld shapes significantly impact nozzle safety, and a number of accidents have occurred due to nozzle cracking. In order to improve weld safety and reveal the effect of weld shape on the temperature field of nozzle flowmeters, this study established four types of welds, with ten different weld shapes. Through numerical calculation, the effect of the weld shape on the temperature field in the solid domain was systematically studied when the flowmeter was passed through high-temperature gas. The results show that the taper angle and taper opening of the weld metal had a certain effect on the temperature distribution of the flowmeter, while the distance between the weld metal and eight-slot nozzle and the bottom width of the weld metal had little effect on the temperature distribution. The type C weld shapes of type III and type IV led to a sizeable high-temperature area at the junction of the weld metal and eight-slot nozzle, and the maximum temperatures of monitoring path 2 reached 689.54 °C and 693.29 °C. This study explored the temperature field distribution law under different weld shapes and parameters, providing guidance and serving as a reference for later engineering applications, and it has some significance in improving the safety of nozzle flowmeter welds and pipelines.
The Formation of Small Amounts of Cyclopropane during Pulsed Pyrolysis of C4–C5 Acyclic Alkanes in the Adiabatic Compression Reactor
Authors: Bilera Igor V.
Published: July 2023

During high-temperature pulse pyrolysis of acyclic butanes and pentanes under adiabatic compression conditions, cyclopropane, a stressed cyclic hydrocarbon, was found among the reaction products in small quantities for the first time. The analysis of the reaction products was performed by gas chromatography using three capillary columns of different polarity, selectivity and sufficient efficiency. The identification of reaction products, including cyclopropane, was performed using retention times of individual substances and model mixtures, as well as comparing chromatograms with reference chromatograms from the literature and the ScanView Application Database. It was shown that the chromatographic peak attributed to cyclopropane could not be a ghost peak. Additional confirmation of this conclusion was obtained in a series of experiments on the pyrolysis of n-butane at a reduced initial temperature of the adiabatic compression reactor (from 120 °C to 50 °C) and a modified mode of GC analysis. Cyclopropane yields as a function of maximum temperature have a bell-shaped asymmetric dependence. The maximum value of the yield of cyclopropane increases with the transition from normal alkanes to isoalkanes, and from pentanes to butanes; for n-pentane, 0.009 wt. %, and for isobutene, ≈0.017 wt. %. During the pulse pyrolysis of isobutane, n-butane, isopentane and n-pentane, cyclopropane is not a primary product. Further theoretical and experimental studies are needed to establish the mechanism of cyclopropane formation during pyrolysis of C4–C5 acyclic alkanes.
Estimation of Forest Parameters in Boreal Artificial Coniferous Forests Using Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A
Authors: Sa Rula , Fan Wenyi
Published: July 2023

In order to evaluate forest quality and carbon stocks and improve our understanding of ecosystems and carbon cycling processes, the accurate measurement of aboveground biomass (AGB) and other forest characteristics is crucial. This paper considers the response differences between the bands obtained from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A sensors, respectively, and combines the exhaustive combination of spectral indices with normalization and ratio techniques to establish suitable weights for the bands in the vegetation index using relative sensitivity and noise equivalent (NE) to improve the saturation effect between the vegetation index and forest parameters (canopy closure (CC), forest stand density (S), basal area (BA), and AGB) and extend the linear relationship between them. This paper also considers the effects of window size, direction, and principal component analysis on texture features, adds weight to textures and combines textures using linear correlation and NE, establishes texture indices to improve the limitations of information contained in individual texture features, analyzes the potential of texture features to evaluate each forest parameter under different conditions, and better captures the variation of forest parameters. In this paper, we only analyze the planted coniferous forest in Saihanba to avoid the differences in electromagnetic wave effects that are difficult to judge and analyze because of the differences in leaf size and leaf orientation between coniferous and broad-leaf forests. In contrast, the vegetation indices and texture indices obtained from Sentinel-2A could better estimate each vegetation parameter, and the linear estimation of each vegetation parameter using the new texture index reached an R2 above 0.65. The results of this study indicate that Sentinel-2A and Landsat 8 are promising remote sensing datasets for estimating vegetation parameters at the regional scale, and Sentinel-2A data can be employed as the primary source of earth observation data for assessing forest resources in the Saihanba area.
YES! Program: Adolescent Lessons Learned during a Virtual Sexual Health Program
Authors: Allsop Yvonne , Tilak Shantanu
Published: July 2023

Effective sexual health education provides individuals medically accurate knowledge and promotes the skills necessary for positive behaviors related to sexual health. This qualitative study employs focus groups to examine learning experiences of nine participating adolescents from a comprehensive youth empowerment and sexual health virtual summer program (The YES! Program). Focus group interviews were coded using inductive analysis to compute student learning themes (safety and prevention, preparation, and communication) and utterance coverage. Narrative inquiry highlighted the experiences of the participants. The results highlight students’ learning experiences through participation in the YES! Program and the skill outcomes of comprehensive sexual health education.
The Effect on Flexibility and a Variety of Performance Tests of the Addition of 4 Weeks of Soleus Stretching to a Regular Dynamic Stretching Routine in Amateur Female Soccer Players
Authors: Alimoradi Mohammad , Sahebozamani Mansour , Hosseini Elham , Konrad Andreas , Noorian Sajad
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of soleus stretching on ankle flexibility and dynamic balance, as well as selected monitoring and performance tests in soccer. Forty-five healthy female soccer players were randomly divided into a regular stretching group, a regular stretching group with soleus stretching, and a control group. Dynamic stretching protocols were performed for 4 weeks during three sessions per week as part of routine exercises. The regular group stretched three muscle groups (i.e., gastrocnemius, quadriceps, and hamstrings), while the regular + soleus group also stretched the soleus muscle. Before and after the stretching intervention, the ankle range of motion test, Y-balance test, drop jump test, dynamic knee valgus test, and Illinois Agility Running Test were performed. Ankle ROM, Y-balance, and DJ significantly improved in both intervention groups compared to controls. Only the regular + soleus group showed improvement in the Illinois Agility Running Test. Additionally, athletes performing the additional soleus stretching had greater improvements in ankle ROM and DJ but not in DKV or Y-balance. The results showed that adding soleus stretching into regular protocols can provide benefits for female soccer players in terms of performance parameters.
Elderly Residents’ Uses of and Preferences for Community Outdoor Spaces during Heat Periods
Authors: Yang Xiaolin , Fan Yini , Xia Dawei , Zou Yukai , Deng Yuwen
Published: July 2023

The downtown cores of many cities are characterized by aged communities that tend to host a relatively high population of elderly retirement residents. The availability and usage of outdoor spaces within these communities play a crucial role in promoting active aging, providing essential locations for rest, activities, and social interaction among the elderly. However, in the planning and design of these spaces, attention is often focused on the safety and mobility requirements of the elderly population, while a lack of research is apparent in the area of elderly-specific preferences for spaces designed for relaxation and communication. In this study, we selected an aging community as the research target and conducted a detailed investigation of the outdoor spaces where the elderly residents gather and build up spontaneously in summer. Our objective was to evaluate the environmental factors influencing the selection of these outdoor spaces by the elderly for relaxation and communication. We analyzed the correlations between these factors and the number of occupants in these spaces and developed predictive models accordingly. The findings indicate that the environmental factors impacting the utilization of outdoor spaces by the elderly during heat periods within the community are, in order of importance: temperature, relative humidity, human traffic flow, and noise levels. These factors include physical and social aspects; temperature is a negative correlation factor affecting the use of outdoor space by the elderly, and the rest are positive correlation factors. This shows that the elderly like to gather and chat in a cool, crowded, and lively environment. Through the data analysis, it was determined that the random forest regression model was the most effective in predicting the number of residents remaining in these spaces. With a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.7958, the model can assist in community update planning and design, help in selecting outdoor spaces, and improve the quality of the outdoor environment. This study discusses the factors influencing the elderly’s use of community outdoor space from the physical and social levels, and the prediction model is significant for the optimization of spatial elements and spatial location.
Influence of Reagents on Qualitative Indicators of Artificial Anti-Deflationary Phytocenosis on Waste from a Rare Earth Tailing Facility
Authors: Krasavtseva Eugenia A. , Maksimova Victoria , Makarov Dmitriy
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an assessment of the effect of various reagents on the qualitative indicators of anti-deflationary single-species sowing phytocenosis on enrichment waste from rare earth ores. It has been established that tailings of loparite ores are not suitable for biological reclamation due to low values of hygroscopic moisture (0.54–2.85%) and clay particles (17.6 ± 0.6%) and high content of bioavailable forms of aluminum (504 ± 14 mg/kg). Seeds of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were grown on the tailings of loparite ore enrichment with the addition of opoka (O), brucite (B), and vermiculite (V). The quality of the seed cenosis was assessed by the dry biomass of the above-ground parts of the plants and the plant height. A positive effect (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01)) of the considered combinations of reagents on the growth of above-ground biomass from 31.5% (V) to 70.3 (V + O), 82.4% (V + B), and 81.8% (V + O+B) and on plant height from 53.8% (V) up to 78.6 (V + O), 83.8% (V + B), and 75.4% (V + O+B) was revealed. The use of a combination of V + O and V + B reagents made it possible to significantly reduce the content of Al (by 19.0% and 52.8%), Sr (by 16.5% and 12.9%), La (by 65.2% and 40.6%), and Ce (by 66.8% and 41.9%) in the aerial part of the sowing phytocenosis compared to control. The results obtained here can become the basis for development of a combined sorption technology for the reclamation of technogenically disturbed lands.
Serological Evaluation for Measles among Italian and Foreign Medical Students in a University Hospital in Rome
Authors: Coppeta Luca , Ferrari Cristiana , Somma Giuseppina , Giovinazzo Viola , Buonomo Ersilia , Trabucco Aurilio Marco , Treglia Michele , Magrini Andrea
Published: July 2023

Background: Measles infection in the hospital setting is a major issue. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, measles outbreaks continue to occur in some European countries. We aimed to evaluate the immunological status of medical students attending the Tor Vergata Polyclinic (PTV). Methods: Measles antibodies titers were assessed by venipuncture on a sample of 2717 medical students who underwent annual health surveillance visits from January 2021 to March 2023. Subjects showing serum IgG values above 1.0 S/CO were considered serologically protected. Personal data, country of origin, and main demographic characteristic were also collected. Results: 66.7% (1467 Italian and 346 foreign) of medical students showed protective IgG antibodies levels. Female students were serologically immune more frequently than males (68.6% vs. 63.3%; p < 0.01 at Chi2). The mean antibody titer was 1.72 S/CO, significantly higher in females than males (1.67 vs. 1.75, respectively; p < 0.05), and significantly related to age (p < 0.01). Albanian students, who were the largest foreign population in our study, showed a low serological protection rate (40/90: 44.4%). Conclusions: The proportion of serologically non-immune students is high, raising concerns about the possible risk of hospital transmission. Substantial differences in the rate of immunity have been found between subjects coming from different parts of Europe and the world. Pre-training assessment of all medical students and vaccination of susceptible individuals is highly recommended, particularly for those from low immunization rate countries.
Very-Low-Frequency Spike–Wave Complex Partial Motor Seizure Mimicking Canine Idiopathic Head Tremor Syndrome in a Dog
Authors: Musteata Mihai , Ștefănescu Raluca , Borcea Denis Gabriel , Solcan Gheorghe
Published: July 2023

Canine idiopathic head tremor syndrome (CIHTS) represents a benign condition characterized by episodic, uncontrolled movement of the head. Even though the condition might be an expression of a partial motor epilepsy, to date, there is a limited number of studies describing the electroencephalographic features. In this report, we describe the case of a dog diagnosed with partial motor epilepsy resembling CIHTS symptomatology, a new slow spike–wave complex pattern similar to that of Lennox–Gastaut syndrome in humans identified on electroencephalographic examination. We also studied the efficacy of phenobarbitone therapy over a period of two years.
Nutrition Education Brings Behavior and Knowledge Change in Limited-Resource Older Adults
Authors: McClelland Jacquelyn , Jayaratne K.S.U. , Bird Carolyn
Published: July 2023

A prospective, controlled, randomized, crossover design was used to examine a nutrition education curriculum's effects on knowledge and behavior of 463 limited-resource older adults in 13 counties. Counties were randomized to begin with the treatment or control curriculum and then the remaining curriculum. Participants completed a pre-test before beginning, a post-test at the completion of the first curriculum, and another post-test at the completion of the remaining curriculum. Significant results provide an evidence base for this intervention's effectiveness. The study reported here provides factors that can contribute to Extension outreach to limited-resource older adult audiences and to Extension scholarship.
Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse in Iranian adults: Results of Azar Cohort Study
Authors: Naghizadeh Sahar , Faramarzi Elnaz , Akbari Hossein , Jafari Nasrin , Sarbakhsh Parvin , Mohammadpoorasl Asghar
Published: July 2023

Background: Substance abuse has significant health impacts on families and society as a whole. We aimed to provide detailed prevalence estimates of substance abuse among the Azar Cohort Study respondents in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: Data on 15006 participants of Azar Cohort Study were analyzed. The variables included tobacco smoking, alcohol use, drug abuse, and socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of substance abuse (with a 95% confidence interval) was calculated using the direct standardization method. Results: Overall, 9.3% and 6.2% of the participants were regular and heavy cigarette smokers, respectively. Also, 1.9% and 2.1% of participants reported a history of using illicit drugs and alcohol, respectively. Substance abuse was more prevalent among males than females. Substance abuse varied significantly with age and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: We identified specific demographic and socioeconomic groups with a higher prevalence of all studied behaviors. Such high-risk groups should be targeted when designing substance abuse prevention programs.
MODERN RADIODIAGNOSIS METHODS OF INTRAARTICULAR FRACTURES
Authors:   Tambov Regional Clinical Oncology Hospital, Tambov, Russia, Емельянова Н. В. ,   Derzhavin Tambov State University, Tambov, Russia, Чумаков Р. В. ,   Derzhavin Tambov State University, Tambov, Russia, Гладышев М. А. ,   Derzhavin Tambov State University, Tambov, Russia
Published: July 2023

The study aims to review and analyze modern methods for diagnosing intra-articular fractures described in scientific literature from PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU. Intra-articular fractures can lead to a higher risk of disability and severe life quality damage. Therefore, in addition to traditional methods of diagnosis, standard X-ray methods, ultrasound diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, and computer tomography are commonly used in modern medicine for detailed assessment of fracture dislocation.
RISK FACTORS FOR AND FEATURES OF MULTIPLE AND SINGLETON PREGNANCY COURSE AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY PREECLAMPSIA
Authors:   Surgut State University, Surgut, Russia, Кудринских И. А. ,   Surgut District Clinical Center for Maternal and Child Health, Surgut, Russia, Белоцерковцева Л. Д. ,   Surgut State University, Surgut, Russia,   Surgut District Clinical Center for Maternal and Child Health, Surgut, Russia, Мордовина И. И. ,   Surgut State University, Surgut, Russia
Published: July 2023

The study aims to evaluate risk factors for complicated pregnancy courses based on the retrospective analysis of 510 anamneses from 2014 to 2021, as well as singleton and multiple pregnancies outcomes with and without preeclampsia registered in the Surgut District Clinical Center for Maternal and Child Health. The study states that chronic arterial hypertension, obesity, hypothyroidism, and preeclampsia in anamnesis may result in preeclampsia in singleton pregnancy, while its manifestation is associated with the worst neonatal outcomes and a more apparent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In multiple pregnancy, assisted reproductive techniques were a significant risk factor for preeclampsia. However, the pathological process demonstrated a moderate type of early preeclampsia and was not associated with unfavorable perinatal outcomes.
Biomedical Ethics and Ethical Theories
Authors: REEM Jong-sik
Published: July 2023

By the mid-1960s, there has been a consensus among English-speaking philosophers as to the role of philosophy: Analytic philosophers and logical positivists widely agreed that philosophy has nothing to say about practical moral issues. However, moral philosophers began to recognize their role in diverse fields; in particular, medicine and health-care. They saw the need for ethical theories in providing directions for moral judgment and conduct, and they started to propose ethical theories for solving practical moral problems.
This paper provides an introduction both to the role of theories in biomedical ethics and the way applying them to specific moral issues. I will begin by presenting a brief description of the historical circumstances that gave rise to biomedical ethics as a distinct philosophical movement. With this historical backdrop, I will focus on the role of ethical theories, by introducing Ruth Macklin and R. M. Hare replies to the skeptics. I will then proceed to the applications of ethical theories to specific cases. First, I will clarify the competing ethical theories in the field of medical ethics; for example, utilitarianism (act-utilitarianism, rule-utilitarianism, preference utilitarianism), W. D. Ross theory of prima facie duty, and the principle of double effect. Then, I will introduce landmark euthanasia cases such as the Karen Quinlan case, the Baby Jane Doe case, the Elizabeth Bouvia case and the Dr. Jack Kevorkian case. Finally, I will turn my attention to the way in which these ethical theories can be applied.
Study on the Development of Medical Ethics Education Program (1)
Authors: HWANG Sang-lk , KWON Bok-Kyu , KOO Young-Mo , KIM Ock-Joo , MOON Yong-Lin , HONG Seong-Hoon
Published: July 2023

In Korea, the concern on the education of medical ethics has been relatively low, and the most of ethics education has been lecture-centered.
Authors developed the program for mass education on the medical ethics based upon the cognitive development theory of Piaget and Kohlberg, in which the students lake an active part. The program consists of 10 sessions, each of which is made of 10 minute watching of audiovisual materials treating the ethically dilemmatic subjects and 60 minute discussion of it by students themselves. And we tested the effectiveness of the program to the undergraduate students of Seoul National University College of Medicine. The effect of the program was proved. We could find that the consciousness of the students on the ethical problems was rising as the sessions progressed.
Now we are developing the self-learning version of the program with construction of CD-ROM title and web site.