bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sandpiper Optimization with a Deep Learning Enabled Fault Diagnosis Model for Complex Industrial Systems
Authors: Al Duhayyim Mesfer , G. Mohamed Heba , S. Alzahrani Jaber , Alabdan Rana , Aziz Amira Sayed A. , Zamani Abu Sarwar , Yaseen Ishfaq , Alsaid Mohamed Ibrahim
Published: December 2022

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies have been widely employed for complex industrial applications. AI technologies can be utilized to improve efficiency and reduce human labor in industrial applications. At the same time, fault diagnosis (FD) and detection in rotating machinery (RM) becomes a hot research field to assure safety and product quality. Numerous studies based on statistical, machine learning (ML), and mathematical models have been available in the literature for automated fault diagnosis. From this perspective, this study presents a novel sandpiper optimization with an artificial-intelligence-enabled fault diagnosis (SPOAI-FD) technique for intelligent industrial applications. The aim is to detect the existence of faults in machineries. The proposed model involves the design of a continuous wavelet transform (CWT)-based pre-processing approach, which transforms the raw vibration signal into a useful format. In addition, a bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM) model is applied as a classifier, and the Faster SqueezeNet model is applied as a feature extractor. In order to modify the hyperparameter values of the BLSTM model, the sandpiper optimization algorithm (SPOA) can be utilized, showing the novelty of the work. A wide range of simulation analyses were conducted on benchmark datasets, and the results highlighted the supremacy of the SPOAI-FD algorithm over recent approaches.
An Efficiency–Accuracy Balanced Power Leakage Evaluation Framework Utilizing Principal Component Analysis and Test Vector Leakage Assessment
Authors: Zheng Zhen , Yan Yingjian , Liu Yanjiang , Li Linyuan , Chang Yajing
Published: December 2022

The test vector leakage assessment (TVLA) is a widely used side-channel power leakage detection technology which requires evaluators to collect as many power traces as possible to ensure accuracy. However, as the total sample size of the power traces increases, the amount of redundant information will also increase, thus limiting the detection efficiency. To address this issue, we propose a principal component analysis (PCA)-TVLA-based leakage detection framework which realizes a more advanced balance of accuracy and efficiency. Before implementing TVLA to detect leakage, we project the original power data onto their most significant feature dimensions extracted by the PCA procedure and screen power traces according to the magnitude of their corresponding components in the variance of the projection vector. We verified the overall performance of the proposed framework by measuring the detection capability and efficiency with t-values and the required time, respectively. The results show that compared with similar existing schemes, under the best circumstances, the proposed framework decreases the t-value by 4.3% while saving time by 25.2% on the MCU platform and decreases the t-value by 2.4% while saving time by 38.0% on the FPGA platform.
A Review of the NIST Lightweight Cryptography Finalists and Their Fault Analyses
Authors: Madushan Hasindu , Salam Iftekhar , Alawatugoda Janaka
Published: December 2022

The security of resource-constrained devices is critical in the IoT field, given that everything is interconnected. Therefore, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initialized the lightweight cryptography (LWC) project to standardize the lightweight cryptography algorithms for resource-constrained devices. After two rounds, the NIST announced the finalists in 2021. The finalist algorithms are Ascon, Elephant, GIFT-COFB, Grain-128AEAD, ISAP, PHOTON-Beetle, Romulus, SPARKLE, TinyJambu, and Xoodyak. The final round of the competition is still in progress, and the NIST will select the winner based on their and third-party evaluations. In this paper, we review the 10 finalists mentioned above, discuss their constructions, and classify them according to the underlying primitives. In particular, we analyze these ciphers from different perspectives, such as cipher specifications and structures, design primitives, security parameters, advantages and disadvantages, and existing cryptanalyses. We also review existing analyses of these finalists with a specific focus on the review of fault attacks. We hope the study compiled in this paper will benefit the cryptographic community by providing an easy-to-grasp overview of the NIST LWC finalists.
Boundary-Aware Salient Object Detection in Optical Remote-Sensing Images
Authors: Yu Longxuan , Zhou Xiaofei , Wang Lingbo , Zhang Jiyong
Published: December 2022

Different from the traditional natural scene images, optical remote-sensing images (RSIs) suffer from diverse imaging orientations, cluttered backgrounds, and various scene types. Therefore, the object-detection methods salient to optical RSIs require effective localization and segmentation to deal with complex scenarios, especially small targets, serious occlusion, and multiple targets. However, the existing models’ experimental results are incapable of distinguishing salient objects and backgrounds using clear boundaries. To tackle this problem, we introduce boundary information to perform salient object detection in optical RSIs. Specifically, we first combine the encoder’s low-level and high-level features (i.e., abundant local spatial and semantic information) via a feature-interaction operation, yielding boundary information. Then, the boundary cues are introduced into each decoder block, where the decoder features are directed to focus more on the boundary details and objects simultaneously. In this way, we can generate high-quality saliency maps which can highlight salient objects from optical RSIs completely and accurately. Extensive experiments are performed on a public dataset (i.e., ORSSD dataset), and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our model when compared with the cutting-edge saliency models.
seL4 Microkernel for Virtualization Use-Cases: Potential Directions towards a Standard VMM
Authors: Matos Everton de , Ahvenjärvi Markku
Published: December 2022

Virtualization plays an essential role in providing security to computational systems by isolating execution environments. Many software solutions, called hypervisors, have been proposed to provide virtualization capabilities. However, only a few were designed for being deployed at the edge of the network in devices with fewer computation resources when compared with servers in the Cloud. Among the few lightweight software that can play the hypervisor role, seL4 stands out by providing a small Trusted Computing Base and formally verified components, enhancing its security. Despite today being more than a decade with seL4 microkernel technology, its existing userland and tools are still scarce and not very mature. Over the last few years, the main effort has been to increase the maturity of the kernel itself, and not the tools and applications that can be hosted on top. Therefore, it currently lacks proper support for a full-featured userland Virtual Machine Monitor, and the existing one is quite fragmented. This article discusses the potential directions to a standard VMM by presenting our view of design principles and the feature set needed. This article does not intend to define a standard VMM, we intend to instigate this discussion through the seL4 community.
Total Stem Biomass Estimation Using Sentinel-1 and -2 Data in a Dense Coniferous Forest of Complex Structure and Terrain
Authors: Georgopoulos Nikos , Sotiropoulos Christos , Stefanidou Alexandra , Gitas Ioannis Z.
Published: December 2022

Accurate above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation across multiple spatial and temporal scales is essential for mitigating climate change and optimizing forest management strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of Sentinel optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in reliably estimating the plot-level total stem biomass (TSB), which constitutes the dominant material among the different tree components of AGB (stem, branches, and leaves). The study area was located in a dense coniferous forest characterized by an uneven-aged structure and intense topography. A random forest (RF) regression analysis was performed to develop TSB predictive models using Sentinel-1 and -2 images in an individual and combined manner. Consequently, three RF models were produced and evaluated for their predictive performance through the k-fold cross-validation (CV) method. The results showcased that the individual use of Sentinel-1 contributed to the production of the most accurate plot-level TSB estimates (i.e., coefficient of determination-R2 = 0.74, relative mean square error (RMSE) = 1.76 Mg/1000 m2, mean absolute error (MAE) = 1.48 Mg/1000 m2), compared to the use of Sentinel-2 data individually and the Sentinel-1 and -2 combination. In fact, the synergistic use of optical and SAR data led to the generation of an RF model that only marginally underperformed the SAR model (R2 = 0.73 and R2 = 0.72, respectively).
Use of Kombucha SCOBY and Commercial Yeast as Inoculum for the Elaboration of Novel Beer
Authors: da Silva Mariana Muniz , de Souza Angélica Cristina , Faria Emanuel Roberto , Molina Gustavo , de Andrade Neves Nathalia , Morais Harriman Aley , Dias Disney Ribeiro , Schwan Rosane Freitas , Ramos Cíntia Lacerda
Published: December 2022

Kombucha is a beverage obtained from fermentation of Camellia sinensis tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). This association of bacteria and yeasts can be an interesting source of microorganisms for developing fermented beverages, including beer. The objective of this study was to evaluate kombucha SCOBY and commercial brewing yeast as a starter culture for the elaboration of beer. Three assays were performed to develop the beverage (C = control, KL = kombucha + yeast, K = kombucha). The pH, density, carbohydrates, organic acids and ethanol were evaluated during fermentation. Microbial counts (yeasts and mesophilic bacteria) and volatile compounds were recorded at the initial and final fermentation times. The content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, color and bitterness (IBU) of the beers were determined. The results showed that kombucha-fermented wort produces a beer with differentiated characteristics. Increased lactic acid (0.73 g/L) and low alcohol content (1.3%) were observed in the K assay. Further, desired volatile compounds, such as ethyl octanoate, phenethyl acetate and 2-phenylethanol, were also found in this beer. The combination of kombucha and commercial yeast for beer production showed carbohydrate consumption and contents of organic acids similar to those of control beer, producing beers with an alcohol content of 5.9%. From the results, it was possible to observe a tendency for the content of total phenolic compounds (37.57, 33.00 and 31.64 mg/100 mL for K, KY and C assays, respectively) to increase when the wort was inoculated with kombucha. There was no difference in the antioxidant activity of the produced beers. All produced beers showed a yellowish color and a bitterness value (IBU) of 27%. The present study showed that adding kombucha as a starter culture produced beer with differentiated properties, such as high antioxidant activity, low alcohol content and sour characteristics.
Analysis of Volatile Flavor Substances in the Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Lanmaoa asiatica Mushroom and Its Maillard Reaction Products Based on E-Nose and GC-IMS
Authors: Yang Ning , Zhang Shasha , Zhou Pei , Zhang Weisi , Luo Xiaoli , Cao Jingjing , Sun Dafeng
Published: December 2022

An electronic nose (E-Nose) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) were used to analyze the volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) of the enzymatic hydrolysate of Lanmaoa asiatica and its Maillard reaction products (MRPs). E-Nose sensors have strong response signals to sulfide, nitrogen oxides, alcohols, and aldehyde ketone, and the aroma profile was increased after the Maillard reaction (MR). According to GC-IMS, A total of 84 known compounds were identified. Aldehydes, ketones and alcohols are the main VFCs. After MR, the concentrations of some alcohols decreased, and the concentration of pyrazines and ketones increased. Principal component analysis (PCA) and similarity analysis showed that the enzymatic hydrolysate and MRPs were different and could be effectively distinguished. In conclusion, this study clarified the changes in VFCs before and after the MR. The results can provide a theoretical basis for the quality control and flavor changes during the processing of Lanmaoa asiatica and provide a new method for flavor analysis of edible mushrooms and their products.
Effects of Different Salt Ion Concentrations in Immersion Vacuum Cooling on the Qualities of Spiced Chicken Drumsticks
Authors: Zhou Di , Song Rui , Yi Guofu , Han Qingli , Cai Huazhen , Zhang Yawei , Zhu Yuxia
Published: December 2022

The traditional immersion vacuum cooling of meats can result in product defects. To optimize these processes, different salt ion concentrations in the immersion solution (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) were assessed, in relation to the cooling rate, cooling loss rate, color, texture, moisture status, and microstructure of chicken drumsticks. The cooling rate at 5% salt ion concentration was the fastest and most similar to the conventional vacuum cooling method, which can reduce the central temperature of drumsticks from 75 to 25 °C in 15 min. Immersion vacuum cooling did not cause weight loss and the 5% salt ion concentration was the best for weight maintenance, which can increase the weight of drumsticks by 2.3%. The L* and b* values first decreased and then increased with increasing salt ion concentrations, but not significantly. Hardness gradually decreased, whereas the low-field nuclear magnetic data showed that the transverse relaxation time of free water (T22) in the drumsticks increased from 200.01 ms to 237.79 ms with increasing salt ion concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed irregular and smaller pores between the muscle fibers with increasing salt ion concentrations. The 5% salt ion concentration in the immersion solution during vacuum cooling was optimal as it increased the cooling rate and improved the edible quality without cooling loss. Thus, adjusting the salt ion concentration of the immersion solution is a feasible way to improve economic benefits and quality characteristics of meat products.
Hazardous Chemical Compounds in Cookies: The Role of Sugars and the Kinetics of Their Formation during Baking
Authors: Fallico Biagio , Grasso Antonia , Arena Elena
Published: December 2022

Baking goods are an essential part of the diet worldwide and are consumed daily, so they represent ideal foods for vehicle health- and unhealth-promoting substances. This work aimed to study the influence of sugars and baking conditions of cookies on the final levels of the main reported hazardous chemical compounds such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO). The replacement of sucrose with fructose or glucose in the cookies recipe deeply modifies the levels of α-dicarbonyl compounds (DCs), particularly 3-DG, independently of the baking temperature used. A longer baking time, even a few minutes, can drastically modify the HMF level in cookies and the use of fructose or glucose in the recipe seems to ensure the optimal conditions for generating this compound. The use of sucrose is required to keep levels of the hazardous compounds below a few mg/kg. Additionally, the ability to retain water, the titratable acidity and/or the pH of the final products were influenced by the used sugars with effects on the final levels of DCs and HMF. The highest Ea values determined for DCs and HMF formation in the cookies with sucrose suggest that this system requires very high temperatures to increase meaningful levels of these molecules, limiting their accumulation.
Concentration Dependent Effect of Quaternary Amines on the Adhesion of U251-MG Cells
Authors: Stamm Nils , Glotzbach Kristin , Faissner Andreas , Weberskirch Ralf
Published: December 2022

Cationic gels have seen increasing interest in recent years for 2D cell cultivation since they may represent an alternative to the well-known RGD-peptide motif functionalized gels. However, few hydrogel systems with adjustable cationic strength have been fabricated and investigated so far. In this work, eight gels with defined concentrations of cationic groups, two of which also contained the RGD peptide, were prepared from three well-defined, soluble precursor copolymers with thiol-functionalities and PEGDA3500 as a crosslinker via thiol-ene chemistry. Live/dead stainings of U-251-MG cells on the hydrogels with different concentrations of the cationic motif were made after 3 days and 7 days of cultivation. The results show a high dependence of the number of adhesive cells and their morphology, cluster versus spread cells, on the concentration of cationic groups in the gel. This effect was more pronounced when the gels were not further dialyzed before usage. In addition, a synergistic effect of the two motifs, cationic group and RGD peptide, could be demonstrated, which together induce stronger cell adhesion than either motif alone.
Genome-Wide Identification of bHLH Transcription Factor in Medicago sativa in Response to Cold Stress
Authors: Li Guangjun , Jin Lei , Sheng Song
Published: December 2022

Alfalfa represents one of the most important legume forages, and it is also applied as an organic fertilizer to improve soil quality. However, this perennial plant is native to warmer temperate regions, and its valuable cold-acclimation-related regulatory mechanisms are still less known. In higher plants, the bHLH transcription factors play pleiotropic regulatory roles in response to abiotic stresses. The recently released whole genome sequencing data of alfalfa allowed us to identify 469 MsbHLHs by multi-step homolog search. Herein, we primarily identified 65 MsbHLH genes that significantly upregulated under cold stress, and such bHLHs were classified into six clades according to their expression patterns. Interestingly, the phylogenetic analysis and conserved motif screening of the cold-induced MsbHLHs showed that the expression pattern is relatively varied in each bHLH subfamily, this result indicating that the 65 MsbHLHs may be involved in a complex cold-responsive regulatory network. Hence, we analyzed the TFBSs at promoter regions that unraveled a relatively conserved TFBS distribution with genes exhibiting similar expression patterns. Eventually, to verify the core components involved in long-term cold acclimation, we examined transcriptome data from a freezing-tolerant species (cv. Zhaodong) in the field and compared the expression of cold-sensitive/tolerant subspecies of alfalfa, giving 11 bHLH as candidates, which could be important for further cold-tolerance enhancement and molecular breeding through genetic engineering in alfalfa.
Development of a Real-Time Knee Extension Monitoring and Rehabilitation System: Range of Motion and Surface EMG Measurement and Evaluation
Authors: Sengchuai Kiattisak , Kanjanaroat Chinnakrit , Jaruenpunyasak Jermphiphut , Limsakul Chonnanid , Tayati Watcharin , Booranawong Apidet , Jindapetch Nattha
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a real-time knee extension monitoring and rehabilitation system for people, such as patients, the elderly, athletes, etc., is developed and tested. The proposed system has three major functions. The first function is two-channel surface electromyography (EMG) signal measurement and processing for the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles using a developed EMG device set. The second function is the knee extension range of motion (ROM) measurement using an angle sensor device set (i.e., accelerometer sensor). Both functions are connected and parallelly processed by the NI-myRIO embedded device. Finally, the third function is the graphical user interface (GUI) using LabVIEW, where the knee rehabilitation program can be defined and flexibly set, as recommended by physical therapists and physicians. Experimental results obtained from six healthy subjects demonstrated that the proposed system can efficiently work with real-time response. It can support multiple rehabilitation users with data collection, where EMG signals with mean absolute value (MAV) and root mean square value (RMS) results and knee extension ROM data can be automatically measured and recorded based on the defined rehabilitation program. Furthermore, the proposed system is also employed in the hospital for validation and evaluation, where bio-feedback EMG and ROM data from six patients, including (a) knee osteoarthritis, (b) herniated disc, (c) knee ligament injury, (d) ischemic stroke, (e) hemorrhagic stroke, and (f) Parkinson are obtained. Such data are also collected for one month for tracking, evaluation, and treatment. With our proposed system, results indicate that the rehabilitation people can practice themselves and know their rehabilitation progress during the time of testing. The system can also evaluate (as a primary treatment) whether the therapy training is successful or not, while experts can simultaneously review the progress and set the optimal treatment program in response to the rehabilitation users. This technology can also be integrated as a part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart healthcare systems.
Edpuzzle versus Moodle: Learning Tools in Pediatric Dentistry Practice: A Study Pilot
Authors: Gallardo-López Nuria Esther , Sánchez-Sánchez M. Esperanza , Feijóo-Garcia Gonzalo , Caleya Antonia M.
Published: December 2022

The aim of the present study was to compare the results of two educational platforms for the development of Flipped Learning (FL) in the preclinical practices of paediatric dentistry: Edpuzzle and Moodle 3.4. Methods: Fifty students filled out a questionnaire on knowledge of pulp treatments in primary dentition (Pre-Q). They were divided into two groups: one watched a video on the pulpotomy technique before preclinical practice using Moodle 3.4 (group A) and the other used Edpuzzle (group B). On the day of practice, the students resolved any doubts with the teacher. Next, they performed a pulpotomy on an artificial tooth and answered the questionnaire again (Post-Q) together with a satisfaction survey. Results: In both groups, an increase in the number of correct answers was found in the Post-Q compared to the Pre-Q (p < 0.001), but with no significant differences between groups. The pulpotomy practice ratings were higher in group B, which used Edpuzzle (p < 0.001). In the satisfaction survey, we only found significant differences (p = 0.003) in access to the video, since 100% of the students in group A found it easy to view it through Moodle, unlike in group B. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the use of educational platforms specially designed for FL, such as Edpuzzle, can improve the qualifications of students in paediatric dentistry practices.
Physical Function of Japanese Preadolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Narahara Sho , Ito Tadashi , Ito Yuji , Sugiura Hideshi , Noritake Koji , Ochi Nobuhiko
Published: December 2022

Children’s exercise habits have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the physical function and physical activity of preadolescent children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study compared time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), grip strength, single-leg standing time, and two-step tests of healthy children aged 10 to 12 years, enrolled from January 2018 to January 2020 (pre-COVID-19 group, n = 177) and from January 2021 to September 2022 (during-COVID-19 group, n = 69). The during-COVID-19 group had weaker grip strength (median: 14.4 vs. 15.8 kg; p = 0.012), worse performance on the two-step test (mean: 1.56 vs. 1.60; p = 0.013), and less MVPA (median: 4 vs. 7 h per week; p = 0.004). Logistic regression showed that the during-COVID-19 group was significantly related to weaker grip strength (odds ratio: 0.904, 95% CI: 0.829–0.986; p = 0.022) and worse performance in the two-step test (odds ratio: 0.976, 95% CI: 0.955–0.997; p = 0.028). The COVID-19 pandemic decreased exercise opportunities for preadolescent children, which may have had a negative impact on muscle strength and balance. It is essential to increase the amount of MVPA among preadolescent children.
Converso Houses in the 16th Century in the Former Jewish Quarter of Seville
Authors: Moya-Olmedo Pilar , Núñez-González María
Published: December 2022

Vital scenarios in the old Jewish quarter of Seville (Spain) in the 16th Century are analyzed. The objectives of this paper are first, to gather up a brief history of the property of some houses of Conversos (Jews who converted to Christianity in the face of the Inquisition); secondly, to study their layout and their construction relating them to emotions in architecture in a transversal way; thirdly, to make hypothetical plans and elevations (including some digital reconstructions); and, finally, to report their current state of preservation. For these purposes, documents have been consulted in Sevillian archives. To analyze these buildings, it was essential to consult the little-known texts called apeos, which were official documents drawn up by the master builders (alarifes) that the owners requested in order to know the conservation of the buildings. An innovative methodology of translating written descriptions into graphics has been developed. Likewise, among the characteristic spaces of the Sevillian houses, more singular ones, such as the reception courtyards, the main rooms, and the women’s quarters, have been thoroughly analyzed. The alteration of the entrance of one of the houses due to the historical and emotional context and the importance of the women’s quarters (as a religious and vital refuge) are also highlighted.
Research on the Governance Relationship among Stakeholders of Construction Waste Recycling Based on ANP-SNA
Authors: Yang Siling , Qiu Jie , Huang Heping
Published: December 2022

A method based on Analytic Network Process and Social Network Analysis (ANP-SNA) was proposed in this paper to determine and better clarify the governance relationship among various stakeholders involved. Firstly, fourteen stakeholders of construction waste recycling were identified using the snowball sampling method, and the governance relationships of these stakeholders were summarized into four aspects with eight indicators. Secondly, the weights of the stakeholder governance relationship indicators were determined based on Analytic Network Process (ANP). Thirdly, the Social Network Analysis (SNA) method was used to model the governance relationship network of the stakeholders, and the governance relationships among different stakeholders in the network were described by quantitative analysis of network cohesion, network centrality, structural holes, and other indicators. Finally, key points for optimizing the governance relationships among stakeholders of construction waste recycling were proposed in this paper, so as to provide a new solution for the collaborative governance of stakeholders.
An Evidence and Consensus-Based Definition of Second Victim: A Strategic Topic in Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, Person-Centeredness and Human Resource Management
Authors: Vanhaecht Kris , Seys Deborah , Russotto Sophia , Strametz Reinhard , Mira José , Sigurgeirsdóttir Sigurbjörg , Wu Albert W. , Põlluste Kaja , Popovici Daniela Georgeta , Sfetcu Raluca , Kurt Sule , Panella Massimiliano
Published: December 2022

The concept of second victims (SV) was introduced 20 years ago to draw attention to healthcare professionals involved in patient safety incidents. The objective of this paper is to advance the theoretical conceptualization and to develop a common definition. A literature search was performed in Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL (October 2010 to November 2020). The description of SV was extracted regarding three concepts: (1) involved persons, (2) content of action and (3) impact. Based on these concepts, a definition was proposed and discussed within the ERNST-COST consortium in 2021 and 2022. An international group of experts finalized the definition. In total, 83 publications were reviewed. Based on expert consensus, a second victim was defined as: “Any health care worker, directly or indirectly involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, unintentional healthcare error, or patient injury and who becomes victimized in the sense that they are also negatively impacted”. The proposed definition can be used to help to reduce the impact of incidents on both healthcare professionals and organizations, thereby indirectly improve healthcare quality, patient safety, person-centeredness and human resource management.
Progress on the Integrity Protection in the Natural World Heritage Site and Agroforestry Development in the Buffer Zone: An Implications for the World Heritage Karst
Authors: Chen Dong , Xiong Kangning , Zhang Juan
Published: December 2022

In the face of increasing development pressure, how to fulfill the obligations under the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention and maintain the integrity of the Natural World Heritage Site (NWHS) is a major problem to be solved at present. Agroforestry (AF) development in the buffer zone maintains the integrity of NWHS and promotes sustainable ecological and economic development in the buffer zone. Still, few studies on the knowledge system of integrity protection of NWHS and AF development in the buffer zone research have been conducted. To fill this gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review based on 128 related articles retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. Firstly, quantitative studies were conducted to analyze the annual numbers, content and study regions of the published literature. Secondly, the main research progress and achievements of integrity protection of WNHS and AF development in the buffer zone are classified and summarized. On this basis, this paper proposed key scientific issues that remain to be addressed in future, as well as exploring the implications for the World Heritage (WH) karst. This study is a scientific reference for the balanced development of NWHS integrity protection and AF in the buffer zone.
How Maternal Trauma Exposure Contributed to Children’s Depressive Symptoms following the Wenchuan Earthquake: A Multiple Mediation Model Study
Authors: Liang Yiming , Zhao Yiming , Zhou Yueyue , Liu Zhengkui
Published: December 2022

Although well-established literature has indicated the burden of mental health among victims after the Wenchuan earthquake, no research has focused on the mental health of mothers and their children who experienced the earthquake and were pregnant during or shortly after it. This study investigates the relationship between maternal trauma exposure (TE) and children’s depressive symptoms after the Wenchuan earthquake and explores the risk and protective factors underlying this relationship. A sample of 547 mother-child dyads, in which the mother experienced the Wenchuan earthquake, was used to assess maternal depressive symptoms, maternal TE, children’s depressive symptoms, children’s perceived impact of the earthquake and maternal posttraumatic growth (PTG). The results showed that maternal TE had two significant one-step indirect associations with children’s depressive symptoms (through children’s perceived impact of the earthquake and maternal PTG) and one two-step indirect association with children’s depressive symptoms (through maternal depressive symptoms via children’s perceived impact of the earthquake). The results indicated that maternal depressive symptoms, children’s perceived impact of the earthquake and maternal PTG mediated the association between maternal TE and children’s depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of mothers in supporting the mental health of these children. Maternal depressive symptoms and PTG, two posttraumatic outcomes, played positive and negative roles in the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Thus, post-disaster interventions should reduce the maternal transmission of trauma-related information and improve maternal PTG to support children’s mental health.
The Long-Term Effect of Famine Exposure on Cognitive Performance: Evidence from the 1959–1961 Chinese Famine
Authors: Zhang Han , Ho Wing Chung
Published: December 2022

We examined the long-term impact of the 1959–1961 Chinese Famine on the survivors’ cognitive performance in this study. Using data from the 2010 China Family Panel Study, our cohort comparison analysis showed that people who experienced the famine in early childhood (aged 1–3) had a lower score on a vocabulary test and that those who were exposed to the famine in utero did not differ from those born after the famine, probably due to positive selection for the in utero survivors. To deal with the problem of the lack of a comparable control group, we further applied a migrant–stayer comparison approach, with data from the 2016 China Family Panel Study and the 2017 Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics, to examine the effects of famine exposure at different life stages on adult cognition. We compared the people who stayed in Guangdong with the people who crossed the border to Hong Kong before the famine. The results showed that Guangdong stayers who experienced the famine when they were aged 1–18 had worse performance in immediate word recall. The findings suggested that exposure to malnutrition during childhood has long-term adverse effects on cognitive performance.
Ultra-Endurance Participation and Acute Kidney Injury: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tidmas Victoria , Brazier Jon , Bottoms Lindsay , Muniz Daniel , Desai Terun , Hawkins Janine , Sridharan Sivakumar , Farrington Ken
Published: December 2022

Increasingly popular, ultra-endurance participation exposes athletes to extremely high levels of functional and structural damage. Ultra-endurance athletes commonly develop acute kidney injury (AKI) and other pathologies harmful to kidney health. There is strong evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, common amongst ultra-athletes, is linked to increased risk and severity of AKI and potentially ischaemic renal injury, i.e., acute tubular necrosis. Ultra-endurance participation also increases the risk of exertional rhabdomyolysis, exercise-associated hyponatremia, and gastrointestinal symptoms, interlinked pathologies all with potential to increase the risk of AKI. Hydration and fuelling both also play a role with the development of multiple pathologies and ultimately AKI, highlighting the need for individualised nutritional and hydration plans to promote athlete health. Faster athletes, supplementing nitrates, and being female also increase the risk of developing AKI in this setting. Serum creatinine criteria do not provide the best indicator for AKI for ultra-athletes therefore further investigations are needed to assess the practicality and accuracy of new renal biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). The potential of recurring episodes of AKI provide need for further research to assess the longitudinal renal health impact of ultra-participation to provide appropriate advice to athletes, coaches, medical staff, and event organisers.
Subjective Perception of Work and the Home Care Workers’ Depression
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Hanjin , Su Yihui
Published: December 2022

The care crisis has become a global trend, and the demand for child and elderly care is increasing worldwide. The increasing number of home care workers plays a significant role in meeting this demand in developing countries. The mental health of these workers is associated with the quality of care they provide, which has rarely been studied. This paper explored the factors that affect home care workers’ depression, including their socio-demographic characteristics, working environment, relationship with clients, social support networks, economic burden, and subjective perceptions of discrimination and work. It utilized data from the Shanghai Domestic-work Professionalization Survey (SDPS), which was conducted among four types of in-home caregivers (n = 1000) in Shanghai over a period ranging from May to September 2021. The results show that the variables of marriage, education, self-reported health, relationship with client, economic burden, and subjective perceptions of discrimination and care work are significantly associated with home care workers’ level of depression. However, the variables of gender, age, household registration, and work environmental factors have no significant effect on their level of depression, which differs from the findings of previous studies on care workers in other institutions.
Breast Fluctuating Asymmetry in Women with Macromastia/Gigantomastia
Authors: Kasielska-Trojan Anna , Zawadzki Tomasz , Antoszewski Bogusław
Published: December 2022

Background: A number of studies have reported breasts have high fluctuating asymmetry (FA:|Right-Left|), suggesting that they contain evolutionary and clinical information (e.g., high FA correlates with breast cancer risk). Here we focus on breast FA in women with a wide range of breast sizes, including participants with macromastia and/or gigantomastia. Material and methods: The sample included 65 women (mean age 33.97 ± 12.1 years). Thirty were randomly selected students and/or patients who regarded their breast size as small, normal or average and who had not undergone or intended to have any breast surgery. The remainder (n = 35) were qualified for breast reduction due to macromastia and/or gigantomastia. In all participants we measured/calculated weight, height and BMI, as well as took chest photographs. Breast volumes and nipple areola complex FAs were evaluated in a specifically-designed software. Results: Breast size significantly positively correlated with breast volume FA in all women (t = 5.17, p < 0.0001) and in women with macromastia/gigantomastia (t = 2.32, p = 0.027). All nipple location FAs correlated positively with breast size. Conclusions: In women with different breast sizes, breast size correlates with FA calculated from breast volume and nipple location FAs. In women with macromastia and/or gigantomastia, breasts present higher FA than “normal” breasts. This observation may give a rationale for earlier and more frequent prophylactic breast imaging in women with macromastia and/or gigantomastia.
Is a PCSK9 Inhibitor Right for Your Patient? A Review of Treatment Data for Individualized Therapy
Authors: Beltran Roman A. , Zemeir Kyle J. , Kimberling Chase R. , Kneer Mary S. , Mifflin Michelle D. , Broderick Tom L.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: In the United States, a significant amount of the population is affected by hyperlipidemia, which is associated with increased levels of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and risk of cardiovascular disease. As of 2019, the guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association advocate for the use of statins as the major contributor to lowering serum LDL-C. While proven to be effective, side effects, including muscle-related symptoms and new-onset diabetes mellitus, can make patients unable to tolerate statin therapy. Additionally, there is a subset of the population which does not approach a recommended LDL-C goal on statin treatment. Due to these findings, it was deemed necessary to review the literature of current statin-alternative lipid-lowering therapies. Methods: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical papers, and a current meta-analysis, was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar. Following the literature review, a meta-analysis was conducted using ProMeta 3. Results: Through systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature, it is suggested that newer lipid-lowering therapies such as proprotein convertase subtilsin-kixen type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a safe and effective statin alternative for the population with statin intolerance. PCSK9 inhibitors were shown to have no significant effect in causing myalgia in patients and showed no increase in adverse cardiovascular outcomes compared to a control of a current antilipemic medication regimen. Discussion: There are many statin-alternative therapies that should be investigated further as a potential replacement for patients with statin intolerance or as an addition for patients with statin resistance.
Health in Chile’s Recent Constitutional Process: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Civil Proposals
Authors: Cabieses Baltica , Esnouf Sophie , Blukacz Alice , Espinoza Manuel A. , Mezones-Holguin Edward , Leyva René
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: In response to the recent political crisis in Chile, the “Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution’’ was approved. We aimed to analyze the health-related civil proposals uploaded to the official website for popular participation in the new constitution in Chile. (2) Methods: We carried out a qualitative thematic analysis of 126 health-related valid proposals. Moreover, we analyzed their link to the Health Goals 2030, established by the Ministry of Health of Chile and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (3) Results: Sixteen main categories were reached. In all, they were organized into four main areas: (i) the right to health and the establishment of a universal health system; (ii) effective access to selected healthcare services; (iii) improving health outcomes for all and for the relevant subgroups; and (iv) the social determinants of health, health in all the policies, and community health. We found that these four areas were strongly linked to the Health Goals 2030 for Chile and to the SDGs. (4) Conclusions: Despite the fact that the new constitutional proposal was rejected in September 2022, the civil health-related proposals and the areas of health and healthcare were of interest to the citizens as the request showed a strong demand from the population for participation in matters of health, healthcare, and public health.
The Financial Costs of Mass Media Interventions Used for Improving Breastfeeding Practices in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Vietnam
Authors: Sanghvi Tina G. , Homan Rick , Forissier Thomas , Preware Patricia , Kawu Auwalu , Nguyen Tuan T. , Mathisen Roger
Published: December 2022

Breastfeeding is essential for child survival but globally less than fifty percent of infants receive adequate breastfeeding. Gaps in breastfeeding knowledge and misinformation are widespread. Mass media aims to motivate mothers and families, encourage care-seeking, improve social norms, and counteract misleading advertising. However, the costs and coverage of mass media are not well documented. Our study provides a cost-accounting of four large-scale mass media interventions and coverage obtained through mass media. We retrospectively calculated annual costs and costs per beneficiary of mass media interventions based on expenditure records in four countries. The interventions were a part of multi-component breastfeeding strategies in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Vietnam. Annual costs ranged from 566,366 USD in Nigeria to 1,210,286 USD in Vietnam. The number of mothers of children under two years and pregnant women ranged from 685,257 to 5,566,882, and all designated recipients reached during the life of programs ranged from 1,439,040 to 11,690,453 in Burkina Faso and Bangladesh, respectively. The cost per mother varied from USD 0.13 USD in Bangladesh to 0.85 USD in Burkina Faso. Evaluations showed that mass media interventions reached high coverage and frequent exposure. This analysis documents the financial costs and budgetary needs for implementing mass media components of large-scale breastfeeding programs. It provides annual costs, cost structures, and coverage achieved through mass media interventions in four low- and middle-income countries.
Effect of Treadmill Training with Visual Biofeedback on Selected Gait Parameters in Subacute Hemiparetic Stroke Patients
Authors: Kaźmierczak Katarzyna , Wareńczak-Pawlicka Agnieszka , Miedzyblocki Margaret , Lisiński Przemysław
Published: December 2022

Background: Functional limitations after a stroke are unique to each person and often include impaired independent mobility. A reduction in existing gait deficits after a stroke is often one of the main goals of rehabilitation. Gait re-education after stroke is a complex process, which consists of the effects of many therapeutic interventions. Objective: The study aimed to analyze the effects of using a treadmill with visual feedback in gait re-education in the sub-acute stroke period and assess the impact of biofeedback treadmill training on selected gait parameters, improving static balance and reducing the need for orthopedic aids. Methods: The study included 92 patients (F: 45, M: 47) aged 63 ± 12 years, with post-ischemic sub-acute (within six months onset) stroke hemiparesis, treated at a neurological rehabilitation ward. All patients participated in a specific rehabilitation program, and in addition, patients in the study group (n = 62) have a further 10 min of treadmill training with visual feedback. Patients in the control group (n = 30) participated in additional conventional gait training under the direct supervision of a physiotherapist. The evaluation of static balance was assessed with the Romberg Test. A Biodex Gait Trainer 3 treadmill with biofeedback function was used to evaluate selected gait parameters (walking speed, step length, % limb loading, and traveled distance). The use of an orthopedic aid (walker or a crutch) was noted. Results: After four weeks of rehabilitation, step length, walking speed, traveled distance, and static balance were significantly improved for the study and control group (p < 0.05). Treadmill gait training yielded significantly better results than a conventional rehabilitation program. Only the study group observed a corrected walking base (p < 0.001). All participants showed a reduction in the use of walking aids (p = 0.006). There was no asymmetry in the % of limb loading for either group prior to or following rehabilitation. Conclusions: The treadmill with visual biofeedback as conventional gait training has resulted in a significant improvement in parameters such as step length, walking speed, static balance, and a reduction in the use of locomotion aids. However, the achieved improvement in gait parameters is still not in line with the physiological norm.
A Knowledge Graph Convolutional Networks Method for Countryside Ecological Patterns Recommendation by Mining Geographical Features
Authors: Zeng Xuhui , Wang Shu , Zhu Yunqiang , Xu Mengfei , Zou Zhiqiang
Published: December 2022

The recommendation system is one of the hotspots in the field of artificial intelligence that can be applied to recommend suitable ecological patterns for the countryside. Countryside ecological patterns mean advanced patterns that can be recommended to those developing areas which have similar geographical features, which provides huge benefits for countryside development. However, current recommendation methods have low recommendation accuracy due to some limitations, such as data-sparse and ‘cold start’, since they do not consider the complex geographical features. To address the above issues, we propose a geographical Knowledge Graph Convolutional Networks method for Countryside Ecological Patterns Recommendation (KGCN4CEPR). Specifically, a geographical knowledge graph of countryside ecological patterns is established first, which makes up for the sparsity of countryside ecological pattern data. Then, a convolutional network for mining the geographical similarity of ecological patterns is designed among adjacent countryside, which effectively solves the ‘cold start’ problem in the existing recommended methods. The experimental results show that our KGCN4CEPR method is suitable for recommending countryside ecological patterns. Moreover, the proposed KGCN4CEPR method achieves the best recommendation accuracy (60%), which is 9% higher than the MKR method and 6% higher than the RippleNet method.