bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro-Tom Tomato Response to Fertilization Rates and the Effect of Cultivation Systems on Fruit Yield and Quality
Authors: Terada Naoki , Dissanayake Kalara , Okada Chiharu , Sanada Atsushi , Koshio Kaihei
Published: March 2023

Fertilization is essential for the optimal growth and development of crops; however, the amount of fertilizer can cause positive or negative effects depending on its rate. In addition, the cultivation system plays a significant role in determining vegetative growth and fruit quality. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the Micro-Tom response to different fertilization rates (first experiment), and to assess the effect of three different cultivation systems on its growth, yield, and fruit quality (second experiment). The fertilization rates used were (A) no fertilizer application control, (B) 0.026 g L−1, (C) 0.052 g L−1, (D) 0.13 g L−1, (E) 0.26 g L−1 standard, (F) 0.52 g L−1, and (G) 1.3 g L−1, and the cultivation systems were conventional, organic, and hydroponic. The results of the first experiment showed that plant growth and yield of Micro-Tom were highly influenced by the fertilization rate and Micro-Tom recorded the highest yield at 0.52 g L−1. In terms of the second experiment, the hydroponically grown Micro-Tom tended to accumulate amino acid, while organic and conventional systems showed more accumulation of sugars and organic acid; the highest yield was recorded in the hydroponic system. The yield obtained in the hydroponic systems was more than double that of the soil cultivation methods. The findings of this study can contribute to promoting the organic and hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes.
Evaluation of In Vitro and In Vivo Antifungal Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles against Early Blight in Tomato
Authors: Ansari Madeeha , Ahmed Shakil , Khan Muhammad Tajammal , Hamad Najwa A. , Ali Hayssam M. , Abbasi Asim , Mubeen Iqra , Intisar Anum , Hasan Mohamed E. , Jasim Ihsan K.
Published: March 2023

Silver nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent decades due to their antimicrobial activity and are used in water disinfection, wound healing, food packaging, and plant protection. This study tested the potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized using the neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract against Alternaria solani causes early blight disease in tomato plants. The pathogen was isolated from infected tomato plants and identified using morphological and molecular features. The results showed significant variation among isolates. Isolates, Shk-1 and Ksr-1 were highly pathogenic, causing up to 80% disease incidence. The potential of silver nanoparticles against each isolate was determined using different concentrations of silver nanoparticles. During in vitro and in vivo experiments, the growth inhibition rate of the pathogen was 70–100% at 50 ppm. Lower concentrations of silver nanoparticles (5 and 10 ppm) increased phenolics, PO, PPO, and PAL production by more than 50% as compared to the untreated control. These defensive mechanisms clearly demonstrate the fungicidal potential of AgNPs and recommend their utilization in different crop protection programs.
Significance of Soil Siderophore-Producing Bacteria in Evaluation and Elevation of Crop Yield
Authors: Zhang Siwen , Deng Zishi , Borham Ali , Ma Yao , Wang Yi , Hu Jiawei , Wang Juanjuan , Bohu Tsing
Published: March 2023

Iron is a vital element for plant and microbial growth; yet, the major portion of iron in soils is in the form of (oxi-)hydroxides with limited bioavailability, resulting in decreased crop yield quality. In response to iron deficiency, soil microorganisms produce siderophores that transform insoluble iron into a soluble form that plants and microorganisms can use. The abundance and activity of siderophore-producing bacteria (SPB) might be used as a biological assessment index for the fertility status of cultivated land. In order to achieve this goal, it is critical to investigate the influences of SPB on plant growth and soil quality. In this study, we performed a mixed-effect model meta-analysis on 342 research studies that compared plant growth with and without SPB. The findings revealed that SPB increased plant growth significantly (up to 30%). The stimulating effects on plants followed the sequences of pant weight, plant height, and germination rate.
Genome-Wide Analysis of MIKCC-Type MADS-Box Genes Reveals Their Involvement in Flower Development in Malus Lineage
Authors: Ning Kun , Zhang Wangxiang , Zhang Donglin , El-Kassaby Yousry A. , Zhou Ting
Published: March 2023

MIKCC-type MADS-box genes are involved in floral organ identity determination but remain less studied in the Malus lineage. Based on the conserved domains of this gene family, we identified 341 genes among 13 species. Classification results showed that the MIKCC-type were generated later than the M-type, after the formation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. By phylogenetic analysis, three different groups were divided among 12 plant species, and one group was an ancestral MIKCC-type MADS-box homologous gene cluster from lower moss to higher flowering plants. Comparative analysis of these genes in A. thaliana and Malus lineages revealed a similar pattern evolutionary relationship with the phylogenetic analysis. Three classes of genes of the ABC model in A. thaliana had orthologous genes in the Malus species, but they experienced different evolutionary events. Only a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was considered to act on the expansion of ABC-model-related genes in the Malus lineage. Additionally, the expression pattern of genes showed to be involved in flowering development stages and anther development processes among different M. domestica cultivars. This study systematically traced the evolutionary history and expansion mechanism of the MIKCC-type MADS-box gene family in plants. The results also provided novel insights for ABC model research of flower development in the Malus lineage.
Simulating Groundwater Potential Zones in Mountainous Indian Himalayas—A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Sud Anshul , Kanga Rahul , Singh Suraj Kumar , Meraj Gowhar , Kanga Shruti , Kumar Pankaj , Ramanathan AL. , Sudhanshu Sudhanshu , Bhardwaj Vinay
Published: March 2023

Groundwater resources are increasingly important as the main supply of fresh water for household, industrial, and agricultural activities. However, overuse and depletion of these resources can lead to water scarcity and resource deterioration. Therefore, assessing groundwater availability is essential for sustainable water management. This study aims to identify potential groundwater zones in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh using the Multi Influencing Factor (MIF) technique, a modern decision-making method widely used in various sectors. Geospatial models were integrated with the MIF technique to evaluate prospective groundwater areas. Grid layouts of all underground water influencing variables were given a predetermined score and weight in this decision-making strategy. The potential groundwater areas were then statistically assessed using graded data maps of slope, lithology, land-use, lineament, aspect, elevation, soil, drainage, geomorphology, and rainfall. These maps were converted into raster data using the raster converter tool in ArcGIS software, utilizing Survey of India toposheets, SRTM DEM data, and Resourcesat-2A satellite imageries. The prospective groundwater zones obtained were classified into five categories: nil–very low, covering 0.34% of the total area; very low–low (51.64%); low–moderate (4.92%); moderate–high (18%) and high–very high (25%). Scholars and policymakers can collaborate to develop systematic exploration plans for future developments and implement preservative and protective strategies by identifying groundwater recharge zones to reduce groundwater levels. This study provides valuable insights for long-term planning and management of water resources in the region.
Linking Cultural Tightness, Components of Norm Activation and COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among University Students: Evidence from Beijing, China
Authors: Zou Yang , Liu Xianwei , Yu Miaomiao , Deng Yichu
Published: March 2023

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has imposed greater challenges and more stringent requirements on higher education institutions (HEIs). However, limited empirical research has been devoted to identifying external and internal factors that may promote individual preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic within the higher education context. This study proposed and examined an extended norm activation model (NAM) concerning the relationships among cultural tightness, original NAM components, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 3693 university students from 18 universities in Beijing, China. The results showed that cultural tightness was positively associated with respondents’ COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Three original NAM variables, namely, awareness of consequences, the ascription of responsibility, and personal norms, played a chain mediating role in the relationship between cultural tightness and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications regarding the findings of this study and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Exploring Applicability of Different Ecological Protection Measures for Soil and Water Loss Control of Highway Slope in the Permafrost Area: A Case Study of Qinghai-Tibet Highway in China
Authors: Qin Xiaochun , Ni Anchen , Yang Dongxiao , Chen Bing , Liu Shiliang
Published: March 2023

A variety of slope water and soil conservation measures have been taken along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, but the systematic comparison of their erosion control ability needs to be strengthened, especially in the permafrost area. To explore the applicability of different measures to control runoff and sediment yield, field scouring experiments were conducted for different ecologically protected slopes, including turfing (strip, block, full), slope covering (gravel, coconut fiber blanket), and comprehensive measures (three-dimensional net seeding). Compared with the bare slope, the bulk density of the plots with the ecological protection measure decreased, the moisture-holding capacity and the organic matter increased correspondingly, and the average runoff velocity also decreased. The soil loss and runoff had a similar trend of different ecological protection measures. The relationship between the cumulative runoff and sediment yield of different measures exhibited a power function, with the increase of scouring flow and the runoff reduction benefit and sediment reduction benefit in different ecological protection-measured plots showing a decreasing trend. The average runoff reduction benefit decreased from 37.06% to 6.34%, and the average sediment reduction benefit decreased from 43.04% to 10.86%. The comprehensive protection measures had the greatest protection efficiency, followed by turfing, while the cover measure had limited improvement. Soil characteristics, vegetation coverage, and the scouring inflow rate are key factors that influence protection efficiency. The results suggest that comprehensive measures and turfing be taken rather than cover measures or bare slopes. This work provides an experimental reference for ecological protection methods for highway slopes in the permafrost area.
Mommy, Can I Play Outside? How Urban Design Influences Parental Attitudes on Play
Authors: Lyu Jinyun , Yang Huiying , Christie Stella
Published: March 2023

Although play results in physical, social, and cognitive benefits, there is a consensus that children’s opportunities to play have been reduced, particularly for those who live in urban environments. What are the barriers to play, and how can we mitigate them? This review examines a critical factor in play opportunities: parents as the decision-makers with regard to children’s play. Using perspectives from psychology, urban design, and cognitive science, we analyze the relationships between the design of built environments, parental attitudes and beliefs, and parental decisions on allowing children to play. For example, can a new implementation of children-centered urban design change parents’ skeptical attitude toward play? By drawing from global studies, we chart (1) the three key beliefs of parents regarding play and built environments: play should benefit learning, be safe, and match the child’s competence and (2) the design principles that can foster these beliefs: learning, social, and progressive challenge designs. By making the link between parents, urban design, and play explicit, this paper aims to inform parents, educators, policymakers, urban planners, and architects on the evidence-based measures for creating and increasing opportunities to play.
Emergency Department Visits in Children Associated with Exposure to Ambient PM1 within Several Hours
Authors: Li Yachen , Zhu Lifeng , Wang Yaqi , Tang Ziqing , Huang Yuqian , Wang Yixiang , Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Yunquan
Published: March 2023

Background: Emerging evidence has integrated short-term exposure to PM1 with children’s morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, most available studies have been conducted on a daily scale, ignoring the exposure variations over the span of a day. Objective: The main intention of this study was to examine the association between pediatric emergency department visits (PEDVs) and intra-day exposures to PM1 and PM2.5. We also aimed to investigate whether a high PM1/PM2.5 ratio elevated the risk of PEDVs independent from PM2.5 exposure within several hours. Methods: We collected hourly data on aerial PM1 and PM2.5 concentrations, all-cause PEDVs, and meteorological factors from two megacities (i.e., Guangzhou and Shenzhen) in southern China during 2015–2016. Time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression analysis were used to assess the associations of PEDVs with exposures to PM1 and PM2.5 at different lag hours. The contribution of PM1 to PM2.5-associated risk was quantified by introducing PM1/PM2.5 ratio as an additional exposure indicator in the analysis adjusting for PM2.5. Subgroup analyses were performed stratified by sex, age, and season. Results: During this study period, 97,508 and 101,639 children were included from Guangzhou and Shenzhen, respectively. PM1 and PM2.5 exposures within several hours were both remarkably related to an increased risk of PEDVs. Risks for PEDVs increased by 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7–5.0%) in Guangzhou and 3.2% (95% CI: 1.9–4.4%) in Shenzhen for each interquartile range (Guangzhou: 21.4 μg/m3, Shenzhen: 15.9 μg/m3) increase in PM1 at lag 0–3 h, respectively. A high PM1/PM2.5 ratio was substantially correlated with increased PEDVs, with an excess risk of 2.6% (95% CI: 1.2–4.0%) at lag 73–96 h in Guangzhou and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.4–2.0%) at lag 0–3 h in Shenzhen. Stratified analysis showed a clear seasonal pattern in PM-PEDVs relationships, with notably stronger risks in cold months (October to March of the following year) than in warm months (April to September). Conclusions: Exposures to ambient PM1 and PM2.5 within several hours were related to increased PEDVs. A high PM1/PM2.5 ratio may contribute an additional risk independent from the short-term impacts of PM2.5. These findings highlighted the significance of reducing PM1 in minimizing health risks due to PM2.5 exposure in children.
Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Academic Burden: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Health among Chinese Adolescents
Authors: E Yiting , Yang Jianke , Shen Yifei , Quan Xiaojuan
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to analyze the effects of physical activity, screen time, and academic burden on adolescent health in China and compare their effects by using the nationally representative sample data from the CEPS (China Educational Panel Survey) cross-section data. This paper first uses regression analysis to examine the relationship between physical activity, screen time, academic burden and health among Chinese adolescents. Then, this paper uses the clustering analysis the influence of physical activity, screen time, and academic burden on the health of Chinese adolescents. The empirical results show that: (1) along with exercise, helping with the housework also has a clear health-promoting effect on adolescents; (2) the time spent surfing the Internet or playing video games, and heavy studying or homework off campus have a negative effect on adolescents’ self-rated health and mental health; (3) physical activity has the greatest impact on self-rated health, while screen time has the greatest impact on mental health, and academic burden is not the most important factor affecting adolescent health in China.
Obstetric Violence from a Midwife Perspective
Authors: Martínez-Galiano Juan Miguel , Rodríguez-Almagro Julián , Rubio-Álvarez Ana , Ortiz-Esquinas Inmaculada , Ballesta-Castillejos Ana , Hernández-Martínez Antonio
Published: March 2023

This study examines and determines the prevalence of obstetric violence (OV) as perceived by midwives, as well as their knowledge of it and the professional factors that could be associated with the perception of OV. A cross-sectional study was conducted of 325 midwives in 2021 in Spain. Almost all (92.6%, 301) the midwives knew the term OV, but 74.8% (214) did not believe OV to be the same as malpractice. Moreover, 56.9% (185) stated they had rarely observed OV, and 26.5% (86) regularly observed OV. Most midwives consider physical aggression to be OV, in comparison, not providing information to women was only considered unacceptable treatment. The clinical practice considered the most grave within the context of OV was an instrumental birth or cesarean section without clinical justification. In addition, 97.5% (317) believed that raising awareness on the subject is one of the fundamental points to reducing this problem. Certain factors, such as less work experience, female gender, attendance at home births, and previous training in OV, were associated with an increased perception of situations as OV (p < 0.005). A high percentage of midwives perceived specific clinical practices (e.g., indicate cesarean section without clinical justification or perform the Kristeller maneuver) as OV, and certain characteristics of the professional profile, such as the professional experience or the sex of the midwife, were associated with an increased perception of OV. Most midwives knew the term OV but did not consider that it could pertain to some behaviors included in the international definitions of OV, such as the lack of information provided to a woman or the non-identification of the midwife, among others.
Practices and Perceptions of Family-Centered Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Secondary School Athletic Trainers
Authors: Winkelmann Zachary , Uriegas Nancy , Mensch James , Montgomery Conner , Torres-McGehee Toni
Published: March 2023

Family-centered care (FCC) includes collaboration between families and healthcare providers, the creation of flexible policies, and the family taking an active role in the delivery of care. Secondary school athletic trainers provide care for underage patients in school-based health systems, making them responsible for maintaining communication with parents, guardians, and/or caregivers. This cross-sectional survey investigated the extent to which athletic trainers (n = 205) include aspects of FCC in their daily secondary school clinical practice (current practices = CP) and whether they believe that aspect of care is necessary for FCC to be provided in athletic training (perceived necessary = PN) in their everyday practice using the Family-Centered Care Questionnaire-Revised tool. The total mean score for the CP scale (mean = 26.83 ± 4.36) was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.01) than the PN scale (mean = 35.33 ± 4.17). All FCC subscales compared between CP and PN were significantly different (p ≤ 0.01), with each being of higher importance than CP in athletic training. Data analysis revealed four themes related to enhancing FCC in secondary schools: limited education and resources, staffing and space concerns, non-technical skills, and social determinants of health. Attention should be placed on developing resources and interventions for secondary school athletic trainers to collaboratively work with children and their support systems.
Heartfulness in Vegans, Vegetarians, and Omnivores
Authors: Voll Antonia , Jost Leonardo , Jansen Petra
Published: March 2023

Background: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the relation between the choice of a vegan or vegetarian diet as a criterion of sustainability and the aspect of heartfulness. We also analyzed which demographic, diet-related, and mindfulness practice-related variables could predict the different facets of heartfulness. Methods: In total, 419 persons participated. After providing demographic, diet-related, and mindfulness practice-related information, participants completed a gratitude questionnaire, a self-compassion scale, a compassion scale, and an equanimity scale. Results: The results show that vegans and vegetarians indicated higher scores than omnivores in some aspects of heartfulness, such as both self-compassion scales. These effects could not be shown for the two equanimity scales and for the gratitude questionnaire. Most aspects of heartfulness could either be predicted by demographic or diet-related variables. The best predictors of the elements of heartfulness were the ecological, ethical, or health-related reasons for choosing their diet stated by the participants, as well as the importance the participants attached to nutrition. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that vegans and vegetarians scored higher in several aspects of heartfulness. Vegans tended to score even higher than vegetarians. Both demographic and diet-related variables could predict heartfulness.
Perceptions towards the COVID-19 Pandemic during Different Lockdown Levels among International Students in Taiwan
Authors: Weng Yi-Hao , Chien Wei-Ting , Prado Felix Trejos , Yang Chun-Yuh , Chiou Hung-Yi , Lo Wei-Cheng , Bui Chung , Chiu Ya-Wen
Published: March 2023

International students face many impediments under the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of this study are to assess the association between the perceptions of international students and the lockdown policy for COVID-19. In 2021, three different levels of lockdown policy were enforced, including level I from January to April, level III from May to July, and level II from August to December. We conducted three surveys for international graduate students using a validated questionnaire during the different lockdown levels. We collected 185, 119, and 83 valid questionnaires in level I, II, and III, respectively. There were linear trends in the correlations of lockdown policy with the knowledge (p = 0.052), attitudes (p = 0.002), and practices (p < 0.001) of COVID-19. In brief, the stricter the lockdown policy, the better the students adhered to sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and healthy practices. Furthermore, there were significant linear correlations of lockdown policy with the transportation, school study, leisure, family life, and diet behavior. In conclusion, lockdown policy had important impacts on the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and daily lives of international students. The findings indicated that the lockdown system and its corresponding measures appear to affect perceptions in a positive way.
The Association between Time Spent in Domestic Work and Mental Health among Women and Men
Authors: Molarius Anu , Metsini Alexandra
Published: March 2023

Background: Unpaid domestic work has been found to be negatively associated with mental health, especially among women, in previous studies but the measures of domestic work vary. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association between time spent in domestic work and mental health in the general population. Method: The study is based on 14,184 women and men aged 30–69 years who responded to a survey questionnaire in Central Sweden in 2017 (overall response rate: 43%). Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusting for age group, educational level, family status, employment status, economic difficulties, and social support, were used to study the association between hours spent in domestic work and depressive symptoms and self-reported diagnosed depression, respectively. Results: In total, 26.7% of the respondents reported depressive symptoms and 8.8% reported diagnosed depression. No independent associations between hours spent in domestic work and depressive symptoms were found. Among women, the lowest prevalence of depression was found among those who spend 11–30 h per week in domestic work. Among men, the prevalence of self-reported diagnosed depression was highest among those who spend 0–2 h per week in domestic work, but no other statistically significant associations between time spent in domestic work and depression were found. In addition, a strong dose–response relationship was found between experiencing domestic work as burdensome and both depressive symptoms and self-reported diagnosed depression among women and men. Conclusion: Investigating time spent in unpaid domestic work may not be sufficient to assess the association between exposure to domestic work and mental health. Conversely, strain in domestic work may be a more important factor contributing to the prevalence of poor mental health in the general population.
Effectiveness of a Computerized Home-Based Cognitive Stimulation Program for Treating Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Tapia Jose L. , Taberner-Bonastre María Teresa , Collado-Martínez David , Pouptsis Athanasios , Núñez-Abad Martín , Duñabeitia Jon Andoni
Published: March 2023

Cancer patients assert that after chemotherapy their cognitive abilities have deteriorated. Cognitive stimulation is the clinical treatment of choice for reversing cognitive decline. The current study describes a computerized home-based cognitive stimulation program in patients who survived breast cancer. It aims to assess safety and effectiveness of cognitive stimulation in the oncology population. A series of 45-min training sessions was completed by the participants. A thorough assessment was performed both before and after the intervention. The mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the Cognitive Assessment for Chemo Fog Research, and the Functionality Assessment Instrument in Cancer Treatment–Cognitive Function served as the main assessment tools. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Measuring Quality of Life–The World Health Organization data were gathered as secondary outcomes. Home-based cognitive stimulation demonstrated beneficial effects in the oncology population, with no side effects being reported. Cognitive, physical, and emotional improvements were observed, along with decreased interference in daily life activities and a better overall quality of life.
Future Projection of Extreme Precipitation Indices over the Qilian Mountains under Global Warming
Authors: Li Yanzhao , Qin Xiang , Jin Zizhen , Liu Yushuo
Published: March 2023

The Qilian Mountains are a climate-sensitive area in northwest China, and extreme precipitation events have an important impact on its ecological environment. Therefore, considering the global warming scenario, it is highly important to project the extreme precipitation indices over the Qilian Mountains in the future. This study is based on three CMIP6 models (CESM2, EC-Earth3, and KACE-1-0-G). A bias correction algorithm (QDM) was used to correct the precipitation outputs of the models. The eight extreme precipitation indices over the Qilian Mountains during the historical period and in the future were calculated using meteorological software (ClimPACT2), and the performance of the CMIP6 models to simulate the extreme precipitation indices of the Qilian Mountains in the historical period was evaluated. Results revealed that: (1) The corrected CMIP6 models could simulate the changes in extreme precipitation indices over the Qilian Mountains in the historical period relatively well, and the corrected CESM2 displayed better simulation as compared to the other two CMIP6 models. The CMIP6 models performed well while simulating R10mm (CC is higher than 0.71) and PRCPTOT (CC is higher than 0.84). (2) The changes in the eight extreme precipitation indices were greater with the enhancement of the SSP scenario. The growth rate of precipitation in the Qilian Mountains during the 21st century under SSP585 is significantly higher than the other two SSP scenarios. The increment of precipitation in the Qilian Mountains mainly comes from the increase in heavy precipitation. (3) The Qilian Mountains will become wetter in the 21st century, especially in the central and eastern regions. The largest increase in precipitation intensity will be observed in the western Qilian Mountains. Additionally, total precipitation will also increase in the middle and end of the 21st century under SSP585. Furthermore, the precipitation increment of the Qilian Mountains will increase with the altitude in the middle and end of the 21st century. This study aims to provide a reference for the changes in extreme precipitation events, glacier mass balance, and water resources in the Qilian Mountains during the 21st century.
Relationship between Habitual Caffeine Consumption, Attentional Performance, and Individual Alpha Frequency during Total Sleep Deprivation
Authors: Quiquempoix Michael , Drogou Catherine , Erblang Mégane , Van Beers Pascal , Guillard Mathias , Tardo-Dino Pierre-Emmanuel , Rabat Arnaud , Léger Damien , Chennaoui Mounir , Gomez-Merino Danielle , Sauvet Fabien
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Caffeine is a psychostimulant that is well known to mitigate the deleterious effects of sleep debt. Our aim was to assess the effects of acute caffeine intake on cognitive vulnerability and brain activity during total sleep deprivation (TSD), taking into account habitual caffeine consumption. (2) Methods: Thirty-seven subjects were evaluated in a double-blind, crossover, total sleep deprivation protocol with caffeine or placebo treatment. Vigilant attention was evaluated every six hours during TSD using the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) with EEG recordings. The influence of habitual caffeine consumption was analyzed by categorizing subjects into low, moderate, and high consumers. (3) Results: The PVT reaction time (RT) increased during TSD and was lower in the caffeine condition vs. the placebo condition. The RT was shorter in the low-caffeine consumers compared to moderate and high consumers, regardless of conditions and treatments. The TSD-related increase in EEG power was attenuated by acute caffeine intake independently of habitual caffeine consumption, and the individual alpha frequency (IAF) was lower in the high-consumption group. The IAF was negatively correlated with daytime sleepiness. Moreover, a correlation analysis showed that the higher the daily caffeine consumption, the higher the RT and the lower the IAF. (4) Conclusions: A high level of habitual caffeine consumption decreases attentional performance and alpha frequencies, decreasing tolerance to sleep deprivation.
Exposure to Healthy Weight Information on Short-Form Video Applications to Acquire Healthy Weight-Control Behaviors: A Serial Mediation Model
Authors: Chung Donghwa , Meng Yanfang
Published: March 2023

This study explored the effects of Chinese college students’ (20–34 years old) exposure to healthy weight information on short-form video applications on their intention to acquire healthy weight-control behaviors (reducing high-fat diet intake, accessing physical activity to control body weight, etc.). Specifically, this study investigated the direct and mediated effect on such a relationship via healthy weight awareness, the first-person effect, and perceived herd. The data were collected using a web-based survey and thoroughly tested questionnaire with a sample of 380 Chinese college students. Hierarchical regression, parallel mediation, and serial mediation analysis were applied to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that healthy weight awareness, first-person effect, and perceived herd all played mediator roles that induced the relationship between Chinese college students’ exposure to healthy weight information and their intention to acquire healthy weight-control behaviors. In addition, healthy weight awareness and the first-person effect sequentially mediated this relationship.
Application of Bagging, Boosting and Stacking Ensemble and EasyEnsemble Methods for Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China
Authors: Wu Xueling , Wang Junyang
Published: March 2023

Since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir area in 2003, the potential risks of geological disasters in the reservoir area have increased significantly, among which the hidden dangers of landslides are particularly prominent. To reduce casualties and damage, efficient and precise landslide susceptibility evaluation methods are important. Multiple ensemble models have been used to evaluate the susceptibility of the upper part of Badong County to landslides. In this study, EasyEnsemble technology was used to solve the imbalance between landslide and nonlandslide sample data. The extracted evaluation factors were input into three bagging, boosting, and stacking ensemble models for training, and landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) was drawn. According to the importance analysis, the important factors affecting the occurrence of landslides are altitude, terrain surface texture (TST), distance to residences, distance to rivers and land use. The influences of different grid sizes on the susceptibility results were compared, and a larger grid was found to lead to the overfitting of the prediction results. Therefore, a 30 m grid was selected as the evaluation unit. The accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), recall rate, test set precision, and kappa coefficient of a multi-grained cascade forest (gcForest) model with the stacking method were 0.958, 0.991, 0.965, 0.946, and 0.91, respectively, which a significantly better than the values produced by the other models.
Breast Cancer and Screening Prevention Programmes: Perceptions of Women in a Multicultural Community in Southern Thailand
Authors: Suwankhong Dusanee , Liamputtong Pranee , Boonrod Tum , Simla Witchada , Khunpol Sermsak , Thanapop Sasithorn
Published: March 2023

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide and in Thailand. Objective: To explore perceptions of breast cancer and screening prevention programmes among a group of at-risk women in a multicultural setting in southern Thailand. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used for data collection with 30 at-risk group women. Women from Muslim and Buddhist backgrounds were purposively included in this study. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data. Results: Four themes were identified from our data: perceptions of breast cancer, being diagnosed with breast cancer and anxiety, stigma: effects of breast cancer, and breast self-screening and prevention of breast cancer. The participants had some knowledge about the risk factors for breast cancer. However, participants perceived that breast cancer could occur to individual women at any time and that it was not possible to entirely prevent the disease, even when following a breast self-examination programme. However, most participants perceived that whether one would be afflicted by breast cancer depended also on Allah and their own karma. All participants were encouraged to attend breast self-screening training by healthcare providers of local health centres, but they had no confidence to perform self-screening soon after finishing the training programme. This became the reason for a lack of regular self-screening with responsibility left to health practitioners. Although participants were aware that breast self-screening should be their routine practice, there were multiple barriers to this, including accurate knowledge about breast cancer, belief, self-awareness, screening skills and healthcare facilities. Breast self-screening was recognised as an important means of early detection. However, most women did not perform this regularly, which could increase their risk of developing breast cancer. Conclusions: Public health providers need to be more concerned about the perceptions, beliefs and practices regarding breast cancer and develop prevention practices that work better for women living in more diverse cultural locations so that they may be able to follow preventive practices and reduce their vulnerability to breast cancer.
Can Stringent Government Initiatives Lead to Global Economic Recovery Rapidly during the COVID-19 Epidemic?
Authors: Ma Lizheng , Zhang Congzhi , Lo Kai Lisa , Meng Xiangyan
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates the effectiveness of government measures implemented against COVID-19 and the factors influencing a country’s economic growth from a global perspective. With the help of the data of the Government Response Stringency Index (GRSI), Google mobility, and confirmed COVID-19 daily cases, we conducted a panel model for 105 countries and regions from 11 March 2020 to 31 June 2021 to explore the effects of response policies in different countries against the pandemic. First, the results showed that staying in residential places had the strongest correlation with confirmed cases. Second, in countries with higher government stringency, stay-at-home policies carried out in the early spread of the pandemic had the most effective the impact. In addition, the results have also been strictly robustly analyzed by applying the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Third, after reconstructing a panel data of 47 OECD countries, we further concluded that governments should take stricter restrictive measures in response to COVID-19. Even though it may also cause a shock to the market in the short term, this may not be sustainable. As long as the policy response is justified, it will moderate the negative effect on the economy over time, and finally have a positive effect.
Feasibility Analysis of Using Channel State Information (CSI) Acquired from Wi-Fi Routers for Construction Worker Fall Detection
Authors: Guo Runhao , Li Heng , Han Dongliang , Liu Runze
Published: March 2023

Accidental falls represent a major cause of fatal injuries for construction workers. Failure to seek medical attention after a fall can significantly increase the risk of death for construction workers. Wearable sensors, computer vision, and manual techniques are common modalities for detecting worker falls in the literature. However, they are severely constrained by issues such as cost, lighting, background, clutter, and privacy. To address the problems associated with the existing proposed methods, a new method has been conceived to identify construction worker falls by analyzing the CSI signals extracted from commercial Wi-Fi routers. In this research context, our study aimed to investigate the potential of using Channel State Information (CSI) to identify falls among construction workers. To achieve the aim of this study, CSI data corresponding to 360 sets of activities were collected from six construction workers on real construction sites. The results indicate that (1) the behavior of construction workers is highly correlated with the magnitude of CSI, even in real construction sites, and (2) the CSI-based method for identifying construction worker falls has an accuracy of 99% and can also accurately distinguish between falls and fall-like actions. The present study makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing low-cost Wi-Fi routers for the continuous monitoring of fall incidents among construction workers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to address the issue of fall detection using commercial Wi-Fi devices in real-world construction environments. Considering the dynamic nature of construction sites, the new method developed in this study helps to detect falls at construction sites automatically and helps injured construction workers to seek medical attention on time.
Development and Validation of a Meta-Instrument for the Assessment of Functional Capacity, the Risk of Falls and Pressure Injuries in Adult Hospitalization Units (VALENF Instrument) (Part II)
Authors: Luna-Aleixos David , Llagostera-Reverter Irene , Castelló-Benavent Ximo , Aquilué-Ballarín Marta , Mecho-Montoliu Gema , Cervera-Gasch Águeda , Valero-Chillerón María Jesús , Mena-Tudela Desirée , Andreu-Pejó Laura , Martínez-Gonzálbez Rafael , González-Chordá Víctor M.
Published: March 2023

The nursing assessment is the first step of the nursing process and fundamental to detecting patients’ care needs and at-risk situations. This article presents the psychometric properties of the VALENF Instrument, a recently developed meta-instrument with only seven items that integrates the assessment of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries and risk of falls with a more parsimonious approach to nursing assessment in adult hospitalization units. A cross-sectional study based on recorded data in a sample of 1352 nursing assessments was conducted. Sociodemographic variables and assessments of the Barthel, Braden and Downton instruments were included at the time of admission through the electronic health history. Thus, the VALENF Instrument obtained high content validity (S-CVI = 0.961), construct validity (RMSEA = 0.072; TLI = 0.968) and internal consistency (Ω = 0.864). However, the inter-observer reliability results were not conclusive, with Kappa values ranging between 0.213 and 0.902 points. The VALENF Instrument has adequate psychometric properties (content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and inter-observer reliability) for assessing the level of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries and risk of falls. Future studies are necessary to establish its diagnostic accuracy.
Response Surface Optimization on Ferrate-Assisted Coagulation Pretreatment of SDBS-Containing Strengthened Organic Wastewater
Authors: Zhang Chunxin , Chen Xin , Chen Meng , Ding Ning , Liu Hong
Published: March 2023

Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), an anionic surfactant, has both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties and is widely used in daily production and life. The SDBS-containing organic wastewater is considered difficult to be degraded, which is harmful to the water environment and human health. In this study, ferrate-assisted coagulation was applied to treat SDBS wastewater. Firstly, a single-factor experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the Na2FeO4 dosage, polyaluminum chloride (PAC) dosage, pH and temperature on the treatment efficiency of SDBS wastewater; then, a response surface optimization experiment was further applied to obtain the optimized conditions for the SDBS treatment. According to the experimental results, the optimal treatment conditions were shown as follows: the Na2FeO4 dosage was 57 mg/L, the PAC dosage was 5 g/L and pH was 8, under which the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate was 90%. Adsorption bridging and entrapment in the floc structure were the main mechanisms of pollution removal. The ferrate-assisted coagulation treatment of strengthened SDBS wastewater was verified by a response surface experiment to provide fundamental understandings for the treatment of the surfactant.
Psychometric Properties and Validation of the Italian Version of Ages & Stages Questionnaires Third Edition
Authors: Manti Filippo , Giovannone Federica , Ciancaleoni Matteo , De Vita Gloria , Fioriello Francesca , Gigliotti Federica , Sogos Carla
Published: March 2023

Objectives: The Ages & Stages Questionnaires Third Version (ASQ-3) identifies the risk of developmental delay in children aged 1 to 66 months. The aim of this study was to determine a reliable and valid instrument for the Italian population to enable the screening of children’s development. Methods: Data from 2278 Italian children (age range: 1–66 months) were used to evaluate item discrimination power using the corrected item-total correlation. Internal consistency was analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha scores and a Confirmative Factor Analysis was conducted to test the factor structure of the test. Data were also collected to examine the ASQ-3 test-retest reliability and concurrent validity, which was investigated using the Griffiths Scales of Child Development, Third Edition, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, Second Edition, and the Developmental Profile, Third Edition tools. In order to evaluate discriminant validity, differences between typical development children and several clinical groups have been performed. Finally, two different cut-off scores have been proposed. Results: The results showed that the questionnaires are composed of high-quality items; the original factor structure has been confirmed and strong Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between the overall and the total for each domain (ranging from 0.73 to 0.88). The Italian version of the ASQ-3 had adequate internal consistency and a strong agreement between observations with two weeks’ intervals. Moreover, the test showed a high discriminant validity due to the possibility of fully discriminating between typical development children and several clinical groups. Finally, two different cut-off scores have been identified using ROC curves in order to have a screening and a diagnostic cut-off value. Conclusion: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of ASQ-3 questionnaires. We demonstrated the validity of the ASQ-3 and determined new cut-off scores for Italian children. Early identification and accurate assessment are important starting points to better understand and anticipate the needs of children and their link to services.
Effects of Variation in Tamarix chinensis Plantations on Soil Microbial Community Composition in the Middle Yellow River Floodplain
Authors: Yan Xinyu , Zhang Lanlan , Xu Qi , Qi Linyu , Yang Jingyuan , Dong Xiongde , Jiang Meiguang , Hu Mengjun , Zheng Junqiang , Yu Yanyan , Miao Yuan , Han Shijie , Wang Dong
Published: March 2023

Floodplains have important ecological and hydrological functions in terrestrial ecosystems, experience severe soil erosion, and are vulnerable to losing soil fertility. Tamarix chinensis Lour. plantation is the main vegetation restoration measure for maintaining soil quality in floodplains. Soil microorganisms are essential for driving biogeochemical cycling processes. However, the effects of sampling location and shrub patch size on soil microbial community composition remain unclear. In this study, we characterized changes in microbial structure, as well as the factors driving them, in inside- and outside-canopy soils of three patch sizes (small, medium, large) of T. chinensis plants in the middle Yellow River floodplain. Compared with the outside-canopy soils, inside-canopy had higher microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), including fungi, bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria (GP), Gram-negative bacteria (GN), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The ratio of fungi to bacteria and GP to GN gradually decreased as shrub patch size increased. Differences between inside-canopy and outside-canopy soils in soil nutrients (organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus) and soil salt content increased by 59.73%, 40.75%, 34.41%, and 110.08% from small to large shrub patch size. Changes in microbial community composition were mainly driven by variation in soil organic matter, which accounted for 61.90% of the variation in inside-canopy soils. Resource islands could alter microbial community structure, and this effect was stronger when shrub patch size was large. The results indicated that T. chinensis plantations enhanced the soil nutrient contents (organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus) and elevated soil microbial biomass and changed microbial community composition; T. chinensis plantations might thus provide a suitable approach for restoring degraded floodplain ecosystems.