bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of Wireless Charging System: Magnetic Materials, Coil Configurations, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Vishnuram Pradeep , Panchanathan Suresh , Rajamanickam Narayanamoorthi , Krishnasamy Vijayakumar , Bajaj Mohit , Piecha Marian , Blazek Vojtech , Prokop Lukas
Published: May 2023

Electric transportation will assist in lowering emissions of greenhouse gases and mitigating the impact of rising petrol prices. To promote the widespread adoption of electric transportation, a diverse range of charging stations must be established in an atmosphere that is friendly to users. Wireless electric vehicle charging systems are a viable alternative technology that can charge electric vehicles (EVs) without any plug-in issues. Wireless power transfer (WPT), which involves the transmission of electricity via an electromagnetic field despite the presence of an intervening area, holds out the possibility of new prospects for EVs to increase environmentally responsible mobility. This review article examines the WPT technology and how it might be applied to electric vehicles from both a technical and safety standpoint. The prime aim of this review is (1) to illustrate the current state of the art in terms of technological advances as well as research limitations in the field of WPT development and use within the field of transportation; (2) to organise the experimental the deployment of WPT EV systems in the actual world; and (3) to analyse the results over a sustainable period and to identify limitations as well as chances for growth. From a technical point of view, the progress that has been made on the selection of material for designing coils, different types of coils with a specific focus on the overall performance of the system. As a result, this study aims to provide an extensive overview focusing on the magnetic materials and the architectures of the transmitter and receiver pads.
Economic Analysis of Recently Announced Green Hydrogen Projects in Russia: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Gomonov Konstantin , Reshetnikova Marina , Ratner Svetlana
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, transitioning to hydrogen energy is considered one of the most promising ways for decoupling economic growth and increasing carbon emissions. Hydrogen demand worldwide is expected to increase in the upcoming decades. However, large-scale development of hydrogen energy still lacks economic efficiency. The economic efficiency of hydrogen production can be increased due to country-specific factors, such as energy and raw materials costs or developed infrastructure for storage and transportation. This study aims to forecast the economic parameters and competitiveness of Russian green hydrogen projects and their future impact on the global hydrogen market. This study forecasts the levelized cost of hydrogen for Russian projects from 1.2 to 11.7 USD/kg with a median value of 4.94 USD/kg. The total capacity of Russian hydrogen production projects may contribute to a slight reduction in the price of hydrogen on the global market. However, Russian hydrogen projects are still in their early stages of development with limited geographical coverage. Russian hydrogen export capacity is nearly halved as a result of sanctions. The anticipated comparative advantages and favorable global impact may be eliminated by these factors.
Predictive Modeling in Medicine
Authors: Toma Milan , Wei Ong Chi
Published: May 2023

Predictive modeling is a complex methodology that involves leveraging advanced mathematical and computational techniques to forecast future occurrences or outcomes. This tool has numerous applications in medicine, yet its full potential remains untapped within this field. Therefore, it is imperative to delve deeper into the benefits and drawbacks associated with utilizing predictive modeling in medicine for a more comprehensive understanding of how this approach may be effectively leveraged for improved patient care. When implemented successfully, predictive modeling has yielded impressive results across various medical specialities. From predicting disease progression to identifying high-risk patients who require early intervention, there are countless examples of successful implementations of this approach within healthcare settings worldwide. However, despite these successes, significant challenges remain for practitioners when applying predictive models to real-world scenarios. These issues include concerns about data quality and availability as well as navigating regulatory requirements surrounding the use of sensitive patient information—all factors that can impede progress toward realizing the true potential impact of predictive modeling on improving health outcomes.
An Assessment of Streambank Erosion Rates in Iowa
Authors: Schilling Keith E. , Wolter Calvin F. , Palmer Jason A. , Beck William J. , Williams Forrest F. , Moore Peter L. , Isenhart Thomas M.
Published: May 2023

Streambank erosion is a major contributor to watershed suspended sediments and phosphorus exports in many regions, but in Iowa and other midwestern states, the load contribution from streambanks is not considered by state nutrient reduction strategies. The study’s objectives were to evaluate the annual bank erosion rates measured in Iowa using erosion pins and aerial imagery and assess how recession rates vary across space, time, and stream order. The overall goal was to determine whether there are global similarities to these streambank recession rates that could be generalized and scaled up for regional assessments using data from Iowa-based erosion pin studies and original research on stream migration rates. At the erosion pin sites, the recession rates averaged approximately 11 cm yr−1 in third-order streams and, when combined with stream migration analyses, we observed scaling associated with bank recession rates at longer time scales across a range of stream orders. More bank recession occurs in larger streams and rivers with greater discharge from larger watershed areas and an increase in stream power. Variations in these bank recession rates were observed in Iowa landform regions mainly due to differences in geology and the composition of the streambank sediments. The study’s results provide a temporal and spatial context for evaluating streambank recession in Iowa and the glaciated Midwest.
Dynamic Responses of Streptomyces albulus QLU58 and Its Acid-Tolerant Derivatives to the Autoacidification in ε-Poly-l-Lysine Production
Authors: Ren Xidong , Chen Yan , Guo Yangzi , Li Kunpeng , Wang Chenying , Liu Xinli
Published: May 2023

Streptomyces albulus is a kind of safety bacteria that is used to produce a natural food preservative named ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL). Environmental autoacidification (the pH declined from 6.8 to approximately 3.0) inevitably occurred in ε-PL biosynthesis by S. albulus. In this study, the dynamic responses of S. albulus QLU58 and its acid-tolerant mutants to autoacidification were investigated at the physiological and transcriptional levels. The results showed that cell growth, ε-PL production, cell respiratory activity, and intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis were disturbed by autoacidification. In the initial autoacidification stage (before 24 h), the acid tolerance of S. albulus was effectively improved by increasing the intracellular ATP and related amino acids contents and the H+-ATPase activity, regulating the membrane fatty acids composition, and maintaining the pHi at about 7.7. However, as the autoacidification degree deepened (after 24 h), the metabolic activities decreased and negative cell growth appeared, which weakened the acid tolerance and caused the pHi to decline to about 6.5. Additionally, the acid-tolerant mutants exhibited better performances during autoacidification, which was also confirmed by the related genes’ improved transcription levels. These results provide references for the analysis of progressive environmental modification in ε-PL production.
Analysis of a Novel Proposal Using Temperature and Efficiency to Prevent Fires in Photovoltaic Energy Systems
Authors: Juarez-Lopez Jose Manuel , Franco Jesus Alejandro , Hernandez-Escobedo Quetzalcoatl , Muñoz-Rodríguez David , Perea-Moreno Alberto-Jesus
Published: May 2023

Fires in photovoltaic (PV) electrical systems are a real and serious problem because this phenomenon can have severe consequences for the safety of people and the environment. In some cases, fires result from a lack of maintenance or improper installation of PV modules. It is essential to consider prevention and continuous monitoring of the electrical parameters to minimize these risks, as these factors increase the temperature of the photovoltaic modules. The use of thermal analysis techniques can prevent hotspots and fires in photovoltaic systems; these techniques allow detecting and correcting problems in the installation, such as shadows, dirt, and poor-quality connections in PVs. This paper presents a case study of the implementation of thermal analysis in an installation of photovoltaic modules connected to a solar pumping system to identify the formation of hotspots through thermal images using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Here, a novel methodology is proposed based on the comparison of temperature increases concerning the values of short circuit current, open circuit voltage, and real efficiency of each PV module. In addition, an electrical safety methodology is proposed to design a photovoltaic system that prevents fires caused by hotspots, contemplating critical parameters such as photovoltaic power, number of photovoltaic modules, DC:AC conversion ratio, electrical conductor selection, control devices, and electrical protection; the performance power expected was obtained using standard power test conditions, including irradiance factor, photovoltaic module (PVM) temperature factor, and power reduction factor.
Effect of Socioeconomic Variables in Predicting Global Fire Ignition Occurrence
Authors: Mukunga Tichaona , Forkel Matthias , Forrest Matthew , Zotta Ruxandra-Maria , Pande Nirlipta , Schlaffer Stefan , Dorigo Wouter
Published: May 2023

Fires are a pervasive feature of the terrestrial biosphere and contribute large carbon emissions within the earth system. Humans are responsible for the majority of fire ignitions. Physical and empirical models are used to estimate the future effects of fires on vegetation dynamics and the Earth’s system. However, there is no consensus on how human-caused fire ignitions should be represented in such models. This study aimed to identify which globally available predictors of human activity explain global fire ignitions as observed by satellites. We applied a random forest machine learning framework to state-of-the-art global climate, vegetation, and land cover datasets to establish a baseline against which influences of socioeconomic data (cropland fraction, gross domestic product (GDP), road density, livestock density, grazed lands) on fire ignition occurrence were evaluated. Our results showed that a baseline random forest without human predictors captured the spatial patterns of fire ignitions globally, with hotspots over Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Adding single human predictors to the baseline model revealed that human variables vary in their effects on fire ignitions and that of the variables considered GDP is the most vital driver of fire ignitions. A combined model with all human predictors showed that the human variables improve the ignition predictions in most regions of the world, with some regions exhibiting worse predictions than the baseline model. We concluded that an ensemble of human predictors can add value to physical and empirical models. There are complex relationships between the variables, as evidenced by the improvement in bias in the combined model compared to the individual models. Furthermore, the variables tested have complex relationships that random forests may struggle to disentangle. Further work is required to detangle the complex regional relationships between these variables. These variables, e.g., population density, are well documented to have substantial effects on fire at local and regional scales; we determined that these variables may provide more insight at more continental scales.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in the Yangtze and Liaohe Rivers
Authors: Zhou Lin , Gao Jiancao , Yang Yanping , Nie Zhijuan , Liu Kai , Xu Gangchun
Published: May 2023

Recently, the economic traits of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) varieties have had a negative tendency. Meanwhile, the status of wild germplasm resources of E. sinensis is unknown, hindering the utilization of wild germplasm resources and the green development of the E. sinensis industry. Thus, the conservation of the wild E. sinensis germplasm resource is of great significance. To this end, we collected wild E. sinensis from two different river basins, the Yangtze River basin, and the Liaohe River basin, and analyzed the genetic diversity as well as the genetic differentiation in E. sinensis populations. Based on eight microsatellite markers, we found moderate genetic diversity in E. sinensis populations regardless of river basin. Based on the mitochondrial D-loop region, we found that all populations are at mutation drift equilibrium, while the Nm between any two populations is greater than 1. We hypothesized the existence of island model gene flow patterns among E. sinensis. Interestingly, genetic differentiation among E. sinensis populations was low, except that between Liaohe and Anqing or Shanghai populations. Additionally, geometric morphological analysis could distinguish E. sinensis from different basins, with an accuracy of 94.2–100%. Given the similar genetic diversity in the two basins, the genetic convergence of E. sinensis from different basins deserves further attention.
Benefits of Polyphenol-Based Synbiotics in Crustacean Diet
Authors: Sateriale Daniela , Facchiano Serena , Kaldre Katrin , Forgione Giuseppina , De Cristofaro Giuseppa Anna , Pagliarulo Caterina , Paolucci Marina
Published: May 2023

Here, the olive leaf extract (OLE) rich in polyphenols was employed as a prebiotic agent, together with Lactobacillus reuteri and Bacillus clausii, to develop synbiotics. The prebiotic effect of olive leaf extract on the probiotic strains was tested at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 400, and 1000 μg mL−1, and also 20 and 40 mg mL−1. Olive leaf extract at 40 mg mL−1 showed the best prebiotic activity on L. reuteri and B. clausii. A basal diet and two experimental synbiotic-containing diets were prepared. The synbiotic diets were manufactured by adding to the basal diet 5 × 106 CFU g−1 L. reuteri + 5 × 106 CFU g−1 B. clausii + 0.25 mg g−1 OLE and 1 × 107 CFU g−1 L. reuteri + 1 × 107 CFU g−1 B. clausii + 0.25 mg g−1 OLE. The diets were administered to the freshwater crayfish Astacus astacus (1.35 ± 0.04 g) in an 84-day feeding trial. The diet containing 5 × 106 CFU g−1 L. reuteri + 5 × 106 CFU g−1 B. clausii + 0.25 mg g−1 OLE significantly improved (p < 0.05) final weight, specific growth rate, body condition, and survival rate. A significant growth of Enterobacteriaceae, which include strains with proven beneficial activities for intestinal health and general animal welfare, significantly increased in crayfish fed with synbiotics. The obtained results could be suitable for functional feed development in crayfish farming.
Artisanal Goat Coalho Cheese with Cachaça as Flavoring Agent
Authors: Rosario Iuri Lima dos Santos , Vieira Carla Paulo , Barreto Luana Sipaúba Moreno , Monteiro Nathália Brizack , Moreira Rodrigo Vilela de Barros Pinto , Salim Ana Paula , Lelis Carini Aparecida , Solca Manuela da Silva , Mano Sergio Borges , Conte-Junior Carlos Adam , Costa Marion Pereira da
Published: May 2023

Cachaça is a traditional Brazilian drink that has the potential to offer a new sensory and technological strategy for artisanal cheesemaking, particularly for small-scale producers and family farming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cachaça immersion on the physicochemical, microbiological, color, texture, and sensory parameters of artisanal goat coalho cheeses using three different varieties of cachaça immersion. The results showed that cachaça immersion did not affect the cheese’s proximate composition or starter culture viability, indicating its suitability as a new method for artisanal cheese production. Additionally, gold cachaça aged in oak casks was the most effective variety for sensory acceptance and purchase intention, suggesting that it may be a valuable strategy for small-scale producers to add value and encourage the consumption of artisanal goat coalho cheeses without compromising their quality. Thus, this study provides important insights for small-scale producers and family farming to enhance their product offerings and increase their competitiveness in the market.
Analyzing the Quality Parameters of Apples by Spectroscopy from Vis/NIR to NIR Region: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Grabska Justyna , Beć Krzysztof , Ueno Nami , Huck Christian
Published: May 2023

Spectroscopic methods deliver a valuable non-destructive analytical tool that provides simultaneous qualitative and quantitative characterization of various samples. Apples belong to the world’s most consumed crops and with the current challenges of climate change and human impacts on the environment, maintaining high-quality apple production has become critical. This review comprehensively analyzes the application of spectroscopy in near-infrared (NIR) and visible (Vis) regions, which not only show particular potential in evaluating the quality parameters of apples but also in optimizing their production and supply routines. This includes the assessment of the external and internal characteristics such as color, size, shape, surface defects, soluble solids content (SSC), total titratable acidity (TA), firmness, starch pattern index (SPI), total dry matter concentration (DM), and nutritional value. The review also summarizes various techniques and approaches used in Vis/NIR studies of apples, such as authenticity, origin, identification, adulteration, and quality control. Optical sensors and associated methods offer a wide suite of solutions readily addressing the main needs of the industry in practical routines as well, e.g., efficient sorting and grading of apples based on sweetness and other quality parameters, facilitating quality control throughout the production and supply chain. This review also evaluates ongoing development trends in the application of handheld and portable instruments operating in the Vis/NIR and NIR spectral regions for apple quality control. The use of these technologies can enhance apple crop quality, maintain competitiveness, and meet the demands of consumers, making them a crucial topic in the apple industry. The focal point of this review is placed on the literature published in the last five years, with the exceptions of seminal works that have played a critical role in shaping the field or representative studies that highlight the progress made in specific areas.
Relative Safety Assessment for Positioning Children in Vehicles with Varying Levels of Advanced Safety Technologies
Authors: Penmetsa Praveena , Adanu Emmanuel K. , Lidbe Abhay , Li Xiaobing , Nambisan Shashi , Jones Steven L.
Published: May 2023

Recent studies suggest that advances in rear seat occupant protection are trailing while frontal crash prevention technologies have disproportionately improved front seat occupant safety. Therefore, the first objective of this study is to identify the safest seat for children by estimating injury severity by seat position using current crash data. The second objective of this study is to demonstrate that Level-2 and above (i.e., L2+) AVs will be significantly different from current vehicles regarding child injury severity, and therefore it is essential to find the safest seat for children in L2+ AVs. This study utilized data from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) to estimate crash injury severity by seat position in children. This study used the Injury Severity Score (ISS) as its measure of crash severity. The mean ISS for restrained children sitting in the front passenger seat was 0.494 (for model year > 2000 vehicles). The mean ISSs for second-row left and second-row right seats were 0.374 and 0.322, respectively. The second-row middle seat had 162, 98, and 71% lower mean ISSs than the front passenger, second-row left, and second-row right seats, respectively. Overall, in both restrained and unrestrained scenarios, the safest seat for a child was the second-row middle seat.
Advanced Life Peaked Billions of Years Ago According to Black Holes
Authors: Garofalo David
Published: May 2023

The link between black holes and star formation allows for us to draw a connection between black holes and the places and times when extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs) had a greater chance of emerging. Within the context of the gap paradigm for black holes, we show that denser cluster environments that led to gas-rich mergers and copious star formation were places less compatible on average with the emergence of ETIs compared to isolated elliptical galaxies by almost two orders of magnitude. The probability for ETIs peaked in these isolated environments around 6 billion years ago and cosmic downsizing shifted the likelihood of ETIs emerging to galaxies with weak black hole feedback, such as in spiral galaxies, at late times.
The Racial and Ethnic Identity Development Process for Adult Colombian Adoptees
Authors: Cloonan Veronica , Hatfield Tammy , Branco Susan , Dean LaShauna
Published: May 2023

This research aimed to understand the process adult Colombian adoptees raised in the United States of America go through to define themselves in the context of race and ethnicity. The research followed a qualitative narrative methodology, in which six participants were interviewed twice regarding their experiences with transracial and transnational adoption and their ethnic and racial identity process. The results suggest that identity is a dynamic process. Our research also confirms Colombian’s history of unethical adoptions and its influence on the complexity of identity and loss of adult Colombian adoptees. Throughout the article, the researchers use the term biological family referring to Colombian birth families. However, we acknowledge that other terms (i.e., first, natural, original, etc.) are also used in the adoptee community.
Hibernation of Secession Tensions in Catalonia: Attenuation Trends on Antagonistic Alignments
Authors: Oller Josep M. , Satorra Albert , Tobeña Adolf
Published: May 2023

The secession campaign in Catalonia created a political fracture into two sizeable and opposing citizenry segments, those who favored secession from Spain and those who were against it. In a series of longitudinal studies covering the entire period of regular surveys made by the official polling agency of the Regional Government (2006–2019), we showed that this fissure operated mainly through an ethnolinguistic cleavage based on family language and ascendancy origins. Media outlets linked to successive pro-secession Regional Governments accentuated the division. Here we extend these analyses till 2022, to capture potential variations in such a division across the five years following the failed secession attempt of October 2017. Present findings confirm the persistence of the fissure along similar lines: family language interacts with the influence of regional partisan media to keep the fracture alive, though with trends denoting an attenuation of antagonistic identity alignments. We detected, as well, a turning point for the attenuation of both political confrontation and social division, within a conflict that has not been solved, albeit it appears mitigated. We discuss how elapsed time after secession failure and the effects of several political and non-political events might have helped to dampen down divisive tensions and repair a serious fracture produced by the secession push.
Microclimate Refugia: Comparing Modeled to Empirical Near-Surface Temperatures on Rangeland
Authors: Srygley Robert B. , Dixon Jacob I. , Lorch Patrick D.
Published: May 2023

Microhabitats can provide thermal niches that affect geographic range shifts of species as the climate changes and provide refuges for pest and beneficial insect populations in agricultural regions. The spatial distribution of microhabitats is influenced by topography that can influence local extinction and recolonization by animal populations. Scaling local temperature-dependent processes to a regional scale of population expansion, and contraction requires the validation of biophysical models of near surface temperatures. We measured temperature at 2.5 cm above and below ground at 25 sites in each of the two regions: southern and northern Utah, USA. Using NichMapR version 3.2.0, we modeled the temperature at these same sites with local slopes and aspects for four years for the former and eight years for the latter region. Empirical and modeled air temperatures differed by 7.4 °C, on average, and soil temperatures differed less (4.4 °C, on average). Site-specific additions of hill shading at 25 m distance or soil parameters did not improve the agreement of the empirical and modeled temperatures. A hybrid model for air temperature that incorporated soil temperature at 0 cm depth when snow depth exceeded 3 cm resulted in an average improvement of 8% that was as great as 31%. Understanding biological processes at the regional scale and in projected future climates will continue to require biophysical modeling. To achieve the widest applications possible, biophysical models such as NichMapR need to be validated with empirical data from as wide a variety of altitudes, latitudes, soil types, and topographies wherein organisms currently inhabit and where their ranges might expand to in the future.
Rare or Overlooked Cases of Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis in Young Patients with Central Nervous System Lesion
Authors: Kim Seong-Hun , Lim Min-Gyu , Han Jun-Sang , Ahn Chang-Hwan , Jung Tae-Du
Published: May 2023

This case series presents two cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC)—a rare condition—in young women with central nervous system (CNS) lesions. Both patients had significant neurologic deficits and no well-known risk factors or presence of comorbidities (such as diabetes or a history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease). Early diagnosis is important in cases of AAC owing to its high mortality rate; however, due to neurological deficits in our cases, accurate medical and physical examinations were limited, thereby leading to a delay in the diagnosis. The first case was of a 33-year-old woman with multiple fractures and hypovolemic shock due to a traumatic accident; she was diagnosed with hypoxic brain injury. The second case was of a 32-year-old woman with bipolar disorder and early-onset cerebellar ataxia who developed symptoms of impaired cognition and psychosis; she was later diagnosed with autoimmune encephalopathy. In the first case, the duration between symptom onset and diagnosis was 1 day, but in the second case, it was 4 days from diagnosis based on the occurrence of high fever. We emphasize that if a young woman presents with high fever, the possibility of AAC should be considered, particularly if a CNS lesion is present because it may pose difficulty in the evaluation of typical symptoms of AAC. Careful attention is thus required in such cases.
Influence of the Team Effectiveness of Nursing Units on Nursing Care Left Undone and Nurse-Reported Quality of Care
Authors: Kim Se Young , Ko Young
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to identify the influence of nursing unit team effectiveness on nursing care left undone and nurse-reported quality of care. This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 230 nurses working at general hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected in January 2023 using an online questionnaire. Nursing unit team effectiveness was measured, consisting of the following sub-scales: leadership of the head nurse, cohesion, job satisfaction, competency of nurses, work productivity, and coordination. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess relationships between nursing unit team effectiveness and nursing care left undone and nursing-reported quality of care. Among these sub-domains, the study found that the higher the coordination (β = −0.22, p < 0.001), the significantly lower the nursing care left undone. The higher the competency of nurses (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and work productivity (β = 0.20, p < 0.001), the higher the nurse-reported quality of care. In addition, nursing care left undone had a negative effect on nurse-reported quality of care (β = −0.15, p < 0.001). Therefore, nursing managers should make efforts to manage team effectiveness in nursing units to improve nurse-reported quality of care.
Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Elderly Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Bo Young , Moon HyeSung , Kim Sung-Soo , Kim Hyun-Sook
Published: May 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of elderly patients with and without RA who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database was used to extract data on 74,623 patients (14,074 with RA and 60,549 without RA) aged ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and underwent PCI between 2008 and 2019. The primary outcome was survival of elderly patients with and without RA. The secondary outcome was survival in the RA subgroup. During a 10-year follow-up, the all-cause mortality survival rate was lower in patients with RA than that in patients without (53.7% vs. 58.3%, respectively, log-rank: p < 0.001). In the all-cause mortality RA subgroup, patients with elderly-onset RA had poor survival outcomes, whereas patients with young-onset RA had good survival outcomes compared with that in patients without RA (48.1% vs. 73.7% vs. 58.3%, respectively, log-rank: p < 0.001). Elderly patients with RA who underwent PCI had an increased mortality risk, particularly those with elderly rather than young-onset RA.
Cardiorespiratory Response to Six-Minute Step Test in Post COVID-19 Patients—A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Omar Amna , Ferreira Arthur de Sá , Hegazy Fatma A. , Alaparthi Gopala Krishna
Published: May 2023

Background and purpose: New coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause persistent symptoms and physical weakness that can lead to a limitation in activities of daily living (ADL). There is a lack of evidence about the performance in the six-minute step test (6MST) of post-COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to investigate the cardiorespiratory response induced by the 6MST in post-COVID-19 patients and compare it with the response of the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 post-COVID-19 patients and 33 healthy subjects. The assessment was performed at one month from a non-severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both groups were assessed by using the 6MST, 6MWT, and the pulmonary function test (PFT). Post COVID functional status (PCFS) scale was used for the post-COVID-19 group to assess functional status. Physiological responses; heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure (BP), and Borg scale for fatigue and dyspnea were recorded before and after the 6MST and 6MWT. Results: the performance of the post-COVID-19 group was worse than the healthy group in both tests. In 6MWT, the distance walked by the post-COVID-19 group (423 ± 7) was 94 m less than the healthy group, and the number of climbed steps in the 6MST (121 ± 4) was 34 steps less than the healthy group. Both results were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between the 6MST and 6MWT in walked distance versus steps number (r = 0.5, p < 0.001). In addition, there was a moderate correlation between the two tests in the post (HR, RR, SpO2, systolic blood pressure SBP, diastolic blood pressure DBP, dyspnea, and fatigue) with p < 0.001. Conclusions: Six-minute step tests produced similar cardiorespiratory responses when compared to a 6MWT. The 6MST can be used as an assessment tool for COVID-19 patients to evaluate their functional capacity and ADL.
The Effect of Herbal Medicine on Suicidal Behavior: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kwon Chan-Young , Lee Boram
Published: May 2023

Suicide is an important social and medical problem worldwide, including in countries that use traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM). Herbal medicine (HM) has been reported to be effective against several suicide-related conditions. This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of HM in reducing suicidal behavior including suicidal ideation, attempts, or completed suicide. We conduct a comprehensive search in 15 electronic bibliographic databases from inception to September 2022. All types of prospective clinical studies—including randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs)—involving HM without or with routine care are included. The primary outcomes of this review are validated measures of suicidal ideation including the Beck scale for suicidal ideation. The revised Cochrane’s risk of bias tool and other tools including the ROBANS-II tool are used to assess the methodological quality of RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively. A meta-analysis is performed using RevMan 5.4 in cases of homogeneous data from controlled studies. The results of the systematic review provide high-quality evidence to determine the efficacy and safety of HM for suicidal behavior. Our findings are informative for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers, aimed at reducing suicide rates, especially in countries that use TEAM.
The Relationship between Mobile Phone Dependence and Subjective Well-Being of College Students in China: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Li Guangming
Published: May 2023

Many studies have shown that mobile phone dependence decreases subjective well-being, but there have been relatively few studies that investigate the specific mechanisms between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. In this study, the mediating effect of self-esteem and the moderating effect of social support were investigated to explore the specific mechanisms between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. The objective of the study is to explore the mechanism of mobile dependence on subjective well-being by constructing a moderated mediation model. College students from twenty classes in three universities were randomly selected. A total of 550 college students fully participated in the actual evaluation and completed the general well-being scale, mobile phone addiction index scale, self-esteem scale, and social support scale. SPSS17.0 was used to analyze the data. The results show that: (1) Self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being. Mobile phone dependence not only has a direct influence on subjective well-being, but also influences subjective well-being indirectly by self-esteem; (2) The mediating effect of self-esteem between mobile phone dependence and subjective well-being is moderated by social support. Social support moderates the second path of the mediation, and the higher the social support, the greater the degree of self-esteem on subjective well-being. For the management of mobile phone dependence of college students, more attention needs to be paid to the personality characteristics of different students. In addition, there should be efforts to avoid blindly educating students and instead to increase their social support and create a good atmosphere on campus and in society. Only in this way can they improve their subjective well-being.
Insights into Current Education of Acupuncture as a Non-Conventional Therapy in Portugal
Authors: Ye Xiao , Lopes Lara , Teixeira Ricardo , Wang Ying , Machado Jorge Pereira
Published: May 2023

Acupuncture, as an ancient practice for healthcare in China, is now widely used in the world and regarded as a non-conventional therapy (NCT) in many Western countries. In Portugal, acupuncture has been structured and well regulated for the market of teaching and clinical practice, but little effort has been put in to explore it in depth. This article aims to disclose the current education of acupuncture as a NCT in Portugal through investigation of acupuncture laws, field surveys, teaching work, and interviews with people from the NCT field. We found that according to the academic norms and rules of education in Portugal, there is a gradual difficulty in the progression and maintenance of the degree training dynamics. The reasons are the lack of more tolerant transitional measures and many practical difficulties confronted by the institutions that embark on these complementary programs. Therefore, it will be necessary to promote additional programs and measures to avoid a total emptiness of the teaching of acupuncture and at the same time losses of clinicians, competencies, and quality of information that are difficult to recover. It could be very meaningful and thought provoking to the future development and improvement of acupuncture in Portugal and in other countries that welcome acupuncture and intend to have better legislation and application.
Significance of Post-Traumatic Growth and Mental Health for Coping in Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers
Authors: Gil-González Irene , Pérez-San-Gregorio María Ángeles , Funuyet-Salas Jesús , Conrad Rupert , Martín-Rodríguez Agustín
Published: May 2023

We investigated the influence of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and mental health (MH) on multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers’ uses of coping strategies and identified biopsychosocial predictors of proactive or reactive coping. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PGI-21), Brief COPE Questionnaire (COPE-28), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to evaluate 209 caregivers. Higher PTG was related to greater use of emotional support, positive reframing, religion, active coping, instrumental support, planning, denial, self-distraction, self-blaming, and venting. Better MH was associated with greater use of acceptance, while behavioral disengagement and self-distraction were associated with poorer MH. The PTG dimensions relating to others and new possibilities, SF-12 dimensions of physical and emotional roles as well as partnership, not living with the patient, and significant others’ social support were predictors of proactive coping. Reactive coping was positively predicted by the PTG dimension relating to others, depression, vitality, other than partner relation, and physical role, and negatively predicted by mental health level and emotional role. In summary, higher MH was associated with proactive coping strategies, whereas post-traumatic growth was related to the use of a wide range of proactive coping as well as reactive coping strategies.
First Report of the Branched Broomrape (Phelipanche schultzii (Mutel) Pomel.) on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in Morocco
Authors: El Amri Majda , Amri Moez , Kadir El Mostafa , Triqui Zine El Abidine , Khayi Slimane , Mentag Rachid
Published: May 2023

Holoparasitic broomrape weeds (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) are a major biotic constraint limiting the production of important food crops. Parasitism caused by Phelipanche spp. is considered to be a serious threat, particularly in the Mediterranean region. In this study, the broomrape species collected from infested fennel fields in Sid L’Mokhtar in the Central West of Morocco was described and identified morphologically and molecularly. For molecular identification, 700 bp ITS regions were PCR-amplified from two representative individuals, OA and OY-4. The obtained sequences exhibited more than 99% similarity with the P. schultzii sequence (MT026593). In addition, maximum likelihood analysis placed our species with other referred P. schultzii in the same clade. Through molecular analysis, the broomrape species attacking fennel was identified as P. schultzii. This is the first record of the broomrape species P. schultzii parasitizing fennel (Foeniculum vulgare syn. Foeniculum officinale) in Morocco. Therefore, it should be considered that this parasite could spread to other cultivated fields causing severe yield losses, requiring urgent action through efficient control measures to avoid further spread of this parasitic weed.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of High-Energy Fillers Derived from Nitroisobutylglycerol
Authors: Rzhevskiy Sergey A. , Minaeva Lidiya I. , Topchiy Maxim A. , Melnikov Igor N. , Kiselev Vitaly G. , Pivkina Alla N. , Fomenkov Igor V. , Asachenko Andrey F.
Published: May 2023

Herein we report a comprehensive laboratory synthesis of a series of energetic azidonitrate derivatives (ANDP, SMX, AMDNNM, NIBTN, NPN, 2-nitro-1,3-dinitro-oxypropane) starting from the readily available nitroisobutylglycerol. This simple protocol allows obtaining the high-energy additives from the available precursor in yields higher than those reported using safe and simple operations not presented in previous works. A detailed characterization of the physical, chemical, and energetic properties including impact sensitivity and thermal behavior of these species was performed for the systematic evaluation and comparison of the corresponding class of energetic compounds.
MiRNAs as Potential Regulators of Enthesis Healing: Findings in a Rodent Injury Model
Authors: Peniche Silva Carlos Julio , De La Vega Rodolfo E. , Panos Joseph , Joris Virginie , Evans Christopher H. , Balmayor Elizabeth R. , van Griensven Martijn
Published: May 2023

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA sequences with the ability to inhibit the expression of a target mRNA at the post-transcriptional level, acting as modulators of both the degenerative and regenerative processes. Therefore, these molecules constitute a potential source of novel therapeutic tools. In this study, we investigated the miRNA expression profile that presented in enthesis tissue upon injury. For this, a rodent enthesis injury model was developed by creating a defect at a rat’s patellar enthesis. Following injury, explants were collected on days 1 (n = 10) and 10 (n = 10). Contra lateral samples (n = 10) were harvested to be used for normalization. The expression of miRNAs was investigated using a “Fibrosis” pathway-focused miScript qPCR array. Later, target prediction for the aberrantly expressed miRNAs was performed by means of the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and the expression of mRNA targets relevant for enthesis healing was confirmed using qPCRs. Additionally, the protein expression levels of collagens I, II, III, and X were investigated using Western blotting. The mRNA expression pattern of EGR1, COL2A1, RUNX2, SMAD1, and SMAD3 in the injured samples indicated their possible regulation by their respective targeting miRNA, which included miR-16, -17, -100, -124, -133a, -155 and -182. Furthermore, the protein levels of collagens I and II were reduced directly after the injury (i.e., day 1) and increased 10 days post-injury, while collagens III and X showed the opposite pattern of expression.
Crystal Structure and XPS Study of Titanium-Substituted M-Type Hexaferrite BaFe12−xTixO19
Authors: Mehnert Kim-Isabelle , Häßner Manuel , Dreer Yanina Mariella , Biswas Indro , Niewa Rainer
Published: May 2023

The M-type barium hexaferrite substituted with titanium, BaFe12−xTixO19, was synthesized from sodium carbonate flux and the obtained single crystals with a maximum degree of substitution of up to about x = 0.9 were characterized. XPS measurements were carried out for the identification of side products and in particular in order to assign the valence states of the transition-metal constituents. Due to the aliovalent exchange of iron(III) with titanium(IV), an additional charge balance needs to occur. No titanium(III) was detected, while the amount of iron(II) increased in the same order of magnitude as the amount of titanium(IV); thus, the major charge balancing is attributed to the reduction of iron(III) to iron(II). According to the XPS data, the amount of titanium(IV) typically is slightly higher than that of iron(II). This is in line with a tendency to a minor formation of vacancies on the transition-metal sites becoming more important at higher substitution levels according to PXRD and WDS measurements, completing the picture of the charge-balance mechanism. XRD taken on single crystals indicates the distribution of titanium and vacancies over three of the five transition-metal sites.
Review of Kissing Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) from China with Descriptions of Two New Species
Authors: Zhao Yisheng , Fan Mingyuan , Li Hu , Cai Wanzhi
Published: May 2023

Triatominae, the only blood-sucking subfamily in Reduviidae, are the vectors of Chagas disease. The majority of them are distributed in the Americas, while the diversity in China has been underestimated, as only two species have been recorded. Here, we describe two new species from China, Triatoma picta Zhao & Cai sp. nov. and T. atrata Zhao & Cai sp. nov., and provide a redescription of T. sinica Hsiao, 1965, along with remarks on T. rubrofasciata (De Geer, 1773). To facilitate the identification, we include photos, especially of genitalia, as well as a distribution map and a key to Chinese triatomines. We calculated the pairwise genetic distances between 23 Triatoma species, which further supported the validity of these new species. We anticipate that our taxonomic review will be useful for identifying Chinese Triatominae.
Honey Bee Colony Losses in Mexico’s Semi-Arid High Plateau for the Winters 2016–2017 to 2021–2022
Authors: Medina-Flores Carlos Aurelio , López-Carlos Marco , Carrillo-Muro Octavio , Gray Alison
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to estimate the loss rates of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in six consecutive winters (2016–2017 to 2021–2022) in five states of the semi-arid high plateau region of Mexico, as well as study the factors associated with these losses. The survey included data from 544 beekeepers and 75,341 colonies. The colony loss rate differs significantly (p < 0.0001) between the winters analyzed and fluctuates between 14.9% and 30%, with an average of 22%. Colony losses were unaffected (p > 0.05) by migratory beekeeping practice and operation size, but losses were significantly affected by Varroa monitoring and control (p ≤ 0.001). The types of loss differ among the winters analyzed. In the winters of 2016–2017 to 2018–2019, beekeepers attributed higher loss rates to unresolved problems related to the queen (e.g., a queenless colony, poor laying), but in the winters of 2019–2020 to 2021–2022, the highest loss rate was the result of problems such as diseases, poisoning, and absconding (leading to dead colonies or empty hives). The results reveal high loss rates in the region studied, as reported by beekeepers from other countries. It is suggested that strategies should be implemented to improve the quality of queens, the control of varroasis and other diseases, and the degree of Africanization.