bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition and Deposition Characteristics of Precipitation into a Typical Temperate Forest in Northeastern China
Authors: Wang Yingying , Zhu Feifei , Kang Ronghua , Song Linlin , Huang Shaonan , Huang Dan , Huang Kai , Mgelwa Abubakari Said , Gurmesa Geshere Abdisa , Fang Xiaoming , Fang Yunting
Published: November 2022

The chemical compositions and deposition characteristics of atmospheric precipitation affect the structure and function of forest ecosystems and reflect regional air quality. Although northeastern China constitutes a vital forested area, few relevant studies reveal the chemical composition and the nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) deposition characteristics within precipitation. In this study, we monitor precipitation chemistry during 2018–2020 at a rural forested site in northeastern China (the Qingyuan site) and compare it with those from background sites (Mondy in Russia and Ochiishi in Japan) and highly anthropogenically influenced areas (Beijing). The precipitation pH range was 4.7–8.0 (volume-weighted average 6.2). The average concentration of total ions in precipitation was 459 μmol L−1, representing a moderate pollution level. Nitrate (NO3−, 73 μmol L−1) and ammonium (NH4+, 133 μmol L−1) were the major anions and cations in the precipitation. Total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) deposition was 12.3–15.9 kg N ha−1 year−1 (NH4+-N deposition accounted for 54–67%), lower than the average level in China (19.4 kg N ha−1 year−1). Annual precipitation sulphate (SO42−) deposition was 4.9–6.7 kg S ha−1 year−1. Seventy-two percent of the precipitation ions at our site originated from human activities. This work has revealed that N and S deposition is an important ion deposition component in atmospheric precipitation in the study of temperate forests in northeastern China. Nitrogen deposition, as a source of vital nutrients in the forest ecosystem, may promote forest growth and, thereby, forest carbon sequestration.
Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into the Mechanisms of Starch Biosynthesis in the Kernels of Three Chestnut Cultivars
Authors: Wang Wu , Zhang Shijie , Chen Yu , Zhao Yuqiang , Shi Fenghou , Khalil-Ur-Rehman Muhammad , Bai Xiaoqian , Zhu Cancan
Published: November 2022

The chestnut is widely cultivated fruit tree enriched with nutrients and has pleasant tasting fruit. The starch properties of kernels greatly influence the nutritional quality of chestnuts. Although various studies have examined the production and accumulation of starch in chestnuts, the transcription alteration linked with starch properties in the kernels has not yet been fully assessed. The present study was conducted to compare transcriptomic variation and starch profiling of three chestnut cultivars: “Garrone rosso” (eur), Castanea sativa Mill., native to Europe; “Dahongpao” (dhp) and “Jiandingyouli” (jdy), and Castanea mollissima Bl., native to China. The results revealed that “dhp” and “jdy” had higher amylose, amylopectin and total starch content than “eur”. Based on transcriptome data, we screened 63.17G clean bases, and detected numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were associated with starch and sucrose metabolism. Through the combined transcriptomic and starch profiling analysis showed that DEGs in “the starch and sucrose metabolism”, “bZIP transcriptional factors”, and “zinc finger protein” pathways were positively correlated with starch accumulation, genes encoding sucrose synthase (CMHBY215664 and CMHBY203813), USPase (CMHBY206855), and PGI (CMHBY200699) were found to participate in the biosynthesis, transport, and regulation of starch according to their expression patterns in chestnut kernels. Furthermore, genes encoding different transcription factors (ERF, bZIP, MYB, and WRKY) that potentially regulate the expression of genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism were selected by coexpression analysis, which highlighted that most MYB and WRKY TF members were positively correlated with starch synthase (SS). qRT-PCR assay results of nine selected DEGs confirmed the accuracy of the RNA-Seq data. Our results provide insights into genetic resources for deciphering the molecular mechanisms of chestnut starch accumulation.
Multi-Objective Optimization and Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Coir Fiber from Coconut Forest Waste
Authors: Ru Shaofeng , Zhao Can , Yang Songmei
Published: November 2022

As a type of natural fiber with excellent elongation, coir fiber has been applied in a wide range of fields. To ensure superb performance, coir fiber is usually treated with alkali before being applied. Previous studies paid little attention to the multiple alkali treatment of coir fiber; however, this study focuses on its influence on the mechanical properties of coir fiber and conducts multi-objective optimization and analysis of the tensile strength, elastic modulus and elongation of coir fiber. Our objective is the comprehensive enhancement of the mechanical properties of coir fiber. In this study, the experimental design is based on the Box-Behnken design method, and three treatment parameters were selected for the study, namely NaOH concentration, treatment time and treatment temperature. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was adopted to analyze the experimental data, and response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate how the treatment factors interact with each other and affect the responses values. To improve the tensile strength, elastic modulus and elongation of coir fiber simultaneously, the experimental parameters were optimized. The results showed that the optimal values of NaOH concentration, treatment time and treatment temperature were 4.12%, 15.08 h and 34.21 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, the tensile strength of coir fiber was 97.14 MPa, the elastic modulus was 2.98 GPa and the elongation was 29.35%, which were 38.28%, 39.91% and 25.59% higher than that of untreated coir fiber, respectively. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the changes in surface, weight loss, composition and crystallinity of coir fiber treated with alkali under optimum conditions compared with untreated coir fiber to obtain a deeper insight into the influential mechanisms of alkali treatment.
Unraveling the Effects of Pruning Frequency on Biomass Productivity, Nonstructural Carbohydrates and Nitrogen Fixation Rates of Sesbania sesban
Authors: Makhubedu Thabo I. , Letty Brigid A. , Mafongoya Paramu L. , Scogings Peter F.
Published: November 2022

Tree pruning is a management tool in agroforestry systems for reducing shade, enhancing nutrient cycling or providing fodder. However, little information is available on the effect of pruning management on plant growth, nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) levels in the roots and N2 fixation of Sesbania sesban. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pruning frequency on biomass production, NSC levels and N2 fixation of Sesbania sesban. Pruning treatments consisted of a control (PF0), one pruning at 3 months after transplanting (MAT) (PF1), two successive prunings at 3 and 6 MAT (PF2), and three successive prunings at 3, 6 and 9 MAT (PF3), with each pruning removing shoot biomass above 50% of the initial height. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Results showed that increasing pruning frequency resulted in decreased nodulation and nonstructural carbohydrate levels in the roots. Above and below ground biomass, root length, percentage N derived from the atmosphere and amount of N2 fixed were decreased in a similar manner whether plants were successively pruned twice or thrice. It can be concluded that two or three successive prunings in nine months significantly reduce nonstructural carbohydrates, DM productivity and N2 fixation of S. sesban, and might result in supply of insufficient biomass required for improving soil N fertility and livestock production.
QuickFaaS: Providing Portability and Interoperability between FaaS Platforms
Authors: Rodrigues Pedro , Freitas Filipe , Simão José
Published: November 2022

Serverless computing hides infrastructure management from developers and runs code on-demand automatically scaled and billed during the code’s execution time. One of the most popular serverless backend services is called Function-as-a-Service (FaaS), in which developers are often confronted with cloud-specific requirements. Function signature requirements, and the usage of custom libraries that are unique to cloud providers, were identified as the two main reasons for portability issues in FaaS applications, leading to various vendor lock-in problems. In this work, we define three cloud-agnostic models that compose FaaS platforms. Based on these models, we developed QuickFaaS, a multi-cloud interoperability desktop tool targeting cloud-agnostic functions and FaaS deployments. The proposed cloud-agnostic approach enables developers to reuse their serverless functions in different cloud providers with no need to change code or install extra software. We also provide an evaluation that validates the proposed solution by measuring the impact of a cloud-agnostic approach on the function’s performance, when compared to a cloud-non-agnostic one. The study shows that a cloud-agnostic approach does not significantly impact the function’s performance.
Fabrication of Antioxidant Pickering Emulsion Based on Resveratrol-Grafted Zein Conjugates: Enhancing the Physical and Oxidative Stability
Authors: Ren Gerui , Zhu Ying , Shi Jieyu , Liu Jiacheng , He Ying , Sun Yufan , Zhan Yujing , Lv Junfei , Huang Min , Xie Hujun
Published: November 2022

Lipid oxidation is still a major problem complicating the development of food emulsions. In this study, an antioxidant Pickering emulsion stabilized by resveratrol-grafted zein (Z-R) conjugates and pectin (P) complex particles was prepared. The hydrophilic pectin successfully adjusted the wettability of Z-R; when the mass ratio of Z-R to P was 2:1 (Z-R/P2:1), the three-phase contact angle was 90.68°, and the wettability of the particles was close to neutral. Rheological analysis showed that the emulsion formed an elastic gel structure. FTIR spectra indicated that there was a hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction between Z-R and P. The disappearance of characteristic infrared peaks of corn oil was due to a dense protective film formed on the surface of oil drops by Z-R/P2:1 particles, which was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The emulsion stabilized by Z-R/P2:1 had excellent physical stability at a wide range of pH values (4–9), salt ion concentrations (0.04–0.15 mol·L−1) and storage times (0–30 days). The anti-lipid oxidation ability of the emulsion was outstanding; after storage for 14 days at room temperature, the MDA content in the emulsion was only 123.85 μmol/kg oil. In conclusion, the Z-R/P2:1 particles prepared in this study can effectively stabilize a Pickering emulsion and expand the usability of the method for constructing antioxidant Pickering emulsions.
Factors Influencing Biofilm Formation by Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium, E. cloacae, E. hormaechei, Pantoea spp., and Bacillus spp. Isolated from Human Milk Determined by PCA Analysis
Authors: Gemba Mateusz , Rosiak Elżbieta , Nowak-Życzyńska Zuzanna , Kałęcka Paulina , Łodykowska Elżbieta , Kołożyn-Krajewska Danuta
Published: November 2022

Bacteria enter milk during poor hygiene practices and can form a biofilm on surfaces that come into contact with human milk. The presence of a biofilm increases the risk of infections among newborns as bacteria protected by biofilm are resistant to washing and disinfection processes. The formation of the biofilm depends on the microbial species, environmental conditions, and the specific materials colonized. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of factors such as temperature, incubation time, and initial cell concentration on biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria isolated from human milk on model hydrophobic polystyrene surfaces. Model studies confirm that pathogenic bacteria appearing in human milk as a result of cross-contamination tend to form a biofilm. The majority of isolates formed biofilm at both 25 and 37 °C after 12 h at 1 × 103 CFU/mL inoculum count. Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) showed that at lower temperatures, biofilm formation by bacterial isolates was the main determinant of biofilm formation, other factors were less important; however, at 37 °C, time was a factor in biofilm formation. The model research performed underlines the importance of maintaining the proper hygiene of rooms, surfaces, and devices for expressing, storing, and preparing mothers’ milk and powdered infant formula (PIF) in facilities responsible for feeding newborns and premature babies.
Profiling of Nutritionally Vital Bioactive Compounds in Emerging Green Leafy Vegetables: A Comparative Study
Authors: Saini Ramesh Kumar , Song Min-Ho , Yu Ji-Woo , Lee Jung-Hoon , Ahn Hui-Yeon , Keum Young-Soo , Lee Ji-Ho
Published: November 2022

Green leafy vegetables (GLVs), especially lettuce and spinach, are the key source of bioactive antioxidants in a diet. This research compared the contents and composition of lettuce and spinach bioactive compounds with emerging GLVs, moringa and fenugreek. Liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) with single ion monitoring (SIM) was used to examine carotenoids and tocols, while phytosterols were examined using gas chromatography (GC)-MS. Among the studied GLVs, the (all-E)-lutein was the most dominating carotenoid ranging between 31.3 (green/red lettuce)–45.3 % (fenugreek) of total carotenoids, followed by (all-E)-violaxanthin and (all-E)-β-carotene. Surprisingly, (all-E)-β-carotene, a provitamin A carotenoid, was the second most dominating carotenoid in moringa, accounting for 109.2 µg/g fresh weight (FW). Moreover, the significantly highest (p < 0.05; Tukey HSD) contents of total carotenoids (473.3 µg/g FW), α-tocopherol (83.7 µg/g FW), and total phytosterols (206.4 µg/g FW) were recorded in moringa. Therefore, moringa foliage may serve as an affordable source of nutritionally vital constituents in a diet.
Hyperspectral Microscopy Technology to Detect Syrups Adulteration of Endemic Guindo Santo and Quillay Honey Using Machine-Learning Tools
Authors: Machuca Guillermo , Staforelli Juan , Rondanelli-Reyes Mauricio , Garces Rene , Contreras-Trigo Braulio , Tapia Jorge , Sanhueza Ignacio , Jara Anselmo , Lamas Iván , Troncoso Jose Max , Coelho Pablo
Published: November 2022

Honey adulteration is a common practice that affects food quality and sale prices, and certifying the origin of the honey using non-destructive methods is critical. Guindo Santo and Quillay are fundamental for the honey production of Biobío and the Ñuble region in Chile. Furthermore, Guindo Santo only exists in this area of the world. Therefore, certifying honey of this species is crucial for beekeeper communities—mostly natives—to give them advantages and competitiveness in the global market. To solve this necessity, we present a system for detecting adulterated endemic honey that combines different artificial intelligence networks with a confocal optical microscope and a tunable optical filter for hyperspectral data acquisition. Honey samples artificially adulterated with syrups at concentrations undetectable to the naked eye were used for validating different artificial intelligence models. Comparing Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), Support vector machine (SVM), and Neural Network (NN), we reach the best average accuracy value with SVM of 93% for all classes in both kinds of honey. We hope these results will be the starting point of a method for honey certification in Chile in an automated way and with high precision.
Effect of Turmeric and Aloe Vera Extract on Shelf-Life of Goat and Buffalo Admixture Milk Paneer during Refrigeration Storage
Authors: Umaraw Pramila , Verma Akhilesh K. , Singh V. P. , Fahim Ahmad
Published: November 2022

The present study was undertaken to evaluate efficacy of turmeric and aloe vera extract in extending shelf life of goat milk paneer. The paneer was made by admixing goat milk and buffalo milk in the ratio of 60:40 so as to achieve a standard fat 4.5%. The treatment group, T1, was made by adding 5 mL/100 mL (v/v) of turmeric extract in heated milk before coagulation. Similarly, 5 mL/100 mL (v/v) aloe vera extract was added to heated milk for group T2 while T3 was prepared by adding both turmeric extract 5 mL/100 mL (v/v) and aloe vera extract 5 mL/100 mL (v/v), and the control was made without any additive. The extracts before incorporation were assessed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential by analysing total phenolic content, ABTS and DPPH percent inhibition and zone of inhibition. The developed paneer samples were evaluated for physico-chemical, oxidative and microbiological changes, and sensory attributes during storage at refrigeration temperature for ten days. The results revealed that paneer prepared with addition of extracts significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed physico-chemical deterioration. Significantly (p < 0.05) lower peroxide value, TBARS, FFA and microbial counts were noticed in T3 than T1, T2 and the control. The sensory attributes were also better (p < 0.05) maintained in T3 during storage. The results concluded that the combination of turmeric and aloe vera extract significantly improves the shelf life of paneer under refrigeration storage and these might be used as phyto-preservatives in paneer.
Horizontal Transfer and Evolutionary Profiles of Two Tc1/DD34E Transposons (ZB and SB) in Vertebrates
Authors: Jia Wenzhu , Asare Emmanuel , Liu Tao , Zhang Pingjing , Wang Yali , Wang Saisai , Shen Dan , Miskey Csaba , Gao Bo , Ivics Zoltán , Qian Qijun , Song Chengyi
Published: November 2022

Both ZeBrafish (ZB), a recently identified DNA transposon in the zebrafish genome, and SB, a reconstructed transposon originally discovered in several fish species, are known to exhibit high transposition activity in vertebrate cells. Although a similar structural organization was observed for ZB and SB transposons, the evolutionary profiles of their homologs in various species remain unknown. In the present study, we compared their taxonomic ranges, structural arrangements, sequence identities, evolution dynamics, and horizontal transfer occurrences in vertebrates. In total, 629 ZB and 366 SB homologs were obtained and classified into four distinct clades, named ZB, ZB-like, SB, and SB-like. They displayed narrow taxonomic distributions in eukaryotes, and were mostly found in vertebrates, Actinopterygii in particular tended to be the major reservoir hosts of these transposons. Similar structural features and high sequence identities were observed for transposons and transposase, notably homologous to the SB and ZB elements. The genomic sequences that flank the ZB and SB transposons in the genomes revealed highly conserved integration profiles with strong preferential integration into AT repeats. Both SB and ZB transposons experienced horizontal transfer (HT) events, which were most common in Actinopterygii. Our current study helps to increase our understanding of the evolutionary properties and histories of SB and ZB transposon families in animals.
Development and Validation of a Prognostic Model for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Based on Necroptosis-Related Genes
Authors: Zhang Suhong , Liu Shuang , Lin Zheng , Zhang Juwei , Lin Zhifeng , Fang Haiyin , Hu Zhijian
Published: November 2022

Necroptosis is a newly developed cell death pathway that differs from necrosis and apoptosis; however, the potential mechanism of necroptosis-related genes in EAC and whether they are associated with the prognosis of EAC patients remain unclear. We obtained 159 NRGs from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and performed differential expression analysis of the NRGs in 9 normal samples and 78 EAC tumor samples derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Finally, we screened 38 differentially expressed NRGs (DE-NRGs). The results of the GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the DE-NRGs were mainly enriched in the functions and pathways associated with necroptosis. Protein interaction network (PPI) analysis revealed that TNF, CASP1, and IL-1B were the core genes of the network. A risk score model based on four DE-NRGs was constructed by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and the results showed that the higher the risk score, the worse the survival. The model achieved more efficient diagnosis compared with the clinicopathological variables, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.885. The prognostic value of this model was further validated using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) demonstrated that several metabolism-related pathways were activated in the high-risk population. Single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) provided further confirmation that this prognostic model was remarkably associated with the immune status of EAC patients. Finally, the nomogram map exhibited a certain prognostic prediction efficiency, with a C-index of 0.792 and good consistency. Thus, the prognostic model based on four NRGs could better predict the prognosis of EAC and help to elucidate the mechanism of necroptosis-related genes in EAC, which can provide guidance for the target prediction and clinical treatment of EAC patients.
Systematic Evaluation of Genomic Prediction Algorithms for Genomic Prediction and Breeding of Aquatic Animals
Authors: Wang Kuiqin , Yang Ben , Li Qi , Liu Shikai
Published: November 2022

The extensive use of genomic selection (GS) in livestock and crops has led to a series of genomic-prediction (GP) algorithms despite the lack of a single algorithm that can suit all the species and traits. A systematic evaluation of available GP algorithms is thus necessary to identify the optimal GP algorithm for selective breeding in aquaculture species. In this study, a systematic comparison of ten GP algorithms, including both traditional and machine-learning algorithms, was conducted using publicly available genotype and phenotype data of eight traits, including weight and disease resistance traits, from five aquaculture species. The study aimed to provide insights into the optimal algorithm for GP in aquatic animals. Notably, no algorithm showed the best performance in all traits. However, reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) and support-vector machine (SVM) algorithms achieved relatively high prediction accuracies in most of the tested traits. Bayes A and random forest (RF) better prevented noise interference in the phenotypic data compared to the other algorithms. The prediction performances of GP algorithms in the Crassostrea gigas dataset were improved by using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to select subsets of significant SNPs. An R package, “ASGS,” which integrates the commonly used traditional and machine-learning algorithms for efficiently finding the optimal algorithm, was developed to assist the application of genomic selection breeding of aquaculture species. This work provides valuable information and a tool for optimizing algorithms for GP, aiding genetic breeding in aquaculture species.
Identification of QTLs for Heat Tolerance at the Flowering Stage Using Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines in Rice
Authors: Nguyen Thanhliem , Shen Shijie , Cheng Mengyao , Chen Qingquan
Published: November 2022

High temperature is a major stress in rice production. Although considerable progress has been made in investigating heat tolerance (HT) in rice, the genetic basis of HT at the heading stage remains largely unknown. In this study, a novel set of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) consisting of 113 lines derived from a heat-resistant indica variety N22 and a heat-sensitive indica variety 9311 was developed and used for the analysis of the genetic basis of HT. The heat sensitivity index (HSI) calculated based on seed-setting rates under natural and high-temperature environments was used to evaluate the influence of HT at the rice heading stage. In total, five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with HT were detected based on seed-setting rate (SSR) evaluation; these were named qSSR6-1, qSSR7-1, qSSR8-1, qSSR9-1 and qSSR11-1 located on chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11, respectively. Heat-tolerant alleles of the QTLs were all derived from N22. Among them, qSSR9-1 overlapped with QTLs identified previously, while the remaining QTLs were found novel. In particular, qSSR7-1 explained a high phenotypic variation of 26.35% with a LOD score of 10.75, thus deserved to be further validated. These findings will increase our understanding of the genetic mechanism underlying HT and facilitate the breeding of heat-tolerant rice varieties.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profile of the HD-Zip Transcription Factor Family Associated with Seed Germination and Abiotic Stress Response in Miscanthus sinensis
Authors: Chen Jiayi , Ran Qifan , Yang Zhongfu , Zhou Ying , Yuan Zhihang , Lai Huiqi , Wang Jing , Nie Gang , Zhu Yongqun
Published: November 2022

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass, non-food bioenergy crop, and forage with high feeding value. It can adapt to many kinds of soil conditions due to its high level of resistance to various abiotic stresses. However, a low level of seed germination restricts the utilization and application of M. sinensis. It is reported that the Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family participates in plant growth and development and ability to cope with outside environment stresses, which may potentially regulate seed germination and stress resistance in M. sinensis. In this study, a complete overview of M. sinensis HD-Zip genes was conducted, including gene structure, conserved motifs, chromosomal distribution, and gene duplication patterns. A total of 169 members were identified, and the HD-Zip proteins were divided into four subgroups. Inter-chromosomal evolutionary analysis revealed that four pairs of tandem duplicate genes and 72 segmental duplications were detected, suggesting the possible role of gene replication events in the amplification of the M. sinensis HD-Zip gene family. There was an uneven distribution of HD-Zip genes on 19 chromosomes of M. sinensis. Also, evolutionary analysis showed that M. sinensis HD-Zip gene family members had more collinearity with monocotyledons and less with dicotyledons. The gene structure analysis showed that there were 93.5% of proteins with motif 1 and motif 4, while motif 10 was only found in group IV. Based on the cis-elements analysis, it appeared that most of the genes were related to plant growth and development, various hormones, and abiotic stress. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that Misin06G303300.1 was significantly expressed in seed germination and Misin05G030000.1 and Misin06G303300.1 were highly expressed under chromium, salt, and drought stress. Results in this study will provide a basis for further exploring the potential role of HD-Zip genes in stress responses and genetic improvement of M. sinensis seed germination.
Stress–Strain Investigation of the Rock Mass Based on Overcoring with CSIRO HI Cell Test and Numerical Modeling: A Case Study from an Italian Underground Marble Quarry
Authors: Salvini Riccardo , Ermini Andrea , De Lucia Vivien , Beltramone Luisa , Silvestri Daniele , Rindinella Andrea , Guido Stefano , Marchetti Daria , Gullì Domenico
Published: November 2022

The present research illustrates the application of a methodological approach to studying the stress–strain distribution in a marble quarry of the Apuan Alps mining area (Italy). This study has been carried out in the framework of a project involving the University of Siena and the UOC Ingegneria Mineraria—USL Toscana Nord-Ovest, Tuscany Region. This stress–strain analysis aims foremost to monitor the slope stability conditions to guarantee a safe workplace for the personnel involved in mining activities, and to enable more sustainable long-term planning for excavation and production. The involved survey activities are as follows: (i) terrestrial laser scanning; (ii) engineering–geological data mapping; and (iii) in situ marble stress measuring through four CSIRO-type cell tests executed in different locations and at various depths within the underground excavation walls. The gathered data converged into numerical models of the quarry, both in 2D (DEM) and 3D (FEM), calibrated by in situ stress results through a rigorous back analysis assessment using least squares procedures. The created models represent a valuable tool for the identification and securing of risk areas and for future excavation planning in respect of the site efficiency and safety.
Examination of the Public’s Reaction on Twitter to the Over-Turning of Roe v Wade and Abortion Bans
Authors: Mane Heran , Yue Xiaohe , Yu Weijun , Doig Amara Channell , Wei Hanxue , Delcid Nataly , Harris Afia-Grace , Nguyen Thu T. , Nguyen Quynh C.
Published: November 2022

The overturning of Roe v Wade reinvigorated the national debate on abortion. We used Twitter data to examine temporal, geographical and sentiment patterns in the public’s reaction. Using the Twitter API for Academic Research, a random sample of publicly available tweets was collected from 1 May–15 July in 2021 and 2022. Tweets were filtered based on keywords relating to Roe v Wade and abortion (227,161 tweets in 2021 and 504,803 tweets in 2022). These tweets were tagged for sentiment, tracked by state, and indexed over time. Time plots reveal low levels of conversations on these topics until the leaked Supreme Court opinion in early May 2022. Unlike pro-choice tweets which declined, pro-life conversations continued with renewed interest throughout May and increased again following the official overturning of Roe v Wade. Conversations were less prevalent in some these states had abortion trigger laws (Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi). Collapsing across topic categories, 2022 tweets were more negative and less neutral and positive compared to 2021 tweets. In network analysis, tweets mentioning woman/women, supreme court, and abortion spread faster and reached to more Twitter users than those mentioning Roe Wade and Scotus. Twitter data can provide real-time insights into the experiences and perceptions of people across the United States, which can be used to inform healthcare policies and decision-making.
Prehospital Time Interval for Urban and Rural Emergency Medical Services: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Alruwaili Abdullah , Alanazy Ahmed Ramdan M.
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to discuss the differences in pre-hospital time intervals between rural and urban communities regarding emergency medical services (EMS). A systematic search was conducted through various relevant databases, together with a manual search to find relevant articles that compared rural and urban communities in terms of response time, on-scene time, and transport time. A total of 37 articles were ultimately included in this review. The sample sizes of the included studies was also remarkably variable, ranging between 137 and 239,464,121. Twenty-nine (78.4%) reported a difference in response time between rural and urban areas. Among these studies, the reported response times for patients were remarkably variable. However, most of them (number (n) = 27, 93.1%) indicate that response times are significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. Regarding transport time, 14 studies (37.8%) compared this outcome between rural and urban populations. All of these studies indicate the superiority of EMS in urban over rural communities. In another context, 10 studies (27%) reported on-scene time. Most of these studies (n = 8, 80%) reported that the mean on-scene time for their populations is significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. On the other hand, two studies (5.4%) reported that on-scene time is similar in urban and rural communities. Finally, only eight studies (21.6%) reported pre-hospital times for rural and urban populations. All studies reported a significantly shorter pre-hospital time in urban communities compared to rural communities. Conclusions: Even with the recently added data, short pre-hospital time intervals are still superior in urban over rural communities.
Breast Cancer Dataset, Classification and Detection Using Deep Learning
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Shahid , Ahmad Waqas , Alizadehsani Roohallah , Hussain Sadiq , Rehman Rizwan
Published: November 2022

Incorporating scientific research into clinical practice via clinical informatics, which includes genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and biostatistics, improves patients’ treatment. Computational pathology is a growing subspecialty with the potential to integrate whole slide images, multi-omics data, and health informatics. Pathology and laboratory medicine are critical to diagnosing cancer. This work will review existing computational and digital pathology methods for breast cancer diagnosis with a special focus on deep learning. The paper starts by reviewing public datasets related to breast cancer diagnosis. Additionally, existing deep learning methods for breast cancer diagnosis are reviewed. The publicly available code repositories are introduced as well. The paper is closed by highlighting challenges and future works for deep learning-based diagnosis.
Targeting Cerebellum with Non-Invasive Transcranial Magnetic or Current Stimulation after Cerebral Hemispheric Stroke—Insights for Corticocerebellar Network Reorganization: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Ntakou Eleni Aikaterini , Nasios Grigorios , Nousia Anastasia , Siokas Vasileios , Messinis Lambros , Dardiotis Efthimios
Published: November 2022

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as one of the methods implemented in stroke rehabilitation. Cerebellar stimulation has gained research interest as an alternative strategy to cortical stimulation, based on the role of the cerebellum and corticocerebellar tracts in different motor and cognitive functions. This review investigates the role of the cerebellum in motor and cognitive rehabilitation following cerebral stroke using NIBS techniques combined with other therapies (e.g., speech or physical therapy). Fifteen randomized clinical trials were included. The majority of the literature findings point towards the cerebellum as a promising neurostimulation target following stroke of the cerebral cortex. Findings concern mostly rehabilitation of gait and balance, where cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the contralesional cerebellar hemisphere produce, in the presented clinical sample, improved performance and plasticity changes in the corticocerebellar network, combined with other rehabilitation methods. Data regarding aphasia rehabilitation are scarce, with right cerebellar tDCS exercising some impact in individual linguistic functions combined with language therapy. Based on recent data concerning cerebellar functions and corticocerebellar networks, along with the development of clinical protocols regarding non-invasive cerebellar (NICS) application, the cerebellum can prove a crucial intervention target in rehabilitation following stroke.
Risks and Barriers in Substitute Care for the Children of Parents with Serious Mental Illness: A Mixed-Method Study in Kerala, India
Authors: Devassy Saju Madavanakadu , Scaria Lorane , Joubert Lynette
Published: November 2022

Background: Mental illness in parents impairs their parenting capability, which has a lifelong detrimental impact on their children’s physical and psychological health. In the current Indian context, due to weak social security nets, family is the only plausible intervention to ensure adequate substitute child care. Therefore, this study explores various risk factors and barriers to providing substitute family care. Methods: We used a mixed-method approach to gather information from 94 substitute family caregivers. Quantitative screening data were collected from four hospitals using a clinical data mining tool and an interview guide to gather caregiver perspectives on economic, familial, and social risks and barriers associated with caring. We used thematic analysis to consolidate the qualitative findings. Results: Most of the substitute caregivers were females from low-income households. The study identified 11 sub-themes and 23 specific themes associated with risks and barriers to substitute care. These themes fell into four broad areas: economic, familial, school-related risks, and specific cultural and service access barriers. Focus on economic interventions is likely to result in strengthening the substitute family caregiver. Conclusion: The paradigmatic shift of treatment focus from the patient to the entire household would benefit the children just as it does the patient.
Impact Evaluation of An Interdisciplinary Educational Intervention to Health Professionals for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Child Malnutrition in Mexico: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Encalada Sonia , Talavera-Torres Myrna Mar , Villa-Romero Antonio R. , Agudelo-Botero Marcela , Wong-Chew Rosa María
Published: November 2022

The prevalence of undernutrition in Mexican children younger than 5 years old has been 14% since 2006. There are clinical practice guidelines for mild to moderate malnutrition in children in the Mexican health system; however, they are not applied. In addition, the knowledge and practices of health professionals (HP) to treat malnutrition in health centers are insufficient to perform adequate assessments and correct treatments. An impact evaluation of an interdisciplinary educational intervention was carried out on 78 HPs for the treatment of children with mild to moderate malnutrition of low resources, with 39 in the intervention group and 37 in the counterfactual group, estimated as the comparison group. A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-validated questionnaire adapted to child malnutrition about knowledge, attitudes, and practices was applied before, after, and 2 months after a malnutrition workshop. The difference-in-differences analysis showed that the educational intervention group had a significant improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and practices before and after the intervention (grades of 54.6 to 79.2 respectively, p = 0.0001), compared with the comparison group (grades of 79.2 and 53.4, respectively, p = 0.0001), which was maintained over two months (grades of 71.8 versus 49.8, p = 0.0001, respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that the probability of improvement in learning by 30% was 95-fold higher in the educational intervention group versus the comparison group, OR = 95.1 (95% CI 14.9–603.0), and this factor was independent of sex, age, education, or hospital position. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment for child malnutrition, education in malnutrition for HPs is effective and needed to achieve a significant improvement in children’s health.
Intravitam Diagnosis of Rabies in Patients with Acute Encephalitis: A Study of Two Cases
Authors: Singhai Monil , Sood Vishesh , Yadav Priyanka , Kumar Kiran K. , Jaiswal Rekha , Madabhushi Shyam , Dhull Pawan , Bala Manju , Singh Sujeet K. , Tiwari Simmi
Published: November 2022

Rabies is one of the oldest known zoonotic diseases. Rhabdovirus, an RNA virus belonging to the genus Lyssavirus and family Rhabdoviridae, causes rabies. Rabies diagnosis is challenging as the rabies virus remains confined to neurons after the initial animal bite. It largely remains immune-evasive until the infection reaches the central nervous system. The bottleneck in rabies diagnosis remains the non-availability of technical expertise and failure to collect an appropriate sample. The laboratory confirmation of rabies in both antemortem and postmortem samples is important. The samples were tested for anti-rabies antibodies using quantitative ELISA. In this report, two case studies are presented to demonstrate the suitability of ELISA for the intra vitam diagnosis of rabies using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a diagnostic sample. The interpretation of serology results for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals has been discussed in detail, which has helped to confirm the antemortem diagnosis of rabies. In this report, we observed that ELISA can be a viable alternative for anti-rabies antibody detection in CSF and can be used as a viable alternative to more technically challenging tests, such as Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFFIT) and Immunofluorescence Assays (IFA).
Monkeypox: A Mini-Review on the Globally Emerging Orthopoxvirus
Authors: Evans Amy , AlShurman Bara’ Abdallah , Sehar Hibah , Butt Zahid Ahmad
Published: November 2022

Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease belonging to the orthopoxvirus family that has predominantly occurred in West and Central Africa since it was initially discovered in 1958. In May 2022, a global outbreak of monkeypox began to occur on an international scale, with case numbers still rising as this review is being written. This mini review sought to analyze the existing literature on monkeypox published from 2017 onward to provide epidemiological context to current outbreaks. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used to gather both peer-reviewed and grey literature on the routes of transmission, case definitions, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, management, prevention, vaccination, and epidemiology of monkeypox. Epidemiological studies indicate that the age of onset of monkeypox has increased over time. Antivirals, such as Tecovirimat and Brincidofovir, are recommended to manage confirmed cases of monkeypox. Although mass vaccination is not currently recommended, the smallpox vaccine can be used as a preventative measure for at-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men and frontline healthcare workers. Further peer-reviewed research addressing animal reservoirs and sexual transmission dynamics is needed.
Text Messages for Depression, Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse Therapy—Are Construction Guidelines Needed?
Authors: Rahman Teh Faradilla Abdul , Nayan Norshita Mat
Published: November 2022

Despite the effectiveness of text messaging therapy in improving mental health conditions, limited attention has been paid to how the text messages are constructed. Thus, this study questions whether there is a need to develop a model of text message construction for mental health therapy. In this backdrop, this study reviews how a text message for mental health therapy is constructed, specifically focused on the process and guidelines. This study also aims to identify the research gap regarding the guideline of text message construction for mental health therapy and to identify mental health professionals’ practices in text messaging therapy. In addition, the opinions of mental health professionals on the need to develop a text message construction guideline were also gathered. The findings from the literature review confirmed that there are still limited guidelines explaining the process of constructing text messages for mental health therapy. Meanwhile, results from the online survey found that mental health professionals expressed a high need to explore and develop a model of text message construction for mental health therapy. With this research gap addressed, this study proposes further research into the development of a text message construction model for mental health therapy.
Relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Cardiovascular Health among Children
Authors: Mora-Urda Ana Isabel , Martín-Almena Francisco Javier , Montero López María del Pilar
Published: November 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and cardiovascular health indicators in children. Methods: The sample consisted of 365 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 from the Region of Madrid. Anthropometric and hemodynamic measurements were collected. Variables relating to habits and lifestyles, parental level of education, and data on their diet, through three 24 h food recall surveys, were also collected. The diet quality indicators considered are the DII based on 25 nutrients and the KIDMED index. Results: Children with a more pro-inflammatory diet came from families with lower levels of parental education (p < 0.05). Predictive models show that in the group with a more pro-inflammatory diet (>P50), the likelihood of developing hypertension in childhood is 2.1 times higher (OR = 2.085 (1.107–3.927)) and they have more than twice the risk of developing obesity (OR = 2.3) or developing obesity and hypertension simultaneously (OR = 1.290 (1.316–3.985)). Furthermore, predictive models showed that the children with a pro-inflammatory diet (>P50) had higher values for BFM% (β = 1.957; p = 0.026) and BMI (β = 0.015; p = 0.012) than children with a lower inflammatory diet (<P50). Conclusions: Higher values on the DII are related to poorer nutritional status and cardiovascular health in childhood. Thus, a pro-inflammatory diet is also associated with a lower socio-economic level and poorer diet quality.
Experiencing the COVID-19 Emergency: Age-Related Disequilibrating Event for Identity
Authors: Di Palma Tiziana , Fusco Luca , Sica Luigia Simona , Aleni Sestito Laura
Published: November 2022

The experience linked to the COVID-19 emergency constituted a turning point in the biography of most Italians. The suspension of usual activities, the redefinition of life contexts and the restriction of relationships have opened up wide spaces and time for thinking and reflecting on oneself, which may have triggered processes of redefinition of personal identity. The general aim of this study was to explore the impact of pandemic on daily life in the life span, in order to support the hypothesis that the pandemic experience could be considered a disequilibrating life-event and a turning point in the biography of most Italians. A mixed research approach was adopted, with 14 closed and open questions created ad hoc. 41 participants (87% women, average age 40.71), resident in the Campania region, in southern Italy, responded to the online written interview. The data were analyzed by two independent coders, using categorical content analysis with a top-down approach. Membership of the different age groups (young adults, adults, elderly) was assessed as a comparison variable. Findings qualify pandemic-related experiences as a disequilibrating life event, potentially capable of activating, alongside emotionally dense experiences, adaptive and functional resources for identity reconsideration, with differences being age based. The dimensions of change, the affective dimensions, the resources and the areas of risk identified, allowed us to identify three different clusters, showing a differentiation according to age groups, which identifies young adults and the elderly as the subjects most at risk.