bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological Responses and Strategies Towards the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Higher Education Students in Portugal and Switzerland: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Schwander-Maire Françoise , Querido Ana , Cara-Nova Tanya , Dixe Maria Anjos , Aissaoui Djamel , Charepe Zaida , Christie Derek , Laranjeira Carlos
Published: May 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused overwhelming changes in individual and community daily-life, resulting from the public health measures implemented to contain it, and also from its psychological and socio-economic consequences. These shifts and consequences impacted the entire population, but some groups are more likely to be affected by these changes, including higher education students.

Objectives

a) to investigate mental health status and its determinants among higher-education students in Portugal and Switzerland; and b) to explore adjustment patterns used by these students to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was conducted in two phases. First, an online survey was conducted among higher education students in Portugal and Switzerland, in Portuguese and French respectively. A convenience sampling method was used. Second, some participants from the first phase were invited to participate in four online focus group discussions (two in each country) using a maximum variation sampling method.

Results

The survey was answered by 1,880 students. Portuguese students revealed higher levels of stress and anxiety, but lower depression symptoms and less resilient coping compared to Swiss respondents. Hope was identified as an explanatory variable for mental health symptoms in students from both countries. In the focus groups (n = 27), 13 adjustment strategies were found, which were subdivided into three spheres: personal, social, and contextual.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a mild to moderate impact on most of the evaluated mental health variables. Nevertheless, the students reacted and mobilized positive short-term strategies, which need to be reinforced in order to prevent long-term psychological harm. In addition, our results can inform psychosocial interventions to minimize psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress due to sanitary crises or other population-wide problems or disasters.
Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Use Telepharmacy Among the General Population in Indonesia
Authors: Tjiptoatmadja Nesqi N. , Alfian Sofa D.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

COVID-19 emerged as a pandemic in early 2020. Various steps were taken in an attempt to decrease the spread, which resulted in limited mobility. As people were dissuaded from going out, multiple numbers of digitalized pharmacy services arose to fulfill people's needs for medicine. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, perception, and willingness to use telepharmacy services and the affecting factors among the general population in Indonesia.

Patients and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with the inclusion criteria of Indonesian citizenship, living in Indonesia, and agreement to participate. Details of demographic characteristics, knowledge and perception of telepharmacy services and willingness to use them were collected using an online questionnaire that was adapted from a previous study. The results were analyzed using a descriptive analysis method. The associations between demographic characteristics and knowledge, perception, and willingness to use telepharmacy services were tested with the Mann–Whitney U Test.

Results

Of 203 participants participated in this study, 51% of them had heard about telepharmacy. Over 98% of the participants had a positive perception of telepharmacy services. The majority of those who had never used it were willing to try telepharmacy services in the future. Age and educational level were significantly associated with knowledge of telepharmacy services. No associations were observed between demographic characteristics and perception and willingness to use telepharmacy services.

Conclusions

General population in Indonesia had a fair knowledge, a positive perception, and were willing to use telepharmacy services. Interventions to increase knowledge of telepharmacy in Indonesia need to target older adults and people who are less educated.
Early and Subsequent Epidemic Characteristics of COVID-19 and Their Impact on the Epidemic Size in Ethiopia
Authors: Amhare Abebe Feyissa , Tao Yusha , Li Rui , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2022

In Ethiopia, multiple waves of the COVID-19 epidemic have been observed. So far, no studies have investigated the characteristics of the waves of epidemic waves in the country. Identifying the epidemic trend in Ethiopia will inform future prevention and control of COVID-19. This study aims to identify the early indicators and the characteristics of multiple waves of the COVID-19 epidemics and their impact on the overall epidemic size in Ethiopia. We employed the Jointpoint software to identify key epidemic characteristics in the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic and a simple logistic growth model to identify epidemic characteristics of its subsequent waves. Among the first 100 reported cases in Ethiopia, we identified a slow-growing phase (0.37 [CI: 0.10–0.78] cases/day), which was followed by a fast-growing phase (1.18 [0.50–2.00] cases/day). The average turning point from slow to fast-growing phase was at 18 days after first reported. We identified two subsequent waves of COVID-19 in Ethiopia during 03/2020-04/2021. We estimated the number of COVID-19 cases that occurred during the second wave (157,064 cases) was >2 times more than the first (60,016 cases). The second wave's duration was longer than the first (116 vs. 96 days). As of April 30th, 2021, the overall epidemic size in Ethiopia was 794/100,000, ranging from 1,669/100,000 in the Harari region to 40/100,000 in the Somali region. The epidemic size was significantly and positively correlated with the day of the phase turning point (r = 0.750, P = 0.008), the estimated number of cases in wave one (r = 0.854, P < 0.001), and wave two (r = 0.880, P < 0.001). The second wave of COVID-19 in Ethiopia is far greater, and its duration is longer than the first. Early phase turning point and case numbers in the subsequent waves predict its overall epidemic size.
“DOST” Model to Link and Support Drug Resistant TB Patients From Private Sector: An Experience From Delhi, India
Authors: Vatsyayan Vindhya , Pattery Theresa , Sayyad Khasim , Williams Jason , Pal Arnab , Panibatla Vikas , Khanna Ashwani
Published: May 2022

Background

The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) has quite successfully involved private sector for referral of presumptive drug resistant TB (DR-TB) patients for molecular testing and referral for DR-TB management. There was a challenge as all the referred patients were not reaching to the facilities. A “DOST” intervention model was implemented to strengthen the patient care pathway. We conducted this study to describe the patient care cascade, the clinico-demographic characteristics of patients linked to the treatment and to estimate the mean turn-around time for drug resistant TB care services.

Methods

It is a cross-sectional study conducted at New Delhi during the period July 2019-December 2020 under programmatic settings.

Results

A total of 9,331 patients were subjected to CB-NAAT test and 382 (4%) were found to be resistant for rifampicin and 231 (76%) were initiated on treatment in the public sector under NTEP.

Conclusion

The DOST intervention model developed to link the DR-TB patients from private sector to the public sector DR-TB centers is found to be efficient and effective.
Towards a Personality AI for Robots: Potential Colony Capacity of a Goal-Shaped Generative Personality Model When Used for Expressing Personalities via Non-Verbal Behaviour of Humanoid Robots
Authors: Luo Liangyi , Ogawa Kohei , Peebles Graham , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: May 2022

Engineering robot personalities is a challenge of multiple folds. Every robot that interacts with humans is an individual physical presence that may require their own personality. Thus, robot personalities engineers face a problem that is the reverse of that of personality psychologists: robot personalities engineers need to make batches of identical robots into individual personalities, as oppose to formulating comprehensive yet parsimonious descriptions of individual personalities that already exist. The robot personality research so far has been fruitful in demonstrating the positive effects of robot personality but unfruitful in insights into how robot personalities can be engineered in significant quantities. To engineer robot personalities for mass-produced robots we need a generative personality model with a structure to encode a robot’s individual characteristics as personality traits and generate behaviour with inter- and intra-individual differences that reflect those characteristics. We propose a generative personality model shaped by goals as part of a personality AI for robots towards which we have been working, and we conducted tests to investigate how many individual personalities the model can practically support when it is used for expressing personalities via non-verbal behaviour on the heads of humanoid robots.
Capnography and Pulse Oximetry Improve Fast Track Extubation in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Moradian Seyed Tayeb , Beitollahi Fatemah , Ghiasi Mohammad Saeid , Vahedian-Azimi Amir
Published: May 2022

Background

Use of capnography as a non-invasive method during the weaning process for fast track extubation (FTE) is controversial. We conducted the present study to determine whether pulse oximetry and capnography could be utilized as alternatives to arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements in patients under mechanical ventilation (MV) following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 70 patients, who were candidates for CABG surgery, were randomly assigned into two equal groups (n = 35), intervention and control group. In the intervention group, the ventilator management and weaning from MV was done using Etco2 from capnography and SpO2 from pulse oximetry. Meanwhile, in the control group, weaning was done based on ABG analysis. The length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, time to extubation, number of manual ventilators setting changes, and alarms were compared between the groups.

Results

The end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) levels in the intervention group were completely similar to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCo2) in the control group (39.5 ± 3.1 vs. 39.4 ± 4.32, p > 0.05). The mean extubation times were significantly shorter in the intervention group compared to those in the control patients (212.2 ± 80.6 vs. 342.7 ± 110.7, p < 0.001). Moreover, the number of changes in the manual ventilator setting and the number of alarms were significantly lower in the intervention group. However, the differences in the length of stay in ICU between the two groups were not significant (p = 0.219).

Conclusion

Our results suggests that capnography can be used as an alternative to ABG. Furthermore, it is a safe and valuable monitor that could be a good alternative for ABG in this population. Further studies with larger sample sizes and on different disease states and populations are required to assess the accuracy of our findings.

Clinical Trial Registration

Current Controlled Trials, IRCT, IRCT201701016778N6, Registered 3 March 2017, https://www.irct.ir/trial/7192.
Impact of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass on Complications and Survival for Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Fang Zhen , Shang Liang , Li Leping
Published: May 2022

Background

Cancer is a major disease burden to society. Increasing evidence has indicated that low skeletal muscle mass is linked with cancer prognosis. The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of preoperative low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) on complications and survival of patients who undergo laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

This study retrospectively collected patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for GC between January 2017 and December 2018. Tumor staging was performed according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition. The third lumbar psoas index (PMI) was assessed by computed tomography (CT) within 15 days before surgery. Postoperative complications were classified according to Clavien-Dindo classification and dichotomized into none vs any (Clavien-Dindo score, ≥1). Using propensity score matching (1:1) to obtain 2 well-balanced cohorts for available variables influencing clinical outcomes, comparing the postoperative complications and 3-year overall survival (OS) between LSMM group and non-LSMM group.

Results

A total of 386 patients, 226 were matched for analyses. The average patient age was 57.31 ± 10.33 years; 75.65% (n = 292) were men and 24.35% (n = 94) were women. A total of 249 (64.51%) patients were diagnosed with LSMM. Compared with the non-LSMM group, the LSMM group manifested significantly shorter 3-year OS (58.14% vs 71.95%, p = 0.034). However, the incidence of postoperative complications was no difference between two groups after matching. After stratification based on the pT stage of the tumor, statistically significant difference in the 3-year OS rates of the advance GC cohort between the two groups were observed.

Conclusions

LSMM predicts a poor prognosis for patients with advance GC and it is not associated with postoperative complications.
The First 110,593 COVID-19 Patients Hospitalised in Lombardy: A Regionwide Analysis of Case Characteristics, Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Mauer Nicole , Chiecca Greta , Carioli Greta , Gianfredi Vincenza , Iacoviello Licia , Bertagnolio Silvia , Guerra Ranieri , Odone Anna , Signorelli Carlo
Published: May 2022

Objectives: To describe the monthly distribution of COVID-19 hospitalisations, deaths and case-fatality rates (CFR) in Lombardy (Italy) throughout 2020.

Methods: We analysed de-identified hospitalisation data comprising all COVID-19-related admissions from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020. The overall survival (OS) from time of first hospitalisation was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. We estimated monthly CFRs and performed Cox regression models to measure the effects of potential predictors on OS.

Results: Hospitalisation and death peaks occurred in March and November 2020. Patients aged ≥70 years had an up to 180 times higher risk of dying compared to younger patients [70–80: HR 58.10 (39.14–86.22); 80–90: 106.68 (71.01–160.27); ≥90: 180.96 (118.80–275.64)]. Risk of death was higher in patients with one or more comorbidities [1: HR 1.27 (95% CI 1.20–1.35); 2: 1.44 (1.33–1.55); ≥3: 1.73 (1.58–1.90)] and in those with specific conditions (hypertension, diabetes).

Conclusion: Our data sheds light on the Italian pandemic scenario, uncovering mechanisms and gaps at regional health system level and, on a larger scale, adding to the body of knowledge needed to inform effective health service planning, delivery, and preparedness in times of crisis.
Pressure Fluctuation Characteristics Analysis of Centrifugal Pump as Turbine in Its Start-Up Process
Authors: Chai Baodui , Yang Junhu , Wang Xiaohui , Jiang Bingxiao
Published: May 2022

In order to study pressure fluctuation characteristics of a centrifugal pump as turbine (PAT) in its start-up process, Fluent was used to do numerical simulation of the PAT start-up process. Time and frequency domain analyses were performed on the data acquired at different positions and different heads. The results show that a large number of low-pressure areas and strong vortexes are formed within the impeller at the initial time of start-up. With the increase in rotating speed, the vortexes rapidly decrease and are concentrated on the blade non-working face. The pressure fluctuation amplitude is the maximum at the start-up initial instant; with increase in rotating speed, it reduces rapidly at the volute spiral part. The pressure fluctuation number within one impeller rotation cycle is consistent with blade number, and the dominant frequency of pressure fluctuation is 6 times the impeller rotational frequency. The dominant frequency amplitude of radial pressure fluctuation increases with decrease in radial size in the volute. The pressure fluctuation in the impeller is much more intensive than that in the volute, and its maximum dominant frequency amplitude occurs in the middle of the impeller towards the inner edge. With the increase in head, the number of pressure fluctuation and the amplitude of dominant frequency increase at the same time during the start-up process.
RZWQM2 Simulated Drip Fertigation Management to Improve Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize in a Solar Greenhouse
Authors: Cheng Haomiao , Yu Qilin , Abdalhi Mohmed A. M. , Li Fan , Qi Zhiming , Zhu Tengyi , Cai Wei , Chen Xiaoping , Feng Shaoyuan
Published: May 2022

The drip fertigation technique is a modern, efficient irrigation method to alleviate water scarcity and fertilizer surpluses in crop production, while the precise quantification of water and fertilizer inputs is difficult for drip fertigation systems. A field experiment of maize (Zea mays L.) in a solar greenhouse was conducted to meet different combinations of four irrigation rates (I125, I100, I75 and I50) and three nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (N125, N100 and N75) under surface drip fertigation (SDF) systems. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) was used to assess the response of soil volumetric water content (VWC), leaf area index (LAI), plant height and maize yield to different SDF managements. The model was calibrated by the I100N100 scenario and validated by the remaining five scenarios (i.e., I125N100, I75N100, I50N100, I100N125 and I100N75). The predictions of VWC, LAI and plant height were satisfactory, with relative root mean square errors (RRMSE) < 9.8%, the percent errors (PBIAS) within ±6%, indexes of agreement (IoA) > 0.85 and determination of coefficients (R2) > 0.71, and the relative errors (RE) of simulated yields were in the range of 1.5–7.2%. The simulation results showed that both irrigation and fertilization had multiple effects on water and N stresses. The calibrated model was subsequently used to explore the optimal SDF scenarios for maximizing yield, water use efficiency (WUE) or nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Among the SDF managements of 21 irrigation rates × 31 N fertilizer rates, the optimal SDF scenarios were I120N130 for max yield (10516 kg/ha), I50N70 for max WUE (47.3 kg/(ha·mm)) and I125N75 for max NUE (30.2 kg/kg), respectively. The results demonstrated that the RZWQM2 was a promising tool for evaluating the effects of SDF management and achieving optimal water and N inputs.
Evaluation of Genomic Selection Methods for Wheat Quality Traits in Biparental Populations Indicates Inclination towards Parsimonious Solutions
Authors: Plavšin Ivana , Gunjača Jerko , Galić Vlatko , Novoselović Dario
Published: May 2022

Breeding for end-use quality traits is often challenging since their assessment requires larger quantities of grain and flour samples, which are usually not available early in the breeding process. Using the mixograph as a fast and effective method of evaluating dough quality together with genomic selection (GS) can help in pre-selecting high-performing progenies earlier in the breeding process and achieve a higher gain per unit of time and cost. In the present study, the potential of GS to predict seven end-use quality traits, including mixograph traits, in two biparental wheat populations was investigated. Field trials with both populations were conducted at two locations in Croatia (Osijek and Slavonski Brod) over three years. Results showed that the size of the training population (TP) plays an important role in achieving higher prediction accuracies, while marker density is not a major limitation. Additionally, results of the present study did not support the optimization of TP based on phenotypic variance as a tool to increase prediction accuracy. The performance of eight prediction models was compared and among them elastic net showed the lowest prediction accuracy for all traits. Bayesian models provided slightly higher prediction accuracy than the ridge regression best linear unbiased prediction (RR-BLUP) model, which is negligible considering the time required to perform an analysis. Although RR-BLUP was not the best performing model in all cases, no advantage of using any other model studied here was observed. Furthermore, strong differences between environments in terms of the prediction accuracy achieved were observed, suggesting that environments that are less predictive should be removed from the dataset used to train the prediction model. The prediction accuracies obtained in this study support implementation of GS in wheat breeding for end-use quality, including some mixograph traits.
Heat-Stress-Mitigating Effects of a Protein-Hydrolysate-Based Biostimulant Are Linked to Changes in Protease, DHN, and HSP Gene Expression in Maize
Authors: Vaseva Irina I. , Simova-Stoilova Lyudmila , Kostadinova Anelia , Yuperlieva-Mateeva Bistra , Karakicheva Tania , Vassileva Valya
Published: May 2022

The growth-promoting and heat-mitigating effects of a commercially available protein-hydrolysate-based biostimulant, Kaishi, during the early vegetative stage was investigated by applying it as a foliar spray on soil-grown maize plants or in the nutrient solution of hydroponically grown plants. At 10−3 dilution, the biostimulant inhibited germination and delayed the growth progress, while at 10−6–10−12 dilutions, it promoted shoot and root growth. Heat stress caused biomass reduction, decreased leaf pigment content and the chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b (chl a/b) ratio, caused starch depletion, and increased lipid peroxidation. Kaishi priming resulted in the substantial mitigation of negative stress effects, maintaining growth, stabilizing pigment content and the chl a/b ratio, restoring the leaf starch content, lowering the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and significantly increasing the free proline content. The expression profiles of a set of genes coding for heat shock proteins (HSPs), dehydrins (DHNs), and proteases were analysed using qRT-PCR after heat stress exposure. The biostimulant-treated plants had higher transcript levels of certain HSPs, DHNs, and protease-coding genes, which remained stable or increased after the applied stress. The results demonstrate that very low concentrations of the biostimulant exerted stress-mitigating effects that could be linked to organ-specific changes in the gene expression of certain stress-inducible proteins.
Steinernema australe Enhanced Its Efficacy against Aegorhinus nodipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae in Berry Orchards after an Artificial Selection Process
Authors: Navarro Patricia D. , Palma-Millanao Rubén , Ceballos Ricardo , Monje Almendra J.
Published: May 2022

The entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema australe was isolated from Isla Santa Magdalena in Chile and identified as a good alternative for controlling Aegorhinus nodipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae. This weevil is native to the south of Chile and some regions in Argentina, causing the decline and ultimate death of plants in berry orchards. The major problem brought about by the weevil is caused by the larvae, which spend between nine and eleven months below ground, feeding inside the roots of the plants. This study seeks to increase S. australe’s efficacy through an artificial selection process using an odor stimulus. We selected infective juveniles (IJs) that followed the stimulus in order to reach larvae at a depth of 30 cm to achieve this objective. Larvae infected with selected IJs and IJs from the original stock were compared under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. The results showed a 20% increase in the efficacy of selected IJs compared with IJs from the original stock. We observed a higher proportion of selected IJs that reached the larvae faster during the first four days post-application. Moreover, larvae treated with selected IJs were depleted, with a mix of nematode stages emerging from the cadaver. Finally, a potential trade-off with regard to the recycling of nematodes into the soil is proposed.
Evaluation of Grain Yield Stability in Some Selected Wheat Genotypes Using AMMI and GGE Biplot Methods
Authors: Omrani Ali , Omrani Saeed , Khodarahmi Manoochehr , Shojaei Seyed Habib , Illés Árpád , Bojtor Csaba , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Nasir , Nagy János
Published: May 2022

Wheat Triticum aestivum L. is one of the most important agricultural products, and meets the highest nutritional needs of humans in various countries. This study aims to evaluate the compatibility and stability of 25 wheat genotypes for two crop years in five regions (Karaj, Qazvin, Isfahan, Varamin and Damavand) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of variance analysis in the additive main effects and multiplication interaction (AMMI) method showed that the effect of genotype and the genotype × environment interaction in the first, second, and mean two crop years had a significant difference at the level of one percent probability. Based on the results obtained from the first and second principal components, G8, G4 and G22 genotypes were identified as superior genotypes. Isfahan was an ideal environment for this study. The results obtained from the comparison of the Duncan method showed that G14, G12, and G1 genotypes had suitable ranks. Graphical analysis was used to study the genotypes of wheat and the environment, and the genotype × environment interaction. Based on the ranking genotypes in the first and second principal components and an average of two years, G2 and G21 genotypes were identified as high yielding, and G21 genotypes as stable. G18 and G23 genotypes were selected as the best genotypes in all three experimental periods, based on the multidimensional diagram. The results of the ideal genotype diagram were G12 and G21 genotypes; and based on the results of the ideal environment diagram, Damavand and Varamin environments were identified as ideal environments. AMM1 covered 69.6% and AMMI2 75.6% of the data variance in the first year of the experiment. In the second crop year, 78.1% of the total variance of the data was explained based on the AMMI1, and 71.1% based on the AMM2.
Soil Microbial Community and Enzymatic Activity of Grasslands under Different Use Practices: A Review
Authors: Mencel Justyna , Mocek-Płóciniak Agnieszka , Kryszak Anna
Published: May 2022

The usage of grassland significantly affects the microbial and biochemical parameters of soil epipedons. The use of grasslands (by mowing, grazing, and mowing and grazing) affects the dominance of bacteria in abundance relative to fungal populations. This was particularly noticeable when manual mowing was applied. In general, the highest number of microorganisms occurred during spring and summer, which should be associated with the intensity of growth of root systems of grass vegetation. It was noted that the grazing system caused an increase in the enzymatic activity of urease and slightly less dehydrogenases and acid and alkaline phosphatase. Therefore, microbial abundance and enzymatic activity are considered as indicator parameters to evaluate the biological soil environment. They are highly probable estimates of soil fertility and ecosystem biodiversity.
Climate Change Projections for Bioclimatic Distribution of Castanea sativa in Portugal
Authors: Freitas Teresa R. , Santos João A. , Silva Ana P. , Martins Joana , Fraga Hélder
Published: May 2022

The chestnut tree is an important forestry species worldwide, as well as a valuable food resource. Over recent years, Portugal has shown an increasing trend in chestnut tree area, as well as increases in production, hinting at the socioeconomic relevance of this agro-forestry species. In this study, bioclimatic indices are applied to analyse the spatial distribution of chestnut trees in mainland Portugal, namely growing degree days (GDD; 1900–2400 °C), annual mean temperature (AMT; 8–15 °C), summer days with maximum temperature below 32 °C (NTX), and annual precipitation (PRE; 600–1600 mm). These indices are assessed for the baseline (IBERIA01, 1989–2005) and future climates (EURO-CORDEX: 2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2061–2080) under two forcing pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), also taking into account the chestnut tree land cover. For the baseline, the GDD showed only 10% suitability for chestnut tree cultivation in southern Portugal, whereas much higher values are found in the north of the country, and at higher altitudes (50–90%). For the AMT, higher elevation areas in northern Portugal show almost 100% suitability. Concerning NTX, the suitability reduces from the west (100–90%) to the east (40%). Regarding PRE, the suitability is heterogeneous throughout the territory, with areas under 50%. A new Chestnut Suitability Index (CSI) was then computed, which incorporates information from the four previous indices. The CSI reveals a suitability ranging from 100 to 75% in the north, while central and southern Portugal show values from 25 to 50%. For future climates, a progressive reduction in CSI was found, particularly for RCP8.5 and in the long-term period. Changes in bioclimatic conditions may restrict the 100% suitability to a narrow area in the north of the country. These reductions in chestnut bioclimatic suitability may have socio-economic and ecological implications for the management of the important agro-forestry species.
Evaluation of the Nutritive Value and Digestibility of Sprouted Barley as Feed for Growing Lambs: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies
Authors: Al-Baadani Hani H. , Alowaimer Abdullah N. , Al-Badwi Mohammed A. , Abdelrahman Mutassim M. , Soufan Walid H. , Alhidary Ibrahim A.
Published: May 2022

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of freshly sprouted barley on the growth of lambs, in addition to its nutritional value and digestibility. In addition, sprouted barley digestibility and rumen fermentation were studied in vitro on a dry matter (DM) basis. A total of 45 three-month-old Awassi lambs were randomly assigned to five treatments of sprouted barley (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) diets. Bodyweight, weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were recorded every two weeks. Nutrient analyses were performed on feed, faecal, and urine samples. DM and non-fibrous carbohydrates were measured. Digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), as well as gas production, pH value, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), were determined in vitro using continuous culture. The results showed that final bodyweight was lower (p < 0.05), while feed intake and the feed-to-gain ratio were increased (p < 0.05) in sprouted barley treatments. Nutrient analysis indicators of sprouted barley treatments (25 to100%) were lower (p < 0.05) for DM, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, lignin and ash, and higher for total digestible nutrients, NDF, fat, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and net energy than the traditional diet. In the in vivo study, the digestibility of nutrients in sprouted barley treatments was improved (p < 0.05), while the diet (sprouted barley 100%) had the lowest digestibility of DM, OM, and NDF compared with the other treatments in the in vitro study. In conclusion, the addition of sprouted barley improved digestibility, and fermentation characteristics, while having a negative effect on growth. Further studies are recommended for optimal growth performance.
Follicular Dynamics during Estrous Cycle of Pubertal, Mature and Postpartum Crossbred (Nili Ravi × Jianghan) Buffaloes
Authors: Abulaiti Adili , Riaz Umair , Naseer Zahid , Ahmed Zulfiqar , Hua Guohua , Yang Liguo
Published: May 2022

The follicular dynamics is used as a reliable indicator for reproductive management in livestock. However, the follicular dynamics (follicle wave emergence, estrus cycle length, diameter of dominant follicle, follicular growth and atretic phases) during the estrous cycle of crossbred (Nili Ravi-Jianghan) buffalo is still unexplored. Therefore, the present study aimed to observe the follicular dynamics in estrous cycle of crossbred buffaloes at different physiological stages (pubertal; n = 28, sexual mature; n = 22 and postpartum; n = 18). In the present study, the follicular dynamics were ultrasonically examined at 12 h intervals throughout an estrous cycle during the breeding season. The results indicate that about 86.76% (59/68) crossbred buffaloes, irrespective of physiological stage, exhibited two follicular waves in estrous cycle with an average estrus cycle length was 20.7 ± 0.4 days. The estrus cycle length was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in pubertal buffaloes (19.4 ± 0.4 days) compared with sexual mature (21.5 ± 0.3 days) and postpartum (21.9 ± 0.4 days) buffaloes. The first follicular wave emerged on same day during one- (pubertal vs. postpartum), two- (pubertal vs. mature vs. postpartum) or three-wave (mature vs. postpartum) estrous cycle buffaloes. The maximum diameter of dominant follicle (DF) in pubertal, sexually mature and postpartum crossbred buffaloes was 9.6 ± 2.0 mm, 10.6 ± 0.5 mm and 12.6 ± 0.7 mm with growth rate of 1.08 ± 0.04 mm/day, 0.92 ± 0.04 mm/day, and 0.9 ± 0.07 mm/day, respectively. In conclusion, similar to other buffalo breeds, Nili Ravi-Jianghan crossbred buffaloes showed the two-wave follicular pattern dominantly with an average duration of ~20 days estrous cycle. The observed follicular dynamics can be used as a reliable indicator for synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) programs to improve the fertility of crossbred buffaloes.
Alternative Proteins for Fish Diets: Implications beyond Growth
Authors: Aragão Cláudia , Gonçalves Ana Teresa , Costas Benjamín , Azeredo Rita , Xavier Maria João , Engrola Sofia
Published: May 2022

Aquaculture has been challenged to find alternative ingredients to develop innovative feed formulations that foster a sustainable future growth. Given the most recent trends in fish feed formulation on the use of alternative protein sources to decrease the dependency of fishmeal, it is fundamental to evaluate the implications of this new paradigm for fish health and welfare. This work intends to comprehensively review the impacts of alternative and novel dietary protein sources on fish gut microbiota and health, stress and immune responses, disease resistance, and antioxidant capacity. The research results indicate that alternative protein sources, such as terrestrial plant proteins, rendered animal by-products, insect meals, micro- and macroalgae, and single cell proteins (e.g., yeasts), may negatively impact gut microbiota and health, thus affecting immune and stress responses. Nevertheless, some of the novel protein sources, such as insects and algae meals, have functional properties and may exert an immunostimulatory activity. Further research on the effects of novel protein sources, beyond growth, is clearly needed. The information gathered here is of utmost importance, in order to develop innovative diets that guarantee the production of healthy fish with high quality standards and optimised welfare conditions, thus contributing to a sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry.
Elevated Rates of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients with SARS-CoV2 Infection in the Second Wave: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Boyd Sean , Sheng Loh Kai , Lynch Jessie , Alrashed Dhari , Muzzammil Saad , Marsh Hannah , Masoud Mustafa , Bin Ihsan Salman , Martin-Loeches Ignacio
Published: May 2022

Due to multiple risk factors, the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill COVID-19 patients has been reported in a range of 7.6% to 86%. The rate of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in this cohort has been reported at 4% to 30%. We undertook a retrospective chart review of 276 patients who were admitted to intensive care in a large university hospital. The period studied included patients from 23 February 2014 to 12 May 2021. Four groups were collected: COVID-19 Wave 1, COVID-19 Wave 2, influenza, and community-acquired pneumonia. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and microbiological cultures were recorded. The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in COVID-19 Wave 1, COVID-19 Wave 2, influenza, and community-acquired pneumonia was 5.45%, 27.40%, 16.67%, and 3.41%, respectively (p < 0.001). The rate of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was 0%, 9.59%, 13.33%, and 6.82%, respectively (p < 0.001). A significantly elevated rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was noted in the second wave of COVID-19 when compared to the first. This was accompanied by an increase in the mortality rate. Increased steroid use was an independent risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis across all four groups. Despite an increased understanding of this disease, no clinical trials have shown any promising therapeutic options at present.
Epidemiological, Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Patients with Bloodstream Infections Due to Carbapenem-Resistant K. Pneumoniae in Southern Italy: A Multicentre Study
Authors: Onorato Lorenzo , Sarnelli Bruno , D’Agostino Federica , Signoriello Giuseppe , Trama Ugo , D’Argenzio Angelo , Montemurro Maria Vittoria , Coppola Nicola
Published: May 2022

Background: In the present study, our aim was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a cohort of patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) due to Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and investigate the independent predictors of mortality. Methods: All episodes of carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREc) or K. pneumoniae (CRKp) BSI that were subject to a mandatory notification from January to December 2020 in all acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities of the Campania region in southern Italy were enrolled. All carbapenem-resistant strains were assessed through molecular tests for the presence of five carbapenemase gene families, i.e., K. pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC), oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48), New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Verona integron encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Imipenemase (IMP). Results: During the study period, a total of 154 consecutive non-repeated CRE BSI, all due to CRKp, were reported. The most frequently identified genes were KPC in 108 cases (70.1%), followed by metallo-betalactamases (MBL) (16.2%), and OXA-48 (2.6%); in 17 isolates (11%) no carbapenemase was detected. The overall mortality at 90 days was 41.9%. Using a log-rank test, patients without risk factors for CRE infections showed a significantly lower cumulative mortality (p = 0.001). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of at least one risk factor was the only predictor of mortality (OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.1, p = 0.015). Conclusions. The study reported a non-negligible prevalence of MBL-producing organisms among CRKp isolated from blood cultures in our region. This data highlights the importance of molecular characterization of all clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant organisms.
Fighting Back against Antimicrobial Resistance with Comprehensive Policy and Education: A Narrative Review
Authors: Hayes Justin F.
Published: May 2022

Globally, antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a significant threat. A comprehensive plan is required to combat antimicrobial resistance. There have been national and international efforts to address this global health problem, but much work remains. Enhanced funding and regulations to support antimicrobial stewardship policy and program development, reforms to incentivize drug development to treat resistant pathogens, and efforts to strengthen One Health programs are areas for collaboration and innovation. Finally, implementation of educational interventions for trainees encompassing these key areas along with training on policy and leadership development is critical to enable sustainability of these efforts to fight back against antimicrobial resistance.
Substance P Hinders Bile Acid-Induced Hepatocellular Injury by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Authors: Lee Dahyeon , Park Jeong Seop , Kim Doyoung , Hong Hyun Sook
Published: May 2022

Liver failure is an outcome of chronic liver disease caused by steatohepatitis and cholestatic injury. This study examined substance P (SP) effect on liver injury due to cholestatic stress caused by excessive bile acid (BA) accumulation. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was added to HepG2 cells to induce hepatic injury, and cellular alterations were observed within 8 h. After confirming BA-mediated cellular injury, SP was added, and its restorative effect was evaluated through cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS)/inflammatory cytokines/endothelial cell media expression, and adjacent liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) function. CDCA treatment provoked ROS production, followed by IL-8 and ICAM-1 expression in hepatocytes within 8 h, which accelerated 24 h post-treatment. Caspase-3 signaling was activated, reducing cell viability and promoting alanine aminotransferase release. Interestingly, hepatocyte alteration by CDCA stress could affect LSEC activity by decreasing cell viability and disturbing tube-forming ability. In contrast, SP treatment reduced ROS production and blocked IL-8/ICAM-1 in CDCA-injured hepatocytes. SP treatment ameliorated the effect of CDCA on LSECs, preserving cell viability and function. Collectively, SP could protect hepatocytes and LSECs from BA-induced cellular stress, possibly by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. These results suggest that SP can be used to treat BA-induced liver injury.
Prospective Application of Ferroptosis in Hypoxic Cells for Tumor Radiotherapy
Authors: Su Jing , Zhao Qin , Zheng Zhuangzhuang , Wang Huanhuan , Bian Chenbin , Meng Lingbin , Xin Ying , Jiang Xin
Published: May 2022

Radiation therapy plays an increasingly important role in cancer treatment. It can inhibit the progression of various cancers through radiation-induced DNA breakage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overload. Unfortunately, solid tumors, such as breast and lung cancer, often develop a hypoxic microenvironment due to insufficient blood supply and rapid tumor proliferation, thereby affecting the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Restraining hypoxia and improving the curative effect of radiotherapy have become difficult problems. Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by lipid peroxidation due to iron metabolism disorders and ROS accumulation. It plays an important role in both hypoxia and radiotherapy and can enhance the radiosensitivity of hypoxic tumor cells by amplifying oxidative stress or inhibiting antioxidant regulation. In this review, we summarize the internal relationship and related mechanisms between ferroptosis and hypoxia, thus exploring the possibility of inducing ferroptosis to improve the prognosis of hypoxic tumors.
The Role and Mechanisms of Selenium Supplementation on Fatty Liver-Associated Disorder
Authors: Xu Lin , Lu Yuanjun , Wang Ning , Feng Yibin
Published: May 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent chronic liver disease without effective therapy. Selenium, as an essential trace element for humans, is notable for its antioxidant properties. The previous study shows that selenium levels in NAFLD patients are lower than normal ones. Selenium supplementation can effectively alleviate metabolic disorders by relieving anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory regulation. However, the correlation between selenium and NAFLD has not been fully clarified. Herein, we review the current studies on selenium in regulating the different stages of NAFLD and summarize relevant clinical trials to highlight the potential roles of selenium in NAFLD treatment.
Approaches to Enhancing Antioxidant Defense in Plants
Authors: Fujita Masayuki , Hasanuzzaman Mirza
Published: May 2022

In the era of global climate change, plants are exposed to various adversities in field conditions [...]
Assessment of Radiofrequency Exposure in the Vicinity of School Environments in Crete Island, South Greece
Authors: Kapetanakis Theodoros N. , Ioannidou Melina P. , Baklezos Anargyros T. , Nikolopoulos Christos D. , Sergaki Eleftheria S. , Konstantaras Antonios J. , Vardiambasis Ioannis O.
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to estimate the radiofrequency exposure levels in the vicinity of nursery and primary schools at the northwest part of Crete island in Greece. Moreover, the compliance with the exposure limits, according to Greek legislation, was investigated. A total of 396 in situ frequency-selective and broadband measurements were conducted around 69 schools, classified in urban and suburban environments, in the range of 27–3000 MHz (subdivided in seven frequency bands). The measured value of the electric field strength (V/m) was recorded and, subsequently, the exposure ratio was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed in order to analyze and evaluate the data. In addition, a worst-case scenario was examined by considering the highest measured exposure level around each school. The statistical tests indicated that the mean and median values of the exposure ratio, even in the worst-case scenario, were found well below 1 for all frequency bands. The calculated distributions of the electric field measurements demonstrated that almost 90% of the latter were below 1 V/m, with the majority of values lying in the range of 0.5–1 V/m. The main contributors to the total exposure were the mobile communication frequencies and broadcasting, while the exposure was greater in urban than in suburban environments.
A GAN-Augmented Corrosion Prediction Model for Uncoated Steel Plates
Authors: Jiang Feng , Hirohata Mikihito
Published: May 2022

The deterioration and damage of aging steel structures have caused huge safety concerns. Corrosion has been identified as a big reason for the deterioration and damage, which causes steel members to lose materials. As a result, the structures’ stiffness and load-bearing capacity will be reduced, which brings economic losses and safety hazards. For the maintenance and repair of steel structures, fast and accurate prediction of corrosion development plays a critical role in numerical simulation analysis, which could save time and costs. In this research, we build a simulation system based on GAN data augmentation with UNet as the generator and MobileNetV2 as the discriminator. The goal is to effectively predict the corrosion behavior of uncoated steel structures over time and under different circumstances. The system can simulate three stages of corrosion based on the dataset collected from experiments. It can also predict the corrosion of steel plates in the next stage. The discriminator of the system can be used to classify the type of steel, the stage of corrosion, and days of corrosion. Based on comparative experiments, our system demonstrates outstanding performance and outperforms the baseline model.
GIS-Multicriteria Analysis Using AHP to Evaluate the Landslide Risk in Road Lifelines
Authors: Leonardi Giovanni , Palamara Rocco , Manti Francesco , Tufano Antonio
Published: May 2022

The present paper proposes a new methodology to characterize the landslide susceptibility of the Reggio Calabria metropolitan area. For this purpose, various factors were used, such as land use, slope, rainfall, elevation, lithology, distance from roads and rivers, and thanks to the use of GIS devices and the AHP method, the landslide risk was defined for the whole territory. The values obtained were classified into four categories: low, moderate, high, and very high. They were then exported into the GIS environment to produce a landslide susceptibility map. The study carried out demonstrates the fragility of the Calabrian territory. From the results obtained, in fact, 66% of the metropolitan territory of Reggio Calabria appears to have a medium–high landslide risk.