bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forecasting Hydrogen Production from Wind Energy in a Suburban Environment Using Machine Learning
Authors: Javaid Ali , Javaid Umer , Sajid Muhammad , Rashid Muhammad , Uddin Emad , Ayaz Yasar , Waqas Adeel
Published: November 2022

The environment is seriously threatened by the rising energy demand and the use of conventional energy sources. Renewable energy sources including hydro, solar, and wind have been the focus of extensive research due to the proliferation of energy demands and technological advancement. Wind energy is mostly harvested in coastal areas, and little work has been done on energy extraction from winds in a suburban environment. The fickle behavior of wind makes it a less attractive renewable energy source. However, an energy storage method may be added to store harvested wind energy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of extracting wind energy in terms of hydrogen energy in a suburban environment incorporating artificial intelligence techniques. To this end, a site was selected latitude 33.64° N, longitude 72.98° N, and elevation 500 m above mean sea level in proximity to hills. One year of wind data consisting of wind speed, wind direction, and wind gust was collected at 10 min intervals. Subsequently, long short-term memory (LSTM), support vector regression (SVR), and linear regression models were trained on the empirically collected data to estimate daily hydrogen production. The results reveal that the overall prediction performance of LSTM was best compared to that of SVR and linear regression models. Furthermore, we found that an average of 6.76 kg/day of hydrogen can be produced by a 1.5 MW wind turbine with the help of an artificial intelligence method (LSTM) that is well suited for time-series data to classify, process, and predict.
Renewable Energy Communities as Modes of Collective Prosumership: A Multi-Disciplinary Assessment, Part I—Methodology
Authors: Chaudhry Shubhra , Surmann Arne , Kühnbach Matthias , Pierie Frank
Published: November 2022

Citizens are set to play an active role in the energy transition by transforming from ‘passive’ consumers to ‘active’ prosumers. Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are envisioned as modes of collective prosumership by citizens under the Renewable Energy Directive of 2018 (RED II). A holistic understanding of RECs is essential to identify the benefits and challenges of collective prosumership. RECs have been the topic of several modelling studies, but a single model that simulates RECs from an integrated perspective—combining technical, economic and ecological analysis—is absent. Wide variability in the indicators discourages comparison of the results across studies. This article builds on the existing knowledge by proposing an integrated model to undertake a multi-disciplinary assessment of a potential REC. First, the proposed model analyses the technical possibilities of collective prosumership using energy flow analysis based on consumption and generation profiles. Second, the model evaluates the economic impacts of prosumership from two perspectives: from the consumers’ perspective (in terms of the annual cost of energy consumption) and from an investor’s perspective (in terms of the net present value of the investment). Thirdly, the model quantifies the annual greenhouse gas emissions of energy consumption (expressed in CO2 equivalent) to evaluate the ecological impact of prosumership. Lastly, a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) are proposed that can be used to interpret and compare the results of simulations and are mapped to the actors in the REC in line with their objectives. The proposed approach offers a single, replicable model that can be used to simulate RECs in the different Member States of the European Union. The KPIs can be used to compare the impact of combinations of various prosumership activities within the same REC or to compare two different RECs on the benefits offered vis-a-vis the investments incurred. The KPIs also offer insights into the aligning and conflicting objectives of the stakeholders of the REC.
Analysis and Optimization of a Novel Flux Reversal Machine with Auxiliary Teeth
Authors: Jing Libing , Yang Kun , Gao Yuting , Kui Zhangtao , Min Zeyu
Published: November 2022

As a typical representative of the stator permanent magnet (PM) machines, the flux reversal machines (FRMs) have a simple structure, high availability of PMs, and high efficiency, making them suitable for direct drive applications. However, the PMs of the FRMs are mounted on the surface of the stator tooth, and its equivalent length of air gap is relatively large, which limits the torque increase. To improve the torque density, a novel FRM with auxiliary teeth is proposed in this paper. Half of the stator teeth are replaced by auxiliary teeth without PMs to reduce magnetic flux leakage, the number of PMs on each stator tooth is also changed. To improve the torque, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the key design parameters to determine the optimal parameters of the machine. Finally, a finite element model is established to verify the analysis results. Compared with the conventional FRM, the torque of the proposed FRM is increased by 25.1%, the torque ripple is reduced by 24.1%, and the consumption of PMs is reduced by 24.1%. Therefore, the proposed FRM has a broader application prospect.
Regional, Site, and Tree Variations of Wood Density and Growth in Thuja occidentalis L. in the Quebec Forest
Authors: Bouslimi Besma , Koubaa Ahmed , Bergeron Yves
Published: November 2022

Thuja occidentalis L. wood is desirabl, e for wooden structures that require wood density uniformity. Wood density is a wood quality indicator related to numerous morphological, mechanical, physiological, and ecological properties. This study aimed to investigate the regional, site, and tree-to-tree variations of T. occidentalis wood density and growth components through the analysis of X-ray densitometer data. A total of 287 trees were randomly sampled from 11 sites in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions in Québec, Canada. The average ring density at breast height was 356 kg m−3, with a small difference between earlywood and latewood (167 kg m−3), indicating a relatively uniform wood. Ring density and width varied significantly between the Abitibi and the Témiscamingue regions, mainly in the juvenile wood. Trees from the Abitibi region showed higher ring density than those in the Témiscamingue region. In contrast, the ring width was higher in the Témiscamingue region. Site, tree, and cambial age significantly (p < 0.001) affected wood density and growth components. However, the largest variation is due to the tree-to-tree variation, accounting for about 15%–31% of the total variation. Compared to ring widths, ring density components showed a considerably smaller tree-to-tree variation and higher variation (7.1%) with cambial age than ring widths (0.6%). Ring width correlated positively and significantly (p < 0.001) with average temperature and annual precipitation, while ring density correlated negatively and significantly (p < 0.001) with average temperature and annual precipitation.
The Effect of Different Remediation Treatments on Soil Fungal Communities in Rare Earth Tailings Soil
Authors: Wang Yu , Pan Feng , Wang Qiong , Luo Jie , Zhang Qin , Pan Yingying , Wu Chenliang , Liu Wei
Published: November 2022

Extensive mining of rare earth deposits has caused severe soil erosion, resulting in the degradation of plant–soil systems and the reduction in microbial diversity. Combined ecological remediation technology is the key method of vegetation reconstruction and ecological restoration in abandoned tailings. In this study, the effects of different cover crops–biochar–organic fertilizer and biochar–organic fertilizer treatments on soil fungal communities in rare earth tailings soil were analysed using high-throughput sequencing technology. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was used to analyse saprophytic, mycorrhizal, and potential pathogenic fungi in soils after different combined remediations. Moreover, the effects of soil environmental factors on fungal community species’ composition were analysed by redundancy analysis (RDA) and variance partitioning analysis (VPA) after different combined remediations. LEfSe indicated a risk of citrus pathogenicity by Diaporthaceae indicator fungi after biochar–organic fertilizer combined treatment. RDA and VPA revealed that pH was the main environmental factor affecting the fungal community in the different combined remediation treatments. Additionally, the Paspalum wettsteinii cover crops–biochar–organic fertilizer and biochar–livestock manure treatments were more conducive to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi recruitment. We also clarified the fungal community composition structure, soil environmental factors, and fungal community relationships in rare earth tailings soil after different combined remediation treatments.
Economic Loss Assessment and Spatial–Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Forest Fires: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Han Zhixuan , Geng Guangjie , Yan Zhen , Chen Xi
Published: November 2022

Forest fires are a type of disaster with both human and natural factors; they differ from other forest disasters, in that they can cause significant damage not only to the ecological environments but also to the economy and society in many irreversible ways. While the risk factor of forest fires has been large, systematic studies on economic losses caused by forest fires have been lacking in recent years, and there is also a lack of analysis on forest fire economic losses in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Therefore, based on the forest fire data from 2006 to 2018, this paper establishes a forest fire economic loss evaluation system to calculate the economic losses in China and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics and change trends of the forest fire economic losses in each province through thermal mapping. The results show the following. (1) The economic loss from forest fires in China is generally characterized by a fluctuating decline, but anomalous values due to human factors may occur. (2) The spatial heterogeneity of economic loss in China’s provinces is limited by many factors, such as the differences in resource endowments, showing the characteristics of “low in the eastern and western regions and high in the central region”. (3) Forest fires in China cause the most serious losses to forest ecological benefits. (4) Forest resources and fires are not independent of each other between regions, and areas with similar economic losses related to forest fires are often found in blocks. (5) Although the overall economic losses caused by forest fires in China are fluctuating and decreasing, some provinces are showing signs of increasing economic losses, most notably in Inner Mongolia. Therefore, this paper suggests targeted recommendations based on forest fires in different regions and with reference to the changing trends of economic loss caused by forest fires. For low-loss areas, we can further reduce the economic loss per unit area while ensuring that the losses do not increase any further. For high-loss areas, the main focus should be to find the weak points in the adaptation to forest fires. The right way to permanently reduce the damage caused by forest fires is to improve the adaptive and symbiotic capacity of the ecosystems and residential communities in relation to fires in a targeted manner and to improve the capacity for quick economic recovery after a fire.
Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Stoichiometry and Its Influencing Factors in Karst Primary Forest
Authors: Zhang Chen , Zeng Fuping , Zeng Zhaoxia , Du Hu , Zhang Lijin , Su Liang , Lu Mengzhen , Zhang Hao
Published: November 2022

The stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, and P in plants result from long-term adaptation to environmental conditions. In this study, we analyzed leaf, branch, and soil C, N, and P stoichiometry in a karst primary forest plant community in China. The results showed that N and P content in leaves was higher than that in branches, while C content in the latter was higher than in leaves. Moreover, the coefficient of the variation in C, N, and P content in branches was greater than that in leaves but there was no significant difference in said coefficients in soil. The values of the C:N and C:P ratios were both branch > leaf > soil, whereas the value of the N:P ratio was leaf > branch > soil. There was also a significant positive correlation between leaf nitrogen (LN), leaf phosphorus (LP), branch nitrogen (BN), and branch phosphorus (BP) concentrations but no significant correlation between leaf carbon (LC), branch carbon (BC), and other element concentrations. We found that leaf stoichiometry was strongly influenced by species diversity, whereas branch stoichiometry was mainly influenced by leaf and species diversity; the environmental factors influencing the stoichiometric characteristics of leaves and branches were mainly altitude, soil pH, and total soil P. Finally, these results are relevant as they are helpful to understand the adaptation mechanisms and eco-geochemical processes in karst forest plants and they can also provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and reconstruction in these degraded ecosystems.
Screening Discriminating SNPs for Chinese Indigenous Pig Breeds Identification Using a Random Forests Algorithm
Authors: Gao Jun , Sun Lingwei , Zhang Shushan , Xu Jiehuan , He Mengqian , Zhang Defu , Wu Caifeng , Dai Jianjun
Published: November 2022

Chinese indigenous pig breeds have unique genetic characteristics and a rich diversity; however, effective breed identification methods have not yet been well established. In this study, a genotype file of 62,822 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were obtained from 1059 individuals of 18 Chinese indigenous pig breeds and 5 cosmopolitan breeds, were used to screen the discriminating SNPs for pig breed identification. After linkage disequilibrium (LD) pruning filtering, this study excluded 396 SNPs on non-constant chromosomes and retained 20.92~−27.84% of SNPs for each of the 18 autosomes, leaving a total of 14,823 SNPs. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed the largest differences between cosmopolitan and Chinese pig breeds (PC1 = 10.452%), while relatively small differences were found among the 18 indigenous pig breeds from the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Next, a random forest (RF) algorithm was used to filter these SNPs and obtain the optimal number of decision trees (ntree = 1000) using corresponding out-of-bag (OOB) error rates. By comparing two different SNP ranking methods in the RF analysis, the mean decreasing accuracy (MDA) and mean decreasing Gini index (MDG), the effects of panels with different numbers of SNPs on the assignment accuracy, and the statistics of SNP distribution on each chromosome in the panels, a panel of 1000 of the most breed-discriminative tagged SNPs were finally selected based on the MDA screening method. A high accuracy (>99.3%) was obtained by the breed prediction of 318 samples in the RF test set; thus, a machine learning classification method was established for the multi-breed identification of Chinese indigenous pigs based on a low-density panel of SNPs.
What Is There to Do If You Find an Old Indian Canoe? Anti-Colonialism in Maritime Archaeology
Authors: Rich Sara A. , Sievers-Cail Cheryl , Patterson Khamal
Published: November 2022

Following Max Liboiron’s claim that pollution is colonialism, the anti-colonial maritime archaeologist’s role in the Anthropocene might be to reframe research questions, so that focus is directed toward interactions between marine and maritime, and that the colonial ‘resurrectionist’ approach that has dominated nautical archaeology ought to be reconsidered altogether. This normative statement is put to the test with a 4000-year-old waterlogged dugout canoe that was illegally excavated from the Cooper River in South Carolina, USA. Upon retrieval, the affected tribal entities were brought into consultation with archaeologists and conservators to help decide how to proceed with the canoe’s remains. Tribal representatives reached a consensus to preserve the canoe with PEG and display it in a public museum. This procedure follows the resurrectionist model typical of maritime archaeology in the West, now the dominant protocol globally, where the scholar acts as savior by lifting entire wrecks from watery graves and promising to grant them immortality in utopian museum spaces. However, this immortalizing procedure is at odds with some Indigenous values, voiced by tribal representatives, which embrace life cycles and distributed agency. In the end, the desire to preserve the canoe as a perpetual symbol of intertribal unity dominated concerns surrounding the canoe’s own life, spirit, and autonomy, and that plasticizing it would permanently alter its substance and essence. We argue that the object of the canoe has become subservient to its postcolonial symbolism of Indigenous unity, resilience, and resistance. Further, by subscribing to the resurrectionist model of maritime archaeology, the immortalized canoe now bears the irony of colonial metaphor, as an unintended consequence of its preservation. We echo Audre Lorde’s famous sentiment by wondering if an anticolonial maritime archaeology can ever hope to dismantle the master’s boat using the master’s tools. The conclusions reached here have implications for other maritime and museum contexts too, including the highly publicized case of the wrecked 1859–1860 slave ship, Clotilda.
How Do Career Development Courses Help Chinese Undergraduate Students Achieve Healthy and Quality Career Development?
Authors: Zhao Teng , Wu Jingchao
Published: November 2022

Postsecondary institutions worldwide generally provide career development courses or similar courses to better prepare undergraduate students for healthy and quality future careers. Understanding whether these career development courses positively affect students’ career-related outcomes is crucial. Utilizing survey data collected from a large research university located in the eastern part of China, we found that students who have taken at least one career course exhibited career awareness and career planning abilities that were 0.096 and 0.147 units higher, respectively, than those of students who have not taken career courses, with other variables held constant. More specifically, an additional career course was statistically significantly associated with a 0.099, 0.084, and 0.175 unit increase in students’ career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career planning ability, respectively. A student’s college major and annual family income seemed to be good predictors for a student’s career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career-planning ability. Furthermore, the more career courses that a student took, the higher the career awareness, job search self-efficacy, and career planning ability that the student had. With these findings in mind, our study recommends postsecondary stakeholders to leverage such courses to help students better prepare for a healthy and quality career development.
The Price of Becoming a City: Decentralization and Air Pollution—The Evidence from the Policy of County-to-City Upgrade in China
Authors: Zeng Zhihong , You Chen
Published: November 2022

It is necessary to reassess the pollution effects of decentralization reforms to improve the future policy design for better economic and social development in the postepidemic era. This study examines the relationship between decentralization and air pollution by exploiting the policy of County-to-City Upgrade in China from 2005 to 2018. Upgrading empowered new cities in fiscal, administrative, and economic matters without changing the political hierarchy. Under the cadre evaluation system, the new county-level city government preferred to increase construction land area and attract more polluting firms to promote economic development, and air pollution became more severe. Heterogeneity tests found that when the new city was located in eastern China or was away from the provincial boundary, decentralization would induce more severe air pollution. Overall, decentralization without a supplementary incentive rule has a negative effect on air pollution.
Effectiveness of Residential Treatment for Juveniles with Problematic Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Review
Authors: Howey Whitney , Lundahl Brad , Assadollahi Andrea
Published: November 2022

Juveniles with problematic sexual behaviors are often placed in residential treatment. However, little is known about the effectiveness of such treatments in terms of reducing recidivism or enhancing mental wellbeing. To better understand the impact of residential treatment for these juveniles we conducted a Systematic Review on studies that reported recidivism rates. PRISMA guidelines were followed. 1126 studies were initially identified, with only six meeting the final inclusion criteria. Sexual recidivism rates averaged 5.20% across the six studies, which is similar rates of non-residential treatments. The results suggest that certain client factors predict recidivism, for example youth labeled as obsessive offenders were more likely to recidivate compared to those labeled as opportunistic. Most studies also measured non-sexual crimes post treatment; recidivism rates for sexual misconduct tended to be lower than for other crimes. Despite the significant intrusion of residential treatment centers, remarkably few empirical studies exist to establish their effectiveness in reducing recidivism. The comparable recidivism rates to non-residential treatment programs begs the question of whether residential centers add value beyond outpatient care and suggest that less restrictive interventions may be sufficient. Helping youth evidencing problematic sexual behaviors involves complex dynamics, however caution is recommended on relying on residential treatment.
Circadian Variations and Associated Factors in Patients with Ischaemic Heart Disease
Authors: Estarlich Marisa , Tolsa Carmen , Trapero Isabel , Buigues Cristina
Published: November 2022

Circadian rhythms have been identified in cardiovascular diseases, and cardiovascular risk factors can modify the circadian rhythm. The purpose of this study was to describe the onset of ischaemic heart disease symptomatology in relation to the date and time, the day of the week of presentation, the season, AMI location and severity and the level of influence of individual patient characteristics in a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 244 ischaemic heart disease patients from the intensive care unit of La Ribera Hospital (Spain). The onset of pain was more frequent in the morning, the season with the highest frequency of ischaemic events was winter, and the lowest incidence was during weekends. Regarding the severity of ischaemic heart disease, the circadian rhythm variables of weekdays vs. weekends and seasons did not show a significant association. The length of hospital stay was associated with the onset of pain in the afternoon. The onset of pain at night was associated with the subendocardial location of the infarction. In conclusion, living in a Mediterranean country, the Spanish population showed a circadian pattern of AMI, where the onset of pain has an influence on AMI location and on the length of hospital stay and is the same in patients with different individual risk factors.
Research Productivity among Filipino Neurologists Associated with Socioeconomic, Healthcare, and Disease Burden Factors: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Apor Almira Doreen Abigail O. , Jamora Roland Dominic G.
Published: November 2022

Philippine research productivity in neurology has not been fully characterized. We investigated the research output of adult and child neurologists in the Philippines and correlated this to the Philippine socioeconomic and healthcare indices among different regions. We used electronic databases to retrieve studies published by Filipino neurologists using the 2022 Philippine Neurological Association website as reference. We included all studies published until December 2021. Official government region-specific socioeconomic indices were used. Correlational analysis was completed on bibliometric indices and collected data. We retrieved 746 articles from 274 of 526 Filipino neurologists which were published in 245 publications over 45 years with 12,409 citations. The National Capital Region (NCR) had the most publications (n = 662, 88.7%) and citations (n = 10,377, 83.6%). Research productivity was positively correlated with population, gross domestic product (GDP), health expenditure, number of healthcare establishments, neurologists, and research personnel. The Philippine research landscape is dominated by articles of neurologists belonging to institutions in the NCR, which has the greatest number of neurologists, training institutions, and highest GDP. There is a need to address the disparity seen in other regions to bridge gaps in healthcare, health human resources, and health information through research.
Noise Indicators Relating to Non-Auditory Health Effects in Children—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Terzakis Michail Evangelos , Dohmen Maud , van Kamp Irene , Hornikx Maarten
Published: November 2022

A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate which objective noise indicators related to various noise sources (i.e., aircraft, road-traffic, and ambient noise) are the best predictors of non-auditory health-effects in children. These relationships are discussed via a conceptual framework, taking into account main parameters such as the type of noise source, the exposure locations and their environments, the type of noise indicators, the children’s mediating factors, and the type of non-auditory health effects. In terms of the procedure, four literature databases were screened and data was extracted on study design, types of noise sources, assessment method, health-based outcomes and confounders, as well as their associations. The quality of the studies was also assessed. The inclusion criteria focused on both indoor and outdoor environments in educational buildings and dwellings, considering that children spend most of their time there. From the 3337 uniquely collected articles, 36 articles were included in this review based on the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the included literature, it was seen that noise exposure, assessed by energetic indicators, has significant associations with non-auditory health effects: psychophysiological, cognitive development, mental health and sleep effects. Percentile and event-based indicators provided significant associations to cognitive performance tasks and well-being dimension aspects.
Withdrawing Antipsychotics for Challenging Behaviours in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Experiences and Views of Experts by Experience
Authors: de Kuijper Gerda , de Haan Joke , Deb Shoumitro , Shankar Rohit
Published: November 2022

People with intellectual disabilities (PwID) are frequently prescribed long-term antipsychotics for behaviours that challenge (BtC) despite the lack of proven effectiveness and the increased risks for side effects of these medications in this population. National and international good clinical practice guidelines recommend deprescribing antipsychotics for BtC, which is often not successful due to environmental and other factors. The involvement of all stakeholders, including PwID, is crucial for deprescribing. However, studies showed that PwID and/or their families are often not involved in decision-making regarding the (de)prescribing of antipsychotics despite their desire to get involved. Moreover, studies on the views of PwID regarding their experiences of withdrawing from antipsychotics are lacking. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the views of PwID by investigating their experiences of discontinuation of long-term prescribed antipsychotics for BtC. A qualitative study was set up. Seven experts by experience with mild intellectual disabilities were interviewed. After six interviews, data saturation was achieved. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Using phenomenological analysis, themes on lived experiences were extracted. Each consecutive interview was analysed. The four main themes extracted from the interviews were the quality of treatment, knowledge and information about psychotropics and the process of withdrawal, support from the participants’ environment and the coping style of the interviewees themselves.
Association between Global Monkeypox Cases and Meteorological Factors
Authors: Islam Md. Aminul , Sangkham Sarawut , Tiwari Ananda , Vadiati Meysam , Hasan Mohammad Nayeem , Noor Syed Toukir Ahmed , Mumin Jubayer , Bhattacharya Prosun , Sherchan Samendra P.
Published: November 2022

The emergence of an outbreak of Monkeypox disease (MPXD) is caused by a contagious zoonotic Monkeypox virus (MPXV) that has spread globally. Yet, there is no study investigating the effect of climatic changes on MPXV transmission. Thus, studies on the changing epidemiology, evolving nature of the virus, and ecological niche are highly paramount. Determination of the role of potential meteorological drivers including temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, dew point, wind speed, and surface pressure is beneficial to understand the MPXD outbreak. This study examines the changes in MPXV cases over time while assessing the meteorological characteristics that could impact these disparities from the onset of the global outbreak. To conduct this data-based research, several well-accepted statistical techniques including Simple Exponential Smoothing (SES), Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Automatic forecasting time-series model (Prophet), and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Explanatory Variables (ARIMAX) were applied to delineate the correlation of the meteorological factors on global daily Monkeypox cases. Data on MPXV cases including affected countries spanning from 6 May 2022, to 9 November 2022, from global databases and meteorological data were used to evaluate the developed models. According to the ARIMAX model, the results showed that temperature, relative humidity, and surface pressure have a positive impact [(51.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): −274.55 to 377.68), (17.32, 95% CI: −83.71 to 118.35) and (23.42, 95% CI: −9.90 to 56.75), respectively] on MPXV cases. In addition, dew/frost point, precipitation, and wind speed show a significant negative impact on MPXD cases. The Prophet model showed a significant correlation with rising MPXD cases, although the trend predicts peak values while the overall trend increases. This underscores the importance of immediate and appropriate preventive measures (timely preparedness and proactive control strategies) with utmost priority against MPXD including awareness-raising programs, the discovery, and formulation of effective vaccine candidate(s), prophylaxis and therapeutic regimes, and management strategies.
The Mediating Effect of Age, Gender, and Post-Stroke Duration on the Association between Trunk and Upper Limb Recovery in Subacute Stroke Population: A Cross-Sectional Study with Mediation Analysis
Authors: Gular Kumar , Sivasubramanian Viswanathan , Reddy Ravi Shankar , Tedla Jaya Shanker , Dixit Snehil
Published: November 2022

Background: The trunk acts as proximal support with which limbs execute smooth and purposeful movement. Furthermore, as upper extremity functions are an integral component of daily living activities, exploring the association between trunk and upper extremity recovery will guide therapists in developing appropriate rehabilitation goals and interventions. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the association between trunk and upper extremity recovery in the subacute stroke population and (2) assess the effect of trunk control on upper extremity impairment and function with age, gender, and duration of stroke as mediators using mediation analysis in subacute stroke individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 54 subacute stroke participants with a mean age of 58.37 ± 6.11 years. The trunk impairment scale (TIS) assessed the trunk’s stability, mobility, and coordination. The level of upper extremity impairment was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale (FMA). The quality and quantity of upper limb motor functions were measured using the Wolf motor function test (WMFT). Results: The TIS exhibited moderate positive correlations with the FMA-UE, WMFT-time scale (TS), and WMFT-functional ability scale (FAS) at p < 0.001. The mediation analysis reported a profound mediation effect of post-stroke duration on the association of trunk and upper limb recovery. Conclusions: The study results substantiated that trunk control significantly correlates with upper limb impairment and the quality and quantity of its use in the subacute stroke population. Post-stroke duration proved to mediate the association between trunk and upper limb recovery. Therefore, the assessment and intervention of trunk and upper extremity motor control considering the post-stroke duration is vital and should be incorporated in stroke rehabilitation aiming at functional independence.
Digital Health Care, Telemedicine, and Medicolegal Issues in Orthopedics: A Review
Authors: Ferorelli Davide , Moretti Lorenzo , Benevento Marcello , Mastrapasqua Maurizio , Telegrafo Michele , Solarino Biagio , Dell’Erba Alessandro , Bizzoca Davide , Moretti Biagio
Published: November 2022

The use of technologies in medicine has great potential to reduce the costs of health care services by making appropriate decisions that provide timely patient care. The evolution of telemedicine poses a series of clinical and medicolegal considerations. However, only a few articles have dealt with telemedicine and orthopedics. This review assesses the ethical and medicolegal issues related to tele-orthopedics. A systematic review was performed including papers published between 2017 and 2021 focusing on the main medicolegal and clinical-governance aspects of tele-orthopedics. Most of the articles were published during the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming the impetus that the pandemic has also given to the spread of telemedicine in the orthopedic field. The areas of interest dealt with in the scientific evidence, almost exclusively produced in the USA, Europe, the UK, and Canada, are quality, patient satisfaction, and safety. The impact of telemedicine in orthopedics has not yet been fully evaluated and studied in terms of the potential medicolegal concerns. Most of the authors performed qualitative studies with poor consistency. Authorizations and accreditations, protection of patient confidentiality, and professional responsibility are issues that will certainly soon emerge.
Relationships of Physical Activity, Depression, and Sleep with Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Kim Kahee , Hwang Gyubeom , Cho Yong Hyuk , Kim Eun Jwoo , Woang Ji Won , Hong Chang Hyung , Son Sang Joon , Roh Hyun Woong
Published: November 2022

This cross-sectional, observational study aimed to integrate the analyses of relationships of physical activity, depression, and sleep with cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults using a single model. To this end, physical activity, sleep, depression, and cognitive function in 864 community-dwelling older adults from the Suwon Geriatric Mental Health Center were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening, respectively. Their sociodemographic characteristics were also recorded. After adjusting for confounders, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the effects of physical activity, sleep, and depression on cognitive function. Models 4, 5, 7, and 14 of PROCESS were applied to verify the mediating and moderating effects of all variables. Physical activity had a direct effect on cognitive function (effect = 0.97, p < 0.01) and indirect effect (effect = 0.36; confidence interval: 0.18, 0.57) through depression. Moreover, mediated moderation effects of sleep were confirmed in the pathways where physical activity affects cognitive function through depression (F-coeff = 13.37, p < 0.001). Furthermore, these relationships differed with age. Thus, the associations among physical activity, depression, and sleep are important in interventions for the cognitive function of community-dwelling older adults. Such interventions should focus on different factors depending on age.
Feeling of Meaningfulness and Anxiety of Taekwon-Do Fighters in a Salutogenic Notion
Authors: Ortenburger Dorota , Mosler Dariusz , Langfort Józef , Wąsik Jacek
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to examine the relation between the feeling of meaningfulness and also the characteristics of engaged participation (namely, the frequency of participation in voluntary groupings) and the level of anxiety among those who train a group of elite taekwon-do fighters. The research encompassed 58 people, all of whom were taekwon-do ITF (International Taekwon-do Federation) athletes at an elite level. The Questionnaire of Life Orientation (SOC-29) and the Inventory of the State and Features of Anxiety were used. The data were supplemented by the authors’ own questions referring to activities in the field of taekwon-do. The group of taekwon-do fighters chosen was internally divided with regard to the level of the state of anxiety and the feeling of meaningfulness (p < 0.01). It was found that, together with the growth in the values stipulated in the accepted model, the frequency of taekwon-do groupings (β = −0.38), as well as the feeling of meaningfulness (β = −0.31), the value of the level of intensification of the state of anxiety dropped. The data revealed that, together with age, the level of anxiety decreased and the feeling of meaningfulness increased. The difference in the levels of anxiety between women and men was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). The research findings illustrate that the feeling of meaningfulness and participation in groupings constitute a differentiating factor in terms of the intensification of the average level of anxiety in the elite taekwon-do group. More frequent participation in training goes hand-in-hand with the greater feeling of meaningfulness; perhaps, this is associated with the specific training, which, among other factors, favours adaptation to challenges and actions under pressure.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Prognosis, Morbidity, and Mortality of Patients Undergoing Elective and Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Center, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alelyani Rakan H. , Alghamdi Ali H. , Mahrous Saad M. , Alamri Bader M. , Alhiniah Mudhawi H. , Abduh Maisa S. , Aldaqal Saleh M.
Published: November 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic’s main concerns are limiting the spread of infectious diseases and upgrading the delivery of health services, infrastructure, and therapeutic provision. The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the emergency experience and delay of elective abdominal surgical intervention at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital from October 2019 to October 2020, with a focus on post-operative morbidity and mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares two groups of patients with emergent and elective abdominal surgical procedures between two different periods; the population was divided into two groups: the control group, which included 403 surgical patients, and the lockdown group, which included 253 surgical patients. During the lockdown, surgical activity was reduced by 37.2% (p = 0.014), and patients were more likely to require reoperations and blood transfusions during or after surgery (p= 0.002, 0.021, and 0.018, respectively). During the lockdown period, the average length of stay increased from 3.43 to 5.83 days (p = 0.002), and the patients who developed complications (53.9%) were more than those in the control period (46.1%) (p = 0.001). Our tertiary teaching hospital observed a significant decline in the overall number of surgeries performed during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period. During the lockdown, abdominal surgery was performed only on four patients; they were positive for COVID-19. Three of them underwent exploratory laparotomy; two of the three developed shock post-operative; one patient had colon cancer (ASA score 3), one had colon disease (ASA score 2), and two had perforated bowels (ASA scores 2 and 4, respectively). Two out of four deaths occurred after surgery. Our results showed the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on surgical care as both 30-day mortality and total morbidity have risen considerably.
International Survey of Specialist Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinics: Comparison of Diagnostic Approach and Considerations Regarding the Potential for Unification
Authors: Reid Natasha , Shanley Dianne C. , Logan Jayden , White Codi , Liu Wei , Hawkins Erinn
Published: November 2022

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition. Despite FASD being recognized as a clinical disorder there is no globally agreed set of diagnostic criteria. Accurate and timely diagnosis of FASD is imperative to inform clinical care, optimize outcomes for individuals accessing assessments and their families, as well as for research and prevention strategies. To inform movement towards a unified approach, the present study aimed to capture an international perspective on current FASD diagnostic criteria, as well as potential barriers and facilitators to unification. An online survey was created using REDCap and sent to clinics identified and contacted via internet searches. Quantitative data were presented using descriptive statistics and open-ended questions analysed using content analysis. The survey captured information about each clinic’s current diagnostic approach, whether they would support a unified method, and the barriers and facilitators for a consistent international FASD diagnostic approach. Fifty-five (37.4%) of 147 FASD clinics identified worldwide participated. The majority (n = 50, 90.9%) of respondents supported a unified approach. Content analysis identified a lack of collaboration as a key barrier, while strong leadership in guideline creation and implementation emerged as a central facilitator. These barriers and facilitators can be used to guide future collaborative efforts towards implementing consistent diagnostic criteria.
Sleep Problems and New Occurrence of Chronic Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK
Authors: Falkingham Jane , Evandrou Maria , Vlachantoni Athina , Qin Min
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted upon sleep health. Relatively little is known about how this may influence the population’s health subsequently. This prospective longitudinal study aims to examine the consequences of sleep problems for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, using data from the Understanding Society: COVID-19 Study, a large-scale population-based survey with 12,804 adults aged 16 and above. A measure of sleep problems was derived from Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questions, reflecting seven dimensions of sleep quality. Binary logistic regressions were applied to investigate the relationship between sleep problem and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and an emotional, nervous or psychiatric problem over the 15 months follow-up period. The analysis confirms that sleep problems are prevalent and vary between sub-groups among adults. Notably, sleep problems are then significantly associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and emotional, nervous or psychiatric problems, independent of demographic, socioeconomic, familial and health confounders. Our findings suggest promoting good sleep hygiene should be prioritised during the pandemic, and more generally as part of wider programmes aimed at promoting good physical and mental health.
Urban Expansion Was the Main Driving Force for the Decline in Ecosystem Services in Hainan Island during 1980–2015
Authors: Geng Jia , Yuan Mingsheng , Xu Shen , Bai Tingting , Xiao Yang , Li Xiaopeng , Xu Dong
Published: November 2022

Hainan Island is one of China’s most ecologically diverse areas. Human activities and climate change have recently influenced Hainan Island’s ecosystem services. Therefore, scientific methods are urgently needed to investigate the characteristics of these services’ spatial and temporal variations and their driving mechanisms for maintaining Hainan Island’s biodiversity and high-quality ecological conservation. Based on multivariate remote sensing and reanalysis data, this study analysed the spatial and temporal variations in water retention, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and oxygen release services on Hainan Island during 1980–2015 using various ecosystem service models such as INVEST, CASA and RULSE. Then, we analysed different ecosystem service drivers using a random forest model. The results indicated that (1) from 1980 to 2015, the change characteristics of different ecosystem types (arable, forest, and grassland) decreased, and the proportion of decrease was 0.98%, 0.55% and 0.36%, respectively. Built-up and water increased significantly, and the proportion of increase reached 1.46% and 0.51%, respectively. (2) Hainan Island’s functions of water retention, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and oxygen release services decreased from 23.31 billion m3, 2.89 billion t, 9.68 million t and 56.05 million t in 1980 to 23.15 billion m3, 2.79 billion t, 9.42 million t and 55.53 million t in 2015, respectively. The high value area was mainly distributed in Hainan Island’s central mountainous area, and the low value area was mainly distributed in the lower-elevation coastal area. (3) In the past 35 years, urban expansion has been the leading factor in the reduction of Hainan Island’s ecosystem service capacity. However, its central nature reserve and other forms of ecological protection have improved its ecosystem service capacity, which has alleviated the overall declining trend of its amount of ecosystem service functions. (4) The driving forces for the spatial distribution of Hainan Island’s ecosystem services were analysed using a random forest algorithm, which indicated that its spatial distribution was mainly driven by rainfall, soil moisture, actual evapotranspiration, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature. This study is expected to help planners develop effective environmental policies to accommodate the potential ecological risks associated with urban expansion during the construction of Hainan Island’s future free trade port while filling the gaps in existing studies.
Addressing the COVID-19 Shock: The Potential Job Creation in China by the RCEP
Authors: Wu Xinxiong , Yong Chen Chen , Lee Su Teng
Published: November 2022

In 2020, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) left around 81% of the global workforce, nearly 2.7 billion workers, affected. Employment in China was the first to be hit by COVID-19. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is expected to bring dynamism to China’s employment market in an era of long COVID-19. This study aims to examine the number of sectoral jobs that the RCEP will create in China, with the number of skilled or unskilled labour employed in each sector. The exogenous shocks to the RCEP can be reflected in the number of jobs created through multipliers based on a social accounting matrix compiled from China’s input-output tables in 2017, combined with the employment satellite accounts compiled. The results show that the RCEP is expected to create over 17 million potential jobs in China, with unskilled labour accounting for 10.44 million and skilled labour for 6.77 million. It is even expected that there will be job losses in the metalworking machinery sector. The contribution of this paper can serve as a reference for policies to protect vulnerable sectors, further open up trade markets and strengthen cooperation among RCEP members as important measures to address the employment impact of long COVID-19.