bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the superiority of a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise for fibromyalgia syndrome: A network meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Jiping , Han Bing , Wu Chenggang
Published: September 2022

Background

Fibromyalgia syndrome is the second most common chronic diffuse pain disorder and can have a lasting negative impact on the quality of life, pain, and physical function of people. Exercise therapy is an important component of the treatment of fibromyalgia, but there was not a consensus understanding of the effect of various exercise programs on the quality of life, pain, and physical function of people with fibromyalgia syndrome. This study aimed to compare three exercise programs (aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise) in their effectiveness in improving quality of life, relieving muscle pain, and enhancing physical function in patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods

A comprehensive search of databases, including China National Knowledge Internet, Wan fang, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials on exercise therapy for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome with outcome indicators including at least one of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Tender point count (TPC), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) from the date of database creation on 20 April 2022. The included studies were evaluated for literature quality according to Cochrane Handbook criteria, and a network meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14.0.

Result

Forty-five randomized controlled trials met all inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The network meta-analysis showed that a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise was ranked first in all three dimensions of quality of life improvement, pain alleviation, and physical function enhancement (Mean Rank = 1.6, 1.2, 5.9).

Conclusion

The current meta-analysis demonstrates that the combination of aerobic and resistance exercise may be the best type of exercise to accentuate the quality of life, pain alleviation, and physical function for people with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Visualise the tastes from the label: A study on the taste-colour crossmodal association of crisp and dry
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Li Dongning
Published: September 2022

Colour is an important guideline for selection and consumption. It also draws attention to the designers, as some modern design styles require them to illustrate the taste of the product with a limited number of colours. In this case, a precise description of the taste-colour association is required. The present study explored the colour-taste crossmodal association of two tastes, crisp and dry, which are normally found in beers and are the preferred flavours of Chinese consumers. Experiments were carried out to determine the characteristics of the colours associated with the two tastes. And the strength of the tastes perceived from the colours with different hue angles was investigated. The results of this study reveal that the hue and chroma can both affect the perception of these tastes. Both tastes can be perceived from the same colour, but the strength of the taste can be varied from different hues.
Impaired episodic memory in PTSD patients — A meta-analysis of 47 studies
Authors: Petzold Maria , Bunzeck Nico
Published: September 2022

Episodic memory impairments beyond the traumatic event might be a characteristic hallmark of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although several studies support such a claim, empirical findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a random-effects meta-analysis including data from a total of 47 studies and 3,062 subjects. As main finding, we can show that PTSD patients show episodic memory deficits compared to all controls. This effect was significantly stronger for PTSD vs. non-traumatized healthy controls as compared to PTSD vs. traumatized controls without PTSD. Finally, episodic memory impairments in PTSD were most pronounced in verbal memory tests as compared to non-verbal memory tests. Our results provide new evidence that PTSD is characterized by impaired episodic long-term memory beyond the traumatic event, and these deficits are particularly pronounced in verbal memory. We will discuss our findings in the context of physiological, psychological and trauma related memory models. From a broader perspective, our findings may have implications for the treatment of PTSD by suggesting that the assessment and, if necessary, training of memory deficits could be included as part of diagnostics and psychotherapeutic treatment.
Validation of the Chinese version of the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 in patients from tertiary hospitals in China
Authors: Li Tao , Wei Jing , Fritzsche Kurt , Toussaint Anne C. , Zhang Lan , Zhang Yaoyin , Chen Hua , Wu Heng , Ma Xiquan , Li Wentian , Ren Jie , Lu Wei , Leonhart Rainer
Published: September 2022

Objective

To validate the Chinese language version of the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) in a sample of outpatients attending tertiary hospitals in China.

Materials and methods

A Chinese language version of the SSS-8 was completed by outpatients (n = 699) from psychosomatic medicine, gastroenterology/neurology, and traditional Chinese medicine clinics of nine tertiary hospitals between September 2016 and January 2018 to test the reliability. The Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), the Somatic Symptom Disorder–B Criteria Scale (SSD-12), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, the Medical Outcome Study 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO DAS 2.0) were rated to test construct validity. The criterion validity was tested by using the Semi-structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Research Version) (SCID-5-RV) for somatic symptom disorder (SSD) as the diagnostic gold standard to explore the optimal cutoff score of the SSS-8.

Results

The average age of the recruited participants was 43.08 (±14.47). 61.4% of them were female. The internal consistency derived from the sample was acceptable (Cronbach α = 0.78). Confirmatory factor analyses resulted in the replication of a three-factor model (cardiopulmonary symptoms, pain symptoms, gastrointestinal and fatigue symptoms) (comparative fit index = 0.95, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.92, root mean square error of approximation = 0.10, 90% confidence interval = 0.08–0.12). The SSS-8 sum score was highly associated with PHQ-15 (r = 0.74, p < 0.001), SSD-12 (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (r = 0.59, p < 0.001), and PHQ-9 (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). The patients with more severe symptoms showed worse quality of life and disability The optimal cutoff score of SSS-8 was 9 (sensitivity = 0.67, specificity = 0.68).

Conclusion

Our preliminary assessment suggests that the Chinese language version of the SSS-8 has reliability and validity sufficient to warrant testing further in research and clinical settings.
Effect of occupational exposure to welding fumes and noise on heart rate variability: An exposed-unexposed study on welders and airport workers' population
Authors: Lucas David , Guerrero François , Jouve Emmanuel , Hery Sophie , Capellmann Pascale , Mansourati Jacques
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Welding fumes (WF) are a complex mixture of gas and particles. Action of occupational exposure to WF on cardiovascular system has been recently studied as for noise.

Research question

The main objectives of our study are therefore to evaluate the impact of exposure to WF, noise, and combined WF and noise on autonomic nervous system as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods

The study groups were 16 welders and eight airport workers (as a control group). All the participants underwent ambulatory electrocardiogram, personal WF, and noise exposure monitoring, respectively, with dust track and calibrated noise dosimeter during workday. Atmospheric environmental assessments at workplaces have been also performed. HRV parameters were summarized for all the workday and hourly. Correlation tests were used to examine relation between HRV parameters and levels of noise exposure in the two population. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for mean of each HRV parameters.

Results

For HRV parameters, we found significant higher levels for mean range of high frequency (HF), standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), and root mean square of successive heartbeat interval difference (RMSSD) in welders which suggested an imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in this population. For relation between noise and HRV parameters, we noted that levels of low frequency (LF), HF, and SDNN were significantly correlated with mean noise levels for welders (respectively, r = 0.62, r = 0.357, r = 0.48), not in control group. Using ANCOVA, we found that working as a welder significantly increases mean of HF (p = 0.01) and RMSSD (p = 0.02) and decreases in LF/HF (p = 0.008). Indeed, the interaction between exposure to WF and mean noise levels for HF (p = 0.005), LF/HF (p = 0.01), and RMSSD (p = 0.007) was significant.

Conclusion

This study shows an impact of WF and noise on ANS balance. One hypothesis is WF exposure could increase sensibility to noise exposure on autonomic nervous system or there is a synergic effect.
The association of dietary spermidine with all-cause mortality and CVD mortality: The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003 to 2014
Authors: Wu Huanyu , Wang Jianing , Jiang Hongyan , Liu Xin , Sun Xinyi , Chen Yunyan , Hu Cong , Wang Zheng , Han Tianshu , Sun Changhao , Wei Wei , Jiang Wenbo
Published: September 2022

Background

Current studies on the protective effects of dietary spermidine (SPD) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) are mainly limited to animal studies, and the relationship between dietary SPD and CVD mortality remains inconclusive.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the association between dietary SPD intake and CVD and all-cause mortality.

Methods

A total of 23,894 people enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2014 were recruited for this study. The dietary intake of SPD from 11 specific food origins and total SPD was categorized into tertiles or quartiles. Cox proportional hazard regression models were developed to evaluate the association of SPD intake with CVD and all-cause mortalities.

Results

Among the 23,894 participants, 2,365 deaths, including 736 deaths due to CVD, were documented. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest quartile, participants in the highest quartile of total SPD had a significantly lower risk of CVD mortality (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51–0.91) and all-cause mortality (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60–0.82); participants in the highest tertiles or quartiles of vegetable-derived SPD, cereal-derived SPD, legume-derived SPD, nut-derived SPD, and cheese-derived SPD had a lower risk of CVD mortality (HR vegetable − derivedSPD = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.54–0.86; HR cereal − derivedSPD = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57–0.97; HR legume − derivedSPD = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52–0.88; HR nut − derivedSPD = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53–0.80; HR cheese − derivedSPD = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52–0.88) and all-cause mortality (HR vegetable − derivedSPD = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64–0.84; HR cereal − derivedSPD = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69–0.93; HR legume − derivedSPD = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60–0.80;HR nut − derivedSPD = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.64–0.81; HR cheese − derivedSPD = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.61–0.81) than those in the lowest tertiles or quartiles. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed consistent associations among the people with hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion

Higher intake of dietary SPD is associated with decreased risk of CVD and all-cause mortality, and among specific food origin SPD, SPD derived from vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts, and cheese was associated with reduced CVD and all-cause mortality.
Adaptation of medical laboratory scientists to workplace hazards – experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wolszczak-Biedrzycka Blanka , Bieńkowska Anna , Maksymowicz Stanisław
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed healthcare personnel's working environment and sense of security. Medical laboratory scientists were also faced with new occupational challenges. They were tasked with performing novel tests for SARS-CoV-2 without being aware of the associated risks. At the beginning of the pandemic, strict sanitary requirements and the fear of becoming infected with the “new virus” were considerable sources of stress. However, these stress responses abated over time. The aim of this two-stage study was to explore the extent to which this group of medical professionals adapted to new working conditions 1 year after the outbreak of the pandemic. The study was conducted at the beginning of the fourth pandemic wave in Poland, i.e., between 10 September and 31 October 2021. The first stage was a pilot study that involved interviews with 14 medical laboratory scientists. The results were used to perform a survey of 294 laboratory scientists in the second stage. The study investigated the problems and fears faced by this professional group at the beginning of the pandemic, as well as changes in their attitudes during successive waves of COVID-19. The analyzed data demonstrated that most medical laboratory scientists had grown accustomed to the pandemic and workplace changes by the beginning of the fourth wave. The study also indicates that in addition to adequate means of personal protection, health professionals should also be provided with emotional support in times of pandemic.
Design and validation of a medical robotic device system to control two collaborative robots for ultrasound-guided needle insertions
Authors: Berger Johann , Unger Michael , Keller Johannes , Reich C. Martin , Neumuth Thomas , Melzer Andreas
Published: September 2022

The percutaneous biopsy is a critical intervention for diagnosis and staging in cancer therapy. Robotic systems can improve the efficiency and outcome of such procedures while alleviating stress for physicians and patients. However, the high complexity of operation and the limited possibilities for robotic integration in the operating room (OR) decrease user acceptance and the number of deployed robots. Collaborative systems and standardized device communication may provide approaches to overcome named problems. Derived from the IEEE 11073 SDC standard terminology of medical device systems, we designed and validated a medical robotic device system (MERODES) to access and control a collaborative setup of two KUKA robots for ultrasound-guided needle insertions. The system is based on a novel standard for service-oriented device connectivity and utilizes collaborative principles to enhance user experience. Implementing separated workflow applications allows for a flexible system setup and configuration. The system was validated in three separate test scenarios to measure accuracies for 1) co-registration, 2) needle target planning in a water bath and 3) in an abdominal phantom. The co-registration accuracy averaged 0.94 ± 0.42 mm. The positioning errors ranged from 0.86 ± 0.42 to 1.19 ± 0.70 mm in the water bath setup and from 1.69 ± 0.92 to 1.96 ± 0.86 mm in the phantom. The presented results serve as a proof-of-concept and add to the current state of the art to alleviate system deployment and fast configuration for percutaneous robotic interventions.
Treatment of unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: Systematic review in an attempt to perform a network meta-analysis
Authors: Arrese Ignacio , García-García Sergio , Cepeda Santiago , Sarabia Rosario
Published: September 2022

Objective

Open surgical clipping has been generally considered the best treatment option for unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (uMCAAs). However, this type of aneurysm is being treated endovascularly with the appearance of new devices. We have carried out a systematic review of randomized and quasi-experimental studies to conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess the safety and efficacy of the different treatment methods currently used in uMCAAs.

Methods

The literature was searched by using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Eligibility criteria were randomized or quasi-experimental studies including at least five cases per arm and reporting duration of follow-up and number of lost cases. The end points were: angiographic success, final neurological outcome, and the need for retreatments.

Results

We could only analyze four quasi-experimental studies with 398 uMCAAs. All of them compared clipping vs. coiling. Clipping showed better results than coiling in all analyzed end points. We could not conduct the proposed NMA because of the absence of randomized or quasi-experimental studies. Instead, a systematic review is further discussed.

Conclusions

There is an urgent need for comparative studies on the treatment of uMCAAs.
Inguinal lymph node sample collected by minimally invasive sampler helps to accurately diagnose ASF in dead pigs without necropsy
Authors: Li Xiaowen , Li Yang , Fan Mingyu , Fan Shiran , Gao Wenchao , Ren Jing , Liu Qingyuan , Li Jingtao , Wu Weisheng , Li Junxian , Yu Qiannan , Wang Xinglong , Yan Zhichun
Published: September 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic and transboundary animal disease, and it threatens global food security. A full necropsy to harvest the sample matrices for diagnosis in the farm may lead to contamination of the premises and directly threaten to the herds. In the present study, we compared the ASFV loads of the common samples that can be collected without necropsy. The unmatched nasal, throat, rectal samples were randomly taken using cotton swabs, and inguinal lymph node samples were collected by the minimally invasive samplers from the dead pigs of an ASF field outbreak farm. The ASFV loads of the samples were detected by qPCR and the results suggested that the overall ASFV nucleic acids levels of inguinal lymph node samples were higher than the swabs. What's more, sets of matched nasal swabs, rectal swabs, throat swabs, inguinal lymph nodes, serums, spleens and lungs samples were collected from 15 dead ASFV naturally infected pigs. Similarly, the results showed that inguinal lymph node samples, together with serum, spleen and lungs samples, contained more ASFV nucleic acids than the swabs. Our findings demonstrated that the inguinal lymph node collected by minimally invasive sampler is an ideal tissue for diagnosing ASFV infection in dead pigs without necropsy.
Safety of the Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin strain Sdu189-derived live attenuated vaccine—A pilot study
Authors: Wang Fuzhong , Wang Lei , Ge Haojie , Wang Xiaobo , Guo Yaxin , Xu Zhengzhong , Geng Shizhong , Jiao Xin'an , Chen Xiang
Published: September 2022

Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin (S. Dublin) is an important zoonotic pathogen with high invasiveness. In the prevention and control of the Salmonella epidemic, the live attenuated vaccine plays a very important role. To prevent and control the epidemic of S. Dublin in cattle farms, the development of more effective vaccines is necessary. In this study, we constructed two gene deletion mutants, Sdu189ΔspiC and Sdu189ΔspiCΔaroA, with the parental strain S. Dublin Sdu189. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated in the mice model. First, both mutant strains were much less virulent than the parental strain, as determined by the 50% lethal dose (LD50) for specific pathogen-free (SPF) 6-week-old female BALB/c mice. Second, the specific IgG antibody level and the expression level of cytokine TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-18 were increased significantly in the vaccinated mice compared to the control group. In addition, the deletion strains were cleared rapidly from organs of immunized mice within 14 d after immunization, while the parental strain could still be detected in the spleen and liver after 21 d of infection. Compared with the parental strain infected group, no obvious lesions were detected in the liver, spleen, and cecum of the deletion strain vaccinated groups of mice. Immunization with Sdu189ΔspiC and Sdu189ΔspiCΔaroA both provided 100% protection against subsequent challenges with the wild-type Sdu189 strain. These results demonstrated that these two deletion strains showed the potential as live attenuated vaccines against S. Dublin infection. The present study established a foundation for screening a suitable live attenuated Salmonella vaccine.
Borrelia spirochetes in European exotic farm animals
Authors: Hrnková Johana , Golovchenko Marina , Musa Abubakar Sadiq , Needham Tersia , Italiya Jignesh , Ceacero Francisco , Kotrba Radim , Grubhoffer Libor , Rudenko Natalie , Cerný Jirí
Published: September 2022

Ticks transmit a broad spectrum of pathogens, threatening both animal and human health. Tick survival and proliferation are strongly dependent on host selection and suitability. The hard tickIxodes ricinus, which is widespread throughout most of Europe, is a host generalist capable of feeding on many different vertebrate species. Pasture-kept exotic farm animals may be at a high risk for tick and tick-borne pathogens infestations but research characterizing this is currently lacking. This study focused on the detection ofBorreliaspirochetes (includingBorrelia miyamotoi) in exotic farm animals. Using nested-PCR withBorrelia-specific primers, 121 serum samples from 54 exotic farm animals of several species bred in four different farms in Bohemia and Moravia (Czechia) were tested. Positive samples were sequenced for the identification ofBorreliaspecies. The prevalence ofBorreliaDNA in the samples ranged from 13 to 67%, depending on the sampling site. The sequencing results confirmed the DNA presence of multiple spirochete species from theBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato complex. Only one sample from an ostrich (Struthio camelus) was found to be positive forBorrelia myiamotoi. The results show that exotic farm animals can serve as hosts for hard ticks and can be infected byBorreliaspirochetes, transmitted by hard ticks. Therefore, these animals could play a relevant role in maintainingBorreliaspirochetes in nature.
Changes in Soil Phosphorus Pools in Long-Term Wheat-Based Rotations in Saskatchewan, Canada With and Without Phosphorus Fertilization
Authors: Cade-Menun Barbara J.
Published: September 2022

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for all organisms, and many crops require P fertilization for optimum yield. However, there are concerns about the P in agriculture, including the sustainability of phosphate sources for fertilizers and water quality problems from P loss in runoff from agricultural lands. Most crops do not use all of the P added each year as fertilizer, leaving residual soil P that could potentially be used by subsequent crops, minimizing the need for additional fertilization. However, more information is needed to understand soil residual P pools, and their availability to crops. In Swift Current, SK, Canada, a long-term study was initiated in 1967, with four wheat-based rotations [including continuous wheat (CW), fallow-wheat-wheat (FWW), fallow-wheat (FW) and lentil-wheat (WL), with P fertilization and with or without nitrogen (N) fertilization. In 1995, P fertilization ceased on subplots in the CW and FWW rotations, and in 2008 for the FW and WL rotations. This study examined changes in soil P pools (total P, organic P, and Olsen P) from 1995 to 2015 for CW and FWW rotations and from 2008 to 2016 for FW and WL rotations, plus crop yield and grain and straw N and P concentrations. Long-term P addition increased concentrations of soil total and Olsen P in FWW, CW and FW rotations, particularly in plots without N fertilization. However, calculated P depletions based on fertilizer addition and crop P removal were negative only for plots without N fertilization. Cessation of P fertilization reduced concentrations of soil total and Olsen P, especially in plots with N fertilization. Annual yields were affected more by N fertilization and precipitation than P fertilization. Grain and straw P concentrations were not significantly reduced with short-term P cessation in FW and WL rotations, but were reduced with longer-term P fertilizer cessation in FWW and CW rotations.
Predicting Antisocial Personality Features among Justice-Involved Males and Females: The Effects of Violence Exposure in Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Feingold Zoe R. , Weinberger Emily C. , Samuels John K.
Published: September 2022

The high rate of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) among individuals involved in the justice system represents a significant public health concern, as individuals with ASPD are more likely to reoffend after incarceration and to engage in longer-term offending behavior patterns over the lifespan. Research suggests that traumatic event exposure in childhood and adolescence may be one factor that contributes to the heightened risk for ASPD in adulthood, though findings are mixed depending on the operationalization of trauma exposure and demographics of study samples. The present study examined the impact of early and varied exposure to violence on the development of ASPD features in young adulthood. In addition, given evidence for gender differences in how youth respond to trauma, as well as disparate prevalence rates of ASPD among males and females, a secondary aim was to assess the impact of gender on the relationship between early trauma and antisocial personality outcomes. The study sample consisted of 1354 adolescents (86% male) who participated in a longitudinal research study of serious juvenile offenders. A series of linear regression analyses revealed that the magnitude of violence exposure participants endorsed at baseline significantly predicted antisocial personality features at six-year follow-up. Participants’ gender was not found to moderate the relationship between violence exposure and antisocial outcomes. Results suggest that targeting maladaptive cognitions and behaviors resulting from chronic exposure to early trauma may be a crucial component of treatment for justice-involved individuals exhibiting ASPD features.
Reverse Design of Solid Propellant Grain for a Performance-Matching Goal: Shape Optimization via Evolutionary Neural Network
Authors: Li Wentao , Li Wenbo , He Yunqin , Liang Guozhu
Published: September 2022

The reverse design of solid propellant grain for a performance-matching goal, one of the most challenging directions of the solid rocket motor designing work, is limited by the traditional semi-empirical parameter-driven optimization methods based on some predefined grain configurations. Grain designers call for a new method that can automatically provide brand-new grain shapes beyond the traditional ones. In this work, a shape optimization method based on the evolutionary neural network is proposed to achieve the reverse design of two-dimensional (2D) grains. Firstly, the modified ellipse-form eikonal equation is solved by using the finite element method to realize the burn-back analysis of 2D grains in any shape on a fixed unstructured mesh. Then, the neural network is introduced to determine the spatial distribution of the propellant to define the grain shape. The hyperparameters of the network are continuously evolved with the aid of the genetic algorithm. Finally, the optimal grain shape that matches the performance goal most is obtained. The method is verified in different scenarios. The result shows that the design can precisely match the given pressure-time curve of star grains and slotted-tube grains. Furthermore, the method can automatically evolve a new dendritic-shaped grain that matches the given dual-thrust pressure-time curve. Since the reverse design uses the concept of shape optimization, it does not require any pre-selection of the grain shape, and the designers shall be free from defining different kinds of geometric parameters for specific grain configurations. Consequently, the method has the potential to apply in the reconstruction of an actual grain and the conceptual design of innovative grain configurations.
Numerical Investigation on the Jet Characteristics and the Heat and Drag Reductions of Opposing Jet in Hypersonic Nonequilibrium Flows
Authors: Zhang Wenqing , Wang Xiaowei , Zhang Zhijun , Su Tianyi
Published: September 2022

We adopted the transient numerical method for the simulation of an ELECTRE vehicle with an opposing jet at an altitude of 53.3 km and 13 Ma to explore the jet characteristics as well as the performance in heat and drag reductions of the opposing jet in hypersonic nonequilibrium flows. The time-accurate, nonequilibrium N-S equations coupled with the five-species Park chemical kinetic model and vibrational energy excitation were applied, and an open source solver Hy2FOAM based on the OpenFOAM platform was adopted. Three opposing jets with different jet radii (R7 jet, R14 jet, and R21 jet) were investigated. The results show that with the increasing jet flow rate, the jet mode of the opposing jet with a small jet radius varies from the overflow mode to the long penetration mode (LPM) and finally to the short penetration mode (SPM), while that with a large jet radius directly changes from the overflow mode to the SPM. The state of the jet in the overflow mode is stable, whereas in SPM and LPM, it is unstable. The investigation of the heat and drag reductions for the R7, R14, and R21 jets shows that except for the jet in LPM, the jet in SPM and overflow mode can provide effective thermal protection, and the thermal protection is enhanced with the increasing jet flow rate. Moreover, the jet in both LPM and SPM can effectively reduce the aerodynamic drag, but the jet in overflow mode cannot provide effective drag reduction. Moreover, the jet with a large radius and in the overflow mode has a better thermal protection effect, and a small jet radius contributes to the drag reduction.
Risk Management of Safety for Flight Training in Air Forces
Authors: Hsu Wen-Kai K. , Shu Ming-Hung , Liu Yu-Che , Wang To-Cheng
Published: September 2022

Risk management has been an essential issue in the evolution of air-force flight safety. In this paper, the investigated risk management of air-force flight training in the Gangshan airbase, Republic of China (ROC) is the main field of study. The main goal of this paper is to conduct a series of risk identification and assessments of the flight training. Firstly, the 16 risk factors (RFs) of flight training were identified according to the related studies of flight safety and risk and three experts’ interviews. Then, we created a fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process questionnaire and interviewed 20 flight instructors to obtain the weight of likelihood and consequence of the 16 RFs. Furthermore, a sequential assessment of the risk matrix was constructed to classify the 16 RFs into four groups, namely, extreme risk, high risk, medium risk, and low risk. As the results of the revised risk matrix, we provided four suggestions for the improvement of flight-training policy. These suggestions not only can facilitate the Gangshan airbase to smoothly transfer and reduce the deadly risk of flight training, but also provide exemplary risk management for other similar airbases.
Can Green Finance Effectively Promote the Carbon Emission Reduction in “Local-Neighborhood” Areas?—Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Sun Jing , Zhai Ningning , Miao Jichao , Sun Huaping
Published: September 2022

Carbon emission reduction is a systematic project requiring support from policy, capital, and technology in its promotion, which represents a greater need for green finance. Frontier research focuses on the impact of green finance on local CO2 emissions, but generally ignores its ripple impacts on carbon emission reduction in adjacent areas. Combining panel data from 30 Chinese provincial-level cities from 2004 to 2019, this study employs a spatial panel Durbin model to empirically test the ripple effect of green finance on carbon emission reduction in adjacent areas and further investigate the formation mechanism of the ripple effect. The results are as follows: (1) Green financial development has a significant inhibitory effect on local and neighboring CO2 emissions, which affirms the existence of the ripple effect of green finance. (2) Through formation mechanism analysis, it is found that the upgrading of an industrial structure has played a transmission role in the ripple effect of green finance. Finally, based on the empirical results, some suggestions are put forward from the perspectives of innovating green financial services and promoting the effective alignment of green financial development with carbon emission reduction targets and the deep integration of green finance and regional green industry development, so as to better develop the potential of green finance in the realization of the carbon reduction goals.
Sustainable Agro-Food Systems for Addressing Climate Change and Food Security
Authors: Wijerathna-Yapa Akila , Pathirana Ranjith
Published: September 2022

Despite world food production keeping pace with population growth because of the Green Revolution, the United Nations (UN) State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 Report indicates that the number of people affected by hunger has increased to 828 million with 29.3% of the global population food insecure, and 22% of children under five years of age stunted. Many more have low-quality, unhealthy diets and micronutrient deficiencies leading to obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases. Additionally, current agro-food systems significantly impact the environment and the climate, including soil and water resources. Frequent natural disasters resulting from climate change, pandemics, and conflicts weaken food systems and exacerbate food insecurity worldwide. In this review, we outline the current knowledge in alternative agricultural practices for achieving sustainability as well as policies and practices that need to be implemented for an equitable distribution of resources and food for achieving several goals in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, animal husbandry, particularly ruminant meat and dairy, accounts for a significant proportion of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use but contributes only 18% of food energy. In contrast, plant-based foods, particularly perennial crops, have the lowest environmental impacts. Therefore, expanding the cultivation of perennials, particularly herbaceous perennials, to replace annual crops, fostering climate-smart food choices, implementing policies and subsidies favoring efficient production systems with low environmental impact, empowering women, and adopting modern biotechnological and digital solutions can help to transform global agro-food systems toward sustainability. There is growing evidence that food security and adequate nutrition for the global population can be achieved using climate-smart, sustainable agricultural practices, while reducing negative environmental impacts of agriculture, including GHG emissions.
Residue from Açai Palm, Euterpe oleracea, as Substrate for Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, Seedling Production in an Aquaponic System with Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum
Authors: da Costa José Alexandre Santos , Sterzelecki Fabio Carneiro , Natividade Joane , Souza Rafael José Furtado , de Carvalho Thayanne Cristine Caetano , de Melo Nuno Filipe Alves Correia , Luz Ronald Kennedy , Palheta Glauber David Almeida
Published: September 2022

The production of high-quality seedlings is important to achieve better productivity in horticulture. Despite being well developed in conventional agriculture, there are few studies on aquaponic systems. The substrate choice in this integrated culture affects plant and economic feasibility. This study verified the effects of using Euterpe oleracea residue as a substrate for Coriandrum sativum seedling production in an aquaponic system with tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum. Five mixtures of Euterpe oleracea offal (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) with coconut fiber, nourished by aquaponic wastewater, were evaluated. Water quality, fish and plant performance were analyzed during an 18-day experiment. Although total ammonia decreased from 5.17 mg L−1 to 0.64 mg L−1, nitrite and nitrate did not exceed 1 mg L−1 and 3 mg L−1, respectively. C. macropomum mean weight gain was 118.79 g and achieved high food assimilation, with a 0.86 feed conversion rate. Mean blood hematocrit (30.20 ± 5.99%) and glucose (59.5 ± 10.06 mg dL−1) indicates good physiological status of the C. macropomum. The use of the Euterpe oleracea offal mixture at 50% decreased by half the total fresh mass of Coriandrum sativum, down to 1.12 ± 0.30 g, but did not decrease dry mass (p > 0.05). When the mixture was above 25%, plant and leaf length were 8 cm and 3 cm smaller, respectively, and the number of leaves and stem base diameter were reduced by 34% and 40%, respectively. We do not recommend using more than 25% of Euterpe oleracea offal with coconut fiber for Coriandrum sativum seedling production in an aquaponic system.
An Enhanced YOLOv5 Model for Greenhouse Cucumber Fruit Recognition Based on Color Space Features
Authors: Wang Ning , Qian Tingting , Yang Juan , Li Linyi , Zhang Yingyu , Zheng Xiuguo , Xu Yeying , Zhao Hanqing , Zhao Jingyin
Published: September 2022

The identification of cucumber fruit is an essential procedure in automated harvesting in greenhouses. In order to enhance the identification ability of object detection models for cucumber fruit harvesting, an extended RGB image dataset (n = 801) with 3943 positive and negative labels was constructed. Firstly, twelve channels in four color spaces (RGB, YCbCr, HIS, La*b*) were compared through the ReliefF method to choose the channel with the highest weight. Secondly, the RGB image dataset was converted to the pseudo-color dataset of the chosen channel (Cr channel) to pre-train the YOLOv5s model before formal training using the RGB image dataset. Based on this method, the YOLOv5s model was enhanced by the Cr channel. The experimental results show that the cucumber fruit recognition precision of the enhanced YOLOv5s model was increased from 83.7% to 85.19%. Compared with the original YOLOv5s model, the average values of AP, F1, recall rate, and mAP were increased by 8.03%, 7%, 8.7%, and 8%, respectively. In order to verify the applicability of the pre-training method, ablation experiments were conducted on SSD, Faster R-CNN, and four YOLOv5 versions (s, l, m, x), resulting in the accuracy increasing by 1.51%, 3.09%, 1.49%, 0.63%, 3.15%, and 2.43%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the Cr channel pre-training method is promising in enhancing cucumber fruit detection in a near-color background.
Combining Ability and Testcross Performance for Carotenoid Content of S2 Super Sweet Corn Lines Derived from Temperate Germplasm
Authors: Wasuwatthanakool Worawan , Harakotr Bhornchai , Jirakiattikul Yaowapha , Lomthaisong Khomsorn , Suriharn Khundej
Published: September 2022

Understanding the impact of gene action and combining ability on targeted traits in a hybrid breeding program is imperative. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic effect and combining ability of S2 super sweet corn lines on carotenoid content. Twenty S2 lines were crossed with two hybrid testers by using the line × tester mating design. Regarding parents, forty hybrids and two commercial checks were evaluated for carotenoid content across two different growing seasons between 2019 and 2020. The result indicated that the non-additive gene action governed the inheritance of carotenoid content. Several promising S2 lines for individual carotenoids were identified; only L20 possessed different and positive GCA values for all observed carotenoids. Moreover, genotype T2 was a promising tester to identify superior lines for creating biofortified sweet corn hybrids. Testcross hybrids with satisfactory performance, desirable SCA estimates, and involving at least one of the pairwise parents with positive and high GCA were successfully defined. Hybrid T2 × L20 had high lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and total carotenoids contents (ranging from 12.58 to 74.01 µg/g of dry weight), whereas hybrid T2 × L9 showed the highest content of β-carotene (4.19 µg/g of dry weight). We propose that high GCA and line at least one of the pairwise parents be included in indirect selections for the hybrid breeding of high-carotenoid sweet corn.
Isolation and Some Basic Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Environment—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Leska Aleksandra , Nowak Adriana , Motyl Ilona
Published: September 2022

In light of the phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, there has been a growing interest in finding natural and ecological ways for improving honeybee health. The aim of this scientific research was the isolation and characterization of LAB, which in the future could show the potential to construct a protective preparation for honeybees. After performing MALDI-TOF analysis, of a total of 76 bacterial strains isolated from flowers and honeybee products, 31 were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, 26 as Pediococcus acidilactici, and 19 as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The characterization of the isolated LAB displayed that CO2 production was present in 52 strains. The highest biomass productivity was observed in the case of strain 9/1 isolated from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) with biomass productivity equal to 2.100. All isolated bacterial strains showed the ability to produce lactic acid. The strain 13/3 isolated from small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata L.) displayed the highest lactic acid production capacity in 100 mL of culture, i.e., 1.903 g of lactic acid. The carbohydrate assimilation pattern was examined using API 50 CH tests. All isolated strains were able to utilize esculin, D-ribose, D-galactose, D-glucose D-fructose, and D-mannose. It was also noted that the reduction of sugars is a strain-dependent ability and is specific for individual strains.
Impact of Tillage Intensity on Planosol Bulk Density, Pore Size Distribution, and Water Capacity in Faba Bean Cultivation
Authors: Romaneckas Kęstutis , Kimbirauskienė Rasa , Sinkevičienė Aušra
Published: September 2022

Tillage systems affect many properties of soil, such as soil bulk density, porosity, pore distribution, and soil water capacity. However, the effect of reduced tillage (RT) on faba bean cultivation requires wider analysis. We carried out our investigations at Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy (Lithuania), as part of a long-term field experiment. The aim was to determine the effect of tillage intensity on soil bulk density, pore distribution and soil water capacity in faba bean cultivation. Five tillage systems were used: deep (DP) and shallow (SP) ploughing, deep cultivation (DC) (chiselling), shallow cultivation (SC) (disking), and no tillage (NT). The results showed that the soil bulk density in NT plots was somewhat higher in upper (0–10 cm) and less in deeper (15–20 cm and 30–35 cm) soil layers compared to DP. The distribution of soil pores depended more on the sampling depth than on tillage. In RT and NT plots, the number of meso-pores was often higher, and that of micro-pores was lower than in ploughed plots. In the upper (0–5 cm) soil layer, the highest water capacity was established in NT, and in deeper layers, this was found in RT plots compared to DP. The density of soil mainly affected the volume of micro-and-macro-pores and water capacity.
Breeding Long Shelf-Life (LSL) Tomato Landraces to Non-Trellised Culture and Water Deficit Irrigation: The Effect on Yield and Postharvest Storage
Authors: Schober Philipp , Buil Júlia , Rivera Ana , Campo Sonia , Roig-Villanova Irma , Casals Joan
Published: September 2022

Non-trellised culture of tomato is gaining interest among farmers cultivating long shelf-life (LSL) landraces because of the reduction in production costs. This cropping system can benefit from the selection of determinate growth genotypes, mirroring the advancements achieved in processing tomatoes. With this aim, and profiting from the natural variation found within the Penjar landrace, we selected traditional determinate genotypes and breed novel lines carrying both the self-pruning (sp) and the compound inflorescence (s) mutations. Traditional genotypes and breeding lines were compared to commercial controls in a three multi-locality trial and under two irrigation regimes (normal watered, 100% ETc; and water deficit, 50% ETc). Water use efficiency, harvest index, yield and fruit quality traits were studied at harvest. During postharvest, the effects of genotype and management practices on shelf life were assessed under different storage conditions (controlled conditions/cold storage/farmer facilities). All genotypes used water more efficiently under water deficit irrigation than under normal irrigation. Harvest index was improved in the determinate genotypes and was neither affected by locality nor by irrigation factors. Breeding lines showed yields similar to the controls and the traditional ones; however, they displayed a plant architecture that facilitated their management. They also presented higher postharvest shelf life than controls and traditional lines. Shelf life was significantly affected by genotype (G), locality (L, at early stages), and irrigation regime (I, at later stages), with the contribution of the genotype to the phenotypic variance increasing along the postharvest. Low watering increased shelf life in some genotypes while cold storage and high humidity conditions impeded the long shelf-life trait. Overall, sunscald incidence and percentage of unripe fruits when using a single harvest strategy are the major limitations for non-trellised culture of Penjar tomato. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the main aspects of management and on breeding targets to promote a non-trellised culture of Penjar tomato in combination with optimal water use efficiency.
Plasma-Treated Nitrogen-Enriched Manure Does Not Impose Adverse Effects on Soil Fauna Feeding Activity or Springtails and Earthworms Abundance
Authors: Mousavi Hesam , Cottis Thomas , Pommeresche Reidun , Dörsch Peter , Solberg Svein Øivind
Published: September 2022

Plasma treatment of animal manure is a new technology, enriching the manure with plant-available nitrogen. Therefore, the product is termed nitrogen-enriched organic fertilizer (NEO). The producer (N2 Applied) claims that NEO can be a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers used in agriculture. However, the effect of this product on soil-dwelling organisms is unknown. This study investigates and compares the effects of NEO on changes in soil fauna feeding activity, the abundance of springtails, and the abundance and weight of earthworms to mineral fertilizer, organic fertilizer (cattle slurry), and no fertilizer in pot and field experiments with sandy clay loam soil. Early effect evaluation (week 7) indicated influences on soil fauna feeding activity; among treatments, higher amounts of fertilizers went along with lower feeding activity, regardless of fertilizer type. However, the initial fertilizer application stimulation was transient and stabilized with time after fertilization towards mid-term (week 14) and late effect evaluations (week 21). Accordingly, differences between feeding activities were less than five percent at late effect evaluation. Similarly, none of the fertilizers used imposed adverse effects on the abundance of springtails and the abundance and weight of earthworms; these parameters were almost identical among all fertilizing treatments. After two years of application in field trials and in a pot experiment, NEO and the other used fertilizers seem not to harm the selected soil-dwelling organisms.