bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Altered Lymphocyte E-NTPDase Are Implicated in Acute Dyslipidemia in Rats: Protective Role of Arbutin
Authors: Alruhaimi Reem S. , Hussein Omnia E. , Alnasser Sulaiman M. , Germoush Mousa O. , Alotaibi Meshal , Hassanein Emad H. M. , El Mohtadi Mohamed , Mahmoud Ayman M.
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: Dyslipidemia is frequently linked to various disorders, and its clinical relevance is now recognized. The role of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in dyslipidemia has been acknowledged. This study assessed the potential of arbutin (ARB) to prevent dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation in rats with acute hyperlipidemia. Methods: Rats received ARB orally for 14 days and a single intraperitoneal injection of poloxamer-407 on day 15. Results: Poloxamer-407 elevated circulating cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL), and LDL, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). ARB ameliorated the circulating lipids and LPL, and suppressed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in rat liver and in vitro. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) in rat liver and its in vitro activity were suppressed by ARB, which also upregulated the LDL receptor (LDL-R) and ABCA1, and had no effect on ABCG5 and ABCG8 mRNA. ARB ameliorated liver malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and enhanced antioxidants in rats with dyslipidemia. Liver NF-κB p65 and blood inflammatory cytokines were increased in dyslipidemic rats, effects that were reversed by ARB. Moreover, ARB effectively suppressed lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities in dyslipidemic rats. The biochemical findings were supported by in silico data showing the affinity of ARB to bind LDL-R PCSK9 binding domain, HMGCR, FAS, and E-NTPDase. Conclusions: ARB possessed anti-dyslipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects mediated via the modulation of CHOL and TG synthesis, LPL, lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA, and cytokine release in rats. Thus, ARB could be an effective agent to attenuate dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation, pending further studies as well as clinical trials.
Methallylsulfonate Polymeric Antiscalants for Application in Thermal Desalination Processes
Authors: Al-Hamzah Ali A. , Fellows Christopher M. , Hamed Osman A.
Published: October 2024

Nine copolymers of acrylic acid and sodium methallyl sulfonate were tested as scale inhibitors in thermal desalination. The nine antiscalants covered molar masses between 2000 and 9500 g.mol–1 and concentrations of sulfonated monomer ranging between 10 and 30 mole percent. A pressure measurement and control (P-MAC) unit and a high-temperature pressurized vessel were used to measure the effectiveness of the scale inhibitors in seawater, concentrated seawater, and model solutions at 125 °C. The effectiveness of the novel copolymers was comparable to commercial antiscalant at times up to 15 min and improved at longer times. Molar mass was a more important determinant of effectiveness than degree of sulfonation, with the greatest mitigation of calcium sulfate precipitation observed for antiscalants of molar mass 2000 to 2500 g.mol–1 regardless of sulfonate content. Antiscalants of molar mass 4500 to 5000 g.mol–1 showed a higher threshold effect than antiscalants of molar mass 7000 to 9500 g.mol–1, with a 30% sulfonated polymer of molar mass 4500 g.mol–1 performing appreciably better than other polymers of a similar molar mass.
The Role of Formulations in the Ageing Process of Vinyl Acetate Based Emulsion Films: A Multivariate Approach
Authors: Viana Carolina , Wieland Karin , França de Sá Susana , Angelin Eva Mariasole , Pintus Valentina , Ferreira Joana Lia
Published: October 2024

Vinyl acetate (VAc)-based emulsions represent one of the main media used by modern and contemporary artists. Their long-term behaviour is still not completely understood, especially due to the scarce knowledge on the influence of other compounds in the formulation, which may impact ageing over time. Besides the polymer backbone based on vinyl acetate, other co-monomers and additives can be added to the emulsion to alter the final film’s physical, chemical, and optical properties. By extension, the formulation will also impact the long-term stability of artworks and objects on which it has been applied, as well as possible current and future conservation interventions such as cleaning. For those reasons, studies shedding light on the correlation between composition and long-term stability are largely necessary. In this study, different emulsions, including homopolymers, copolymers, plasticised, and un-plasticised compositions, were gathered and artificially aged. A multivariate analyses approach based on the application of principal component analyses (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA) was employed for the first time on the combination of data obtained by pH, contact angle (CA), colour measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). This approach helped to highlight the changes that occurred during ageing and find correlations with the formulation compositions. The results further sustain the thesis that not all vinyl acetate-based emulsions are chemically the same and that their formulation deeply impacts their long-term behaviour.
Performance of Recycled Opaque PET Modified by Reactive Extrusion
Authors: León-Albiter Noel , Santana Orlando O. , Martinez Orozco Leandro , Candau Nicolas , Maspoch Maria Lluïsa
Published: October 2024

A comparative study of the structural integrity of an opaque recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET-O) has been carried out with two types of modified rPET-O by applying reactive extrusion techniques, namely (a) using a multi-epoxide reactive agent (REx-rPET-O) and (b) a 90/10 (wt/wt) rPET-O/polycarbonate (PC) blend. The chemical modifications introduced during reactive extrusion were confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological dynamic analysis (RDA). For the quantification of the fracture parameters, an instrumented pendulum impact testing machine was used using specimens in SENB configuration. The structural modifications generated during reactive extrusion promote an increase of between 16 (REx-rPET-O) and 20% (rPET-O/PC) in the stress-intensity factor (KQ) compared to unmodified rPET-O. The most significant differences between both modifications are registered in the “specific work of fracture” (wf) (alternative parameter to the standardized impact strength), where an increase of 61% is reached for the case of rPET-O/PC and only 11% for REx-rPET-O. This trend can be attributed to the type of reactive modification that is generated, namely chain branching (REx-rPET-O) vs. the generation of a random copolymer “in situ” (rPET-O/PC). This copolymer decreases the crystallization capacity and degree of crystalline perfection of rPET-O, promoting an increase in the critical hydrostatic stress conditions for the generation of crazing and crack propagation.
Aberration Modulation Correlation Method for Dim and Small Space Target Detection
Authors: Jiang Changchun , Li Junwei , Liu Shengjie , Xian Hao
Published: October 2024

The significance of detecting faint and diminutive space targets cannot be overstated, as it underpins the preservation of Earth’s orbital environment’s safety and long-term sustainability. Founded by the different response characteristics between targets and backgrounds to aberrations, this paper proposes a novel aberration modulation correlation method (AMCM) for dim and small space target detection. By meticulously manipulating the light path using a wavefront corrector via a modulation signal, the target brightness will fluctuate periodically, while the background brightness remains essentially constant. Benefited by the strong correlation between targets’ characteristic changes and the modulation signal, dim and small targets can be effectively detected. Rigorous simulations and practical experiments have validated the remarkable efficacy of AMCM. Compared to conventional algorithms, AMCM boasts a substantial enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) detection limit from 5 to approximately 2, with an area under the precision–recall curve of 0.9396, underscoring its ability to accurately identify targets while minimizing false positives. In essence, AMCM offers an effective method for detecting dim and small space targets and is also conveniently integrated into other passive target detection systems.
Testing the Impact of Pansharpening Using PRISMA Hyperspectral Data: A Case Study Classifying Urban Trees in Naples, Italy
Authors: Perretta Miriam , Delogu Gabriele , Funsten Cassandra , Patriarca Alessio , Caputi Eros , Boccia Lorenzo
Published: October 2024

Urban trees support vital ecological functions and help with the mitigation of and adaption to climate change. Yet, their monitoring and management require significant public resources. remote sensing could facilitate these tasks. Recent hyperspectral satellite programs such as PRISMA have enabled more advanced remote sensing applications, such as species classification. However, PRISMA data’s spatial resolution (30 m) could limit its utility in urban areas. Improving hyperspectral data resolution with pansharpening using the PRISMA coregistered panchromatic band (spatial resolution of 5 m) could solve this problem. This study addresses the need to improve hyperspectral data resolution and tests the pansharpening method by classifying exemplative urban tree species in Naples (Italy) using a convolutional neural network and a ground truths dataset, with the aim of comparing results from the original 30 m data to data refined to a 5 m resolution. An evaluation of accuracy metrics shows that pansharpening improves classification quality in dense urban areas with complex topography. In fact, pansharpened data led to significantly higher accuracy for all the examined species. Specifically, the Pinus pinea and Tilia x europaea classes showed an increase of 10% to 20% in their F1 scores. Pansharpening is seen as a practical solution to enhance PRISMA data usability in urban environments.
Estimating Global Gross Primary Production Using an Improved MODIS Leaf Area Index Dataset
Authors: Wang Shujian , Zhang Xunhe , Hou Lili , Sun Jiejie , Xu Ming
Published: October 2024

Remote sensing and process-coupled ecological models are widely used for the simulation of GPP, which plays a key role in estimating and monitoring terrestrial ecosystem productivity. However, most such models do not differentiate the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways and neglect the effect of nitrogen content on Vmax and Jmax, leading to considerable bias in the estimation of gross primary productivity (GPP). Here, we developed a model driven by the leaf area index, climate, and atmospheric CO2 concentration to estimate global GPP with a spatial resolution of 0.1° and a temporal interval of 1 day from 2000 to 2022. We validated our model with ground-based GPP measurements at 128 flux tower sites, which yielded an accuracy of 72.3%. We found that the global GPP ranged from 116.4 PgCyear−1 to 133.94 PgCyear−1 from 2000 to 2022, with an average of 125.93 PgCyear−1. We also found that the global GPP showed an increasing trend of 0.548 PgCyear−1 during the study period. Further analyses using the structure equation model showed that atmospheric CO2 concentration and air temperature were the main drivers of the global GPP changes, total associations of 0.853 and 0.75, respectively, while precipitation represented a minor but negative contribution to global GPP.
Evaluating Ecological Drought Vulnerability from Ecosystem Service Value Perspectives in North China
Authors: Jiang Tianliang , Qu Yanping , Zhang Xuejun , Jing Lanshu , Feng Kai , Zhang Gengxi , Han Yu
Published: October 2024

Existing studies on the vulnerability assessment of ecological drought often focus on analyzing vegetation phenotypic characteristics, overlooking the impact of drought on ecosystem services. This study proposes an ecosystem vulnerability assessment method under ecological drought stress from the perspective of ecosystem service value (ESV), considering the characteristics and interactions of hazard-causing factors and hazard-bearing bodies. The spatiotemporal evolution of ecological drought, the spatial characteristics of ecosystem vulnerability, and the vulnerability characteristics of different ecosystem types in the North China region from 1991 to 2021 were evaluated. The results showed that: (1) ecological drought exhibited a trend of intensification followed by alleviation, with the most severe droughts occurring between 2002 and 2011, affecting up to 64.3% of the region; (2) ESV was mainly influenced by vegetation cover and precipitation gradients, displaying a spatial pattern of high values in the southeast and low values in the northwest, with total ESV averaging CNY 18.23 trillion; (3) grasslands exhibited higher sensitivity to drought compared to forests, and the sensitivity was higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. This method assessed the vulnerability of ecological drought from the perspective of ecosystem services, providing a new approach for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of drought on ecosystem service functions.
Advancements in Optical Resonator Stability: Principles, Technologies, and Applications
Authors: Li Huiping , Li Ding , Lou Qixin , Liu Chao , Lan Tian , Yu Xudong
Published: October 2024

This paper provides an overview of the study of optical resonant cavity stability, focusing on the relevant principles, key technological advances, and applications of optical resonant cavities in a variety of high-precision measurement techniques and modern science and technology. Firstly, the vibration characteristics, thermal noise, and temperature characteristics of the reference cavity are presented. Subsequently, the report extensively discusses the advances in key technologies such as mechanical vibration isolation, thermal noise control, and resistance to temperature fluctuations. These advances not only contribute to the development of theory but also provide innovative solutions for practical applications. Typical applications of optical cavities in areas such as laser gyroscopes, high-precision measurements, and gravitational wave detection are also discussed. Future research directions are envisioned, emphasising the importance of novel material applications, advanced vibration isolation technologies, intelligent temperature control systems, multifunctional integrated optical resonator design, and deepening theoretical models and numerical simulations.
Contaminants in the Soil and Typical Crops of the Pannonian Region of Slovenia
Authors: Jelen Žiga , Svetec Milan , Majerič Peter , Kapun Stanislav , Resman Lara , Čeh Tatjana , Hajra Granit , Rudolf Rebeka
Published: October 2024

Soil contamination and the uptake of pollutants by food crops are widespread issues that vary greatly by region and are influenced by the mineral composition of the soil and local human activities. The Pannonian region, where agriculture has played a key role since Roman times, has been particularly impacted by the long-standing agricultural and industrial practices. While soil contamination with heavy metals is monitored by the Slovenian government, microplastic contamination and the uptake of pollutants into food crops have yet to become a regular component of monitoring efforts. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation into soil and crop contamination across the Pannonian region, focusing on identifying harmful contaminants and their potential uptake into food crops. Both soil and crop samples were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals with proven methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry (FASS), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was found to be a potentially faster method of obtaining data on soil composition. Special attention was also given to the potential presence of microplastics in the region’s soils.
Toward Cross-Species Crop Se Content Prediction Using Random Forest Modeling
Authors: Zhang Yafeng , Miao Guowen , Niu Yao , Ma Qiang , Wang Shuai , He Lianzhu , Zhu Mingxia , Xu Kaili , Zhu Qiaohui
Published: October 2024

Selenium is an indispensable trace element in the human body that plays an important role in maintaining life activities. The consumption of Se-rich crops provides a practical and effective way for the body to supplement Se. However, the Se content in crops is affected by the soil Se content and the interactions between other elements in the soil. In this study, the Tibetan Plateau of China was chosen as the study area. The random forest algorithm was applied to select four key indicators—selenium (Se), bioavailable phosphorus (P), cadmium (Cd), and bioavailable copper (Cu)—from 29 soil variables to predict the Se content in rapeseed, wheat, potato, pasture, and chrysanthemum crops. The results showed that, despite the rich soil Se resources in the Tibetan Plateau, only 20% of the crop samples met the national Se enrichment standard (>0.07 mg kg−1). Compared with the traditional multiple linear regression method, the random forest model is more accurate, efficient, and reliable in predicting the Se content of crops. In cross-species crop prediction, which refers to the simultaneous cultivation and analysis of multiple distinct crop species within the same agricultural setting, the random forest model demonstrated superior performance, marking a significant breakthrough in cross-species crop research. This approach effectively eliminates the tedious process of conducting repetitive individual evaluations for different crop types in the same region, highlighting its innovative significance. Meanwhile, the Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Roof of the World”, is also of great research value. These results provide valuable references for the planning and management of Se-enriched farmlands, which will help improve the yield and quality of Se-enriched crops and promote the growth of farmers’ interests.
The Synergistic Effect of the Carbon Emission Trading Scheme on Pollution and Carbon Reduction in China’s Power Industry
Authors: Zhang Xiling , Liu Xiaoqian , Zhang Zeyu , Tang Ruiyi , Zhang Ting , Yao Jian
Published: October 2024

The synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction can alleviate the dual pressure of improving environmental quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China. The carbon emission trading scheme (CETS) is a crucial market-based tool for carbon emission reduction, and understanding its synergistic impact on air pollution control is essential. Based on data from 30 provincial panels in China spanning from 2007 to 2021, we employ the difference-in-differences (DID) method to analyze the synergistic effects of the carbon emission trading plan in the power industry and its influence mechanisms are examined. We observe that the CETS significantly enhances both pollution and carbon reduction in China’s power sector, particularly demonstrating effective synergy in reducing CO2, SO2, and PM2.5 emissions. Furthermore, mechanism analysis reveals that the CETS achieves joint emission reductions by lowering energy consumption, influencing the power industry’s generation structure, promoting technological innovation among enterprises, and thereby realizing synergistic pollution and carbon reduction effects in China’s power sector. Heterogeneity analysis shows that regions with limited power facility, low electricity generation, and small economic scale exhibit the most pronounced synergistic benefits from pollution and carbon reduction efforts.
Scenario Simulation and Efficiency Study of Hydropower Development to Promote Regional Sustainable Development: An Empirical Analysis of a Province in Southwestern China
Authors: Li Guofa , Zhang Pu , Wang Weize , Gao Meng
Published: October 2024

Hydropower is a significant component of China’s contemporary energy framework, with its construction and operation critically contributing to the advancement of sustainable development in the region. However, the influence of hydropower development on regional sustainable development is not evident, and the course of its effect is not clear. In this work, on the basis of assessing the effect of hydropower development on regional sustainable development, a system dynamics (SD) simulation model was created, and 15 distinct development modes were set and tested. The relative driving efficiency of hydropower growth on sustainable development in a province in Southwest China under several scenarios was assessed using the super-efficiency-slacks-based measurement (Super-SBM), and an efficiency analysis was undertaken. The study’s findings demonstrate that: (1) Hydropower development had a complex driving influence on sustainable development in the province in 2015–2022. (2) The relative driving efficiency of the province over the study period exhibited a changing pattern and was at a high level greater than 0.7. (3) New hydropower investment and hydropower generation are the major factors impacting the relative driving efficiency of hydropower development on regional sustainable development in the province. The study’s findings provide a platform and reference for supporting regional sustainable development through hydropower development.
Impact Study of Environment Public Interests Litigation on Carbon Emissions: Taking Pilot Policy of Procuratorial Public Interest Litigation as a Quasi-Natural Experiment
Authors: Shan Jie , Luo Zhengshan , Pei Liang , Song Zhe
Published: October 2024

The environmental problems caused by carbon emission have become the focus of worldwide attention. Effective control of carbon emissions cannot be achieved without the protection of the rule of law. Environment public interests litigation is a prominent innovation in the judicial system, and its role in supervising the government to perform its regulatory duties on carbon reduction and regulating the carbon emission behaviors of enterprises and the public deserves discussion. The paper selected the panel data from 274 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2021 and analyzed the impact of a procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy on carbon emission control by using the double difference method. The research found that the procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policy can effectively curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis showed that in cities with relatively low level of green innovation, the negative correlation between procuratorial public interest litigation pilot policies and carbon emissions is more significant. Compared with the eastern region, in the central and western regions, especially in the central region, where the concept, policy, and funding of carbon emission governance are relatively weak, the implementation of the pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation had a more obvious effect on carbon emission governance. Mechanism tests showed that procuratorial public interest litigation policies reduce carbon emissions by reducing energy consumption and increasing public participation in environmental protection. The study will provide an empirical basis for the carbon emission reduction effect on pilot policy of procuratorial public interest litigation and will offer certain theoretical recommendations for improving the procuratorial public interest litigation system in the ecological environment field.
Detection and Quantification of Soil-Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus, Soil-Borne Cereal Mosaic Virus and Japanese Soil-Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus by ELISA and One-Step SYBR Green Real-Time Quantitative RT-PCR
Authors: Gauthier Kevin , Strauch Claudia Janina , Bonse Sabine , Bauer Petra , Heidler Carolin , Niehl Annette
Published: October 2024

Furoviruses are bipartite viruses causing mosaic symptoms and stunting in cereals. Infection with these viruses can lead to severe crop losses. The virus species Furovirus tritici with soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), Furovirus cerealis with soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV) and Furovirus japonicum with Japanese soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (JSBWMV) and French barley mosaic virus (FBMV) as members are biologically and genetically closely related. Here, we develop SYBR green-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR assays to detect and quantify the RNA1 and RNA2 of the three virus species. Using experimental data in combination with Tm-value prediction and analysis of primer and amplicon sequences, we determine the capacity of our method to discriminate between the different viruses and evaluate its genericity to detect different isolates within the same virus species. We demonstrate that our method is suitable for discriminating between the different virus species and allows for the detection of different virus isolates. However, JSBWMV RNA1 primers may amplify SBWMV samples, bearing a risk for false positive detection with this primer. We also test the efficiency of polyclonal antibodies to detect the different viruses by ELISA and suggest that ELISA may be applied as a first screening to identify the virus. The real-time qRT-PCR assays developed provide the possibility to screen for quantitative disease resistance against SBCMV, SBWMV and JSBWMV. Moreover, with our method, we hope to promote research to unravel yet unresolved questions with respect to furovirus–host interaction concerning host range and resistance as well as regarding the role of multipartite genomes.
Construction and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Porcine Pseudorabies Virus (PRV) Expressing the Major Neutralizing Epitope Regions of S1 Protein of Variant PEDV
Authors: Jiao Xian-Qin , Liu Ying , Chen Xi-Meng , Wang Cheng-Yuan , Cui Jian-Tao , Zheng Lan-Lan , Ma Shi-Jie , Chen Hong-Ying
Published: October 2024

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection causes severe diarrhea and high mortality in neonatal piglets. Pseudorabies causes acute and often fatal infections in young piglets, respiratory disorders in growing pigs, and reproductive failure in sows. In late 2011, pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants occurred in Bartha-K61-vaccine-immunized swine herds, resulting in economic losses to the global pig industry. Therefore, it is essential to develop a safe and effective vaccine against both PEDV and PRV infections. In this study, we constructed a recombinant virus rPRV-PEDV S1 expressing the major neutralizing epitope region (COE, SS2, and SS6) of the PEDV S1 protein by homologous recombination technology and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and then evaluated its biological characteristics in vitro and immunogenicity in pigs. The recombinant virus rPRV-PEDV S1 had similar growth kinetics in vitro to the parental rPRV NY-gE−/gI−/TK− strain, and was proven genetically stable in swine testicle (ST) cells and safe for piglets. PEDV S1-specific antibodies were detected in piglets immunized with rPRV-PEDV S1 on the 7th day post-immunization (dpi), and the antibody level increased rapidly at 14–21 dpi. Moreover, the immunized piglets receiving the recombinant virus exhibited alleviated clinical signs and reduced viral load compared to the unvaccinated group following a virulent PEDV HN2021 strain challenge. Also, piglets immunized with rPRV-PEDV S1 developed a PRV-specific humoral immune response and elicited complete protection against a lethal PRV NY challenge. These data indicate that the recombinant rPRV-PEDV S1 is a promising vaccine candidate strain for the prevention and control of PEDV and PRV infections.
Comparison of Machine Learning-Based Predictive Models of the Nutrient Loads Delivered from the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Zhen Yi , Feng Huan , Yoo Shinjae
Published: October 2024

Predicting nutrient loads is essential to understanding and managing one of the environmental issues faced by the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, which poses a severe threat to the Gulf’s healthy ecosystem and economy. The development of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico is strongly associated with the eutrophication process initiated by excessive nutrient loads. Due to the complexities in the excessive nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico, it is challenging to understand and predict the underlying temporal variation of nutrient loads. The study was aimed at identifying an optimal predictive machine learning model to capture and predict nonlinear behavior of the nutrient loads delivered from the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) to the Gulf of Mexico. For this purpose, monthly nutrient loads (N and P) in tons were collected from US Geological Survey (USGS) monitoring station 07373420 from 1980 to 2020. Machine learning models—including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), gaussian process regression (GPR), single-layer multilayer perceptron (MLP), and a long short-term memory (LSTM) with the single hidden layer—were developed to predict the monthly nutrient loads, and model performances were evaluated by standard assessment metrics—Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Correlation Coefficient (R). The residuals of predictive models were examined by the Durbin–Watson statistic. The results showed that MLP and LSTM persistently achieved better accuracy in predicting monthly TN and TP loads compared to GPR and ARIMA. In addition, GPR models achieved slightly better test RMSE score than ARIMA models while their correlation coefficients are much lower than ARIMA models. Moreover, MLP performed slightly better than LSTM in predicting monthly TP loads while LSTM slightly outperformed for TN loads. Furthermore, it was found that the optimizer and number of inputs didn’t show effects on the LSTM performance while they exhibited impacts on MLP outcomes. This study explores the capability of machine learning models to accurately predict nonlinearly fluctuating nutrient loads delivered to the Gulf of Mexico. Further efforts focus on improving the accuracy of forecasting using hybrid models which combine several machine learning models with superior predictive performance for nutrient fluxes throughout the MARB.
Food for Thought: Young People and Youth Workers’ Perceptions of Food Insecurity and the Youth Work Response
Authors: O’Mahony Sarah , Douglas Hayley , Achilleos Jess
Published: October 2024

While there is significant research on the impact of food insecurity, there is less so through the lens of young people and the youth work response. Therefore, this research presents findings from a small-scale United Kingdom-based study asking what are young people’s and youth workers perceptions of food insecurity and the youth work response. Focus group research methodology was adopted. The research recognised that food insecurity is part of a wider issue of poverty and inequality, and we explored how this is perceived by young people and youth workers at the Personal, Cultural, and Structural levels whilst also situating issues of food insecurity in the global context. Themes of togetherness, relationship, otherness, disempowerment, and learning were identified as key components in the youth work response to food insecurity. A number of recommendations are made, including the importance of highlighting the power of youth work in responding to young people experiencing food insecurity. The youth work approach has application to all professions working to challenge issues of food insecurity and social injustice.
On possibility of using pain questionnaires and scales in clinical practice (a literature review)
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Morozov A. M. , Sorokovikova T. V. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Menshikova T. V. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Sitnova V. A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Smyslova A. Yu. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Fisyuk E. A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Tver State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: October 2024

Pain is one of the main, and sometimes the only, reason for visiting a doctor, therefore, in order to establish a diagnosis and provide effective treatment, it is important to correctly and objectively assess this condition of the patient, but the perception of pain is a very subjective phenomenon, so it is necessary to develop ways of qualitative and quantitative assessment of pain sensations. The World Health Organization has defined pain as «an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage». Pain sensations have both physical and psychological aspects that need to be considered when assessing and treating pain. Objectification of pain is a challenging yet important task for the clinician. Pain perception is a versatile field of study at present, as each person evaluates pain sensations completely differently. Currently, various methods of assessing pain sensation have been described, among which a separate place is allocated to scales and questionnaires. The disadvantages of all scales and questionnaires are their limitations; only one scale cannot be used to obtain a detailed picture of the patient's condition, and the use of only one type of questionnaire does not cover all aspects of the pain syndrome and does not take into account the individual characteristics of the patient. There are modern technical methods of pain intensity assessment, but their high cost and insufficient distribution in clinical practice limit their use. After a detailed study of the problem of pain syndrome assessment, we can conclude that this topic is in demand in modern medicine and still remains open for innovations.
Exploring the potential for providing rehabilitation support to patients after acute cerebrovascular accidents
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Orenburg State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Orenburg, Russia, Ishkubatova A. V. , Mikhailov S. N. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Orenburg State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Orenburg, Russia, Osipova G. S. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Orenburg State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Orenburg, Russia
Published: October 2024

Acute cerebrovascular accidents (ACVA) are a group of diseases that arise due to circulatory disorders in the brain. Acute strokes are one of the leading causes of mortality and disability, both in Russia and worldwide. The most obvious consequences of a stroke are physical, but in some cases psychological, social, household, and other difficulties become no less important. Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients after acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA) should cover the entire range of problems associated with this disease to ensure complex and comprehensive recovery. In order to assess patients’condition and their rehabilitation potential, rating scales are used. The purpose of the study was to evaluate motor and sensory impairments before and after rehabilitation in stroke patients using diagnostic scales. The study on the basis of the State Budgetary Institution of Social Services Gerontological Center «Dolgoletie (Longevity)» in Orenburg included 12 women and 8 men who had suffered strokes. The following results were obtained: the overall dynamics of rehabilitation tests in the control group was 4 % in women and 3 % in men. These findings confirm the need to use these assessment methods to objectify treatment results and determine rehabilitation potential.
Effect of domestic violence at preschool age on victimity formation
Authors:   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Ruzhenkova V. V. , Khamskaya I. S. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Retyunskiy K. Yu. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Boeva A. V. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Moskvitina U. S. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Rzhevskaya N. K. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Kolosova M. A. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Minakova Yu. S. ,   FSAEI HE National Research University «Belgorod State University» of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Published: October 2024

The article provides data on the prevalence of physical violence suffered at preschool age among medical students based on the results of medical, sociological, and psychometric research. An unselected sample of 275 fifth-year students at the Medical Institute was examined. It was demonstrated that physical violence in all cases was combined with psychological violence and in 12 % of cases — with sexual violence. Anxious personality traits and low levels of self-esteem were formed as a result of violence, which created a risk of social maladjustment. It has been established that when brought up in conditions of physical and psychological violence, victim complexes are formed 2–4 times more often than when brought up in favorable conditions. Notably, the subjective significance of the severity of physical violence suffered in the family at preschool age significantly (8–56 times) increases the likelihood of being subjected to beatings, sexual harassment, and psychological pressure, in contrast to being raised in favorable conditions. Risk factors for domestic violence are presented and described. The possibilities of providing medical and psychological assistance are discussed.
DETERMINATION OF THE RATIONAL PERIOD OF OPERATION OF QUARRY VEHICLES AND ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR USE
Authors:   Belgorod State Technological University, Semykina Alla Sergeevna , Zagorodny Nikolay Alexandrovich ,   Belgorod State Technological University, Kocherzhenko Dmitry Fedorovich ,   Belgorod State Technological University
Published: October 2024

The paper defines the rational period of operation of quarry motor transport. It is established that the use of the obtained results of calculating the rational period of operation makes it possible to achieve maximum efficiency of technical operation of quarry equipment, while minimizing financial costs for the maintenance and replacement of transport.
Uso de Biofertilizante de Dejeto Suíno como alternativa a adubação fosfatada em capim Urochloa brizanta cv. Marandu no município de Colorado do Oeste – RO
Authors: Silva Vilmar Rodrigues da , Quintans Normando Jacob , Andreatta Wagner Viana , Catânio José Vanor Felini
Published: October 2024

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características fisiológicas, nutricionais e produtivas de Urochloa brizanta cv. Marandu sob diferentes doses de biofertilizante de dejetos suíno (BDS). O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC.) com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições em cada gramínea. Os tratamentos foram D1 = 47,42 m³ ha-1, D2 = 94,85 m³ ha-1, D3 = 142,27 m³ ha-1 de biofertilizante, D4 (adubação química) = 50 kg de N ha-1 na forma de ureia, 70 kg P2O5 ha-1 na forma de superfosfato triplo, 20 kg K2O ha-1 na forma de cloreto de potássio e D5 a testemunha. O BDS mostrou ser uma boa fonte de fósforo para a forrageira estudada. Houve efeito da dose de BDS e o teor de P disponível no solo foi maior no tratamento químico. As doses de BDS promoveram valores de produção de matéria seca total que não diferiu do tratamento com adubação química o que representa um potencial para substituição da fertilização química.
Naltrexone and its Effects on Craving and Alcohol Use among Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndroms: A Report
Authors: Kumar Ram , Quraishi Rizwana , Sarkar Siddharth , Rao Ravindra , Ambekar Atul
Published: October 2024

Background: Naltrexone is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anti-craving agent for the long-term treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS). However, it may not be equally effective in all patients. This study aims to assess naltrexone treatment response over four weeks in a national-level tertiary care setting. Methods: Male patients with ADS (n=100) who were initiated on naltrexone were included in the study. The clinical data, including the drinking pattern and craving, were recorded at baseline. At the end of the one-month follow-up, the drinking status and compliance with naltrexone were recorded. Findings: At the end of one month, more than half of the patients (n=53) were retained in the study. All the treatment-retained patients (n=53) reported naltrexone consumption for more than 24 days in the last month. Those who retained in the study reported significantly less craving among 72% of patients, while an almost 50% reduction in alcohol use was observed. Conclusion: This study adds to the evidence of outcomes with naltrexone in terms of reduced craving and alcohol use.
Spectroscopic Screening of Dexamethasone and Cyproheptadine Adulteration in Weight Gaining Products Marketed in Aden, Yemen
Authors: Badulla Wafa F. S. , Bamahmood Ebtesam S. , Banafa Samah Hussein
Published: October 2024

Background: Weight-gaining (WG) products are either medicine or herbal products that have been used intensively by the young and adolescents in Yemen. These products may contain undeclared potentially toxic ingredients that can lead to several health problems and diseases on long-term usage. This study was intended to evaluate the presence of some undeclared pharmaceuticals, dexamethasone (DX) and cyproheptadine (CPR), in WG products in Aden, Yemen. Methods: The detection of DX & CPR in WG products was evaluated using UV& Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Also, phytochemical analysis was carried out for herbal products. Results: The study indicated the presence of CPR in Tab-II, honey mixture, and capsules in the range between 0.10%-102.6%. A lower percentage was detected in the honey mixture and a higher percentage in Tab-2. DX was only detected in Tab-I (102.87%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that WG products may contain undeclared amounts of DX and CPR. Stricter regulations must be implemented for the usage and distribution of these products to avoid potential long-term adverse consequences.
Community Health Assessment to Identify and Prioritize Health Problems
Authors: Heidarpoor Peigham , Naderi Samira
Published: October 2024

Background: Community health assessment is a process in which researchers achieve a proper understanding of the community health status through the community active participation. The present study was conducted aiming to identify and prioritize health problems of Meshkin Tappeh village with people’s direct involvement. Methods: This study was conducted using the community assessment method in Meshkin Tappeh village in the city of Bueen Zahra, Iran, based on the North Carolina model. One person was selected from each household, and a total of 271 people were entered into the study. The community health assessment process was performed in 8 stages and problem prioritizing was also carried out using Hanlon’s scoring matrix method. Results: At the village level, 32 problems were identified in 6 areas, including problems related to health area (31.2%), municipal services area (21.8%), educational and cultural area (15.6%), economic and employment area (12.5%), social and citizenship rights area (12.5%), and security area (6.4%). Based on the matrix table scoring criteria, the problem of drug peddlers (15 points), poverty and low income (14 points), dropping out of school (13 points), emergency preparedness in unexpected events (12 points), and non-financial support for many health costs (12 points) were identified as 5 main problems at the village level. Conclusion: In this research, a broad spectrum of social, cultural, economic, and health problems were identified. Although the selected priority for further assessment was allocated to the problem of drug peddlers, solving all these problems requires the consultation and cooperation of all public institutions and organizations and the people.
The Relationship between Communication Skills and Emotional Intelligence among Students Attending Medical School: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alipour Sara , Mansouri Ramin , Khanlarzadeh Elham , Nikkhah Ali
Published: October 2024

Background: Intelligence quotient (IQ) cannot predict how a person will react to the ups and downs of life, while emotional intelligence is a thoughtful ability that determines how we can use our other skills, including IQ, in the best way. The impact of emotional intelligence components on people›s success in healthcare organizations is remarkable. This study discussed the relationship between communication skills and emotional intelligence among medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2021 among 114 medical students studying basic science. The questionnaires used to collect data were demographic information questionnaires, Goleman’s emotional intelligence, and Queen Dam’s communication skills. After collecting data, data analysis was performed using SPSS software. For this analysis, a significance level of less than 0.05 was used. Results: 114 questionnaires were completed. The average level of emotional intelligence of all students was 99.82±6.18. Also, in the study of communication skills, the average communication skill of all students was 109.1±8.01 (both moderate to high). There was no significant relationship between marital, gender, average age, and type of acceptance with emotional intelligence and communication skills. Students’ highest emotional intelligence skill was motivation, and the lowest was social skills. A significant correlation was found Between communication skills and educational status with emotional intelligence. Conclusion: This study showed meaningful connections between communication skills and emotional intelligence, which can be set in the training program, to increase emotional intelligence, which can increase effective communication between medical students and promote community health.