bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Experimental Monitoring for Water Absorption Evolution Behaviors of Sandstone in Mogao Grottoes, China
Authors: Hao Nai , Wang Yongliang , Wu Xiaochong , Duan Yifeng , Li Panshun , He Manchao
Published: November 2022

Rock mass has typical pore structure, and the induced coupling effects of fluid and solid matrix appear in the disaster evolution process of deep energy exploitation and overground rock hydration. As a representative case, influenced by the water absorption environment, the surrounding rock and murals of Mogao Grottoes produce hydration diseases, which may be related to unclear interaction mechanisms between the surrounding rock and water. In this study, the self-developed physical experimental system for real-time experimental monitoring was applied to test the water absorption evolution behaviors of sandstone. The experimental results showed that the water evaporation of the rock sample during the process of water absorption could be measured through this well-designed physical experimental system, and the actual water absorption of the rock sample is the difference between the decrease of water in the water storage bucket, measured by the balance and the water evaporation in the process of experiment; by drawing the actual water absorption curve of the rock sample, the time when the water absorption of the rock sample reaches saturation could be determined accurately; and the curve of water absorption with time could be expressed as an exponential function. The experimental techniques and methods in this study provide a feasible research idea for studying the water absorption evolution behaviors and mechanisms of the surrounding rock weathering when it meets water, and have significance for revealing the disease mechanisms of the surrounding sandstone in Mogao Grottoes, China.
A Novel Equivalent Numerical Simulation Method for Non-Darcy Seepage Flow in Low-Permeability Reservoirs
Authors: Xu Hui , Liu Nannan , Chen Yan , Tian Yapeng , Guo Zhenghuai , Jiang Wanjun , He Yanfeng
Published: November 2022

The low permeability and submicron throats in most shale or tight sandstone reservoirs have a significant impact on microscale flow. The flow characteristics can be described with difficultly by the conventional Darcy flow in low-permeability reservoirs. In particular, the thickness of the boundary layer is an important factor affecting the formation permeability, and the relative permeability curve obtained under conventional conditions cannot accurately express the seepage characteristics of porous media. In this work, the apparent permeability and relative permeability were calculated by using non-Darcy-flow mathematical modeling. The results revealed that the newly calculated oil–water relative permeability was slightly higher than that calculated by the Darcy seepage model. The results of the non-Darcy flow based on the conceptual model showed that the area swept by water in non-Darcy was smaller than that in Darcy seepage. The fingering phenomenon and the high bottom hole pressure in the non-Darcy seepage model resulted from the larger amount of injected water. There was a large pressure difference between the injection and production wells where the permeability changed greatly. A small pressure difference between wells resulted in lower variation of permeability. Consequently, the non-Darcy simulation results were consistent with actual production data.
Electrothermal Multicriteria Comparative Analysis of Two Competitive Powertrains Applied to a Two Front Wheel Driven Electric Vehicle during Extreme Regenerative Braking Operations
Authors: Itani Khaled , De Bernardinis Alexandre
Published: November 2022

The powertrain performance in an electric vehicle is fully dependent on the electrical and thermal constraints of the static converters ensuring the power transfer taking place between the energy storage systems and the electromechanical machines. These constraints depend on the architectures of the power converters, and their control strategies. Particularly, the maximal limits are reached in maneuvers such as hard regenerative braking circumstances. Indeed, braking recovery is a critical phase in the vehicle’s operation, and its duration and intensity may strongly impact the vehicle’s battery behavior or integrated hybrid storage system. The innovative objective of the paper is to propose an electrothermal multicriteria comparative study based on electrical and thermal criteria for two competitive powertrains. These semi-active power configurations (a 3-level DC/DC converter-based, and a Z-source converter-based) are implemented in a two-front wheel driven electric vehicle during extreme regenerative braking conditions. Open-loop and closed-loop controls were implemented in the Z-source using the maximal constant boost control with 3rd harmonic injection modulation technique. We considered two paralleled IGBT modules instead of the single shoot-through structure. Our approach is based on simulation during an extreme braking maneuver leading to heavy repercussions on the overall powertrain system. The aim is to investigate the challenging structure of the Z-source. Results showed that the proposed 3-level DC/DC-based topology has better performances in terms of power losses, efficiency, thermal behavior, and electromagnetic interference.
Optimal Power Flow Technique for Distribution System Considering Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
Authors: Neto Adolfo Blengini , Barbosa Maria Beatriz , Mota Lia Moreira , Lavorato Marina , de Carvalho Marcius F. H.
Published: November 2022

Modern electric power systems consist of large-scale, highly complex interconnected systems projected to match the intense demand growth for electrical energy. This involves the decision of generation, transmission, and distribution of resources at different time horizons. They also face challenges in incorporating new forms of generation, distributed generations, which are located close to consumer centers, and new loads such as electric vehicles. Traditionally, the nonlinear Newton–Raphson optimization method is used to support operational decisions in such systems, known as Optimal Power Flow (OPF). Although OPF is one of the most practically important and well-researched sub-fields of constrained nonlinear optimization and has a rich history of research, it faces the convergence difficulties associated with all problems represented using non-linear power flow constraints. The proposal is to present an approach in a software component in cloud Application Programming Interface (API) format, with alternative modeling of the electrical optimization problem as a non-linear objective function and representing electric network constraints modeled through both current and voltage Kirchhoff linear equations. This representation overcomes the non-linearity of the OPF problem considering Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The robustness, scalability, and availability of the method are tested on the IEEE-34 bus system with several modifications to accommodate the DER testing under conditions and in radial or meshed distribution systems under different load scenarios.
System COP of Ejector-Based Ground-Source Heat Pumps
Authors: El Hassan Mouhammad
Published: November 2022

Compared to mechanical compressors, ejector-based refrigeration systems can make direct use of many forms of thermal energy, including waste heat, solar thermal, or biogases. It is known that SE systems have a lower thermal efficiency compared to mechanical compressors because of their lower performance at high compression ratios. In the present work, binary fluid ejector heat pumps with high efficiency are presented based on a proper selection of the binary fluids and the ejector geometry for specific operating conditions of a ground-source heat pump cooling system (GSHP). The existing literature on ejector-based refrigeration systems considers the thermal COP and does not account for many energy losses across the system. In the present paper, the system COP of an ejector-based GSHP that accounts for all energy exchange processes is determined. A method for the calculation of the work done by the boiler feed pump, the refrigeration expansion valve, and the ground loop circulation pump is presented. The influence of the condenser temperature on the entrainment process and the system COP is also discussed. The estimated overall system COP for the three top-ranked binary fluid candidates under various operating conditions was found to range from 1.55 to 3.06.
Optimizing Recloser Settings in an Active Distribution System Using the Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Gumede Siyabonga Brian , Saha Akshay Kumar
Published: November 2022

A recloser requires a fast operating time in the first shot to optimally clear a temporary fault. The operating time is dependent on the time-dial, the pick-up settings, and the fault current. The recloser detects the fault current from the grid supply; however, the connection of the generators in the distribution system can contribute to the fault current. Depending on the location of the generators and the direction of the current, the fault current can decrease and cause an increase in the operating time. Therefore, the optimal settings that can minimize the operating time may need to be determined. This paper simulates the behavior of a recloser in its first shot for clearing a temporary fault and tests its performance in an active distribution system that has two types of distributed generators. It then uses the differential evolution algorithm to find the optimal settings in the active distribution voltage conditions. It also applies modifications to the differential evolution algorithm and uses these modifications to find robust settings. It then uses an exponential scale factor to balance the exploration and exploitation of the algorithm chosen. Simscape power systems in Matlab Simulink is used to construct the active distribution system and simulate the cases, while the Matlab script is used to run the code for the differential evolution algorithm. Six cases are performed to find the optimal settings of the recloser. The results show that the selected settings and the differential evolution algorithm modification can optimize the operation of the recloser.
Lattice Expansion and Crystallite Size Analyses of NiO-BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.1O3-δ Anode Composite for Proton Ceramic Fuel Cells Application
Authors: Mazlan Nurul Waheeda , Murat Munirah Shafiqah , Tseng Chung-Jen , Hassan Oskar Hasdinor , Osman Nafisah
Published: November 2022

This study reports on the structure analyses of NiO-BCZY (BCZY = BaCe0.54Zr0.36Y0.1O3-δ) anode composite materials with the ratio of 50:50 for proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) application. A product of sintered NiO-BCZY was developed to understand the structural properties of the anode materials. The objectives of this work were (a) to investigate the lattice expansion of the anode by using a high-temperature XRD (HT-XRD) from 400–700 °C; and (b) to calculate the crystallite size of the sample by using Scherrer’s and Williamson Hall’s methods. The results obtained from the HT-XRD revealed that the diffraction peaks of NiO and BCZY are matched with the cubic phase perovskite structure. For example at T = 400 °C, the lattice parameter of NiO is a = 4.2004 Å and BCZY is a = 4.3331 Å. The observation also showed that the lattice expansion increased with the temperature. Furthermore, analyses of the Scherrer and Williamson Hall methods, respectively, showed that the crystallite size is strongly correlated with the lattice expansion, which proved that the crystallite size increased as the operating temperature increased. The increment of crystallite size over the operating temperature contributed to the increment of conductivity values of the single cell.
Microgrid Energy Management and Methods for Managing Forecast Uncertainties
Authors: Vinothine Shanmugarajah , Widanagama Arachchige Lidula N. , Rajapakse Athula D. , Kaluthanthrige Roshani
Published: November 2022

The rising demand for electricity, economic benefits, and environmental pressures related to the use of fossil fuels are driving electricity generation mostly from renewable energy sources. One of the main challenges in renewable energy generation is uncertainty involved in forecasting because of the intermittent nature of renewable sources. The demand also varies according to the time of day, the season, the location, the climate, and the availability of resources. Microgrids offer a potential solution for the integration of small-scale renewable energy sources and loads along with energy storage systems and other non-renewable sources. However, intermittent generation and varying demand need to be matched to provide stable power to consumers. Therefore, it is crucial to design an energy management system to effectively manage the energy sources and supply loads for reliable and efficient operation. This paper reviews different techniques proposed in the literature to achieve the objectives of a microgrid energy management system. The benefits of existing energy management systems and their challenges are also discussed. The challenges associated with uncertainties and methods to overcome them are critically reviewed.
A Pilot Study of Micro Solar Still Technology in Kuwait
Authors: Hamwi Hidab , Al-Suwaidan May S. , Al-Naser Ali A. , Al-Odwani Ali , Al-Sammar Rawan , Aldei Sara A.
Published: November 2022

Water scarcity is a global issue recognized by the United Nations under Goal 6 of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. This challenging goal requires innovations, especially in areas with freshwater scarcity. Coupling this with the expected significant growth in population, especially in developing countries, presents major challenges to obtaining the appropriate levels of water provision needed. The development of seawater desalination technologies offers hope to alleviate freshwater shortages whilst supporting SDG 6. This research addresses the development of small-scale technology utilizing solar energy for providing clean drinking water in rural, hot, arid, and remote communities. To alleviate water scarcity in rural and isolated areas, a micro solar still (MSS) system that supports a multistage distillation process can be utilized, which evaporates and condenses the saline feed water into pure drinking water with highly efficient solar heat collectors. The focus of this study was to assess the performance of two prototypes, with minor improvements to the wicking structure. Such a system has the advantage of recycling wasted latent heat in the process to increase productivity. Two prototypes were tested to assess the performance of the solar still construction material and yield, and to test the water quality and quantity under the climatic conditions of Kuwait. The operation and efficiency of the prototypes were observed across four characteristics: solar irradiance, ambient temperatures, feed water and water production. The performances of the two prototypes were comparable to the results of previously published work on MSS prototypes that utilize wicking. The recovery rates of the two prototypes were 22 and 25%, respectively. The maximum production of potable water achieved from the two prototypes was 900 and 1160 g, respectively, using a feed of 4 and 3.7 kgs. The quality of the produced water met the WHO’s standards for drinking water.
Predicting the Future Age Distribution of Conifer and Broad-Leaved Trees Based on Survival Analysis: A Case Study on Natural Forests in Northern Japan
Authors: Wijenayake Pavithra Rangani , Hiroshima Takuya , Takahashi Masayoshi , Saito Hideki
Published: November 2022

Predicting future stand conditions based on tree age is crucial for natural forest management. The objective of this study was to model and predict the future age distribution of Picea jezoensis, Abies sachalinensis, and broad-leaved trees by assessing the past and current survival trends of preserved stands located at the University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forests (UTHF), Furano, Japan. This study analyzed forest census data of four plots (927 trees) in a preserved permanent area over 30 years (1989–2019). Individual tree-ring data were identified using a resistograph to determine the current tree age of the targeted trees. The predicted age distributions nearly converged to the shape of the survival probability curve. Among the scenario predictions, the multimodal age class distribution of P. jezoensis was predominant among all prediction scenarios. In contrast, the exponential shape of A sachalinensis and the age distribution of broad-leaved trees in the 100% scenario gradually shifted to the multimodal shape at the 50% scenario prediction. The species composition of conifer and broad-leaved trees and their age distribution would reach stable states in the long run by reaching a climax state. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to maintain stands under the pre-climax stage by allowing high growth rates at the stand level. The suggested age class-prediction of living and dead trees can improve the natural forest management of UTHF.
Screening of Morphophysiological, Anatomical, and Ultrastructural Traits to Improve the Elite Genotype Selection in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)
Authors: Pompelli Marcelo F. , Jarma-Orozco Alfredo , Rodríguez-Páez Luis
Published: November 2022

Sugarcane is a highly productive crop with high water requirements. In addition, its growth and sugar content are limited by the water deficit, a major problem affecting agriculture due to climate change. However, monitoring strategies are being developed worldwide that seek to increase productivity in the same area and with less water consumption. The sugarcane plants are produced sugar table, ethanol, and, from the hydrolysis of biomass, produce second-generation bioethanol, in addition to generating energy in thermoelectric plants. This research described the strategies and mechanisms used by sugarcane to tolerate water deficit. For this, a series of physiological, biochemical, enzymatic, morphological, anatomical, and ultrastructural analyses were developed. We used four commercial varieties of sugarcane, two tolerant and two sensitives, which were tested in all phases of the study. It was concluded that the variety RB92579 is drought tolerant as well as RB867515 and RB72454 genotype is sensitive to drought stress. Therefore, we proposed that variety RB855536 be assigned as an intermediary due to tolerance and sensitivity to water deficit.
Regional Difference in the Effect of Food Accessibility and Affordability on Vegetable and Fruit Acquisition and Healthy Eating Behaviors for Older Adults
Authors: Lee Dong Eun , Kim Kirang
Published: November 2022

The food environment has been determined to affect a range of healthy eating and health indicators, but the study on the regional difference of food environment effects on these outcomes is limited. This study aimed to examine whether food environment factors influence vegetable and fruit acquisition and healthy eating behaviors in urban and rural areas using a nationwide dataset. The study participants were community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older (n = 830) who participated in the 2019 Consumer Behavior Survey for Food provided by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. Food environment factors were assessed using questionnaires measuring perceived food accessibility and affordability. The negative perceptions of food environment were related to lower vegetable and fruit acquisitions and poor healthy eating behaviors. The higher risks of low vegetable and fruit acquisitions in older rural adults were related to a negative perception of food accessibility only (odds ratio [OR]: 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–4.32 for vegetable; OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.02–3.75 for fruit). For older urban adults, negative perceptions of both food accessibility and food affordability were related to the increased risk of low vegetable acquisition (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.07–3.83 for food accessibility; OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.26–5.04 for food affordability). In terms of healthy eating behaviors, for those who perceived that either food accessibility or affordability was poor, older urban adults were less likely to have various and healthy food eating behaviors when they had a negative perception of affordability (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25–0.90 for variety; OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11–0.46 for eating healthy foods); however, older rural adults were less likely to have the behaviors when they had a negative perception of accessibility (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.21–0.97 for variety; OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.63 for eating healthy foods). In conclusion, the negative perceptions of food accessibility and affordability were related to low vegetable acquisition and poor healthy eating behaviors. The effects of food accessibility and affordability on vegetable and fruit acquisitions and healthy eating behaviors were different between urban and rural areas.
Co-Benefit Assessment of Active Transportation in Delhi, Estimating the Willingness to Use Nonmotorized Mode and Near-Roadway-Avoided PM2.5 Exposure
Authors: Bhat Tavoos Hassan , Farzaneh Hooman , Toosty Nishat Tasnim
Published: November 2022

This study aims to estimate the avoided mortalities and morbidities and related economic impacts due to adopting the nonmotorized transportation (NMT) policy in Delhi, India. To this aim, an integrated quantitative assessment framework is developed to estimate the expected environmental, health, and economic co-benefits from replacing personal motorized transport with NMT in Delhi, taking into account the inhabitants’ willingness to use NMT (walking and cycling) mode. The willingness to accept NMT is estimated by conducting a cross-sectional survey in Delhi, which is further used to estimate the expected health benefits from both increased physical activity and near-roadway-avoided PM2.5 exposure in selected traffic areas in 11 major districts in Delhi. The value of a statistical life (VSL) and cost of illness methods are used to calculate the economic benefits of the avoided mortalities and morbidities from NMT in Delhi. The willingness assessment indicates that the average per capita time spent walking and cycling in Delhi is 11.054 and 2.255 min, respectively. The results from the application of the NMT in Delhi show the annual reduction in CO2 and PM2.5 to be 121.5 kilotons and 138.9 tons, respectively. The model estimates the expected co-benefits from increased physical activities and reduced PM2.5 exposure at 17,529 avoided cases of mortality with an associated savings of about USD 4870 million in Delhi.
An Intelligent Mental Health Identification Method for College Students: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Li Chong , Yang Mingzhao , Zhang Yongting , Lai Khin Wee
Published: November 2022

Purpose: Mental health assessments that combine patients’ facial expressions and behaviors have been proven effective, but screening large-scale student populations for mental health problems is time-consuming and labor-intensive. This study aims to provide an efficient and accurate intelligent method for further psychological diagnosis and treatment, which combines artificial intelligence technologies to assist in evaluating the mental health problems of college students. Materials and Methods: We propose a mixed-method study of mental health assessment that combines psychological questionnaires with facial emotion analysis to comprehensively evaluate the mental health of students on a large scale. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21(DASS-21) is used for the psychological questionnaire. The facial emotion recognition model is implemented by transfer learning based on neural networks, and the model is pre-trained using FER2013 and CFEE datasets. Among them, the FER2013 dataset consists of 48 × 48-pixel face gray images, a total of 35,887 face images. The CFEE dataset contains 950,000 facial images with annotated action units (au). Using a random sampling strategy, we sent online questionnaires to 400 college students and received 374 responses, and the response rate was 93.5%. After pre-processing, 350 results were available, including 187 male and 153 female students. First, the facial emotion data of students were collected in an online questionnaire test. Then, a pre-trained model was used for emotion recognition. Finally, the online psychological questionnaire scores and the facial emotion recognition model scores were collated to give a comprehensive psychological evaluation score. Results: The experimental results of the facial emotion recognition model proposed to show that its classification results are broadly consistent with the mental health survey results. This model can be used to improve efficiency. In particular, the accuracy of the facial emotion recognition model proposed in this paper is higher than that of the general mental health model, which only uses the traditional single questionnaire. Furthermore, the absolute errors of this study in the three symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress are lower than other mental health survey results and are only 0.8%, 8.1%, 3.5%, and 1.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The mixed method combining intelligent methods and scales for mental health assessment has high recognition accuracy. Therefore, it can support efficient large-scale screening of students’ psychological problems.
Preventing Alcohol-Related Harm in East Africa: Stakeholder Perceptions of Readiness across Five Countries
Authors: Swahn Monica H. , Robow Zakaria , Balenger Adelaide , Staton Catherine A. , Kasirye Rogers , Francis Joel M. , Komba Sophia , Siema Patterson
Published: November 2022

Objective: While alcohol-related harm is a recognized public health priority, the capacity to address and mitigate its harm is lacking, primarily in low-income countries. Recent developments including new tools that can assess readiness for preventing alcohol-related harm, specifically in low-resource settings, can be used to determine strengths and opportunities for supporting, planning, and resource allocation. In this study, we determined the perceptions of readiness and capacity for the prevention of alcohol-related harm across East Africa among stakeholders engaged in such work. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2020, distributed by the East Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance to their member alliances and stakeholders across five countries in East Africa (i.e., Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda). The survey included modified measures from the Readiness Assessment for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (RAP-CM) short form, organizational size and funding, research capacity and priorities, and perceptions related to alcohol prevention and harm both locally and in the region. Analyses were computed based on 142 persons/organizations completing the survey. Results: In terms of general readiness, the overall adjusted aggregate score for East Africa was 39.70% (ranging from 30.5% in Burundi to 47.0% in Kenya). Of the 10 domains assessed (on a 0–10 scale), across all countries, knowledge of alcohol prevention (8.43), institutional links and resources (6.15) and legislation, mandates and policies (5.46) received the highest scores. In contrast, measures pertaining to resources (i.e., material, human, technical, and informal) received the lowest score. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate substantial variability in the readiness to address alcohol-related harm across East Africa. The highest capacity was noted for knowledge towards alcohol prevention, institutional links, and legislative mandates and policies. However, important gaps were noted in terms of attitudes towards alcohol prevention, the will to address the problem, as well as material, human, and informal resources, which need to be urgently addressed to strengthen capacity for addressing and mitigating the significant toll of alcohol-related harm in the region.
Green Financial Reform and Corporate ESG Performance in China: Empirical Evidence from the Green Financial Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone
Authors: Chen Zhao , Hu Ling , He Xin , Liu Ziming , Chen Danni , Wang Weirui
Published: November 2022

Does the establishment of pilot zones for green finance reform and innovations in 2017 have an impact on the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) scores of enterprises? This paper selects data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2014–2020 and uses the differences-in-differences (DID) model to analyze the impact of green financial reform on the ESG scores of enterprises. The study shows that the establishment of the Green Financial Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone (GFPZ) policy helps enterprises to obtain higher ESG scores through environmental, social and governance mechanisms. When ESG is measured using environmental, social and governance data, our results suggest that the contribution of green finance reforms to ESG scores is primarily driven by social responsibility scores. The adjustment effect analysis shows that for large enterprises in the GFPZ, the above effects have stronger influence, but there is no significant difference between heavily polluting and non-heavily polluting firms in the GFPZ. Expansive analysis shows that the improvement in ESG scores of enterprises in the GFPZ not only contributes to the green performance of enterprises, but also to their financial performance.
Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the Mixed Hypercholesterolemic Populations with Respect to Gender, Age, and Obesity in Asir, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Ezzat , Alsamghan Awad , Momenah Maha Abdullah , Alqhtani Haifa Ali , Aldawood Nouf Arkan , Alshehri Mohammed A. , Ali Alshehri Abdulaziz Mohammad , Alhag Sadeq K. , Mosaad Yasser O. , Ahmed Hassan
Published: November 2022

This record study aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) profiles regarding sex, age, and obesity for the riskier factor of cardiovascular diseases in a general population in Saudi Arabia. Laboratory and anthropometric measurements were performed on non-specific participants with variant ages and BMI in either sex. Serobiochemical changes were measured for metabolic profiles, i.e., A1C/FSG, TC, TGC, HDLC/LDLC, Vit.D, TSH/T4, Hb, and Cr. The study was applied in a Polyclinic, Abha, Saudi Arabia in 2020 G. The general population showed variable incidences of MetS profiles, such as 69.4% diabetes, 85.5% hypothyroidism, and 92.2% obesity. Hypothyroidism showed a higher incidence in women rather than in men, but men were more dyslipidemic, with higher TGC and LDLC but low HDLC, compared to women. Men <40 Y. showed diabetes and hypothyroidism, but elders were dyslipidemic. Women <40 Y. showed anemia and hypovitaminosis-D but were suffering from hypothyroidism at all ages. Diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypovitaminosis-D, and dyslipidemia were the main MetS components in both overweight and obese participants, and an incidence of more than 50% in each profile was recorded. Diabetes with hypertension was characteristic of obese participants rather than those overweight. About 66.1% of the mixed-hypercholesterolemic cases were diabetic, but 18.9% of the mixed-diabetic participants were hypercholesterolemic. Castelli’s risk factors, CRI-I and CRI-II, and atherogenic indices, AIP and AC, were measured for evaluating the cardiac risk in different populations based on the AUC–ROC and cut-off values. Insulin-resistance marker (TyG) was also measured, showing considerable cut-off values for diabetic susceptibility in the lipidemic participants with higher TGC and TC rather than HDLC or LDLC. In conclusion, MetS showed higher susceptibility to sex and age with increased incidence in women rather than men. However, the cardiac risk was more susceptible to men of higher TGC and low HDLC than women. Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was more prominent in both elders (≥40 Y.) than younger ages of either sex. Anemia and deficiency of Vit. D was characteristic of young women (<40 Y.). Hypothyroidism affects young men <40 Y. but was recorded in women of all ages. Both dyslipidemia and diabetes could trigger CVD, showing higher cardiac risk in mixed-hypercholesterolemic men rather than women. Our study strongly suggests that the consumption of unhealthy junk food, tobacco smoking, lack of exercise, and physical inactivity could be conclusive evidence of MetS in the Saudi population.
Perceptions, Motivations, and Empowerment Strategies of Midwives in Rural and Remote Areas of Northern Morocco
Authors: Louazi Abdelouahid , Frías-Osuna Antonio , López-Martínez Catalina , Moreno-Cámara Sara
Published: November 2022

The shortage of midwives is a problem in rural and remote areas. This is mainly the consequence of job insecurity and difficult living conditions. The present study aimed to identify and analyse the perceptions and motivations of midwives in rural and remote areas of northern Morocco on the quality of their working life and the motivational factors and empowerment strategies they use to maintain and develop their work. It is a qualitative study that follows Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology approach. Three focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 midwives from rural and remote areas. The results indicate that midwives in rural and remote areas have a negative perception of the quality of the work and their personal life because of the scarcity of basic resources, unfavourable working conditions, and the personal sacrifices they have to make to support themselves. However, some factors favour their efforts. Therefore, there is a need to promote intersectoral policies that focus on improving material and human resources, as well as the working and personal conditions of midwives and the factors that support and empower them.
Association of Adiponectin Receptors with Metabolic and Immune Homeostasis Parameters in Colorectal Cancer: In Silico Analysis and Observational Findings
Authors: Mihajlović Marija , Ninić Ana , Ostojić Marija , Sopić Miron , Stefanović Aleksandra , Vekić Jelena , Antonić Tamara , Zeljković Dejan , Trifunović Bratislav , Spasojević-Kalimanovska Vesna , Bogavac Stanojević Nataša , Jančić Ivan , Zeljković Aleksandra
Published: November 2022

Adiponectin (ADIPOQ) as both a regulator of metabolic homeostasis and a protein involved in immune response might be of particular interest to contemporary laboratory medicine, especially in terms of minimally invasive diagnostics. The diverse roles of ADIPOQ with regard to the immune and metabolic aspects of colorectal carcinogenesis have been proposed. However, the expression of its receptors ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 is scarcely explored in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, ADIPORs’ relationships with the immune response mediator TNF-α have not been previously investigated in the PBMCs of CRC patients. This study used both in silico and observational case–control analyses with the aim of exploring the association of ADIPOR gene expression and ADIPOQ single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the inflammatory marker TNF-α and lipid status parameters in patients with CRC. Publicly available transcriptomic datasets (GSE47756, GSE44076) obtained from analyses of monocytes and CRC tissue samples were employed for the in silico evaluation of ADIPORs’ specific genetic traits. GSE47756 and GSE44076 datasets were processed with GSEA software to provide a genetic fingertip of different signaling pathways associated with ADIPORs’ mRNA levels. The case–control aspect of the study included the PBMC samples of 73 patients diagnosed with CRC and 80 healthy volunteers. The PCR method was carried out for the PBMC gene expression analysis (ADIPOR1, ADIPOR2, TNF-α mRNA levels) and for the subjects’ genotyping (ADIPOQ rs266729, ADIPOR1 rs7539542). GSEA showed significant associations of ADIPOR mRNA expression with gene sets related to metabolic and immune homeostasis in both datasets. The case–control study revealed the association of ADIPOR1 rs7539542 with reduced lipid status parameters in CRC. In addition, PBMC ADIPOR1 mRNA levels decreased in CRC (p < 0.001), whereas ADIPOR2 mRNA did not differ between the groups (p = 0.442). A reduction in PBMC TNF-α mRNA levels was noted in CRC (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 play a significant role in the alteration of both metabolic and immune homeostasis during the progression of CRC. For the first time, ADIPOR1 is shown to be a specific receptor for mediating ADIPOQ’s effects in the PBMCs of CRC patients.
Perceptions, Attitudes, Experiences and Opinions of Tuberculosis Associated Stigma: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives among the Bolgatanga Municipality People of Ghana
Authors: Huq K. A. T. M. Ehsanul , Moriyama Michiko , Krause David , Shirin Habiba , Awoonor-Willaims John Koku , Rahman Mahfuzur , Rahman Md Moshiur
Published: November 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. About 1.3 million people die from TB each year, and most of them are in developing countries. The stigma associated with TB is a barrier to seeking treatment and adequate care. It causes a delay in treatment-seeking and diagnosis and thus decreases the likelihood of being cured and ultimately leads to death. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes, experiences, and opinions about stigma related to TB among adults infected with TB and adults who were not infected with TB. Our study was qualitative in nature. The study was conducted in the community of Bolgatanga municipality of the upper-east region of Ghana. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted; one with six TB-infected females, one with seven TB-infected males, and one with six non-TB-infected participants. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and presented in pre-defined and/or emerging themes: perception about signs and symptoms observed by TB infected person, attitudes towards TB patients before and after diagnosis, reasons for stigmatization, perception about diagnostic testing, and taking the drugs. Transcripts of the discussions were read, and a list of meanings for units, codes, and themes was generated on the research question. We identified the existence of stigma associated with TB. TB-infected male patients had more autonomy in decision-making about receiving treatment and other family matters compared to female TB patients. TB-infected women suffered more economic vulnerability due to the loss of their work, and the stigma was worsened due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, and they were regarded as liabilities rather than assets. TB-infected patients became stigmatized because non-TB-infected community participants did not want to come into close contact with them. Our findings suggest heightening of advocacy, communication, social mobilization, and health education on TB in the community of Bolgatanga municipality is needed to allay TB-related stigma, especially for women.
Streptococcus sobrinus as a Predominant Oral Bacteria Related to the Occurrence of Dental Caries in Polish Children at 12 Years Old
Authors: Korona-Glowniak Izabela , Skawinska-Bednarczyk Agnieszka , Wrobel Rafal , Pietrak Justyna , Tkacz-Ciebiera Izabela , Maslanko-Switala Monika , Krawczyk Dorota , Bakiera Adrian , Borek Anna , Malm Anna , Mielnik-Blaszczak Maria
Published: November 2022

Dental caries is listed by the WHO as one of the major non-communicable diseases that need to be prevented and treated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of caries expressed as the Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth (DMFT) index in 12-year-old Polish children and to verify bacterial species related to the occurrence of dental caries. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of DNA isolated from saliva samples was performed to detect 8 cariogenic and periopathogenic bacterial strains. A total of 118 Polish children were enrolled in the study. They had low mean DMFT scores of 1.58 ± 1.98. The prevalence of dental caries in the children tested was low (53.4%), with a tendency to decrease compared to previous oral surveys. Bacterial abundance of other species in the dental caries and caries-free groups did not differ; however, periopathogenic Prevotella pallens, Fusobacterium nucleatum along with cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus fermentum were significantly strongly correlated in the caries-active subjects. The prevalence of S. sobrinus was significantly higher in children with dental caries (p = 0.023) and correlated with higher DMFT. It may temporarily play an important role in the initiation of the cariogenic process or in its enhancement due to an ecological imbalance in dental microbiota.
Genomic Variation Underlying the Breeding Selection of Quinoa Varieties Longli-4 and CA3-1 in China
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Ran Ruilan , Chen Guoxiong , Zhao Pengshan
Published: November 2022

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a well-known climate-resilient crop and has been introduced into multiple marginal lands across the world, including China, to improve food security and/or balanced nutrient supplies. Conventional breeding has been widely applied in the selection and breeding of quinoa varieties in China since 1980s; however, few studies have been implemented on the genetic variances among different varieties developed by diversity breeding objectives. In this study, the phenotypic and genetic differences between two varieties (Longli-4 and CA3-1) from China were systematically analyzed. A total of 407,651 and 2,731,411 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 212,724 and 587,935 small insertion and deletion (INDELs) were detected for Longli-4 and CA3-1, respectively, when compared with the reference genome of PI614886. The SNPs/INDELs were unevenly distributed across each chromosome for both varieties. There were 143,996 SNPs and 83,410 INDELs shared between Longli-4 and CA3-1, accounting for 4% of the total variances. The variation was then screened based on the SNP effects. There were 818 and 73 genes with the variety-specific non-synonymous and stop-gain variation in Longli-4, whereas there were 13,701 and 733 genes in CA3-1. Specifically, 3501 genes with the non-synonymous variation and 74 genes with the stop-gain variation were found in both Longli-4 and CA3-1. These results suggest that convergent selection occurred during the different breeding processes. A set of candidate genes related to agronomic traits and domestication were further selected to detect the genetic divergence in detail in the two varieties. Only one domestication gene was identified having Longli-4-specific stop-gain variation. Twelve candidate genes related to betalain (1), flowering (4), seed size (2), domestication (1), and saponin (4) were identified having CA3-1-specific stop-gain variation. Interestingly, one seed size gene homologous of CKX1 (cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase 1) had the stop-gain variation in both varieties. This research will therefore provide guidance for the molecular-assisted breeding in quinoa.
Characterization of the Secreted Acid Phosphatase SapS Reveals a Novel Virulence Factor of Staphylococcus aureus That Contributes to Survival and Virulence in Mice
Authors: Ahmad-Mansour Nour , Elhawy Mohamed Ibrahem , Huc-Brandt Sylvaine , Youssouf Nadhuma , Pätzold Linda , Martin Marianne , Abdel-Wadood Noran , Aljohmani Ahmad , Morsli Madjid , Krasteva-Christ Gabriela , Becker Sören L. , Yildiz Daniela , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Gannoun-Zaki Laila , Bischoff Markus , Molle Virginie
Published: November 2022

Staphylococcus aureus possesses a large arsenal of immune-modulating factors, enabling it to bypass the immune system’s response. Here, we demonstrate that the acid phosphatase SapS is secreted during macrophage infection and promotes its intracellular survival in this type of immune cell. In animal models, the SA564 sapS mutant demonstrated a significantly lower bacterial burden in liver and renal tissues of mice at four days post infection in comparison to the wild type, along with lower pathogenicity in a zebrafish infection model. The SA564 sapS mutant elicits a lower inflammatory response in mice than the wild-type strain, while S. aureus cells harbouring a functional sapS induce a chemokine response that favours the recruitment of neutrophils to the infection site. Our in vitro and quantitative transcript analysis show that SapS has an effect on S. aureus capacity to adapt to oxidative stress during growth. SapS is also involved in S. aureus biofilm formation. Thus, this study shows for the first time that SapS plays a significant role during infection, most likely through inhibiting a variety of the host’s defence mechanisms.
Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies a Rice Panicle Blast Resistance Gene Pb3 Encoding NLR Protein
Authors: Ma Lu , Yu Yao , Li Changqing , Wang Panting , Liu Kunquan , Ma Wenjing , Wang Wei , Fan Yunxin , Xiong Ziwei , Jiang Tingting , Zhang Jingran , Wang Zhixue , Wang Jianfei , Zhang Hongsheng , Bao Yongmei
Published: November 2022

Rice blast is a worldwide fungal disease that seriously affects the yield and quality of rice. Identification of resistance genes against rice blast disease is one of the effective ways to control this disease. However, panicle blast resistance genes, which are useful in the fields, have rarely been studied due to the difficulty in phenotypic identification and the environmental influences. Here, panicle blast resistance-3 (Pb3) was identified by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on the panicle blast resistance phenotypes of 230 Rice Diversity Panel I (RDP-I) accessions with 700,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 16 panicle blast resistance loci (PBRLs) within three years including one repeated locus PBRL3 located in chromosome 11 were identified. In addition, 7 genes in PBRL3 were identified as candidate genes by haplotype analysis, which showed significant differences between resistant and susceptible varieties. Among them, one nucleotide-binding domain and Leucine-rich Repeat (NLR) gene Pb3 was highly conserved in multiple resistant rice cultivars, and its expression was significantly induced after rice blast inoculation. Evolutionary analysis showed that Pb3 was a typical disease resistance gene containing coiled-coil, NB-ARC, and LRR domains. T-DNA insertion mutants and CRISPR lines of Pb3 showed significantly reduced panicle blast resistance. These results indicate that Pb3 is a panicle blast resistance gene and GWAS is a rapid method for identifying panicle blast resistance in rice.
Relationship between Key Environmental Factors and the Architecture of Fruit Shape and Size in Near-Isogenic Lines of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Hong Yuanyuan , Zhang Xuan , Yuan Xin , Chen Shuxia
Published: November 2022

Fruit shape and size are complex traits influenced by numerous factors, especially genetics and environment factors. To explore the mechanism of fruit shape and size development in cucumber, a pair of near-isogenic lines (NIL) Ln35 and Ln37 were used. The fruit length and diameter, cell length and diameter, and related gene expression were measured. Both the fruit length, diameter, and cell length and diameter showed sigmate curves in the two lines. The cell length and diameter were significantly positively correlated with fruit length and diameter both in two lines. The expression of CsACS2 and CsLNG showed significant positive correlations with fruit length and diameter increment in Ln35, and there was no correlation in Ln37. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between fruit size and thermal effectiveness (TE), as well as between fruit size and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), both in two lines. Two models using logistic regression were formulated to assess the relationships among fruit length and diameter in Ln35 and Ln37, respectively, based on thermal effectiveness and photosynthetic active radiation (TEP). The coefficient R2 values of the models were 0.977 and 0.976 in Ln35, and 0.987 and 0.981 in Ln37, respectively. The root mean square error (RMSE) was 12.012 mm and 4.338 mm in Ln35, and 5.17 mm and 7.082 mm in Ln37, respectively, which illustrated the accurate and efficient of these models. These biologically interpreted parameters will provide precision management for monitoring fruit growth and forecasting the time of harvesting under different temperatures and light conditions.