bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the adaptive mechanisms of halophyte Suaeda dendroides encountering high saline environment
Authors: Ma Panpan , Li Jilian , Sun Guoqing , Zhu Jianbo
Published: February 2024

Suaeda dendroides, a succulent euhalophyte of the Chenopodiaceae family, intermittently spread around northern Xinjiang, China, has the ability to grow and develop in saline and alkali environments. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of S. dendroides response to high salt conditions. 27 sequencing libraries prepared from low salt (200 mM NaCl) and high salt (800 mM NaCl) treated plants at 5 different stages were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq 2000. A total of 133,107 unigenes were obtained, of which 4,758 were DEGs. The number of DEGs in the high salt group (3,189) was more than the low salt treatment group (733) compared with the control. GO and KEGG analysis of the DEGs at different time points of the high salt treatment group showed that the genes related to cell wall biosynthesis and modification, plant hormone signal transduction, ion homeostasis, organic osmolyte accumulation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification were significantly expressed, which indicated that these could be the main mechanisms of S. dendroides acclimate to high salt stress. The study provides a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanisms of halophytes adapting to high salinity. It also provides a basis for future investigations of key salt-responsive genes in S. dendroides.
Effects of stable and fluctuating soil water on the agronomic and biological performance of root vegetables
Authors: Li Ge , Zhu Guolong , Liu Jian , Wang Zhuan , Long Huaiyu , Zhang Renlian , Yu Kefan
Published: February 2024

Compared to fluctuating soil water (FW) conditions, stable soil water (SW) can increase plant water use efficiency (WUE) and improve crop growth and aboveground yield. It is unknown, however, how stable and fluctuating soil water affect root vegetables. Here, the effects of SW and FW were studied on cherry radish in a pot experiment, using negative pressure irrigation and conventional irrigation, respectively. The assessed effects included agronomic parameters, physiological indices, yield, quality and WUE of cherry radish. Results showed that under similarly average soil water contents, compared with FW, SW increased plant photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, decreased leaf proline content by 13.7–73.3% and malondialdehyde content by 12.5–40.0%, and increased soluble sugars content by 6.3–22.1%. Cherry radish had greater biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake in SW than in FW. Indeed, SW increased radish output by 34.6–94.1% with no influence on root/shoot ratio or root quality. In conclusion, soil water stability affected directly the water physiological indicators of cherry radish and indirectly its agronomic attributes and nutrient uptake, which in turn influenced the crop biomass and yield, as well as WUE. This study provides a new perspective for improving agronomy of root crops and WUE through managing soil water stability.
Heritage for sustainable peace: the politics of contested histories and the Nanjing controversy at UNESCO
Authors: Huttunen Miia
Published: February 2024

This article explores the politics of heritage of the 2015 Sino-Japanese confrontation resulting from the controversial inclusion of the “Documents of Nanjing Massacre” in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, which promotes the preservation of archival documents as humanity's common heritage. Through an analysis of the Chinese nomination form proposing the inclusion of the documents in the register and the Japanese response to it, reflected against the principles of the register, this article examines how the seemingly apolitical and universal understanding of heritage and its links with sustainable peace proposed by organizations such as UNESCO fails to hold its ground when linked to the interests of a nation that claims ownership of it. Through an exploration of the Nanjing debate as a point of friction in the interplay of international ideals and national interests, it makes a case for an understanding of the interaction between the supranational and the national as a two-way street through the example of UNESCO's somewhat peculiar understanding of sustainable peace and its exploitation for political purposes. The article concludes that the idealistic effort to preserve archival heritage and to increase recognition of its significance seems to have become overshadowed by the MoW register's unintended facilitation of competing nationalistic narratives, leaving the door open for the exploitation of the register for purposes that contradict the very principles it was founded upon. Thus, while this case surfaces practical issues with the adoption of UNESCO's “heritage for sustainable peace” agenda seriously calling into question the realizability of such an idea, the mere fact that both China and Japan sought to seek ruling on their bilateral dispute through UNESCO implies a display of faith in the organization and its mission.
Love songs and serenades: a theoretical review of music and romantic relationships
Authors: Bamford Joshua S. , Vigl Julia , Hämäläinen Matias , Saarikallio Suvi Helinä
Published: February 2024

In this theoretical review, we examine how the roles of music in mate choice and social bonding are expressed in romantic relationships. Darwin’s Descent of Man originally proposed the idea that musicality might have evolved as a sexually selected trait. This proposition, coupled with the portrayal of popular musicians as sex symbols and the prevalence of love-themed lyrics in music, suggests a possible link between music and attraction. However, recent scientific exploration of the evolutionary functions of music has predominantly focused on theories of social bonding and group signaling, with limited research addressing the sexual selection hypothesis. We identify two distinct types of music-making for these different functions: music for attraction, which would be virtuosic in nature to display physical and cognitive fitness to potential mates; and music for connection, which would facilitate synchrony between partners and likely engage the same reward mechanisms seen in the general synchrony-bonding effect, enhancing perceived interpersonal intimacy as a facet of love. Linking these two musical functions to social psychological theories of relationship development and the components of love, we present a model that outlines the potential roles of music in romantic relationships, from initial attraction to ongoing relationship maintenance. In addition to synthesizing the existing literature, our model serves as a roadmap for empirical research aimed at rigorously investigating the possible functions of music for romantic relationships.
Flicker light stimulation enhances the emotional response to music: a comparison study to the effects of psychedelics
Authors: Montgomery Caspar , Amaya Ioanna Alicia , Schmidt Timo Torsten
Published: February 2024

Flicker light stimulation (FLS) is a non-pharmacological method of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs), producing hallucination-like phenomena as well as effects extending beyond the visual modality, including emotional effects. Research into the psychological and neural mechanisms of FLS is still in its infancy, but can be informed by research into other methods of inducing ASCs. For instance, research on classic psychedelics has reported enhancement of emotional responses to music. Here, we test to what degree FLS might also enhance the emotional response to music, using a study protocol designed to resemble a previous study on the effects of LSD as closely as possible, to allow for comparison of effect sizes across modalities and inform future research into FLS as an ASC-induction method. Twenty participants listened to emotionally evocative music in two conditions – with and without FLS – and reported on their emotional response to the music. FLS showed a significant enhancing effect on reported music-evoked emotion, especially emotions relating to “Joyful Activation”; additionally, we found that the experienced intensity of FLS correlated with reports of higher levels of emotional arousal. These findings motivate further research into FLS as a method for inducing ASCs and into the interactions between visual phenomena and music-evoked emotion.
Validity, reliability, and invariance across sex of a German version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire
Authors: Cocca Armando , Kopp Martin , Greier Klaus , Labek Karin , Cocca Michaela , Ruedl Gerhard
Published: February 2024

Objective

Since there is no scientifically validated German version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3), the aim of this study was to assess its psychometric parameters and invariance across sex in a sample of German-speaking young adults. The BREQ-3 is an instrument measuring the social and internal influences of motivation toward exercising. This tool is widespread within the scientific community and has been validated in several languages.

Methods

A total of 271 participants (45% women; mean age = 20.67 ± 2.17 years; effect size ≥ 0.5) filled in the BREQ-3 at one time point, with a small sub-sample (n = 37) responding it a second time after 15 days. Confirmatory Factorial Analysis, Structural Modeling, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient were used to examine the German version of the questionnaire.

Results

Results highlighted a good fit of the six-dimensional model after the removal of two items (CFI = 0.912; SRMR = 0.0594; RMSEA = 0.064), as well as full invariance across sex (pχ2 = 0.218; ΔCFI < 0.01). Internal consistency and reliability were moderate to good.

Conclusions

The 22-item German BREQ-3 is a scientifically valid instrument that can be used in cross-national studies dealing with social aspects of exercise behaviors.
Genetic polymorphism in HTR2A rs6313 is associated with internet addiction disorder
Authors: Dai Yu , Zhang Chenchen , Zhang Lingrui , Wen Chao , Li Hongya , Zhu Tianmin
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has grown into public health concern of global proportions. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with IAD may exhibit altered levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are known to play crucial roles in depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and addiction. Therefore, polymorphisms in the receptors that mediate the effects of serotonin and dopamine and affect their functional states as well as their activities are suspect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between IAD and rs6313 (T102C) polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene, (HTR2A).

Methods

Twenty patients with IAD and twenty healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Barratt Impulse Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess the severity of internet addiction, mental status, impulsive traits, sleep quality, and social support. Genotyping was performed to identify rs6313 polymorphisms in the HTR2A gene of all participants.

Results

The frequencies of the C and T alleles of HTR2A T102C were 28% and 72% in the IAD group and 53% and 47% in the HCs group, respectively, indicating that the differences between these two groups were significant. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes of HTR2A gene T102C between the IAD and the HCs groups. Additionally, there was no difference in the distribution of the frequencies of the HTR2A gene T102C CC and CT+TT genotypes between the two groups. However, the distribution between the TT and CC+CT genotypes showed an apparent statistical difference in the HTR2A gene T102C between the two groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the IAT score was positively correlated with the Y-BOCS and BIS scores for the CC+CT genotype in patients with IAD. Moreover, the IAT score was positively correlated with the PSQI score in patients with IAD carrying the TT genotype.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that rs6313 in HTR2A is associated with IAD, and that the T allele of rs6313 in HTR2A may be a risk factor for IAD.
A qualitative analysis of the documentation of DSM-5 Cultural Formulation Interviews with non-native speaking patients in a Swedish mental health care setting
Authors: Wallin Malin Idar , DeMarinis Valerie , Nevonen Lauri , Bäärnhielm Sofie
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Cultural variety in expressed symptom presentations of mental health problems creates difficulties in transcultural diagnostic assessments. This emphasizes the need of culturally sensitive diagnostic tools like the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI). Although the CFI is being implemented worldwide there is a lack of studies analyzing what kind of information it provides when used with new patients in routine psychiatric assessments, and how CFI information contributes to diagnostic evaluations. This study aimed to find out what information the CFI questions revealed when used with non-native Swedish speaking patients. We also wanted to understand how the CFI may facilitate identification of psychiatric diagnoses among these patients.

Materials and methods

The CFI was used as part of a routine clinical psychiatric assessment in an outpatient clinic in Sweden. Interpreters were used in the consultations when needed. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the documented CFI answers from non-native speaking patients.

Results

We found that the CFI information contained contextualized descriptions of dysfunction and current life conditions, as well as expressions of emotions, often described along with somatic terms.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the narrative approach of the CFI, giving contextualized information about distress and functioning, can facilitate clinicians’ identification of psychiatric symptoms when language, psychiatric terms and understandings are not shared between patient and clinician.
Shortcomings of services for persons with severe and persistent mental health challenges: a qualitative study of service users and family carers
Authors: Isaacs Anton , Lambert Caroline , Lawn Sharon , Dyer Anna
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The opinions of service users and carers are crucial to identifying ways to innovate and implement system change. This study aims to explore the views and experiences of service users and carerson the services they have used for their mental health challenges and their suggestions for service reform.

Methods

Twenty participants (15 carers and 5 service users) were interviewed for the study.

Results

Eight categories emerged from the data. They were: Several gaps in the system, Barriers to accessing services, Services are not fit for purpose, Services operate in isolation, System is not person focused, Service users and carers are treated poorly, Services are overloaded and under resourced and Recommendations for service reform. Respondents reported that a persistent lack of funding and resources for mental health services was a main cause of these shortcomings. Respondents also noted that innovations were needed to re-orient services to enable continuity of care, and training of mental health professionals was needed for a better understanding of the needs of service users and their carers.

Discussion

Additional research is needed with larger and more diverse samples to further explore these findings.
Personalized connectivity-based network targeting model of transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of psychiatric disorders: computational feasibility and reproducibility
Authors: Cao Zhengcao , Xiao Xiang , Xie Cong , Wei Lijiang , Yang Yihong , Zhu Chaozhe
Published: February 2024

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) holds promise for treating psychiatric disorders; however, the variability in treatment efficacy among individuals underscores the need for further improvement. Growing evidence has shown that TMS induces a broad network modulatory effect, and its effectiveness may rely on accurate modulation of the pathological network specific to each disorder. Therefore, determining the optimal TMS coil setting that will engage the functional pathway delivering the stimulation is crucial. Compared to group-averaged functional connectivity (FC), individual FC provides specific information about a person’s brain functional architecture, offering the potential for more accurate network targeting for personalized TMS. However, the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of FC poses a challenge when utilizing individual resting-state FC. To overcome this challenge, the proposed solutions include increasing the scan duration and employing the cluster method to enhance the stability of FC. This study aimed to evaluate the stability of a personalized FC-based network targeting model in individuals with major depressive disorder or schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Human Connectome Project, we assessed the model’s stability. We employed longer scan durations and cluster methodologies to improve the precision in identifying optimal individual sites. Our findings demonstrate that a scan duration of 28 minutes and the utilization of the cluster method achieved stable identification of individual sites, as evidenced by the intraindividual distance falling below the ~1cm spatial resolution of TMS. The current model provides a feasible approach to obtaining stable personalized TMS targets from the scalp, offering a more accurate method of TMS targeting in clinical applications.
Exploring the relationship between context and obsessions in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms: a narrative review
Authors: Weiss Franziska , Schwarz Kristina , Endrass Tanja
Published: February 2024

Obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have long been proposed to differ from intrusive thoughts in unaffected individuals based on appraisal of the thoughts. However, more recent research indicates that cognitive processes behind obsessions may differ significantly from those in healthy individuals concerning their contextual relationship. This narrative literature review summarizes current evidence for the role of context-relatedness for obsessions in OCD and intrusive thoughts in affected and unaffected individuals. The review encompasses a total of five studies, two of which include individuals diagnosed with OCD (one study also includes a group of unaffected control individuals), while the other three studies investigate the relationship between OCD symptoms and context in unaffected individuals. As assessed by mainly self-reports, the review examines the connection between thoughts and their context, shedding light on how the repetition and automaticity of thoughts, as well as their detachment from context over time contribute to defining obsessions in contrast to intrusive thoughts. However, the link with context depends on the content of the obsessions. We propose the term “decontextualization of thoughts” to describe the phenomenon that obsessions gradually lose their connection with external context during the development of OCD. Future research should investigate whether this hypothesis can be supported by experimental evidence and identify whether this shift might be more likely a cause or a consequence of the disorder.
Effects of active video games on physical activity among overweight and obese college students: a systematic review
Authors: Zhao Yue , Soh Kim Geok , Saad Hazizi Abu , Liu Chunqing , Ding Cong
Published: February 2024

Background

The purpose of this study was to critically review the existing literature on the effects of active video games (AVGs) on physical activity in overweight and obese college students to determine whether AVGs can promote and achieve recommended levels of physical activity. The results should provide constructive input for future research.

Methods

A total of five international databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, and EBSCOhost were searched with keywords related to “active video games,” “physical activity,” and “obese college students” from July 2022. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines and randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. Furthermore, the quality assessment of the studies was measured using the PEDro scale.

Results

One thousand and twenty-three articles were retrieved, of which eight randomised controlled trial studies met the inclusion criteria. AVGs can reduce sedentary behaviour and positively affect physical activity, time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), positive psychological factors, and game attendance rate. Combining AVGs with other assistive devices (such as mini-trampolines and stationary bikes) can enhance the effects of AVGs and provide greater physiological stimulation. Different types of AVGs and game modes can achieve different emotional responses, physiological stimulation, and physical activity levels.

Conclusion

The research findings prove that AVGs can be a viable intervention to increase physical activity in overweight or obese college students, ultimately reaching the recommended physical activity level(PAL). Physical activity can be further increased by incorporating assistive devices or using features supported by self-determination theory (SDT). As a new modality, AVGs could be a potential alternative to traditional physical activity.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42022363993.
Alarming patterns of moderate and high-risk alcohol use among transgender women in Goiás, Central Brazil
Authors: Magalhães Larissa Silva , dos Santos Kamila Cardoso , Diniz e Silva Bruno Vinícius , Filho Gabriel Francisco Silva , Vaddiparti Krishna , Gonzalez Roxana Isabel Cardozo , Pillon Sandra Cristina , Carneiro Megmar Aparecida dos Santos , Caetano Karlla Antonieta Amorim , Cook Robert Lewis , Teles Sheila Araújo
Published: February 2024

Background

Scant studies have examined alcohol consumption among transgender women in Latin America. This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence and associated factors of risky alcohol use among transgender women in Goiás, a state located in the center of Brazil.

Methods

Participants were 440 transgender women (median age = 35 years, interquartile range = 9) recruited through respondent-driven sampling. All participants were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, violence, and risk behavior. Alcohol use was assessed using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). An AUDIT score greater than or equal to eight was considered as risky alcohol consumption. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine predictors of risky alcohol use, and p-values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results

The majority were young, single, sex workers. Most transgender women had used alcohol in the previous year (85.7%), and more than half (56.6%) reported binge drinking and risky alcohol consumption (60.2%). There was a high overlap between sexual behavior, drugs, and alcohol use. Using alcohol during sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7–4.8), cocaine/crack use (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5–3.7) and having a drug user as a sexual partner (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5–5.9) were independently associated with risky alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption was highly prevalent, and drugs seem to play an important role in risky alcohol consumption among transgender women Goiás. These findings support stakeholders to promote intervention strategies to reduce this pattern of alcohol consumption and reduce the burden of substance use disorders among transgender women.
Sex differentials in the prevalence of behavioral risk factors and non-communicable diseases in adult populations of West Kazakhstan
Authors: Baspakova Akmaral , Abitova Anara Zh. , Mussin Nadiar M. , Kaliyev Asset A. , Yerimbetova Gulmira , Zhumagaliyeva Saltanat , Ashimova Zhanat , Zhilisbayeva Kulyash R. , Umbetova Aigerim A. , Nurtazina Alma U. , Tamadon Amin
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing worldwide. Several modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, and obesity, have been linked to the development of NCDs in both genders. Understanding the prevalence of these risk factors and their associated factors is crucial for effective intervention planning in adult populations. This study aimed to provide an overview of the prevalence and associated factors of these risk behaviors among different genders of adults in West Kazakhstan.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in four regions of West Kazakhstan. A stratified multistage sampling technique was utilized to obtain a representative sample size of 4,800 participants aged 18 -69 years. Trained researchers administered face-to-face interviews using validated questionnaires to gather information pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics, smoking habits, alcohol drinking, dietary patterns, physical activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and prevalent diseases.

Results

This study, which included 4,800 participants from West Kazakhstan, revealed some striking numerical findings. The overall prevalence rates of behavioral risk factors and metabolic conditions were as follows: smoking was 13.6% (95%CI: 3.2–24.0%), alcohol drinking was 47.0% (27.7–66.3%), current obesity was 22.3% (9.0–35.6%), and physical inactivity was 80.7% (55.4–106.0%). In addition, the overall prevalence rates of metabolic conditions were 25.6% (11.3–39.9%) for hypertension, 7.5% (0.2–15.2%) for diabetes, 11.8% (2.1–21.5%) for high cholesterol, and 13.0% (2.8–23.2%) for cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, a higher prevalence of high cholesterol was observed in men, and a greater prevalence of heart disease was identified in women. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that physical inactivity was associated with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, while obesity was linked to hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Discussion

This study in West Kazakhstan identified variations in the prevalence of behavioral risk factors and NCDs, highlighting gender, age, and regional disparities. Notably, men showed higher rates of smoking and alcohol drinking, while women exhibited a greater prevalence of physical inactivity and obesity. Gender and regional differences were evident, with the West Kazakhstan region standing out for distinct patterns. Tailored interventions are crucial to address these disparities and enhance public health in the region.
Personalized bundle recommendation using preference elicitation and the Choquet integral
Authors: Robbi Erich , Bronzini Marco , Viappiani Paolo , Passerini Andrea
Published: February 2024

Bundle recommendation aims to generate bundles of associated products that users tend to consume as a whole under certain circumstances. Modeling the bundle utility for users is a non-trivial task, as it requires to account for the potential interdependencies between bundle attributes. To address this challenge, we introduce a new preference-based approach for bundle recommendation exploiting the Choquet integral. This allows us to formalize preferences for coalitions of environmental-related attributes, thus recommending product bundles accounting for synergies among product attributes. An experimental evaluation of a dataset of local food products in Northern Italy shows how the Choquet integral allows the natural formalization of a sensible notion of environmental friendliness and that standard approaches based on weighted sums of attributes end up recommending bundles with lower environmental friendliness even if weights are explicitly learned to maximize it. We further show how preference elicitation strategies can be leveraged to acquire weights of the Choquet integral from user feedback in terms of preferences over candidate bundles, and show how a handful of queries allow to recommend optimal bundles for a diverse set of user prototypes.
Connection between single-layer quantum approximate optimization algorithm interferometry and thermal distribution sampling
Authors: Díez-Valle Pablo , Porras Diego , García-Ripoll Juan José
Published: February 2024

The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) was originally proposed to find approximate solutions to combinatorial optimization problems on quantum computers. However, the algorithm has also attracted interest for sampling purposes since it was theoretically demonstrated under reasonable complexity assumptions that one layer of the algorithm already engineers a probability distribution beyond what can be simulated by classical computers. In this regard, a recent study has also shown that, in universal Ising models, this global probability distribution resembles pure but thermal-like distributions at a temperature that depends on the internal correlations of the spin model. In this work, through an interferometric interpretation of the algorithm, we extend the theoretical derivation of the amplitudes of the eigenstates and the Boltzmann distributions generated by a single-layer QAOA. We also review the implications of this behavior from practical and fundamental perspectives.
Working conditions and attitudes towards work: the case of Portuguese youth from Braga
Authors: Duque Eduardo , Durán Vázquez José F.
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study is to explore the working conditions and attitudes towards work among the youth of Braga, Portugal. Focusing on residents of the Municipality of Braga born between 1990 and 2000, we employed a quantitative approach using a non-probabilistic convenience sampling method, with a sample size of 406 people. The survey, conducted through questionnaires, reveals a complex interplay between the youth’s work attitudes and their conditions. Despite the predominance of precarious employment, their work experiences and expectations do not entirely reflect this instability. Our findings suggest a shift in the role of work in the youths’ identity compared to previous generations. This shift, common in post-industrial societies, shows that their identity is increasingly tied to the sociability their work enables and other life spheres where they seek fulfilment, as evidenced by how they utilize their earnings from these occupations.
Motor learning in golf—a systematic review
Authors: Barzyk Philipp , Gruber Markus
Published: February 2024

Golf is a sport that consists of complex movement skills that need to be executed with utmost precision. Consequently, motor skill learning plays a crucial role in golf, and large numbers of studies address various methods of motor learning. In the present review, we give a systematic overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on motor learning of golf-specific motor skills. Three electronic databases were searched for RCTs looking at the effect of at least one learning method on performance in a golf-specific motor task. We grouped the studies depending on the learning strategies “cognitive training”, “practice scheduling”, “augmented feedback”, “implicit and explicit learning” and “focus of attention”. Fifty-two RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. Superior methods within their respective strategies were an external focus of attention and increasing contextual interference, as well as errorless learning. For “cognitive training” and “augmented feedback”, no single method can be considered the most favorable. The overall biggest limitations were the lack of statistical power for more than half of the RCTs, and the fact that most studies of the present review investigated simple putting tasks in novices only. Although we have shown superiority of specific learning methods, transferability of the recommendations that can be derived from simple golf tasks in novices to sport-specific tasks in advanced players still has to be demonstrated and require study designs with the intention to provide practical recommendations for coaches and athletes in the sport of golf.
Association between physical activity and sleep quality among healthcare students
Authors: Alhusami MinatAllah , Jatan Noora , Dsouza Skylar , Sultan Meshal A.
Published: February 2024

Objective

To assess the relationship between physical activity (PA) and sleep quality (SQ) in Mohammed Bin Rashid University (MBRU) students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Taking into account this being one of the first studies exploring this aspect among healthcare students in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study that involved disseminating online surveys via email to students of all 5 colleges in MBRU between March-June 2023. The survey encompassed queries on demographics, the Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

The survey was completed by 105 students. Most students were from the medical college (98/105; 93.3%) and were females (84/105; 80.0%). Females engaged the most in low PA (44.0%) while males engaged the most in high PA (42.9%) according to the IPAQ-SF. There was a significant association between SGPALS and gender (p = 0.007, X2 = 12.0). The global PSQI score showed that 70.5% of the students had bad-quality sleep. Sleep efficiency and leisurely PA are significantly negatively correlated (p = 0.026, ρ = −0.217) while sitting minutes and sleep duration are significantly positively correlated (p = 0.030, r = 0.212).

Conclusion

Significant negative correlations between sleep efficiency and leisurely PA demonstrate that while exercise has been implicated in the improvement of SQ, excessive exercise can behave as an additional stressor and induce negative changes in the SQ of healthcare students. Meanwhile, significant positive correlations between sleep duration and sitting indicate that adequate rest should not be undervalued in its effects on sleep. Furthermore, the findings of this study highlight public health implications that warrant attention by educators and policymakers in academic health systems.
Food systems under shock: the evolution of food security status of Karantina residents after the Beirut explosion
Authors: Makoukji Mariana , Amhez Nour El Houda , Yehya Abed Al Kareem , Ghattas Hala , Abunnasr Yaser , Zurayk Rami
Published: February 2024

Robust food systems are crucial for ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly in times of crisis. Economic instability, currency devaluation, and political turmoil can disrupt food systems, leading to higher food prices, compromised nutrition, and increased vulnerability. Lebanon is a stark example of this, where a catastrophic explosion in Beirut’s Port in 2020 worsened an existing economic and humanitarian crisis. The depreciation of the Lebanese currency led to soaring food prices, impacting people’s ability to buy food, and pushing many into poverty, illustrating the significant impact of the state food systems during crises (FAO, 2021). In times of crisis, a simplified food system, relying on emergency food aid supplies, replaces conventional food system, as food aid and cash transfers become the primary source upon which the affected population depends to ensure their food security and meet their essential needs. In this article we report on research conducted between 2020 and 2022 focusing on the impacts of the Beirut explosion on food security status of the permanent residents the Karantina neighborhood—the closest residential area to the Beirut port. We surveyed 100 households chosen at random, examining shifts in food security and nutrition at three intervals: 6 months prior to the explosion, 6 months following it, and 2 years after the event. The findings revealed a sharp decline in food security and diet quality among residents in the two-year period following the explosion. The proportion of food-secure households fell from 71% to 2%, while those with acceptable food consumption decreased from 96% to 30%. Additionally, income and debt situations worsened significantly. Almost 95% of residents resorted to crisis coping strategies, such as using savings, borrowing money for food, selling furniture, withdrawing children from school, and reducing education and health expenses, rendering them highly vulnerable. Food and cash assistance were provided to all households for 6 months to one-year post-explosion, resulting in improved food security and consumption after 6 months. However, these gains diminished 2 years later, once the assistance ended, revealing a lack of resilience in the food system. In conclusion, soon after the assistance stopped, the prolonged deterioration of Lebanon’s economic situation, compounded by multiple crises, pushed these households further into poverty, exacerbating food insecurity. This research underscores the critical importance of sustained support and comprehensive economic reforms to rebuild food systems and promote nutrition resilience in crisis-affected regions.
Evaluation of stability and safety of equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from amniotic fluid for clinical application
Authors: Kim Eun Young , Lee Eun Ji , Kim Ryoung Eun , Kil Tae Young , Kim Min Kyu
Published: February 2024

Amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs), which can be obtained from fetal tissue, reportedly have self-renewal capacity and multi-lineage differentiation potential. The aim of this study was to identify the biological characteristics of AF-MSCs and evaluate their stability and safety in long-term culture. To confirm the biological characteristics of AF-MSCs, morphology, proliferation capacity, karyotype, differentiation capacity, gene expression level, and immunophenotype were analyzed after isolating AF-MSCs from equine amniotic fluid. AF-MSCs were differentiated into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. Immunophenotype analyses revealed expression levels of ≥95% and ≤ 2% of cells for a positive and negative marker, respectively. Analysis of the MSCs relative gene expression levels of AF-MSCs was approximately at least twice that of the control. The endotoxin level was measured to verify the safety of AF-MSCs and was found to be less than the standard value of 0.5 EU/ml. AF-MSCs were cultured for a long time without any evidence of abnormalities in morphology, proliferation ability, and karyotype. These results suggest that amniotic fluid is a competent source for acquiring equine MSCs and that it is valuable as a cell therapy due to its high stability.
Characterization of a Solar Sail Membrane for Abaqus-Based Simulations
Authors: Boni Luisa , Bassetto Marco , Quarta Alessandro A.
Published: February 2024

Photonic solar sails are a class of advanced propellantless propulsion systems that use thin, large, lightweight membranes to convert the momentum of light from the Sun into thrust for space navigation. The conceptually simple nature of such a fascinating propulsion system requires, however, advances in materials, packaging, deployment, and control of a very large space structure. In this context, the finite element method (FEM), implemented in a robust and flexible software such as the commercial software Abaqus, represents a fundamental instrument to progress with the practical study of this promising propulsion system concept. In particular, in a typical (medium-size) square solar sail design process, the FEM-based analyses are used to better understand fundamental aspects of structural design, such as, for example, membrane pre-tensioning, deformations induced by Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP), and the buckling of reinforcing booms. The aim of this study is to describe an effective procedure to model a classical square solar sail structure into a typical commercial software for finite element analysis, such as the well-known suite Abaqus. In particular, we compare various membrane pre-tensioning techniques (useful for increasing the membrane’s bending stiffness) and describe possible approaches to applying the SRP-induced load in a realistic way. Additionally, the flexibility of the structure under the solar sail loads and the criticality of section shape and boom size are taken into account, with particular regard to the problem of structural instability. In this context, performance and critical issues of different structural solutions are discussed and compared, allowing an improvement in the preliminary design phase of solar sails to be obtained.
Optimizing the YOLOv7-Tiny Model with Multiple Strategies for Citrus Fruit Yield Estimation in Complex Scenarios
Authors: Jing Juanli , Zhai Menglin , Dou Shiqing , Wang Lin , Lou Binghai , Yan Jichi , Yuan Shixin
Published: February 2024

The accurate identification of citrus fruits is important for fruit yield estimation in complex citrus orchards. In this study, the YOLOv7-tiny-BVP network is constructed based on the YOLOv7-tiny network, with citrus fruits as the research object. This network introduces a BiFormer bilevel routing attention mechanism, which replaces regular convolution with GSConv, adds the VoVGSCSP module to the neck network, and replaces the simplified efficient layer aggregation network (ELAN) with partial convolution (PConv) in the backbone network. The improved model significantly reduces the number of model parameters and the model inference time, while maintaining the network’s high recognition rate for citrus fruits. The results showed that the fruit recognition accuracy of the modified model was 97.9% on the test dataset. Compared with the YOLOv7-tiny, the number of parameters and the size of the improved network were reduced by 38.47% and 4.6 MB, respectively. Moreover, the recognition accuracy, frames per second (FPS), and F1 score improved by 0.9, 2.02, and 1%, respectively. The network model proposed in this paper has an accuracy of 97.9% even after the parameters are reduced by 38.47%, and the model size is only 7.7 MB, which provides a new idea for the development of a lightweight target detection model.
Evaluation of Growth Performance and Environmental Impact of Hermetia illucens Larvae Reared on Coffee Silverskins Enriched with Schizochytrium limacinum or Isochrysis galbana Microalgae
Authors: Ruschioni Sara , Duca Daniele , Tulli Francesca , Zarantoniello Matteo , Cardinaletti Gloriana , Corsi Lorenzo , Olivotto Ike , Basili Danilo , Naspetti Simona , Truzzi Cristina , Isidoro Nunzio , Riolo Paola
Published: February 2024

Hermetia illucens is a promising insect due to its ability to convert low-value substrates as food chain by-products into highly nutritious feed. Its feeding and nutrition are important issues. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different substrates consisting of coffee silverskin, a by-product of the roasting process, enriched with different inclusions of microalgae (5%, 10%, 20%, and 25%), Schizochytrium limacinum, and Isochrysis galbana, combined with the assessment of environmental sustainability by LCA. In general, the addition of microalgae led to an increase in larval growth performance due to the higher content of protein and lipids, although S. limacinum showed the best results with respect to larvae fed with coffee silverskin enriched with I. galbana. A higher prepupal weight was observed in larvae fed with 10%, 20%, and 25% S. limacinum; shorter development times in larvae fed with 25% of both S. limacinum and I. galbana; and a higher growth rate in larvae fed with 25% S. limacinum. The 10% S. limacinum inclusion was only slightly different from the higher inclusions. Furthermore, 10% of S. limacinum achieved the best waste reduction index. The greater the inclusion of microalgae, the greater the environmental impact of larval production. Therefore, the addition of 10% S. limacinum appears to be the best compromise for larval rearing, especially considering that a higher inclusion of microalgae did not yield additional benefits in terms of the nutritional value of H. illucens prepupae.
Effects of Muscle Type and Aging on Glycolysis and Physicochemical Quality Properties of Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) Meat
Authors: Lyu Haodi , Na Qin , Wang Linlin , Li Yafei , Zheng Zengtuo , Wu Yinga , Li Yuanyuan , Hang Gai , Zhu Xiangwei , Ji Rimutu , Guo Fucheng , Ming Liang
Published: February 2024

Poor tenderness of camel meat has seriously hampered the development of the camel meat industry. This study investigated the effects of muscle fiber composition and ageing time on meat quality, glycolytic potential, and glycolysis-related enzyme activities. Muscle samples of the longissimus thoracis (LT), psoas major (PM), and semitendinosus (ST) were collected from eight 8–10 year old Sonid Bactrian camels (females). Muscle fiber composition was examined by ATPase staining and immunohistochemistry. Meat quality indexes, glycolytic potential, and activities of major glycolytic enzymes were examined at 4 °C aging for 1, 6, 24, 72, and 120 h. The results showed that LT was mainly composed of type IIb muscle fibers, whereas PM and ST were mainly composed of type I muscle fibers. The PCR results of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) were consistent with the ATPase staining results. During aging, the shear force of LT muscle was always greater than that of PM and ST, and its glycolysis was the strongest; type IIa, IIb, and IIx muscle fibers were positively correlated with muscle shear force and glycolysis rate, and type I muscle fibers were significantly and negatively correlated with the activities of the key enzymes of glycolysis within 6 h. The results showed that the muscle fibers of LT muscle had the greatest glycolysis capacity. These results suggest that an excessive type IIb muscle fiber number percentage and area in camel meat accelerated the glycolysis process, but seriously affected the sensory profile of the camel meat. The results of this study provide directions for the camel industry when addressing the poor tenderness of camel meat.
CO2 Absorption by Solvents Consisting of TMG Protic Ionic Liquids and Ethylene Glycol: The Influence of Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Lu Bohao , Zeng Yixing , Chen Mingzhe , Zhang Shaoze , Yang Dezhong
Published: February 2024

Herein, the absorption of CO2 by the TMG-based (TMG: 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) ionic liquids (ILs) and the absorbents formed by TMG ILs and ethylene glycol (EG) is studied. The TMG-based ILs used are formed by TMG and 4-fluorophenol (4-F-PhOH) or carvacrol (Car), and their viscosities are low at 25 °C. The CO2 uptake capacities of [TMGH][4-F-PhO] and [TMGH][Car] are low (~0.09 mol CO2/mol IL) at 25 °C and 1.0 atm. However, the mixtures [TMGH][4-F-PhO]-EG and [TMGH][Car]-EG show much higher capacities (~1.0 mol CO2/mol IL) than those of parent ILs, which is unexpected because of the low CO2 capacity of EG (0.01 mol CO2/mol EG) in the same conditions. NMR spectra and theoretical calculations are used to determine the reason for these unexpected absorption behaviors. The spectra and theoretical results show that the strong hydrogen bonds between the [TMGH]+ cation and the phenolate anions make the used TMG-based ILs unreactive to CO2, resulting in the low CO2 capacity. In the Ils-EG mixtures, the hydrogen bonds formed between EG and phenolate anions can weaken the [TMGH]+–anion hydrogen bond strength, so ILs-EG mixtures can react with CO2 and present high CO2 capacities.