bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic and geographic variation in coverage of health insurance across India
Authors: Ambade Mayanka , Rajpal Sunil , Kim Rockli , Subramanian S. V.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In India, regular monitoring of health insurance at district levels (the most essential administrative unit) is important for its effective uptake to contain the high out of pocket health expenditures. Given that the last individual data on health insurance coverage at district levels in India was in 2016, we update the evidence using the latest round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-2021.

Methods

We use the unit records of households from the latest round (2021) of the nationally representative National Family Health Survey to calculate the weighted percentage (and 95% CI) of households with at least one member covered by any form of health insurance and its types across socio-economic characteristics and geographies of India. Further, we used a random intercept logistic regression to measure the variation in coverage across communities, district and state. Such household level study of coverage is helpful as it represents awareness and outreach for at least one member, which can percolate easily to the entire household with further interventions.

Results

We found that only 2/5th of households in India had insurance coverage for at least one of its members, with vast geographic variation emphasizing need for aggressive expansion. About 15.5% were covered by national schemes, 47.1% by state health scheme, 13.2% by employer provided health insurance, 3.3% had purchased health insurance privately and 25.6% were covered by other health insurance schemes (not covered above). About 30.5% of the total variation in coverage was attributable to state, 2.7% to districts and 9.5% to clusters. Household size, gender, marital status and education of household head show weak gradient for coverage under “any” insurance.

Discussion

Despite substantial increase in population eligible for state sponsored health insurance and rise in private health insurance companies, nearly 60% of families do not have a single person covered under any health insurance scheme. Further, the existing coverage is fragmented, with significant rural/urban and geographic variation within districts. It is essential to consider these disparities and adopt rigorous place-based interventions for improving health insurance coverage.
More prevalent and more severe: gender differences of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents
Authors: Sun Yue , Zhong Yiwen , Sun Wenzhao , Chu Lingjun , Long Jiang , Fan Xi Wang
Published: July 2023

Background

Adolescent depression has become a leading problem around the world, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has remained prevalent and heavily influenced people’s mental health. While gender difference has always been a topic in the field of psychiatry, there are cultural differences across the world that must be taken into account. The current study is examining gender differences in symptoms of Chinese adolescents with depression.

Methods

The sample was obtained from a total of 574 adolescent patients (172 males and 402 females) diagnosed with depression following the DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnostic criteria; patients who also had other severe mental or physical illnesses were excluded. The ages of participants ranged from 10 to 19 years. Additionally, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine differences in symptoms between different gender and age groups. The LPA was used to examine whether females and males were having different patterns of symptoms.

Results

Our analysis showed that compared to males, females exhibited higher rates of depression and more severe depressive symptoms across age groups. Likewise, the analysis also revealed an earlier onset of depression among Chinese adolescents compared to that in Western countries in previous studies. Finally, the LPA showed that mild to moderate depression was predominant in male patients, while severe depression was predominant in female patients.

Conclusion

This study highlights the gender differences in the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The current study highlighted the importance of gender equality and developing gender-friendly interventions in maintaining the overall mental health of adolescents in China.
Family socioeconomic position and changes in planned health care for children with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Authors: Moirano Giovenale , Pizzi Costanza , Rusconi Franca , Maule Milena , Richiardi Lorenzo , Popovic Maja
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In this study, we aimed at evaluating whether, during the COVID-19 pandemic, children affected by chronic diseases were impacted by the deferral of planned healthcare caused by the restriction measures.

Design

This study was conducted using data from the Italian NINFEA birth cohort, which include children born between 2005 and 2016. Women who completed the 4-year NINFEA follow-up questionnaire before November 2020 (N = 5,307) were invited to complete a questionnaire targeted at evaluating the impacts of the pandemic on their children's health. The questionnaire asked mothers to report whether their children had a chronic disease or condition that required one or more regular health checks by a doctor in 2019 (used as a reference period) and whether the children had problems getting routine health checks after March 2020.

Results

We obtained information on 3,721 children. Out of 353 children with a chronic disease that required at least one medical visit in 2019, 130 (36.8%) experienced problems during the pandemic. Lower family income was associated with a higher risk of experiencing health access problems. We observed that children living in families at lower income tertiles had more chance of experiencing healthcare access problems than children living in families at the highest income tertiles (prevalence rate ratio for a tertile decrease in family income: 1.22; 95% CIs: 1.02–1.49).

Conclusion

Our study underlines that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused healthcare access problems for children with prevalent chronic diseases, especially among those living in households with a low socioeconomic position.
Machine learning models for predicting depression in Korean young employees
Authors: Kim Suk-Sun , Gil Minji , Min Eun Jeong
Published: July 2023

Background

The incidence of depression among employees has gradually risen. Previous studies have focused on predicting the risk of depression, but most studies were conducted using basic statistical methods. This study used machine learning algorithms to build models that detect and identify the important factors associated with depression in the workplace.

Methods

A total of 503 employees completed an online survey that included questionnaires on general characteristics, physical health, job-related factors, psychosocial protective, and risk factors in the workplace. The dataset contained 27 predictor variables and one dependent variable which referred to the status of employees (normal or at the risk of depression). The prediction accuracy of three machine learning models using sparse logistic regression, support vector machine, and random forest was compared with the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC. Additionally, the important factors identified via sparse logistic regression and random forest.

Results

All machine learning models demonstrated similar results, with the lowest accuracy obtained from sparse logistic regression and support vector machine (86.8%) and the highest accuracy from random forest (88.7%). The important factors identified in this study were gender, physical health, job, psychosocial protective factors, and psychosocial risk and protective factors in the workplace.

Discussion

The results of this study indicated the potential of machine learning models to accurately predict the risk of depression among employees. The identified factors that influence the risk of depression can contribute to the development of intelligent mental healthcare systems that can detect early signs of depressive symptoms in the workplace.
Exploring microplastic impact on whole blood clotting dynamics utilizing thromboelastography
Authors: Christodoulides Alexei , Hall Abigail , Alves Nathan J.
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the influence of microplastics on blood clotting. It addresses the lack of comprehensive research on the effects of microplastic size and surface modification on clotting dynamics in human whole blood. Thromboelastography was used to examine aminated (aPS), carboxylated (cPS), and non-functionalized (nPS) polystyrene particles with sizes of 50, 100, and 500  nm. Results show that cPS consistently activated the clotting cascade, demonstrating increased fibrin polymerization rates, and enhanced clot strength in a size and concentration-dependent manner. nPS had minimal effects on clotting dynamics except for 50  nm particles at the lowest concentration. The clotting effects of aPS (100  nm particles) resembled those of cPS but were diminished in the 500  nm aPS group. These findings emphasize the importance of microplastic surface modification, size, concentration, and surface area on in-vitro whole blood clotting dynamics.
The impact of empathy, sensation seeking, anxiety, uncertainty, and mindfulness on the intercultural communication in China during the COVID-19
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad Umar , Kulich Steve J. , Zabrodskaja Anastassia , Bokhari Ijaz Hussain
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study seeks to explore factors that have shaped the intercultural communication effectiveness (ICE) of international students (IS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Theoretical predictions of anxiety uncertainty management (AUM) are considered to assess the ICE of IS who stayed in China throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime causal factors of AUM theory (anxiety, uncertainty, and mindfulness) are included with empathy and sensation, seeking to examine their impact on ICE among IS in China.

Methods

A quantitative research design was designed to survey IS via convenience samples from across China with a total of 261 IS from 42 different cultural backgrounds responding to invitations to participate in a Chinese–English survey. Well-established measurement tools were adopted to measure empathy (Cultural Empathy scale), sensation seeking (Brief Sensation Seeking Scale), anxiety (Intercultural Anxiety scale), uncertainty (Intercultural Uncertainty scale), mindfulness (Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised), and ICE (Perceived Effectiveness of Communication scale).

Findings

The findings revealed that anxiety (t = −3.61, p < 0.05) and uncertainty (t = −2.51, p < 0.05) had a negative impact on ICE. However, mindfulness (t = 3.93, p < 0.05), empathy (t = 3.60, p < 0.05), and sensation seeking (t = 7.93, p < 0.05) had a positive influence on ICE. Furthermore, the moderating effect of mindfulness is affirmed in this study.

Conclusion

This study has reconfirmed the theoretical reasonings and applicability of AUM theory with the addition of empathy and sensation seeking by IS in the cultural context of China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stress, fear, and anxiety among construction workers: a systematic review
Authors: Gómez-Salgado Carlos , Camacho-Vega Juan Carlos , Gómez-Salgado Juan , García-Iglesias Juan Jesús , Fagundo-Rivera Javier , Allande-Cussó Regina , Martín-Pereira Jorge , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The aim of this review was to assess the possible risk factors arising from working conditions, that could have an impact on the stress, fear, and anxiety of construction workers.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA format in the Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo electronic databases on February 3, 2023, using the following key words: anxiety, stress, fear, and construction workers. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results

A total of 35 studies were included. The results showed a number of conditioning factors for stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers such as age, inappropriate safety equipment, safety culture, high workload and long working hours, physical pain, low social support from direct supervisor or co-workers, lack of organizational justice and lack of reward, financial situation, maladaptive coping strategies, and characteristics of the pandemic.

Conclusions

There are a number of risk factors related to working conditions, organizations, and individuals that can affect the levels of stress, anxiety, and fear among construction workers, such as age, work hardship, safety culture and, especially, the long hours that construction professionals work. This may lead to an increase in the number of occupational accidents and higher associated fatality rates.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022367724, identifier: CRD42022367724.
Foliar fungal communities in agroecosystems depend on crop identity and neighboring vegetation
Authors: Whitaker B. K. , Heiniger R. W. , Hawkes C. V.
Published: July 2023

Agricultural intensification causes plant diversity loss and environmental homogenization, which may result in changes to plant-microbiome interactions mediating plant growth and stress tolerance. We hypothesized that foliar fungal microbiomes would depend on plant traits and environmental filters, constrained by neighboring vegetation expected to serve as a fungal source. Thus, we sampled foliar fungi from four crops (three annual and one perennial), four sites per crop, and three varieties per annual crop, across a 500-km expanse in North Carolina, USA and tested the role of host traits, environmental traits, and vegetative landcover on foliar fungal community structure. Crop species and site were major determinants of community structure, primarily due to differences in plant size and growing season. Site consistently explained 10× more variation in community structure than host variety across the annual crops. Finally, reduced natural vegetative cover surrounding farms was correlated with decreased fungal richness and more homogeneous microbiome assembly. Based on these results, we posit that foliar fungal assembly in crops results from host and environmental filters acting on inputs from the nearby vegetation. Future efforts at agricultural microbiome management must therefore consider landscape management and will require an improved understanding of how agricultural intensification alters microbial source pools.
Similarity-based parameter transferability in the quantum approximate optimization algorithm
Authors: Galda Alexey , Gupta Eesh , Falla Jose , Liu Xiaoyuan , Lykov Danylo , Alexeev Yuri , Safro Ilya
Published: July 2023

The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) is one of the most promising candidates for achieving quantum advantage through quantum-enhanced combinatorial optimization. A near-optimal solution to the combinatorial optimization problem is achieved by preparing a quantum state through the optimization of quantum circuit parameters. Optimal QAOA parameter concentration effects for special MaxCut problem instances have been observed, but a rigorous study of the subject is still lacking. In this work we show clustering of optimal QAOA parameters around specific values; consequently, successful transferability of parameters between different QAOA instances can be explained and predicted based on local properties of the graphs, including the type of subgraphs (lightcones) from which graphs are composed as well as the overall degree of nodes in the graph (parity). We apply this approach to several instances of random graphs with a varying number of nodes as well as parity and show that one can use optimal donor graph QAOA parameters as near-optimal parameters for larger acceptor graphs with comparable approximation ratios. This work presents a pathway to identifying classes of combinatorial optimization instances for which variational quantum algorithms such as QAOA can be substantially accelerated.
Visiting Nature in the City During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Talal Michelle L. , Gruntman Michal
Published: July 2023

Can you think of places in the city where you enjoy nature? Urban nature may include parks and even backyards! Urban nature provides habitats for plants and animals and helps to promote human health. Our study examined how visiting urban nature sites may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which factors played a role in this change. We used map-based data and an online survey to answer our question for the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel. We found that visits to urban nature sites decreased for most of our participants. Participants who increased their visits to urban nature sites indicated that the sites helped their physical and mental health, were easy to get to, and were well maintained. We recommend that communities continue managing urban nature sites to improve accessibility and promote human health—both in normal times and in case of future pandemics.
Two-point fixation enhanced the outcome of laparoscopy-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt in adult patients with hydrocephalus: a retrospective study
Authors: Wu Jing-Nan , Zhou Yu-Jie , Wang Lei , Gan Jin-Lu , Wang Jian , Zhao Hong-Yang , Lei De-Qiang
Published: July 2023

Objective

In patients with hydrocephalus, laparoscopy significantly improved ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) outcomes. However, abdominal complications still occur, which require revision surgeries. In this study, we aimed to examine whether laparoscopy-assisted VPS with two-point fixation (LAVPS-TPF) has better outcomes than those of VPS (open-VPS) and laparoscopy-assisted VPS with no fixation (LAVPS-NF).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 105 open-VPS, 40 LAVPS-NF, and 49 LAVPS-TPF cases from 2015 to 2020. Data including body mass index, etiology, abdominal surgery history, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), operation time, in-hospital days, shunt failure, complications, and modified Rankin scores were analyzed, as well as subgroups of patients with history of abdominal surgery, GCS scores, and revision surgeries.

Results

The LAVPS-TPF group demonstrated decreased shunt failure rates at 12 months (2.04%) compared to those of the open-VPS group (14.29%, P = 0.020) and reduced abdominal shunt-related complications (P = 0.004 vs. open-VPS and LAVPS-NF) and shunt revisions. In the LAVPS-TPF group with abdominal history (n = 51), 12-month shunt failure rates (P = 0.020 vs. open-VS), repair frequency (P = 0.020 vs. open-VS), and abdominal complications (P = 0.003 and 0.006 vs. open-VS and LAVPS-NF) were reduced. In the LAVPS-TPF group with GCS scores of 13–15 (n = 152), shunt failure rates at 12 months, abdominal complications, and revision frequency were decreased (P < 0.05 vs. other groups). Compared to the LAVPS-NF group, neurological complications were also reduced (P = 0.001). Among revision surgeries (n = 28), fixed shunts resulted in improved shunt survival rates at 12 months, reduced abdominal complications, and secondary revisions (P < 0.05). Moreover, a more optimal recovery without neurological sequelae was achieved by shunt fixation than that by LAVPS-NF (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

LAVPS-TPF significantly improved shunt survival rates at 12 months and reduced the incidence of abdominal shunt-related complications compared to open-VPS and LAVPS-NF, especially in patients with history of abdominal surgery, higher GCS scores, and revision surgeries. However, further studies are required to confirm these benefits.
Biomarkers of endothelial activation and inflammation in dogs with organ dysfunction secondary to sepsis
Authors: Gaudette Sarah , Smart Lisa , Woodward Andrew P. , Sharp Claire R. , Hughes Dez , Bailey Simon R. , Dandrieux Julien R. S. , Santos Leilani , Boller Manuel
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Alteration in endothelial function during sepsis is thought to play a key role in the progression of organ failure. We herein compared plasma concentrations of endothelial activation biomarkers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hyaluronan (HA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), as well as inflammatory mediator concentrations (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) in dogs with sepsis to healthy dogs.

Methods

This study was a multicenter observational clinical trial conducted at two university teaching hospitals from February 2016 until July 2017. The study included 18 client-owned dogs hospitalized with sepsis and at least one distant organ dysfunction, as well as 20 healthy dogs. Plasma biomarker concentrations were measured using ELISA. Severity of illness in dogs with sepsis was calculated using the 5-variable acute physiologic and laboratory evaluation (APPLEFAST) score. Biomarker concentrations were compared between septic and healthy dogs using linear models.

Results

Septic peritonitis was the most frequent source of sepsis (11/18; 61%), followed by pneumonia (4/18; 22%). Ten dogs (56%) had only 1 organ dysfunction, whereas 3 dogs (17%) had 2, 3 (17%) had 3, 1 (6%) had 4 and 1 (6%) had 5 organ dysfunctions. The median APPLEFASTscore in the septic dogs was 28.5 (Q1-Q3, 24–31). Mean plasma concentrations of all endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers, except vWF, were higher in the sepsis cohort than in controls. The mean endothelial biomarker concentrations in the septic cohort ranged from ~2.7-fold higher for HA (difference in means; 118.2 ng/mL, 95% credible limit; 44.5–221.7) to ~150-fold for VEGF (difference in means; 76.6 pg./mL, 95% credible limit; 33.0–143.4), compared to the healthy cohort. Fifteen dogs with sepsis (83%) died; 7 (46%) were euthanized and 8 (53%) died during hospitalization.

Conclusion

Dogs with naturally occurring sepsis and organ dysfunction had higher mean concentrations of biomarkers of endothelial activation and inflammation compared to healthy dogs, broadening our understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis secondary to endothelial dysfunction.
Three Metaheuristic Approaches for Tumor Phylogeny Inference: An Experimental Comparison
Authors: Ciccolella Simone , Della Vedova Gianluca , Filipović Vladimir , Soto Gomez Mauricio
Published: July 2023

Being able to infer the clonal evolution and progression of cancer makes it possible to devise targeted therapies to treat the disease. As discussed in several studies, understanding the history of accumulation and the evolution of mutations during cancer progression is of key importance when devising treatment strategies. Given the importance of the task, many methods for phylogeny reconstructions have been developed over the years, mostly employing probabilistic frameworks. Our goal was to explore different methods to take on this phylogeny inference problem; therefore, we devised and implemented three different metaheuristic approaches—Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Programming (GP) and Variable Neighbourhood Search (VNS)—under the Perfect Phylogeny and the Dollo-k evolutionary models. We adapted the algorithms to be applied to this specific context, specifically to a tree-based search space, and proposed six different experimental settings, in increasing order of difficulty, to test the novel methods amongst themselves and against a state-of-the-art method. Of the three, the PSO shows particularly promising results and is comparable to published tools, even at this exploratory stage. Thus, we foresee great improvements if alternative definitions of distance and velocity in a tree space, capable of better handling such non-Euclidean search spaces, are devised in future works.
Tele-Guidance of a Soft Magnetic Microrobot Transported by a Fluid in a Vascular Network
Authors: Chah Ahmed , Belharet Karim
Published: July 2023

Electromagnetic actuation represents a novel wireless control approach utilized for the manipulation of magnetic microrobots, particularly in the context of diverse minimally invasive therapeutic applications. This study presented contributions relating to the integration of a human operator into the control system of an electromagnetic actuation framework through haptic assistance. The intervention of a human operator serves multiple purposes, encompassing the safe piloting of the microrobot during the procedure and the utilization of the doctor’s expertise. Consequently, this human-in-the-loop approach not only ensures heightened safety but also enhances public acceptability, particularly in the realm of drug delivery within the human body. To facilitate these objectives, a haptic device was proposed to propel and orient the microrobots within blood vessels, thereby enabling their targeted delivery. Additionally, a novel magnetic guidance strategy was introduced, relying on the utilization of two magnetic forces to simplify and optimize the guidance process. The electromagnetic actuation system, developed in our research laboratory, offers a comprehensive workspace that has been obtained through analytical and quantitative modeling of the magnetic field generated by the system. With an accessible workspace encompassing a cubic volume of 70 mm in length, the system facilitates easy access from all four lateral sides. Such an architectural design allows for efficient manipulation of microparticles within a significantly larger 3D workspace, surpassing the limitations imposed by traditional systems primarily confined to a small central area, as observed in existing literature. Experimental evaluations encompassing both 2D and 3D scenarios were conducted to validate the efficacy of the magnetic navigation platform.
Rebuilding the Workplace in the Post-Pandemic Age through Human Capital Development Programs: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Bouzakhem Najib , Farmanesh Panteha , Zargar Pouya , Ramadan Muhieddine , Baydoun Hala , Daouk Amira , Mouazen Ali
Published: July 2023

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has experienced major technological and procedural changes that will continue in the post-pandemic age. For this reason, firms are expected to learn from such an unprecedented experience and ensure that the managerial and workforce practices in the post-pandemic period are directed toward rebuilding and reinventing the workplace. Within the scope of the research topic: “Diversity, Innovations, and Entrepreneurship in Post-crisis Periods”, this study accentuates the positive impact of human capital development programs in enhancing employee performance. Moreover, the roles of resilience, empowerment, and mimetic isomorphism are analyzed to better enable firms to learn from their past experience and develop practices that fit the agile environment. A questionnaire was administered targeting 370 employees in 12 SMEs in Lebanon. A conditional analysis was used to test the hypotheses through SPSS, PROCESS. The results of this study showed that the deployment of developmental programs is deemed indispensable for enhancing the performance of SME employees and helping them overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic through empowerment and resilience. This study can be useful for academics who might benefit from its theoretical implications and prospective directions for future analyses. Moreover, its results can also be helpful for practitioners, specifically managers of SMEs who are seeking to reinvent their workplace in a responsive way in the post-pandemic age.
Can Joining the Agricultural Industry Chain Alleviate the Problem of Credit Rationing for Farmers?
Authors: Zhao Nan , Lv Dehong
Published: July 2023

To solve the problem of credit rationing for farmers that shackles the transformation and upgrading of the agricultural industry and to improve the effect of agricultural industry chains in helping farmers, this paper empirically examines the effect of joining agricultural industry chains on supply-based and demand-based credit rationing for farmers, using the probit and tobit models based on the microscopic research data of 991 farmers in Shaanxi Province, China, and explores its specific effect mechanism. The study finds that agricultural industry chains can increase farmers’ credit by reducing the information asymmetry between farmers and banks, reducing agricultural business risks, and forming effective collateral and guarantee mechanisms, and that they have significant mitigating effects on farmers’ supply-based quantity rationing and demand-based price rationing, risk rationing and transaction cost rationing. Credit enhancement mechanisms such as information systems, commercial credit, orders, guarantees, production services and government support in agricultural industry chains have significant effects on alleviating farmers’ credit rationing, while insurance has limited effects on alleviating farmers’ credit rationing. There are differences in the effects of agricultural industry chains on alleviating various types of credit rationing of heterogeneous farmers in terms of scale, and the effects of joining agricultural industry chains on alleviating supply-based and demand-based credit rationing of large-scale farmers are more obvious than those of small farmers. Compared with the existing studies, this paper incorporates the credit rationing produced from farmers’ own reasons into the analysis framework, and introduces credit-enhancing variables of agricultural industry chains to test their specific mechanisms on farmers’ credit rationing. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for promoting the innovation of financial models of agricultural industry chains, which is of great practical significance for improving the system of agricultural industry chains in developing countries, strengthening the role of industrial chains in absorbing small farmers, and promoting the modernization of agricultural industries with financial assistance.
Trehalose as a Stabilizer of the Lipid Composition of Membranes and the Composition of the Cytosol of Frozen/Thawed Rooster Spermatozoa
Authors: Stanishevskaya Olga , Silyukova Yulia , Tereshina Vera , Ianutsevich Elena , Pleshanov Nikolai , Kurochkin Anton , Fedorova Elena
Published: July 2023

Low-temperature semen storage technologies are already being used in poultry conservation programs, but the quality of reproductive material stored in cryobanks varies greatly and cannot always be successfully used for practical purposes. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the compositions of cryoprotective media to improve their quality. This study aimed to investigate the composition of membrane lipids and carbohydrates in the cytosol of rooster spermatozoa, to explain the dose-dependent effect of a combination of trehalose and fructose in cryoprotective media on the preservation of their morphological and kinetic parameters during freezing/thawing, and to determine the most effective diluent composition. Ejaculates were collected from Rhode Island Red roosters (n = 10). The effectiveness of three diluents containing trehalose was evaluated: LCM-control (0 mM), Treh20 (9.5 mM), and Treh30 (13.4 mM). Chromatographic analysis of membrane lipids, carbohydrates, and polyols of the spermatozoa cytosol was performed. A decrease in the content of glycolipids in the plasma membranes of spermatozoa from 2.0% in native spermatozoa to 1.1–1.4% (frozen/thawed) and phospholipids from 71.2% (native) to 70.5% (frozen/thawed) reduced the progressive sperm motility from 65.7% in native spermatozoa to 12.6–27.6% (frozen/thawed). The same dynamics were observed for the viability parameter of 90.4% (native) and 27.0–41.2% (frozen/thawed). The Treh20 diluent, using a combination of fructose (36 mM) and trehalose (9.5 mM) saccharides, maximally preserved the lipid profile of plasma membranes and the composition of the cytosol of frozen/thawed rooster spermatozoa, which positively affected the indicators of general and progressive mobility and viability.
Spatiotemporal Estimation of Reference Evapotranspiration for Agricultural Applications in Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Ashraf Hadeed , Qamar Saliha , Riaz Nadia , Shamshiri Redmond R. , Sultan Muhammad , Khalid Bareerah , Ibrahim Sobhy M. , Imran Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Usman
Published: July 2023

Estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a key element in water resources management and crop water requirement which, in turn, affects irrigation scheduling. ETo is subject to the influence of various climatic parameters including minimum temperature (Tmin), maximum temperature (Tmax), relative humidity (RH), windspeed (WS), and sunshine hours (SH). Usually, the influence of the climatic parameters and a dominating climatic factor influencing ETo is estimated on yearly basis. However, in diverse climatic regions, ETo varies with the varying climate. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the spatiotemporal variation in the influence of the climatic parameters on ETo in Punjab, Pakistan, for the period 1950–2021, specifically focusing on decennial, annual, and monthly patterns. The study area was divided into five agroclimatic zones. The Penman–Monteith model was used to estimate ETo. The influence was assessed using geographic weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale geographic weighted regression (MGWR) as the primary methods. As per results from MGWR, ETo in Punjab was highly influenced by the Tmin, Tmax, and WS. Additionally, annual ETo exhibited a higher value in southern Punjab in comparison to northern Punjab, with a range of 2975 mm/year in the cotton–wheat zone to 1596 mm/year in the rain-fed zone. Over the course of the past seventy years, Punjab experienced an average increasing slope of 5.18 mm/year in ETo. Tmin was the highest monthly dominant factor throughout the year, whereas WS and SH were recorded to be the dominant factor in the winters, specifically. All in all, accurate estimation of ETo, which serves as an essential component for crop water requirement, could potentially help improve the irrigation scheduling of crops in the agroclimatic zones.
Can Rural Industrial Integration Alleviate Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution? Evidence from Rural China
Authors: Lai Yichi , Yang Hao , Qiu Feng , Dang Zixin , Luo Yihan
Published: July 2023

Agricultural non-point pollution has become a hot topic of social concern, and the three major industries in modern rural areas gradually tend to integrate. An in-depth study of the impact of rural industrial integration on agricultural non-point pollution has important guiding significance for the realization of sustainable agricultural development. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and municipalities in China from 2011 to 2019, this paper explores the impact of rural industrial integration on agricultural non-point source pollution and further examines the moderating effect of urbanization. The main findings are as follows. First, there is a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between rural industrial integration and agricultural non-point source pollution. At present, rural industrial integration has a tendency of alleviating agricultural non-point source pollution. Second, urbanization has a moderating effect on the impact of rural industrial integration on agricultural non-point source pollution, moving the turning point of the curve to the left, which can accelerate the arrival of the emission reduction effect of rural industrial integration. Finally, the heterogeneity test shows that compared to areas with developed economies and weak financial support, the inverted U-shaped relationship between rural industrial integration and agricultural non-point source pollution is more significant in regions with underdeveloped economies and strong financial support. The above studies enrich the relevant literature on rural industrial integration and agricultural non-point source pollution and provide a theoretical basis for the government to formulate relevant policies for promoting the development of rural industrial integration and alleviating agricultural non-point source pollution.
Response of Rice Grain Yield and Soil Fertility to Fertilization Management under Three Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Reclaimed Soil
Authors: Liu Ping , Zhang Tingyu , Wang Guiliang , Ju Jing , Mao Wei , Zhao Haitao
Published: July 2023

Reasonable cropping systems and fertilizer management are vital for improving the quality of barren soil. The effectiveness of different crop rotation methods and fertilizers in soil improvement depends on various factors, including soil type, climate conditions, and crop type. In the present study, based on three rice-based cropping systems, the effects of organic fertilizers combined with slow-release fertilizers on rice yield and soil fertility in reclaimed soil were analyzed. The results showed that the rice grain yield was highest under the rice-fallow rotation system (RF) with the application of rapeseed meal fertilizer. Available nutrients such as AN, N_NH4+, TP, and AK showed a significant positive correlation with rice grain yield (p < 0.05). PCA and PERMANOVA analysis supported significant variation in CAZyme abundance among cropping systems (R2 = 0.60, p = 0.001) and significant differences between slow-release fertilizer treatments and organic fertilizer treatments (p < 0.05), but not among the three organic fertilizer treatments. Network analysis indicated positive stronger correlations among all functional enzymes in organic fertilizer treatments compared to chemical fertilizer treatments. RDA and correlation heat map results showed that C/N ratios and N_NH4+ were strongly related to CAZyme composition. PLS-PM analysis revealed that soil available nitrogen positively influenced several variables, while rice grain yield was negatively influenced by soil enzymes and TOC. These findings suggested that under appropriate cropping systems, partially substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers can effectively enhance the availability of nutrients in the soil, alter the activity of carbon-cycling microorganisms, and increase rice grain yield.
Estimation of the Total Soil Nitrogen Based on a Differential Evolution Algorithm from ZY1-02D Hyperspectral Satellite Imagery
Authors: Zhang Rongrong , Cui Jian , Zhou Wenge , Zhang Dujuan , Dai Wenhao , Guo Hengliang , Zhao Shan
Published: July 2023

Precise fertilizer application in agriculture requires accurate and dependable measurements of the soil total nitrogen (TN) concentration. Henan Province is one of the most important grain-producing areas in China. In order to promote the development of precision agriculture in Henan Province, this study took the high-standard basic farmland construction area in central Henan Province as the research area. Using single-phase images acquired from the ZY1-02D satellite hyperspectral sensor on 28 January 2021 (with a spatial resolution of 30 m × 30 m, a spectral range that covered 400–2500 nm, and a revisit period of 3 days) for spectral reflectance transformation and feature spectral band extraction. Based on multiple representation models, such as multiple linear regression, partial least squares regression, and support vector machine (SVM), all bands, feature bands, feature band combinations, and differential evolution (DE) algorithms were used to extract the secondary characteristic variables of the combination of characteristic bands, which were used as model inputs to estimate the content of TN in the study area. It was found that (1) the spectral reflectance transformation could help to improve the accuracy of prediction by reducing the interference from noise in the model, but the optimal spectral transformation method differed between different models and even between the training and test sets of the same model; (2) the estimation accuracy of the TN content model based on the minimum shrinkage and feature selection operator of the feature band was usually better than that of the full band, the feature combination band contained more effective information related to the TN content, and the combination of the DE algorithm and the SVM model achieved a better estimation accuracy for secondary feature extraction and TN content estimation of the feature combination band; and (3) ZY1-02D hyperspectral satellite data have the potential for the dynamic and non-destructive monitoring of regional TN content.
Investigating the Impacts of Biochar Amendment and Soil Compaction on Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties of Silty Sand
Authors: Chen Zhongkui , Kamchoom Viroon , Chen Rui , Prasittisopin Lapyote
Published: July 2023

The application of biochar as an environmentally friendly additive for agricultural soils has recently gained significant attention. However, the influence of biochar addition on unsaturated hydraulic behavior at high suction ranges (i.e., exceeding 100 kPa) remains largely understudied. This study investigates the impact of biochar addition on the unsaturated hydraulic properties of biochar amended soil (BAS). The effects of biochar content, particle size, and soil compaction on the unsaturated hydraulic properties of BAS were also considered. Peanut shell biochar was utilized in this investigation and was amended into a compacted silty sand with distinct particle size groups. Soil water retention curves and unsaturated permeability were measured through a series of evaporation tests. Results demonstrate that the impact of soil compaction on the unsaturated hydraulic properties of BAS diminishes at high suction range, regardless of biochar particle size and content. A high degree of compaction reduces the saturated permeability of BAS by minimising soil macropores. On the other hand, incorporating high biochar contents with fine particles into the soil enhances the reduction of unsaturated permeability and the improvement of water holding capacity, thereby making biochar an effective application in soil for sustainability of the agroecological environment.
Responses of Deep Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Contents to Long-Term Retention of Alfalfa Pasture on Infertile Loess: A Synthesis Study
Authors: Ali Gulnazar , Wang Li , Wang Zikui
Published: July 2023

Incorporating perennial pastures into annual crop systems is an efficient means of improving soil carbon (C) sequestration and reducing the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on farmlands. How the soil C and N at different soil depths respond to the length of pasture duration and rainfall conditions is still being determined. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of data from 63 published studies to investigate the impacts of the alfalfa pasture on the incorporation of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (STN), and available nitrogen (SAN) contents in the 0–300 cm soil profile of the Loess Plateau. An annual crop field was taken as a reference. The results showed that the average SOC content at soil depths of 0–100 and 100–200 cm in the alfalfa pasture increased by 17% and 8% (p < 0.001) compared to the crop field, respectively, while that at 200–300 cm decreased (p > 0.05). The SOC content increased with pasture age; it was the highest when the alfalfa had been planted for 5–9 years and decreased thereafter. The STN content at soil depths of 0–100 and 100–200 cm increased by 19% and 14% (p < 0.001), respectively; the content at depths of 200–300 cm only increased slightly (p > 0.05). It also increased the most when the alfalfa was 5–9 years old. The increments in the SAN content at the 0–100 and 100–200 cm soil depths were higher than those of the STN, with values of 29% and 18%, respectively, while those at depths of 200–300 cm also changed insignificantly (p > 0.05). The SAN content continuously increased with the age of the alfalfa, and the average increment in the 0–300 cm profile was as high as 21% when the alfalfa was ≥10 years old. The SOC and STN content increased the most under moderate rainfall conditions (350–500 mm), while the SAN content maintained the highest increment under high rainfall (500–650 mm) conditions. Therefore, ley farming with the alfalfa pasture contributed substantially to the soil C and N at depths of 200 cm in deep loess. Alfalfa should be removed in its middle ages to increase C sequestration while utilizing soil N efficiently.
Evaluation of Solvent Compatibilities for Headspace-SIFT-MS Analysis of Pharmaceutical Products
Authors: Perkins Mark J. , Silva Leslie P. , Langford Vaughan S.
Published: July 2023

Procedures for determination of the residual solvent and volatile impurity content in pharmaceutical products usually rely on dissolution in a solvent, followed by headspace-gas chromatography (HS-GC) analysis. Whereas chromatographic systems can utilize a wide variety of solvents, direct-injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) techniques have fewer solvent options, because elimination of the chromatographic column means that the instrument is more susceptible to saturation. Since water has the lowest impact, it has almost always been the default solvent for DIMS. In this study, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS)—a DIMS technique—was applied to the systematic evaluation of the proportion of solvent that can be utilized (with aqueous diluent) without causing instrument saturation and while maintaining satisfactory analytical performance. The solvents evaluated were N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and triacetin. All solvents are compatible with headspace-SIFT-MS analysis at 5% (min) in water, while DMI, DMAC, and DMSO can be used at higher concentrations (50, 100, and 25%, respectively), though suffering substantial diminution of the limit of quantitation for non-polar analytes at higher proportions of non-aqueous solvent. Analytical performance was also evaluated using linearity, repeatability, and recovery measurements. This work demonstrates that organic solvents diluted in water can be utilized with headspace-SIFT-MS and provide an approach for evaluation of additional diluent solvents.