bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retreatment with immunotherapy in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who received immune checkpoint inhibitors after primary curative treatment: a case report
Authors: Wang Tao , Tang Fei , Li Fenghui , Yin Weili , Liang Jing
Published: April 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a malignant pathology known for its high early recurrence rate following curative treatment, significantly impacting patient prognosis. Currently, effective strategies to mitigate early HCC recurrence remain undetermined. In this report, we document a case of HCC managed with curative radiofrequency ablation (RFA), particularly in a patient facing a high risk of early recurrence due to a substantial tumor size. In an effort to forestall recurrence, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were preemptively administered for 6 months post-RFA. Despite this, early recurrence ensued upon ICIs cessation. Traditionally, the approach to advanced HCC has been conservative, yet recent years have seen promising outcomes with ICIs in advanced HCC. However, research on ICIs retreatment is limited. In the short term, this patient experienced widespread metastases post-ICIs discontinuation, yet exhibited prompt regression upon ICIs reinitiation. Notably, this represents the initial documented instance of employing ICIs to forestall recurrence subsequent to curative RFA in HCC. Following ICIs discontinuation, diffuse recurrence with multiple metastases emerged, with successful resolution upon ICIs retreatment.
Paratesticular metastasis from colorectal adenocarcinoma presenting as hydrocele: a rare case report and literature review
Authors: Huang XiaoJun , Xu KeLi , Zhao Yin , Chen MinHui , Li ZheYang
Published: April 2024

Colorectal cancer, with the liver being the most common site of distant metastasis, followed by the lungs and bones. Although reports of metastasis to the testis exist, paratesticular metastasis is extremely rare. A 37-year-old male presented with scrotal swelling. Ultrasound revealed hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis. The patient underwent routine surgical treatment, and postoperative pathology of the tunica vaginalis indicated adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal origin. Colonoscopic biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. After six months of systemic therapy, tumor reduction surgery was performed in conjunction with tunica vaginalis excision. Postoperative pathology suggested histological similarity in both sites, with immunohistochemistry results supporting the diagnosis of sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the tunica vaginalis. We conducted a literature review, summarizing and discussing clinical presentations, metastatic pathways, and diagnostic approaches.
Cough symptoms in children following COVID-19: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Liu Ling , Zhang Lu , Zhou Pengxiang , Zhou Wei , Li Linghui , Zeng Lin , Li Nan , Zhao Rongsheng , Han Tongyan
Published: April 2024

Background

Cough is the most common respiratory symptom in children with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, evidence regarding the duration and severity of COVID-19-related cough is sparse. Herein, we investigated the correlation between cough severity/duration and disease duration in children with allergic diseases following COVID-19.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, from February 6–13, 2023. Children aged 0–16 completed a questionnaire survey collecting basic information and weekly cough scores for 8 consecutive weeks after COVID-19 in December 2022. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to draw event curves, and the log-rank method was used to compare inter-group differences. Stepwise regression was applied for multivariate analysis of correlations between age, sex, allergic diseases, and the degree and duration of cough following COVID-19.

Results

Overall, 686 children were included, of whom 183 (26.7%) had allergic diseases and 503 (73.3%) did not. Kaplan–Meier analysis identified significant differences between patients with and without allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.002) and between patients with no allergic disease and those with one and more than one allergic disease (log-rank test, P = 0.003). Multivariate regression identified a link between the presence of more than one allergic disease and coughing for >4 weeks after infection (P < 0.001). Allergic disease was the primary factor linked to cough symptoms lasting 8 weeks and cough severity (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Allergic disease contributes to the prolonged duration and severity of coughing in children with mild COVID-19.
Surufatinib combined with photodynamic therapy induces ferroptosis to inhibit cholangiocarcinoma in vitro and in tumor models
Authors: Huang Yun-Peng , Wang Yong-Xiang , Zhou Hui , Liu Zhong-Tao , Zhang Zi-Jian , Xiong Li , Zou Heng , Wen Yu
Published: April 2024

The curative effect of single therapy for advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is poor, thus investigating combined treatment strategies holds promise for improving prognosis. Surufatinib (SUR) is a novel multikinase inhibitor that has been confirmed to prolong survival of patients with advanced CCA. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can also ablate advanced CCA and relieve biliary obstruction. In this study, we explored the anti-CCA effect of SUR combined with PDT, and explored the underlying mechanism. We found that SUR could effectively inhibit the abilities of proliferation, migration and metastasis in CCA cells (HUCCT-1, RBE). The ability of SUR to inhibit CCA was also confirmed by the HUCCT-1 cell xenograft model in Balb/c nude mice and CCA patient-derived organoids. SUR combined with PDT can significantly enhance the inhibitory effect on CCA, and can be alleviated by two ferroptosis inhibitors (Ferrostatin-1, Deferoxamine). By detecting the level of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxides, malondialdehyde and glutathione, we further confirmed that SUR combined with PDT can inhibit CCA cells by inducing ferroptosis. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) belongs to the glutathione peroxidase family and is mainly responsible for the metabolism of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. GPX4 inhibits ferroptosis by reducing cytotoxic lipid peroxides (L-OOH) to the corresponding alcohols (L-OH). Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is a member of the long-chain fatty acid coenzyme a synthetase family and is mainly involved in the biosynthesis and catabolism of fatty acids. ACSL4 induces ferroptosis by promoting the accumulation of lipid peroxides. Both SUR and PDT can induce ferroptosis by promoting ACSL4 and inhibiting GPX4. The regulation effect is found to be more significant in combined treatment group. In conclusion, SUR combined with PDT exerted an anti-CCA effect by inducing ferroptosis. Combination therapy provides a new idea for the clinical treatment of CCA.
Anti-inflammatory and protective effects of Pimpinella candolleana on ulcerative colitis in rats: a comprehensive study of quality, chemical composition, and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Liu Xiaoqi , Xiao Hai , Luo Mingxia , Meng Junpeng , Zhong Lin , Wu Tao , Zhao Yongxia , Wu Faming , Xie Jian
Published: April 2024

Introduction:P. candolleana Wight et Arn. Is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used by the Gelao nationality in southwest China, has been historically applied to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. Despite its traditional usage, scientific evidence elucidating its efficacy and mechanisms in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains sparse. This study aimed to determine the quality and chemical composition of Pimpinella candolleana and to identify its potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) rats through integrated approaches.

Methods: Morphological and microscopic characteristics, thin layer chromatography (TLC) identification, and quantitative analysis of P. candolleana were performed. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, network pharmacology, and molecular docking were used to identify its chemical composition and predict its related targets in UC. Furthermore, a rat model was established to evaluate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of P. candolleana on UC.

Results: Microscopic identification revealed irregular and radial arrangement of the xylem in P. candolleana, with a light green cross-section and large medullary cells. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis detected and analyzed 570 metabolites, including flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenoids. Network pharmacology identified 12 effective components and 176 target genes, with 96 common targets for P. candolleana-UC, including quercetin, luteolin, and nobiletin as key anti-inflammatory components. GO and KEGG revealed the potential involvement of their targets in RELA, JUN, TNF, IKBKB, PTGS2, and CHUK, with action pathways such as PI3K-Akt, TNF, IL-17, and apoptosis. Molecular docking demonstrated strong affinity and binding between these key components (quercetin, luteolin, and nobiletin) and the key targets of the pathway, including JUN and TNF. Treatment with P. candolleana improved body weight loss, the disease activity index, and colonic histological damage in UC rats. Pimpinella candolleana also modulated the levels of IL-2 and IL-6 in UC rats, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, MAPK8, TNF-α, CHUK, and IKBKB mRNA, and decreased the expression of TNF, IKBKB, JUN, and CHUK proteins in the colon of UC rats, thereby reducing inflammation and alleviating UC symptoms.

Conclusion:P. candolleana exerts its protective effect on UC by reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting inflammation, providing scientific evidence for its traditional use in treating gastrointestinal diseases. This study highlights the potential of P. candolleana as a natural therapeutic agent for UC and contributes to the development of novel medicines for UC treatment.
A dual contrastive learning-based graph convolutional network with syntax label enhancement for aspect-based sentiment classification
Authors: Huang Yuyan , Dai Anan , Cao Sha , Kuang Qiuhua , Zhao Hongya , Cai Qianhua
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Aspect-based sentiment classification is a fine-grained sentiment classification task. State-of-the-art approaches in this field leverage graph neural networks to integrate sentence syntax dependency. However, current methods fail to exploit the data augmentation in encoding and ignore the syntactic relation in sentiment delivery.

Methods: In this work, we propose a novel graph neural network-based architecture with dual contrastive learning and syntax label enhancement. Specifically, a contrastive learning-based contextual encoder is designed, integrating sentiment information for semantics learning. Moreover, a weighted label-enhanced syntactic graph neural network is established to use both the syntactic relation and syntax dependency, which optimizes the syntactic weight between words. A syntactic triplet between words is generated. A syntax label-based contrastive learning scheme is developed to map the triplets into a unified feature space for syntactic information learning.

Results: Experiments on five publicly available datasets show that our model substantially outperforms the baseline methods.

Discussion: As such, the proposed method shows its effectiveness in aspect-based sentiment classification tasks.
Application of electronic nose and machine learning used to detect soybean gases under water stress and variability throughout the daytime
Authors: Herrmann Paulo Sergio De Paula , Santos Luccas Matheus dos , Ferreira Ednaldo José , Torre Neto André
Published: April 2024

The development of non-invasive methods and accessible tools for application to plant phenotyping is considered a breakthrough. This work presents the preliminary results using an electronic nose (E-Nose) and machine learning (ML) as affordable tools. An E-Nose is an electronic system used for smell global analysis, which emulates the human nose structure. The soybean (Glycine Max) was used to conduct this experiment under water stress. Commercial E-Nose was used, and a chamber was designed and built to conduct the measurement of the gas sample from the soybean. This experiment was conducted for 22 days, observing the stages of plant growth during this period. This chamber is embedded with relative humidity [RH (%)], temperature (°C), and CO2 concentration (ppm) sensors, as well as the natural light intensity, which was monitored. These systems allowed intermittent monitoring of each parameter to create a database. The soil used was the red-yellow dystrophic type and was covered to avoid evapotranspiration effects. The measurement with the electronic nose was done daily, during the morning and afternoon, and in two phenological situations of the plant (with the healthful soy irrigated with deionized water and underwater stress) until the growth V5 stage to obtain the plant gases emissions. Data mining techniques were used, through the software “Weka™” and the decision tree strategy. From the evaluation of the sensors database, a dynamic variation of plant respiration pattern was observed, with the two distinct behaviors observed in the morning (~9:30 am) and afternoon (3:30 pm). With the initial results obtained with the E-Nose signals and ML, it was possible to distinguish the two situations, i.e., the irrigated plant standard and underwater stress, the influence of the two periods of daylight, and influence of temporal variability of the weather. As a result of this investigation, a classifier was developed that, through a non-invasive analysis of gas samples, can accurately determine the absence of water in soybean plants with a rate of 94.4% accuracy. Future investigations should be carried out under controlled conditions that enable early detection of the stress level.
Patterns of politicization following triggering events: the indirect effect of issue-owning challengers
Authors: Van der Brug Wouter , Berkhout Joost
Published: April 2024

Changes in party systems do not always occur gradually. While structural changes in societies lead to new tensions and potential conflicts, these conflicts often become politicized in the wake of ‘triggering events’. However, such events do not always lead to the politicization of an issue. This study addresses the question why potentially triggering events sometimes produce extensive political attention and conflict around an associated issue, whereas in other circumstances very similar events do not generate much political attention or contestation. Some scholars highlight the strategic incentives of party political elites (the top-down perspective) whereas others focus on the key role of political challengers in politicizing issues (‘the bottom-up perspective)’. We focus on three events that potentially trigger the politicization of immigration (9–11, Banlieus riots and the Cartoon crisis) and identify anti-immigration parties as challengers of government parties. Based on political claims analysis of newspapers in seven European countries, we find that government parties exert strong control over the political agenda, both in terms of salience as in positional terms. However, when anti-immigration parties are large and in opposition, they do play an important role in politicizing the issue of immigration. Since anti-immigration parties have increased their vote share over the past decade and typically remain in the opposition nevertheless, it is likely that future events will lead to further politicization of the issue of immigration.
Deep Aphantasia: a visual brain with minimal influence from priors or inhibitory feedback?
Authors: Bouyer Loren N. , Arnold Derek H.
Published: April 2024

The authors are both self-described congenital aphantasics, who feel they have never been able to have volitional imagined visual experiences during their waking lives. In addition, Loren has atypical experiences of a number of visual phenomena that involve an extrapolation or integration of visual information across space. In this perspective, we describe Loren’s atypical experiences of a number of visual phenomena, and we suggest these ensue because her visual experiences are not strongly shaped by inhibitory feedback or by prior expectations. We describe Loren as having Deep Aphantasia, and Derek as shallow, as for both a paucity of feedback might prevent the generation of imagined visual experiences, but for Loren this additionally seems to disrupt activity at a sufficiently early locus to cause atypical experiences of actual visual inputs. Our purpose in describing these subjective experiences is to alert others to the possibility of there being sub-classes of congenital aphantasia, one of which—Deep Aphantasia, would be characterized by atypical experiences of actual visual inputs.
Translating the COVID-19 epidemiological situation into policies and measures: the Belgian experience
Authors: De Muylder Géraldine , Laisnez Valeska , Stefani Giulietta , Boulouffe Caroline , Faes Christel , Hammami Naïma , Hubin Pierre , Molenberghs Geert , Sans Jasper , van de Konijnenburg Cecile , Van der Borght Stefaan , Brondeel Ruben , Stassijns Jorgen , Lernout Tinne
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic led to sustained surveillance efforts, which made unprecedented volumes and types of data available. In Belgium, these data were used to conduct a targeted and regular assessment of the epidemiological situation. In addition, management tools were developed, incorporating key indicators and thresholds, to define risk levels and offer guidance to policy makers. Categorizing risk into various levels provided a stable framework to monitor the COVID-19 epidemiological situation and allowed for clear communication to authorities. Although translating risk levels into specific public health measures has remained challenging, this experience was foundational for future evaluation of the situation for respiratory infections in general, which, in Belgium, is now based on a management tool combining different data sources.
Good reasons for bad behavior: a randomized controlled experiment on the impact of narrative reading and writing on empathic concern, perspective-taking, and attitude
Authors: Bientzle Martina , Eggeling Marie , Kimmerle Joachim
Published: April 2024

Background

Empathic concern and perspective-taking may contribute to avoiding stigmatization of adverse health behavior. Narrative writing has been shown to be effective in promoting perspective-taking and empathy. But since narrative writing is time consuming, we tested in the present study narrative reading as an alternative, more parsimonious approach.

Methods

In a randomized controlled experiment, we compared writing a narrative text about a fictitious person who displays disapproved of health behavior to reading such a text and to a control condition in which participants wrote about an unrelated topic. With a sample of n = 194 participants, we investigated the impact of writing and reading a narrative text on promoting empathic concern and perspective-taking as well as on attitude change.

Results

We found that both writing and reading a narrative text about the fictitious character increased empathic concern, F(1, 191) = 32.85, p < 0.001, part. η2 = 0.15, and perspective-taking, F(1, 191) = 24.76, p < 0.001, part. η2 = 0.12, more strongly than writing about an unrelated topic. Writing and reading a narrative text also resulted in a more positive attitude toward this person, F(1, 191) = 17.63, p < 0.001, part. η2 = 0.08. Simply reading a narrative text was equally efficient as narrative writing with respect to empathic concern, p = 0.581, perspective-taking, p = 0.629, and attitude, p = 0.197.

Conclusion

The finding that narrative reading is as effective as narrative writing suggests that the readers appear to be able to comprehend and engage with the story being told. When narrative reading is as effective as narrative writing, it can succeed with reduced effort in increasing empathic concern, perspective-taking, and attitude. We discuss the benefits of this approach for reducing stigmatization of adverse health behavior.
A study of the attenuation stage of a global infectious disease
Authors: Sun Tianyi , Jin Baisuo , Wu Yuehua , Bao Junjun
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Differences in control measures and response speeds between regions may be responsible for the differences in the number of infections of global infectious diseases. Therefore, this article aims to examine the decay stage of global infectious diseases. We demonstrate our method by considering the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020.

Methods

We introduce the concept of the attenuation rate into the varying coefficient SEIR model to measure the effect of different cities on epidemic control, and make inferences through the integrated adjusted Kalman filter algorithm.

Results

We applied the varying coefficient SEIR model to 136 cities in China where the total number of confirmed cases exceeded 20 after the implementation of control measures and analyzed the relationship between the estimated attenuation rate and local factors. Subsequent analysis and inference results show that the attenuation rate is significantly related to the local annual GDP and the longitude and latitude of a city or a region. We also apply the varying coefficient SEIR model to other regions outside China. We find that the fitting curve of the average daily number of new confirmed cases simulated by the variable coefficient SEIR model is consistent with the real data.

Discussion

The results show that the cities with better economic development are able to control the epidemic more effectively to a certain extent. On the other hand, geographical location also affected the effectiveness of regional epidemic control. In addition, through the results of attenuation rate analysis, we conclude that China and South Korea have achieved good results in controlling the epidemic in 2020.
COVID-19 patient satisfaction and associated factors in telemedicine and hybrid system
Authors: Gashaw Dagmawit G. , Alemu Zewdie Aderaw , Constanzo Freddy , Belay Feben T. , Tadesse Yakob W. , Muñoz Carla , Rojas Juan Pablo , Alvarado-Livacic Cristobal
Published: April 2024

Background

The quality assessment of the home-based isolation and care program (HBIC) relies heavily on patient satisfaction and length of stay. COVID-19 patients who were isolated and received HBIC were monitored through telephone consultations (TC), in-person TC visits, and a self-reporting application. By evaluating patient satisfaction and length of stay in HBIC, healthcare providers could gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of the HBIC program.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design enrolled 444 HBIC patients who answered a structured questionnaire. A binary logistic regression model assessed the association between independent variables and patient satisfaction. The length of stay in HBIC was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. The data collection started on April (1–30), 2022, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Results

The median age was 34, and 247 (55.6%) were females. A greater proportion (313, 70.5%) of the participants had high satisfaction. Higher frequency of calls (>3 calls) (AOR = 2.827, 95% CI = 1.798, 4.443, p = 0.000) and those who were symptomatic (AOR = 2.001, 95% CI = 1.289, 3.106, p = 0.002) were found to be significant factors for high user satisfaction. Higher frequency of calls (>3 calls) (AHR = 0.537, 95% CI = 0.415, 0.696, p = 0.000) and more in-person visits (>1 visit) (AHR = 0.495, 95% CI = 0.322, 0.762, p = 0.001) had greater chances to reduce the length of stay in the COVID-19 HBIC.

Conclusion

70.5% of the participants had high satisfaction with the system, and frequent phone call follow-ups on patients’ clinical status can significantly improve their satisfaction and length of recovery. An in-person visit is also an invaluable factor in a patient’s recovery.
Risk factors for overweight and obesity in Mexican American children and adolescents living on the Texas–Mexico border
Authors: Low Ee Vien , Lee Miryoung , Bauer Cici , Fisher-Hoch Susan P. , McCormick Joseph B. , Rowan Paul J. , Abughosh Susan , Essien Ekere J. , Chen Hua
Published: April 2024

Background

This study aimed to compare the obesity rates between border-residing Mexican American children with the National Health and Nutritional Surveys (NHANES), and to examine the individual and household characteristics associated with weight status in these children.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional analysis of 354 children aged 8–18 years and their parents in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC) from 2014 to 2020. Children were categorized as healthy weight, overweight, class 1 obesity, class 2 obesity and class 3 obesity. The distribution of CCHC children's weight status was compared with Hispanic participants of the NHANES with matched age, sex, and the year of the interview. An ordinal least square regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between individual and household characteristics with CCHC children's weight status.

Results

Approximately 48.0% of CCHC children had a healthy weight, 17.9% were overweight, 22.2% were in class 1 obesity, 7.7% were in class 2 obesity, and 4.3% were in category 3. The weight distribution of the CCHC cohort was similar to that in the matched NHANES participants (p = 0.28). Being overweight was associated with higher household income (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01–5.02) while being in class 2 and class 3 obesity was associated with boys (Class 2 & 3 obesity: OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.27–6.81) and environmental factors such as parents' BMI (Class 2 and3 Obesity: OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.21).

Conclusions

Family socioeconomic status was positively associated with being overweight and Class 1 obesity, while gender and parent's BMI affected a child's likelihood of being class 2 and 3 obesity.
Combining artificial neural networks and a marginal structural model to predict the progression from depression to Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Orimaye Sylvester O. , Schmidtke Kelly A.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Decades of research in population health have established depression as a likely precursor to Alzheimer's disease. A combination of causal estimates and machine learning methods in artificial intelligence could identify internal and external mediating mechanisms that contribute to the likelihood of progression from depression to Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

We developed an integrated predictive model, combining the marginal structural model and an artificial intelligence predictive model, distinguishing between patients likely to progress from depressive states to Alzheimer's disease better than each model alone.

Results

The integrated predictive model achieved substantial clinical relevance when using the area under the curve measure. It performed better than the traditional statistical method or a single artificial intelligence method alone.

Discussion

The integrated predictive model could form a part of a clinical screening tool that identifies patients who are likely to progress from depression to Alzheimer's disease for early behavioral health interventions. Given the high costs of treating Alzheimer's disease, our model could serve as a cost-effective intervention for the early detection of depression before it progresses to Alzheimer's disease.
Microbial ecology and fermentation of Coffea canephora
Authors: Bernardes Patrícia Campos , Coelho Jussara Moreira , Martins Pâmela Mynsen Machado , Schwan Rosane Freitas
Published: April 2024

Recent investigations into the microbiota and fermentation of Coffea canephora fruits and beans have yielded limited advancements globally, highlighting a developing field of study. Consequently, this review seeks to consolidate existing literature through an analysis focusing on the microbiota and fermentation processes inherent in the postharvest processing of Canephora coffee. To this end, a comprehensive examination of the principal microorganisms inherent to this species, the application of starter cultures in fermentation, and the repercussions of fermentation on the chemical and sensory attributes of the beverage will be expounded. These investigations underscore the influence exerted by the fermentation process and the introduction of microorganism inoculation on Canephora coffees’ chemical composition and sensory characteristics. Fermentation emerges as a mechanism facilitating the modification of coffee flavor and aroma, thereby presenting avenues for innovative enhancements in producing distinct Canephora coffee beverages. Research to assess the microbiota of Canephora coffees from various origins has the potential to advance our understanding of the microbial ecology specific to this species. Such studies will play a crucial role in identifying pertinent starter cultures that could be used to produce high-quality coffees.
Assimilation of socially assistive robots by older adults: an interplay of uses, constraints and outcomes
Authors: Zafrani Oded , Nimrod Galit , Krakovski Maya , Kumar Shikhar , Bar-Haim Simona , Edan Yael
Published: April 2024

By supporting autonomy, aging in place, and wellbeing in later life, Socially Assistive Robots are expected to help humanity face the challenges posed by the rapid aging of the world’s population. For the successful acceptance and assimilation of SARs by older adults, it is necessary to understand the factors affecting their Quality Evaluations Previous studies examining Human-Robot Interaction in later life indicated that three aspects shape older adults’ overall QEs of robots: uses, constraints, and outcomes. However, studies were usually limited in duration, focused on acceptance rather than assimilation, and typically explored only one aspect of the interaction. In the present study, we examined uses, constraints, and outcomes simultaneously and over a long period. Nineteen community-dwelling older adults aged 75–97 were given a SAR for physical training for 6 weeks. Their experiences were documented via in-depth interviews conducted before and after the study period, short weekly telephone surveys, and reports produced by the robots. Analysis revealed two distinct groups: (A) The ‘Fans’ - participants who enjoyed using the SAR, attributed added value to it, and experienced a successful assimilation process; and (B) The ‘Skeptics’ - participants who did not like it, negatively evaluated its use, and experienced a disappointing assimilation process. Despite the vast differences between the groups, both reported more positive evaluations of SARs at the end of the study than before it began. Overall, the results indicated that the process of SARs’ assimilation is not homogeneous and provided a profound understanding of the factors shaping older adults’ QE of SARs following actual use. Additionally, the findings demonstrated the theoretical and practical usefulness of a holistic approach in researching older SARs users.
Objective and subjective sleep characteristics in hospitalized older adults and their associations to hospital outcomes
Authors: Blackwell Terri L. , Robinson Sarah C. , Thompson Nicholas , Dean-Gilley Lisa , Yu Phillip , Pressman Alice , Stone Katie L.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Sleep in the hospital setting is understudied, with limited literature describing measurement of sleep quality. This study among older inpatients in an acute-care hospital describes sleep characteristics both objectively and subjectively, and explores the associations of sleep with hospital outcomes.

Materials and methods

Older patients (n = 112) at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital were enrolled from January 2016 to November 2017. Sleep prior to admission was measured subjectively [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], while sleep during hospitalization was measured subjectively (sleep diaries) and objectively (actigraphy, averaged over all nights). Outcomes measured included change in cognition during the hospital stay (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment), length of stay (LOS), discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), and re-admittance to a hospital within 30 days of discharge.

Results

The participants were on average 68.7 ± 6.5 years old, predominately white (77%) and 55% women. Average PSQI was high (9.1 ± 4.2) indicating poor sleep quality prior to admission. Actigraphy was well-tolerated, with most (89%) having complete data. Sleep during the hospital stay was disturbed, with low levels of total sleep time (5.6 ± 2.0 h) and high levels of fragmentation (sleep efficiency 68.4 ± 15.0%). Sleep interruption was reported on 71% of sleep diaries, with the most common reasons being due to medical care [measurement of vitals (23%), staff interruptions (22%), blood draws (21%)]. Those with lower sleep efficiency had more cognitive decline upon discharge. Although underpowered, there was a suggestion of an association with poor sleep and the likelihood of being discharged to a SNF. Those with worse self-reported sleep quality (PSQI) prior to admission had a slightly longer LOS. No associations were seen with sleep quality and likelihood of readmission.

Conclusions

Collection of objective and subjective sleep measures was feasible among hospitalized older adults. Disrupted sleep was common, and was potentially related to poor hospital outcomes. Our next steps will be to leverage these results to design and implement an intervention to improve sleep in hospitalized adults.
Joining the ideational and the material: transforming food systems toward radical food democracy
Authors: Leitheiser Stephen , Vezzoni Rubén
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a conceptualization of radical food democracy (RFD) which links the diverse economies approach of Gibson-Graham with Tully’s notion of diverse citizenship. Despite its invaluable contribution to theorizing the role of alternative food networks (AFNs) in transforming unsustainable industrial food systems, the diverse economies scholarship has been criticized for essentializing the autonomy of alternative economic practices—hence risking to confound emancipatory social change with punctuated forms of “local,” “quality,” “organic certified” products, which nevertheless remain embedded in market-mediated capitalist relations, and displacement and/or deferral of negative impacts. This paper aims to address such critiques, contending that the realization of RFD requires both (1) the experimentation with new economic practices that carve out food economies alternative to the working logic of capital accumulation, and (2) the cultivation of new political subjects capable of universalizing these particular struggles. After situating various existing practices associated with food democracy in a framework of various modes of democratic citizenship, we underpin our understanding of RFD with a theory of change informed by Bob Jessop’s strategic-relational approach to social structures, agents’ reflexive actions, and their contingency. Following a critical scientific approach to the social role of academics, this theoretical framework is illustrated using a case study from Germany. The empirical work draws on participant observation and semi-structured interviews with leaders of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cooperatives and Food Policy Council (FPC) networks conducted in Cologne, Berlin, and Frankfurt in 2018–2020. To conclude, this paper argues that the emancipatory potential of food democracy should cultivate both lighthouse alternative economic practices that are connected with people’s everyday lives, and political imagination that dares to critically engage with existing institutions. Likewise, RFD praxis requires a constant back and forth between the ideational and the practical, the abstract and the concrete, the actionable and the analytical, to challenge both the symbolic-discursive and the material dimensions of capitalist agri-food systems.
Mapping the flow of veterinary antibiotics in Kenya
Authors: Morang’a Alexina K. , Muloi Dishon M. , Kamau Simon M. , Onono Joshua O. , Gathura Peter B. , Moodley Arshnee
Published: April 2024

Introduction

To effectively regulate and reduce antibiotic use, in the livestock sector, a thorough understanding of the flow of veterinary antibiotics will help to identify key nodes in the chain for targeted interventions. The aim of this study was to understand the flow of antibiotics from import to end-user, and identify relevant governance mechanisms.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was used to collect data in three Kenyan counties (Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kajiado). Focus group discussions (n = 23), individual interviews (n = 148), and key informant interviews (n = 10) were conducted.

Results

The key actors identified include primary wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, retailers, animal health service providers (AHSPs), and farmers. Kenya imports 100% of its veterinary antibiotics: primary wholesalers legally import antibiotics as finished pharmaceutical products (90%) or active pharmaceutical ingredients (10%) after approval by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Secondary wholesalers play a major role in the distribution of antibiotics (60% of antibiotics) from importers to farmers, AHSPs, and retailers. Some of the illegal sources of antibiotics include unlicenced/unauthorized middlemen and online platforms that sell directly to retailers, AHSPs, and farmers.

Discussion

Despite the presence of various laws and regulations governing the antibiotic value chain, implementation has been a challenge due to financial and human resource constraints. This contributes to over-the-counter sale of antibiotics without prescription, unlicensed businesses selling antibiotics, illegal importation, and presence of poor-quality drugs. There is a need to review the applicability of existing policies and address policy gaps (e.g., product containing antibiotic combinations, and use of human critically important antibiotics) to ensure the prudent sale and use of antibiotics, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial use surveillance, and developing a business model that aligns with antibiotic stewardship. Additional interventions include awareness raising and capacity building of the different stakeholders along the antibiotic distribution chain to reduce antibiotic mis- and overuse.
Cryopreservation of ram semen: baicalein efficiency on oxidative stress, chromatin integrity, viability and motility post thaw
Authors: Avdatek Fatih , Güngör Şükrü , Gülhan Mehmet Fuat , İnanç Muhammed Enes , Olğaç Kemal Tuna , Denk Barış , Yeni Deniz , Taşdemir Umut
Published: April 2024

Baicalein (B) has potential antioxidant properties, but it has not been tested as a ram semen extender. This study aimed to assess the impact of B on various sperm parameters and determine its potential influence on semen quality after the freeze-thawing process. During the breeding season, ejaculates were obtained from four rams with the aid of an artificial vagina. The collected mixed semen samples were divided into four groups: control (C; 0), B0.5 (0.5 mM), B1 (1 mM), and B2 (2 mM). After semen extension, the samples were loaded into 0.25 mL straws and stored for 2 h at 4°C prior to freezing in liquid nitrogen vapor and thawed in a water bath at 37°C. Among the groups, B0.5 demonstrated the highest progressive motility results, while B1 and B2 exhibited reduced motility (p < 0.05). In terms of high mitochondrial membrane potential, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, and viability, B0.5 showed significantly superior outcomes to the other B groups (p < 0.05), although it was not significantly better than C. B1 displayed the highest plasma membrane integrity levels (p < 0.05). Notably, B2 displayed the lowest total antioxidant status levels among the groups (p < 0.05). The findings of this study suggested that the in vitro spermatological characteristics of ram spermatozoa such as progressive motility and chromatin integrity can be protected from the freeze-thawing process by using the 0.5 mM dose of baicalein as a semen extender. The treatment of sperm freezing might benefit from further in-depth research on the role of B in the improvement of cryoinjury and its underlying processes.
In Vitro Microrhizome Production, Genetic Homogeneity Assessment, and Field Performance Evaluation in Ginger
Authors: Yu Shuangying , Hu Liu , Liu Yiqing , Cai Xiaodong
Published: April 2024

In vitro-induced microrhizomes are promising for producing disease-free planting materials in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), spice and medicinal crops threatened by several soil-borne diseases. The study examined microrhizome induction, genetic homogeneity, and field performance in ginger. The condition combination of 3.0 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 100 g·L−1 sucrose, and a 12-h photoperiod (the optimal conditions) produced the largest number of microrhizomes among all treatments but resulted in a lower average fresh weight during the 60-day culture period. Larger microrhizomes exhibited greater tolerance to water loss and a higher percentage of sprouting. Therefore, additional efforts were made to increase the size of the microrhizomes. Under the optimal conditions, the fresh weight increased significantly to 280.3 mg and 403.4 mg after 30 days of additional culture and in vitro culture of small-sized microrhizomes, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis and SSR characterization confirmed the genetic homogeneity of the regenerated plants with microrhizomes (MR) and those obtained by directly sowing sprouted microrhizomes into the substrate without acclimatization (FMR). At harvest, the MR had the most robust growth, a significantly higher fresh rhizome weight (206.1 g per plant) than the FMR (121.8 g per plant) and conventional tissue-cultured plants (TC), and similar rhizome finger size (11.5 g and 10.2 cm2) to the FMR. These findings suggest that both the MR and the FMR have advantages over the TC in producing seedling rhizomes of ginger in the first growing season. The established approach may be useful for large-scale production of disease-free ginger rhizomes.
Residual Effect of Compost and Biochar Amendment on Soil Chemical, Biological, and Physical Properties and Durum Wheat Response
Authors: Leogrande Rita , Vitti Carolina , Castellini Mirko , Garofalo Pasquale , Samarelli Ignazio , Lacolla Giovanni , Montesano Francesco Fabiano , Spagnuolo Matteo , Mastrangelo Marcello , Stellacci Anna Maria
Published: April 2024

The residual effect of compost and biochar amendment on soil properties and durum wheat response was evaluated under field conditions in a Mediterranean environment. The treatments compared in a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications were: mineral fertilizer (100 kg N ha−1), compost applied at the rate of 25 Mg ha−1, biochar applied at the rates of 10 and 30 Mg ha−1, unfertilized control. Wheat was the second crop included in a sorghum–wheat cropping system and did not receive fertilizer supply. A hierarchical statistical analysis was carried out to investigate how different treatments could impact the cropping system performance. The findings highlight the significant influence of soil properties, particularly total N, WEOC, and TOC, on wheat and protein yield. One year after the amendment and fertilizer application, compost and biochar significantly increased soil total organic carbon content. The highest soil water extractable organic carbon was found with the compost application (76.9 mg kg−1), whereas the lowest value (50 mg kg−1) was with the highest rate of biochar. Soil respiration rates and hydraulic properties were not affected by the investigated treatments. This behavior is probably related to the short experimental duration and to the silty clayey soil texture. Significant correlations were observed between bulk density and water content at pressure heads in the −20 and −100 cm range; this range accounts for the effect of soil macro and mesopores. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed strong predictive power for grain (R2_adj = 0.78; p < 0.001) and protein yield (R2_adj = 0.77; p < 0.001). The highest grain yield (3.36 Mg ha−1) was observed with compost, and the lowest (2.18 Mg ha−1) with biochar at a rate of 30 Mg ha−1. These findings lay the basis for understanding how different soil amendment management may impact soil quality and wheat performance, even in consideration of climate change.
Use of Indices in RGB and Random Forest Regression to Measure the Leaf Area Index in Maize
Authors: de Magalhães Leonardo Pinto , Rossi Fabrício
Published: April 2024

In the cultivation of maize, the leaf area index (LAI) serves as an important metric to determine the development of the plant. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that capture RGB images, along with random forest regression (RFR), can be used to indirectly measure LAI through vegetative indices. Research using these techniques is at an early stage, especially in the context of maize for silage. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate which vegetative indices have the strongest correlations with maize LAI and to compare two regression methods. RFR, ridge regression (RR), support vector machine (SVM), and multiple linear regression (MLR) regressions were performed in Python for comparison using images obtained in an area cultivated with maize for silage. The results showed that the RGB spectral indices showed saturation when the LAI reached 3 m2 m−2, with the VEG (vegetable index), COM (combination), ExGR (red–green excess), and TGI (triangular greenness index) indices selected for modeling. In terms of regression, RFR showed superior performance with an R2 value of 0.981 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.138 m2 m−2. Therefore, it can be concluded that RFR using RGB indices is a good way to indirectly obtain the LAI.
Response of Soil Microorganisms to and Yield of Spelt Wheat following the Application of Bacterial Consortia and the Subsequent Effect of Cover Crops in Organic Farming
Authors: Górski Rafał , Rosa Robert , Niewiadomska Alicja , Wolna-Maruwka Agnieszka , Płaza Anna
Published: April 2024

In modern agriculture, more and more attention is being paid to the use of microorganisms that can increase crop productivity and quality even under adverse weather conditions. Due to the declining biodiversity of crops and the occurrence of soil erosion and nutrient losses, the introduction of cover crops (CC) can be a positive crop management technique. In the field study presented here, the effect of growing spring barley with CCs applied simultaneously with bacterial consortia on the ratio of the total number of bacteria to actinobacteria (B/A) and the number of fungi in the soil was evaluated. The biomass yield of CCs and the subsequent effect on the yield of spelt wheat grown with the application of bacterial consortia were also evaluated. The bacterial consortia applied included consortium 1, comprising Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and consortium 2, comprising Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Azotobacter chroococcum. The CCs were red clover, red clover + Italian ryegrass, and Italian ryegrass. The most favorable B/A ratio and the highest number of fungi were obtained after growing spring barley with a CC consisting of a mixture of red clover and Italian ryegrass when using bacterial consortium 2. These conditions additionally had the most favorable influence on spelt wheat. The combination of such a forecrop with the application of bacterial consortium 2 resulted in the highest yields of spelt wheat.