bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EEG response of dexmedetomidine during drug induced sleep endoscopy
Authors: Han Lichy , Drover David R. , Chen Marianne C. , Saxena Amit R. , Eagleman Sarah L. , Nekhendzy Vladimir , Pritchard Angelica , Capasso Robson
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Dexmedetomidine is one of the anesthetics of choice for drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), with advantages including limited respiratory depression, analgesia, and decreased incidence of emergence delirium. However, challenges with determining sedation levels and prolonged recovery have limited its usage. An improved understanding of the effect of dexmedetomidine on the level of sedation and the corresponding electroencephalographic (EEG) changes could help overcome these barriers.

Methods

Fifty-one patients received dexmedetomidine sedation with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score assessment and continuous EEG monitoring via SedLine for DISE. We constructed a pharmacokinetic model to determine continuous dexmedetomidine blood concentration. From the SedLine, we extracted the patient state index (PSI), and from the EEG we calculated the spectral edge frequency 95% (SEF95) and the correlation dimension (CD), a type of fractal dimension used to assess the complexity of a system. These metrics were subsequently compared against one another and with the dexmedetomidine concentration.

Results

Our pharmacokinetic model yielded a two-compartment model with volumes of 51.8 L and 106.2 L, with clearances of 69.5 and 168.9 L/h, respectively, and a time to effect of 9 min, similar to prior studies. Based on this model, decreasing RASS score, SEF95, CD, and PSI were all significantly associated with increasing dexmedetomidine concentration (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p < 0.001 respectively). The CD, SEF95, and PSI better captured the effects of increasing dexmedetomidine concentration as compared to the RASS score. Simulating dexmedetomidine concentration based on titration to target levels derived from CD and PSI confirmed commonly used dexmedetomidine infusion dosages.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine use for DISE confirmed previous pharmacokinetic models seen with dexmedetomidine. Complex EEG metrics such as PSI and CD, as compared to RASS score and SEF95, better captured changes in brain state from dexmedetomidine and have potential to improve the monitoring of dexmedetomidine sedation.
Population food intake clusters and cardiovascular disease incidence: a Bayesian quantifying of a prospective population-based cohort study in a low and middle-income country
Authors: Rikhtehgaran Reyhaneh , Shamsi Khadijeh , Renani Elnaz Mojoudi , Arab Arman , Nouri Fatemeh , Mohammadifard Noushin , Marateb Hamid Reza , Mansourian Marjan , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: July 2023

Aims

This study was designed to explore the relationship between cardiovascular disease incidence and population clusters, which were established based on daily food intake.

Methods

The current study examined 5,396 Iranian adults (2,627 males and 2,769 females) aged 35 years and older, who participated in a 10-year longitudinal population-based study that began in 2001. The frequency of food group consumption over the preceding year (daily, weekly, or monthly) was assessed using a 49-item qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered via a face-to-face interview conducted by an expert dietitian. Participants were clustered based on their dietary intake by applying the semi-parametric Bayesian approach of the Dirichlet Process. In this approach, individuals with the same multivariate distribution based on dietary intake were assigned to the same cluster. The association between the extracted population clusters and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases was examined using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

In the 10-year follow-up, 741 participants (401 men and 340 women) were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. Individuals were categorized into three primary dietary clusters: healthy, unhealthy, and mixed. After adjusting for potential confounders, subjects in the unhealthy cluster exhibited a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases [Hazard Ratio (HR): 2.059; 95% CI: 1.013, 4.184] compared to those in the healthy cluster. In the unadjusted model, individuals in the mixed cluster demonstrated a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than those in the healthy cluster (HR: 1.515; 95% CI: 1.097, 2.092). However, this association was attenuated after adjusting for potential confounders (HR: 1.145; 95% CI: 0.769, 1.706).

Conclusion

The results have shown that individuals within an unhealthy cluster have a risk that is twice as high for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, these associations need to be confirmed through further prospective investigations.
Association of psychological distress, smoking and genetic risk with the incidence of lung cancer: a large prospective population-based cohort study
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Yi , Hua Tingting , Wei Xiaoxia , Jiang Xiangxiang , Ji Mengmeng , Ma Zhimin , Huang Yanqian , Wang Hui , Du Lingbin , Zhu Meng , Xu Lin , Wu Weibing , Ma Hongxia
Published: July 2023

Background

Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and lung cancer risk, however, it is unclear whether other factors such as tobacco smoking and genetic susceptibility modify the association.

Methods

We included 405,892 UK Biobank participants free of cancer at baseline. Psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated using 18 lung cancer-associated genetic loci. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

During a median follow-up of 7.13 years, 1754 lung cancer cases were documented. The higher score of psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (HRper 1-SD= 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11) after adjustment for smoking and other confounders. Mediation analysis revealed that 16.8% (95% CI: 13.0%-20.6%) of the distress-lung cancer association was mediated by smoking. Compared with never smokers with no distress, participants with heavy smoking and high distress had the highest risk of lung cancer (HR=18.57, 95% CI: 14.51-23.76). Both multiplicative and additive interactions were observed between smoking and psychological distress in lung cancer. Furthermore, the greatest relative increase in risk was observed among those with high genetic risk and high distress (HR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.50-2.33), and there was a significant additive interaction between the PRS and psychological distress.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that psychological distress was associated with an elevated risk of incident lung cancer, and such relation was modified by tobacco smoking and genetic susceptibility.
Optical and electronic signal stabilization of plasmonic fiber optic gate electrodes: towards improved real-time dual-mode biosensing
Authors: Hasler Roger , Steger-Polt Marie-Helene , Reiner-Rozman Ciril , Fossati Stefan , Lee Seungho , Aspermair Patrik , Kleber Christoph , Ibáñez Maria , Dostalek Jakub , Knoll Wolfgang
Published: July 2023

The use of multimodal readout mechanisms next to label-free real-time monitoring of biomolecular interactions can provide valuable insight into surface-based reaction mechanisms. To this end, the combination of an electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor (EG-FET) with a fiber optic-coupled surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR) probe serving as gate electrode has been investigated to deconvolute surface mass and charge density variations associated to surface reactions. However, applying an electrochemical potential on such gold-coated FO-SPR gate electrodes can induce gradual morphological changes of the thin gold film, leading to an irreversible blue-shift of the SPR wavelength and a substantial signal drift. We show that mild annealing leads to optical and electronic signal stabilization (20-fold lower signal drift than as-sputtered fiber optic gates) and improved overall analytical performance characteristics. The thermal treatment prevents morphological changes of the thin gold-film occurring during operation, hence providing reliable and stable data immediately upon gate voltage application. Thus, the readout output of both transducing principles, the optical FO-SPR and electronic EG-FET, stays constant throughout the whole sensing time-window and the long-term effect of thermal treatment is also improved, providing stable signals even after 1 year of storage. Annealing should therefore be considered a necessary modification for applying fiber optic gate electrodes in real-time multimodal investigations of surface reactions at the solid-liquid interface.
Research on duplex underwater wireless laser communication system
Authors: Dong Bing , Tong Shoufeng , Zhang Peng , Du Yangfan
Published: July 2023

To improve the bit error rate (BER) of underwater wireless laser communication and increase communication speed, a duplex underwater wireless laser communication system is designed. The system uses both blue and green lasers to transmit signals simultaneously, and adopts an improved modulation and demodulation algorithm to achieve separate modulation of the two sets of signals. A duplex underwater wireless laser communication system builds based on 440 and 550 nm lasers. On the basis of analyzing the absorption and scattering characteristics of seawater in laser communication, the influence of turbulence on communication efficiency is discussed. Improved the traditional duplex modulation algorithm and conducted communication testing at a depth of 2.0 m underwater. The experimental results show that when the communication distance increases from 5 to 50 m, the BER of the unoptimized duplex mode increases from 2.34 × 10−7 to 3.5 × 10−5. After adopting the optimization algorithm, the BER increases from 2.81 × 10−7 to 1.18 × 10−6, and the signal attenuation has been significantly suppressed. The duplex communication structure and algorithm can effectively reduce the impact of communication distance on bit BER.
Effects of exercise amount and intensity versus a combined exercise and lifestyle intervention on metabolic syndrome in adults with prediabetes: a STRRIDE-PD randomized trial
Authors: Bennett William C. , Collins Katherine A. , Johnson Johanna L. , Slentz Cris A. , Willis Leslie H. , Bales Connie W. , Huffman Kim M. , Kraus William E.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to determine what portion of the effects of a Diabetes Prevention Program-like intervention on metabolic syndrome (MetS) could be achieved with exercise alone, as well as to determine the relative importance of exercise intensity and amount to the total exercise effect on MetS. Sedentary, overweight adults with prediabetes were randomly assigned to one of four 6-month interventions: 1) low-amount/moderate-intensity (10 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2); 2) high-amount/moderate-intensity (16 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2); 3) high-amount/vigorous-intensity (16 kcal/kg/week at 75% peak V˙O2); or 4) diet (7% weight loss) plus low-amount/moderate-intensity (10 kcal/kg/week at 50% peak V˙O2). The primary outcome of this secondary analysis was change in the MetS z-score. A total of 130 participants had complete data for all five Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III MetS criteria. The diet-and-exercise group statistically outperformed the MetS z-score and the ATP III score compared to the exercise alone group. Aerobic exercise alone achieved 24%–50% of the total effect of the combined diet-and-exercise intervention on the MetS score. Low-amount moderate-intensity exercise quantitatively performed equal to or better than the interventions of high-amount moderate-intensity or high-amount vigorous-intensity exercise in improving the MetS score. The combined diet-and-exercise intervention remains more efficacious in improving the MetS z-score. However, all three exercise interventions alone showed improvements in the MetS z-score, suggesting that a modest amount of moderate-intensity exercise is all that is required to achieve approximately half the effect of a diet-and-exercise intervention on the MetS.

Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT00962962.
Knockout of the polysialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV leads to a dilatation of rete testis during postnatal development
Authors: Humpfle Luisa , Hachem Nadim E. , Simon Peter , Weinhold Birgit , Galuska Sebastian P. , Middendorff Ralf
Published: July 2023

Polysialic acid (polySia) is a carbohydrate polymer that modulates several cellular processes, such as migration, proliferation and differentiation processes. In the brain, its essential impact during postnatal development is well known. However, in most other polySia positive organs, only its localization has been described so far. For instance, in the murine epididymis, smooth muscle cells of the epididymal duct are polysialylated during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. To understand the role of polySia during the development of the epididymis, the consequences of its loss were investigated in postnatal polySia knockout mice. As expected, no polysialylation was visible in the absence of the polysialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV. Interestingly, cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (PGK1), which is essentially involved in smooth muscle cell relaxation, was not detectable in peritubular smooth muscle cells when tissue sections of polySia knockout mice were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In contrast to this signaling molecule, the structural proteins smooth muscle actin (SMA) and calponin were expressed. As shown before, in the duct system of the testis, even the expression of these structural proteins was impaired due to the loss of polySia. We now found that the rete testis, connecting the duct system of the testis and epididymis, was extensively dilated. The obtained data suggest that less differentiated smooth muscle cells of the testis and epididymis result in disturbed contractility and thus, fluid transport within the duct system visible in the enlarged rete testis.
Mental distress and well-being of university students amid COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an online integrative intervention for psychology trainees
Authors: Yotsidi Vasiliki , Nikolatou Eirini-Konstantina , Kourkoutas Elias , Kougioumtzis Georgios A.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

University students have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as significant changes supervened their academic and social life. To tackle these challenges, several adjustments in the educational methods may be warranted for cultivating a positive environment at higher education institutions. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and protective factors of students’ mental health and well-being as well as their potential for flourishing in an undergraduate clinical psychology course that took place online due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures and incorporated positive psychology exercises as a means to empower young people amid the adverse conditions of the lockdown.

Methods

In total, 124 students attended the course and completed mental health (i.e., DASS-9, HADS, ERQ) and well-being (i.e., MHC-SF, SWLS, PANAS, GQ-6, BRS) measures at two time points (pre-and-post-test), during the first restrictions in Greece (March–June 2020).

Results

According to the results, students aged 18–20 years old reported higher levels of stress [χ2 = 14.72, p = 0.002], while students who felt that the quality of their studies had deteriorated [χ2 = 6.57, p = 0.038] reported increased levels of anxiety. High levels of depression were correlated with worse relationships with significant others (z = 7.02, p = 0.030 and χ2 = 11.39, p = 0.003 for family and friends, respectively), while gratitude and resilience were positively correlated with improved relationships with others, both during and after the lockdown. Factors associated with students’ well-being were satisfaction with life and gratitude.

Discussion

These results suggest that well-being enhancement factors may have added value to current educational practices for promoting students’ mental health and well-being in times of crisis.
Vision-related tasks in children with visual impairment: a multi-method study
Authors: Ghasemi Fard Fatemeh , Mirzaie Hooshang , Hosseini Seyed Ali , Riazi Abbas , Ebadi Abbas
Published: July 2023

Objective

Functional Vision (FV) is vital for the successful growth of children with visual impairment. However, tasks related to measuring FV have not been thoroughly studied for this population. To address this gap, this study seeks to establish a comprehensive set of vision-related tasks that consider both the difficulty levels of activities and the ages of children with visual impairment.

Methods

This study utilized a sequential multi-method design, including a scoping review, a qualitative content analysis, and a focus group. Firstly, a scoping review was conducted to identify vision-related tasks based on the literature. Then, to contextualize the vision-related tasks, a qualitative content analysis was carried out. Subsequently, a focus group was conducted to categorize the identified tasks based on their difficulty levels and the children’s level of dependency. We utilized the directed content analysis method to analyze the data, using the occupational domain of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework 4th edition (OTPF-4) as the primary framework.

Results

During the review phase, which included 22 studies, and the interview phase, which involved 16 participants, a total of 95 and 85 vision-related tasks were identified, respectively. These tasks were then categorized into 17 activities and five occupations, which included activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, play, and participation in social activities. Among these occupations, ADL was the easiest, while participation in social activities was the most challenging. Finally, the tasks were arranged based on their difficulty level for children with visual impairment.

Conclusion

A comprehensive list of vision-related tasks has been developed based on the difficulty level of the tasks and the degree of dependency of children with visual impairment. This list can be used to develop standardized instruments for assessing FV in children with visual impairment.
The transition of Chilean adolescents from the child welfare system to the adolescent justice system: a continuation or an accumulation of adverse factors?
Authors: Zambrano Viviana , Fernández-Pacheco Gloria , Salazar-Muñoz Miguel
Published: July 2023

Research on juvenile delinquency and adolescent maladjustment indicates that the beginning of these processes is found in the relationship between multiple risk factors at the individual, family and community levels in this population. The objective of this research was to analyze the risk factors related to the transition from the child welfare system to the adolescent justice system in a group of Chilean male adolescents (n = 108), aged 14–18 years, grouped according to their membership in the child welfare system, the adolescent justice system or both systems. Through a quantitative methodology, variables associated with risk factors were examined by means of the Risk and Resource Evaluation Form FER-R and the Risk and Criminogenic Needs Inventory IRNC instruments. Logistic regression analysis found that the adolescent population within the child welfare system was more likely to enter the adolescent justice system if the following risk factors were present: weak family supervision, consumption of drugs, socially maladaptive peer relationships, and risky free time. These results emphasize that child welfare system interventions should focus on parental support and the management of socio-community networks to prevent re-entry of the adolescent population into the justice system.
Organisational contextual aspects among medical social workers
Authors: Albrithen Abdulaziz , Yalli Nadir
Published: July 2023

Since the recognition of social work in health care, the number of social workers has dramatically increased. The proved association between psychosocial conditions and biophysical features encouraged in social work drove its professionalism and made social workers an essential part of the health care team in hospitals. Today, social workers are involved in medicine as specialised practitioners who share their knowledge and care along with other professionals to provide multi-disciplinary interventions and services to people in need. Using a self-administered questionnaires, this study aims to examine the relationship between two organisational-contextual aspects (i.e., organisational structural, and organisational resources) among social workers in health care in Saudi Arabia.
Athletes’ basic psychological needs and emotions: the role of cognitive reappraisal
Authors: Robazza Claudio , Morano Milena , Bortoli Laura , Ruiz Montse C.
Published: July 2023

In sport, where high achievements are at stake, athletes often feel pressure and emotions that hinder their performance. Emotion regulation becomes essential for athletes to handle stress, achieve optimal performance, and enhance their overall well-being. To advance both research and practical applications, it is crucial to examine the antecedents of emotion regulation and the impact on emotions and other feelings associated with performance. Specifically, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the role of athletes’ emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction, emotions, and psychobiosocial experiences. The sample consisted of 424 competitive athletes (246 men and 178 women) involved in individual sports (n = 164; e.g., fencing, gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, and tennis) or team sports (n = 260; e.g., basketball, rugby, soccer, and volleyball), aged 16–36  years (M = 23.08, SD = 7.65). Their competitive experience ranged from 1 to 21  years (M = 9.71, SD = 6.34) at regional (71%), national (18%), or international (11%) level, and they practiced their sport on average 3.74 times a week (SD = 1.73). Participants completed measures of basic needs satisfaction (i.e., competence, autonomy, and relatedness), emotion regulation style, emotions, and psychobiosocial experiences. Structural equation modeling results showed that competence need satisfaction was positively associated with pleasant emotions and psychobiosocial experiences that are perceived as functional for performance, and negatively associated with a maladaptive emotion regulation style (i.e., expressive suppression) and unpleasant emotions. Relatedness need satisfaction was positively related to an adaptive emotion regulation style (i.e., cognitive reappraisal), pleasant emotions, and psychobiosocial experiences, and negatively related to expressive suppression and unpleasant emotions. Finally, mediation analysis showed positive indirect effects from autonomy and relatedness satisfaction to pleasant emotions and psychobiosocial experiences via cognitive reappraisal. Findings suggest that the satisfaction of athletes’ basic psychological needs of autonomy and relatedness is related to the experience of pleasant emotions and functional psychobiosocial states when they adopt an adaptive emotion regulation style.
A predictive model of perceived stress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in university students Ecuadorians
Authors: Reivan Ortiz Geovanny Genaro , Yanza Rafael , Campoverde Ximena , Estrada Cherres Johanna Paulina , Reinoso García Lourdes Priscila , Diaz José , Granero Pérez Roser
Published: July 2023

Background and objectives

The situation caused by the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility restriction implemented by governments worldwide had a significant impact on people’s routines. Stressors are known to increase emotional imbalance, uncertainty, and frustration in the general population. This study explores the factors that predispose to the risk of perceived stress from COVID-19 and determines the underlying mediating mechanisms in the Ecuadorian population.

Method

The cross-sectional study an incidental non-probabilistic sample of n = 977 participating student volunteers from the four regions of the Republic of Ecuador (68.6% women and 31.4% men). Data on emotional regulation (ERQ), perceived stress (PSS), active procrastination (APS), diagnosis and symptoms related to COVID-19, social isolation, coexistence, and a sociodemographic questionnaire (biological sex, marital status, and age) were recruited. Statistical analysis was based on a structural equation model.

Results

The risk of suffering perceived stress in the COVID-19 pandemic was higher for single women who have lived longer in social isolation, have lived with more people, have poor emotional regulation and high rates of procrastination. This structural model is similar in all Ecuadorian regions χ2 = 21.54 (p = 0.760), RMSEA = 0.001 (95%CI, 0.00–0.02), CFI = 0.998; TLI = 0.999; SRMR = 0.020.

Discussion

Although our findings are consistent and revealing for the scientific community, the lack of discrimination of the data due to strict isolation measures, taken at different periods by the Ecuadorian government against positive cases of COVID-19, is discussed. The research was applied to the university population, it would be representative to extend the study to schools and colleges.

Conclusion

We consider this work as a starting point for the creation of preventive models against perceived stress in the university environment in the event of health emergencies.
Virtualization of foods: applications and perspectives toward optimizing food systems
Authors: Chen Chang , Homez-Jara Angie , Corradini Maria G.
Published: July 2023

Food production cannot be decoupled from human and planetary wellbeing. Meeting safety, nutritional, sensorial, and even price requirements entails applying an integral view of food products and their manufacturing and distribution processes. Virtualization of food commodities and products, i.e., their digital representation, offers opportunities to study, simulate, and predict the contributions of internal (e.g., composition and structure) and external factors (e.g., processing conditions) to food quality, safety, stability, and sustainability. Building virtual versions of foods requires a holistic supporting framework composed of instrumental and computational techniques. The development of virtual foods has been bolstered by advanced tools for collecting data, informing and validating modelling, e.g., micro-computed tomography, to accurately assess native food structures, multi-omics approaches, to acquire vast information on composition and biochemical processes, and nondestructive and real-time sensing, to facilitate mapping and tracking changes in food quality and safety in real-world situations. Comprehensive modeling techniques (including heat and mass transfer, thermodynamics, kinetics) built upon physic laws provide the base for realistic simulations and predictions of food processes that a virtual food might undergo. Despite the potential gaps in knowledge, increasing the adoption of food virtualization (data-based, physics-based or hybrid) in manufacturing and food systems evaluation can facilitate the optimal use of resources, the rational design of functional characteristics, and even inform the customization of composition and structural components for better product development. This mini-review focuses on critical steps for developing and applying virtual foods, their future trends, and needs.
The South African community pharmacy sector—an untapped reservoir for delivering HIV services
Authors: Nyamuzihwa Tsitsi , Tembo Angela , Martyn Natalie , Venter Francois , Maimin Jacqueline , Houghton Juliet , Lalla-Edward Samanta Tresha
Published: July 2023

Differentiated service delivery is recommended to improve the uptake of HIV testing and treatment for people living with HIV. One service delivery option yet to be fully capitalised on is community pharmacies. There are approximately 3,580 registered community pharmacies in South Africa. A total of 1,110 (31%) of these pharmacies are corporate chain pharmacies located in cities and towns, the remainder are individually owned, many of which are in less populated poorer settings. Community pharmacies traditionally play a pivotal role in providing health education to the populations they serve and are the first point of contact for people seeking health services, offering more convenient opening hours and shorter waiting times than public sector clinics or private doctors. As a result, patients regularly seek a variety of sexual and reproductive health services at community pharmacies such as self-testing devices for HIV, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and an array of reproductive health services, spanning emergency contraception to fertility advice, often signifying HIV risk. This has presented an opportunity for community pharmacies to provide access to HIV prevention and treatment to ensure the targets for HIV services set by international agencies and local government are achieved. Despite obstacles experienced with the expansion of the community pharmacist's role, exploring the potential of pharmacies to mediate the existing challenges with HIV service delivery has emerged as an important resource. Assessing the South African communities' specific HIV treatment needs and willingness to access HIV services from community pharmacies will benefit from additional research.
Reducing Food Waste Saves Money and Helps Our Planet
Authors: Ayalon Ofira
Published: July 2023

About one-third of all food that is produced (from the farm to our tables) ends up being thrown away. This is a tremendous waste of resources, including the energy, water, soil, fertilizers, and pesticides used to produce food. Food waste also damages the environment because decaying foods release pollution, including methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas. In a study conducted in Israel, we found that 45% of all household trash is food waste, and 54% of food waste consists of food that is still edible, especially fruits and vegetables. The cost of avoidable food waste is ~$40 per month per household—money that is literally thrown in the trash. Understanding why and how food is wasted is a key step toward teaching people about this problem and creating public policies that will reduce food waste and persuade people to change their behavior.
Exploring the association between perceived male attitudes and female attitudes toward the discontinuation of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Egypt
Authors: Zsabokorszky Zita , Van de Velde Sarah , Michielsen Kristien , Van Eekert Nina
Published: July 2023

Introduction

There are 200 million girls and women alive worldwide that have undergone the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing the practice each year. FGM/C provides no known health benefits, while puts a plethora of medical, psychological, and sexual health risks into perspective. One of the countries where the prevalence of FGM/C is the highest in the World, even though local authorities legally banned the practice in 2008, is Egypt. Within the Egyptian context, there are several complex socioeconomic, religious, and cultural drivers that influence the familial decision making of the daughters being cut. Female attitudes hold great significance in the process, because mothers and female family members are typically the prime decision makers at the daughter's circumcision. However, whilst FGM/C is often performed to enhance marriageability and address male preferences, in practicing communities there is little to no open communication between men and women about the practice, making women rely on their perceptions on FGM/C related expectations of men. Even though the connection between female and perceived male attitudes toward the discontinuation was established almost 20 years ago, since then to our knowledge little is known about the further characteristics of this association. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between female and perceived male attitudes within families of a younger cohort and moreover attempts to provide a more layered picture of it within different levels of education.

Methods

To explore the relation between female and perceived male attitudes toward the discontinuation of FGM/C we conducted a 3-step binary logistic regression model.

Results

Our results show that women are significantly less likely to favor a continuation of FGM/C if they think men are disapproving of the practice, compared to women that think men want it to continue. The strength of this association partially varies between the different levels of education as it is less pronounced at the level of secondary education, compared to the reference group.

Discussion

In alignment with previous findings in the literature, women were more likely to support the discontinuation of FGM/C if they believed that men want the practice to discontinue as well and vice versa. At a higher level of secondary education however this association is less pronounced. This result concludes that the role of perceived male attitudes should be an important factor associated with female ones and studied further, and underlines the importance of education in women empowerment.
Nasal anatomy and sniffing in respiration and olfaction of wild and domestic animals
Authors: Xi Jinxiang , Si Xiuhua April , Malvè Mauro
Published: July 2023

Animals have been widely utilized as surrogate models for humans in exposure testing, infectious disease experiments, and immunology studies. However, respiratory diseases affect both humans and animals. These disorders can spontaneously affect wild and domestic animals, impacting their quality and quantity of life. The origin of such responses can primarily be traced back to the pathogens deposited in the respiratory tract. There is a lack of understanding of the transport and deposition of respirable particulate matter (bio-aerosols or viruses) in either wild or domestic animals. Moreover, local dosimetry is more relevant than the total or regionally averaged doses in assessing exposure risks or therapeutic outcomes. An accurate prediction of the total and local dosimetry is the crucial first step to quantifying the dose-response relationship, which in turn necessitates detailed knowledge of animals’ respiratory tract and flow/aerosol dynamics within it. In this review, we examined the nasal anatomy and physiology (i.e., structure-function relationship) of different animals, including the dog, rat, rabbit, deer, rhombus monkey, cat, and other domestic and wild animals. Special attention was paid to the similarities and differences in the vestibular, respiratory, and olfactory regions among different species. The ventilation airflow and behaviors of inhaled aerosols were described as pertinent to the animals’ mechanisms for ventilation modulation and olfaction enhancement. In particular, sniffing, a breathing maneuver that animals often practice enhancing olfaction, was examined in detail in different animals. Animal models used in COVID-19 research were discussed. The advances and challenges of using numerical modeling in place of animal studies were discussed. The application of this technique in animals is relevant for bidirectional improvements in animal and human health.
An inflammatory bowel disease-associated SNP increases local thyroglobulin expression to develop inflammation in miniature dachshunds
Authors: Teoh Yong Bin , Jiang Jing-Jing , Yamasaki Takeshi , Nagata Noriyuki , Sugawara Toshiki , Hasebe Rie , Ohta Hiroshi , Sasaki Noboru , Yokoyama Nozomu , Nakamura Kensuke , Kagawa Yumiko , Takiguchi Mitsuyoshi , Murakami Masaaki
Published: July 2023

Inflammatory colorectal polyp (ICRP) in miniature dachshunds (MDs) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by granulomatous inflammation that consists of neutrophil infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia in the colon. Recently, we identified five MD-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely PLG, TCOF1, TG, COL9A2, and COL4A4, by whole-exome sequencing. Here, we investigated whether TG c.4567C>T (p.R1523W) is associated with the ICRP pathology. We found that the frequency of the T/T SNP risk allele was significantly increased in MDs with ICRP. In vitro experiments showed that TG expression in non-immune cells was increased by inducing the IL-6 amplifier with IL-6 and TNF-α. On the other hand, a deficiency of TG suppressed the IL-6 amplifier. Moreover, recombinant TG treatment enhanced the activation of the IL-6 amplifier, suggesting that TG is both a positive regulator and a target of the IL-6 amplifier. We also found that TG expression together with two NF-κB targets, IL6 and CCL2, was increased in colon samples isolated from MDs with the T/T risk allele compared to those with the C/C non-risk allele, but serum TG was not increased. Cumulatively, these results suggest that the T/T SNP is an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) of TG mRNA in the colon, and local TG expression triggered by this SNP increases the risk of ICRP in MDs via the IL-6 amplifier. Therefore, TG c.4567C>T is a diagnostic target for ICRP in MDs, and TG-mediated IL-6 amplifier activation in the colon is a possible therapeutic target for ICRP.
Basis Functions for a Transient Analysis of Linear Commensurate Fractional-Order Systems
Authors: Biolek Dalibor , Biolková Viera , Kolka Zdeněk , Biolek Zdeněk
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the possibilities of expressing the natural response of a linear commensurate fractional-order system (FOS) as a linear combination of basis functions are analyzed. For all possible types of sα-domain poles, the corresponding basis functions are found, the kernel of which is the two-parameter Mittag–Leffler function Eα,β, β = α. It is pointed out that there are mutually unambiguous correspondences between the basis functions of FOS and the known basis functions of the integer-order system (IOS) for α = 1. This correspondence can be used to algorithmically find analytical formulas for the impulse responses of FOS when the formulas for the characteristics of IOS are known. It is shown that all basis functions of FOS can be generated with Podlubny‘s function of type εk (t, c; α, α), where c and k are the corresponding pole and its multiplicity, respectively.
A Hybrid Model for Analysis of Laser Beam Distortions Using Monte Carlo and Shack–Hartmann Techniques: Numerical Study and Experimental Results
Authors: Galaktionov Ilya , Sheldakova Julia , Nikitin Alexander , Toporovsky Vladimir , Kudryashov Alexis
Published: July 2023

The hybrid model for analyzing distortions of a laser beam passed through a moderately scattering medium with the number of scattering events up to 10 is developed and investigated. The model implemented the Monte Carlo technique to simulate the beam propagation through a scattering layer, a ray-tracing technique to propagate the scattered beam to the measurements plane, and the Shack–Hartmann technique to calculate the scattered laser beam distortions. The results obtained from the developed model were confirmed during the laboratory experiment. Both the numerical model and laboratory experiment showed that with an increase of the concentration value of scattering particles in the range from 105 to 106 mm−3, the amplitude of distortions of laser beam propagated through the layer of the scattering medium increases exponentially.
Genome-Wide Association Studies Revealed the Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes of Pod-Related Traits in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Zhu Linglong , Ren Mengyun , Xiang Chao , Tang Xiumei , Xia Youlin , Song Dulin , Li Fuzhen
Published: July 2023

Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide. Pod-related traits, including pod length (PL), pod width (PW), ratio of PL to PW (PL/W) and 100-pod weight (100-PW), are crucial factors for pod yield and are key target traits for selection in peanut breeding. However, the studies on the natural variation and genetic mechanism of pod-related traits are not clear in peanut. In this study, we phenotyped 136 peanut accessions for four pod-related traits in two consecutive years and genotyped the population using a re-sequencing technique. Based on 884,737 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted for four pod-related traits using a fixed and random model uniform cyclic probability (FarmCPU) model. The results showed that a total of 36 SNPs were identified by GWAS, among which twenty-one, fourteen and one SNPs were significantly associated with PL, PL/W and 100-PW, respectively. The candidate regions where the four peak SNPs (10_76084075, 11_138356586, 16_64420451, and 18_126782541) were located were used for searching genes, and nineteen candidate genes for pod-related traits were preliminarily predicted based on functional annotations. In addition, we also compared the expression patterns of these nineteen candidate genes in different tissues of peanut, and we found that eight genes were specifically highly expressed in tender fruit, immature pericarp, or seed, so we considered these genes to be the potential candidate genes for pod-related traits. These results enriched the understanding of the genetic basis of pod-related traits and provided an important theoretical basis for subsequent gene cloning and marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding in peanut.
MFIRA: Multimodal Fusion Intent Recognition Algorithm for AR Chemistry Experiments
Authors: Xia Zishuo , Feng Zhiquan , Yang Xiaohui , Kong Dehui , Cui Hong
Published: July 2023

The current virtual system for secondary school experiments poses several issues, such as limited methods of operation for students and an inability of the system to comprehend the users’ operational intentions, resulting in a greater operational burden for students and hindering the goal of the experimental practice. However, many traditional multimodal fusion algorithms rely solely on individual modalities for the analysis of users’ experimental intentions, failing to fully utilize the intention information for each modality. To rectify these issues, we present a new multimodal fusion algorithm, MFIRA, which intersects and blends intention probabilities between channels by executing parallel processing of multimodal information at the intention layer. Additionally, we developed an augmented reality (AR) virtual experiment platform based on the Hololens 2, which enables students to conduct experiments using speech, gestures, and vision. Employing the MFIRA algorithm, the system captures users’ experimental intent and navigates or rectifies errors to guide students through their experiments. The experimental results indicate that the MFIRA algorithm boasts a 97.3% accuracy rate in terms of interpreting users’ experimental intent. Compared to existing experimental platforms, this system is considerably more interactive and immersive for students and is highly applicable in secondary school experimental chemistry classrooms.
Review of Partial Hybrids between Herbaceous Medicago sativa and Woody Medicago arborea and Their Potential Role in Alfalfa Improvement
Authors: Irwin John , Bingham Edwin
Published: July 2023

Medicago sativa (2n = 4x = 32) and M. arborea (2n = 4x = 32) were thought to be reproductively isolated until hybrids (Alborea) were produced by sexual reproduction for the first time in 2003 in Wisconsin. The hybrids were asymmetric, at or near 2n = 4x = 32, and with a predominance of the alfalfa genome. Only M. sativa seed parents with reproductive abnormalities, including unreduced eggs, have produced hybrids; where M. arborea has been used as the seed parent, no hybrids have resulted. Pedigree selection within derivatives of the two original M. sativa seed parents (MB and M8) has been successful in increasing the frequency of hybrids produced. While Alborea individuals more closely resemble M. sativa, a number of M. arborea-specific traits have been observed across different hybrid individuals. These include single-coil flat pods, large seeds, yellow flowers, indeterminate growth, a minimal crown, lodging, frost resistance, and anthracnose resistance. These M. arborea traits have the potential to restructure alfalfa to increase its versatility and utilisation. There is emerging evidence from North and South America and Australia that some Alborea selections have the capacity to complement adapted alfalfa cultivars for yield. Work is continuing to introgress M. arborea traits of value into alfalfa.
Contribution of Climate Change and Human Activities to Runoff and Sediment Discharge Changes Based on Budyko Theory and Water–Sediment Relationships during 1960–2019 in the Taohe River Basin, China
Authors: Ma Yali , Sun Dongyuan , Niu Zuirong , Wang Xingfan
Published: July 2023

Variations in runoff and sediment discharge are important characteristic variables for revealing the coupled effects of climate change (including both the natural variability of climate and anthropogenic climate change) and human activities (including soil and water conservation measures, land use changes, and hydraulic engineering construction). Based on the meteorological data from 19 meteorological stations and the hydrological data from the watershed control station of Hongqi Station, the temporal and spatial evolution of runoff and sediment discharge and the water–sand relationship were analyzed, and the response mechanisms of runoff and sediment discharge changes were clarified using Mikhail Budyko’s theory and other qualitative and quantitative methods. The results determined that: (1) The runoff and sediment discharge showed significant downward trends, with linear change rates of −0.28 × 108 m3/a and −46.10 × 104 t/a, respectively. The change points of the runoff and sediment discharge occurred in 1987 and 1996, respectively. (2) The spatial distribution of water and sediment was different, and the upper and middle reaches produced water, while the downstream produced sediment. (3) Comparing potential evapotranspiration and rainfall based on Budyko theory and the regression relationship, runoff is more closely related to rainfall, and runoff changes are more affected by it. The change in sediment discharge is most closely related to sediment concentration, followed by rainfall and potential evaporation. (4) The contribution rates of runoff and sediment discharge changes influenced by climate change were 24% and 3%, respectively, and the contribution rates by human activities were 76% and 97%, respectively. Human activities, including soil and water conservation measures, land use changes, and hydraulic engineering construction were the main influencing factors, and the impacts of human activities increased from 1960 to 2019. The research results are of great significance for erosion control and ecological restoration in the Tao River Basin under the conditions of the changing environment.