bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing of Selected Surge Protection Devices in the Context of the Possibility of Ensuring the Reliability of Power Grids
Authors: Borecki Michał , Ciuba Maciej
Published: February 2023

The paper aims to analyze the parameters of prototypes of new overvoltage protection devices for power grids—a multi-chamber insulator arrester (MCA) and a long flashover arrester (LFA). The article presents the research results on determining the actual MCA and LFA impact characteristics. Moreover, the results were compared to assess the effectiveness of the overvoltage protection devices. The research results presented in this article will supplement missing information about the devices. They will make it possible to evaluate the possibility of using overvoltage protection devices for a new type of spark gap based on a multi-segment system in high-voltage networks of a specific country. The analysis of its properties against the background of atmospheric overvoltages and their impact on high voltage lines will be carried out by assessing the effectiveness of the tested overvoltage protection device in laboratory conditions. The tests will also be carried out by applying standardized lightning and switching surges to the tested device to map the overvoltage processes on the power grid elements. Two different generators will be used for this purpose. The proposed research will also allow learning about the influence of structural elements on the operation of the tested devices.
Characteristics of High Flow Zones and a Balanced Development Strategy of a Thick Bioclastic Limestone Reservoir in the Mishrif Formation in X Oilfield, Iraq
Authors: Li Fengfeng , Li Lei , Chen Jiaheng
Published: February 2023

The Mishrif Formation in X Oilfield in Iraq is heterogeneous and has prominent development contradictions, and the development plan required urgent adjustment. Based on data regarding the core, cast thin sections, physical property, mercury injection experiments, and development performance, the main geological factors causing the unbalanced development of the Mishrif Formation are identified, and the corresponding development strategy is proposed. The results show that the High Flow Zones (HFZs) are the main geological factors causing unbalanced production in the thick bioclastic limestone reservoir. There are three kinds of HFZs in MA, MB1, and MB2 intervals, namely, the point shoal type, the tidal channel type, and the platform margin shoal type. All HFZs have different scales and distribution patterns. HFZs have ultra-high permeability and large permeability differences with the surrounding reservoir. During development, the oil mainly comes from HFZs, and the considerable reserves in the low permeability reservoir surrounding the HFZs are difficult to develop. The size of the pore throat of the HFZs greatly varies, and permeability is mainly dominated by the mega-pore throat (>10 μm) and the macro-pore throat (2.5~10 μm). In water flood development, the injected water rapidly advances along the mega-pore throat and the macro-pore throat, and the oil in the micro-pore or medium-pore throats are difficult to be displace. It can be concluded that the Mishrif Formation is vertically heterogeneous. The connectivity of HFZs in different intervals greatly varies. As a result, the Mishrif Formation is divided into three development units, MA, MB1, and MB2 + MC, and production wells are deployed in HFZs. The MA adopts a reverse nine-point injection-production pattern, for which the well spacing is 900 m using a vertical well, and the injection well should avoid the HFZs near the faults. The MB1 adopts an irregular five-point injection-production pattern using a vertical well, and the injection wells are deployed at the edge of the tidal channel or in the lagoon. MB2_1 deploys horizontal production wells, for which the well spacing is 900 m. Horizontal production wells, for which the well spacing is 300 m, are deployed in the lower MB2, and the lateral horizontal production wells are converted into injection wells after water breakthrough, and the horizontal wells deployed in the lower part of MC should moderately inject water.
Comprehensive Decision Index of Logging (CDIL) and Visual Simulation Based on Horizontal and Vertical Structure Parameters
Authors: Lei Kexin , Zhang Huaiqing , Qiu Hanqing , Liu Yang , Hu Xingtao , Wang Jiansen , Cui Zeyu , Zuo Yuanqing
Published: February 2023

The comprehensive indexes approach based on stand structure parameters is mainly used to select trees for harvest. However, these indexes do not consider the comprehensive impact of horizontal and vertical structures, leading to an incomplete analysis of the forest structure and an inaccurate selection of trees for harvest. To solve this problem, we constructed a comprehensive decision index of logging (CDIL), integrating horizontal and vertical structure parameters which can identify harvest trees more scientifically. In this study, we took the Shanxia Forest Farm in the Jiangxi Province of China as the experimental area and used mixed broadleaf/conifer forests at different ages as our experimental sample. We selected eight horizontal and vertical spatial structure parameters to establish an efficient, objective, and accurate comprehensive decision index of logging. We combined 3D visualization technology to realize the dynamic visualization simulation of the index at different intensities of tending and felling management. The results indicated that the proposed CDIL-index could effectively optimize the forest spatial structure. From the perspective of stand structure adjustment, the optimal thinning intensity was 20%. The average CDIL in each plot decreased by more than 80% after logging, while the change range of each plot was between 30% and 70% after the F index was applied to implement tending and logging. The CDIL was 11.4% more accurate in selecting trees for harvesting than the F index. In this study, the main conclusion is that the CDIL would enable forest managers to more accurately choose trees for harvesting, leading to forest adjustment that would reduce the competition pressure among trees and improve the distribution and health of trees, possibly making the forest structure more stable.
Preparation of a Pectinase-Enriched Multienzyme under Solid State Fermentation of Sugarcane Bagasse
Authors: Alzahrani Othman M. , Sohail Muhammad , Mahmoud Samy F. , Alswat Amal S. , El-Halmouch Yasser
Published: February 2023

Enzyme mediated degradation of lignocellulosic biomass is an important step in waste-biorefineries. Multienzyme preparations can effectively degrade complex materials and, hence, can be applied in biorefineries. Here, an agro-industrial waste, sugarcane bagasse, was used to produce a bacterial multienzyme. The bacterial strains including B. thuringiensis B45, B. velezensis BF3 and B. amyloliquefaciens B987 exhibited their growth at temperatures from 30–50 °C in the presence of 2% salt. The isolates B45, BF3 and B987 were able to produce endoglucanase, xylanase and pectinase, respectively. Therefore, it was aimed to obtain a multienzyme preparation by cultivating the bacterial consortium under a solid-state fermentation of untreated and chemically treated sugarcane bagasse. The results showed that the titres of cellulase and xylanase were generally higher when the strain B45 cultivated at the start of the fermentation. Interestingly, the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose present in sugarcane bagasse by the strains B45 and BF3 rendered the mere pectin component available to the pectinolytic strain B987. The degradation of SB by the consortium was confirmed by gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The study showed that the bacterial strains can be cultivated under solid-state fermentation to obtain industrially important enzymes.
Cloning, Expression and Characterization of an Alginate Lyase in Bacillus subtilis WB600
Authors: Zheng Kaixuan , Zhu Yaqing , An Zhiqiang , Lin Jian , Shan Shoushui , Zhang Hailing
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to further broaden the heterologous expression of alginate lyase from Vibrio alginolyticus in a Bacillus subtilis expression vector. A B. subtilis WB600/pP43NMK-alg62 strain was constructed. (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and Ni-affinity chromatography were performed to purify the enzyme. We then characterized the enzyme. Its molecular weight was 57.64 kDa, and it worked optimally at 30 °C with a pH of 8.0. Ca2+ markedly enhanced the enzymatic activity of Alg62 while Cu2+ and Ni2+ inhibited its activity. Alg62 had a wide range of substrate specificity, showing high activity toward sodium alginate and polyG. Following optimization of the fermentation process, the optimal conditions for the recombinant expression of Alg62 were as follows: temperature of 37 °C, pH of 7.0, medium consisting of glycerol 15 g/L, yeast powder 25 g/L and K+ 1.5 mmol/L. At these optimal conditions, enzyme activity reached 318.21 U/mL, which was 1.54 times higher than the initial enzyme activity.
From Service Composition to Mashup Editor: A Multiperspective Taxonomy
Authors: Maaradji Abderrahmane , Hacid Hakim , Soukane Assia
Published: February 2023

Service-oriented computing has become a popular area of research, with a particular focus on service composition. There have been many developments in this field, such as new techniques for data engineering in service description languages, protocols for publication and discovery, the optimization of service selection and scheduling, and the deployment and monitoring of composed services. However, this diversity of approaches and methodologies can make it challenging to navigate between different proposed solutions and identify research gaps. In order to provide a clearer understanding of this body of work, this paper presents a comprehensive framework for the taxonomy of service composition approaches, methodologies, and tools. This framework proposes a structured view of different perspectives, such as formal, semantic, and automatic approaches, with a particular focus on the end-user’s perspective and tools such as Mashups.
Vendor-Agnostic Reconfiguration of Kubernetes Clusters in Cloud Federations
Authors: Truyen Eddy , Xie Hongjie , Joosen Wouter
Published: February 2023

Kubernetes (K8s) defines standardized APIs for container-based cluster orchestration such that it becomes possible for application managers to deploy their applications in a portable and interopable manner. However, a practical problem arises when the same application must be replicated in a distributed fashion across different edge, fog and cloud sites; namely, there will not exist a single K8s vendor that is able to provision and manage K8s clusters across all these sites. Hence, the problem of feature incompatibility between different K8s vendors arises. A large number of documented features in the open-source distribution of K8s are optional features that are turned off by default but can be activated by setting specific combinations of parameters and plug-in components in configuration manifests for the K8s control plane and worker node agents. However, none of these configuration manifests are standardized, giving K8s vendors the freedom to hide the manifests behind a single, more restricted, and proprietary customization interface. Therefore, some optional K8s features cannot be activated consistently across K8s vendors and applications that require these features cannot be run on those vendors. In this paper, we present a unified, vendor-agnostic feature management approach for consistently configuring optional K8s features across a federation of clusters hosted by different Kubernetes vendors. We describe vendor-agnostic reconfiguration tactics that are already applied in industry and that cover a wide range of optional K8s features. Based on these tactics, we design and implement an autonomic controller for declarative feature compatibility management across a cluster federation. We found that the features configured through our vendor-agnostic approach have no impact on application performance when compared with a cluster where the features are configured using the configuration manifests of the open-source K8s distribution. Moreover, the maximum time to complete reconfiguration of a single feature is within 100 seconds, which is 6 times faster than using proprietary customization interfaces of mainstream K8s vendors such as Google Kubernetes Engine. However, there is a non-negligible disruption to running applications when performing the reconfiguration to an existing cluster; this disruption impact does not appear using the proprietary customization methods of the K8s vendors due to the use of rolling upgrade of cluster nodes. Therefore, our approach is best applied in the following three use cases: (i) when starting up new K8s clusters, (ii) when optional K8s features of existing clusters must be activated as quickly as possibly and temporary disruption to running applications can be tolerated or (iii) when proprietary customization interfaces do not allow to activate the desired optional feature.
The Pathology and Splenic Transcriptome Profiling of Trionyx sinensis Challenged with Bacillus cereus
Authors: Jiao Jinbiao , Chen Jing , Yao Jiayun , Li Yanli , Yuan Xuemei , Huang Lei , Su Shengqi , Zhang Haiqi
Published: February 2023

The pathogenic Bacillus cereus strain XS0724 isolated from China can cause high lethality to Trionyx sinensis, but little information is available on their detailed interactions. In this study, histopathologic profiling indicated that B. cereus caused vacuolization and cell necrosis in the liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine. The identification of the virulence factor genes non-hemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe), hemolysin BL (Hbl), and enterotoxin FM (entFM) confirmed bacterial pathogenicity. Splenic transcriptomic sequencing at 96 h post-infection identified various immune-related genes mapped to diverse gene families, including interleukin, complement, chemokine, and interferon. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in 2174 GO terms: 1694 in biological processes, 138 in cellular components, and 342 in molecular functions. Further KEGG enrichment indicated that DEGs were primarily associated with the phagosome, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The DEGs and enriched pathways may be involved in the elimination of invasive B. cereus. These data laid the foundation for elucidating the potential molecular mechanisms in this bacterial infection process, and provided robust genetic evidence for subsequent work on resistance genes of T. sinensis.
A Comparison of the Stability of Refined Edible Vegetable Oils under Frying Conditions: Multivariate Fingerprinting Approach
Authors: Martín-Torres Sandra , González-Casado Antonio , Medina-García Miriam , Medina-Vázquez María , Cuadros-Rodríguez Luis
Published: February 2023

The stability of highly consumed vegetable refined oils after discontinuous frying of potatoes was compared. Both those vegetable oils containing additives and those that did not were considered. Vegetable oil samples were evaluated using refractive index, anisidine and peroxide values, UV absorbance and dielectric constant-based determination of the content of total polar compounds. Chemical changes caused over the frying time were monitored and multivariate modelling of the data was carried out. A new gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopy method was intended to record a fingerprint of both polar and non-polar compound fractions. Multivariate models of chromatographic fingerprints were also developed, and the results obtained from both approaches were verified to be statistically similar. In addition, multivariate modelling also allows to differentiate among vegetable oils according to oxidation performance. Indeed, it was initially observed that olive oils presented the highest natural thermo-oxidative stability compared to other seed oils, although it should be noted that these differences were not significant when regarding olive pomace oils and seed oils containing synthetic additives.
Extending the Shelf Life of Raw Milk and Pasteurized Milk with Plantaricin FB-2
Authors: Li Yajuan , Weng Peifang , Wu Zufang , Liu Yanan
Published: February 2023

Raw milk and pasteurized milk are characterized by a short shelf life, and drinking expired raw milk and pasteurized milk causes illness. In the study, Plantaricin FB-2 (extracted from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FB-2) was added to liquid milk. By evaluating the microbial growth, acidity changes, protein content, and sensory changes in raw milk and pasteurized milk during storage, it was found that when Plantaricin FB-2 was added at 0.4 g/kg, the shelf life of raw milk was extended by 3 days (7 days if not added). The shelf life of pasteurized milk with Plantaricin FB-2 was extended to 31 days (25 days in the control group), and the optimal amount was 0.3 g/kg. This confirmed that Plantaricin FB-2 can effectively prolong the shelf life of raw and pasteurized milk. This study provides valuable information for the application of bacteriocins produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in raw milk and pasteurized milk to improve their shelf life.
Frac-Vector: Better Category Representation
Authors: Tan Sunfu , Pu Yifei
Published: February 2023

For this paper, we proposed the fractional category representation vector (FV) based on fractional calculus (FC), of which one-hot label is only the special case when the derivative order is 0. FV can be considered as a distributional representation when negative probability is considered. FVs can be used either as a regularization method or as a distributed category representation. They gain significantly in the generalization of classification models and representability in generative adversarial networks with conditions (C-GANs). In image classification, the linear combinations of FVs correspond to the mixture of images and can be used as an independent variable of the loss function. Our experiments showed that FVs can also be used as space sampling, with fewer dimensions and less computational overhead than normal distributions.
Theoretical Analysis of a Fractional-Order LLCL Filter for Grid-Tied Inverters
Authors: Wang Xiaogang , Zhuang Ruidong , Cai Junhui
Published: February 2023

The LLCL-filter-based grid-tied inverter performs better than the LCL-type grid-tied inverter due to its outstanding switching-frequency current harmonic elimination capability, but the positive resonance peak must be suppressed by passive or active damping methods. This paper proposes a class of fractional-order LLCL (FOLLCL) filters, which provides rich features by adjusting the orders of three inductors and one capacitor of the filter. Detailed analyses are performed to reveal the frequency characteristics of the FOLLCL filter; the orders must be selected reasonably to damp the positive resonance peak while reserving the negative resonance peak to attenuate the switching-frequency harmonics. Furthermore, the control system of the grid-tied inverter based on the FOLLCL filter is studied. When the positive resonance is suppressed by the intrinsic damping effect of the FOLLCL filter, the passive or active damper can be avoided; the grid current single close-loop is adequate to control the grid-tied inverter. For low-frequency applications, proportional-resonant (PR) controller is more suitable for the FOLLCL-type grid-tied inverter compared with the proportional-integral (PI) and fractional-order PI controllers due to its overall performance. Simulation results are consistent with theoretical expectations.
Engineering Hydrogels for Modulation of Dendritic Cell Function
Authors: Wu Cuifang , Teng Lijing , Wang Caiyuan , Qian Tianbao , Hu Zuquan , Zeng Zhu
Published: February 2023

Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, are necessary for the effective activation of naïve T cells. DCs encounter numerous microenvironments with different biophysical properties, such as stiffness and viscoelasticity. Considering the emerging importance of mechanical cues for DC function, it is essential to understand the impacts of these cues on DC function in a physiological or pathological context. Engineered hydrogels have gained interest for the exploration of the impacts of biophysical matrix cues on DC functions, owing to their extracellular-matrix-mimetic properties, such as high water content, a sponge-like pore structure, and tunable mechanical properties. In this review, the introduction of gelation mechanisms of hydrogels is first summarized. Then, recent advances in the substantial effects of developing hydrogels on DC function are highlighted, and the potential molecular mechanisms are subsequently discussed. Finally, persisting questions and future perspectives are presented.
Screening Spring Wheat Genotypes for TaDreb-B1 and Fehw3 Genes under Severe Drought Stress at the Germination Stage Using KASP Technology
Authors: Mohamed Elsayed A. , Ahmed Asmaa A. M. , Schierenbeck Matías , Hussein Mohamed Y. , Baenziger P. Stephen , Börner Andreas , Sallam Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Drought stress is a major yield-limiting factor throughout the world in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), causing losses of up to 80% of the total yield. The identification of factors affecting drought stress tolerance in the seedling stage is especially important to increase adaptation and accelerate the grain yield potential. In the current study, 41 spring wheat genotypes were tested for their tolerance to drought at the germination stage under two different polyethylene glycol concentrations (PEG) of 25% and 30%. For this purpose, twenty seedlings from each genotype were evaluated in triplicate with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a controlled growth chamber. The following nine parameters were recorded: germination pace (GP), germination percentage (G%), number of roots (NR), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), shoot–root length ratio (SRR), fresh biomass weight (FBW), dry biomass weight (DBW), and water content (WC). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.01) among the genotypes, treatments (PEG25%, PEG30%) and genotypes × treatment interaction, for all traits. The broad-sense heritability (H2) estimates were very high in both concentrations. They ranged from 89.4 to 98.9% under PEG25% and from 70.8 to 98.7% under PEG30%. Citr15314 (Afghanistan) was among the best performing genotypes under both concentrations for most of the germination traits. Two KASP markers for TaDreb-B1 and Fehw3 genes were used to screen all genotypes and to study the effect of these on drought tolerance at the germination stage. All genotypes with Fehw3 (only) showed a better performance for most traits under both concentrations compared to other genotypes having TaDreb-B1 or having both genes. To our knowledge, this work is the first report showing the effect of the two genes on germination traits under severe drought stress conditions.
Dynamic Evolution of NLR Genes in Dalbergioids
Authors: Rani Shamiza , Zahra Ramlah , Bakar Abu , Rizwan Muhammad , Sultan Abu-Bakar , Zain Muhammad , Mehmood Amna , Danial Muhammad , Shakoor Sidra , Saleem Fozia , Serfraz Ali , Rehman Hafiz Mamoon , Khan Rao Sohail Ahmad , Serfraz Saad , AlKahtani Saad
Published: February 2023

Dalbergioid is a large group within the family Fabaceae that consists of diverse plant species distributed in distinct biogeographic realms. Here, we have performed a comprehensive study to understand the evolution of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeats (NLRs) gene family in Dalbergioids. The evolution of gene families in this group is affected by a common whole genome duplication that occurred approximately 58 million years ago, followed by diploidization that often leads to contraction. Our study suggests that since diploidization, the NLRome of all groups of Dalbergioids is expanding in a clade-specific manner with fewer exceptions. Phylogenetic analysis and classification of NLRs revealed that they belong to seven subgroups. Specific subgroups have expanded in a species-specific manner, leading to divergent evolution. Among the Dalbergia clade, the expansion of NLRome in six species of the genus Dalbergia was observed, with the exception of Dalbergia odorifera, where a recent contraction of NLRome occurred. Similarly, members of the Pterocarpus clade genus Arachis revealed a large-scale expansion in the diploid species. In addition, the asymmetric expansion of NLRome was observed in wild and domesticated tetraploids after recent duplications in the genus Arachis. Our analysis strongly suggests that whole genome duplication followed by tandem duplication after divergence from a common ancestor of Dalbergioids is the major cause of NLRome expansion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever study to provide insight toward the evolution of NLR genes in this important tribe. In addition, accurate identification and characterization of NLR genes is a substantial contribution to the repertoire of resistances among members of the Dalbergioids species.
Aliens on Boats? The Eastern and Western Expansion of the African House Gecko
Authors: Pinho Catarina Jesus , Cardoso Luís , Rocha Sara , Vasconcelos Raquel
Published: February 2023

Invasive species disrupt relations between endemics and their ecosystem and are an increasing biodiversity conservation problem. The Hemidactylus genus comprises the most successful invasive reptile species, including the worldwide-distributed Hemidactylus mabouia. In this study, we used 12S and ND2 sequences to taxonomically identify and tentatively determine the diversity and origin of these invaders in Cabo Verde while also clarifying this for several Western Indian Ocean (WIO) populations. By comparing our sequences to recently published ones, we showed, for the first time, that Cabo Verde individuals belong to the H. mabouia sensu stricto lineage and that both of its sublineages (a and b) occur there. Both haplotypes are also in Madeira, which indicates a connection between these archipelagos, possibly related to the past Portuguese trading routes. Across the WIO, results clarified the identity of many island and coastal populations, showing that this likely invasive H. mabouia lineage is widespread in the region, including northern Madagascar, with important conservation implications. Colonisation origins were difficult to access due to the wide geographical spread of these haplotypes; thus, several possible scenarios were outlined. The introduction of this species throughout western and eastern Africa may threaten endemic taxa and needs to be closely monitored.
Assessing Outlier Probabilities in Transcriptomics Data When Evaluating a Classifier
Authors: Kircher Magdalena , Säurich Josefin , Selle Michael , Jung Klaus
Published: February 2023

Outliers in the training or test set used to fit and evaluate a classifier on transcriptomics data can considerably change the estimated performance of the model. Hence, an either too weak or a too optimistic accuracy is then reported and the estimated model performance cannot be reproduced on independent data. It is then also doubtful whether a classifier qualifies for clinical usage. We estimate classifier performances in simulated gene expression data with artificial outliers and in two real-world datasets. As a new approach, we use two outlier detection methods within a bootstrap procedure to estimate the outlier probability for each sample and evaluate classifiers before and after outlier removal by means of cross-validation. We found that the removal of outliers changed the classification performance notably. For the most part, removing outliers improved the classification results. Taking into account the fact that there are various, sometimes unclear reasons for a sample to be an outlier, we strongly advocate to always report the performance of a transcriptomics classifier with and without outliers in training and test data. This provides a more diverse picture of a classifier’s performance and prevents reporting models that later turn out to be not applicable for clinical diagnoses.
Various Surgical Interventions in Treating Odontogenic Keratocyst: A Radiological Case Report
Authors: Gelețu Gabriela Luminița , Burlacu Alexandru , Baciu Elena-Raluca , Diaconu-Popa Diana , Murariu Alice , Foia Liliana Georgeta , Ungureanu Loredana , Onică Neculai
Published: February 2023

The odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is among the most aggressive odontogenic cysts because of its high recurrent rate. This study’s objective was to describe a 7-year radiological and clinical follow-up of an OKC with two recurrences and a combination of surgical treatments. The cyst contents were drained at the biopsy to allow decompression, and then marsupialization (Partsch I) was carried out with good results. In the following two years, the endodontic and radiological evaluation of the neighboring teeth indicated endodontic avoidance. The remaining OKC enucleation (Partsch II) with chemical curettage and suture was performed two years after the first presentation, and the multifocal recurrences developed were also treated by enucleation and chemical curettage. At the last radiological follow-up, no recurrence was evident. Based on our experience, we concluded that patients diagnosed with a OKC should be radiologically evaluated at least once a year for at least 7 years, the endodontic diagnosis and treatment of neighboring teeth should be performed as early as possible, and the combination of surgical treatment and the long follow-up period is challenging.
Violence against Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico
Authors: Rivera Rivera Leonor , Séris Martínez Marina , Reynales Shigematsu Luz Myriam , Gómez García José Alberto , Austria Corrales Fernando , Toledano-Toledano Filiberto , Jiménez Tapia Alberto , Tejadilla Orozco Diana Iris , Astudillo García Claudia I.
Published: February 2023

This study measured the prevalence of cases of domestic violence against women and some associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Data were collected through a remote survey during 2020. The sample included 47,819 women aged 15 years and older. Jointpoint regression and logistic regression models were used. The prevalence of violence was 11.5%, which decreased in July and subsequently increased. The associated factors were being unemployed (OR = 2.01; 95%CI 1.89–2.16); being partially and totally quarantined (OR = 1.58; 95%CI 1.43–1.75 and OR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.32–1.63); being a caregiver of children; being a caregiver of elderly and/or suffering from a chronic illness (OR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.19–1.36; OR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.33–1.53; OR = 1.59; 95%CI 1.47–1.73); losing a family member to COVID-19 (OR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.13–1.41); and binge drinking (OR = 1.94; 95%CI 1.78–2.12). The confinement measures increased gender inequalities, economic problems and workload which further evidenced violence against women.
Preliminary Analyses of the Hydro-Meteorological Characteristics of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico
Authors: Ramos Scharrón Carlos E. , Hernández Ayala José Javier , Arima Eugenio Y. , Russell Francis
Published: February 2023

The Caribbean has displayed a capacity to fulfill climate change projections associated with tropical cyclone-related rainfall and flooding. This article describes the hydrometeorological characteristics of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico in September 2022 in terms of measured and interpolated rainfall and observed peak flows relative to previous tropical cyclones from 1899 to 2017. Hurricane Fiona ranks third overall in terms of island-wide total rainfall and fourth in terms of daily rainfall. Maximum daily rainfall during Hurricane Fiona exceeded those previously reported (excluding Hurricane María in 2017) in the eastern interior and eastern portions of the island. In terms of peak flows, no value approached the world’s or Puerto Rico’s flood envelope, although 69% of the observations are considered ‘exceptional’. About 26% and 29% of all peak flows were in the 5–10 year and 10–25 year recurrence interval ranges, respectively, yet none matched the 25-year levels. The highest peak flows were concentrated in the central-eastern and southeastern regions. Even though Hurricane María provoked a more extreme hydrometeorological response, some of Hurricane Fiona’s hydro-meteorological characteristics were among the highest ever recorded in Puerto Rico, particularly for the south-central and eastern portions of the island, and it displayed the island’s current level of vulnerability to extreme rainfall.
Caries Experience and Risk Indicators in a Portuguese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Guerreiro Eduardo , Botelho João , Machado Vanessa , Proença Luís , Mendes José João , Manso Ana Cristina
Published: February 2023

Oral health surveys are essential for assessing the dental caries experience and to influence national policies. This retrospective cross-sectional study aims to analyze dental caries experience for which dental treatment was sought in a reference university dental hospital at the Lisbon Metropolitan Area between January 2016 and March 2020. Full-mouth examination, and sociodemographic, behavior, and medical information were included. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression analysis were applied to ascertain risk indicators associated with dental caries experience. A final sample of 9349 participants (5592 females/3757 males) were included, aged 18 to 99 years old. In this population, caries experience was 91.1%, higher in female participants. Age (OR = 1.01, 95% CI [1.00–1.02], occupation (OR = 2.94, 95% CI [2.37–3.65], OR = 3.35, 95% CI [2.40–4.67], OR = 2.55, 95% CI [1.66–3.91], for employed, unemployed, and retired, respectively), overweight (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.18–1.96]), reporting to have never visited a dentist (OR = 0.38, 95% CI [0.23–0.64], and self-reported week teeth status (OR = 2.14, 95% CI [1.40–3.28]) were identified as risk indicators for the presence of dental caries, according to adjusted multivariable logistic analyses. These results highlight a substantial rate of dental experience in a Portuguese cohort and will pave the way for future tailored oral public health programs in Portugal.
Non-Cardiac Chest Pain as a Persistent Physical Symptom: Psychological Distress and Workability
Authors: Flóvenz Sigrún Ólafsdóttir , Salkovskis Paul , Svansdóttir Erla , Karlsson Hróbjartur Darri , Andersen Karl , Sigurðsson Jón Friðrik
Published: February 2023

Non-Cardiac Chest Pain (NCCP) is persistent chest pain in the absence of identifiable cardiac pathology. Some NCCP cases meet criteria for Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS), where the symptoms are both persistent and distressing/disabling. This study aimed to identify patients that might need specialist treatment for PPS by examining cases of NCCP that meet PPS criteria. We analysed data from 285 chest pain patients that had received an NCCP diagnosis after attending an emergency cardiac department. We compared NCCP patients who did and did not meet the additional criteria for heart-related PPS and hypothesised that the groups would differ in terms of psychological variables and workability. We determined that NCCP patients who meet PPS criteria were more likely than other NCCP patients to be inactive or unable to work, reported more general anxiety and anxiety about their health, were more depressed, ruminated more, and, importantly, had a higher number of other PPS. A high proportion of NCCP patients meet PPS criteria, and they are similar to other PPS patients in terms of comorbidity and disability. This highlights the importance of focusing psychological interventions for this subgroup on the interplay between the range of physical and psychological symptoms present.
Mindfulness Practice versus Physical Exercise in Enhancing Vitality
Authors: Yan Wei , Jiang Zhongxin , Zhang Peng , Liu Guanmin , Peng Kaiping
Published: February 2023

Vitality is important for subjective well-being and performance, which makes strategies for its enhancement an important research issue. While prior research showed that mindfulness practice and physical exercise are both effective at enhancing vitality, no study has compared their efficacy. This study aimed to address this issue. Seventy-one Chinese adults participated in the study and were randomized to one of the intervention groups, i.e., mindfulness practice or physical exercise. The mindfulness practice group completed guided mindfulness trainings, while the physical exercise group completed self-chosen aerobic trainings for seven days. The levels of vitality and its four factors at three time points (baseline, post-intervention, 7-day follow-up) were measured and compared. Compared with physical exercise, mindfulness practice showed stronger effects in enhancing vitality and maintaining the improvements. The findings suggest that guided mindfulness practice is more effective than self-chosen aerobic physical exercise at enhancing vitality and maintaining its improvements.
Correction: Habay et al. Mental Fatigue-Associated Decrease in Table Tennis Performance: Is There an Electrophysiological Signature? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12906
Authors: Habay Jelle , Proost Matthias , De Wachter Jonas , Díaz-García Jesús , De Pauw Kevin , Meeusen Romain , Van Cutsem Jeroen , Roelands Bart
Published: February 2023

In the published publication [...]
The Association between Physical Environment and Externalising Problems in Typically Developing and Neurodiverse Children and Young People: A Narrative Review
Authors: Baird Alister , Candy Bridget , Flouri Eirini , Tyler Nick , Hassiotis Angela
Published: February 2023

The physical environment is of critical importance to child development. Understanding how exposure to physical environmental domains such as greenspace, urbanicity, air pollution or noise affects aggressive behaviours in typical and neurodiverse children is of particular importance given the significant long-term impact of those problems. In this narrative review, we investigated the evidence for domains of the physical environment that may ameliorate or contribute to the display of aggressive behaviours. We have considered a broad range of study designs that include typically developing and neurodiverse children and young people aged 0–18 years. We used the GRADE system to appraise the evidence. Searches were performed in eight databases in July 2020 and updated in June 2022. Additional articles were further identified by hand-searching reference lists of included papers. The protocol for the review was preregistered with PROSPERO. Results: We retrieved 7174 studies of which 67 are included in this review. The studies reported on green space, environmental noise and music, air pollution, meteorological effects, spatial density, urban or rural setting, and interior home elements (e.g., damp/sensory aspects/colour). They all used well validated parent and child reported measures of aggressive behaviour. Most of the studies were rated as having low or unclear risk of bias. As expected, noise, air pollution, urbanicity, spatial density, colour and humidity appeared to increase the display of aggressive behaviours. There was a dearth of studies on the role of the physical environment in neurodiverse children. The studies were heterogeneous and measured a range of aggressive behaviours from symptoms to full syndromes. Greenspace exposure was the most common domain studied but certainty of evidence for the association between environmental exposures and aggression problems in the child or young person was low across all domains. We found a large knowledge gap in the literature concerning neurodiverse children, which suggests that future studies should focus on these children, who are also more likely to experience adverse early life experiences including living in more deprived environments as well as being highly vulnerable to the onset of mental ill health. Such research should also aim to dis-aggregate the underlying aetiological mechanisms for environmental influences on aggression, the results of which may point to pathways for public health interventions and policy development to address inequities that can be relevant to ill health in neurodiverse young people.
A New Policy of Water Resources and Environmental Regulation in China
Authors: Zhang Peipei , Qin Changbo , Yu Lei , Yang Liyan , Lu Lu
Published: February 2023

As a developing country, China is facing serious water pollution and scarcity, which indicates the need for integrated water-resource and environmental regulations. Zoning policies have undergone significant advancements to enhance water-resource utilization in China. However, conflicts and overlaps still exist among these policies. To integrate these zoning policies and regulations, the “Three Lines One Permit” (TLOP) water-environment policy was formulated as a new framework, which included the goal for water quality, upper limits on water-resource utilization, and a permit list. This study presents the main achievements of the TLOP as a case-study in Jinan. The territories of Jinan were divided into 158 water-environment control-units (WECUs) and classified into two types of protected zones, three types of pollution-control zones, and ordinary zones. The total maximum pollutant-loads in the 158 WECUs, and 138 townships were calculated. The water-resource-utilization indicator values and ecological demand of key rivers were specified. The permit lists for the water environment at macroscale, mesoscale, and microscale were compiled from four perspectives: spatial constraints, emissions control, risk prevention, and resource utilization. Finally, suggestions were proposed to promote a more scientific and efficient TLOP policy to enhance human–water harmony.
Trends and Determinants of Full Immunisation among Children Aged 12–23 Months: Analysis of Pooled Data from Mozambican Household Surveys between 1997 and 2015
Authors: Cassocera Marta , Augusto Orvalho , Chissaque Assucênio , Guimarães Esperança Lourenço , Shulock Katherine , de Deus Nilsa , Martins Maria R. O.
Published: February 2023

The 1974 Expanded Program on Immunisation has saved millions of children worldwide by promoting full immunisation coverage (FIC). However, forty years later, many sub-Saharan African countries remain well below its target of 90% FIC. This study analysed the level, trends and determinants of FIC in 4322 Mozambican children aged 12–23 months from pooled data from four national surveys between 1997 and 2015. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to analyse the factors associated with full immunisation coverage. Overall, the coverage of fully immunised children increased from 47.9% in 1997 to 66.5% in 2015, corresponding to a 1.8% yearly increase. The needed FIC growth rate post-2015 was 4.3 times higher. Increased maternal education and a higher household wealth index were associated with higher odds of FIS. Furthermore, attending antenatal care (ANC) visits, institutional delivery and living in southern provinces were also associated with increased odds of FIS. Between 1997 and 2015, FIC among 12–23-month-old children made modest annual gains but remained well below international targets. Factors related to access to healthcare, educational level, socioeconomic status and geographical location were associated with improved FIC. Targeted interventions to expand these factors will improve immunisation coverage among Mozambican children.
Association of Lung Fibrotic Changes and Cardiological Dysfunction with Comorbidities in Long COVID-19 Cohort
Authors: Tauekelova Ainur , Kalila Zhanar , Bakhtiyar Akerke , Sautbayeva Zarina , Len Polina , Sailybayeva Aliya , Khamitov Sadyk , Kadroldinova Nazira , Barteneva Natasha , Bekbossynova Makhabbat
Published: February 2023

Background. Long COVID-19 symptoms appeared in many COVID-19 survivors. However, the prevalence and symptoms associated with long COVID-19 and its comorbidities have not been established. Methods. In total, 312 patients with long COVID-19 from 21 primary care centers were included in the study. At the six-month follow-up, their lung function was assessed by computerized tomography (CT) and spirometry, whereas cardiac function was assessed by electrocardiogram, Holter ECG, echocardiography, 24 h blood pressure monitoring, and a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Results. Of the 312 persons investigated, significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and elevated NT-proBNP were revealed in participants with hypertension or type 2 diabetes. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was more frequently present in patients with hypertension. The most common registered CT abnormalities were fibrotic changes (83, 36.6%) and mediastinal lymphadenopathy (23, 10.1%). Among the tested biochemical parameters, three associations were found in long COVID-19 patients with hypertension but not diabetes: increased hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and ferritin. Nine patients had persisting IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions. We demonstrated a strong association between signs of cardiac dysfunction and lung fibrotic changes with comorbidities in a cohort of long COVID-19 subjects.
Degradation of Typical Reverse Sand-Mudstone Interbedded Bank Slope Based on Multi-Source Field Experiments
Authors: Dai Zhenwei , Wang Luqi , Fu Xiaolin , Huang Bolin , Zhang Senlin , Gao Xuecheng , He Xiangrong
Published: February 2023

The bank slopes in the Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) have experienced obvious deterioration under the action of the periodic fluctuations in the reservoir water level. Generally, laboratory tests have been used to reveal the evolution trend of the slope banks. However, this method has a certain degree of cross-scale problem, especially for the mechanical state in a complex environment. Therefore, in this study, we took the Yangjiaping bank slope in the TGRA as an example and proposed a comprehensive on-site detection method to further reveal the rock mass degradation phenomenon of this typical reverse sand-mudstone interbedded bank slope. Specifically, multi-scale laser scanning, cross-hole acoustic wave detection, and inclination measurements were performed to analyze the fractures, quality, and deformation of rocky banks. The results showed that the deterioration of the bank slope manifested as the expansion, deepening, and widening of the cracks, as well as the peeling off and loosening of rocky banks. Large-scale laser scanning revealed that the deterioration zone was deformed along large fracture zones and layers. Unlike limestone slopes, the intact sandstone underground might be degraded by changes in water. There are few inclinometers and no deformation or weak deformation, which requires long-term monitoring. The relevant research methods provide an important reference for determining the instability and failure trend of the reservoir bank slopes.