bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The characteristics and reproducibility of motor speech functional neuroimaging in healthy controls
Authors: Kenyon Katherine H. , Boonstra Frederique , Noffs Gustavo , Morgan Angela T. , Vogel Adam P. , Kolbe Scott , Van Der Walt Anneke
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can improve our understanding of neural processes subserving motor speech function. Yet its reproducibility remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of fMRI using a word repetition task across two time points.

Methods

Imaging data from 14 healthy controls were analysed using a multi-level general linear model.

Results

Significant activation was observed during the task in the right hemispheric cerebellar lobules IV-V, right putamen, and bilateral sensorimotor cortices. Activation between timepoints was found to be moderately reproducible across time in the cerebellum but not in other brain regions.

Discussion

Preliminary findings highlight the involvement of the cerebellum and connected cerebral regions during a motor speech task. More work is needed to determine the degree of reproducibility of speech fMRI before this could be used as a reliable marker of changes in brain activity.
Effect of intra-vaginal electric stimulation on bladder compliance in stress urinary incontinence patients: the involvement of autonomic tone
Authors: Lau Hui-Hsuan , Lai Cheng-Yuan , Hsieh Ming-Chun , Peng Hsien-Yu , Chou Dylan , Su Tsung-Hsien , Lee Jie-Jen , Lin Tzer-Bin
Published: August 2024

Objective

In addition to the well-established advantage that strengthened pelvic musculature increases urethral resistance in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients, intra-vaginal electrical stimulation (iVES) has been shown in preclinical studies to improve bladder capacity via the pudendal-hypogastric mechanism. This study investigated whether iVES also benefits bladder storage in SUI patients by focusing on compliance, a viscoelastic parameter critically defining the bladder’s storage function, in a clinical study. Moreover, the potential involvement of stimulation-induced neuromodulation in iVES-modified compliance was investigated by comparing the therapeutic outcomes of SUI patients treated with iVES to those who underwent a trans-obturator tape (TOT) implantation surgery, where a mid-urethral sling was implanted without electric stimulation.

Patients and methods

Urodynamic and viscoelastic data were collected from 21 SUI patients treated with a regimen combining iVES and biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (iVES-bPFMT; 20-min iVES and 20-min bPFMT sessions, twice per week, for 3 months). This regimen complied with ethical standards. Data from 21 SUI patients who received TOT implantation were retrospectively analyzed. Mean compliance (Cm), infused volume (Vinf), and threshold pressure (Pthr) from the pressure-flow/volume investigations were assessed.

Results

Compared with the pretreatment control, iVES-bPFMT consistently and significantly increased Cm (18/21; 85%, p = 0.017, N = 21) and Vinf (16/21; 76%, p = 0.046; N = 21) but decreased Pthr (16/21; 76%, p = 0.026, N = 21). In contrast, TOT implantation did not result in consistent or significant changes in Cm, Vinf, or Pthr (p = 0.744, p = 0.295, p = 0.651, respectively; all N = 21).

Conclusion

Our results provide viscoelastic and thermodynamic evidence supporting an additional benefit of iVES-bPFMT to bladder storage in SUI patients by modifying bladder compliance, possibly due to the potentiated hypogastric tone, which did not occur in TOT-treated SUI patients.

Clinical trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02185235 and NCT05977231.
Association of chronotype with language and episodic memory processing in children: implications for brain structure
Authors: Yamashita Masatoshi , Shou Qiulu , Mizuno Yoshifumi
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Chronotype refers to individual preference in circadian cycles and is associated with psychiatric problems. It is mainly classified into early (those who prefer to be active in the morning and sleep and wake up early) and late (those who prefer to be active in the evening and sleep and wake up late) chronotypes. Although previous research has demonstrated associations between chronotype and cognitive function and brain structure in adults, little is known regarding these associations in children. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotype and cognitive function in children. Moreover, based on the significant association between chronotype and specific cognitive functions, we extracted regions-of-interest (ROI) and examined the association between chronotype and ROI volumes.

Methods

Data from 4,493 children (mean age of 143.06 months) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study were obtained, wherein chronotype (mid-sleep time on free days corrected for sleep debt on school days) was assessed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Subsequently, the associations between chronotype, cognitive function, and ROI volumes were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models.

Results

Behaviorally, chronotype was negatively associated with vocabulary knowledge, reading skills, and episodic memory performance. Based on these associations, the ROI analysis focused on language-related and episodic memory-related areas revealed a negative association between chronotype and left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex volumes. Furthermore, the precentral gyrus volume was positively associated with vocabulary knowledge and reading skills, while the posterior cingulate cortex volume was positively associated with episodic memory performance.

Discussion

These results suggest that children with late chronotype have lower language comprehension and episodic memory and smaller brain volumes in the left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex associated with these cognitive functions.
Single-cell RNA and T-cell receptor sequencing unveil mycosis fungoides heterogeneity and a possible gene signature
Authors: Srinivas Nalini , Peiffer Lukas , Horny Kai , Lei Kuan Cheok , Buus Terkild B. , Kubat Linda , Luo Meng , Yin Menghong , Spassova Ivelina , Sucker Antje , Farahpour Farnoush , Kehrmann Jan , Ugurel Selma , Livingstone Elisabeth , Gambichler Thilo , Ødum Niels , Becker Jürgen C.
Published: August 2024

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Comprehensive analysis of MF cells in situ and ex vivo is complicated by the fact that is challenging to distinguish malignant from reactive T cells with certainty.

Methods

To overcome this limitation, we performed combined single-cell RNA (scRNAseq) and T-cell receptor TCR sequencing (scTCRseq) of skin lesions of cutaneous MF lesions from 12 patients. A sufficient quantity of living T cells was obtained from 9 patients, but 2 had to be excluded due to unclear diagnoses (coexisting CLL or revision to a fixed toxic drug eruption).

Results

From the remaining patients we established single-cell mRNA expression profiles and the corresponding TCR repertoire of 18,630 T cells. TCR clonality unequivocally identified 13,592 malignant T cells. Reactive T cells of all patients clustered together, while malignant cells of each patient formed a unique cluster expressing genes typical of naive/memory, such as CD27, CCR7 and IL7R, or cytotoxic T cells, e.g., GZMA, NKG7 and GNLY. Genes encoding classic CTCL markers were not detected in all clusters, consistent with the fact that mRNA expression does not correlate linearly with protein expression. Nevertheless, we successfully pinpointed distinctive gene signatures differentiating reactive malignant from malignant T cells: keratins (KRT81, KRT86), galectins (LGALS1, LGALS3) and S100 genes (S100A4, S100A6) being overexpressed in malignant cells.

Conclusions

Combined scRNAseq and scTCRseq not only allows unambiguous identification of MF cells, but also revealed marked heterogeneity between and within patients with unexpected functional phenotypes. While the correlation between mRNA and protein abundance was limited with respect to established MF markers, we were able to identify a single-cell gene expression signature that distinguishes malignant from reactive T cells.
The mechanism of ITGB4 in tumor migration and invasion
Authors: Huang Guichen , Zhou Minfeng , Lu Damin , Li Jinxiao , Tang Qian , Xiong Chutong , Liang Fengxia , Chen Rui
Published: August 2024

Integrin β4 (ITGB4) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a mechanosensor, mediating the bidirectional exchange of information between the intracellular and extracellular matrices. ITGB4 plays a critical role in cell adhesion, migration, and signaling. Numerous studies have implicated ITGB4 as a key facilitator of tumor migration and invasion. This review provides a foundational description of the mechanisms by which ITGB4 regulates tumor migration and invasion through pathways involving focal adhesion kinase (FAK), protein kinase B (AKT), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These mechanisms encompass epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), phosphorylation, and methylation of associated molecules. Additionally, this review explores the role of ITGB4 in the migration and invasion of prevalent clinical tumors, including those of the digestive system, breast, and prostate.
Indications and adverse events of teriparatide: based on FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS)
Authors: Wen Ming-Tao , Li Jia-Cheng , Lu Bo-Wen , Shao Hua-Rong , Ling Pei-Xue , Liu Fei , Li Gang , Luo Di
Published: August 2024

Background

Teriparatide is approved for osteoporosis. Post-marketing surveillance is critical given its widespread use.

Objective

To investigate adverse events (AEs) associated with teriparatide using the FAERS database, compare association strengths for key AEs, and explore potential applications to provide clinical reference.

Methods

FAERS data from 2004 to 2023 were analyzed. Reports where teriparatide was the primary suspect drug were included. Adverse events were mapped to System Organ Classes and Preferred Terms. Disproportionality analysis using ROR, PRR, BCPNN and EBGM algorithms was conducted to detect safety signals.

Results

Out of 107,123 reports with teriparatide as the primary suspect, key AEs identified included pain in extremity (PRR: 4.54), muscle spasms (PRR: 5.11), fractures (PRR range: 17.67–552.95), and increased calcium levels (PRR: 50.73). Teriparatide exhibited a stronger association with increased calcium levels (PRR: 50.73) compared to fractures (PRR range: 17.67–552.95). Notably, only 10.86% of AE reports were submitted by physicians and another 10% by other health professionals. Subset analyses showed a higher consistency of reported AEs from health professionals compared to the general dataset. Off-label uses were noted in conditions such as arthritis (0.57%) and cancer (0.12%). For osteoporosis, main AEs were pain (18.2%), fractures (12.4%), muscle spasms (7.7%), and nausea (6.5%), while glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis AEs included fractures (24.1%), pain (13.2%), decreased bone density (9.8%), and nausea (5.1%).

Conclusion

Our findings provide real-world safety data on teriparatide, revealing key AEs and their association strengths. The low proportion of reports by healthcare professionals suggests the need for cautious interpretation. Continuous vigilance and further research are imperative to guide teriparatide’s clinical use.
Comprehensive mendelian randomization reveals atrial fibrillation-breast cancer relationship and explores common druggable targets
Authors: Qi Fenglin , Yang Lunzhe , Chang Guanglei , Wang Xiangbin , Tao Guanghong , Xiao Hua
Published: August 2024

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and breast cancer pose significant risks to human health. The reasons behind the concurrent occurrence of AF and breast cancer remain unclear, leading to complex treatment approaches. Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses aim to offer genetic evidence supporting the causation of AF and breast cancer and to investigate common druggable genes associated with both conditions.

Methods

We used two-samples of MR to sequentially explore the causal relationship between atrial fibrillation and breast cancer, and between atrial fibrillation and breast cancer therapeutic drugs, and verified the stability of the results through colocalization analysis. We utilized the Connectivity map database to infer the direction of drug effects on disease. Finally, we explored druggable genes that play a role in AF and breast cancer and performed a Phenome-wide MR analysis to analyze the potential side effects of drug targets.

Results

We found 15 breast cancer therapeutic drugs that significantly support a causal association between AF and breast cancer through expression in blood and/or atrial appendage tissue. Among these, activation of ANXA5 by Docetaxel, inhibition of EIF5A by Fulvestrant, and inhibition of GNA12 by Tamoxifen increased the risk of AF, while inhibition of ANXA5 by Gemcitabine and Vinorebine and inhibition of PCGF6 by Paclitaxel reduced the risk of AF. Inhibition of MSH6 and SF3B1 by Cyclophosphamide, as well as inhibition of SMAD4 and PSMD2 and activation of ASAH1 and MLST8 by Doxorubicin can have bidirectional effects on AF occurrence. XBP1 can be used as a common druggable gene for AF and breast cancer, and there are no potential side effects of treatment against this target.

Conclusion

This study did not find a direct disease causality between AF and breast cancer but identified 40 target genes for 15 breast cancer therapeutic drugs associated with AF, clarified the direction of action of 8 breast cancer therapeutic drugs on AF, and finally identified one common druggable target for AF and breast cancer.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on ncRNA and mRNA profiles of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats model
Authors: Zhang Zhen Zhen , Nasir Abdul , Li Dong , Khan Suliman , Bai Qian , Yuan Feng
Published: August 2024

Ischemic stroke poses a significant global health burden, with rapid revascularization treatments being crucial but often insufficient to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has shown promise in reducing cerebral I/R injury, but its potential molecular mechanism, particularly its interaction with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), remains unclear. This study investigates DEX’s therapeutic effect and potential molecular mechanisms in reducing cerebral I/R injury. A transient middle cerebral artery obstruction (tMACO) model was established to simulate cerebral I/R injury in adult rats. DEX was administered pre-ischemia and post-reperfusion. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed on the ischemic cerebral cortex to identify differentially expressed non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and mRNAs. The sequencing results showed 6,494 differentially expressed (DE) mRNA and 2698 DE circRNA between the sham and tMCAO (I/R) groups. Additionally, 1809 DE lncRNA, 763 DE mRNA, and 2795 DE circRNA were identified between the I/R group and tMCAO + DEX (I/R + DEX) groups. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated significant enrichment in multicellular biogenesis, plasma membrane components, and protein binding. KEGG analysis further highlighted the potential mechanism of DEX action in reducing cerebral I/R injury, with hub genes involved in inflammatory pathways. This study demonstrates DEX’s efficacy in reducing cerebral I/R injury and offers insights into its brain-protective effects, especially in ischemic stroke. Further research is warranted to fully understand DEX’s neuroprotective mechanisms and its clinical applications.
Crossing a CRISPR/Cas9 transgenic tomato plant with a wild-type plant yields diverse mutations in the F1 progeny
Authors: Ito Yasuhiro
Published: August 2024

Generating CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutants in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) involves screening shoots regenerated from cultured cells transformed with a T-DNA harboring sequences encoding Cas9 and single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). Production of transformants can be inconsistent and obtaining transformants in large numbers may be difficult, resulting in a limited variety of mutations. Here, I report a method for generating various types of mutations from one transgenic plant harboring the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this method, a wild-type plant was crossed with a T0 biallelic mutant expressing two sgRNAs targeting the RIPENING INHIBITOR (RIN) gene, and the resulting F1 seedlings were classified using a kanamycin resistance marker on the T-DNA. Genotyping of the RIN locus revealed that kanamycin-sensitive F1 seedlings, which carried no T-DNA, always harbored the wild-type allele and a mutant allele from the transgenic parent. Kanamycin-resistant F1 seedlings, which do carry the T-DNA, harbored a variety of novel mutant alleles, but not the wild-type allele, suggesting that it was mutated during crossing. The novel mutations included one-base insertions or short deletions at each target site, or large deletions across the two target sites. This method was also successfully applied to produce mutations in Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase 2 (GGPS2). Because this method involves crossing rather than transformation, it can be readily scaled up to produce numerous novel mutations, even in plant species or cultivars for which transformation is inefficient. Therefore, when initial transgene experiments fail to induce the desired mutation, this method provides additional opportunities for generating mutants.
Mind wandering is not always harmful in sports: the role of its content
Authors: Li Jieling , Li Chuangye , Xue Shuangpeng , He Yuxiu
Published: August 2024

Objective

Mind wandering (MW) among athletes during training and competition can lead to poor performance. However, MW has also been found to have positive effects. This study aims to clarify the causes of the bidirectional (negative and positive) effects of MW in the sports context, specifically focusing on whether these effects are related to the content of MW.

Methods

A total of 846 Chinese athletes completed the Chinese version of the MW scales. The survey data were tested for common method biases. Subsequently, Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 7.0.

Results

The frequency of MW can positively predict its bidirectional effects. MW content plays an important role in the relationships between MW frequency and its negative and positive effects, but the direction of influence varies depending on the content.

Conclusion

MW in sports is not always harmful, and its content plays an important role. These findings suggest that managing MW content may be a promising MW intervention method for improving performance in sports.
A research on copyright issues impacting artists emotional states in the framework of artificial intelligence
Authors: Kambur Hüseyin , Dolunay Ayhan
Published: August 2024

Art and artistic creation serve as a means for artists to communicate with their environment, society, and the external world. However, the protection of artistic creations, as forms of communication, is not only a right for artists but also serves as a crucial safeguard that nurtures them during the creative process. Beyond the traditional issues of copyright, the significant advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in today’s digital world have introduced a new debate regarding the ownership of copyright in artistic creations generated by AI. The question arises whether copyright belongs to the AI itself or to the individuals who guide the creative process behind it. In this study, based on the concepts of art, artistic creation, and emotional states, copyright issues will be examined. Data obtained from semi-structured in-depth interviews with artists and academic experts (eight artists, two communication experts, two law experts, and eight psychology experts) in the field will be analysed through content analysis to explore their perspectives regarding the discussion on emotional states, AI, and copyrights. The research highlights the variability of emotional states and their significant effects on individuals. Addressing the increasing trend of copyright issues, particularly within the framework of digitalization and inadequate legal regulations, it was found that artists’ emotional states are negatively impacted by these problems. This negative influence can adversely affect artists’ creativity and desire to produce. On the other hand, it was also identified that in artworks produced especially through AI, if artists’ rights are not protected, there is a possibility of negative emotional states arising. In conclusion, suggestions are as follows: Emphasising the importance of awareness-raising educational activities nationally and internationally, national copyright law (in Northern Cyprus) needs to be revised to protect traditional copyright and be expanded to include digital copyright, especially for works produced through AI. On an international level, emphasising the need to revise international agreements to include regulations for works produced through AI or to create a new agreement based on the importance of this issue.
The effect of sexual orientation on voice acoustic properties
Authors: Holmes Luke , Rieger Gerulf , Paulmann Silke
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Previous research has investigated sexual orientation differences in the acoustic properties of individuals’ voices, often theorizing that homosexuals of both sexes would have voice properties mirroring those of heterosexuals of the opposite sex. Findings were mixed, but many of these studies have methodological limitations including small sample sizes, use of recited passages instead of natural speech, or grouping bisexual and homosexual participants together for analyses.

Methods

To address these shortcomings, the present study examined a wide range of acoustic properties in the natural voices of 142 men and 175 women of varying sexual orientations, with sexual orientation treated as a continuous variable throughout.

Results

Homosexual men had less breathy voices (as indicated by a lower harmonics-to-noise ratio) and, contrary to our prediction, a lower voice pitch and narrower pitch range than heterosexual men. Homosexual women had lower F4 formant frequency (vocal tract resonance or so-called overtone) in overall vowel production, and rougher voices (measured via jitter and spectral tilt) than heterosexual women. For those sexual orientation differences that were statistically significant, bisexuals were in-between heterosexuals and homosexuals. No sexual orientation differences were found in formants F1–F3, cepstral peak prominence, shimmer, or speech rate in either sex.

Discussion

Recommendations for future “natural voice” investigations are outlined.
Assessment of the economic viability, environmental, and social impacts of green hydrogen production: an Algerian case study
Authors: Anim-Mensah Alexander , Drouiche Nadjib , Boulaiche Wassila
Published: August 2024

The impacts of climate change are real and in many parts of the world testify to its harsh reality, including rampant extreme weather events, droughts, heat, wildfires, and flooding which have recorded in places which have not experienced them in recent memory. In the quest to avert such events, there is a growing awareness and demand for sustainable processes and operations. Today, sustainability encompasses a balance between ecological footprint and human development index, taking into consideration economics, the green environment, safety, quality, ethics, diversity and inclusion (D&I), and communities. This article presents some steps that have been taken by Algeria to balance energetic autonomy and sustainable development, and a case study on green hydrogen production employing membrane processes. Algeria’s objective to join the global fight against climate change is to develop its green hydrogen base. Given its resources, including available solar and wind power, seawater desalination plants, building capacity, and its favorable location, it is developing its green hydrogen economy to supply hydrogen, especially to Europe. This presents an opportunity for other developing nations, especially in Africa, to gain from this experience.
Blockchain-enabled transparent traffic enforcement for sustainable road safety in cities
Authors: Chen Chin-Ling , Tu Cheng-Yang , Deng Yong-Yuan , Huang Der-Chen , Liu Ling-Chun , Chen Hsing-Chung
Published: August 2024

With the progress of the times, cars have become an important means of transportation in our lives. However, with new cars of all kinds, road safety issues still cannot be effectively improved. While countries have responded by enforcing traffic laws and using electronic technology to enhance enforcement, challenges still need to be addressed, including blurred images and misjudgments by police agencies, and even exploiting loopholes in traffic enforcement frameworks to evade consequences through bribery or connections. exacerbating an accident and leaving victims and families in the lurch of the aftermath. To solve this problem, we proposed a data traceability law enforcement system based on blockchain and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). The system ensures rapid traceability and protects law enforcement data from external attacks. The goal of leveraging blockchain’s decentralized nature and smart contracts is to instill accountability and fairness in road safety measures, mitigate the effects of corruption, and pave the way for a safer and more just transportation environment. Our experimental results show that under our stress test of 50 transactions per second, the throughput can be as high as 300 and the maximum delay can reach 2.01s, which is enough to experimentally prove that our system is feasible. Our approach is designed to solve the data corruption problem caused by the centralized server being paralyzed. It applies to all technology enforcement, with high flexibility and scalability for all participants to join or set privileges. we also provide an automated traffic law enforcement system in a smart city. To make the data storage more secure and fair, and not easily damaged by malicious people or tampered with by intentional attackers. This brings a breakthrough to the country’s program security.
Within-child associations between sleep quality and emotional self-regulation over 6 months among preschool-aged (3- to 5-year-old) children
Authors: Godzik Cassandra M. , Carlson Delaina D. , Pashchenko Oleksandra I. , Ballarino Grace A. , Emond Jennifer A.
Published: August 2024

Objective

We leveraged an observational, repeated-measures study to examine the within-child associations between sleep quality and emotional self-regulation, controlling for between-child effects.

Methods

Children aged 3–5 years and one parent each were recruited from the community in northern New England between 2019 and 2022. Parents completed online surveys at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 months post-baseline. Child sleep quality was measured with the validated Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire modified for preschoolers; higher scores indicate worse sleep quality (range 32–96). Child emotional self-regulation was measured with the validated Child Social Behavior Questionnaire; higher scores indicate better emotional self-regulation (range 1–7). Adjusted mixed-effects linear regression was used to model the associations between nighttime sleep quality (exposure) and emotional self-regulation (outcome) measured at each of the four study time points while disaggregating the between- and within-child effects.

Results

Children (n = 91) were largely white, non-Hispanic (88.7%), and from a higher social-economic status. Sleep quality scores averaged 38.9 (SD: 6.6) at baseline; 23.1% of children had scores >41, which is considered evidence of significant sleep problems. Emotional self-regulation scores averaged 4.2 (SD: 1.0). There was a significant within-child association between sleep quality and emotional self-regulation. Specifically, a decrease in sleep quality at any one time point, relative to each child's mean sleep quality, related to worse emotional self-regulation [standardized beta, βs = −0.31; 95% CI (0.53, −0.09)]; the between-child effect was not significant. Results were consistent when limited to children with complete data at all study visits (n = 78).

Conclusions

The findings support a causal, within-child association between sleep quality and emotional self-regulation in preschool-aged children, with effects evident over 6 months.
Perceived benefits and barriers to exercise and associated factors among Zimbabwean undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shava Beatrice K. , Vhudzijena Blessed , Kupenga-Maposa Tariro , Musingwini Thelma , Samudzi Tanaka , Muchemwa Sidney , Chibanda Dixon , Dambi Jermaine M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Despite the well-documented benefits of regular physical activity (PA), many university students are physically inactive. Personal, socio-economic, and environmental factors predict PA engagement behaviours in university students. There is a need to understand context-specific perceived barriers and benefits to exercise engagement and physical activity levels amongst university students from low-income settings. This study primarily evaluated the barriers and facilitators to PA engagement in Zimbabwean undergraduate students. We also assessed the correlates of perceived barriers and benefits to PA engagement, risk of common mental disorders (CMDs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

We used a cross-sectional study to recruit 465 university undergraduate students. The Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Shona Symptoms Questionnaire (SSQ-8) and EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ5D-5l) were used to measure barriers and facilitators, physical activity level, risk of depression and anxiety and HRQoL, respectively. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results and conclusion

Most participants were male (58.5%) with a mean age of 21.7 (SD 1.6) years. Majority of the participants were first year students (37.2%), consumed alcohol (66.5%), did not smoke (88.2%) and had a normal BMI (64.7%). The prevalence of low PA levels was 17.4%, with 33.5% of students at risk of CMDs. The most perceived benefits were in the physical performance (e.g., exercise improves my level of physical fitness) and life enhancement (e.g., exercise improves my self-concept) domains, while the most perceived barriers were lack of exercise infrastructure (e.g., exercise facilities do not have convenient schedules) and physical exertion (e.g., exercise tires me). Food insecurity (AOR 2.51: 95% CI 1.62–3.88) and the risk of CMDs (AOR 0.49: 95% CI 0.32–0.76) were associated with increased odds of experiencing barriers to exercise. Not using substances (AOR = 2.14: 95% CI 1.11–4.14) and a higher self-rated HRQoL (AOR 24.34: 95% CI 1.77–335.13) were associated with increased odds of a high perception of exercise benefits. Improving access to community and on-campus exercise facilities and campus-wide health promotional interventions is necessary to enhance PA amongst university students.
Risk identification and mitigation among rice farmers in Pakistan: a fuzzy-AHP multi-criteria decision-making approach
Authors: Mohsin Muhammad , Mehak Ana , Shafqat Muhammad Mobeen , Luyao Zhang
Published: August 2024

Rice farming in developing countries contributes significantly to economic growth, yet it confronts diverse risks. Strengthening its resilience necessitates systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, allowing for optimized resource allocation. The majority of published literature, however, focuses primarily on individual risks rather than comparing or ranking them according to their importance. This regime needs to be more helpful for managers and policy-makers in achieving effective management. As a result, frequent management failures are causing substantial economic losses and threatening food security in the most populous regions of the world. This study addresses these existing research gaps by systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, viz., Zero Hunger, ultimately contributing to enhanced risk management and developing countries’ rice farming sector resilience. Data was obtained from Pakistan through a purposefully designed questionnaire and sourced from a pool of 412 respondents representing a spectrum of stakeholders selected by the snowball technique. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was employed to deconstruct and comprehend the data statistically. A key observation is the recognition of the main risks within rice farming, notably revolving around resource-related and external environmental risks. These risks emphasize the critical management of sub-risks of water management and pest and disease. This study also identified several risk sub-factors that are critical but have yet to be extensively discussed in the literature. Furthermore, survey respondents expressed low levels of risk perception and suggested strengthening the management system through policy reforms. To enhance the resilience of rice farming, stakeholders must engage in effective risk communication, capacity building, and policy implementation. Therefore, more comprehensive integrated risk management interventions are urgently needed to address rice farming risks for achieving SDG 2.
A Review on Reinforcement Learning in Production Scheduling: An Inferential Perspective
Authors: Modrak Vladimir , Sudhakarapandian Ranjitharamasamy , Balamurugan Arunmozhi , Soltysova Zuzana
Published: August 2024

In this study, a systematic review on production scheduling based on reinforcement learning (RL) techniques using especially bibliometric analysis has been carried out. The aim of this work is, among other things, to point out the growing interest in this domain and to outline the influence of RL as a type of machine learning on production scheduling. To achieve this, the paper explores production scheduling using RL by investigating the descriptive metadata of pertinent publications contained in Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. The study focuses on a wide spectrum of publications spanning the years between 1996 and 2024. The findings of this study can serve as new insights for future research endeavors in the realm of production scheduling using RL techniques.
Inversion-Based Deblending in Common Midpoint Domain Using Time Domain High-Resolution Radon
Authors: Zhuang Kai , Trad Daniel , Ibrahim Amr
Published: August 2024

We implement an inversion-based deblending method in the common midpoint gathers (CMP) as an alternative to the standard common receiver gather (CRG) domain methods. The primary advantage of deblending in the CMP domain is that reflections from dipping layers are centred around zero offsets. As a result, CMP gathers exhibit a simpler structure compared to common receiver gathers (CRGs), where these reflections are apex-shifted. Consequently, we can employ a zero-offset hyperbolic Radon operator to process CMP gathers. This operator is a computationally more efficient alternative to the apex-shifted hyperbolic Radon required for processing CRG gathers. Sparse transforms, such as the Radon transform, can stack reflections and produce sparse models capable of separating blended sources. We utilize the Radon operator to develop an inversion-based deblending framework that incorporates a sparse model constraint. The inclusion of a sparsity constraint in the inversion process enhances the focusing of the transform and improves data recovery. Inversion-based deblending enables us to account for all observed data by incorporating the blending operator into the cost function. Our synthetic and field data examples demonstrate that inversion-based deblending in the CMP domain can effectively separate blended sources.
Assessing Groundwater Use Efficiency and Productivity across Punjab Agriculture: District and Farm Size Perspectives
Authors: Bhatia Sahil , Singh S. P.
Published: August 2024

While previous studies have focused on the technical aspects of groundwater extraction and optimal cropping patterns, there is a notable lack of research on the socio-economic factors affecting groundwater access and agricultural productivity, especially at a micro-level in Punjab, India. This study, therefore, investigates the water use efficiency (WUE) and economic water productivity (EWP) of paddy and wheat crops across diverse farm sizes and districts in Punjab, offering critical insights into agricultural water management. The study is based on primary data from Punjab, India, with Sangrur, Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Bathinda districts selected for groundwater profile analysis via multistage random sampling of 246 farmers. Notably, Punjab exhibits high EWP for wheat, surpassing the national average. However, disparities exist across districts, emphasizing the importance of localized interventions. Larger farms consistently demonstrate higher WUE and EWP, underlining the significance of scale in optimizing water inputs. Factors such as farm size, crop variety, and regional variations significantly influence WUE and EWP. Tailored approaches for marginal farmers and districts with lower efficiency are crucial for promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance water use efficiency and productivity in Punjab’s agriculture sector.
The Impact of EU Subsidies on the Competitiveness of Slovak Farms from the Perspective of Legal Form
Authors: Vozárová Ivana Kravčáková , Kotulič Rastislav
Published: August 2024

Supporting the competitiveness of farms is one of the main priorities of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy. Therefore, the analysis of transfer efficiency is an important element in the policy evaluation process. The primary aim of this partial research was to evaluate the development of farms’ competitiveness in Slovakia, considering the financial support from the European Union and focusing on the legal form perspective. We assessed farm competitiveness using the Recourse Cost Ratio coefficient, which compares costs and revenues of entities in Slovakia’s agricultural sector from 2004 to 2019. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in competitiveness among farms based on their legal forms. From these findings, it is recommended that effective farm management is crucial for enhancing competitiveness, productivity, and profitability across all farms. Despite the specifics of individual legal forms of business, it is important to clarify that it is often the skills and abilities of the management of each enterprise that contribute to better acquisition of financial resources and also strengthen the competitive position of the farm in the market.
Sustainability of Organic Fertilizers Use in Dryland Mediterranean Agriculture
Authors: Ortiz Carlos , Yagüe María Rosa , Valdez Alcira Sunilda , Molina María Gabriela , Bosch-Serra Àngela Dolores
Published: August 2024

Organic fertilization is a key issue in European Union (EU) regulations, particularly in the context of promoting a circular nutrient economy, maintaining soil quality, and sequestering carbon to face climate change. In a rainfed system in Northeastern Spain, an experiment was set up (split-plot design). It included five pre-sowing N fertilization treatments: control, mineral, pig slurry, and composted sewage sludge (two rates). The average N rates were 0, 30, 141, 176, and 351 kg N ha−1, respectively. They were combined with mineral N topdressings (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1). Three crops were grown: barley (nine years), wheat (three years), and rapeseed (one year). In the driest years (c. 350 mm rainfall), the yields averaged 2.5, 2.0, and 1.9 Mg ha−1, respectively. The maximum yields were for barley (6.5 Mg ha−1) and wheat (5.5 Mg ha−1). The avoidance of a significant increase in soil residual NO3−-N, plus the control of soil build up of available P, micronutrients, and Cd, defines the fertilization strategies. (i) With a previous spring drought season, no fertilization is needed in the following year, if devoted to winter cereals. (ii) In rainier seasons, pig slurry or composted sewage sludge (lowest rate) applied at sowing is sufficient; however, 50 kg of mineral-N ha−1 at the topdressing can be applied. The study found that pig slurry favors K, Mg, Cu, and Zn availability, while composted sewage sludge enhances Fe availability. Although it is possible to reduce N inputs from organic fertilizers, organic C build-up will be constrained.
Study on the Bionic Design and Cutting Performance of Alfalfa Cutters Based on the Maxillary Mouthparts of Longicorn Beetles
Authors: Ma Jingyi , Wu Kun , Gao Ang , Du Yonghui , Song Yuepeng , Ren Longlong
Published: August 2024

Inspired by the maxillary mouthparts of longicorn beetles, four types of bionic cutters were designed in this research to address the prevalent issues of high cutting resistance and severe stubble damage encountered during alfalfa harvesting. Finite element simulation was utilized to assess the structural integrity and cutting performance of these bionic cutters. Additionally, bench tests were conducted on a homemade stem-cutting force measurement and control rig to evaluate their effectiveness. The results indicated: (1) the bionic cutters achieved a reduction in maximum equivalent force ranging from 20.9% to 49.2% and a decrease in maximum deformation from 31.4% to 64.1% compared to conventional cutters; (2) the maximum cutting resistance of alfalfa stems was reduced by 28.6%, 43.9%, 52.4%, and 38.6%, significantly enhancing the flatness of the cut surfaces; (3) orthogonal bench tests demonstrated that the type of cutter and the slip-cutting angle significantly influenced the maximum cutting resistance of the stems (p < 0.01), with the optimal configuration being bionic cutter c, a slip-cutting angle of 10°, and a rotational speed of 2600 rpm. In conclusion, bionic cutters demonstrate substantial advantages in reducing maximum cutting resistance and improving the flatness of alfalfa stubble, suggesting their potential for widespread application and adoption.
Carbon Footprint of an Extensively Raised, Low-Productivity Sheep Population
Authors: Reyes-Palomo Carolina , Díaz-Gaona Cipriano , Sanz-Fernández Santos , Muñoz-Cobos Isabel , Aguilera Eduardo , Rodríguez-Estévez Vicente
Published: August 2024

Extensive traditional livestock systems currently face various threats, leading to their disappearance. An example of these extensive livestock farming systems is the production of the Lojeña sheep breed in the Sierra de Loja (Granada, Spain), with a census of 24,511 ewes in 2021. The aim of this work is to calculate the carbon footprint (CF) of this local breed in this region. This study is based on data collected from 27 Lojeña sheep farms producing weaned lambs (≤14 kg, 25 farms), fattened lambs (≈25 kg, 7 farms), culled animals (24 farms) and greasy wool (27 farms). Most of these farms (78%) were organically (ORG) certified and seven were conventionally (CONV) managed. The analysed farms represent 93% of the total number of farms producing Lojeña sheep in the Sierra de Loja. The CF was calculated with a “cradle to farm gate” approach. The average C footprints were 27.5 ± 6.8 kg CO2eq kgLW−1 for weaned lambs, 21.8 ± 8.5 kg CO2eq kgLW−1 for fattened lambs, 4.1 ± 2.6 kg CO2eq kgLW−1 for culled animals and 2.2 ± 0.6 kg CO2eq kg−1 for greasy wool, with a not statistically different average CF in ORG than in CONV farms. Enteric fermentation represents the main source of emissions (>60%) in all the products, and external feeding (including transport, and emissions from producing the feed) represents the second one (>10%). There was an inverse relationship between CF and productivity (lambs sold ewe−1 year−1), leading to lower footprints on those farms with the higher productivity. A direct relationship between CF and stocking rate (livestock units ha−1) has been identified.
Design and Parameter Optimization of a Combined Rotor and Lining Plate Crushing Organic Fertilizer Spreader
Authors: Xu Bing , Cui Qingliang , Guo Lina , Hao Lirong
Published: August 2024

To address the inefficient crushing of fertilizer during the mechanized spreading process caused by the caking of high-humidity organic fertilizer, a fertilizer spreader with a combined rotor and lining plate crushing mechanism was proposed in this paper. With the introduction of the basic structure and working principle of the spreader, a particle group model for an organic fertilizer consisting of both caked and bulk fertilizer was built, based on the Hertz–Mindlin model with bonding and the Hertz–Mindlin model with JKR contact, in EDEM to construct an organic fertilizer-crushing-and-spreading model. With the rotor speed, the axial distance of the hammer, and the number of circumferential hammer groups as the experimental factors and the maximum broken bond rate of the caked organic fertilizer and the minimum coefficient of variation of spreading uniformity as the experimental indices, the Box–Behnken test method was employed to establish regression equations for response surface analysis and multi-objective optimization of the test results. The results indicated that, when the rotor speed was 6.47 Hz, the axial distance of the hammer was 90.30 mm, the number of circumferential hammer groups was five, the broken bond rate reached 90.86%, and the coefficient of variation was 21.45%. Verification tests under these conditions showed a broken bond rate of 90.03% and a coefficient of variation of 22.12%, which were consistent with the optimization results. Therefore, our research provides a reference for the structural design of an organic fertilizer spreader and the optimization of its working parameters.
Identification and Functional Analysis of the EPF/EPFL Gene Family in Maize (Zea mays L.): Implications for Drought Stress Response
Authors: Xia Hanchao , Wang Qi , Chen Ziqi , Sun Xiaopeng , Zhao Fangfang , Zhang Di , Fei Jianbo , Zhao Rengui , Yin Yuejia
Published: August 2024

Maize, a vital cereal in global agriculture, faces significant yield challenges due to drought exacerbated by climate change. This study explores the genetic and molecular bases of drought resilience in maize, focusing on the EPF/EPFL gene family known for its role in stomatal regulation. Through a genome-wide analysis across seven grass species, we identified and characterized 16 ZmEPF/EPFL genes in maize. Focusing on their gene structure, expression patterns, and evolutionary relationships. The study integrated genome-wide searches, phylogenetic analysis, gene expression profiling under drought and other abiotic stresses, and qRT-PCR validation to elucidate the functional roles of these genes in drought response. Our results demonstrate that specific ZmEPF/EPFL genes are differentially expressed under varying drought conditions, suggesting their involvement in the plant’s adaptive response to water scarcity. Furthermore, interaction analyses reveal that these genes are linked to key processes such as stomatal development and oxidative stress management. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the ZmEPF/EPFL gene family’s contribution to stomatal development and drought tolerance, offering insights that could guide future breeding strategies for drought-resistant maize varieties.