bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network meta-analysis of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment after an ischemic stroke
Authors: Yang Guangming , Guo Liyun , Zhang Yuan , Li Shan
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in improving cognitive function in patients with ischemic stroke through network meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EmBase, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on non-pharmacological treatments to improve cognitive impairment following ischemic stroke. The publication date was up to 15 March 2023. Due to the insufficiency of included studies, supplementary searches for high-quality Chinese literature were performed in databases such as CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP Chinese Science Journals Database. Two reviewers independently went through the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the risk of bias assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0. By utilizing R 4.2.3 RStudio software and the GeMTC package, a Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to assess the improvement in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores under a variety of non-pharmacological interventions.

Results

A total of 22 RCTs involving 2,111 patients and 14 different non-pharmacological treatments were included. These interventions were transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), reminiscence therapy (RT), remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), physical fitness training (PFT), intensive patient care program (IPCP), moderate-intensity continuous training + high-intensity interval training (MICT + HIIT), medium intensity continuous training (MICT), grip training (GT), acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive rehabilitation training (CRT), high pressure oxygen (HPO), moxibustion, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The results of the network meta-analysis indicated that rTMS had the highest likelihood of being the most effective intervention for improving MMSE and MoCA scores.

Conclusion

The evidence from this study suggests that rTMS holds promise for improving MMSE and MoCA scores in patients with cognitive impairment following ischemic stroke. However, further high-quality research is needed to confirm and validate this finding.
Early sexual activity lowers the incidence of intracranial aneurysm: a Mendelian randomization investigation
Authors: Wu Pengfei , Akram Paziliya , Kadeer Kaheerman , Aisha Maimaitili , Cheng Xiaojiang , Wang Zengliang , Maimaiti Aierpati
Published: June 2024

Objective

Investigate the potential correlation between the age of initial sexual contact, the lifetime accumulation of sexual partners, and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysm (IA) employing a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach.

Methods

This research aims to elucidate the causal relationship between intracranial aneurysm (IA) and sexual variables. Two distinct sexual variables, specifically the age had first sexual intercourse (n = 406,457) and the lifetime number of sexual partners (n = 378,882), were employed as representative parameters in a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Outcome data from 23 cohorts, comprising 5,140 cases and 71,934 controls, were gathered through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To bolster analytical rigor, five distinct methodologies were applied, encompassing MR-Egger technique, weighted median, inverse variance weighted, simple modeling, and weighted modeling.

Results

Our investigation unveiled a causal relationship between the age first had sexual intercourse and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysm (IA), employing the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) approach [Odds Ratio (OR): 0.609, p-value: 5.684E-04, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.459–0.807]. This association was notably significant in the context of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA) using the IVW approach (OR: 0.392, p-value: 6.414E-05, 95% CI: 0.248–0.621). Conversely, our findings did not reveal any discernible link between the lifetime number of sexual partners and the occurrence of IA (IA group: OR: 1.346, p-value: 0.415, 95% CI: 0.659–2.749; SAH group: OR: 1.042, p-value: 0.943, 95% CI: 0.338–3.209; uIA group: OR: 1.990, p-value: 0.273, 95% CI: 0.581–6.814).

Conclusion

The two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study presented herein provides evidence supporting a correlation between the age of initial engagement in sexual activity and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysm (IA), with a noteworthy emphasis on unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA). Nevertheless, our investigation failed to establish a definitive association between IA and the cumulative lifetime number of sexual partners.
Short-term effects of kinesiology taping on static and dynamic balance in healthy subjects
Authors: Zhou Tianyu , He Lin , Huang Fasen , Sharp Tim , Hou Xiao
Published: June 2024

Background

As a therapeutic tool, kinesiology taping (KT) has become increasingly popular for musculoskeletal injuries utilized by physiotherapists. KT has been found to have effects on facilitating muscle strength by generating a concentric pull on the fascia. However, little is known about KT in the improvement of dynamic and static balance. This study aims to explore whether KT on the quadriceps muscle has any immediate effects on static and dynamic balance.

Methodology

Twenty-seven healthy individuals (13 males and 14 females, aged 22 to 29) were recruited in a crossover study with two conditions: KT and no taping. KT was applied to the quadriceps muscle for the taping group, with the control receiving no taping. Pre- and post-test measurements were taken to give an indication of the effect of the tape on balance performance. Center of Pressure Excursion (COPE) and Time to Stabilization (TTS) when landing from a hop test and Y Balance test combined score (YBTCS) were used to assess a stabilizing balance activity and a dynamic balance. The pre- and post-intervention were collected, with differences explored using repeated measures ANOVA with time and condition (tape) factor analysis.

Results

We found a significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) with a moderate to large effect size in YBTCS between KT and no taping, indicating enhanced balance performance in the KT group. However, no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) with small to moderate effect size was found in COPE or TTS between the two conditions during landing tests, suggesting similar balance capabilities in these specific measures.

Conclusion

The use of KT shows no significant immediate effect on static balance in healthy individuals when applied to the quadriceps muscles; however, it demonstrates a positive immediate effect on dynamic balance.
Pretraining alpha rhythm enhancement by neurofeedback facilitates short-term perceptual learning and improves visual acuity by facilitated consolidation
Authors: Chang Ming , Suzuki Shuntaro , Kurose Takahiro , Ibaraki Takuya
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Learning through perceptual training using the Gabor patch (GP) has attracted attention as a new vision restoration technique for myopia and age-related deterioration of visual acuity (VA). However, the task itself is monotonous and painful and requires numerous training sessions and some time before being effective, which has been a challenge for its widespread application. One effective means of facilitating perceptual learning is the empowerment of EEG alpha rhythm in the sensory cortex before neurofeedback (NF) training; however, there is a lack of evidence for VA.

Methods

We investigated whether four 30-min sessions of GP training, conducted over 2 weeks with/without EEG NF to increase alpha power (NF and control group, respectively), can improve vision in myopic subjects. Contrast sensitivity (CS) and VA were measured before and after each GP training.

Results

The NF group showed an improvement in CS at the fourth training session, not observed in the control group. In addition, VA improved only in the NF group at the third and fourth training sessions, this appears as a consolidation effect (maintenance of the previous training effect). Participants who produced stronger alpha power during the third training session showed greater VA recovery during the fourth training session.

Discussion

These results indicate that enhanced pretraining alpha empowerment strengthens the subsequent consolidation of perceptual learning and that even a short period of GP training can have a positive effect on VA recovery. This simple protocol may facilitate use of a training method to easily recover vision.
From by-products to new application opportunities: the enhancement of the leaves deriving from the fruit plants for new potential healthy products
Authors: Regolo Lucia , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio , Armas Diaz Yasmany , Mezzetti Bruno , Elexpuru-Zabaleta Maria , Mazas Cristina , Tutusaus Kilian , Mazzoni Luca
Published: June 2024

In the last decades, the world population and demand for any kind of product have grown exponentially. The rhythm of production to satisfy the request of the population has become unsustainable and the concept of the linear economy, introduced after the Industrial Revolution, has been replaced by a new economic approach, the circular economy. In this new economic model, the concept of “the end of life” is substituted by the concept of restoration, providing a new life to many industrial wastes. Leaves are a by-product of several agricultural cultivations. In recent years, the scientific interest regarding leaf biochemical composition grew, recording that plant leaves may be considered an alternative source of bioactive substances. Plant leaves’ main bioactive compounds are similar to those in fruits, i.e., phenolic acids and esters, flavonols, anthocyanins, and procyanidins. Bioactive compounds can positively influence human health; in fact, it is no coincidence that the leaves were used by our ancestors as a natural remedy for various pathological conditions. Therefore, leaves can be exploited to manufacture many products in food (e.g., being incorporated in food formulations as natural antioxidants, or used to create edible coatings or films for food packaging), cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries (e.g., promising ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics such as oils, serums, dermatological creams, bath gels, and other products). This review focuses on the leaves’ main bioactive compounds and their beneficial health effects, indicating their applications until today to enhance them as a harvesting by-product and highlight their possible reuse for new potential healthy products.
Measuring and shaping the nutritional environment via food sales logs: case studies of campus-wide food choice and a call to action
Authors: Gligorić Kristina , Zbinden Robin , Chiolero Arnaud , Kıcıman Emre , White Ryen W. , Horvitz Eric , West Robert
Published: June 2024

Although diets influence health and the environment, measuring and changing nutrition is challenging. Traditional measurement methods face challenges, and designing and conducting behavior-changing interventions is conceptually and logistically complicated. Situated local communities such as university campuses offer unique opportunities to shape the nutritional environment and promote health and sustainability. The present study investigates how passively sensed food purchase logs typically collected as part of regular business operations can be used to monitor and measure on-campus food consumption and understand food choice determinants. First, based on 38 million sales logs collected on a large university campus over eight years, we perform statistical analyses to quantify spatio-temporal determinants of food choice and characterize harmful patterns in dietary behaviors, in a case study of food purchasing at EPFL campus. We identify spatial proximity, food item pairing, and academic schedules (yearly and daily) as important determinants driving the on-campus food choice. The case studies demonstrate the potential of food sales logs for measuring nutrition and highlight the breadth and depth of future possibilities to study individual food-choice determinants. We describe how these insights provide an opportunity for stakeholders, such as campus offices responsible for managing food services, to shape the nutritional environment and improve health and sustainability by designing policies and behavioral interventions. Finally, based on the insights derived through the case study of food purchases at EPFL campus, we identify five future opportunities and offer a call to action for the nutrition research community to contribute to ensuring the health and sustainability of on-campus populations—the very communities to which many researchers belong.
Exploring the role of vitamin D in cognitive function: mediation by depression with diabetes modulation in older U.S. adults, a NHANES weighted analysis
Authors: Shu Chang , Zheng Chenguang , Du Xin , Luo Da
Published: June 2024

Background

The relationship between vitamin D levels, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function has yet to be definitively understood in the elderly, particularly when considering the impact of chronic diseases. This study focuses on how depression mediates the impact of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) on cognitive performance in older U.S. adults.

Methods

We analyzed data from 2,745 elderly individuals extracted from the NHANES 2011–2014 cycles, applying weighted processing to account for the complex multi-stage sampling design characteristic of NHANES data. Utilizing weighted data for covariate and model selection, we conducted mediation analyses on both the overall population and subgroup data. Significant mediation pathways were validated using a stratified weighted bootstrap approach. For significant subgroup pathways, we explored interactive mechanisms through interactive mediation analysis.

Results

Mediation analyses, thoroughly accounting for the impact of chronic conditions, revealed significant pathways in both the weighted overall population and the weighted diabetes subgroup. After 1,000 stratified weighted bootstrap replications, the proportion of mediation effects were 10.6% [0.040, 0.268] and 20.9% [0.075, 0.663], respectively. Interactive mediation analysis for diabetes indicated that the interaction between diabetes and depression was not significant in the direct pathway (estimates = 0.050, p = 0.113) but was significant in the mediation pathway, yielding the largest effect size compared to other covariates (estimates = 0.981, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study highlights the mediating role of depression in the relationship between vitamin D levels and cognitive function in the elderly, particularly emphasizing diabetes as a key moderator. Our findings suggest targeted interventions addressing both vitamin D sufficiency and depression could significantly benefit cognitive health, especially in diabetic individuals.
Transcriptome analysis reveals the effect of cold storage time on the expression of genes related to oxidative metabolism in Chinese black truffle
Authors: Zhang Runji , Yang Qiuyue , Yao Xin , Fang Zhirong , Wu Xia , Lin Qiao , Qing Yuan
Published: June 2024

Chinese black truffle (Tuber indicum) is a hypogenous fungus of great value due to its distinctive aroma. In this study, both transcriptome and physicochemical analyses were performed to investigate the changes of nutrients and gene expression in truffle fruiting bodies during cold storage. The results of physicochemical analysis revealed the active metabolism of fruiting bodies in cold storage, showing the decreased contents of protein and soluble sugar, the variations in both polyphenol oxidase activity and total phenol content, and the detrimental effect of reactive oxygen species production caused by heavy metals (cadmium and lead) in truffles. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 139,489 unigenes. Down-regulated expression of genes encoding the catalase-like domain-containing protein (katE), glutaredoxin protein (GRX), a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod_Cu), and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) affected the degradation metabolism of intracellular oxides. Ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (RPE) was a key enzyme in response to oxidative stress in truffle cells through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). A total of 51,612 simple sequence repeats were identified, providing valuable resources for further genetic diversity analysis, molecular breeding, and genetic map-ping in T. indicum. Transcription factors GAL4 and SUF4-like protein were involved in glucose metabolism and histone methylation processes, respectively. Our study provided a fundamental characterization of the physicochemical and molecular variations in T. indicum during the cold storage at 4°C, providing strong experimental evidence to support the improvement of storage quality of T. indicum.
Effects of modified Danggui Sini Decoction as adjuvant therapy for angina pectoris in coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomised controlled trials
Authors: Wang He , Liu Changxing , Guo Xinyi , Yang Jianfei , Zhou Yabin
Published: June 2024

Introduction

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of the Chinese herbal formula modified Danggui Sini Decoction as an adjunctive treatment for angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of modified Danggui Sini Decoction in combination with conventional Western medication on angina pectoris in coronary artery disease, published up to July 2023 across eight databases, including China Knowledge International Literature screening and data extraction were performed by two researchers following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1, and meta-analysis was executed via RevMan 5.4 software.

Results

Thirteen studies encompassing 1,232 participants were incorporated. The meta-analysis revealed that combining modified Danggui Sini Decoction with conventional Western medication significantly enhanced overall clinical efficacy, reduced the duration of angina attacks, decreased the Chinese medicine syndrome score, improved inflammatory markers and cardiac function, lowered serum NT-proBNP levels, and elevated the Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Modified Danggui Sini Decoction, when used alongside conventional Western medications, shows promise in treating coronary artery disease patients with angina pectoris and may serve as a beneficial adjunctive therapy in clinical settings. Nonetheless, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, further high-caliber research is essential to substantiate these findings.

Systematic Review Registration

https://inplasy.com/? s=202390078, identifier INPLASY 202390078.
How does family functioning contribute to academic-related outcomes of Chinese adolescents: the mediating role of spirituality
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L. , Leung Kim Hung , Li Xiang , Dou Diya , Zhu Xiaoqin
Published: June 2024

While family functioning is crucial to adolescent developmental outcomes, the mediating role of spirituality in the relationship between family functioning and academic-related outcomes of adolescents has been sparsely explored, particularly in non-Western contexts. To address this gap, based on a short-term longitudinal study, we examined the influence of family functioning on the academic values and academic anxiety of 4,981 Chinese adolescents in Sichuan, China, with spirituality as the mediator. We gathered data from students aged 11 and above at Wave 1 and at six months later (Wave 2). Analysis utilizing structural equation modeling indicated that prior family functioning positively and negatively predicted subsequent academic values and academic anxiety respectively, with spirituality as a significant mediator. Theoretically, this study helps to build up a conceptual model on how family functioning and spirituality of adolescents shape academic values and academic anxiety of adolescents. Practically, the present findings highlight the significance of enhancing family functioning and adolescent spirituality to help adolescents strive for academic success.
Bipolar disorder and Lewy body dementia: case report and literature review
Authors: Nakamura Sayuri , Sugawara Hiroko , Asada Ryo , Hatanaka Akito , Hori Hikaru
Published: June 2024

Depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms are prevalent among the older adults, emphasizing the need to differentiate them from dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), in which depressive and psychotic symptoms commonly coexist. In contrast, psychotic symptoms occur more frequently in depressive episodes of bipolar disorder (BD) than in major depressive disorder (MDD). Although MDD is a significant risk factor for dementia, studies exploring the relationship between BD and dementia are lacking. This report details the case of a 74-year-old female who experienced severe psychotic depression that led to suicide attempts during a long-term course of young-onset BD. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with DLB based on her neurocognitive symptoms and results of the neuroimaging examination. She had experienced multiple relapses in the past, predominantly characterized by depressive episodes in her old age. Notably, she had never undergone lithium treatment, which is known for its potential efficacy in preventing relapse and dementia. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested that patients with BD have a higher risk of dementia than the general population, and that lithium usage is associated with a reduced risk. Moreover, patients with BD have been suggested to have an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the pathophysiological relationship between BD and PD may be attributed to dopamine dysregulation resulting from multiple relapses. Future research is imperative to identify strategies for preventing dementia in patients with BD and to develop interventions for the comorbidities of BD and DLB.
Prognostic value of plasma diquat concentration in patients with acute oral diquat poisoning: a retrospective study
Authors: Meng Na , Sun Yiqing , Dong Yanling , Lv Baopu , Yao Dongqi , Gao Hengbo , Ma Yu , Jin Yingli , Zhu Tieying , Tian Yingping
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Diquat poisoning is an important public health and social security agency. This study aimed to develop a prognostic model and evaluate the prognostic value of plasma diquat concentration in patients with acute oral diquat poisoning, focusing on how its impact changes over time after poisoning.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study using electronic healthcare reports from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. The study sample included 80 patients with acute oral Diquat poisoning who were admitted to the hospital between January 2019 and May 2022. Time-to-event analyses were performed to assess the risk of all-cause mortality (30 days and 90 days), controlling for demographics, comorbidities, vital signs, and other laboratory measurements. The prognostic value of plasma DQ concentration on admission was assessed by computing the area under a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

Results

Among the 80 patients, 29 (36.25%) patients died, and 51 (63.75%) patients survived in the hospital. Non-survivors had a median survival time (IQR) of 1.3(1.0) days and the longest survival time of 4.5 days after DQ poisoning. Compared with non-survivors, survivors had significantly lower amounts of ingestion, plasma DQ concentration on admission, lungs injury within 24 h after admission, liver injury within 24 h after admission, kidney injury within 24 h after admission, and CNS injury within 36 h after admission, higher APACHE II score and PSS within 24 h after admission (all p < 0.05). Plasma Diquat concentration at admission (HR = Exp (0.032–0.059 × ln (t))) and PSS within 24 h after admission (HR: 4.470, 95%CI: 1.604 ~ 12.452, p = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors in the time-dependent Cox regression model.

Conclusion

Plasma DQ concentration at admission and PSS within 24 h after admission are independent prognostic factors for the in-hospital case fatality rate in patients with acute oral DQ poisoning. The prognostic value of plasma DQ concentration decreased with time.
The mechanisms linking perceived stress to pilots’ safety attitudes: a chain mediation effect of job burnout and cognitive flexibility
Authors: Yanzeng Zhao , Keyong Zhu , Hongmin Cai , Ziyu Liu , Pengyu Luo , Lijing Wang
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Pilots’ safety attitude is crucial for aviation safety. Current research shows a correlation between perceived stress and safety attitude, yet the mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. Against the backdrop of heightened attention to pilots’ stress, this study aims to thoroughly explore the inherent connection between pilot safety attitudes and their perceived stress, offering targeted insights into preventing and addressing safety attitude issues arising from pilot stress.

Methods

Through path analysis of questionnaire data from 106 civil aviation pilots in China, this study systematically investigates the roles of job burnout and cognitive flexibility in the relationship between perceived stress and safety attitude. The study reveals the chain-mediated mechanism of these two factors.

Results

The results demonstrate a significantly negative correlation between pilots’ perceived stress and safety attitude, with cognitive flexibility and job burnout fully mediating this relationship, and cognitive flexibility affecting job burnout. A detailed analysis of the three dimensions of job burnout reveals varying impacts of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment on the aforementioned path. The research model exhibits a good fit (GFI=0.902), providing new theoretical perspectives on the association between pilots’ perceived stress and safety attitude.

Discussion

The findings offer practical implications for improving pilots’ safety attitude by proposing targeted measures to alleviate the adverse impacts of perceived stress on safety attitude, thereby promoting aviation safety.
Internet addiction and depressive symptoms in adolescents: joint trajectories and predictors
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Wang Enna , Zhang Long , Chi Xinli
Published: June 2024

Objective

Internet addiction and depressive symptoms are common mental health problems in adolescents. Due to the comorbidity of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, their mutual relationship influences their developmental trajectories over time. Thus, this study aimed to identify the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, and examined the individual, family, and school antecedents of these trajectories among Chinese adolescents.

Methods

Using a battery of self-report scales, three waves of data collection were conducted in a Chinese adolescent sample (N = 1,301). The co-developmental trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms were extracted by adopting parallel-process latent class growth modeling (PPLCGM). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess predictive factors.

Results

Four unique joint trajectory classes were detected: the Health Group (n = 912, 70.1%), Comorbidity-Worsening Group (n = 85, 6.5%), Asymptomatic-Comorbid Risk Group (n = 148, 11.4%), and Prominent Depressive Symptoms-Remission Group (n = 156, 12.0%). Individual, family, and school factors (e.g., gender, positive youth development, family function, academic performance) significantly predicted the membership in these distinct co-developmental trajectories.

Conclusion

Our findings illustrate that the joint development of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms among adolescents presents a heterogeneous distribution, which could better inform prevention and intervention strategies since each co-developmental trajectory may represent unique experience for adolescents who need targeted treatment. Various individual, family, and school factors are important predictors that play different roles in distinguishing the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms during this critical developmental transition period.
The work relative value estimation assessment in China: an empirical research for common surgical procedures
Authors: Hao Jin , Yao Han , Kong Ling , Liu Yuanli
Published: June 2024

Objectives

China’s National Health Service Items Standard (NHSIS) establishes a relative value system and plays an important role in pricing. However, there are few empirical evaluations of the objectivity of the NHSIS-estimated relative value.

Methods

This paper presents a comparison between physician work relative value units (wRVUs) estimates for 70 common surgical procedures from NHSIS and those from the U.S. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). We defined the ratio of the wRVUs for sample procedures to the benchmark procedure (inguinal hernia repair) as a standardized relative value unit (SRVU), which was used to standardize the data for both schedules. We examined the variances in the ranking and quantification of SRVUs across specialties and procedures, as well as how SRVUs impact procedure reimbursement prices between the two schedules.

Results

There was no systematic difference between MHSIS-estimated SRVUs and MPFS-estimated, but the dispersion of MPFS-estimated SRVU was greater than that of MHSIS-estimated, and the discrepancies increased with surgical risk and technical complexity. The discrepancies of SRVUs were significant in cardiothoracic procedures. Additionally, whether SRVUs were based on MPFS or MHSIS, there was a positive association between them and payment prices. However, in terms of the impact of SRVUs on payment pricing, the NHSIS system was lower than the MPFS system.

Conclusion

China has made incremental progress in estimating the relative value of healthcare services, but there are shortcomings in valuation methods and their impact on pricing. The modular assessment method should be considered as a component to optimize reform.
Invalidated and ‘salty’: an auto/biographical and theoretical review of the lived experiences of individuals with PoTS
Authors: Marks Harriet
Published: June 2024

Postural orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), sometimes also written as ‘POTS’, is a form of dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system) and orthostatic intolerance (which causes symptoms to be worsened when standing). This paper explores the extant literature on the lived experiences of those living with PoTS in relation to interactions between patients and healthcare providers as well as interactions at the level of the individual between PoTSies and those around them. My title contains the word ‘salty’ because it can be used to describe the feeling of being frustrated, while also reflecting a specific dietary change recommended to many (but not all) PoTS patients when they are told to consume additional sodium to minimise symptoms. COVID-19 is thought to have led to an increased prevalence of PoTS so this topic is particularly relevant to contemporary discussions and debates. In this sociological article, I refer not only to existing research on the lived experiences of having PoTS but also that of other chronic illnesses when relevant. The following themes are explored through auto/biographical and theoretical analysis: Undiagnosed and Invalidated; (In)Visible; Impacts of Diagnosis; Recovery and Expectations; Community. Reflecting auto/biographically, I have included analysis of interactions related to my lived experiences of presyncope, COVID-19 and dysautonomia, as I have been diagnosed with PoTS myself, which is thought to have been significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 virus. This research is sociological, rather than medical or psychological, and conclusions are drawn about what is known so far about the lived experiences of living with PoTS, as well as discussion about what remains unknown, as there is currently a paucity of research on the lived experiences of individuals with PoTS and its comorbidities.
Analysis of dynamic relationship between agricultural products circulation service industry and circulation efficiency in less developed regions: based on data from Western China
Authors: Lin Xiaodong , Chen Tong , Liu Lingyun
Published: June 2024

The market circulation system for agricultural products in less-developed regions lags behind; it fails to meet the requirements for efficient circulation. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the dynamic relationship between the Agricultural Products Circulation (APC) service industry and circulation efficiency. Using panel data from 29 regions in China, the entropy method measured the Development Level (DL) of the APC service industry, while the non-oriented super-efficiency Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model was employed to assess the APC efficiency. A Panel Vector Autoregressive (PVAR) model was built for estimation. The impulse response function and variance decomposition were utilized to analyze the differences in the DL of the APC service industry, circulation efficiency, and their interaction mechanism across the Western, Central, and Eastern regions of China. The findings indicate that the DL of the APC service industry and APC efficiency in the less-developed regions of the West have a positive driving effect on each other. However, the magnitude of this effect was asymmetric and transient. The APC service industry’s DL and APC efficiency are more dependent on their inertia, and no efficient two-way feedback mechanism has been formed. This study provides a reference for the construction and sustainable development of modernized APC systems in less-developed regions.
Cage enrichment to minimize aggression in part-time group-housed female breeding rabbits
Authors: Van Damme Liesbeth G. W. , Ipek Nusret , Verwaeren Jan , Delezie Evelyne , Tuyttens Frank A. M.
Published: June 2024

In most rabbit farms, breeding does kindle and nurse their kits in single-litter cages throughout their entire reproduction cycle. However, the protective behavior can lead to aggressive displays and injuries when the does are housed in groups. This study aimed to evaluate cage enrichment for reducing the agonistic behavior in part-time group-housed does. A total of eighty does with their 22-day-old kits were allocated to 20 multi-litter cages, with each cage housing four does and their litters for 10 days. Each multi-litter group was subjected to one of four treatments: alfalfa blocks as distraction material (A), wooden panels underneath the platforms (P), both alfalfa and wooden panels (AP), or no extra enrichment (controls, C). This experiment was replicated for three consecutive reproduction cycles. The skin injuries of the does and the kits were scored with a tagged visual analog scale before grouping and at one, three, six, eight, and 10 days after grouping. Computer vision techniques were used to continuously monitor rabbit activity and agonistic behavior (aggression and fleeing/chasing) during the first 24 h after grouping, specifically during light hours. During the first day in the group, 67.2% of the does and 13.4% of the kits acquired new injuries. This increased to 82.0 and 33.2%, respectively after 10 days in the group relative to the onset of grouping. The injury scores of the does increased toward the sixth day after grouping compared to the first (p < 0.001) and were highest on the tenth day for the kits (p < 0.001). On all the observation days, the number of injured does was higher in C compared to A (p = 0.04) and AP treatment (p = 0.005). There were no other treatment effects observed on the doe or kit skin injuries. Rabbit activity was highest after grouping but decreased after the first and second days (p < 0.001). The agonistic interactions between the does involved more fleeing/chasing behavior (62.0%) rather than aggression (38.0%). Although hierarchy fights are likely when unacquainted does are group-housed, the many animals that sustained injuries and the high injury scores confirm that part-time group housing for does is challenging and possibly inevitable. This study has shown that alfalfa, with or without wooden panels, can slightly reduce the number of injured does.
Uncertainty, pastoral knowledge and early warning: a review of drought management in the drylands, with insights from northern Kenya
Authors: Derbyshire Samuel F. , Banerjee Rupsha R. , Mohamed Tahira S. , Roba Guyo M.
Published: June 2024

This article explores the recent history of early warning systems in Kenya, determining key features of the entangled political, technical and conceptual processes that prefigure contemporary drought management there. In doing so, it draws out wider implications regarding drought and anticipatory action across Africa’s drylands, considering the friction between the dynamics of disaster risk management that structure formal early warning systems and those that shape pastoralist engagements with the volatile and uncertain worlds they inhabit. Surveying recent literature on pastoralism’s unique relationship with uncertainty, and associated forms of networked, relational resilience, it reflects on some of the inherent limitations of current approaches to “local knowledge” in the humanitarian sphere. In doing so, it emphasises the need for new, creative approaches to early warning and anticipatory action, which are not merely established via the external synthesis of data but are rather oriented around local pastoralist drought preparation and mitigation strategies and comprise enough flexibility to adapt to a fast-shifting terrain of challenges and possibilities.
The Effects of Sampling-Site Intervals on Fish Species Richness in Wadeable Rivers: A Case Study from Taizi River Basin, Northeastern China
Authors: Yu Mingqiao , Li Zhao , Zhao Qian , Ding Sen
Published: June 2024

Fish play an important role in river ecosystems, and the conservation of their diversity is a common goal worldwide. It is still unclear how fish monitoring programs should be developed in order to rationalize the monitoring of fish diversity in rivers. To help address this issue, we conducted a comparative study of fish species richness obtained through three site-interval monitoring programs (SS1: 3 km interval scheme; SS2: 6 km interval scheme; SS3: 9 km interval scheme) in wadeable rivers in northeastern China. Here, a total of 18 fish species and 4 rare species were collected from 3 rivers. The cumulative species-richness curves showed that SS1 had the highest species richness in a single river and in the whole region, and the species richness gradually decreased with increasing site intervals. The results of the cumulative percentage of species richness indicated that SS1 and SS2 could achieve a level of 80% of potential species richness, while only SS1 could achieve a level of 90% of potential species richness in the Lanhe River (where no rare species were present). However, the results of cumulative species richness per unit of effort indicated that SS2 and SS3 had higher input-output benefits. These results suggested that rare species were more susceptible to monitoring programs and that SS2 was more advantageous in terms of obtaining species richness and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a reliable reference for river fish-monitoring program development.
Machine Learning Techniques for Spatio-Temporal Air Pollution Prediction to Drive Sustainable Urban Development in the Era of Energy and Data Transformation
Authors: Zareba Mateusz , Cogiel Szymon , Danek Tomasz , Weglinska Elzbieta
Published: June 2024

Sustainable urban development in the era of energy and digital transformation is crucial from a societal perspective. Utilizing modern techniques for analyzing large datasets, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, enables a deeper understanding of historical data and the efficient prediction of future events based on data from IoT sensors. This study conducted a multidimensional historical analysis of air pollution to investigate the impacts of energy transformation and environmental policy and to determine the long-term environmental implications of certain actions. Additionally, machine learning (ML) techniques were employed for air pollution prediction, taking spatial factors into account. By utilizing multiple low-cost air sensors categorized as IoT devices, this study incorporated data from various locations and assessed the influence of neighboring sensors on predictions. Different ML approaches were analyzed, including regression models, deep neural networks, and ensemble learning. The possibility of implementing such predictions in publicly accessible IT mobile systems was explored. The research was conducted in Krakow, Poland, a UNESCO-listed city that has had long struggle with air pollution. Krakow is also at the forefront of implementing policies to prohibit the use of solid fuels for heating and establishing clean transport zones. The research showed that population growth within the city does not have a negative impact on PMx concentrations, and transitioning from coal-based to sustainable energy sources emerges as the primary factor in improving air quality, especially for PMx, while the impact of transportation remains less relevant. The best results for predicting rare smog events can be achieved using linear ML models. Implementing actions based on this research can significantly contribute to building a smart city that takes into account the impact of air pollution on quality of life.
Impact of Pressure and Temperature on Charge Accumulation Characteristics of Insulators in Direct-Current Gas-Insulated Switchgear
Authors: Xu Lu , Li Yixuan , Zhu Yan , Yin Jianning
Published: June 2024

Direct-current gas-insulated switchgear (DC GIS) is an important device for promoting the lightweight and compact design of offshore wind power platforms. Gas pressure and temperature gradients are crucial factors that must be considered during the design process of the DC GIS. In this study, the multi-physics coupling model of basin insulators considering surface charge accumulation was established, and the corresponding real-sized insulator surface charge measurement platform was constructed. The effects of gas pressure and temperature gradient on the surface charge accumulation characteristics were investigated, respectively. The results show that the effect of gas pressure on the surface charge distribution characteristics depends on the dominant mode of surface charge. When volume conduction is dominant, the effect of gas pressure on the surface charge is negligible. However, when gas conduction is dominant, the accumulation of a uniform charge pattern on the insulator surface increases with the rise in gas pressure. Furthermore, due to gas convection, the temperature of the upper part of the DC GIS is significantly higher than that of the lower part, which leads to a temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the insulator. The charge density on the insulator upper surface near the central conductor rises with the increase in load current.
A Framework for Assessing Electricity Market Performance under Different Bidding Zone Configurations
Authors: Wu Haoke , Huang Tao , Conti Stefania , Bompard Ettore
Published: June 2024

Improper configuration of bidding zones can lead to market efficiency losses, hinder the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs), and reduce grid security. To evaluate the impact of different bidding zone configurations on market performance, we developed a multi-dimensional evaluation framework containing a series of indicators covering aspects of market efficiency, grid security, and sustainability. These indicators facilitate the comparisons among different market dispatch mechanisms. To validate the proposed framework, the reconfiguration of the Italian bidding zones has been applied to a simplified Italian grid model to compare the market performance under different bidding zone configurations. The simulation results indicate that the implemented reconfiguration has led to enhanced market efficiency and security in the Italian power system. However, the reconfiguration shows a comparatively lower reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, suggesting a weaker sustainable performance.
Stability Assessment of the High-Speed Flywheel with AMBs on a Rotating Platform
Authors: Zhao Yulan , Liu Pingfan , Lv Qichao , Zhang Kai , Zhao Lei
Published: June 2024

With the continuous improvement of the performance and capabilities of spacecrafts, the application of active magnetic bearings (AMBs) has become a major focus in current research. The AMBs-flywheel system is not only responsible for attitude control but also provides the required energy during shadow periods. In magnetically suspended single gimbal control moment gyroscope (SGCMG), self-excited vibration caused by high-speed rotor rotation significantly affects the stability of the AMB system. The research focus lies in magnetically supporting the flywheel at high speeds with low power consumption to explore gyroscopic mechanics at ultra-high speeds and assess the corresponding stability. This study presents an assessment of the stability performance of a high-speed flywheel equipped on a single gimbal with an angular momentum of 75 Nm. To achieve ultra-high-speed operation under low driving power, a high-precise dynamic balance was performed followed by a novel unbalance control strategy of a radial and axial automatic balancing algorithm to suppress effectively synchronous vibrations due to nutation and precession. Corresponding experiments including static stable suspension experiments as well as low-speed, high-speed, and series-based stability assessments were conducted. Stable suspension at any speed ranging from 0 to 30,000 r/min was successfully implemented. The stability performance of the high-speed flywheel on a rotating platform at different gimbal speeds was verified, with a maximum speed reaching 31,200 r/min. The entire output torque process within the range of 30,000 r/min was revealed.
Novel Integrated Zeta Inverter for Standalone Applications
Authors: Dionizio Anderson Aparecido , Pelz Guilherme Masquetti , Sampaio Leonardo Poltronieri , da Silva Sérgio Augusto Oliveira
Published: June 2024

In recent years, distributed generation systems based on renewable energy sources have gained increasing prominence. Thus, the DC/AC converters based on power electronics devices have become increasingly important. In this context, this article presents an integrated Zeta inverter for low-power conditions, which operates in continuous conduction mode (CCM), achieving efficiency greater than 95%. The proposed topology is composed of four power switches, two operating at high frequency and two operating at low frequency, i.e., at the output frequency. Compared with the topologies in the literature, these configurations make it a competitive solution from the point of view of efficiency, number of elements, and, consequently, implementation cost. The proposed converter operates as a sinusoidal voltage source for local loads and is supplied by a DC source, such as batteries or a photovoltaic array. A multi-resonant voltage controller was used to guarantee the sinusoidal voltage provided to the non-linear load while dealing with the complex dynamics of the Zeta converter in the CCM. Experimental results from a 324 W prototype show the converter’s implementation feasibility and the high efficiency of the DC/AC conversion.