bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of the PP2C Gene Family in Paulownia fortunei
Authors: Zhao Zhenli , Zhang Peiyuan , Deng Minjie , Cao Yabing , Fan Guoqiang
Published: January 2023

We explored the composition and roles of the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family in Paulownia fortunei. The genome P. fortunei harbored 91 PfPP2C genes, encoding proteins with 120–1107 amino acids (molecular weight range, 13.51–124.81 kDa). The 91 PfPP2Cs were distributed in 12 subfamilies, with 1–15 PfPP2Cs per subfamily. The number and types of conserved structure domains differed among PP2Cs, but the distribution of conserved motifs within each subfamily was similar, with the main motif structure being motifs 3, 16, 13, 10, 2, 6, 12, 4, 14, 1, 18, and 8. The PfPP2C genes had 2 to 20 exons. There were ABA-response elements in the promoters of 42 PfPP2C genes, response elements to phytohormones, and stress in the promoters of other PfPP2C genes. A covariance analysis revealed that gene fragment duplication has played an important role in the evolution of the PfPP2C family. There were significant differences in the transcript levels of some PfPP2C genes in P. fortunei affected by witches’ broom (PaWB) and after treatment with rifampicin and methyl methanesulfonate. PfPP2C02, PfPP2C12, PfPP2C19, and PfPP2C80 were strongly related to PaWB. These findings provide a foundation for further studies on the roles of PP2Cs in PaWB.
Response of the Soil Fungal Community and Its Function during the Conversion of Forestland to Tea Plantations: A Case Study in Southeast China
Authors: Wang Feng , Chen Yuzhen , Yu Xiaomin , Yu Wenquan , You Zhiming , Yang Zhenbiao
Published: January 2023

Land-use change is one of the most important driving factors of change in soil microbial diversity. Deforestation for tea plantations has transformed large areas of forestland in hilly areas of Southeast China. However, its impact on the soil fungal community structures and functions is still understudied. We compared the soil fungal communities and their functions in forestland (FD), a 3-year-old tea plantation (ZC3) and a 30-year-old tea plantation (ZC30) at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths. The soil fungal community compositions and potential functions were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing techniques coupled with FUNGuild analysis. The results showed that the initial conversion from forestland to tea plantations significantly decreased soil fungal diversity. With an increase in the tea plantation age, the soil fungal diversity rebounded. The dominant phyla included Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, unclassified_k_fungi and Mortierellomycota, which were identified in all soil samples and accounted for 90% of all fungal communities. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) indicated that the soil fungal community was more responsive to the duration of tea planting than to the soil depth. FUNGuild analysis showed that the relative abundance of pathogenic and pathotrophic-saprotrophic fungi was higher while saprotrophs were lower in ZC30 compared with FD. Among the analyzed soil properties, soil available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and bulk density were the prime factors affecting the abundance and diversity of soil fungal community compositions. Network analysis showed that fungal microbial taxa increased positive interactions to enhance the adaptability of fungal microorganisms to long-term tea planting. Collectively, our results provide a clear view on the dynamic yet differential responses of fungal communities to land-use changes, and further emphasizes the need for long-term conventional tea plantations to adopt sustainable agricultural practices to reduce soil pathogenic fungi.
Research on the Effect of Simultaneous and Sequential Fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum on Antioxidant Activity and Flavor of Apple Cider
Authors: Chen Xiaodie , Lin Man , Hu Lujun , Xu Teng , Xiong Dake , Li Li , Zhao Zhifeng
Published: January 2023

The study examined the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum together with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on cider quality through simultaneous and sequential inoculation strategies to evoke malolactic fermentation. The antioxidant activities and flavor compound profiles of apple ciders fermented with mixed cultures of commercial wine yeast (S. cerevisia SY) and autochthonous bacteria (L. plantarum SCFF107 and L. plantarum SCFF200) were assessed. The antioxidant ability results indicated that apple ciders fermented with the simultaneous inoculation method had a higher DPPH radical scavenging rate and total antioxidant capacity, especially for SIL107 cider (simultaneous inoculation with S. cerevisiae SY and L. plantarum SCFF107), which exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (78.14% ± 0.78%) and the highest total antioxidant ability (255.92 ± 7.68 mmol/L). The results showed that ciders produced by mixed inoculation with L. plantarum improved flavor because of their higher contents of volatiles such as esters and higher alcohols and higher contents of non-volatile compounds like organic acids and polyphenols in comparison with the single culture of S. cerevisiae, especially for the simultaneous inoculation method. In addition, irrespective of the inoculation mode, compared to the single culture of cider, L-malic acid degraded dramatically in the presence of L. plantarum during alcoholic fermentation, accompanied by increases in lactic acid. What is more, sensory evaluation results demonstrated that ciders produced by mixed cultures gained higher scores than ciders fermented by the single culture of S. cerevisiae, especially in the simultaneous inoculation mode, in terms of the floral, fruity, and overall acceptability of the cider. Therefore, our results indicated that simultaneous inoculation with L. plantarum was found to compensate for some enological shortages of single S. cerevisiae fermented ciders, which could be a potential strategy to enhance the quality of cider products.
Optimisation of Bioethanol Production in a Potato Processing Industry
Authors: Felekis Vassilios , Stavraki Chrysanthi , Malamis Dimitris , Mai Sofia , Barampouti Elli Maria
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, there is a requirement for industries to eliminate carbon from their energy mix and substitute it with greener options. This calls for investment in efforts to facilitate the scaling up of technical advancements. Because of the huge amount of waste, a life cycle strategy has been used by industries, especially the food industry, to lessen the environmental impact of their products. One of the sectors that burdens the environment with a significant amount of waste is the potato processing industrial sector. The current study focuses on the valorisation of all the potato processing waste streams (potato peels, potato tubers and slices, starch and low-quality chips) towards bioethanol production at a pilot level. After their physico-chemical characterisations, several experimental trials were performed in order to determine the optimum pretreatment and hydrolysis conditions for each waste stream. Acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis and hydrothermal pretreatment were examined when no pretreatment resulted in low ethanol yields (below 60%). The optimum results that were obtained were applied in a pilot plant of 200L to examine the upscaling factor. It was verified that upscaling by 1000 times generates comparable and, in some cases, greater results. From the integration of the results and the mass balances of a typical potato processing company, a full-scale implementation plan was also set up, where it was calculated that around 2 m3 bioethanol per week could be produced.
Application-Aware Network Traffic Management in MEC-Integrated Industrial Environments
Authors: Bellavista Paolo , Fogli Mattia , Giannelli Carlo , Stefanelli Cesare
Published: January 2023

The industrial Internet of things (IIoT) has radically modified industrial environments, not only enabling novel industrial applications but also significantly increasing the amount of generated network traffic. Nowadays, a major concern is to support network-intensive industrial applications while ensuring the prompt and reliable delivery of mission-critical traffic flows concurrently traversing the industrial network. To this end, we propose application-aware network traffic management. The goal is to satisfy the requirements of industrial applications through a form of traffic management, the decision making of which is also based on what is carried within packet payloads (application data) in an efficient and flexible way. Our proposed solution targets multi-access edge computing (MEC)-integrated industrial environments, where on-premises and off-premises edge computing resources are used in a coordinated way, as it is expected to be in future Internet scenarios. The technical pillars of our solution are edge-powered in-network processing (eINP) and software-defined networking (SDN). The concept of eINP differs from INP because the latter is directly performed on network devices (NDs), whereas the former is performed on edge nodes connected via high-speed links to NDs. The rationale of eINP is to provide the network with additional capabilities for packet payload inspection and processing through edge computing, either on-premises or in the MEC-enabled cellular network. The reported in-the-field experimental results show the proposal feasibility and its primary tradeoffs in terms of performance and confidentiality.
Engineering Resource-Efficient Data Management for Smart Cities with Apache Kafka
Authors: Raptis Theofanis P. , Cicconetti Claudio , Falelakis Manolis , Kalogiannis Grigorios , Kanellos Tassos , Lobo Tomás Pariente
Published: January 2023

In terms of the calibre and variety of services offered to end users, smart city management is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The parties involved in delivering pervasive applications can now solve key issues in the big data value chain, including data gathering, analysis, and processing, storage, curation, and real-world data visualisation. This trend is being driven by Industry 4.0, which calls for the servitisation of data and products across all industries, including the field of smart cities, where people, sensors, and technology work closely together. In order to implement reactive services such as situational awareness, video surveillance, and geo-localisation while constantly preserving the safety and privacy of affected persons, the data generated by omnipresent devices needs to be processed fast. This paper proposes a modular architecture to (i) leverage cutting-edge technologies for data acquisition, management, and distribution (such as Apache Kafka and Apache NiFi); (ii) develop a multi-layer engineering solution for revealing valuable and hidden societal knowledge in the context of smart cities processing multi-modal, real-time, and heterogeneous data flows; and (iii) address the key challenges in tasks involving complex data flows and offer general guidelines to solve them. In order to create an effective system for the monitoring and servitisation of smart city assets with a scalable platform that proves its usefulness in numerous smart city use cases with various needs, we deduced some guidelines from an experimental setting performed in collaboration with leading industrial technical departments. Ultimately, when deployed in production, the proposed data platform will contribute toward the goal of revealing valuable and hidden societal knowledge in the context of smart cities.
Attention-Enriched Mini-BERT Fake News Analyzer Using the Arabic Language
Authors: Alawadh Husam M. , Alabrah Amerah , Meraj Talha , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab
Published: January 2023

Internet use resulted in people becoming more reliant on social media. Social media have become the main source of fake news or rumors. They spread uncertainty in each sector of the real world, whether in politics, sports, or celebrities’ lives—all are affected by the uncontrolled behavior of social media platforms. Intelligent methods used to control this fake news in various languages have already been much discussed and frequently proposed by researchers. However, Arabic grammar and language are a far more complex and crucial language to learn. Therefore, work on Arabic fake-news-based datasets and related studies is much needed to control the spread of fake news on social media and other Internet media. The current study uses a recently published dataset of Arabic fake news annotated by experts. Further, Arabic-language-based embeddings are given to machine learning (ML) classifiers, and the Arabic-language-based trained minibidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) is used to obtain the sentiments of Arabic grammar and feed a deep learning (DL) classifier. The holdout validation schemes are applied to both ML classifiers and mini-BERT-based deep neural classifiers. The results show a consistent improvement in the performance of mini-BERT-based classifiers, which outperformed ML classifiers, by increasing the training data. A comparison with previous Arabic fake news detection studies is shown where results of the current study show greater improvement.
The Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Wildfires across Australia and Their Connections to Extreme Climate Based on a Combined Hydrological Drought Index
Authors: Cui Lilu , Zhu Chengkang , Zou Zhengbo , Yao Chaolong , Zhang Cheng , Li Yu
Published: January 2023

With the frequent occurrence of extreme climates around the world, the frequency of regional wildfires is also on the rise, which poses a serious threat to the safety of human life, property, and regional ecosystems. To investigate the role of extreme climates in the occurrence and spread of wildfires, we combined precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture (SM), maximum temperature (MT), relative humidity, plant canopy water, vapor pressure deficit, and a combined hydrological drought index based on six Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its follow-on (GRACE-FO) products to study the relationship between climate change and wildfires across Australia between 2003 and 2020. The results show that Australia’s wildfires are mainly concentrated in the northern region, with a small number being distributed along the southeastern coast. The high burned months are September (2.5941 × 106 ha), October (4.9939 × 106 ha), and November (3.8781 × 106 ha), while the years with a larger burned area are 2011 (79.95 × 106 ha) and 2012 (78.33 × 106 ha) during the study period. On a seasonal scale, the terrestrial water storage change and the hydrometeorological factors have the strong correlations with burned area, while for only the drought index, SM and MT are strongly related to burned area on an interannual scale. By comparing the data between the high burned and normal years, the impact of droughts on wildfires is achieved through two aspects: (1) the creation of a dry atmospheric environment, and (2) the accumulation of natural combustibles. Extreme climates affect wildfires through the occurrence of droughts. Among them, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation has the greatest impact on drought in Australia, followed by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole (correlation coefficients are −0.33, −0.31, and −0.23, respectively), but there is little difference among the three. The proposed hydrological drought index in our study has the potential to provide an early warning of regional wildfires. Our results have a certain reference significance for comprehensively understanding the impact mechanism of extreme climates on regional wildfires and for establishing an early warning system for regional wildfires.
Mathematical Modelling of Convective Drying of Orange By-Product and Its Influence on Phenolic Compounds and Ascorbic Acid Content, and Its Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Razola-Díaz María del Carmen , Verardo Vito , Gómez-Caravaca Ana María , García-Villanova Belén , Guerra-Hernández Eduardo Jesús
Published: January 2023

Orange peel is one of the main by-products from juice processing, and is considered as a promising source of phenolic compounds with anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant properties. The drying is an essential step to ensure the storage of this by-product at an industrial level, in order to use it as a functional ingredient or as a nutraceutical. Thus, this research focuses on the evaluation of the effect of the convective air-drying process in orange by-products at three different temperatures (40, 60 and 80 °C) and air flows (0, 0.8 and 1.6 m/s) on the phenolic content (measured by HPLC-MS), the antioxidant activity (measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), and the vitamin C content (measured by HPLC-UV/VIS). Moreover, the mathematical modelling of its drying kinetics was carried out to examine the orange by-product behavior. Among the tested mathematical models, the Page model reported the highest fit and the best drying conditions, which showed the lowest reductions were at 60 °C with an air flow of 1.6 m/s and taking 315 min.
Consumer Perception of Freshness and Volatile Composition of Fresh Gilthead Seabream and Seabass in Active Packaging with and without CO2-Emitting Pads
Authors: Nanou Evangelia , Kotsiri Mado , Kogiannou Dimitra , Katsouli Maria , Grigorakis Kriton
Published: January 2023

Active packaging with CO2-emitters (pads) has recently been used for shelf-life extension of fresh fish. The aim of this study was to identify consumer attitudes towards fresh fish packaging, to examine whether Greek consumers prefer active packaging with pad over active packaging without pad, to investigate any perceived differences in the sensory freshness of the fish, and to relate consumer perception to volatile composition of fish fillets. In total, 274 consumers participated in the study which included freshness sensory evaluation of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), whole-gutted and filleted, raw and cooked, at high quality and at the end of high-quality shelf-life. Samples were packed under modified atmosphere either with a pad or without. Results showed that consumers preferred packages with pads, especially at the end of high quality shelf-life. They perceived raw samples packed with a pad to be fresher and closer to the ideal product, and also had a higher purchase intention towards them. Cooked samples were not perceived differently. Consumers’ perception was in accordance with the GC-MS findings in the volatile compounds that function as freshness or spoilage indicators. Most participants were positive towards fresh fish packaging although they usually buy unpacked fresh fish. Our results suggest that active packaging with CO2 emitters contribute to freshness preservation and that it has a positive potential in the Greek market.
Self-Similar Growth and Synergistic Link Prediction in Technology-Convergence Networks: The Case of Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Xiu Yuxuan , Cao Kexin , Ren Xinyue , Chen Bokui , Chan Wai Kin (Victor)
Published: January 2023

Self-similar growth and fractality are important properties found in many real-world networks, which could guide the modeling of network evolution and the anticipation of new links. However, in technology-convergence networks, such characteristics have not yet received much attention. This study provides empirical evidence for self-similar growth and fractality of the technology-convergence network in the field of intelligent transportation systems. This study further investigates the implications of such fractal properties for link prediction via partial information decomposition. It is discovered that two different scales of the network (i.e., the micro-scale structure measured by local similarity indices and the scaled-down structure measured by community-based indices) have significant synergistic effects on link prediction. Finally, we design a synergistic link prediction (SLP) approach which enhances local similarity indices by considering the probability of link existence conditional on the joint distribution of two scales. Experimental results show that SLP outperforms the benchmark local similarity indices in most cases, which could further validate the existence and usefulness of the synergistic effect between two scales on link prediction.
Swelling and Viscoelastic Properties of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Prepared by Free Radical Polymerization of Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate in Cellulose Solution
Authors: Blažic Roko , Marušić Katarina , Vidović Elvira
Published: January 2023

The grafting of a stimuli-responsive polymer (poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)) onto cellulose was achieved by performing free radical polymerization of a vinyl/divinyl monomer in cellulose solution. The grafting and crosslinking efficiency in the material have been increased by subsequent irradiation of the samples with ionizing radiation (doses of 10, 30, or 100 kGy). The relative amount of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) in the prepared hydrogels was determined by infrared spectroscopy. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels was studied thoroughly, including microgelation extent, equilibrium swelling, and reswelling degree, as well as the dependence on the gelation procedure. The dynamic viscoelastic behavior of prepared hydrogels was also studied. The tan δ values indicate a solid-like behavior while the obtained hydrogels have a complex modulus in the range of 14–39 kPa, which is suitable for hydrogels used in biomedical applications. In addition, the incorporation of Ag particles and the adsorption of Fe3+ ions were tested to evaluate the additional functionalities of the prepared hydrogels. It was found that the introduction of PDMAEMA to the hydrogels enhanced their ability to synthesize Ag particles and absorb Fe3+ ions, providing a platform for the potential preparation of hydrogels for the treatment of wounds.
Fabrication of Flexible All-Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitor Device via Full Recycling of Heated Tobacco Waste Assisted by PLA Gelation Template Method
Authors: Jekal Suk , Kim Min-Sang , Kim Dong-Hyun , Noh Jungchul , Kim Ha-Yeong , Kim Jiwon , Yi Hyeonseok , Oh Won-Chun , Yoon Chang-Min
Published: January 2023

In this study, a flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (FASC) device has been successfully fabricated via full recycling of heated tobacco waste (HTW). Tobacco leaves and cellulose acetate tubes have been successfully carbonized (HTW-C) and mixed with metal oxides (MnO2 and Fe3O4) to obtain highly active materials for supercapacitors. Moreover, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filters have been successfully dissolved in an organic solvent and mixed with the as-prepared active materials using a simple paste mixing method. In addition, flexible MnO2- and Fe3O4-mixed HTW-C/PLA electrodes (C-MnO2/PLA and C-Fe3O4/PLA) have been successfully fabricated using the drop-casting method. The as-synthesized flexible C-MnO2/PLA and C-Fe3O4/PLA electrodes have exhibited excellent electrical conductivity of 378 and 660 μS cm−1, and high specific capacitance of 34.8 and 47.9 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2, respectively. A practical FASC device (C-MnO2/PLA//C-Fe3O4/PLA) has been assembled by employing the C-MnO2/PLA as the positive electrode and C-Fe3O4/PLA as the negative electrode. The as-prepared FASC device showed a remarkable capacitance of 5.80 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2. Additionally, the FASC device manifests stable electrochemical performance under harsh bending conditions, verifying the superb flexibility and sustainability of the device. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report complete recycling of heated tobacco waste to prepare the practical FASC devices. With excellent electrochemical performance, the experiments described in this study successfully demonstrate the possibility of recycling new types of biomass in the future.
Application of Polymer Hydrogels in the Prevention of Postoperative Adhesion: A Review
Authors: Cai Jie , Guo Jiaming , Wang Shige
Published: January 2023

Postoperative adhesion is a common post-surgery complication formed between the surface of the body cavity, ranging from a layer of connective tissue to a fibrous bridge containing blood vessels and nerve tissue. Despite achieving a lot of progress, the mechanisms of adhesion formation still need to be further studied. In addition, few current treatments are consistently effective in the prevention of postoperative adhesion. Hydrogel is a kind of water-expanding crosslinked hydrophilic polymer network generated by a simple reaction of one or more monomers. Due to the porous structure, hydrogels can load different drugs and control the drug release kinetics. Evidence from existing studies has confirmed the feasibility and superiority of using hydrogels to counter postoperative adhesions, primarily due to their outstanding antifouling ability. In this review, the current research status of hydrogels as anti-adhesion barriers is summarized, the character of hydrogels in the prevention of postoperative adhesion is briefly introduced, and future research directions are discussed.
Status Epilepticus in Chromosomal Disorders Associated with Epilepsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bergonzini Luca , Pruccoli Jacopo , Pettenuzzo Ilaria , Pugliano Rosa , Soliani Luca , Fetta Anna , Cordelli Duccio Maria
Published: January 2023

Status Epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency resulting from the failure of mechanisms of seizure termination or from the initiation of mechanisms that lead to prolonged seizures. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) identified 13 chromosomal disorders associated with epilepsy (CDAE); data regarding SE occurrence in these patients is lacking. A systematic scoping review was conducted to outline current literature evidence about clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of SE in pediatric and adult patients with CDAE. A total of 373 studies were identified with the initial search; 65 of these were selected and regarded as SE in Angelman Syndrome (AS, n = 20), Ring 20 Syndrome (R20, n = 24), and other syndromes (n = 21). Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is frequently observed in AS and R20. No specific, targeted therapies for SE in CDAE are available to date; anecdotal reports about SE treatment are described in the text, as well as various brief- and long-term outcomes. Further evidence is needed to precisely portray the clinical features, treatment options, and outcomes of SE in these patients.
Association between Bone Mineral Density and Oral Frailty on Renal Function: Findings from the Shika Study
Authors: Nakai Shingo , Suzuki Fumihiko , Okamoto Shigefumi , Miyagi Sakae , Tsujiguchi Hiromasa , Hara Akinori , Nguyen Thao Thi Thu , Shimizu Yukari , Hayashi Koichiro , Suzuki Keita , Kasahara Tomoko , Nakamura Masaharu , Takazawa Chie , Kannon Takayuki , Tajima Atsushi , Tsuboi Hirohito , Ogino Noriyoshi , Konoshita Tadashi , Takamura Toshinari , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

The association between oral frailty (OFr) and body action has been investigated, but its association with systemic function remains unclear. Therefore, this cross-sectional study examined the association between OFr with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and renal function in residents of Shika town, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan aged ≥40 years. This study included 400 inhabitants. The OFr total score was assessed using three oral domains in the Kihon Checklist (a self-reported comprehensive health checklist), the number of teeth, and brushing frequency per day. Measurements were the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the osteo-sono assessment index (OSI). Using a two-way analysis of covariance (p = 0.002), significantly lower OSI was indicated in the eGFR < 60 and OFr group than in the eGFR of < 60 and non-OFr group after adjusting for age, body mass index, and drinking and smoking status as confounding factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed this relationship (p = 0.006). Therefore, lower BMD seems to be associated with lower renal function only when accompanied by OFr. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.
Emotion Detection Based on Pupil Variation
Authors: Lee Ching-Long , Pei Wen , Lin Yu-Cheng , Granmo Anders , Liu Kang-Hung
Published: January 2023

Emotion detection is a fundamental component in the field of Affective Computing. Proper recognition of emotions can be useful in improving the interaction between humans and machines, for instance, with regard to designing effective user interfaces. This study aims to understand the relationship between emotion and pupil dilation. The Tobii Pro X3-120 eye tracker was used to collect pupillary responses from 30 participants exposed to content designed to evoke specific emotions. Six different video scenarios were selected and presented to participants, whose pupillary responses were measured while watching the material. In total, 16 data features (8 features per eye) were extracted from the pupillary response distribution during content exposure. Through logistical regression, a maximum of 76% classification accuracy was obtained through the measurement of pupillary response in predicting emotions classified as fear, anger, or surprise. Further research is required to precisely calculate pupil size variations in relation to emotionally evocative input in affective computing applications.
Knowledge on Cervical Cancer Services and Associated Risk Factors by Health Workers in the Eastern Cape Province
Authors: Ncane Ziphelele , Faleni Monwabisi , Pulido-Estrada Guillermo , Apalata Teke R. , Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. , Chitha Wezile , Nomatshila Sibusiso Cyprian
Published: January 2023

Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death, with cervical cancer ranking second among all cancers. Its adversity impacts not only individuals but also families, societies, and governments. The quality of services, as informed by the knowledge and adequacy of the health workers, plays an important role in both prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease. A cross-sectional study among 108 purposively selected health workers in rural health facilities in the Eastern Cape province was conducted to assess knowledge on cervical cancer and associated risk factors through the use of validated structured questionnaires. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for analysis, with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05 considered significant. A total of 91.7% of the 108 participants were female, and 25% were over the age of 50. A total of 88% and 85.2% indicated sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus as major risk factors, respectively. The HPV, pap smear, and vaccination age were known by 64.8%, and vaccine availability was known by 71.3%. Only 40.7% of workers were trained on cervical screening, and 35.2% were trained on the interpretation of pap smear results. An overall knowledge score of 53% was obtained, with more experienced clinicians scoring lower grades. This study identified inadequacies in essential knowledge for successful implementation of cervical cancer services and found that extensive training was needed.
The Use of Sports Rehabilitation Robotics to Assist in the Recovery of Physical Abilities in Elderly Patients with Degenerative Diseases: A Literature Review
Authors: Ju Fangyuan , Wang Yujie , Xie Bin , Mi Yunxuan , Zhao Mengyun , Cao Junwei
Published: January 2023

The increase in the number of elderly patients with degenerative diseases has brought additional medical and financial pressures, which are adding to the burden on society. The development of sports rehabilitation robotics (SRR) is becoming increasingly sophisticated at the technical level of its application; however, few studies have analyzed how it works and how effective it is in aiding rehabilitation, and fewer individualized exercise rehabilitation programs have been developed for elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the working methods and the effects of different types of SRR and then to suggest the feasibility of applying SRR to enhance the physical abilities of elderly patients with degenerative diseases. The researcher’s team searched 633 English-language journal articles, which had been published over the past five years, and they selected 38 of them for a narrative literature review. Our summary found the following: (1) The current types of SRR are generally classified as end-effector robots, smart walkers, intelligent robotic rollators, and exoskeleton robots—exoskeleton robots were found to be the most widely used. (2) The current working methods include assistant tools as the main intermediaries—i.e., robots assist patients to participate; patients as the main intermediaries—i.e., patients dominate the assistant tools to participate; and sensors as the intermediaries—i.e., myoelectric-driven robots promote patient participation. (3) Better recovery was perceived for elderly patients when using SRR than is generally achieved through the traditional single-movement recovery methods, especially in strength, balance, endurance, and coordination. However, there was no significant improvement in their speed or agility after using SRR.
Pre- and Post-Operative Education and Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Hip/Knee Replacement and Hip Fracture
Authors: Lu Yen-Mou , Chang Je-Ken , Lin Pin-Yu , Lue Yi-Jing
Published: January 2023

Arthroplasty for the hip/knee and surgeries for hip fractures are increasing worldwide. The aims of this study were to investigate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after surgery with an early mobility education program, and to explore their associations with pain and anxiety. Pain intensity and anxiety were assessed with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and HRQOL was assessed with the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) and eight subscales of the SF-36 were calculated. At pre-operation, the patients suffered from moderate pain and mild anxiety, and their HRQOL scores were low (4.9, 7.8, 35.4, and 48.2 for the VAS, BAI, PCS, and MCS, respectively). The pain, anxiety, and HRQOL improved after surgery and had moderate to large effect sizes at 6-month follow-up (Glass’s delta = 1.23, 0.88, 0.81, and 0.67 for VAS, BAI, PCS, and MCS, respectively). Pain and anxiety were strongly correlated to HRQOL at each stage, with the maximum correlation (r = −0.34 to −0.93) reached at 6-month follow-up. The surgery effectively improves HRQOL, as the reduced pain and anxiety lead to better physical and mental HRQOL.
Effect of Global Warming on the Yields of Strawberry in Queensland: A Mini-Review
Authors: Menzel Christopher Michael
Published: January 2023

Light, temperature and rainfall affect the growth and yield of strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). The objective of this review was to determine the impact of global warming on the yields of strawberry in a temperate (summer crop) and subtropical environment (winter crop) in southern Queensland, Australia. Information was collected on the changes in temperature over five decades in two locations in this area. The relationship between relative yield and temperature from published data was used to determine the impact of global warming on productivity in the two locations. Finally, the impact of elevated concentrations of CO2 and temperature on yield was examined from studies in the literature. The average daily mean temperature has increased by 2 °C over the season on the Sunshine Coast (winter crop) since 1967 (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.69). The impact of global warming has been less severe on the Granite Belt (summer crop), with a 1 °C increase in temperature (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.37). Information was collected from the literature on the yield in individual temperature regimes in an experiment and these data were compared with the maximum yield in the same experiment (relative yield). There was a negative linear relationship between relative yield and temperature in most of the published literature. The mean (± s.d. or standard deviation) estimate of the slope from the regression was −0.14 (± 0.14), the median was −0.11 and the range was from −0.51 to 0.11 (n = 14 studies). Increases in temperature were associated with a decrease in yield of 14% to 28% in the two areas in Queensland. The results of other research indicated that elevated concentrations of CO2 do not benefit productivity when combined with elevated temperatures. Further decreases in yield are expected in the next few decades in the absence of heat-tolerant cultivars or other mitigating strategies.
Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers
Authors: Jungwirth David , Haluza Daniela
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in every aspect of our lives. Because of the measures imposed, people were only allowed to leave their homes for certain purposes, and all types of cultural and sports events were canceled. Climbers were greatly affected by these limited options for regular physical activity outside of the home environment. Little is known about the crisis’ effects on the climbing community in German-speaking regions. Thus, we surveyed 1028 German-speaking climbers (mean age 34.6 years, SD 10.4; 50.4% females) from December 2020 to February 2021. A cross-sectional online survey collected data on climbing frequency and preferences as well as levels of life satisfaction, using the standardized Short Life Satisfaction Questionnaire for Lockdowns (SLSQL) before and during the crisis. Results showed that due to the pandemic, study subjects climbed less frequently, preferred outdoor locations to climb, and showed decreased life satisfaction scores (21%, (d = 0.87, p < 0.001). In conclusion, these findings highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on climbing sports activities and life satisfaction in this study sample. To preserve physical and mental health, indoor and outdoor sport activities should be continued as much as possible with reasonable hygiene concepts in place.
Repeatability of Brain Activity as Measured by a 32-Channel EEG System during Resistance Exercise in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Domingos Christophe , Marôco João Luís , Miranda Marco , Silva Carlos , Melo Xavier , Borrego Carla
Published: January 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) is attracting increasing attention in the sports and exercise fields, as it provides insights into brain behavior during specific tasks. However, it remains unclear if the promising wireless EEG caps provide reliable results despite the artifacts associated with head movement. The present study aims to evaluate the repeatability of brain activity as measured by a wireless 32-channel EEG system (EMOTIV flex cap) during resistance exercises in 18 apparently healthy but physically inactive young adults (10 men and 8 women). Moderate-intensity leg press exercises are performed with two evaluations with 48 h. between. This intensity allows enough time for data analysis while reducing unnecessary but involuntary head movements. Repeated measurements of EEG during the resistance exercise show high repeatability in all frequency bands, with excellent ICCs (>0.90) and bias close to zero, regardless of sex. These results suggest that a 32-channel wireless EEG system can be used to collect data on controlled resistance exercise tasks performed at moderate intensities. Future studies should replicate these results with a bigger sample size and different resistance exercises and intensities.
DNA Damage and Apoptosis as In-Vitro Effect Biomarkers of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) and the Food Additive E171 Toxicity in Colon Cancer Cells: HCT-116 and Caco-2
Authors: Ferrante Margherita , Grasso Alfina , Salemi Rossella , Libra Massimo , Tomasello Barbara , Fiore Maria , Copat Chiara
Published: January 2023

This study investigated the DNA damage and apoptosis in colon cancer cells HCT-116 and Caco-2 induced by engineered titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) (60 nm) and titanium dioxide food additive E171. MTT assays showed that both chemical forms significantly reduced cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In particular the food additive E171 induced a pronounced inhibitory effect on the growth of HCT-116 and Caco-2 cell lines (E171 IC50: 3.45 mg/L for HTC-116 and 1.88 mg/L Caco-2; TiO2-NPs 60 nm IC50: 41.1 mg/L for HTC-116 and 14.3 mg/L for Caco-2). A low level of genotoxicity was observed in Caco-2 cells, especially when treated with TiO2 60 nm. Western blot analysis showed that HCT116 and Caco-2 treated cells did not overexpress apoptotic markers such as cleaved Caspase 3 and cleaved Parp. Moreover, further analysis by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that TiO2-NPs and E171 did not promote the expression of Bax or downregulation of Bcl-2, nor did they increase the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. The assay data provide clear evidence that TiO2 can cause DNA damage but does not induce apoptosis or decrease long-term cell proliferation. In addition, the results show that E171 has a slightly higher level of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. This suggests that exposure to E171 may be hazardous to health and that further research on biological effects is needed to promote safer practices in the use of this compound.
Determinants and Projections of Minimum Acceptable Diet among Children Aged 6–23 Months: A National and Subnational Inequality Assessment in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Shafiur , Chowdhury Md. Rocky Khan , Islam Md. Rashedul , Krull Abe Sarah , Hossain Kamal , Iwabuchi Toshiki , Tsuchiya Kenji J. , Gilmour Stuart
Published: January 2023

Subnational evidence on the level of inequality in receiving complementary feeding practice among Bangladeshi children is lacking. This study estimated inequality in the minimum acceptable diet (MAD) among Bangladeshi children aged 6–23 months, and identified risk factors for and developed projections of the MAD up to 2030. Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–2018 were used in this cross-sectional study. Regression-based slope (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were used to quantify the level of absolute and relative inequality, respectively. A Bayesian logistic regression model was used to identify the potential determinants of a MAD and project prevalence up to 2030. About 38% of children aged 6–23 months received a MAD. The national prevalence of a MAD was 26.0 percentage points higher among children from the richest compared to the poorest households, and 32.1 percentage points higher among children of higher-educated over illiterate mothers. Socioeconomic inequality was found to be the highest in the Chattogram division (SII: 43.9), while education-based inequality was highest in the Sylhet division (SII: 47.7). Maternal employment and the number of ANC visits were also identified as significant determinants of a MAD, and the prevalence of a MAD was projected to increase from 42.5% in 2020 to 67.9% in 2030. Approximately two out of five children received a MAD in Bangladesh and significant socioeconomic and education-based inequalities in the MAD were observed. Subnational variation in socioeconomic and education-based inequalities in the MAD requires further public health attention, and poverty reduction programs need to be strengthened.
Assessment of Psychological and Social Fitness in Healthy Adults Permanently Living at Very High Altitude
Authors: Gao Chun , Ciren Jizong , Wang Dan , Zhang Zhaohui , Ge Ruidong , Yan Li’e
Published: January 2023

Background: Environmental factors of high altitude, especially hypobaric hypoxia, may directly and persistently affect human physical and mental health. Our study was designed to assess the psychological and social fitness in healthy adults permanently living at very high altitude, i.e., an average elevation of 3650 m. Methods: In our observational study, 320 participants were included, among which 218 (68.1%) had resided in such a setting for more than 20 years. Participants underwent 138 assessments, including the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90) and the Evaluation Scale of Human Adaptation Capability (ESHAC). SAS (20 items) and SCL-90 (90 items) were used to assess psychological fitness, and the ESHAC (28 items) was used to assess social fitness. Pearson analysis was used to assess correlations and Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent influencing factors. Results: The highest SAS score was 80 and the mean score was 43.26 ± 8.88, which was higher than the norm in China (p < 0.001). Sixty (18.8%) participants showed anxiety symptoms and 14 (4.4%) had moderate or severe anxiety. The average score of SCL-90 was 140.88 ± 44.77, and 96 (30.0%) participants showed SCL-90 scores ≥160. Compared with the norm, significant differences were shown in eight of the nine SCL-90 factor scores, i.e., somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. The average score of ESHAC was 19.92 ± 4.54, and 114 (35.6%) participants did not reach the qualifying standard. Significant correlations were observed between the SAS score, SCL-90 total and factor scores, and ESHAC scores. The Logistic regression analysis showed that being born at very high altitude was an independent influencing factor (AOR = 2.619; 95% CI, 1.629–4.211; p < 0.001) after controlling for other factors. Conclusion: Permanently living at very high altitude can influence the psychological and social fitness of healthy adults.
Environmental Acceptability of Geotechnical Composites from Recycled Materials: Comparative Study of Laboratory and Field Investigations
Authors: Đurić Marija , Zalar Serjun Vesna , Mladenovič Ana , Mauko Pranjić Alenka , Milačič Radmila , Ščančar Janez , Urbanc Janko , Mali Nina , Pavlin Alenka , Turk Janez , Oprčkal Primož
Published: January 2023

The environmental properties of three geotechnical composites made by recycling wastes were investigated on a laboratory scale and in the field with the use of lysimeters designated for the revitalization of degraded mining sites. Composites were prepared by combining the mine waste with paper-mill sludge and foundry sand (Composite 1), with digestate from municipal waste and paper ash (Composite 2), and with coal ash, foundry slag and waste incineration bottom ash (Composite 3). The results of laboratory leaching tests proved that Composites 1 and 3 are environmentally acceptable, according to the legislative limits, as the potentially hazardous substances were immobilized, while in Composite 2, the legislative limits were exceeded. In the field lysimeters, the lowest rate of leaching was determined for optimally compacted Composites 1 and 3, while for Composite 2 the leaching of Cu was high. This study proved that optimally installed Composites 1 and 3 are environmentally acceptable for use in construction as an alternative to virgin materials, for the revitalization of degraded mining sites or, along with Composite 2, for closure operations with landfills. In this way, locally available waste streams are valorised and channelized into a beneficial and sustainable recycling practice.