bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trajectories of physical function and quality of life in people with osteoarthritis: Results from a 10-year population-based cohort
Authors: Costa Daniela Sofia Albino , Lopes David G. , Cruz Eduardo B. , Henriques Ana R , Branco Jaime , Canhão Helena , Rodrigues Ana M
Published: August 2022

Objective
To identify long-term trajectories of physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (HKOA) and the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with different trajectories.
Methods
Participants with HKOA from the EpiDoC study, a 10-year follow-up (2011–2021) population-based cohort, were considered. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables were collected at baseline in a structured interview and clinical appointment. Physical function and HRQoL were evaluated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and EuroQoL, respectively, at baseline and the three follow-ups. Group-based trajectory modeling identified physical function and HRQoL trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analyzed the associations between the covariates of interest and trajectory assignment (p < 0.05).
Results
We included 983 participants with HKOA. We identified three trajectories for each outcome: “consistently low disability” (32.0%), “slightly worsening moderate disability” (47.0%), and “consistently high disability” (21.0%) for physical function; “consistently high HRQoL” (18.3%), “consistently moderate HRQoL” (48.4%) and “consistently low HRQoL” (33.4%) for HRQoL. Age ≥ 75 years, female sex, multimorbidity, and high baseline clinical severity were associated with higher risk of assignment to poorer physical function and HRQoL trajectories. Participants with high education level and with regular physical activity had a lower risk of assignment to a poor trajectory. Unmanageable pain levels increased the risk of assignment to the “consistently moderate HRQoL” trajectory.
Conclusion
The levels of physical function and HRQoL remained stable over 10 years and highlight the importance of tailored interventions that target individuals’ modifiable risk factors associated with low physical function and HRQoL trajectories.
Protective Effects of Lactobacillus reuteri SJ-47 Exopolysaccharides on Human Skin Fibroblasts Damaged by UVA Radiation
Authors: Zhao Jingsha , Fu Hao , Zhang Yongtao , li meng , Wang Dongdong , Zhao Dan , Zhang Jiachan , Wang Changtao
Published: August 2022

Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can cause skin damage and premature aging. This study demonstrates that Lactobacillus reuteri SJ-47 exopolysaccharides (EPS) protect human skin fibroblasts (HSF) under UVA radiation. During the course of the experiments, we investigate the oxidative stress protection and anti-aging effects of exopolysaccharides on HSF at the biochemical, cellular and molecular levels. The results show that EPS can increase the antioxidant capacity of cells, decrease the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while improve the expression of antioxidant enzymes. At the same time, EPS can increase collagen content, which can effectively regulate the expression of genes in the senescence and apoptosis pathways, and delay skin photoaging caused by UVA irradiation.
Rising trend of man-tiger conflict at man-nature interface of Indian Sundarbans: study towards traditional understanding and challenging livelihood of Sundarbans people
Authors: Chatterjee Sisir
Published: August 2022

Sundarbans region has its own unique physiographical, ecological, economical and socio-cultural individuality. As a home of nearly nine million people the entire Sundarbans area has emerged as one of the poorest and malnourished region of the South-east Asia. Man-tiger conflict or tiger attacks in riverside settlements around the Sundarbans Reserve Forest in West Bengal, India are a continuous matter of concern. The principal objective of this research is to identify the reasons behind the increasing human-tiger conflict in Indian Sundarbans. Landsat-8 satellite image (path = 138, row = 45, 30m spatial resolution and eleven spectral bands) has been used to identify the high possible areas of Man-Tiger conflict within the SBR region. The survey involved 100 respondents selected from Gosaba, Kultali, Basanti and Mathurapur II CD blocks in which 85 respondents aged 50 and above were actively participated in the perceptional survey process. Result showed that major proportion of the Sundarbans people is traditionally dependent on forest resources for maintenance of their livelihood. Research identified the principal factors which have been responsible for increasing man-tiger conflict in Sundarbans such as degeneration of forests, habitat loss due to flood and sea level rise, encroachment into wildlife territories for economic activities, intrusion into human settlements for scarcity of wild pray in forest. Deulbari, Dongajora, Bhuvaneswari are the areas of human-tiger conflicts due to closeness with nearest buffer forest area. The adjoining rivers of these two villages Melmel and Gomor are highly vulnerable due to its proximity of reserve forest.
Effect of structural anisotropy on compressive creep behavior of composite rock based on digital image correlation
Authors: Tian Hongming , Shu Xiaoyun , Chen Weizhong , Tan Xianjun , Tian Yun
Published: August 2022

In this study, a series of uniaxial creep tests were conducted on three-dimensional printed (3DP) composite rock specimens to investigate the effects of structural anisotropy on the time-dependent behavior of the rock. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to monitor the evolution of the full-field strain during creep tests. The Burgers model was used to analyze the anisotropic creep behavior of the composite rock. When the specimen was subjected to a low creep stress (σcr ≤ 0.55σc (failure stress of the specimen)), the creep strain was mainly induced by transient creep, and the transient creep parameter Ek exhibited increasing order-shaped anisotropy. When the specimen was subjected to a high creep stress (σcr ≥ 0.70 σc), the creep strain of the specimen was dependent on steady creep, and the steady creep parameter ηm showed U-shaped anisotropy similar to the compression strength anisotropy of the specimen. DIC observations showed that the strain concentration along the soft layer was an important factor that resulted in anisotropic creep, and the time-dependent shearing slip between the soft layer and hard material enhanced the creep anisotropy under a high creep stress. The failure modes of the specimens showed that creep failure developed first in the soft layer, and the creep process had an insignificant influence on the failure modes of the composite rock.
Fine-scale spatial variation shape fecal microbiome diversity and composition in black- tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Authors: Neha Sufia A. , Salazar-Bravo Jorge
Published: August 2022

BackgroundHost associated gut microbiota are important in understanding the coevolution of host-microbe, it’s causes and consequences that may help wildlife population to adapt to its rapid climatic changes. Mammalian gut microbiota composition and diversity may be affected by a variety of factors including geographic variation, seasonal variation in diet, habitat disturbance, environmental conditions, age, and sex. However, there have been few studies that have examined how ecological and environmental factors influence gut microbiota composition in animals' natural environments. In this study, we explore how host habitat, geographical location and environmental factors affect the fecal microbiota of Cynomys ludovicianus at a small spatial scale. We collected fecal samples from five geographically distinct locations in Texas Panhandle occupying habitat classified as urban and rural areas using high throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. ResultsThe results showed that microbiota of fecal samples was largely dominated by phylum Bacteroidetes. Fecal microbiome diversity and composition differed significantly across sampling sites and habitats. Prairie dogs inhabiting urban areas showed reduced fecal diversity due to more homogenous environment and anthropogenic disturbance. Urban prairie dog colonies displayed greater phylogenetic variation than those in rural habitats. Differentially abundant analysis revealed that bacterial species pathogenic to humans and animals were highly abundant in urban areas which indicates that host health and fitness might be negatively affected. Random forest model identified Alistipes shahii as the important species driving the changes in fecal microbiome composition. Despite the effects of habitat and geographic location of host, we found a strong correlation with environmental factors- average maximum temperature was the best predictor of prairie dog fecal microbial diversity. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that reduction in alpha diversity in conjunction with greater dispersion in beta diversity could be indicative of declining host health in urban areas which could help determine in future conservation efforts. Moreover, several bacterial species pathogenic to humans and other animals were highly abundant in prairie dog colonies near urban areas, which may in turn adversely affect host phenotype and fitness.
Dielectric Rod Nanoantenna fed by a Planar Plasmonic Waveguide
Authors: Abadi Erfan Ahmadi Soren , Fakhte Saeed , Hosseini Seyyed Sina
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a tapered dielectric rod antenna excited by a folded dipole coplanar waveguide operating at terahertz frequencies. The effective refractive index of the plasmonic transmission line is obtained by two numerical methods, the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD), and it is used to obtain the dimensions of the gap connected to the line. We examine the antenna using two lengths of the rod. For 10 and 5 µm tapered rods, impedance bandwidths of 43.47% and 32.55%, maximum gains of 12.58 and 9.84 dB, and radiation efficiencies of more than 72.09%, 72.15% are achieved, respectively. The dielectric rod nanoantenna operates at all the optical communication band frequencies: original (O), extended (E), short (S), conventional (C), long (L), and ultra-long (U). The structure of the antenna consists of three layers. The substrate is made of silicon oxide. This paper discusses the effect of using a layer of silicon oxide to prevent direct contact between the silicon rod and the hollow T-shaped silver feedline.
Effect of a 3-month L-carnitine supplementation and resistance training program on circulating markers and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Olek Robert A. , Samborowska Emilia , Wisniewski Piotr , Wojtkiewicz Pawel , Wochna Krystian , Zielinski Jacek
Published: August 2022

Background: Higher circulating levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is a metabolite that can be produced by the gut microbiota from L-carnitine (LC), have been associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Because, LC supplementation can improve bone density and microstructural properties in animal models, this study aimed to examine the effects of 12 weeks of LC supplementation on BMD and selected blood markers involved in bone metabolism of postmenopausal women participating in a resistance training program.Methods: Twenty-seven postmenopausal women, who had not been treated for osteoporosis, with a total T-score above -3.0 and no diet differences completed 12 weeks of resistance training. The participants’ diets were supplemented with either 1 g of LC-L-tartrate and 3 g of leucine per day (LC group) or 4 g of leucine per day as a placebo (PLA group), in a double-blind fashion. Results: After the intervention in the LC group, plasma total carnitine and serum decorin levels were higher than the corresponding preintervention values (p = 0.040 and p = 0.042, respectively). Moreover, plasma TMAO and serum SPARC levels were higher in the LC group than the corresponding preintervention values in the PLA group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively). No changes in the BMD were observed after 3 months of the intervention.Conclusions: Administration of LC increased plasma TMAO levels and appeared to affect signaling molecules, as indicated by the increase in the resting SPARC and decorin levels, with no significant modification in the BMD.Trial registration: Retrospectively registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05120011).
On signal recovery and blurry image reconstruction via a double parameter Hager-Zhang type iterative scheme for monotone nonlinear equations
Authors: Ahmed Kabiru , Waziri Mohammed Yusuf , Halilu Abubakar Sani
Published: August 2022

The one parameter scheme by Hager and Zhang (Pac. J. Optim. 2(1) 35-58(2006)) represents a group of descent iterative schemes for large-dimension minimization problems. The nonnegative parameter of the scheme determines the weight of conjuacy and descent, and by extension, the scheme's effectiveness. The scheme, however, only converges globally for the traditional strongly convex quadratic functions. Other approaches have to be applied to ensure this attribute holds for general functions. Moreover, when the parameter approaches $0$, the scheme reduces to the method by Hestenes and Stiefel \cite{kab31}, which in practical sense does not perform well due to the jamming phenomenon. By carrying out eigenvalue analysis of an adaptive two parameter Hager-Zhang type method, a new scheme is presented, which ensures global convergence for monotone functions without any condition for the type of linesearch procedure. The proposed scheme was driven by attributes exhibited by the Hager-Zhang scheme and various schemes designed with double parameters. The scheme is also applicable to non-smooth problems since it doesn't require derivatives. Using fundamental assumptions, we proved global convergence of the scheme and preliminary report of numerical experiments carried out with the scheme and some recent methods indicate it is more effective and efficient.Mathematics Subject Classification: 90C30, 90C26
Does the Ethnic Difference Affect the Pharmacokinetics of Favipiravir? A Pharmacokinetic Study in Healthy EgyptianVolunteers and Development of Level C In-vitro In-vivo Correlation
Authors: Bendas Ehab Rasmy , Rezk Mamdouh R. , Badr Kamal A.
Published: August 2022

Background and ObjectiveFavipiravir is an antiviral drug used to treat influenza. It is also being investigated for the treatment of a variety of other viral diseases, including SARS-CoV-2. Its pharmacokinetic profile varies depending on ethnic group. The present research examines the pharmacokinetic (Pk) features of favipiravir in healthy male Egyptian volunteers. Another goal of this research is to determine the optimum dissolution testing conditions for immediate release (IR) tablets.MethodsIn vitrodissolution testing was investigated for favipiravir tablet, Avigan®200 mg tablets, in three different pH media. The pharmacokinetic (Pk) features of favipiravir were examined in healthy male Egyptian volunteers. A newly developed and validated LC-MS/MS method was used to analyze real plasma samples of the healthy volunteers. Level Cin vitro in vivocorrelation (IVIVC) was developed to set the optimum dissolution medium to achieve accurate dissolution profile for favipiravir (IR) tablets.ResultsIn vitro dissolution results revealed significant difference among the three different dissolution media. The Pk parameters of twenty-seven human subjects showed mean value of Cpmaxof 5966.45ng/mL at median tmaxof 0.75 h with AUC0-∞equals 13325.54 ng.h/mL, showing half-life of 1.25 h. AUC0-tvs. % dissolved was used to develop level C IVIVC for favipiravir (IR) tablets.ConclusionsWhen compared to American and Caucasian volunteers, Egyptian participants had comparable Pk values, however they were considerably different from Japanese subjects. Phosphate buffer medium (pH 6.8) was found to be the optimum dissolution medium for in vitro dissolution testing for Favipiravir IR tablets.
Landslide displacement prediction based on Variational Mode Decomposition and Temporal Convolutional Network
Authors: Xu Chunying , Huang Kaibin , Wu Xinjie , Liang Ruixing , Wei Chuliang
Published: August 2022

The deformation process of landslides has complex nonlinear characteristics, making the accurate prediction of landslide displacement challenging. To reduce the complex displacement process and better realize the accurate and effective prediction of landslide displacement, this study proposes a hybrid model based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and a temporal convolutional network (TCN). The VMD method was used to decompose the time series of landslide cumulative displacement data and environmental impact factors (reservoir level and rainfall) and the TCN model to make predictions. To verify the performance of the model, we predicted the cumulative landslide displacements at points ZG93 and ZG118 of the Baishuihe landslide in Zigui County, Three Gorges reservoir area. The results showed that the VMD-TCN model had higher accuracy than other models and can thus play a role in the prediction of landslide displacement and provide a reference for the early warning of landslide displacement deformation.
Nutrition messaging by healthcare students - A mixed method study exploring social media usage and digital competence
Authors: Kaçar Hüsna Kaya , McCullough Fiona
Published: August 2022

Covid-19 pandemic leads to a significant digital transformation on higher education and healthcare practices. This study aimed to investigate the level of digital competences, views and experience, social media usage and perceived barriers of digital commination for healthcare students, using a mixed method approach. One hundred and forty-three nursing and midwifery students from Amasya University (Turkey) and 54 dietetics students from European countries participated. The majority of nursing (43.5%) and midwifery (55.2%) students stated that “students should receive training at university about digital technologies in healthcare practice”. Instagram was the most frequently used social media communication channels to share healthcare/nutrition information. “Before/after posts” in social media to encourage weight loss were identified as low-quality posts by the students. Incorporating digital technologies and social media into healthcare/nutrition teaching and practice and establishing professional and ethical standards for digital nutrition communication is necessary.
Adversarial Robustness in Deep Neural Networks based on Variable Attributes Stochastic Ensemble Model
Authors: Qin Ruoxi , Wang Linyuan , Du Xuehui , Xie Pengfei , Chen Xingyuan , Yan Bin
Published: August 2022

Deep neural networks (DNN) have been shown to suffer from critical vulnerabilities under adversarial attacks. This phenomenon stimulated the creation of different attack and defense strategies similar to those adopted in cyberspace security. The dependence of such strategies on attack and defense mechanisms makes the associated algorithms on both sides appear as closely reciprocating processes, where the defense method are particularly passive in these processes. Inspired by the dynamic defense approach proposed in cyberspace to solve this endless arm race, this paper defines the model order, network structure and smoothing parameters as ensemble variable attributes and proposes a stochastic strategy to builds upon ensemble model through heterogeneous and redundancy models. The proposed method introduces the diversity and randomness characteristic to deep neural network to change the fixed correspondence gradient between input and output. The unpredictability and diversity of gradients makes it impossible for attackers to directly implement white-box attacks so as to handle the extreme transferability and vulnerability of ensemble models under white-box attacks. Experimental comparison ofASR-vs-distortion curveswith different attack scenarios shows that even the attacker with the highest attack capability cannot easily exceed the attack success rate associated with the ensemble smoothed model, especially under untargeted attacks.
A systematic review of multi-modal prehabilitation in breast cancer
Authors: Toohey Kellie , Hunter Maddison , McKinnon Karen , Casey Tamara , Turner Murray , Taylor Suzanne , Paterson Catherine
Published: August 2022

PurposeBreast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women. Prehabilitation may offer improvements in physical and psychological wellbeing among participants prior to treatment. This systematic review aimed to determine efficacy of prehabilitation in participants diagnosed with breast cancer. MethodsA systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Studies exploring the impact of prehabilitation in participants with breast cancer were included. Studies were assessed independently according to pre-eligibility criteria, with data extraction and methodological quality assessed in parallel. Results3184 records were identified according to search criteria, 14 articles were included. Articles comprised of quantitative randomised controlled trials (n=7), quantitative non-randomised studies (n=5), a qualitative study (n=1), and mixed method study (n=1). The majority of selected studies completed exercise programs (n=4) or had exercise components (n=2), with two focusing on upper-limb exercise. Two articles reported smoking cessation, with single studies reporting multi-modal prehabilitation (n=1), and complementary and alternative therapies (n=5). Mostly, prehabilitation improved outcomes including: physical function, quality of life, and psychosocial variables (P<0.05). The qualitative data identified preferences for multi-modal prehabilitation, compared to unimodal with interest in receiving support for longer. ConclusionsPrehabilitation for patients with breast cancer is an emerging research area that appears to improve outcomes, however ensuring adequate intervention timeframes, follow-up and population groups should be considered for future investigations. Implications for Cancer SurvivorsThe implementation of prehabilitation interventions for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer should be utilised by multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic care to patients as it has the potential to improve outcomes across the cancer care trajectory.
Fitness parameters in young football players are affected by training load and somatic-anthropometric variations
Authors: Schillaci Giacomo , Ivaldi Marco
Published: August 2022

Purpose: Investigate fitness parameters, somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load variations in Italian elite soccer players during pre/mid and post-puberty. Methods: 36 Italian elite young soccer players (GIOVANISSIMI: 18; ALLIEVI: 18) participated in study. Their somatic-anthropometric and fitness parameters were assessed and training load (Session-RPE) was monitored during 119 days in the sporty season. Results: During the observational period meaningful variation in CMJ and 30-15IFT emerged in ALLIEVI and only in CMJ in GIOVANISSIMI. Meaningful correlations emerged between variations in CMJ and variations in numerous somatic-anthropometric parameters in ALLIEVI but only variations in ARM-GIRTH in GIOVANISSIMI. Meaningful correlations were found between variations in 30-15IFT and only variations in SUP-SKIN in ALLIEVI, training load during match in GIOVANISSIMI and ALLIEVI and training load during session training only in ALLIEVI. Conclusions: During puberty variation in fitness parameters are affected by variations in somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load parameters differently between GIOVANISSIMI and ALLIEVI. This study offers new interpretations about the effect of anthropometric and somatic parameters, as well as on training dose (volume, intensity and typology) on the variation of fitness parameters during puberty.
Anxiety and the associated factors among admitted surgical and medical patients, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tesfaw Getachew , Siyoum Merga , Salelew Endalamaw , Minichil Woredaw
Published: August 2022

Background
Anxiety is a common comorbid mental health problem with different medical illnesses and it can complicate major medical health problems. Despite its impact of physical functioning, quality of life, drug adherence, use of health service resources, good health behaviors, and increasing suicidal tendencies and mortality, it is neither diagnosed nor treated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of anxiety and its determinants among admitted patients for the contribution of attempting optimal care for of these patients.
Method
An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult surgical and medical inpatients from May 13 to June 12, 2019. Systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit a total of 590 participants. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with anxiety symptoms. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to assess the strength of the association, and variables with p-value of < 0.05 was declared as statistically significant.
Result
The overall prevalence of anxiety was 62.7% with 95% CI (58.6, 66.9). In the multivariate analysis; female sex, being single, previous history of admission, and multiple medical diagnosis were factors significantly associated with anxiety symptoms.
Conclusion
In this study, the prevalence of anxiety among medical and surgical inpatients was found to be high. Therefore, it is better to screen any risks of anxiety, and psychological assessment tests are better to be integrated into routine hospital inpatient care to prevent anxiety.
Initial development and physiological potential of soybean and maize as a function of vigor level and seed size
Authors: Meneguzzo Michele Renata Revers , Meneghello Géri Eduardo , Carvalho Ivan Ricardo , Xavier Fernanda Da Motta , Gonçalves Vanessa Pinto , Maass Diéli Witte , Teixeira Sheila Bigolin , Martins Andrea Bica Noguez , Lautenchleger Francine , Lângaro Nadia Canalli
Published: August 2022

This work aimed to evaluate the initial development of soybean and maize plants due to the vigor level and the seed size used. Soybean seeds of cultivar 5855 RSF IPRO (BMX ELITE) and hybrid maize Fórmula Viptera were classified in two sizes of sieve (6.00 and 6.50 mm - soybean; 7.50 and 7.00 mm - maize) and two levels of vigor for soybean and three levels of vigor for maize. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 x 2 bifactorial scheme (sieve size x vigor levels) for soybean and 2 x 3 (sieve size x vigor levels) for maize, with four replications. The variables evaluated were germination, first germination count and emergence in bed. In the evaluation of seedling initial performance, shoot, root and total length, volume and dry mass were evaluated at 7, 11 and 14 days after sowing for soybean and at 7, 14 and 21 days for maize seeds. High vigor soybean and maize seeds presented high physiological quality, as well as in the development of plants, where larger and of high vigor soybean seeds showed higher plant length and dry mass. The classification of seeds through the level of vigor influences the physiological quality of soybean and maize seeds. Larger seeds with higher vigor showed greater length and initial development of seedlings, being indicated the use of seeds of something vigor
Effect of different soil water tensions and potassium fertilization on the production and quality of netted melon (cucumis melo l.) in the Amazon area
Authors: Nascimento Joycilene Teixeira do , Medeiros Maria do Bom Concelho Lacerda , Júnior Joaquim Alves de Lima , Santos Helane Cristina Aguiar , Oliveira Pedro Daniel de
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and qualitative behavior of netted melon in a protected environment subjected to different soil water tensions and potassium doses, applied via fertigation. The experimental design was randomized blocks (RBD) in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme with 20 treatments and three replicates, consisting of five percentage doses of potassium (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200%) and four soil water tensions (15, 30, 45 and 60 kPa). The variables analyzed were average yield (t ha-1), transverse and longitudinal diameter of fruits (mm), pulp thickness (mm), °Brix (%) and pH. Yield and fruit longitudinal diameter were decreased linearly with the increase in soil water tension. The best result for yield and fruit longitudinal diameter of 51.24 t ha-1 and 127.7 mm were achieved, respectively, when irrigation performed at 15 kPa tension. The lowest value was found at the maximum tension (60 kPa). Regarding potassium doses, a quadratic model fitted to the data, with maximum values of yield and longitudinal diameter at the K2O doses of 235.30 and 232.82 kg ha-1, respectively. The interaction of T x K led to higher values of °Brix under 247.68 and 371.52 kg ha-1 of K2O with tension of 24.67 kPa, with no difference between both. The best result of fruit transverse diameter was observed under combination of 371.52 kg ha-1 of K2O and 15 kPa tension. Irrigation at tension of 15 kPa and K2O dose of 247.68 kg ha-1 can be indicated for the study conditions
Potential of N2-fixing endophytic bacteria isolated from maize roots as biofertiliser to enhance soil fertility, N uptake, and yield of Zea mays L. cultivated in alluvial soil in dykes
Authors: Khuong Nguyen Quoc Khuong , Thuc Le Vinh , Duc Hua Huu , Huu Tran Ngoc , Van Tran Thi Bich , Thu Le Thi My , Quang Le Thanh , Xuan Do Thi , Nhan Tran Chi , Xuan Nguyen Thi Thanh , Xuan Ly Ngoc Thanh
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to (i) select the endophytic bacteria from maize roots for their N2-fixing ability and (ii) evaluate the efficacy of potent indigenous bacterial strains on soil fertility, nitrogen (N) uptake, and growth and yield of maize. A total of 31 maize root samples were collected from An Giang province in Vietnam to isolate the bacteria. The pot experiment was conducted in nine treatments: (i) 100% N of the recommended fertiliser formula (RFF), (ii) 85% N of RFF, (iii) 70% N of RFF, (iv) 55% N of RFF, (v) 85% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria (NFEB), (vi) 70% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, (vii) 25% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, (viii) 0% N of RFF plus a mixture of two potent strains of NFEB, and (ix) 0% N of RFF. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to collect soil and plant samples at harvest and observe their growth and agronomic parameters. The results showed that two acid-resistant endophytic bacterial strains were selected and identified as Enterobacter cloacae ASD-21 and E. cloacae ASD-48. At 85% N level, a mixture of the two endophytic bacteria strains was applied as biofertilisers and proved their ability to significantly enhance NH4+ content and N uptake, with an increase of 14.8 mg NH4+ kg-1 and 0.26 g N pot-1, respectively. A mixture of the two potent strains of NFEB produced higher values in plant height, stem diameter, cob length, and cob diameter compared to 100% N of RFF. It replaced 15% N of RFF but still maintained the maize grain yield
Nutrient balance in a constructed wetland system using treated domestic wastewater on ornamental sunflower crops
Authors: Magaña Jazmin Del Carmen de la Cruz , Sandri Delvio , Cajamarca Sabrina Magaly Navas , Mendez Daniel Fernando Salas , Clara Jesus Manuel Perez
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to assess the nutrient dynamics of raw and treated wastewater (RWW and WW) in constructed wetlands (CW) for the irrigation of ornamental sunflowers, compared to freshwater (Fw) in Red Yellow Latosol (RYL) with (OF) and without (WF) inorganic fertilization. The study was carried out from July 10th to October 2nd of 2019. Wastewater was applied in pots with 10 kg of RYL. The amount of salts in the RWW, influent and effluent of CW and UnS (Uncultivated System), were evaluated in eleven samples. The study also assessed the following: plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of leaves (NL), leaf area index (LAI), the inner diameter of the capitulum (IDc), the outer diameter of the capitulum (ODc), number of petals in the bud (NP), days after harvest (DAH), fresh phytomass in the aerial part (FPAP), dry phytomass in the aerial part (DPAP), fresh phytomass of the capitulum (FPc), dry phytomass of the capitulum (DPc), nutrient content in the aerial sunflower, and chemical composition in the RYL. The average removal efficiency of K+, Ca2+, and Fe in the CW was 34.33, 37.88, 39.82, and 45.40%, respectively. The PH (86.54 cm), SD (11.75 mm), NL (21), and LAI 3646.73 cm2) were higher in the WWOF treatment at 70 days after sowing. Treated wastewater without fertilization (WWWF) presented higher P, K, S, B, and Mn absorption. Freshwater with fertilization accumulated greater amounts of N, and WWOF accumulated greater amounts of Zn. Wastewater increased the P content and decreased K+ and Ca2+ in RYL. Irrigation with domestic WW in CW provided salts to the soil and increased the growth and quality of sunflowers irrigated with Fw
Non-destructive estimation of tomato fruit properties by interactive consecutive model series
Authors: KILIC Murat , BOZOKALFA M. Kadri
Published: August 2022

Fruit shape is an important quality parameter, and such variables as fruit diameter, height, weight, cross-sectional area and volume are components affecting this feature. In particular, these properties are the most important parameters in industrial applications for fruit grading, in determining the conditions of optimum packing, in providing the most suitable transportation facilities, and in optimizing crop production strategies. In this investigation, mathematical models were devised which enable estimation of the cross-sectional area, weight and volume of the fruit by a non-destructive method in the field before harvest. The modelling process was carried out by means of data analysis approaches and interactive consecutive calculation series for the Bandita F1 tomato cultivar. The correlation between the measured and estimated cross-sectional area, weight and volume of the fruit were 0.9672, 0.9809 and 0.9684, respectively. Apart from this, the accuracy rates of the models proposed for the estimation of the cross-sectional area, weight and volume are 97.12%, 95.40% and 95.37% respectively. In addition, the performance and validity of the models are in the “very good” category according to the all three analyses of NS, RSR and PBIAS. These results indicated that the models proposed gave high rates of accurate results
Genotype × environment interaction and stability analysis on physicochemical traits of Malaysian rice hybrid across the environments
Authors: Elixon S. , Rafii Y. Mohd , Asfaliza R. , Mashitah J. , Izzan R. Shairul
Published: August 2022

In the development of new varieties, physicochemical properties such as grain quality, milling, and chemical content are important. Twenty rice hybrids were tested in various environments in this study. Using multivariate and univariate models, the major goal is to identify rice hybrids with acceptable physicochemical properties and high stability. According to the ANOVA, variance due to season×genotype×location revealed a significant difference in length to width ratio, head rice recovery, and amylose content. Milled grain length and width varied from 6.64 to 7.32 mm and 1.78 to 2.06 mm, respectively, throughout the environments. The head rice recovery and amylose content, on the other hand, varied from 84.83 to 94.68% and 16.51 to 22.21%, respectively. The stability analysis for head rice trait using genotype superiority, static stability, Wrickie ecovelance, Nassar and Huehn, AMMI stability value, and coefficient of variation stability analysis, revealed that hybrids G2, G13, G8, G16, G7, G9, G6, G17, and G18 were the most stable. For Amylose content, hybrids G7, G4, G19, G10, G5, G17, G3, G12 and G11 were significantly stable. Except for G5, all hybrids demonstrated stable performance in the multivariate stability analysis for head rice recovery. Similarly, hybrids G3, G4, G5, and G7 responded in minimum GE interaction in multivariate analysis for amylose content. This discovery can help breeders pick potential hybrids by identifying the physicochemical attribute expression that was examined in different conditions
Biodiversity and community structure of Arthropod in tropical rice fields under organic and conventional ecosystems
Authors: Yunus Mohammad , Nasir Burhanuddin , Lasmini Sri Anjar , Piri Reski Leme’
Published: August 2022

The practice of conventional rice cultivation using inorganic fertilizers and synthetic chemical pesticides can affect the stability of ecosystems. This study aimed to compare the diversity and community structure of arthropods in tropical rice field under organic and conventional ecosystems. This research was conducted at Oloboju, located at an altitude of 120 m above sea level. The soil type was inceptisol. The research used observation and exploration methods. The sampling of arthropods in the field used a sweep net, a pitfall trap, a yellow pan trap and by hand. The variables measured were the taxonomic composition and relative morpho-species abundance, family and order composition. Relative morpho-species abundance was assessed based on functional roles, number of species, and the total number of individuals. The results show that the Shannon diversity index value (H') and Margalef richness index (Dmg) were higher in organic rice ecosystems than conventional. On the other hand, the organic rice ecosystem had a Simpson dominance index value (C) and an evenness index (E) lower than the values of C and E in conventional rice ecosystems. The organic ecosystem had a community structure of arthropod of 9 orders, 24 families, and 28 morpho-species, with an abundance of 4,002 individuals, while the conventional ecosystem had a community structure of arthropod of 7 orders, 17 families, and 20 morpho-species with an abundance of 1,789 individuals. The practice of organic rice cultivation would increase the biodiversity index towards ecosystem balance so that it could be used as an alternative to pest control
Industrial treatment of soybean seeds subjected to high volumes of fungicides, insecticides, biostimulants and micronutrients during storage
Authors: Pereira Renata Cristiane , Silva Breno Gabriel da , Braccini Alessandro Lucca , Oliveira Silas Maciel de , Coppo Carla , Bastiane Géssica Gaboardi De , Pelloso Murilo Fuentes , Borges Yana Miranda
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to examine the performance of soybean seeds at different storage periods as well as their physiological quality after the application of spray mixtures of insecticides, fungicides, polymers, micronutrients and biostimulants. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Treatments were as follows: T1 - untreated seeds (control); T2 - insecticide and fungicide + polymer + drying powder; T3 - insecticide and fungicide + polymer + drying powder + micronutrient; and T4 - insecticide and fungicide + polymer + drying powder + micronutrient + biostimulant. For each industrial seed treatment (IST), the specific spray volumes tested were 0, 400, 600 or 1100 mL 100 kg seeds-1. Soybean seeds were stored for 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days and subsequently evaluated for physiological potential. At each storage period, the following tests were conducted: germination, first count, accelerated aging, emergence speed index, final emergence in sand substrate, whole-seedling length, shoot length and root length. Industrial seed treatment reduces seed physiological quality. The seed treatment corresponding to the highest spray volume provided the lowest means in all tested treatments. For all analyzed variables, the ST4 treatment, to which biostimulant was added, presented the lowest averages, indicating that the greater the volume of spray, the greater the damage caused to the physiological quality of the seeds, both before and after storage
Marketing Strategy For Wadiah Easy Saving BSI Products In The 4.0 Industry Era
Authors: Hidayah Nurul , Musfiroh Mila Fursiana Salma Musfiroh Fursiana Salma , Hinawati Titik , Purwanto Heri
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurpose - This study aims to determine the marketing strategy used in marketing the Easy Wadiah Savings BSI product in the industrial era 4.0.Method - This research is a field research with a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews and documentation. The data obtained is then reduced, display data, and draw conclusions.Result - The results of the research at Bank Syariah Indonesia KCP Banjarnegara showed that the marketing strategy used was the 4P (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) marketing mix in marketing the BSI Easy Wadiah Savings product in the industrial era 4.0 which could attract customers to open a BSI Easy Wadiah Savings account. at Bank Syariah Indonesia KCP Banjarnegara so that every month there is an increase. Banks in marketing their products have encouraging and inhibiting factors. There are still many customers who have not followed the development of the industrial era 4.0 so they have not been able to maximize the convenience of the facilities offered by banks.Implication - This research can be used as a reference in marketing Easy Wadiah Savings BSI products in the 4.0 industrial era.Originality - The marketing strategy used in marketing the Easy Wadiah Savings BSI product in the industrial era 4.0 is to utilize the use of the BSI Mobile application to make it easier for customers to open accounts online and perform other banking transactions.
Isolation and evaluation of brackish diatoms for the photobiological treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate
Authors: Ikehata Keisuke , Nakamura Noriaki , Kulkarni Harshad V. , Zhao Yuanyuan , Maleky Nima , Sato Shinya , Gao Han
Published: August 2022

Recently, the use of brackish diatoms has been proposed to remove various inorganic constituents, such as dissolved silica, nutrients, calcium, and bicarbonate, to enhance the freshwater recovery in reverse osmosis (RO). In this study, nine strains of brackish diatoms isolated from water and sediment samples from several evaporation ponds in California and Arizona were examined for their ability to assimilate silica and remove other constituents from RO concentrate. In addition to two previously reported strains, namely Gedaniella flavovirens PEWL001 and Nitzschia communis PEWL002, several new isolates including Halamphora sydowii PEWL004, Nitzschia sp. PEWL008, and Halamphora sp. PEWL011 were found to remove more than 95% of silica, 95% of ammonia and orthophosphate, and more than 50% of calcium and carbonate within 6 days. Two additional G. flavovirens strains (Psetr3 and Psetr7) collected from a brackish lake in Aomori, Japan, also showed rapid dissolved silica uptake (32 mg L−1 day−1) comparable to the one isolated from an agricultural drainage water evaporation pond in the Central Valley, California. This study demonstrated that the brackish diatoms isolated from the evaporation ponds could be useful for the treatment of RO concentrate, which would possibly enable more sustainable desalination processes.
Quantitative analysis of the human intervention impacts on hydrological drought in the Zayande-Rud River Basin, Iran
Authors: Nasiri Nesar , Asghari Keyvan , Besalatpour Ali A.
Published: August 2022

In a human-dominated world, access to sustainable water resources has led to complex management policies that affect hydrological droughts. Applying the best approach to assess the contribution of these human-made changes to hydrological droughts is still underexplored. In this study, the individual and joint impacts of dam and inter-basin water transfer projects are quantified for the characteristic changes of hydrological drought using a developed data-based framework and were tested in a semi-arid, data-scarce basin in central Iran. The proposed data-based framework combines the upstream–downstream comparison method and the individual–station–drought analysis. This framework could properly assess the individual and joint contributions of dam and water transfer projections to making aggravations or alleviations in hydrological drought. It identified the dam and joint impacts of the dam with water transfer by 66 and 55%, respectively, as the most effective human intervention to alleviate the duration of hydrological drought. The proposed framework gives the flexibility to form different comparative analyses by using different types of flow data to assess the impacts of human interventions. This framework is also applicable in other regions to quantify the contributions of point-based human interventions to hydrological droughts. The comprehensive knowledge of solutions to alleviate the adverse impacts of droughts can reduce the damage in water-stressed regions.
The extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples with aromatic-dithiocarbamate modified magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Ma Yurong , Niu Hongyun , Cai Yaqi , Luo Ting , Zhu Junya , Chen Meng , He Jun , Liu Zixuan , Gu Xiang , Yin Chang
Published: August 2022

Considering the urgent need for the analysis of trace-level pollutants in water samples, the pre-concentration of micropollutants in water samples has been the focus of extensive research. Among current pretreatment methods, the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique has received enormous attention because of its low cost, ease of operation and high efficiency. In this work, a new adsorbent (Fe3O4@Au@DTC NPs) was acquired through modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) with gold (Au) and dithiocarbamate (DTC). To investigate their application ability, the adsorbent were utilized as an SPE adsorbent to enrich polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water (PAHs, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo anthracene, benzo fluoranthene, benzo pyrene). The obtained Fe3O4@Au@DTC NPs were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and UV-Vis spectrum. Under optimal conditions, the calibration curves were obtained in the range of 10–500 ng L−1, while the limit of detection (LOD) ranged in 1.17–2.31 ng L−1. Furthermore, 50 mg of Fe3O4@Au@DTC NPs could extract trace PAHs from 500 mL real water samples into 1 mL eluent, and the spiked recoveries of five PAHs in river water and tap water reached 72–106% with relative standard deviations varying between 3.3–5.18%. Through the conversion of amines into DTC, we acquire desiring group modified Fe3O4 NPs, which showed great prospects in magnetic solid-phase extraction sphere and environmental field.