bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between the Floristic Composition and Soil Characteristics of a Tropical Rainforest (TRF)
Authors: Isa Nurrunnuha , Razak Sarah Abdul , Abdullah Rosazlin , Khan Muhammad Nauman , Hamzah Siti Nasuha , Kaplan Alevcan , Dossou-Yovo Hubert Olivier , Ali Baber , Razzaq Abdul , Wahab Sana , Ullah Izhar , El-Sheikh Mohamed A. , Marc Romina Alina
Published: February 2023

Hutan Rimba Alam (HRA), Putrajaya is an urban forest which is the habitat for various tropical rainforest species. A field survey was undertaken to state the floristic composition, investigate the soil characteristics and identify the relationship between the recorded plant communities and soil characteristics. Six plots sized 10 × 10 m square were established in a lowland area of which 93 individual trees were identified. Moreover, the floristic composition revealed vascular tree communities consisting of 10 botanical families, 15 genera, and 27 species with Dipterocarpaceae as being predominant. Based on the important value index (IVI), Mangifera odorata (Anacardiaceae) was the highest (IVI = 68.80%). Furthermore, large trees such as Koompassia excelsa (Becc.) Taub. (Fabaceae) and Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. (Meliaceae), with heights ranging from 17 m to 24 m, indicated that HRA is on the way to becoming a mature forest. The soil pH in all plots showed acidic properties, with a mean pH of 4.69 that is considered normal for tropical rainforests. The pH of the soils in HRA, Putrajaya had a positive correlation with the CEC and with nitrogen, but the value was low; however, the correlation was negative with C and P. The CEC had a relatively low correlation with C, N and P. Carbon had a very high correlation with N but low with P. Meanwhile, nitrogen had a very negatively low correlation with P. Extractable phosphorus exhibited a mean of 2.22 mg/kg which is normally used in plants for fruits, roots, and flower development. The present study revealed that plant communities in the urban forest in Putrajaya, meaning the diversity of the plant species belonging to a wide range of families, were established on acid soil, matching with the overall characteristics of tropical forest soils. With regard to the climate change context, which is leading to many altered ecosystems, the authors expect that the outputs of this research will be valued by decision makers for a better management of the forest.
Resistance of Untreated and Torrefied Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) Residues to Xylophage Fungi
Authors: Surdi Paula Gabriella , Castro Vinicius Resende de , Lima Nidia Niela , Portilho Gabriel Reis , Lopes Nayara Franzini , Andrade Frances Alves , Zanuncio Antônio José Vinha , Zanuncio José Cola , Carneiro Angélica de Cássia Oliveira , Araújo Solange de Oliveira
Published: February 2023

The manufacture of wood panels generates a large amount of waste. This material can be an option for renewable energy generation. However, long-term storage, exposure to moisture and contact of these panels with the soil facilitate colonization by xylophagous organisms. Torrefaction, a heat treatment between 200 and 300 °C in an oxygen-free atmosphere, is a process that decreases hygroscopicity while increasing carbon content, energy efficiency and resistance to fungal attack. This work aimed to evaluate the resistance of MDF panel residues. The MDF panels were produced using eucalyptus wood and bonded with thermosetting synthetic resin, under high temperature and pressure, torrefied at 300 °C for 20, 30 and 40 min and exposed to the xylophagous fungi of the white rot, Irpex lacteus (Fr.) Fr. (1828) and Trametes versicolor, and that of the brown rot, Postia placenta. After the 12-week evaluation period under fungal exposure, the mass loss of the samples attacked by T. versicolor and P. placenta was similar between treatments, except the MDF untreated, which had greater mass losses from the fungus Irpex lacteus. The torrefaction process increased the material resistance to deterioration by fungi, with an inverse correlation between the torrefaction period and the mass losses by fungal attack of the MDF panel residues.
Examination of Social Factors Affecting Private Forest Owners’ Future Intentions for Forest Management in Miyazaki Prefecture: A Comparison of Regional Characteristics by Forest Ownership Size
Authors: Onda Nariaki , Ochi Shunsuke , Tsuzuki Nobuyuki
Published: February 2023

Although Japan’s planted forest resources are mature, efficient timber production and reforest postharvest are hindered by the small-scale forest ownership and private forest owners’ (PFOs’) low willingness to engage in forest management. A New Scheme of Forest Management (NSFM) has been established under which Japan’s municipalities can aggregate forest management rights which PFOs with low future intentions for forest management. Therefore, this study explores the socioeconomic factors that determine PFOs’ future intentions for forest management and examines NSFM challenges. PFOs were surveyed via questionnaires in two regions of Miyazaki Prefecture with different forest ownership sizes. The results showed that forest size and the presence of successors affect PFOs’ future intention for forest management. In addition, PFOs with low future intentions were less aware of their forests, and their forests were the source of reforest abandonment. Although aggregating forest management rights of PFOs with low future intention by the municipalities may contribute to sustainable forest management, the increased workload on municipalities is a challenge. Overall, accessibility to sufficient decision-making information is a prerequisite for evaluating PFOs’ future intention to manage their forests.
Effect of Pressurized Hydrothermal Treatment on the Properties of Cellulose Amorphous Region Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Jiang Xuewei , Wang Wei , Guo Yuanyuan , Dai Min
Published: February 2023

Based on Materials Studio software, a cellulose chain with a polymerization degree of 20 and several water molecules were constructed to form a cellulose amorphous region–water model. The effect of pressure on the wood properties during hydrothermal treatment was investigated to explain the changes in the macroscopic properties from a microscopic perspective, thus providing a theoretical basis for wood heat treatment research. In this study, we performed dynamic simulations at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and pressurized (0.2 MPa, 0.4 MPa, and 0.6 MPa) conditions under a combination of NPT. In addition, five aspects were analyzed in terms of energy change: cell parameters and density, cellulose mean square displacement, number of hydrogen bonds, and mechanical properties. The results showed that pressurized hydrothermal treatment increased the densification of the wood, decreased the volume, and increased the density. As the pressure increased, the difference between the average value of the nonbond energy and the total potential energy gradually decreased, the bond energy decreased, and the interatomic repulsive force within the molecule gradually weakened. The increase in the number of hydrogen bonds enhanced the restraining effect on the arrangement of cellulose molecular chains and slowed down the movement of the cellulose chains. Young’s modulus (E) and shear modulus (G) increased with increasing pressure, and Poisson’s ratio (γ) and K/G decreased with increasing pressure during the pressurized hydrothermal treatment of wood. The pressurized hydrothermal treatment increased the stiffness and decreased the toughness of the wood compared with those of the model with atmospheric pressure hydrothermal treatment.
Multi-Scale Forest Fire Recognition Model Based on Improved YOLOv5s
Authors: Chen Gong , Zhou Hang , Li Zhongyuan , Gao Yucheng , Bai Di , Xu Renjie , Lin Haifeng
Published: February 2023

The frequent occurrence of forest fires causes irreparable damage to the environment and the economy. Therefore, the accurate detection of forest fires is particularly important. Due to the various shapes and textures of flames and the large variation in the target scales, traditional forest fire detection methods have high false alarm rates and poor adaptability, which results in severe limitations. To address the problem of the low detection accuracy caused by the multi-scale characteristics and changeable morphology of forest fires, this paper proposes YOLOv5s-CCAB, an improved multi-scale forest fire detection model based on YOLOv5s. Firstly, coordinate attention (CA) was added to YOLOv5s in order to adjust the network to focus more on the forest fire features. Secondly, Contextual Transformer (CoT) was introduced into the backbone network, and a CoT3 module was built to reduce the number of parameters while improving the detection of forest fires and the ability to capture global dependencies in forest fire images. Then, changes were made to Complete-Intersection-Over-Union (CIoU) Loss function to improve the network’s detection accuracy for forest fire targets. Finally, the Bi-directional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) was constructed at the neck to provide the model with a more effective fusion capability for the extracted forest fire features. The experimental results based on the constructed multi-scale forest fire dataset show that YOLOv5s-CCAB increases AP@0.5 by 6.2% to 87.7%, and the FPS reaches 36.6. This indicates that YOLOv5s-CCAB has a high detection accuracy and speed. The method can provide a reference for the real-time, accurate detection of multi-scale forest fires.
A Review of Research on Forest Ecosystem Quality Assessment and Prediction Methods
Authors: Guo Ke , Wang Bing , Niu Xiang
Published: February 2023

The accurate assessment and prediction of forest ecosystem quality is an important basis for evaluating the effectiveness of regional ecological protection and restoration, establishing a positive feedback mechanism for forest quality improvement and restoration policies, and promoting the construction of an ecological civilization in China. Based on the existing studies at home and abroad, this paper mainly analyzes and summarizes the connotation of forest ecosystem quality, assessment index systems, assessment and prediction methods, and outlooks on the existing problems of imperfect forest ecological quality assessment index systems, preliminary assessment and prediction capabilities, and unknown dynamic responses of forest ecological quality to climate change, etc. Efforts should be made to develop a scientific and standardized assessment index system, produce high-quality forest ecological data products, develop localization of assessment model parameters, and explore forest quality–climate change response mechanisms to provide references for in-depth research to realize the transformation of forest ecosystem quality assessments from historical and status quo assessments to future predictions, and to support the construction of a national ecological civilization.
The State of the Art of Forest Operations in Beech Stands of Europe and Western Asia
Authors: Latterini Francesco , Jagodziński Andrzej M. , Horodecki Paweł , Stefanoni Walter , Venanzi Rachele , Picchio Rodolfo
Published: February 2023

Beech (Fagus spp.) is one of the most common tree species in Europe and Western Asia. The implementation of sustainable forest Operations (SFOs) in beech forests is therefore crucial in terms of sustainable forest management. This review summarises the state of the art concerning time-motion studies carried out in beech forests, defining the work productivity and the related costs of different harvesting systems applied in these stands. The main focus in recent years on felling and processing operations has been the introduction of fully mechanised systems in beech forests, obtaining satisfactory results in terms of work productivity. However, the working performance is still lower than in coniferous stands. Skidding and forwarding resulted in suitable techniques for ground-based extraction, both showing a clear inclination towards increasing working performance when applying higher levels of mechanisation. Aerial extraction by cable yarders is particularly important in beech forests, considering that these are often located in steep terrains. Further efforts should be dedicated to enhancing the training for operators to extend the application of aerial extraction systems, which ensures good levels of work productivity and limited soil disturbances. In summary, this review aimed to give a clear insight into forest operations in beech forests which could be useful for forest managers, forest engineers and researchers in the sector of sustainable forest operations.
Influence of Isocyanate Content and Hot-Pressing Temperatures on the Physical–Mechanical Properties of Particleboard Bonded with a Hybrid Urea–Formaldehyde/Isocyanate Adhesive
Authors: Iswanto Apri Heri , Sutiawan Jajang , Darwis Atmawi , Lubis Muhammad Adly Rahandi , Pędzik Marta , Rogoziński Tomasz , Fatriasari Widya
Published: February 2023

Particleboard (PB) is mainly produced using urea–formaldehyde (UF) adhesive. However, the low hydrolytic stability of UF leads to poor water resistance by the PB. This research aimed to analyze the effect of hot-pressing temperatures and the addition of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in UF adhesive on the physical and mechanical properties of PB. The first experiment focused on pressing temperature treatments including 130, 140, 150, and 160 °C. The particles were bonded using a combination of UF and MDI resin at a ratio of 70/30 (%w/w). Furthermore, the second experiment focused on UF/MDI ratio treatment, including 100/0, 85/15, 70/30, and 55/45 (%w/w), and the particles were pressed at 140°C. All of the single-layer particleboard in this research were produced in 250 × 250 mm, with a target thickness and density of 10 mm and 750 kg/m3, respectively. This research used 12% resin content based on oven-dry weight wood shaving. The pressing time and pressing pressure were determined to be 10 min and 2.5 N/mm2, respectively. Before the tests, the board was conditioned for 7 days. When studying the effect of treatment temperature, good physical properties (thickness swelling and water absorption) and mechanical properties (MOR and MOE) were obtained at 140 °C. However, no significant difference was observed in the UF/MDI ratio between 85/15 and 55/45 using the same temperature. The increase in the MDI adhesive ratio improves the MOE and MOR values. However, the internal bond was the contrary. This study suggests that a combination of UF/MDI at a ratio of 85/15 and hot-pressing temperature at 140 °C could produce a PB panel that meets a type 8 particleboard according to the JIS A5908-2003 standard and type P2 according to the EN 312-2010 standard.
Disruptive Technologies for Parliaments: A Literature Review
Authors: Koryzis Dimitris , Margaris Dionisis , Vassilakis Costas , Kotis Konstantinos , Spiliotopoulos Dimitris
Published: February 2023

Exploitation and use of disruptive technologies, such as the Internet of Things, recommender systems, and artificial intelligence, with an ambidextrous balance, are a challenge, nowadays. Users of the technologies, and stakeholders, could be part of a new organisational model that affects business procedures and processes. Additionally, the use of inclusive participatory organisational models is essential for the effective adoption of these technologies. Such models aim to transform organisational structures, as well. Public organisations, such as the parliament, could utilise information systems’ personalisation techniques. As there are a lot of efforts to define the framework, the methodology, the techniques, the platforms, and the suitable models for digital technologies adoption in public organisations, this paper aims to provide a literature review for disruptive technology inclusive use in parliaments. The review emphasises the assessment of the applicability of the technologies, their maturity and usefulness, user acceptance, their performance, and their correlation to the adoption of relevant innovative, inclusive organisational models. It is argued that the efficient digital transformation of democratic institutions, such as parliaments, with the use of advanced e-governance tools and disruptive technologies, requires strategic approaches for adoption, acceptance, and inclusive service adaptation.
Effect of Different Anticoagulant Agents on Immune-Related Genes in Leukocytes Isolated from the Whole-Blood of Holstein Cows
Authors: Floridia Viviana , Sfulcini Marta , D’Alessandro Enrico , Cattaneo Luca , Mezzetti Matteo , Liotta Luigi , Trevisi Erminio , Lopreiato Vincenzo , Minuti Andrea
Published: February 2023

Anticoagulants, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium citrate (Na-citrate), or heparin are normally used in hematological clinical tests to prevent coagulation. Although anticoagulants are fundamental for the correct application of clinical tests, they produce adverse effects in different fields, such as those involving specific molecular techniques; for instance, quantitative real time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) and gene expression evaluation. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of 14 genes in leukocytes that were isolated from the blood of Holstein cows, and which were collected in Li-heparin, K-EDTA, or Na-citrate tubes; then, they were analyzed using qPCR. Only the SDHA gene showed a significant dependence (p ≤ 0.05) on the anticoagulant that was used with the lowest expression; this was observed in Na-Citrate after being compared with Li-heparin and K-EDTA (p < 0.05). Although a variation in transcript abundance with the three anticoagulants was observed in almost all the investigated genes, the relative abundance levels were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the qPCR results were not influenced by the presence of the anticoagulant; thus, we had the opportunity to choose the test tube that was used in the experiment without interfering effects impacting the gene expression levels caused by the anticoagulant.
Identification of the BcLEA Gene Family and Functional Analysis of the BcLEA73 Gene in Wucai (Brassica campestris L.)
Authors: Jiang Yueyue , Zhang Shengnan , Xu Hongcheng , Tian Hong , Zhang Mengyun , Zhu Shidong , Wang Chenggang , Hou Jinfeng , Chen Guohu , Tang Xiaoyan , Wang Wenjie , Wu Jianqiang , Huang Xingxue , Zhang Jinlong , Yuan Lingyun
Published: February 2023

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are important developmental proteins in the response of plants to abiotic stress. In our previous study, BcLEA73 was differentially expressed under low-temperature stress. Herein, we combined bioinformatics analysis, subcellular localization, expression assays, and stress experiments (including salt, drought, and osmotic stress) to identify and analyze the BcLEA gene family. Gene cloning and functional analysis of BcLEA73 were performed in tobacco and Arabidopsis. Based on the sequence homology and the available conservative motif, 82 BrLEA gene family members were identified and were divided into eight subfamilies in the genome-wide database of Chinese cabbage. The analysis showed that the BrLEA73 gene was located on chromosome A09 and belonged to the LEA_6 subfamily. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the BcLEA genes were differentially expressed to varying degrees in the roots, stems, leaves, and petioles of Wucai. The overexpressed BcLEA73 transgenic plants exhibited no significant differences in root length and seed germination rates compared to the wild-type (WT) plants under control conditions. Under salt and osmotic stress treatment, the root length and seed germination rates of the BcLEA73-OE strain were significantly greater than those of WT plants. Under salt stress, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of the BcLEA73-OE lines increased significantly, and the relative conductivity, (REL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and superoxide anion (O2−) production rate decreased significantly. Under drought treatment, the survival rate of the BcLEA73-OE lines was significantly higher than that of WT plants. These results showed that the BcLEA73 gene of Wucai functions in enhancing the tolerance of plants to salt, drought, and osmotic stress. This study provides a theoretical basis to explore the relevant functions of the BcLEA gene family members of Wucai.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Vertebrate Adaptive Evolution: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martínez Sosa Francelly , Pilot Małgorzata
Published: February 2023

Adaptive evolution is a process in which variation that confers an evolutionary advantage in a specific environmental context arises and is propagated through a population. When investigating this process, researchers have mainly focused on describing advantageous phenotypes or putative advantageous genotypes. A recent increase in molecular data accessibility and technological advances has allowed researchers to go beyond description and to make inferences about the mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution. In this systematic review, we discuss articles from 2016 to 2022 that investigated or reviewed the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution in vertebrates in response to environmental variation. Regulatory elements within the genome and regulatory proteins involved in either gene expression or cellular pathways have been shown to play key roles in adaptive evolution in response to most of the discussed environmental factors. Gene losses were suggested to be associated with an adaptive response in some contexts. Future adaptive evolution research could benefit from more investigations focused on noncoding regions of the genome, gene regulation mechanisms, and gene losses potentially yielding advantageous phenotypes. Investigating how novel advantageous genotypes are conserved could also contribute to our knowledge of adaptive evolution.
Health Implications of Virtual Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Transferability of Findings from Neuroarchitecture
Authors: Valentine Cleo
Published: February 2023

Virtual architecture has been increasingly relied on to evaluate the health impacts of physical architecture. In this health research, exposure to virtual architecture has been used as a proxy for exposure to physical architecture. Despite the growing body of research on the health implications of physical architecture, there is a paucity of research examining the long-term health impacts of prolonged exposure to virtual architecture. In response, this paper considers: what can proxy studies, which use virtual architecture to assess the physiological response to physical architecture, tell us about the impact of extended exposure to virtual architecture on human health? The paper goes on to suggest that the applicability of these findings to virtual architecture may be limited by certain confounding variables when virtual architecture is experienced for a prolonged period of time. This paper explores the potential impact of two of these confounding variables: multisensory integration and gravitational perception. This paper advises that these confounding variables are unique to extended virtual architecture exposure and may not be captured by proxy studies that aim to capture the impact of physical architecture on human health through acute exposure to virtual architecture. While proxy studies may be suitable for measuring some aspects of the impact of both physical and virtual architecture on human health, this paper argues that they may be insufficient to fully capture the unintended consequences of extended exposure to virtual architecture on human health. Therefore, in the face of the increasing use of virtual architectural environments, the author calls for the establishment of a subfield of neuroarchitectural health research that empirically examines the physiological impacts of extended exposure to virtual architecture in its own right.
Environmental, Human and Ecotoxicological Impacts of Different Rice Cultivation Systems in Northern Thailand
Authors: Toolkiattiwong Patharanun , Arunrat Noppol , Sereenonchai Sukanya
Published: February 2023

Sustainable practices in rice cultivation require effective farming management concerning environmental and human health impacts. In this study, three rice cultivation systems, namely low-land, upland, and terraced rice in the Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, were assessed and the carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF), and human and ecotoxicological impacts were compared from pesticide application. The results showed that the highest CF intensity was observed in terraced rice with 1.15 kg CO2eq kg−1 rice yield, followed by lowland rice (1.02 kg CO2eq kg−1 rice yield) and upland rice (0.17 kg CO2eq kg−1 rice yield) fields. Moreover, lowland rice cultivation generated the highest total WF with 1701.6 m3 ton−1, followed by terraced rice (1422.1 m3 ton−1) and upland rice (1283.2 m3 ton−1). The lowland rice fields had the most impact on human health and freshwater ecotoxicity, followed by the terraced and upland rice cultivation systems. The results also showed that most of the pesticides remaining in soils were chlorpyrifos (98.88%), butachlor (96.94%), and fipronil (95.33%), respectively. The substances with the greatest distributions in freshwater were acephate (56.74%), glyphosate (50.90%), and metaldehyde (45.65%), respectively. This study indicated that, with more agricultural inputs, higher CF, WF, human health impacts, and freshwater ecotoxicity were generated. Although the use of pesticides in the study areas did not exceed the recommendations on the packaging, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are restricted in Thailand, so it is necessary to monitor their use due to their long-term health effects.
Factors Associated with Aging in Place among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Korea: Findings from a National Survey
Authors: Cho Myong Sun , Kwon Mi Young
Published: February 2023

Ever since baby boomers started turning 65 years old in 2020, Korea is set to become a super-aged society by 2025. This makes it the world’s fastest-aging society. Aging in place (AIP) has become a policy direction to prepare for an aging society and improve older adults’ quality of life. It refers to the ability of older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age, allowing them to reside in their place of preference and access the services they require to promote their quality of life. A cross-sectional study design was employed using data sampled from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. In total, 9930 older adults (aged between 65 and 99 years old) participated. The results confirmed that the intention to pursue AIP is related to personal factors (education, income, house ownership, smoking, exercise, depression), interpersonal and communal factors (unmet healthcare needs, need for home care services, family contact), and policy level factors (basic pension beneficiary, long-term care services) using an ecological model. The findings may promote individual health behaviors and help fill the gap between unmet healthcare needs and community care services that positively influence older adults’ AIP.
The Experience of Patient Safety Error for Nursing Students in COVID-19: Focusing on King’s Conceptual System Theory
Authors: Song Mi Ok , Kim Suhyun
Published: February 2023

Some nursing students experience errors related to patient safety, such as falls, medication administration errors, and patient identification errors during clinical practice. However, only a few nursing students report errors during clinical practice. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate patient safety errors that nursing students experience during clinical practice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 14 candidates for graduation from the Department of Nursing at a university in South Korea. In addition, after transcribing the collected data, a directed content analysis for the data based on King’s interacting system theory was performed. As a result, four core categories were identified: (i) nursing students’ perception of patient safety error occurrence, (ii) interaction between nursing students and others, (iii) interaction between nursing students and organizations, and (iv) nursing students’ training needs related to patient safety errors. Consequently, this study identified the patient safety error-related experiences of nursing students during clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that in the future, nursing education institutions must establish a system for nursing students to report patient safety errors during clinical practice for patient safety education and develop practical and targeted education strategies in cooperation with practice training hospitals.
Added Inspiratory Resistance Does Not Impair Cognitive Function and Mood State
Authors: Seo Yongsuk
Published: February 2023

This study evaluated cognitive function and mood state with inspiratory resistance before and after maximal exercise in hypoxia. Nine healthy men (age = 25 ± 2 years) performed the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics—4th Edition (ANAM4) of the Stroop color–word test (SCWT) and total mood disturbance (TMD) before and after an incremental cycling exercise until volitional fatigue with four different inspiratory resistances (0, 1.5, 4.5, 7.5 cm H2O·L−1·s−1). There was no significant difference in the interference score of SCWT and TMD at normobaric, hypoxic conditions at four different inspiratory resistances. However, the interference score of SCWT was improved following maximal cycling exercise, whereas TMD was not improved. Inspiratory resistance did not have a deleterious effect on cognitive function and mood state in normobaric hypoxia after maximal cycling exercise. However, following maximal cycling exercise, cognitive function was improved.
Mapping Evidence Regarding Decision-Making on Contraceptive Use among Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review
Authors: Chola Mumbi , Hlongwana Khumbulani W. , Ginindza Themba G.
Published: February 2023

This scoping review mapped and synthesised existing evidence on the influence of individual, parental, peer, and societal-related factors on adolescents’ decisions to use contraception in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Peer-reviewed and review articles published before May 2022, targeting adolescents aged 10–19 years were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE with Full Text via EBSCOhost, PsychINFO via EBSCOhost, CINAHL with Full Text via EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. Seven studies were included and analysed using thematic analysis based on the social-ecological model (SEM) and reported using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Individual (fear of side effects, fear of infertility), parental (parental disappointment and disapproval), peer (social stigma), partner (association with promiscuity and multiple sexual partners), societal and community (contraceptive use disapproval and stigma), and institutional and environmental factors (lack of privacy and confidentiality) influence contraceptive decisions among adolescents. These also include a lack of accurate information, social exclusion, negative health provider attitudes, and a lack of infrastructure that provides privacy and safe spaces. Identifying and addressing core issues within the context of local cultural practices that restrict contraceptive use is important. Holistic, inclusive approaches that promote the well-being of adolescents must be utilised to provide a conducive environment that ensures privacy, confidentiality, safety, and easy access to contraceptive services.
Coronary Artery Disease and Inflammatory Activation Interfere with Peripheral Tissue Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Characteristics—Initial Report
Authors: Urbanowicz Tomasz , Michalak Michał , Marzec Ewa , Komosa Anna , Filipiak Krzysztof J. , Olasińska-Wiśniewska Anna , Witkowska Anna , Rodzki Michał , Tykarski Andrzej , Jemielity Marek
Published: February 2023

Background: The electrical properties of cells and tissues in relation to energy exposure have been investigated, presenting their resistance and capacitance characteristics. The dielectric response to radiofrequency fields exhibits polarization heterogeneity under pathological conditions. The aim of the study was to analyze the differences in changes in resistance and capacitance measurements in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz, combined with an assessment of the correlation between the results of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and inflammatory activation. Methods: In the prospective study, EIS was performed on the non-dominant arm in 29 male patients (median (Q1–Q3) age of 69 (65–72)) with complex coronary artery disease and 10 male patients (median (Q1–Q3) age of 66 (62–69)) of the control group. Blood samples were collected for inflammatory index analysis. Results: The logistic regression analysis revealed a negative correlation with inflammatory indexes, including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the CAD group in the frequency of 30 kHz (p = 0.038, r = −0.317) regarding EIS resistance measurements and a positive correlation in CAD group in the frequency of 10 kHz (p = 0.029, r = −0.354) regarding EIS capacitance. Conclusions: The bioelectric characteristics of peripheral tissues measured by resistance and capacitance in EIS differ in patients with coronary artery disease and in the control group. Electrical impedance spectroscopy reveals a statistically significant correlation with inflammatory markers in patients with CAD.
Economic Burden of Cervical Cancer in Bulgaria
Authors: Lebanova Hristina , Stoev Svetoslav , Naseva Emilia , Getova Violeta , Wang Wei , Sabale Ugne , Petrova Elina
Published: February 2023

Bulgaria is among the European Union (EU) countries with the highest burden of cervical cancers and life expectancy below the EU average. The majority of cervical cancer cases (more than 95%) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The aim of this retrospective, cost of illness study is to identify direct healthcare costs of cervical cancer in Bulgaria from the payer perspective and to calculate indirect costs and the associated years of life lost. Costs data were sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund from January 2018 to December 2020. Years of life lost were calculated based on the country and gender-specific life expectancy. Indirect costs due to productivity loss were calculated using the human capital approach. The total treatment costs for 3540 patients with cervical cancer are EUR 5,743,657 (2018), EUR 6,377,508 (2019), and EUR 6,751,182 (2020). The costs associated with drug acquisition and administration accounted for the majority (63%) of total healthcare costs followed by hospital management costs (14%). An estimated total of 20,446 years of life were lost due to cervical cancer for the period 2018–2020. The costs of productivity losses are estimated at EUR 7,578,014. Our study showed that the economic burden of cervical cancer in Bulgaria is substantial. Focus on cervical cancer prevention via vaccination against the human papillomavirus, timely screening, early diagnosis, and higher vaccine coverage rates could reduce its economic burden in Bulgaria.
Dynamic Nomogram for Predicting Long-Term Survival in Terms of Preoperative and Postoperative Radiotherapy Benefits for Advanced Gastric Cancer
Authors: Li Xinghui , Yu Yang , Zheng Cheng , Zhang Yue , Shi Chuandao , Zhang Lei , Qiao Hui
Published: February 2023

Studies on the prognostic significance of preoperative radiotherapy (PERT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) remain elusive. The aim of the study was to evaluate the survival advantage of preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy and construct a dynamic nomogram model to provide customized prediction of the probability of prognostic events for advanced GC patients. We collected clinical records from 2010 to 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with a specific target for stage II-IV GC patients treated with PERT or PORT. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model to identify factors that contribute to the overall survival (OS) of GC patients. The dynamic nomogram infographic was constructed based on the prognostic factors of tumor-specific survival. Out of the 3215 total patients (2271 [70.6%] male; median age, 61 [SD = 12] years), 1204 were in the PERT group and 2011 in the PORT group. Receiving PORT was associated with a survival advantage over PERT for stage II GC patients (HR = 0.791, 95% CI= 0.712–0.879, p < 0.001). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 89.9%, 63.8%, and 53.8% in the PORT group, whereas the corresponding rates were significantly lower in the PERT group (86.4%, 57.1%, and 44.3%, respectively, all p < 0.05). The survival prediction model demonstrated that patients aged > 65 years, with an advanced cancer development stage and tumor size >3 were independent risk factors for poor prognosis (all HR > 1, p < 0.05). In this study, a dynamic nomogram was established based on the LASSO model to provide a statistical basis for the clinical characteristics and predictive factors of advanced GC in a large population. PORT demonstrated significantly better treatment advantages than PERT for stage II GC patients.
Factors Correlating with Functional Capacity in Older People with Chronic Pain
Authors: Puto Grażyna , Repka Iwona , Muszalik Marta
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Chronic pain in older people is a global health problem not only in terms of a negative subjective feeling, but also as a social and economic factor. Deterioration of functional capacity is one of the main symptoms of chronic pain; therefore, it should be assessed as a basic parameter in the life of older people. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors which have an impact on the functional capacity of older people with chronic pain. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 181 people over 65 suffering from chronic pain lasting more than 6 months. The study used a questionnaire that included questions about demographic and social characteristics and the following scales: Abbreviated Mental Score (AMTS), Personal Activities of Daily Living (PADL) by Katz, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) by Lawton, Geriatric Pain Measure-24 (GPM-24). Results: In the study group, a positive correlation was found between: coexisting diseases and withdrawal due to pain, pain intensity, pain resulting from walking or from the effort from other activities, and in terms of the total GPM-24 score. A positive correlation was also found between the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and withdrawal due to pain, pain intensity, pain resulting from walking or from the effort from other activities, and in terms of the total GPM-24 score. A significantly negative correlation was found between: AMTS, ADL, IADL performance and: withdrawal due to pain, pain intensity, pain resulting from walking or from the effort from other activities, and in terms of total GPM-24 score. Conclusions: Chronic pain is more common in people with disabilities in basic and complex activities of daily living, with limited efficiency in cognitive functions and an increased sense of depression. The standard in everyday practice and clinical trials should be taking a history of chronic pain in every older person, monitoring the pain’s intensity and accompanying characteristics by using a multidimensional scale for assessing pain in older people.
Mediating Effect of Heat Waves between Ecosystem Services and Heat-Related Mortality of Characteristic Populations: Evidence from Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Wang Lu
Published: February 2023

In the context of climate change, heat waves are a serious hazard having significant impacts on human health, especially vulnerable populations. Many studies have researched the association between extreme heat and mortality. In the context of urban planning, many studies have explored the cooling effect of green roofs, parks, urban forests and urban gardens. Nevertheless, few studies have analyzed the effect mechanism of specific ecosystem services (Ess) as mitigation measures to heat waves. This study aimed to determine the relationship among Ess, heat waves and the heat-related mortality risk of different groups by diseases, age and sex. The research was conducted in three cities in Jiangsu Province, including Nanjing, Suzhou and Yancheng. We quantified five ecosystem services, i.e., water supply service, carbon sequestration service, cooling service, biodiversity and cultural service. Based on the previous studies, we took the frequency of heat waves into account, extending the concept of the Heat Wave Magnitude Index (HWMI). A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was applied to estimate the effect of extreme heat on mortality. Then, the study used the process analysis method to explore the relationship among Ess, heat waves and heat-related mortality risks. The results indicated that (i) water supply service, carbon sequestration service, cooling service and biodiversity can reduce heat-related mortality while cultural service increases; (ii) the effects of carbon sequestration service and cultural service are stronger than other Ess; (iii) the effects of Ess on cardiorespiratory disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality risks are higher than others; and (iv) women and elderly heat-related mortality risks are more affected by the Ess. This study can provide a theoretical support for policy makers to mitigate heatwave events, thus limiting heat-related mortality.
Internalizing and Externalizing Disorder Levels among Adolescents: Data from Poland
Authors: Babicka-Wirkus Anna , Kozłowski Paweł , Wirkus Łukasz , Stasiak Krzysztof
Published: February 2023

This article concerns internalizing and externalizing behaviors among Polish adolescents attending primary schools in a medium-sized city in Poland. The aim of the study was to examine the levels of select problem behaviors (i.e., depression, withdrawal, somatic complaints, aggressive behaviors, delinquent behaviors, thought problems, and internalizing and externalizing disorders) in early adolescence. Another important aim was to establish the ranges of the norm and deviation which would indicate the need for intervention aimed at internalizing and externalizing disorders in the sample. The relationships between variables such as age, gender, and school achievement (grade average) and the groups of problem behaviors and externalizing and internalizing disorders were also examined. To diagnose the occurrence of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, a sample of 550 students (55.3% girls, 46.7% boys) were measured using the Youth Self-Report (YSR) questionnaire. The results showed statistically significant differences in internalizing and externalizing behaviors between boys and girls. Girls achieved higher scores on most of the YSR scales, including internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as on the total score. The student subgroup scores were also differentiated in terms of age and their average grades. The results also have practical implications; namely, the need for obligatory screening tests of students’ emotional states; encouraging preventive measures in schools, including diagnosis and psychological support in the context of depression; monitoring aggressive behaviors and social problems, both in boys and girls; and implementing universal, selective, and indicated prevention through complex, empirically validated educational-therapeutic programs.
Signal Acquisition-Independent Lossless Electrocardiogram Compression Using Adaptive Linear Prediction
Authors: Bannajak Krittapat , Theera-Umpon Nipon , Auephanwiriyakul Sansanee
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we propose a lossless electrocardiogram (ECG) compression method using a prediction error-based adaptive linear prediction technique. This method combines the adaptive linear prediction, which minimizes the prediction error in the ECG signal prediction, and the modified Golomb–Rice coding, which encodes the prediction error to the binary code as the compressed data. We used the PTB Diagnostic ECG database, the European ST-T database, and the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database for the evaluation and achieved the average compression ratios for single-lead ECG signals of 3.16, 3.75, and 3.52, respectively, despite different signal acquisition setup in each database. As the prediction order is very crucial for this particular problem, we also investigate the validity of the popular linear prediction coefficients that are generally used in ECG compression by determining the prediction coefficients from the three databases using the autocorrelation method. The findings are in agreement with the previous works in that the second-order linear prediction is suitable for the ECG compression application.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Are Pharmacists’ Roles and Associated Outcomes?
Authors: Elnaem Mohamed Hassan , AbouKhatwa Merna Mahmoud , Elrggal Mahmoud E. , Dehele Inderpal Singh
Published: February 2023

Globally, the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasing. The treatment for ADHD is multifaceted and requires long-term care and support. Pharmacists are capable of assisting patients and their caretakers in achieving desired outcomes. This work discusses and summarizes pharmacists’ roles in ADHD care and their associated outcomes. Overall, pharmacists are positioned to educate on ADHD, optimize medications in a collaborative practice model, manage and monitor side effects, and provide remote and virtual pharmaceutical care. Pharmacists could directly contribute to ensuring medication safety and increasing awareness regarding the optimal use of ADHD medications. Patients with ADHD can benefit from pharmacist involvement in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, initial screening and referral, the provision of clinical consultation and feedback, and the improvement of self-management and self-awareness of the illness. Pharmacists also play a significant role in therapeutic decision making regarding the initiation, intensification, and monitoring of ADHD treatment to ensure its effectiveness and quality of life improvement. Lastly, pharmacists could help identify more cost-effective treatment approaches for ADHD patients based on the clinical scenario that is encountered.
Multicomponent Training in Progressive Phases Improves Functional Capacity, Physical Capacity, Quality of Life, and Exercise Motivation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Jofré-Saldía Emilio , Villalobos-Gorigoitía Álvaro , Cofré-Bolados Cristián , Ferrari Gerson , Gea-García Gemma María
Published: February 2023

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent progressive training program (MPTP) on functionality, quality of life (QoL) and motivation to exercise (EM) in a group of older adults (OA) of a community. Methods: A total of 55 participants of 69.42 ± 6.01 years of age were randomized into two groups; experimental (EG:35) and control (CG:20), and subjected to 27 weeks of MPTP. Functionality (pre/post-intervention) was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Time Up and Go (TUG), Walking While Talking Test (WWT), Manual Dynamometry (MD), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), Sit and Reach (SR), Back Scratch (BS), and walk for 2 min (2 mST). QoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire and EM using the BREQ-3. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Levene tests were applied. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied. A significance level of p < 0.05 was accepted for all comparisons. Results: The EG compared to the CG improved in SPPB (ΔEG/CG: 29.67%/p < 0.001), TUG (ΔEG/CG: 35.70%/p < 0.05), WWT (ΔEG/CG: 42.93%/p < 0.001), MD (ΔEG/CG: 20.40%/p < 0.05), FEV1 (ΔEG/CG: 21.37%/p < 0.05), BS (ΔEG/CG: 80.34%/p < 0.05), 2 mST (ΔEG/CG: 33.02%/p < 0.05), SF-36 (ΔEG/CG: 13.85%/p < 0.001), and Intrinsic Regulation (ΔEG/CG: 27.97%/p < 0.001); Identified by regulation (ΔEG/CG: 9.29%/p < 0.05). Conclusion: An MPTP improves functionality, QoL and EM, and is a safe and effective method for community OAs.