bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors of non-communicable diseases in indigenous populations of South Asia: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Khatoon Sajda , Bhattacharya Paramita , Mukherjee Nirmalya , Menon Jaideep , Janakiram Chandrashekar , Rajendran Ambigai , Das Pritha , John Denny
Published: September 2023

Objective: Theobjective of this review is to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of non-communicable diseases among the adult indigenous populations of South Asia.
Introduction: Indigenous communities in South Asia have undergone a rapid epidemiologic transformation with non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) currently accounting for around 60% of all deaths with ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes being the leading causes. Studies have also reported an increase in the prevalence of NCD in indigenous populations.
Inclusion criteria: Conditions included in this review are hypertension, stroke, oral diseases, mental health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers (Head and neck cancers, Lung Cancer, Liver Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Breast Cancer), eye diseases, Chronic Kidney Disease, Leukemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Liver Cirrhosis, Ischemic Heart Disease, Hypertensive Heart Disease, Cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neoplasms and skin diseases in adults (above 18 year)s from the indigenous populations in South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Outcomes will include studies estimating the prevalence and incidence of the conditions mentioned above. Risk factors will include conditions that maybe be associated with pre-existing condition and outcomes as defined by guidelines from Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies of Etiology (COSMOS-E).
Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Shodhganga, and gray literature will be searched for relevant studies published, since inception. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles/abstracts and full texts using JBI SUMARI software, and any disagreements will be managed in discussion with a third reviewer. Included studies will be critically appraised for quality and eligibility and data extracted accordingly. If possible, pooled prevalence for prevalence and pooled OR/RR for determinants will be conducted, and heterogeneity will be tested. Subgroup analyses for country, age, sex and NCD type will be conducted based on available data. The characteristics and results of included studies will be summarized using tables, supplemented by a narrative summary.
Registration No: PROSPERO CRD42022331898
The Influence of Sentence Focus on Mental Simulation: The Possible Cause of ACE Instability
Authors: Jin Hua , Zhou Guangfang , Li Xiang
Published: September 2023

Recent studies have revealed the instability of the action-sentence compatibility effect (ACE). The current study was designed to demonstrate the hypothesis that the instability of the ACE may be attributed to the instability of focused information in a sentence. A pilot study indicated that the focused information of sentences was relatively stable in the sentence-picture verification task but exhibited significant interindividual variability in the action-sentence compatibility paradigm in previous studies. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the effect of sentence focus on the match effect and the ACE by manipulating the focused information of sentences using the focus marker word (is). Experiment 1 found that the match effect occurred in the original sentence, while it disappeared when the word (is) was used to make an object noun no longer the focus of a sentence. Experiment 2 failed to observe the ACE regardless of whether the sentence focus was on the action information. Experiment 3 modified the focus manipulation to observe its impact on the ACE by using different fonts and underlines to highlight the focused information. The results indicated that the ACE only occurred when the action information was the sentence focus. These findings suggest that sentence focus influences the mental simulation, and the instability of the ACE is likely to be associated with the instability of sentence focus in previous studies. This outcome highlights the crucial role of identifying specific information as the critical element expressed in the current linguistic context for successful simulation.
Determination of refractive error and strabismus in two primary schools
Authors: Halboos Mustafa Tawfeeq , Mohammed Marrwan Hisham , Al-Jenabi Ziyad Kamel , M.Sc. Noor Khamees Hamad
Published: September 2023

Refractive errors are frequently found among school children due to various factors such as genetics and lack of parental attention towards regular eye check-ups by an ophthalmologist. It is crucial to conduct visual examinations in schools to identify and address any eye-related issues promptly.
Aim: The objective is to evaluate the level of refractive error and strabismus among students in two primary schools located in Babylon City, Iraq.
Method: From October 20, 2021, to February 1, 2022, cross-sectional, retrospective research was conducted at two primary schools, Al-Nidal and Al, in Babylon, Iraq, for children aged 7 to 12 years.
Result: One thousand twenty pupils. We excluded eight students from this study. They participated (2028 eyes) at two primary schools in the Iraqi city of Babylon. There were 422 male students (41.3 %) and 592 female students (57.9%), mean age was 9.7 ± 1.6 (range, 5-12) years. Congenital, acquired, and normal eyes were found in 78 (7.6%), 62 (6.1%), and 874 (85.5%) students, respectively(P<.001). We found emmetropia most common in two primary schools; myopia was more than hypermetropia, astigmatism, and amblyopia was 80.0%, 9.0%, 7.2%, 2.9%, and 4.1%students, respectively.
Conclusion: A study conducted in Babylon, Iraq revealed a high occurrence of uncorrected refractive errors in elementary school students. This finding highlights a significant health issue for young individuals, which calls for immediate action to address and rectify. Regular visual acuity tests should be conducted annually to identify and correct any refractive errors.
Trace Metal Leaching through a Soil–Grassland System after Sewage Sludge Application
Authors: Keller C. , McGrath S. P. , Dunham S. J.
Published: September 2023

To determine whether sludge applications to soil would lead in the short term to toxicity to plants and trace metal leaching to ground water, we studied the fate of some trace and major elements in a brown soil–meadow system just after repeated sewage sludge applications. The main pathways were quantified over a 37‐mo period with undisturbed monolith lysimeters including two controls, four lysimeters treated with 3 × 100 m3 ha−1, and four with 3 × 400 m3 ha−1 of sewage sludge. In drainage waters the effect was limited in time and, in the case of NO3–N and Cl, delayed by 1 to 4 mo and lasted several months before returning to background conditions. Nickel and Cu concentrations in solution increased also after sludge application and had not return to background conditions after 20 mo. Trace metal concentrations did not reach toxic levels in herbage and N, Cu, Cd, and Zn concentrations were correlated with the first sludge input only. Calculated over a 37‐mo period, total element output was significantly increased for Ca, NO3–N, and Ni only, because of the time‐dependent response to sludge application and high variability between replicates. Output was maximal for Cd, with 1.5% of total input for the 100 m3 ha−1 treatment. Particulate matter in drainage water accounted for an average of 20% of trace metal leaching. The main long‐term risk was the rapid increase in trace metal concentrations in the topsoil, which may eventually lead to toxic levels in herbage.
Effect of Manure Application Timing, Crop, and Soil Type on Phosphorus Leaching
Authors: van Es H. M. , Schindelbeck R. R. , Jokela W. E.
Published: September 2023

Phosphorus (P) leaching losses from manure applications may be of concern when artificial drainage systems allow for hydrologic shortcuts to surface waters. This study quantified P leaching losses from liquid manure applications on two soil textural extremes, a clay loam and loamy sand soil, as affected by cropping system and timing of application. For each soil type, manure was applied at an annual rate of 93800 L ha−1 on replicated drained plots under maize (Zea mays L.) in early fall, late fall, early spring, and as a split application in early and late spring. Manure was applied on orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) in split applications in early fall and late spring, and early and late spring. Drain water was sampled at least weekly when lines were flowing, and outflow rate and total P content were determined. High P leaching losses were measured in the clay loam as soon as drain lines initiated flow after manure application. Flow‐weighted mean P leaching losses on clay loam plots averaged 39 times higher (0.504 mg L−1) than those on loamy sand plots (0.013 mg L−1), and were above the USEPA level of concern of 0.1 mg L−1 Phosphorus losses varied among application seasons on the clay loam soil, with highest losses generally measured for early fall applications. Phosphorus leaching patterns in clay loam showed short‐term spikes and high losses were associated with high drain outflow rates, suggesting preferential flow as the main transport mechanism. Phosphorus leaching from manure applications on loamy sand soils does not pose environmental concerns as long as soil P levels remain below the saturation level.
Risk Characterization, Assessment, and Management of Organic Pollutants in Beneficially Used Residual Products
Authors: Kester Gregory B. , Brobst Robert B. , Carpenter Andrew , Chaney Rufus L. , Rubin Alan B. , Schoof Rosalind A. , Taylor David S.
Published: September 2023

A wide array of organic chemicals occur in biosolids and other residuals recycled to land. The extent of our knowledge about the chemicals and the impact on recycling programs varies from high to very low. Two significant challenges in regulating these materials are to accurately determine the concentrations of the organic compounds in residuals and to appropriately estimate the risk that the chemicals present from land application or public distribution. This paper examines both challenges and offers strategies for assessing the risks related to the occurrence of organic compounds in residuals used as soil amendments. Important attributes that must be understood to appropriately characterize and manage the potential risks for organic chemicals in biosolids include toxicity and dose response, transport potential, chemical structure and environmental stability, analytical capability in the matrix of interest, concentrations and persistence in waste streams, plant uptake, availability from surface application versus incorporation, solubility factors, and environmental fate. This information is complete for only a few chemicals. Questions persist about the far greater number of chemicals for which toxicity and environmental behavior are less well understood. This paper provides a synopsis of analytical issues, risk assessment methodologies, and risk management screening alternatives for organic constituents in biosolids. Examples from experience in Wisconsin are emphasized but can be extrapolated for broader application.
Science of Odor as a Potential Health Issue
Authors: Schiffman Susan S. , Williams C. M.
Published: September 2023

Historically, unpleasant odors have been considered warning signs or indicators of potential risks to human health but not necessarily direct triggers of health effects. However, citizen complaints to public health agencies suggest that odors may not simply serve as a warning of potential risks but that odor sensations themselves may cause health symptoms. Malodors emitted from large animal production facilities and wastewater treatment plants, for example, elicit complaints of eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, nausea, diarrhea, hoarseness, sore throat, cough, chest tightness, nasal congestion, palpitations, shortness of breath, stress, drowsiness, and alterations in mood. There are at least three mechanisms by which ambient odors may produce health symptoms. First, symptoms can be induced by exposure to odorants (compounds with odor properties) at levels that also cause irritation or other toxicological effects. That is, irritation—rather than the odor—is the cause of the health symptoms, and odor (the sensation) simply serves as an exposure marker. Second, health symptoms from odorants at nonirritant concentrations can be due to innate (genetically coded) or learned aversions. Third, symptoms may be due to a copollutant (such as endotoxin) that is part of an odorant mixture. Objective biomarkers of health symptoms must be obtained, however, to determine if health complaints constitute health effects. One industry that is receiving much attention, worldwide, related to this subject is concentrated animal production agriculture. Sustainability of this industry will likely necessitate the development of new technologies to mitigate odorous aerial emissions. Examples of such “environmentally superior technologies” (EST) developed under the initiative sponsored through agreements between the Attorney General of North Carolina and Smithfield Foods and Premium Standard Farms are described.
Analysis of Soils to Demonstrate Sustained Organic Carbon Removal during Soil Aquifer Treatment
Authors: Fox Peter , Aboshanp Waleed , Alsamadi Bashar
Published: September 2023

Soil samples from column studies using five soil types and from a field site were analyzed to assess the ability of soil aquifer treatment to sustain removal of organic carbon. The soil types used in the column studies were chosen to represent a wide range of soil properties that might be used for soil aquifer treatment. Soil samples were analyzed for total organic matter, and a subset of samples was sequentially extracted to determine the effects of soil aquifer treatment. For both column studies and the field site, no accumulation of organic matter was observed below a depth of 8 cm. Near the surface, biological activity at the soil–water interface resulted in an accumulation of biomass and associated organic matter. For the column studies, the accumulation of organic matter in the top 8 cm of soil was <20% of the total organic matter applied to the columns. Soils at depths greater than 8 cm had total organic matter levels less than the original soils before soil aquifer treatment. Significant changes in extractable iron and manganese oxides were observed at the field site, which had been in operation for >10 yr with extended periods of low redox conditions. However, these changes had no apparent effect on the removal of organic carbon in the system. This study provides evidence that soil aquifer treatment can remove organic carbon without accumulation from adsorption that might eventually lead to breakthrough.
Lagoon‐Biogas Emissions and Carbon Balance Estimates of a Swine Production Facility
Authors: DeSutter Tom M. , Ham Jay M.
Published: September 2023

Gaseous emissions from animal manure storage facilities can contribute to global greenhouse gas inventories. Biogas fluxes were measured for one year from a 2‐ha anaerobic lagoon that received waste from a 10500‐head swine (Sus scrofa) finishing operation in southwestern Kansas. During 2001, ebullition of biogas was measured continuously by using floating platforms equipped with gas‐collection domes. Periodically, the composition of the biogas was determined by using gas chromatography. Detailed records of feed quality and quantity and animal weights and gains also were obtained to determine the carbon budget of the facility (barns and lagoon). Flux of biogas was very seasonal, with peak emission (18.7 mol m−2 d−1) occurring in early June. Nearly 50% of the annual biogas losses occurred during a 30‐d period beginning on day of year (DOY) 146. Flux patterns suggest that the start of the high biogas production period was governed by temperature, while the decline in production in mid‐June was caused by substrate limitations. Average biogas composition was 0.71 L CH4 L−1 The quantity of CH4 released from the lagoon was 86.3 Mg yr−1, which represents about 38 g of CH4 per kg of animal weight gain. The average flux density of biogas from the lagoon was 382 mol m−2 yr−1 or 728 mol yr−1 per resident animal where the resident animal population was 10500. Flux rates of CH4 were 1.7 to 3.4 times less than predictions made with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) models. Additional research is needed on the carbon budgets of other animal feeding operations so that better estimates of greenhouse gas emissions can be determined.
Evaluating Colloidal Phosphorus Delivery to Surface Waters from Diffuse Agricultural Sources
Authors: Heathwaite Louise , Haygarth Phil , Matthews Rachel , Preedy Neil , Butler Patricia
Published: September 2023

Colloid‐facilitated phosphorus (P) delivery from agricultural soils in different hydrological pathways was investigated using a series of laboratory and field experiments. A soil colloidal P test was developed that yields information on the propensity of different soils to release P attached to soil colloids. The relationship between turbidity of soil extracts and total phosphorus (TP) was significant (r2 = 0.996, p < 0.001) across a range of agricultural soils, and a strong positive relationship (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.001) was found between “colloidal P” (H2O–CaCl2 extracts) and turbidity. Linear regression of the proportion of fine clay (<2 μm) for each soil type evaluated against the (H2O–CaCl2) colloidal P fraction gave a weak but positive relationship (r2 = 0.38, p = 0.082). The relative contribution of different particle‐size fractions in transporting P in agricultural runoff from grassland soils was evaluated using a randomized plot experiment. A significant difference (p = 0.05) in both TP and reactive phosphorus (RP) in subsurface flow was recorded for different particle‐size fractions, with most TP transferred either in association with the 2‐μm fraction or with the 0.001‐μm or smaller fractions. Total P concentrations in runoff were higher from plots receiving P amendments compared with the zero‐P plots; however, these differences were only significant for the >0.45‐μm particle‐size fractions (p = 0.05), and may be evidence of surface applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers being transferred through the soil either as intact organic colloids or attached to mineral particles. Our results highlight the potential for drainage water to mobilize colloids and associated P during rainfall events.
Desorption Kinetics of Arsenate from Kaolinite as Influenced by pH
Authors: Quaghebeur M. , Rate A. , Rengel Z. , Hinz C.
Published: September 2023

Arsenic is highly toxic and therefore represents a potential threat to the environment and human health. The mobility and bioavailability of arsenic in soil is mostly controlled by adsorption and desorption reactions. Even though adsorption and traditional batch desorption experiments provide information about the environmental fate of As, the equilibrium conditions imposed in these studies would usually not be reached in the natural environment. Flow‐through desorption techniques, where the desorbed species are removed from the substrate, can therefore be used to provide information about the rate and mechanisms of As desorption. The effect of pH on As adsorption reactions is relatively well understood; however, desorption of As and the effect of pH on As desorption remain unexplored. Desorption of As(V) (the most dominant arsenic species in aerated soils) was therefore investigated using batch and flow‐through desorption experiments. Traditional batch desorption experiments underestimated the desorption rate of As(V) from kaolinite. The pH had a large effect on the amount of As(V) desorbed from kaolinite, with both an increase and a decrease in pH (from the initial pH 6.4) enhancing As(V) desorption. Modeling desorption over time revealed that the pH can influence As(V) desorption over extended periods of time.
Modeling Phosphorus Transport in an Agricultural Watershed Using the WEPP Model
Authors: Perez‐Bidegain Mario , Helmers Matthew J. , Cruse Rick
Published: September 2023

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model has been tested for its ability to predict soil erosion, runoff, and sediment delivery over a wide range of conditions and scales for both hillslopes and watersheds. Since its release in 1995, there has been considerable interest in adding a chemical transport element to it. Total phosphorus (TP) loss at the watershed outlet was simulated as the product of TP in the soil, amount of sediment at the watershed outlet, and an enrichment ratio (ER) factor. WEPP can be coupled with a simple algorithm to simulate phosphorus transport bound to sediment at the watershed outlet. The objective of this work was to incorporate and test the ability of WEPP in estimating TP loss with sediment at the small watershed scale. Two approaches were examined. One approach (P‐EER) estimated ER according to an empirical relationship; the other approach used the ER calculated by WEPP (P‐WER). The data used for model performance test were obtained from two side‐by‐side watersheds monitored between 1976 and 1980. The watershed sizes were 5.05 and 6.37 ha, and each was in a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation. Measured and simulated results were compared for the period April to October in each year. There was no statistical difference between the mean measured and simulated TP loss. The Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.80 and 0.78 for the P‐EER and P‐WER methods, respectively. It was critical for both methods that WEPP adequately represent the biggest sediment yield events because sediment is the main driver for TP loss so that the model can adequately simulate TP losses bound to sediment. The P‐WER method is recommended because it does not require use of empirical parameters to estimate TP loss at the watershed outlet.
Matrix models and holography: Mass deformations of long quiver theories in 5d and 3d
Authors: Akhond Mohammad , Legramandi Andrea , Nunez Carlos , Santilli Leonardo , Schepers Lucas
Published: September 2023

We enlarge the dictionary between matrix models for long linear quivers preserving eight supercharges in d=5d=5 and d=3d=3 and type IIB supergravity backgrounds with AdS_{d+1}d+1 factors. We introduce mass deformations of the field theory that break the quiver into a collection of interacting linear quivers, which are decoupled at the end of the RG flow. We find and solve a Laplace problem in supergravity which realises these deformations holographically. The free energy and expectation values of antisymmetric Wilson loops are calculated on both sides of the proposed duality, finding agreement. With our matching procedure, the free energy satisfies a strong version of the F-theorem.
Research on fault diagnosis method of bearing based on parameter optimization VMD and improved DBN
Authors: Sun Yingqian , Jin Zhenzhen
Published: September 2023

Aiming at the problem that the bearing characteristics are difficult to extract accurately, and the fault diagnosis is difficult. This paper proposed a novel bearing fault diagnosis method with parameter optimization variational mode decomposition (VMD) and particle swarm optimization Deep Belief Networks (PSO-DBN). Firstly, the PSO is applied to optimize the parameter of the VMD and solve the problem of parameter setting of the VMD. Then, to effectively extract the feature information, using the optimized VMD, the original signal is decomposed into intrinsic mode components, and each component's dispersion entropy (DE) value is calculated. Finally, to further improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis, the PSO-DBN model is used to recognize the fault pattern bearing. The results of both experiments are 100 %. The results show that this method can effectively extract bearing fault features and accurately realize fault diagnosis. Compared with other methods, the accuracy of this method is increased by at least 2.08 % and the maximum is increased by 33.33 %.
MORPHOLOGICAL PRODUCTIVITY OF ADJECTIVE-FORMING PREFIXES IN ENGLISH AT THE LEVEL OF WORD-FORMATION RULES
Authors: Žarković Mccray Maja M.
Published: September 2023

This paper studies the morphological productivity of adjective-forming prefixes at the level of word-formation rules. The productivity at the aforementioned level is the union of the productivity at the level of word-formation types and morphological types. The aim of the paper is to offer pieces of information on the interaction of different concepts within different word-formation types together with the morphological aspect through different morphological types. We find 267 examples of adjectives and analyse 31 prefixes interacting with various simple or complex adjectives in the corpus comprised of news, literary, academic and TV registers. After analytic, descriptive and statistical methods, we conclude that they fall into 5 different conceptual categories, i.e., wordformation type clusters (Quality, Location, Quantity, Time and State). The majority of clusters show that the stem is determining the conceptual category while prefixes refine it. The highest productivity rates are recorded with such word-formation types. The only exceptions are Quantity and Time where the conceptual category depends on the prefixes and stems equally. The results from the morphological analyses show that most of the prefixes are inserting additional semantic pieces of information, usually recording the highest PR and not changing the conceptual category of the stem and appearing within one or multiple clusters, with exceptions for Quantity and Time.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF EKPHRASIS IN ROMAN HISTORIOGRAPHY. DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT FIRE OF ROME (TACITUS, ANN. XV, 38)
Authors: Ljubišić Sanja M.
Published: September 2023

Ekphrasis, a stylistic figure characteristic of epic poetry, has also found its application in Roman historiography. Namely, the Roman historian Tacitus and his work Annals are known for its highly stylised poetic language. Tacitus' language – color poeticus, is full of rhetorical and stylistic figures with which this historian portrays events from the past. The author's narrative in visual images – faithful descriptions of people, events, battles, objects and phenomena – leaves a strong impression on readers. This pictorial expression in ancient times was called ekphrasis. Our goal is to explain the basic concept and role of ekphrasis, and then determine its application in a selected example from Tacitus' Annals. There are many examples of ekphrasis, and for the purposes of this work we have chosen the description of The Great Fire of Rome, which occurred during the reign of Emperor Nero. Based on the analysed example, we will see how Tacitus used ekphrasis in his ʻTacitus styleʼ to portray this terrible event.
A DISCURSIVE APPROACH TO TEACHING GERMAN LITERATURE ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE NOVEL BRICKS AND MORTAR BY CLEMENS MEYER
Authors: Petrović-Jilih Marina M.
Published: September 2023

The presented qualitative content analysis in this paper refers to the aspirations of modern didactics of foreign literature towards discursive, multimedia and constructive approaches to literary texts. The criteria for the selection of literary texts in teaching point to the fact that the novel ʻBricks and Mortarʼ by Clemens Meyer is an adequate choice for university literature teaching, both for the analysis of the discourse and for achieving the set teaching goals. The main figures in the novel belong to the milieu of prostitution, shown both from the point of view of women and from the point of view of pimps. The internal monologues, the flow of thoughts and the dizzying change of the narrative perspective enable a detailed psychological picture of the characters and the impossibility of dividing them into ʻgoodʼ and ʻevilʼ. What is ʻevilʼ is woven into modern society where the only God is – money. The applied qualitative methodology deals with a case study, which is composed by fourth year students of German Studies at the Faculty of Philology and Arts of the University of Kragujevac. The presented classes were held in the summer semester of the academic year 2021/2022. The goals of the class are strengthening the existing literary competences and acquiring new literary competences, especially the competence of independent reading, independent individual understanding of the text, independent decision-making about the literary value of the literary text and conscious acceptance of the ambiguity of the text. Special attention is drawn to the conscious mastery of discursive comments. The main discourses of the novel are sex, power, prostitution and money. These topcis were broken down by students into subtopics, presented in multimedia presentations. In the conversation after (Anschlussgespräch), an attempt was made to transfer the fictitious world of the book to the so-called ʻrealʼ world that surrounds us. The respondents showed a high level of literary and life knowledge at their disposal. It is believed that mastering the aforementioned competencies is essential for future German as a foreign language teachers. It enables them not only to independently choose literary texts, goals and methods in their own teaching, but also to teach and transfer discursive competences to their students, thereby educating them in a humanistic and democratic spirit.
Differential utilisation of dissolved organic matter compound fractions by different biofilter microbial communities
Authors: Vignola Marta , Lenselink Jeanine , Quinn Dominic , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Pereira Ryan , Sloan William T. , Connelly Stephanie , Moore Graeme , Gauchotte-Lindsay Caroline , Smith Cindy J.
Published: September 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complex mixture of carbon-based compounds present in natural aquatic systems, which significantly affects drinking water treatment processes. Biofiltration, utilising biologically active beds of porous medium, offers a low-energy and low-chemical solution for controlling bioavailable DOM. However, the impact of microbial community composition on DOM degradation in biofilters remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the abilities of microbial communities from the top, middle, and bottom (TOP, MID, and BOT) of a biofilter to process DOM. We showed varying growth rates on the DOM, with bottom community exhibiting the highest cell abundance at the end of the experiment (1.83 × 106 ± 9 × 103; 2.06 × 106 ± 1 × 104; 2.15 × 106 ± 7 × 103 cells/mL for the TOP, MID, and BOT, respectively). The three communities showed different preferences for utilising specific DOM fractions, with the bottom community targeting more complex ones. The microbial communities from the bottom of the biofilter had a higher relative abundance of the Curvibacter genus, suggesting it could play a crucial role in degrading complex DOM fractions. These findings highlight the influence of microbial community composition on DOM degradation in biofilters, providing valuable insights for optimising their performance.
Toward sustainable landscape irrigation using a novel design for water collection systems that use atmospheric moisture condensation
Authors: Aldeek Zaid A. O.
Published: September 2023

This paper introduces a novel design that uses high-emissivity materials with no hydrophobic surfaces to increase the speed of condensation and the dropping-off process in water collection systems from atmospheric moisture. The design incorporates simple and low-cost technology that takes advantage of advanced material properties to enable sustainable irrigation in regions characterized by water resource scarcity, generally favoring greening. The concept is based on the application of universal physics principles such as dew point, wetting and antiwetting, and material emissivity coefficients. The innovative collection system design and experimentation confirm the feasibility of collecting water from the air in various semi-arid regions with a low number of rainy days. The first novel aspect of the collection system design is the rapid increase in condensation and the use of materials with a high capacity to release collected water to address unwanted evaporation. The second novel feature is that the volume is reduced, and the system is flexible and inexpensive, allowing it to be distributed across a specific landscape. Reduced construction costs and ease of use demonstrate the real possibility of its use in developing and poor countries to first increase vegetation diffusion and then contribute to sustainable agriculture and green architecture.
Construction of RNA Methylation Modification-immune-related
lncRNA Molecular Subtypes and Prognostic Scoring System in Lung
Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Jiajing , Shu Jianfeng
Published: September 2023

Background:

RNA methylation modification is not only intimately interrelated
with cancer development and progression but also actively influences immune cell infiltration
in the tumor microenvironment (TME). RNA methylation modification genes
influence the therapeutic progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and mining RNA
methylation modification prognosis-related markers in LUAD is crucial for its precise
prognosis.

Methods:

RNA-Seq data and Gene sets were collected from online databases or published
literature. Genomic variation analysis was conducted by the Maftools package.
RNA methylation-immune-related lncRNAs were obtained by Pearson correlation analysis.
Then, Consistent clustering analysis was performed to obtain RNA methylation modification-
immune molecular subtypes (RMM-I Molecular subtypes) in LUAD based on selected
lncRNAs. COX and random survival forest analysis were carried out to construct
the RMM-I Score. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan Meier
survival analysis were used to assess survival differences. Tumor immune microenvironment
was assessed through related gene signatures and CIBERSORT algorithm. In addition,
drug sensitivity analysis was executed by the pRRophetic package.

Results:

Four RNA methylation modified-immune molecular subtypes (RMM-I1, RMM-
I2, RMM-I3, RMM-I4) were presented in LUAD. Patients in RMM-I4 exhibited excellent
survival advantages and immune activity. HAVCR2, CD274, and CTLA-4 expression
were activated in RMM-I4, which might be heat tumors and a potential beneficial
group for immunotherapy. OGFRP1, LINC01116, DLGAP1-AS2, CRNDE, LINC01137,
MIR210HG, and CYP1B1-AS1 comprised the RMM-I Score. The RMM-I Score exhibited
excellent accuracy in the prognostic assessment of LUAD, as patients with a low RMM-
I Score exhibited remarkable survival advantage. Patients with a low RMM-I score
might be more sensitive to treatment with Docetaxel, Vinorelbine, Paclitaxel, Cisplatin,
and immunotherapy.

Conclusion:

The RMM-I molecular subtype constituted the novel molecular characteristic
subtype of LUAD, which complemented the existing pathological typing. More
refined and accurate molecular subtypes provide help to reveal the mechanism of LUAD
development. In addition, the RMM-I score offers a reliable tool for accurate prognosis
of LUAD.
Influence of Drying Conditions on Physicochemical, Phytochemical, and
Antioxidant Properties of Medicinal Plant Stem Xáo Tam Phân
(Paramignya trimera) Grown in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Van Tang , Tran Thanh Giang , Nguyen Van-Thi , Tran Ngoc Le , Nguyen Van Hoa
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

This study aimed to assess the physicochemical, phytochemical, and antioxidant
properties of medicinal plant stem Xáo tam phân (Paramignya trimera) as influenced by
11 drying conditions. Xáo tam phân (Paramignya trimera (Oliv.) Guillaum) has been used in fold
medicine for cancer prevention and treatment. The preparation of the dried sample is crucial and
necessary for further investigation and application. To evaluate the effects of some popular drying
methods, namely, sun drying, hot-air drying, microwave drying, infrared drying, and freeze drying
on the physicochemical properties, the retention of phytochemical compounds (total saponins,
phenolics, and flavonoids), and antioxidant properties (DRSC, CUPRAP, and FRAP) of dried P.
trimera stem.

Methods:

The plant stem Xáo tam phân (Paramignya trimera) was dried by 11 drying conditions:
sun drying at 36.6°C; hot-air drying at 60°C, 80°C, and 100°C; microwave drying at 270 W, 450
W, and 720 W; infrared drying at 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C; and freeze drying at -40°C.

Results:

The results show that among the 11 drying conditions used, hot-air drying at 80°C
achieved the highest phytochemical contents of the P. trimera stem in terms of total saponins
(28.82 mg EE/g DS), total phenolics (3.71 mg GAE/g DS), and total flavonoids (10.82 mg CE/g
DS), and infrared drying at 50°C possessed the greatest antioxidant activity of the P. trimera stem
(3.59 and 9.56 mg TE/g DS for DRSC and CUPRAC, respectively); however, both these drying
methods had the longest drying time (1.5 to 7.0 h.) and consumed the highest energy (2.10 to
11.77 kWh). In contrast, microwave drying took the shortest drying time (0.1 to 0.4 h.) and consumed
the least energy (0.07 to 0.14 kWh), but it still retained moderate levels of phytochemical
compounds and antioxidant activity of the P. trimera stem.

Conclusion:

The findings achieved from this study recommend using hot-air drying at 80°C for
the preparation of the dried sample from the P. trimera plant stem.
The Effectiveness of Telephone-based Psychological Services to COVID-19
Authors: Khademi Mojgan , Vaziri-Harami Roya , Mashadi Amin Mahouram , Seif Pegah , Babazadehdezfoly Abbas
Published: September 2023

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of mental health services, leading to the development of telepsychiatry.

Aim:

The present study investigates the effectiveness of telephone-delivered treatment for psychological disorders of COVID-19 survivors in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Methods:

In this non-randomized controlled trial, 91 COVID-19 survivors, primarily residents were enrolled. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and a psychological screening questionnaire. The intervention included the telephone-based psychological services provided by trained psychiatric residents. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist (PCL) was administered to assess the presence of PTSD symptoms. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire.

Results:

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) adjusted mean difference was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. There was a significant negative correlation between the Spost-GHQ score and history of going to the clinic and history of psychiatric disorders, but no relationship with the history of hospitalization. All participants completed the satisfaction form, with almost half of them being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the telehealth calls.

Conclusion:

Telephonic delivery of psychological services showed an effective way of providing evidence-based psychological support during the pandemic. This telehealth program can offer much-needed assistance to individuals with COVID-19 improving their psychological wellbeing.
Value of the A2DS2 Score Combined with the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Acute Ischemic Stroke-associated Pneumonia
Authors: Liang Chunhua , Xiao Xiaoyong , Xiao Xiaohua , Yan Xueqin , Hu Huoyou , Tian Jing , Wei Cuimei
Published: September 2023

Objective:

We aimed to explore the risk factors for acute ischemic stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and evaluate the predictive value of the Age, Atrial fibrillation, Dysphagia, Sex, Stroke Severity (A2DS2) score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and a combination of both indices for acute ischemic SAP.

Methods:

Overall, 1,505 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were enrolled and divided into SAP and non-SAP groups. Patients’ age, sex, and medical history (alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary disease, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke history) were recorded. Clinical data were recorded, including consciousness disturbance, dysphagia, indwelling nasogastric tube, thrombolytic therapy, hospital stay length, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, stroke position, TOAST classification, and blood pressure on admission. Laboratory indicators, including white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, creatinine, homocysteine, and fasting blood glucose, were also recorded. NLR was calculated by dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count. All patients were scored using A2DS2. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships between A2DS2, NLR, and SAP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the diagnostic value of A2DS2, NLR, and their combined indices for predicting SAP.

Results:

SAP occurred in 203 (13.5%) of the 1,505 enrolled patients. Patients in the SAP group were older and had a higher proportion of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease history, consciousness disorder, dysphagia, indwelling nasogastric tube, fasting blood glucose level, NIHSS score, and longer hospital stay. The SAP group had a higher A2DS2 score than the non-SAP group. Similarly, the WBC count, neutrophil count, and NLR were significantly higher in the SAP group than in the non-SAP group. After excluding confounding factors, binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, NIHSS score, NLR, and A2DS2 score were independent risk factors for SAP. The ROC curves showed the A2DS2 score and NLR predicted SAP with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.855 (sensitivity: 73.3%, specificity: 86.1%) and 0.849 (sensitivity: 79.7%, specificity: 80.6%), respectively, and the combined prediction of SAP AUC was 0.924 (sensitivity: 87.7%, specificity: 82.8%), which was higher than that of a single index, with improved the sensitivity of prediction.

Conclusion:

In patients with AIS, the A2DS2 score combined with NLR is of greater value in predicting the risk of acute ischemic SAP than a single indicator.
Mixed Reality versus Mass or Self-directed Training for Adolescents’ Basic Life Support Instruction: A Prospective, Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Giacomini Francesco , Querci Lorenzo , Dekel Boaz Gedaliahu Samolsky
Published: September 2023

Background:

There is limited information about adolescents' Basic-Life-Support (BLS) training.

Objectives:

In this study, adolescents' BLS training proficiency and knowledge retention of the Mixed Reality (MR), Mass-Training (MT), and Self-Directed Learning (SDL) methods were prospectively compared, following the training-outcomes levels-model classification.

Methods:

First-year secondary-school students were randomized into the MR, MT, and SDL groups, and after baseline evaluation, at T0, they received congruent BLS theoretical and Cardiopulmonary-Resuscitation (CPR) training. Knowledge, skills retention, and trainees' training-activity self-evaluation were evaluated utilizing ten (knowledge) and five-items (self-evaluation) questionnaires, a BLS-sequence checklist, and chest compressions recording mannequin one and three months after T0. We used the Kruskal-Wallis test for median comparison.

Results:

At all times, the MR group knowledge answers' median (≥6/10) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than groups MT and SDL (≤6/10), with no significant differences between the latter. The MR CPR skills and BLS checklist acquisition and retention were significantly superior (p<0.05) to the other groups; the SDL group showed limited results. Hands position and chest recoil showed excellent outcomes in all groups and at all times. At all times, trainees positively evaluated the BLS-training importance. Pre-training low self-confidence in BLS practice improved over time, yet not significantly, in group MT. The trainees' majority (62%) preferred the MR method.

Conclusion:

In an adolescent cohort, MR methods' BLS/CPR knowledge and skills acquisition and retention were comparable, if not better, than the MT method and superior to the SDL one. Future multicenter randomized and controlled studies with larger sample sizes and more limited instructor-to-participant ratios are warranted to generalize findings.
Are Combined Techniques using Video Laryngoscopes and Dynamic Stylets Superior to Fiberoptic Techniques for Anticipating Difficult Intubations? A Retrospective Single-center Comparative Analysis
Authors: Shah Ashka R. , Knecht Lauren E. , Durnford Kathyrn M. , Jacobson Cameron , Runnels Sean T.
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Studies point to the potential advantages of a combined technique using video laryngoscopes (VL) and dynamic stylets for difficult intubations. This study compares the outcomes of three advanced intubation techniques: combined technique (video laryngoscope + dynamic stylet), awake fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB), and asleep FOB when used as the primary intubation technique.

Methods:

Airway notes of 138,387 consecutive anesthesia cases at a single academic medical center were filtered for the use of awake FOB, asleep FOB, or combined technique as the primary approach for potentially difficult intubations. The combined technique was defined as VL + dynamic stylet. The dynamic stylets available were FOB or TCITM (Total Control Introducer). The primary endpoint was the first pass success rate. Secondary endpoints included: failure to intubate with the primary technique, anesthesia “in room to intubation” time, “traumatic” intubation rate, and ease of intubation.

Results:

The first pass success rate was highest for combined techniques (88.7%) followed by awake FOB (74.2%, P<0.001) and asleep FOB (80.7%, P=0.06). “Failure to intubate” was lowest in the combined technique (1.8%), compared to awake FOB (9.2%, P=0.002). “In room to intubation” time was fastest for the combined techniques (13.0 minutes) followed by asleep FOB (15.1 minutes, P=0.002) and awake FOB (21.2 minutes, P<0.001). Combined techniques were recorded as “easy” significantly more often (72%) than awake FOB (38.2%, P<0.001). Combined techniques were recorded as “atraumatic” significantly more often (91.1%) than awake FOB (75.8%, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis of the combined techniques, VL + FOB vs. VL + TCITM, revealed that VL + TCITM was rated as “easy” and “atraumatic” significantly more often. It also achieved higher first pass success, lower “failure to intubate” rate, and faster “in room to intubated” time when compared with VL + FOB, although none reached significance.

Conclusion:

In this retrospective single-center comparative analysis, the combined techniques outperformed FOB techniques in effectiveness, speed, ease of use, and trauma.