bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risks of suicide among family members of suicide victims: A nationwide sample of South Korea
Authors: Jang Jihoon , Park Seong Yong , Kim Yeon Yong , Kim Eun Ji , Lee Gusang , Seo Jihye , Na Eun Jin , Park Jae-Young , Jeon Hong Jin
Published: October 2022

Objective

Identifying the risks of completed suicide in suicide survivors is essential for policies supporting family members of suicide victims. We aimed to determine the suicide risk of suicide survivors and identify the number of suicides per 100,000 population of suicide survivors, bereaved families of traffic accident victims, and bereaved families with non-suicide deaths.

Methods

This was a nationwide population-based cohort study in South Korea. The data were taken from the Korean National Health Insurance and Korea National Statistical Office between January 2008 and December 2017. The relationship between the decedent and the bereaved family was identified using the family database of the National Health Insurance Data. Age and gender were randomly matched 1:1 among 133,386 suicide deaths and non-suicide deaths. A proportional hazard model regression analysis was conducted after confirming the cumulative hazard using Kaplan–Meier curves to obtain the hazard ratio (HR) of completed suicide in suicide survivors.

Results

Using 423,331 bereaved families of suicide victims and 420,978 bereaved families of non-suicide deaths as the control group, HR of completed suicide in suicidal survivors was found to be 2.755 [95% confidence limit (CL): 2.550–2.977]. HR for wives committing suicide after husbands' suicide was 5.096 (95% CL: 3.982–6.522), which was the highest HR among all relationships with suicide decedents. The average duration from suicide death to suicide of family members was 25.4 months. Among suicide survivors, the number of suicides per 100,000 people was 586, thrice that of people in bereaved families of traffic accident victims and in bereaved families of non-suicide deaths.

Conclusion

The risk of completed suicide was three times higher in suicide survivors than in bereaved families with non-suicide deaths, and it was highest in wives of suicide decedents. Thus, socio-environmental interventions for suicidal survivors must be expanded.
The impact of vaccine hesitation on the intentions to get COVID-19 vaccines: The use of the health belief model and the theory of planned behavior model
Authors: Li Zeming , Ji Ying , Sun Xinying
Published: October 2022

Object

During the later period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has been at risk of the evolving COVID-19 variants and hesitated to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to a certain extent. In this context, the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of planned behavior model (TPB) were used to compare and summarize the relationship between vaccine hesitation/non-hesitation and the intentions to get COVID-19 vaccines and its influencing factors.

Methods

The cross-sectional, population-based online survey was conducted from 14 April to 30 April 2021, and 1757 respondents were recruited to participate in the survey through the Wenjuanxing online survey platform. The HBM and TPB covariate scores were expressed using means and standard deviations and compared between groups using t-tests. Backward multiple linear regression models were used to explore the factors influencing the public's intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccines.

Results

This study found that educational background is one of the factors influencing vaccine hesitation. Most people with high education do not hesitate (65.24%), while a more significant proportion of people with low education have vaccine hesitation (66.00%). According to HBM, for the vaccine hesitation group, self-efficacy, family advice, and doctor's advice were the most critical factors affecting the public's future vaccination intentions; for the vaccine non-hesitation group, self-efficacy, doctor's advice, and perceived benefits are the most important influencing factors. According to the TPB, the subjective norm is the most critical factor affecting the future vaccination intention of the vaccine hesitation group, and the attitude toward behavior is the most critical factor affecting the future vaccination intention of the vaccine non-hesitation group.

Conclusions

In the context of COVID-19, the public's hesitation on the “current” vaccines will still affect future vaccination intentions. Using HBM and TPB would help health policymakers and healthcare providers formulate intervention plans.
Social prescribing for frequent attenders in primary care: An economic analysis
Authors: Lynch Mary , Jones Ceri R.
Published: October 2022

Background

Social prescribing (SP) is a mechanism to link patients with community groups and third sector organizations. It offers a complimentary approach to the traditional medical models to address psychosocial needs of patients more effectively and in turn aims to reduce demand on the NHS. The aim of this study was to explore the economic benefits related to changes in the use of healthcare resources following a social prescribing intervention in four primary care practices in Wales.

Methods

Quantitative data from routine healthcare usage was collected from the 78 participants pre and post-intervention. The participants were grouped into frequent attenders (FA) (n = 21) and frequent (n = 57) non-attenders (FNA), and a cost analysis was conducted to estimate cost variances based on healthcare unit usage over the length of the pilot intervention. These were then extrapolated forward to identify potential healthcare savings.

Results

The SP as an intervention generated the largest cost saving for FAs. The cost variance when FAs participated in the intervention shows there is a direct cost saving of £6,113 or £78.37 per participant over the 5 months of the intervention.

Conclusions

Results suggest there may be a cost saving associated with SP interventions, however caution should be exercised in interpreting the results due to the lack of control group in this study The cost saving were largest for FAs, where the intervention reduced healthcare unit usage as well as actual and inferred impact on associated healthcare costs. This suggests that in practice to generate the maximum cost benefit SP interventions could be targeted at FAs.
Super-multifactorial survey YHAB revealed high prevalence of sleep apnoea syndrome in unaware older adults and potential combinatorial factors for its initial screening
Authors: Tanaka Yuji , Ando Takashi , Mochizuki Kazuki , Igarashi Satoshi , Tsuchiya Kyoichiro , Saito Kozo , Ito Yasumi , Yamagata Zentaro , Iwasaki Masaru , YHAB Health Data Survey Group 2020
Published: October 2022

Study Objectives: Aging is a risk factor for sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS), which is associated with lower quality of life and sudden mortality. However, SAS is often overlooked in older adults without suspicions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate SAS incidence and 48 other general factors in older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included all non-caregiver-certified, healthy individuals (N = 32) who survived during the long-term cohort study and agreed to participate in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) measurement (aged 83–95 years). AHI and 48 other general factors were evaluated, and simple linear regression analysis was used to identify potential AHI-related factors. Stepwise evaluation was further performed using multiple linear regression analyses.

Results: Although no individuals were previously diagnosed with SAS, 30 (93.75%) participants had some degree of SAS (AHI > 5/h), and 22 (68.75%) had severe or moderate SAS (AHI > 15/h). Compared with typical single risk factors represented by body mass index, combining daily steps and other factors improved the fit to the multiple linear regression. Combining daily steps and body mass index improved the fit for males and combining daily steps and red blood cell count improved the fit for females.

Conclusion: SAS was highly prevalent in unaware healthy Japanese older adults; combinations of daily steps and body mass index, and daily steps and red blood cell count may predict AHI in such individuals without the need for a specific AHI test.
Emotional characteristic analysis of human gait while real-time movie viewing
Authors: Jianwattanapaisarn Nitchan , Sumi Kaoru , Utsumi Akira , Khamsemanan Nirattaya , Nattee Cholwich
Published: October 2022

Emotion recognition is useful in many applications such as preventing crime or improving customer satisfaction. Most of current methods are performed using facial features, which require close-up face information. Such information is difficult to capture with normal security cameras. The advantage of using gait and posture over conventional biometrics such as facial features is that gaits and postures can be obtained unobtrusively from faraway, even in a noisy environment. This study aims to investigate and analyze the relationship between human emotions and their gaits or postures. We collected a dataset made from the input of 49 participants for our experiments. Subjects were instructed to walk naturally in a circular walking path, while watching emotion-inducing videos on Microsoft HoloLens 2 smart glasses. An OptiTrack motion-capturing system was used for recording the gaits and postures of participants. The angles between body parts and walking straightness were calculated as features for comparison of body-part movements while walking under different emotions. Results of statistical analyses show that the subjects' arm swings are significantly different among emotions. And the arm swings on one side of the body could reveal subjects' emotions more obviously than those on the other side. Our results suggest that the arm movements together with information of arm side and walking straightness can reveal the subjects' current emotions while walking. That is, emotions of humans are unconsciously expressed by their arm swings, especially by the left arm, when they are walking in a non-straight walking path. We found that arm swings in happy emotion are larger than arm swings in sad emotion. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to perform emotion induction by showing emotion-inducing videos to the participants using smart glasses during walking instead of showing videos before walking. This induction method is expected to be more consistent and more realistic than conventional methods. Our study will be useful for implementation of emotion recognition applications in real-world scenarios, since our emotion induction method and the walking direction we used are designed to mimic the real-time emotions of humans as they walk in a non-straight walking direction.
Social robots in a translanguaging pedagogy: A review to identify opportunities for robot-assisted (language) learning
Authors: van den Berghe Rianne
Published: October 2022

This mini review discusses the use of social robots in a translanguaging pedagogy: the use of robots to enable students to use their full linguistic repertoire within schools, so any language that they speak at home or in another aspect of their lives. Current research on robot-assisted second-language learning is reviewed with the aim of finding out whether students’ languages have been employed strategically to support learning of another language. A total of 83 articles has been analyzed on the use of first and second languages in student-robot interactions. Most interactions were either exclusively in the second language, or exclusively in the first language, with only target words in the second language. Few studies strategically mixed the two languages to bootstrap learning, and only one study used the first language of students with migrant backgrounds to learn the second language. The review concludes with recommendations for future use of social robots in a translanguaging pedagogy.
Improvements in sleep quality and fatigue are associated with improvements in functional recovery following hospitalization in older adults
Authors: Arentson-Lantz Emily J. , Deer Rachel R. , Kokonda Manasa , Wen Chelsey L. , Pecha Thomas A. , Carreon Samantha A. , Ngyen Trung M. , Volpi Elena , Nowakowski Sara
Published: October 2022

Study objectives

Poor sleep quality, a frequent problem in older adults, has been shown to be associated with reduced physical function and wellbeing. However, little is known about the relationship between sleep quality and the recovery of physical function following hospitalization. Thus, we conducted this study to examine the association between sleep quality and functional recovery after an acute hospitalization in community dwelling older adults.

Methods

Older adult patients (N = 23, mean age = 74 ± 9 years) were recruited during an acute hospitalization (average length of stay 3.9 days) with a cardiovascular (56%), pulmonary (22%), or metabolic (13%) admission diagnosis. Objective physical function was measured using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and self-reported function was assessed with Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL). Sleep quality was measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score and Iowa Fatigue Score (IFS). Testing was performed prior to discharge (baseline) and 4-weeks post-discharge (follow-up).

Results

Regression models showed PSQI Subjective Sleep Quality change scores from baseline to 4-week follow-up predicted a change in ADL (β = −0.22); PSQI Use of Sleep Medications change scores predicted a change in SPPB Total (β = 1.62) and SPPB Chair Stand (β = 0.63); IFS change scores predicted SPPB Total (β = −0.16) and SPPB Chair Stand performance (β = −0.07) change scores.

Conclusions

For older adults, changes in sleep medication use, daytime dysfunction, and fatigue were associated with improvements in functional recovery (including physical performance and independence) from acute hospitalization to 4-week follow-up. These results suggest that interventions focused on improving sleep quality, daytime consequences, and fatigue might help enhance physical functioning following hospitalization.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02203656.
Influence of age and industry experience on learning experiences and outcomes in virtual reality mines rescue training
Authors: Pedram Shiva , Palmisano Stephen , Miellet Sebastien , Farrelly Matthew , Perez Pascal
Published: October 2022

This study examined the effects of age and industry expertise on trainees’ state of mind before, learning experiences during, and outcomes following virtual reality (VR) mines rescue training. The trainees were 284 mine rescue brigadesmen attending group VR training sessions run by Coal Services NSW. They were aged between 24 and 64 years and had up to 40 years of mines rescue experience. Questionnaire data and learning outcome measures showed that these miners were able to effectively engage with, and learn from, this VR training regardless of their age or mining experience. While the older trainees initially reported higher levels of stress and had less gaming experience, their experiences during VR training were very similar (although reports that the VR technology sometimes did not meet the task requirements did increase with age). Crucially, the perceived learning outcomes of this VR training were unaffected by age or field experience.
RAISE: Robotics & AI to improve STEM and social skills for elementary school students
Authors: Hughes Charles E. , Dieker Lisa A. , Glavey Eileen M. , Hines Rebecca A. , Wilkins Ilene , Ingraham Kathleen , Bukaty Caitlyn A. , Ali Kamran , Shah Sachin , Murphy John , Taylor Matthew S.
Published: October 2022

The authors present the design and implementation of an exploratory virtual learning environment that assists children with autism (ASD) in learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills along with improving social-emotional and communication skills. The primary contribution of this exploratory research is how educational research informs technological advances in triggering a virtual AI companion (AIC) for children in need of social-emotional and communication skills development. The AIC adapts to students’ varying levels of needed support. This project began by using puppetry control (human-in-the-loop) of the AIC, assisting students with ASD in learning basic coding, practicing their social skills with the AIC, and attaining emotional recognition and regulation skills for effective communication and learning. The student is given the challenge to program a robot, Dash™, to move in a square. Based on observed behaviors, the puppeteer controls the virtual agent’s actions to support the student in coding the robot. The virtual agent’s actions that inform the development of the AIC include speech, facial expressions, gestures, respiration, and heart color changes coded to indicate emotional state. The paper provides exploratory findings of the first 2 years of this 5-year scaling-up research study. The outcomes discussed align with a common approach of research design used for students with disabilities, called single case study research. This type of design does not involve random control trial research; instead, the student acts as her or his own control subject. Students with ASD have substantial individual differences in their social skill deficits, behaviors, communications, and learning needs, which vary greatly from the norm and from other individuals identified with this disability. Therefore, findings are reported as changes within subjects instead of across subjects. While these exploratory observations serve as a basis for longer term research on a larger population, this paper focuses less on student learning and more on evolving technology in AIC and supporting students with ASD in STEM environments.
First shots of the climate revolution: An untold story
Authors: Roederer Juan G.
Published: October 2022

This is an account of the history of the “climate revolution of the eighties”, focusing on early discussions and, at times, fierce disputes about what’s wrong with Planet Earth and why, and what to do about it through coordinated research.

The paper describes the genesis and initial planning of the Global Change program within the International Council of Scientific Unions, and the early split of participating scientists into two camps: one emphasizing the need for a truly global, widely interdisciplinary and basic-science oriented approach that views the Earth system as one single whole of strongly interacting parts; the other camp defending a much more restricted approach by focusing exclusively on that which has greatest and most immediate impact on society.

As a spin-off from the defeat of the “globalists” came the generation of yet another, ultimately international (and politically far less contested) program, centered on what today is called Space Weather—the study of solar-variability- and human-induced changes in the space environment of Earth, and the ensuing effects on technological and human systems in space, as well as the possible physical downward actions of these space perturbations on our more immediate environment of air, water, land and biota.
The Ilima-Letsema programme's contribution to poverty alleviation in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Authors: Nkgudi Tshidi Mokgadi , Maake Matome Moshobane Simeon , Masekoameng Mosima Rachel
Published: October 2022

The South African government initiated the Ilima-Letsema programme to promote sustainable agricultural activities and improve the livelihoods of households in farming communities. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the Ilima-Letsema programme's contribution to job creation and poverty alleviation in the Midvaal Local Municipality of Gauteng Province, South Africa. The quantitative research approach and survey design were used to conduct the study. Data were collected from 196 beneficiaries of the programme through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires. Primary data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-test, Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Correlation, Cochran's Q and McNemar tests. The results indicated that the Ilima-Letsema programme significantly increased farmers' income and created jobs. Net farm income was positively and significantly influenced by education level, farmland size and jobs created. Net farm income was a significant predictor of jobs created in the post-support era, whereas education level and farmland size had negative impact. In addition, the programme significantly uplifted the elite beneficiaries from the upper-bound poverty line (UPBL); however, it did not uplift poor farmers from the food poverty line (FPL) and lower bound poverty line (LBPL). Education, farmland size and income had a positive and significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the programme's ability to uplift the beneficiaries from FPL, UBPL and UPBL amounts. It is recommended that Ilima-Letsema's rollout and budget should be expanded to enable more farmers to generate income and create employment opportunities for unskilled laborers in the agricultural sector. Again, the criteria for the programme should be changed in favor of less educated and resource-poor smallholder farmers, and producers with low net income.
Esophageal variceal ligation plus sclerotherapy vs. ligation alone for the treatment of esophageal varices
Authors: Yue Xiaofen , Wang Zeyu , Li Jianbiao , Guo Xiaoling , Zhang Xiehua , Li Shengnan , Lv Hongcheng , Hu Dongsheng , Ji Xiangjun , Li Shuang , Lu Wei
Published: October 2022

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) vs. EVL combined with endoscopic injection sclerosis (EIS) in the therapy of esophageal varices.

Methods

Patients from January 2017 to August 2021 who received EVL alone (control group) or EVL plus EIS (intervention group) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Efficacy, including rebleeding (clinically hematemesis or melena, confirmed by endoscopy as esophagogastric varices bleeding), variceal recurrence rate (the presence of esophagogastric varices which is needed to be treated again) the number of sessions performed to complete eradication of varices, and safety (adverse events) were compared. The variceal recurrence-associated factors were derived by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

The variceal recurrence and rebleeding rate in the intervention group showed significantly lower than the control group (2.6% vs 10.3%, P = 0.006 and 20.7% vs 37.5%, P = 0.029, P = 0.006, respectively, in the 12-month follow-up). The adverse events (fever, chest pain, swallowing, and esophageal stricture) showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Further research showed that the efficacy of the intervention group was better than the control group only achieved in prophylactically endoscopic treatment patients. The diameter of esophageal varices and gastric varices co-exist showed significant effects on variceal recurrence in intervention group [odds ratio (OR) = 15.856; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.709–160.143; P = 0.016 and OR = 4.5; 95% CI, 1.42–20.028; P = 0.021; respectively].

Conclusions

The intervention group may obtain lower recurrence, rebleeding rate, and fewer sessions performed to complete eradication of varices (number of sessions) and similar incidence of adverse events, especially for prophylactically treatment. Among the intervention group, the diameter of esophageal varices and gastric varices were closely associated with variceal recurrence.
3D bioprinted mesenchymal stromal cells in skin wound repair
Authors: Luo Yuansen , Xu Xuefeng , Ye Zhiming , Xu Qikun , Li Jin , Liu Ning , Du Yongjun
Published: October 2022

Skin tissue regeneration and repair is a complex process involving multiple cell types, and current therapies are limited to promoting skin wound healing. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been proven to enhance skin tissue repair through their multidifferentiation and paracrine effects. However, there are still difficulties, such as the limited proliferative potential and the biological processes that need to be strengthened for MSCs in wound healing. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been applied as a promising technology for tissue regeneration. 3D-bioprinted MSCs could maintain a better cell ability for proliferation and expression of biological factors to promote skin wound healing. It has been reported that 3D-bioprinted MSCs could enhance skin tissue repair through anti-inflammatory, cell proliferation and migration, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. In this review, we will discuss the progress on the effect of MSCs and 3D bioprinting on the treatment of skin tissue regeneration, as well as the perspective and limitations of current research.
Dietary Galla Chinensis tannic acid supplementation in the diets improves growth performance, immune function and liver health status of broiler chicken
Authors: Niu Jiaxing , Wang Qinjin , Jing Changwei , Liu Yang , Liu Hua , Jiao Ning , Huang Libo , Jiang Shuzhen , Guan Qinglin , Li Yang , Yang Weiren
Published: October 2022

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Galla Chinensis tannic acid (TA) on growth performance, immune function, and liver health status in broilers. A total of 288 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into two groups in a 42-days study. The two groups were a basal diet (CON group) and a basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg Galla Chinensis tannic acid (TA group). The results showed that the TA group had significantly decreased feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). The levels of total protein, albumin, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, urea, total cholesterol, and glucose in the TA group were significantly higher than in the CON group (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and complements (C3, C4) levels in the TA group were significantly higher than those in the CON group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the hepatic interleukin-6, interleukin-18, NLRs family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and caspase-3 in the TA group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Besides, TA group had significantly lower mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and NLRP3 in liver (P < 0.05). The TA group had significantly higher the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 than CON group in liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, TA group tended to decrease Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in liver (P < 0.10). To sum up, dietary supplemented with microencapsulated TA from Galla Chinensis had beneficial effects on growth performance, immune function, and liver health status in broilers. The protective role of TA from Galla Chinensis in liver health of broilers might be related to the inhibition of hepatic apoptosis and pyroptosis via inactivation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Calf care workers' attitudes and personality and their association with calf mortality in large-scale dairy farms
Authors: Viidu Dagni-Alice , Ferguson Eamonn , Kaart Tanel , Mõtus Kerli
Published: October 2022

Although calf mortality is a multifactorial problem, little is known about the attitudes and personalities of calf care workers (CCWs) and their association with calf mortality. This study aimed to describe the attitudes, satisfaction, and personality of CCWs in large Estonian dairy herds and to analyze their associations with herd calf mortality. A questionnaire registering CCWs' attitudes toward their work and calf mortality, personality characteristics, satisfaction and importance of different job-related factors was developed. In total, completed questionnaire data of 161 CCWs from 108 large (>100 cows) Estonian dairy farms were analyzed. Herd-level yearly calf mortality risk (MR) was calculated. Cluster analysis and variance partitioning analysis were applied to reveal the explanatory capacity of CCWs' attitudes and personalities on calf mortality. The mean yearly herd-level calf MR was 5.4% during the first 21 days of life and 2.7% during 22–90 days of life. Although good calf health and low calf mortality was important for CCWs, dead calves were often seen as inevitable. CCWs were generally doubtful regarding their capacity and available knowledge to influence calf mortality. In high-mortality herds, CCWs were dissatisfied with the calf health situation and farm working equipment and felt that the situation was out of their control. Despite striving, they had less faith that farmworkers could affect the outcomes, such as calf mortality. CCWs' personality domains explained <5% of the variance in the herd's calf MR, whereas their attitudes and satisfaction explained 20% of the variability in calf MR. The current study revealed the importance of the attitudes and satisfaction of CCWs on calf mortality and highlighted the need to allocate proficient assistance to herds with high calf mortality to mitigate calf health problems and the resulting consequences for CCWs.
Dietary Forsythia suspensa extracts supplementation improves antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory functions, meat fatty acid deposition, and intestinal microbial community in finishing pigs
Authors: Liu Sujie , Wang Qianqian , Ma Jiayu , Wang Jian , Wang Hongliang , Liu Li , Long Shenfei , Piao Xiangshu
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to determine the effects of Forsythia suspensa extracts (FSE) on performance, antioxidant status, inflammatory cytokines, meat quality, meat fatty acid composition, and gut microbial community in finishing pigs. Sixty-four pigs [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)] with an average initial body weight of 88.68 kg were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments, with eight replicate pens per treatment (four pens were barrows and four pens were gilts), four pigs per pen. The dietary treatments included a corn–soybean meal basal diet (CON) and an FS diet (basal diet + 100 mg/kg FSE; FS). Compared with CON, pigs fed FSE showed enhanced (P < 0.05) saturated fatty acid (SFA)/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio, reduced (P < 0.05) lightness, and n−6/n−3 PUFA ratio, as well as tended to increase C20:5n3 content in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Moreover, pigs fed FSE showed decreased (P < 0.05) serum cortisol and tumor nuclear factor-α contents, and increased (P < 0.05) serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase contents compared with CON. These pigs also tended to have increased serum total protein and immunoglobulin G contents, and decreased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and interleukin-1β contents compared with CON. In the colon, pigs fed FSE had a higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Bifidobacteriales at the order level, Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae at the family level, as well as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium at the genus level compared with CON. In conclusion, dietary Forsythia suspensa extract supplementation effectively improved antioxidant status and anti-inflammatory functions, as well as modulated meat fatty acid composition, and gut microbial community in finishing pigs.
COVID-19 Vaccine Attitude and Its Predictors Among People Living With Chronic Health Conditions in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Ojewale Lucia Yetunde , Afolabi Rotimi Felix , Ogunniyi Adesola
Published: October 2022

Objective: To assess vaccination attitude and its associated factors among people with chronic health conditions.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 423 patients with chronic medical conditions. Data were collected on socio-demographic and COVID-19-related characteristics, via Open Data Kit software. A Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) Scale was adopted. The main outcome was vaccine attitude status defined as positive if a VAX sum score was above the median value; otherwise, non-positive. Data were analysed using Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses, at 5% level of significance.

Results: Overall proportion of patients with a positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination uptake was 46.6%. The most influential factor towards positive attitude was rating the government high in handling the pandemic. Other factors were education, income, COVID-19 knowledge and living room arrangement (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Less than half of people living with a chronic medical condition had a positive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine. The attitudes are strongly mediated by confidence in the government. The government could promote a positive vaccine attitude by improving the clarity of health instructions that shows government transparency and effective communication. These are critical tools for maintaining public trust and confidence.
Design, Micro-Fabrication, and Characterization of a 3-DoF Micro-Conveyor Based on Digital Actuators
Authors: Huyan Pengfei , Li Pengchao , Huang Yulin , Cui Ximing
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a novel optimal 3-DoF micro-conveyor based on electromagnetic digital actuators array is proposed. The micro-conveyor consists of four electromagnetic digital actuators. Two specific control strategies have been built to realize the 3-DoF planner conveyance task. A static analytical model and a dynamic semi-analytical model based on the principle have been built for the optimal design, analysis, and necessary calculation of a prototype. The prototype was manufactured by micro-fabrication technology and several experiments were carried out. The experimental results are in good agreement with the modeling results. Benefited from the optimal design and high fabrication precision, the proposed micro-conveyor is proved to be better in magnetic homogeneity of elementary actuators, output stability, long range conveyance linearity, and have one more DoF (planar rotation) compared to the previous work.
Optimization Framework for Early Conceptual Design of Helicopters
Authors: Knöös Franzén Ludvig , Staack Ingo , Krus Petter , Amadori Kristian
Published: October 2022

This work illustrates how a proposed method can be used to create optimization frameworks for early conceptual design studies and to increase overall knowledge at an early design stage. The method is intended to facilitate concept selection in challenging domains that typically involve multidisciplinary design problems with contradictory requirements. The main focus of the work presented here is on the conceptual design of helicopters; however, the method is intended to be applicable to early design studies in other domains as well. In short, statistics about existing helicopters are collected and compiled to provide a basis for various regression analyses. The purpose of this is to unravel relationships in the data and to obtain simple estimation models from statistical regressions that can be used in conjunction with existing formulas and equations to generate an initial helicopter design estimate. Models for each discipline, such as aerodynamics, are then created using the outcomes of the regression analyses and existing equations. Lastly, the method is used to define a multidisciplinary design optimization framework incorporating all the models obtained from the different disciplines. A case study based on search and rescue operations is used to test the proposed framework in order to obtain possible first suggestions for the baseline design of a new general-purpose search and rescue helicopter.
Simulation and Experiment of Sieving Process of Sieving Device for Tiger Nut Harvester
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Zhou Zheng , Qu Zhe , Li Zhijie , Wang Wanzhang
Published: October 2022

In order to realize mechanized and efficient harvesting of tiger nuts, study the efficient screening technology of beans and soil in a mechanized harvesting operation and improve the harvesting operation efficiency of crawler-type tiger nut harvesters, a theoretical analysis of the motion process of detritus particles on a sieve surface was conducted to determine the main factors affecting the motion of the particles on the sieve surface. A numerical simulation of the sieving process using the discrete element method was conducted to improve the screening efficiency of tiger nuts. The transport law of the debris particle population was analyzed from different perspectives, such as the average velocity of particle motion, particle distribution rate, screening efficiency and loss rate. The effects of factors such as screen amplitude (SA), vibration frequency (VF) and inclination angle (IA) on the sieving performance of the tiger nut threshing and screening device were investigated. The results show that sieving performance evaluation indexes, such as the average speed of particle movement, particle distribution rate, screening efficiency and loss rate, are non-linearly related to the factors of screen amplitude, vibration frequency and screen inclination angle; the effects of amplitude and frequency on the distribution particle size are consistent and show a gradual increase, with the distribution particle size reaching 3.32 mm at an amplitude of 14 mm and 3.46 mm at a frequency of 22 Hz. In the sieving process, the average velocity of the particle population decreases gradually along the direction of motion, and the influence of each factor on the average velocity of the particle population in the motion of the detritus is similar, all showing an increasing trend. This study can provide a reference for exploring the transport law of particles and the efficient screening technology of tiger nuts. Field harvesting tests showed that the screening efficiency and loss rate were 92.87% and 0.83%, respectively, at a screen amplitude of 14 mm, a vibration frequency of 10 Hz and an inclination angle of 2°, and the test results corresponded to the simulation results and met the design requirements of the tiger nut harvester. This study can provide reference for the investigation of the particle transport law and efficient screening technology for tiger nuts.
Biochar Amendment Combined with Straw Mulching Increases Winter Wheat Yield by Optimizing Soil Water-Salt Condition under Saline Irrigation
Authors: Zhang Zemin , Zhang Zhanyu , Feng Genxiang , Lu Peirong , Huang Mingyi , Zhao Xinyu
Published: October 2022

The freshwater deficit is the major constraint to winter wheat production. Saline water irrigation could alleviate wheat water stress while increasing the risk of soil salinization, which would result in wheat yield reduction due to additional salt stress. The objective of the present study is to explore the effect of a straw-returning mode to promote winter wheat production under saline water irrigation. A field experiment was conducted during the winter wheat growing seasons of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. Four returning modes were set, based on an equivalent carbon input: straw mulching (SM), biochar amendment (BA), straw mulching combined with biochar amendment (SM+BA), and the control without straw-returning (CK), along with three salinity levels of irrigation water: 0.47 dS m−1 (I0, freshwater), 3.25 dS m−1 (I1), and 6.75 dS m−1 (I2). Saline water irrigation alone triggered soil salt accumulation and reduced the wheat grain yield by 9.43––18.19%. Returning straw to fields increased soil organic carbon content by 16.41––52.21% and decreased soil bulk density by 0.69––1.46%. The highest increase in wheat grain yield (16.60––21.80%) was always obtained when using treatment SM+BA, due to the increased soil moisture content (3.15––12.31%) and lower salt levels (24.79––44.29%) compared to CK. The results of the present study established that SM+BA provided better soil water–salt conditions and nutrient environment for winter wheat growth than a single treatment. Thus, the combined application of SM and BA was shown to be a proper mitigating strategy to cope with the adverse effects of saline irrigation on winter wheat production and to promote the sustainable use of saline water irrigation.
A Field Screening of a Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Ex-Situ Germplasm Collection for Resistance against the False Spider Mite (Tenuipalpus punicae)
Authors: Haldhar Sharavan Manbhar , Kumar Ramesh , Corrado Giandomenico , Berwal Mukesh Kumar , Gora Jagan Singh , Thaochan Narit , Samadia Dilip Kumar , Hussain Tajamul , Rouphael Youssef , Kumar Pradeep , Basile Boris
Published: October 2022

Mite management is a major problem in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivation in the arid and semi-arid regions of India and other Asian countries. The aim of this work was to investigate the susceptibility to the false spider mite (Tenuipalpus punicae) in a germplasm collection of Indian pomegranates. A field screening of 73 accessions allowed to define different classes of susceptibility (from very low to very high) based on the percentage of infested leaves. Twenty-two accessions, representative of the empirically identified five susceptibility classes, were further tested. The field screening against the mite, extended to another two years, showed that the infestation level did not display a significant interaction with the growing season, and highly correlated between the different growing seasons. The analysis of the tree vegetative growth (height, canopy size, and stem diameter), main phytochemical classes (total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins) and the antioxidant activity of the leaves indicated strong significant negative correlations between the infestation level and the biochemical traits. Multidimensional reduction of the measured traits revealed that the extreme classes of susceptibility to mites are mainly separated according to the accumulation of phytochemicals in leaves. This work, for the first time, allowed the identification of pomegranate germplasm with low susceptibility to T. punicae, with positive and useful implications for the establishment of new orchards, plant breeding, and the identification of allelochemicals of the leaves directly affecting mites.
Quantifying Phosphorus Leaching Loss from Mollisol with Organic Amendments
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Zhang Shuxiang , Peng Chang , Chi Guangyu , Chen Xin , Huang Bin , Lu Caiyan , Li Jizhi , Xu Li
Published: October 2022

The phosphorus (P) leaching from continuous fertilization is generally neglected in mollisol. The in situ leaching loss of phosphorus (P), especially dissolved organic P, is poorly quantified under organic amendments given its potential environmental risks. In this study, we conducted an in situ soil column experiment, instead of the traditional measuring of the soil layer, in the mollisol area of northeast China to investigate the seasonal variations in different P forms under three typical fertilization practices, including chemical fertilizer (CF), CF supplemented with straw (CFS), and CF co-applied with straw and manure (CFSM). Compared with the CF treatment, CFS treatment generally reduced the leaching loss of dissolved organic P by 57.3% to reduce the total P loss, while the CFSM treatment increased the leaching loss of dissolved inorganic P by 20.9% to increase the total P loss. Other than the effects of management practices, precipitation and temperature-oriented environmental factors significantly affected the seasonal variation in leaching loss of both the dissolved and particulate P forms. We conclude that straw incorporation into the mollisol of northeast China is recommended, considering its low leaching risk of P, while a co-amendment of straw and manure resulted in the opposite. Despite the slight environmental risk of P leaching loss (0.75–1.95% of external P input per year) practically quantified by in situ experiments, a proper reduction in chemical P input with organic amendments may be an effective P fertilizer management strategy in mollisol areas.
Effect of Light, Temperature, Salinity, and Halopriming on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Hibiscus sabdariffa under Salinity Stress
Authors: Taghvaei Mansour , Nasrolahizadehi Atefeh , Mastinu Andrea
Published: October 2022

Salt stress is a serious and current global problem for crops. Due to climate change, the soil today has higher salinity levels than in past decades. Identifying temperature, light, and salinity that allow plants to germinate and grow is an ambitious challenge for the future. Hibiscus sabdariffa (H. sabdariffa) is a plant that undergoes abiotic stress during all stages of growth. The aim of this work was to identify the best conditions in terms of light, temperature, and salinity during the germination and growth phases of H. sabdariffa. To improve the germination of H. sabdariffa seed, the effects of abiotic stress were investigated in three experiments. In the first experiment, the factors included light at two levels (light and dark cycles) and temperature at eight levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C). In the second experiment, the effect of salinity was examined at seven levels (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 mM NaCl). In the third experiment, the factors consisted of seed halopriming at two levels (0 and 180 mM NaCl for 24 h) and salinity at seven levels (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 mM NaCl). The highest germination rate (GR), seedling dry weight, and uniformity of germination were obtained at 30 °C in dark conditions, as reported by one-way Anova analysis. Germination was restricted by temperatures lower and higher than 5 and 30 °C, respectively. By increasing the salinity, all the germination characteristics were decreased, but these effects were less pronounced by halopriming. The most suitable planting date was in the spring, when the temperature was in the range of 25–35 °C. During the germination stage, Hibiscus tea is sensitive to low salinity soils. Halopriming can be performed for enhancing GR and emergence percentage.
Selenium Agronomic Biofortification of Durum Wheat Fertilized with Organic Products: Se Content and Speciation in Grain
Authors: Carucci Federica , Moreno-Martín Gustavo , Madrid-Albarrán Yolanda , Gatta Giuseppe , De Vita Pasquale , Giuliani Marcella Michela
Published: October 2022

The biofortification of cereals is a potential solution for increasing Se levels in the human diet. Here we evaluated whether applying selenate and organic N and S sources via foliar alters Se content and species in durum wheat grain. Field trials were conducted in a Mediterranean environment in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 on old (Cappelli and old Saragolla) and modern (Marco Aurelio and Nadif) durum wheat varieties. Four organic fertilization strategies were evaluated: the control (dry blood meal at sowing), the application of foliar S (Bio-sulphur at flag leaf) and N (liquid blood meal at the beginning of heading), and their combined use in interaction with a foliar application of selenate at the booting stage. The Se content in grain was determined using ICP-MS and its speciation throughout HPLC-ICP-MS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. In 2018, the lower rainfall in the ten days before the Se foliar application caused a higher Se accumulation in the grain (1.63 vs. 1.44 mg kg−1 in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, respectively). A negative effect of organic foliar S on Se content in grain was observed (−24% with respect to the control). The modern Nadif showed the highest Se content (1.87 mg kg−1), followed by the old variety Cappelli (1.57 mg kg−1). Finally, the Se speciation analysis showed the presence of SeMet and SeMetSeCys. The organic fertilization affected only SeMet, with lower values under organic S fertilization and higher values under organic N fertilization.