bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organization of sensorimotor activity in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed individuals: an fMRI conjunction analysis
Authors: Schnittjer Amber J. , Kim HoWon , Lepley Adam S. , Onate James A. , Criss Cody R. , Simon Janet E. , Grooms Dustin R.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is characterized by persistent involved limb functional deficits that persist for years despite rehabilitation. Previous research provides evidence of both peripheral and central nervous system adaptations following ACLR. However, no study has compared functional organization of the brain for involved limb motor control relative to the uninvolved limb and healthy controls. The purpose of this study was to examine sensorimotor cortex and cerebellar functional activity overlap and non-overlap during a knee motor control task between groups (ACLR and control), and to determine cortical organization of involved and uninvolved limb movement between groups.

Methods

Eighteen participants with left knee ACLR and 18 control participants performed a knee flexion/extension motor control task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A conjunction analysis was conducted to determine the degree of overlap in brain activity for involved and uninvolved limb knee motor control between groups.

Results

The ACLR group had a statistically higher mean percent signal change in the sensorimotor cortex for the involved > uninvolved contrast compared to the control group. Brain activity between groups statistically overlapped in sensorimotor regions of the cortex and cerebellum for both group contrasts: involved > uninvolved and uninvolved > involved. Relative to the control group, the ACLR group uniquely activated superior parietal regions (precuneus, lateral occipital cortex) for involved limb motor control. Additionally, for involved limb motor control, the ACLR group displayed a medial and superior shift in peak voxel location in frontal regions; for parietal regions, the ACLR group had a more posterior and superior peak voxel location relative to the control group.

Conclusion

ACLR may result in unique activation of the sensorimotor cortex via a cortically driven sensory integration strategy to maintain involved limb motor control. The ACLR group's unique brain activity was independent of strength, self-reported knee function, and time from surgery.
Pain neuroscience education in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: an umbrella review
Authors: Cuenca-Martínez Ferran , Suso-Martí Luis , Calatayud Joaquín , Ferrer-Sargues Francisco José , Muñoz-Alarcos Vicente , Alba-Quesada Patricio , Biviá-Roig Gemma
Published: November 2023

Introduction

In recent years, pain neuroscience education (PNE) has been the focus of extensive research in the scientific literature in the field of physical therapy, but the results obtained are controversial and its clinical application remains unclear. The main aim of this umbrella review was to assess the effectiveness of PNE in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP).

Methods

We searched systematically in PubMed (Medline), PEDro, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Methodological quality was analyzed using AMSTAR-2 scale and overlapping analysis using GROOVE tool.

Results

16 systematic reviews were included. A qualitative synthesis was performed for the following sets of patients with CMP: overall CMP, chronic spinal pain, patients with fibromyalgia and patients with osteoarthritis. In general terms, it seems that the addition of the PNE-based intervention to other treatments, mostly exercise-based interventions although we might refer to it in terms of a multimodal approach, leads to greater clinical improvements than the multimodal approach alone. We have found this especially in the reduction of the influence of psychosocial variables. However, it seems that studies testing the effectiveness of PNE in isolation, systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis did not show statistically significant improvements overall in terms of pain intensity, disability levels or psychosocial variables.

Discussion

There is a great heterogeneity in the results obtained and the PNE protocols used, a critically low quality in the reviews included and a very high overlap, so there is a need to improve the studies in this field before clinical application.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022355634).
Effects of dynamic [18F]NaF PET scan duration on kinetic uptake parameters in the knee
Authors: Watkins Lauren E. , Haddock Bryan , Goyal Ananya , Kogan Feliks
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Accurately estimating bone perfusion and metabolism using [18F]NaF kinetics from shorter scan times could help address concerns related to patient comfort, motion, and throughput for PET scans. We examined the impact of changing the PET scan duration on the accuracy of [18F]NaF kinetic parameters in the knee.

Methods

Both knees of twenty participants with and without osteoarthritis were scanned using a hybrid PET-MRI system (53 ± 13 years, BMI 25.9 ± 4.2 kg/m2, 13 female). Seventeen participants were scanned for 54 ± 2 min, and an additional three participants were scanned for 75 min. Patlak Ki and Hawkins kinetic parameters (Ki, K1, extraction fraction) were assessed using 50- or 75-minutes of scan data as well as for scan durations that were retrospectively shortened. The error of the kinetic uptake parameters was calculated in bone regions throughout the knee.

Results

The mean error of Patlak Ki, Hawkins Ki, K1, and extraction fraction was less than 10% for scan durations exceeding 30 min and decreased with increasing scan duration.

Conclusions

The length of dynamic data acquisition can be reduced to as short as 30 min while retaining accuracy within the limits of reproducibility of Hawkins kinetic uptake parameters.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids concerning prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk among participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2005 to March 2020
Authors: Jiang Susu , Yang Wenhan , Li Yanmei , Feng Jingying , Miao Junjie , Shi Hongmei , Xue Hongmei
Published: November 2023

Objective

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) may be related to glycometabolism. While associations between UFA intake (especially their subtype) and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) need to be further studied. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential relation of UFA with prediabetes and T2DM.

Methods

A total of 16,290 adults aged older than 18 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to March 2020 were included in the present analysis. Dietary intake was assessed by two day, 24-hour dietary recalls and daily intake of total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); four specific fatty acids of MUFA and seven specific fatty acids of PUFA were calculated. Prediabetes and T2DM were diagnosed by fasting glucose, glycohemoglobin, and self-reported medication or insulin. Rao–Scott modified chi-square tests, the Taylor series linearization method, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to analyze the associations of dietary MUFA and PUFA intake with diabetes risk.

Results

Of the participants, 44.34% had prediabetes and 13.16% had T2DM patients. From multivariate analysis, we found that intake of MUFA, PUFA, and some subtypes was negatively associated with the risk of prediabetes and T2DM in Americans. Compared with adults in the lowest tertile, those in the highest MUFA (PUFA) tertile had an approximately 50% (49%) and 69% (68%) lower risk of prediabetes and T2DM, respectively. Moreover, the effects of the subtypes of MUFA and PUFA on prediabetes and T2DM were different. Higher intakes of MFA 18:1, MFA 20:1, PFA 18:2, and PFA 18:3 and higher tertile intakes of MFA 16:1 and PFA 20:4 were related to a lower risk of prediabetes and T2DM. Similarly, the effects of MUFA, PUFA, and subtype on prediabetes and T2DM varied among different age groups, being weakened along with age.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that total MUFA and PUFA intake might be essential in preventing prediabetes and T2DM, especially in Americans. However, this protective effect may decrease with age. Moreover, the effects of the specific UFA on prediabetes and T2DM need further consideration.
Feasibility of delta radiomics–based pCR prediction for rectal cancer patients treated with magnetic resonance–guided adaptive radiotherapy
Authors: Wu Junxiang , Xiao Juan , Li Yihong , Wu Fan , Peng Qian , Li Churong , Tang Bin , Orlandini Lucia Clara
Published: November 2023

Magnetic resonance–guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) represents the latest frontier in precision radiotherapy. It is distinguished from other modalities by the possibility of acquiring high-contrast soft tissue images, combined with the ability to recalculate and re-optimize the plan on the daily anatomy. The extensive database of available images offers ample scope for using disciplines such as radiomics to try to correlate features and outcomes. This study aimed to correlate the change of radiomics feature along the treatment to pathological complete response (pCR) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. Twenty-eight LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) with a short course (25 Gy, 5 Gy × 5f) MRgART at 1.5 Tesla MR-Linac were enrolled. The T2-weighted images acquired at each fraction, corresponding target delineation, pCR result of the surgical specimen, and clinical variables were collected. Seven families of features [First Order, Shape, Gray-level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Gray-level Dependence Matrix (GLDM), Gray-level Run Length Matrix (GLRLM), Gray-level Size Zone Matrix (GLSZM), and Neighborhood Gray Tone Difference Matrix (NGTDM)] were extracted, and delta features were calculated from the ratio of features of each successive fraction to those of the first fraction. Mann-Whitney U test and LASSO were utilized to reduce the dimension of features and select those features that are most significant to pCR. At last, the radiomics signatures were established by linear regression with the final set of features and their coefficients. A total of 581 radiomics features were extracted, and 2,324 delta features were calculated for each patient. Nineteen features and delta features, and one clinical variable (cN) were significant (p< 0.05) to pCR; seven predictive features were further selected and included in the linear regression to construct the radiomics signature significantly discriminating pCR and non-pCR groups (p< 0.05). Delta features based on MRI images acquired during a short course MRgART could potentially be used to predict treatment response in LARC patients undergoing nCRT.
Comparison of preoperative CT- and MRI-based multiparametric radiomics in the prediction of lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer
Authors: Niu Yue , Yu Xiaoping , Wen Lu , Bi Feng , Jian Lian , Liu Siye , Yang Yanhui , Zhang Yi , Lu Qiang
Published: November 2023

Objective

To compare computed tomography (CT)- and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based multiparametric radiomics models and validate a multi-modality, multiparametric clinical-radiomics nomogram for individual preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in rectal cancer (RC) patients.

Methods

234 rectal adenocarcinoma patients from our retrospective study cohort were randomly selected as the training (n = 164) and testing (n = 70) cohorts. The radiomics features of the primary tumor were extracted from the non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCE-CT), the enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), the T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and the gadolinium contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-TIWI) of each patient. Three kinds of models were constructed based on training cohort, including the Clinical model (based on the clinical features), the radiomics models (based on NCE-CT, CE-CT, T2WI, CE-T1WI, CT, MRI, CT combing with MRI) and the clinical-radiomics models (based on CT or MRI radiomics model combing with clinical data) and Clinical-IMG model (based on CT and MRI radiomics model combing with clinical data). The performances of the 11 models were evaluated via the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the training and validation cohort. Differences in the AUCs among the 11 models were compared using DeLong’s test. Finally, the optimal model (Clinical-IMG model) was selected to create a radiomics nomogram. The performance of the nomogram to evaluate clinical efficacy was verified by ROC curves and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The MRI radiomics model in the validation cohort significantly outperformed than CT radiomics model (AUC, 0.785 vs. 0.721, p<0.05). The Clinical-IMG nomogram had the highest prediction efficiency than all other predictive models (p<0.05), of which the AUC was 0.947, the sensitivity was 0.870 and the specificity was 0.884.

Conclusion

MRI radiomics model performed better than both CT radiomics model and Clinical model in predicting LNM of RC. The clinical-radiomics nomogram that combines the radiomics features obtained from both CT and MRI along with preoperative clinical characteristics exhibits the best diagnostic performance.
Spinal ependymoma in adults: from molecular advances to new treatment perspectives
Authors: Cerretti Giulia , Pessina Federico , Franceschi Enrico , Barresi Valeria , Salvalaggio Alessandro , Padovan Marta , Manara Renzo , Di Nunno Vincenzo , Bono Beatrice Claudia , Librizzi Giovanni , Caccese Mario , Scorsetti Marta , Maccari Marta , Minniti Giuseppe , Navarria Pierina , Lombardi Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Ependymomas are rare glial tumors with clinical and biological heterogeneity, categorized into supratentorial ependymoma, posterior fossa ependymoma, and spinal cord ependymoma, according to anatomical localization. Spinal ependymoma comprises four different types: spinal ependymoma, spinal ependymoma MYCN-amplified, myxopapillary ependymoma, and subependymoma. The clinical onset largely depends on the spinal location of the tumor. Both non-specific and specific sensory and/or motor symptoms can be present. Owing to diverse features and the low incidence of spinal ependymomas, most of the current clinical management is derived from small retrospective studies, particularly in adults. Treatment involves primarily surgical resection, aiming at maximal safe resection. The use of radiotherapy remains controversial and the optimal dose has not been established; it is usually considered after subtotal resection for WHO grade 2 ependymoma and for WHO grade 3 ependymoma regardless of the extent of resection. There are limited systemic treatments available, with limited durable results and modest improvement in progression-free survival. Thus, chemotherapy is usually reserved for recurrent cases where resection and/or radiation is not feasible. Recently, a combination of temozolomide and lapatinib has shown modest results with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.8 months in recurrent spinal ependymomas. Other studies have explored the use of temozolomide, platinum compounds, etoposide, and bevacizumab, but standard treatment options have not yet been defined. New treatment options with targeted treatments and immunotherapy are being investigated. Neurological and supportive care are crucial, even in the early stages. Post-surgical rehabilitation can improve the consequences of surgery and maintain a good quality of life, especially in young patients with long life expectancy. Here, we focus on the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for adults with spinal ependymoma, and discuss recent molecular advances and new treatment perspectives.
Short-, mid-, and long-term complications after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children over a 24-month follow-up period in a hospital in Lima-Peru, 2020–2022
Authors: Alvarado-Gamarra Giancarlo , Estupiñan-Vigil Matilde , Garcés-Ghilardi Raquel , Domínguez-Rojas Jesús , del Águila Olguita , Alcalá-Marcos Katherine , Márquez Llanos Rafael , Ecker Lucie , Celis Carlos R. , Alva-Diaz Carlos , Lanata Claudio F.
Published: November 2023

Objective

To determine the short-, mid-, and long-term complications after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) over a 24-month follow-up period in a hospital in Lima, Peru, 2020–2022, and to explore differences according to the immunomodulatory treatment received and type of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating.

Methods

Ambispective 24-month follow-up study in children <14 years of age diagnosed with MIS-C at the Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM).

Results

A total of 62 children were admitted with MIS-C. The most common short-term complications and serious events were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) due to respiratory failure, and shock; predominantly during the second pandemic wave (lambda predominance) and in children that received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plus a corticosteroid. Two patients died during the first wave due to MIS-C. During prospective follow-up (median of 24 months; IQR: 16.7–24), only 46.7% of patients were followed for >18–24 months. Of the total, seven (11.3%) patients were identified with some sequelae on discharge. Among the 43 remaining children, sequelae persisted in five (11.6%) cases (neurological, hematological, and skin problems). Six patients (13.9%) presented with new onset disease (hematologic, respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disorders). One patient died due to acute leukemia during the follow-up period. None of them were admitted to the ICU or presented with MIS-C reactivation. Two patients presented persistence of coronary aneurysm until 8- and 24-month post-discharge.

Conclusion

In our hospital, children with MIS-C frequently developed short-term complications and serious events during the acute phase, with less frequent complications in the mid- and long-term. More studies are required to confirm these findings.
Global research trends of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Song Zhe , Jia Guangyuan , Luo Guangzhi , Han Chengen , Zhang Baoqing , Wang Xiao
Published: November 2023

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), attributable to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), represents a predominant form of community-acquired pneumonia in pediatric populations, thereby posing a significant threat to pediatric health. Given the burgeoning volume of research literature associated with pediatric MPP in recent years, it becomes imperative to undertake a bibliometric analysis aimed at delineating the current research landscape and emerging trends, thereby furnishing a framework for subsequent investigations.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search targeting pediatric MPP was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection. After the removal of duplicate entries through Endnote software, the remaining articles were subject to scientometric analysis via Citespace software, VOSviewer software and R language, focusing on variables such as publication volume, contributing nations, institutions and authors, references and keywords.

Results

A total of 1,729 articles pertinent to pediatric MPP were included in the analysis. China and the United States emerged as the nations with the highest publication output. Italian scholar Susanna Esposito and Japanese scholar Kazunobu Ouchi were the most influential authors in the domain of pediatric MPP. Highly-cited articles primarily focused on the epidemiological investigation of pediatric MPP, the clinical characteristics and treatment of macrolide-resistant MPP, and biomarkers for refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). From the corpus of 1,729 articles, 636 keywords were extracted and categorized into ten clusters: Cluster #0 centered on molecular-level typing of macrolide-resistant strains; Cluster #1 focused on lower respiratory tract co-infections; Clusters #2 and #6 emphasized other respiratory ailments caused by MP; Cluster #3 involved biomarkers and treatment of RMPP; Clusters #4 and #9 pertained to extrapulmonary complications of MPP, Clusters #5 and #7 addressed etiological diagnosis of MPP, and Cluster #8 explored pathogenic mechanisms.

Conclusions

The past few years have witnessed extensive attention directed towards pediatric MPP. Research in pediatric MPP principally revolves around diagnostic techniques for MP, macrolide resistance, complications of MPP, treatment and diagnosis of RMPP, and elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms. The present study provides pediatric clinicians and researchers with the research status and focal points in this field, thereby guiding the orientation of future research endeavors.
Nonlinear stretched flow of a radiative MHD Prandtl fluid with entropy generation and mixed convection
Authors: Asad Sadia
Published: November 2023

This paper examines the analysis of entropy generation in the flow of an MHD Prandtl fluid over a nonlinear stretching sheet. Heat transfer is developed through a convectively heated sheet. The impacts of nonlinear radiation and nonlinear mixed convection are considered. The resulting nonlinear systems are computed for the unique solutions of velocity and temperature profiles. Effects of thermal radiation, the Prandtl number, Prandtl fluid parameters, and the Biot number are discussed. Results for the Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient are analyzed. The impact of the radiation parameter is to improve the rate of heat transport to the flow region. It is stated that temperature distribution increases for greater values of θf. We state that the fluid temperature decreases with the increasing importance of the Prandtl number Pr. Growth in the Prandtl number decreases the rate of thermal diffusion. It shows that the magnitude of drag forces decreases for larger values of Prandtl fluid parameters. Furthermore, curvature and mixed convection parameters boost the flow and heat transfer rate near the cylinder wall. The entropy generation grew up rapidly with larger values of magnetic and Brinkman numbers. The temperature ratio parameter and Prandtl fluid parameters reduce the entropy generation rate. These parameters are also used to control the entropy generation process.
YOLOv5-TS: Detecting traffic signs in real-time
Authors: Shen Jiquan , Zhang Ziyang , Luo Junwei , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: November 2023

Traffic sign detection plays a vital role in assisted driving and automatic driving. YOLOv5, as a one-stage object detection solution, is very suitable for Traffic sign detection. However, it suffers from the problem of false detection and missed detection of small objects. To address this issue, we have made improvements to YOLOv5 and subsequently introduced YOLOv5-TS in this work. In YOLOv5-TS, a spatial pyramid with depth-wise convolution is proposed by replacing maximum pooling operations in spatial pyramid pooling with depth-wise convolutions. It is applied to the backbone to extract multi-scale features at the same time prevent feature loss. A Multiple Feature Fusion module is proposed to fuse multi-scale feature maps multiple times with the purpose of enhancing both the semantic expression ability and the detail expression ability of feature maps. To improve the accuracy in detecting small even extra small objects, a specialized detection layer is introduced by utilizing the highest-resolution feature map. Besides, a new method based on k-means++ is proposed to generate stable anchor boxes. The experiments on the data set verify the usefulness and effectiveness of our work.
Lifetime evaluation of left ventricular structure and function in male ApoE null mice after gamma and space-type radiation exposure
Authors: Brojakowska Agnieszka , Jackson Cedric J. , Bisserier Malik , Khlgatian Mary K. , Jagana Vineeta , Eskandari Abrisham , Grano Cynthia , Blattnig Steve R. , Zhang Shihong , Fish Kenneth M. , Chepurko Vadim , Chepurko Elena , Gillespie Virginia , Dai Ying , Kumar Rai Amit , Garikipati Venkata Naga Srikanth , Hadri Lahouaria , Kishore Raj , Goukassian David A.
Published: November 2023

The space radiation (IR) environment contains high charge and energy (HZE) nuclei emitted from galactic cosmic rays with the ability to overcome current shielding strategies, posing increased IR-induced cardiovascular disease risks for astronauts on prolonged space missions. Little is known about the effect of 5-ion simplified galactic cosmic ray simulation (simGCRsim) exposure on left ventricular (LV) function. Three-month-old, age-matched male Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) null mice were irradiated with 137Cs gamma (γ; 100, 200, and 400 cGy) and simGCRsim (50, 100, 150 cGy all at 500 MeV/nucleon (n)). LV function was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography at early/acute (14 and 28 days) and late/degenerative (365, 440, and 660 days) times post-irradiation. As early as 14 and 28-days post IR, LV systolic function was reduced in both IR groups across all doses. At 14 days post-IR, 150 cGy simGCRsim-IR mice had decreased diastolic wall strain (DWS), suggesting increased myocardial stiffness. This was also observed later in 100 cGy γ-IR mice at 28 days. At later stages, a significant decrease in LV systolic function was observed in the 400 cGy γ-IR mice. Otherwise, there was no difference in the LV systolic function or structure at the remaining time points across the IR groups. We evaluated the expression of genes involved in hemodynamic stress, cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and calcium handling in LVs harvested 28 days post-IR. At 28 days post-IR, there is increased expression of Bnp and Ncx in both IR groups at the lowest doses, suggesting impaired function contributes to hemodynamic stress and altered calcium handling. The expression of Gals3 and β-Mhc were increased in simGCRsim and γ-IR mice respectively, suggesting there may be IR-specific cardiac remodeling. IR groups were modeled to calculate the Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) and Radiation Effects Ratio (RER). No lower threshold was determined using the observed dose-response curves. These findings do not exclude the possibility of the existence of a lower IR threshold or the presence of IR-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) when combined with additional space travel stressors, e.g., microgravity.
Organ removal of maize increases peanut canopy photosynthetic capacity, dry matter accumulation, and yield in maize/peanut intercropping
Authors: Liu Zhu , Nan Zhenwu , Lin Songming , Meng Weiwei , Xie Liyong , Yu Haiqiu , Zhang Zheng , Wan Shubo
Published: November 2023

In maize/peanut intercropping systems, shade from maize is a major factor in peanut yield reduction. Reasonable redundant organ removal of maize plants could alleviate this problem and improve intercropped peanut yields. We studied the influences of organ removal of maize on peanut canopy photosynthetic capacity, dry matter accumulation and yield in maize/peanut intercropping systems in 2021 and 2022. Five organ-removal treatments were performed on maize plants to ameliorate the light environments in the peanut canopy. Treatments consisted of removal of the tassel only (T1), the tassel with top two leaves (T2), the tassel with top four leaves (T3), the tassel with top six leaves (T4), the leaves below the second leaf below the ear (T5), with no removal as control (T0). The results showed that organ-removal treatment (T4) significantly improved the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 49.5%) of intercropped peanut canopy. It improved dry matter accumulation by increasing the canopy photosynthetic capacity (canopy apparent photosynthetic rate (CAP), leaf area index (LAI), and specific leaf area (SLA)), ultimately contributing to peanut yield by increasing pod number per plant. Also, the above results were verified by structural equation modeling. The yield of intercropped peanut reached the highest value at T4. At the level of intercropping systems, the land equivalent ratio (LER) peaked at T2 (1.56, averaged over the two years), suggesting that peanut and maize can coexist more harmoniously under T2 treatment. The T2 treatment increased peanut yield by an average of 7.1% over two years and increased maize yield by 4.7% compared to the T0 treatment. The present study suggests that this may be an effective cultivation measure to mitigate intercropping shade stress in terms of adaptive changes in intercropped peanut under maize organ removal conditions, providing a theoretical basis for intercropped peanut yield increase.
Localized osmotic stress activates systemic responses to N limitation in Medicago truncatula–Sinorhizobium symbiotic plants
Authors: Martin Marie-Laure , Pervent Marjorie , Lambert Ilana , Colella Stefano , Tancelin Mathilde , Severac Dany , Clément Gilles , Tillard Pascal , Frugier Florian , Lepetit Marc
Published: November 2023

In mature symbiotic root nodules, differentiated rhizobia fix atmospheric dinitrogen and provide ammonium to fulfill the plant nitrogen (N) demand. The plant enables this process by providing photosynthates to the nodules. The symbiosis is adjusted to the whole plant N demand thanks to systemic N signaling controlling nodule development. Symbiotic plants under N deficit stimulate nodule expansion and activate nodule senescence under N satiety. Besides, nodules are highly sensitive to drought. Here, we used split-root systems to characterize the systemic responses of symbiotic plants to a localized osmotic stress. We showed that polyéthylène glycol (PEG) application rapidly inhibited the symbiotic dinitrogen fixation activity of nodules locally exposed to the treatment, resulting to the N limitation of the plant supplied exclusively by symbiotic dinitrogen fixation. The localized PEG treatment triggered systemic signaling stimulating nodule development in the distant untreated roots. This response was associated with an enhancement of the sucrose allocation. Our analyses showed that transcriptomic reprogramming associated with PEG and N deficit systemic signaling(s) shared many targets transcripts. Altogether, our study suggests that systemic N signaling is a component of the adaptation of the symbiotic plant to the local variations of its edaphic environment.
Diverse plant promoting bacterial species differentially improve tomato plant fitness under water stress
Authors: Zampieri Elisa , Franchi Elisabetta , Giovannini Luca , Brescia Francesca , Sillo Fabiano , Fusini Danilo , Pietrini Ilaria , Centritto Mauro , Balestrini Raffaella
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Food crops are increasingly susceptible to the challenging impacts of climate change, encompassing both abiotic and biotic stresses, that cause yield losses. Root-associated microorganisms, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), can improve plant growth as well as plant tolerance to environmental stresses. The aims of this work were to characterize bacteria isolated from soil and roots of tomato plants grown in open field.

Methods

Biochemical and molecular analyses were used to evaluate the PGP potential of the considered strains on tomato plants in controlled conditions, also assessing their effects under a water deficit condition. The isolated strains were classified by 16S gene sequencing and exhibited typical features of PGPB, such as the release of siderophores, the production of proteases, and phosphorous solubilization. Inoculating tomato plants with eleven selected strains led to the identification of potentially interesting strains that increased shoot height and dry weight. Three strains were then selected for the experiment under water deficit in controlled conditions. The tomato plants were monitored from biometric and physiological point of view, and the effect of inoculation at molecular level was verified with a targeted RT-qPCR based approach on genes that play a role under water deficit condition.

Results

Results revealed the PGP potential of different bacterial isolates in tomato plants, both in well-watered and stressed conditions. The used integrated approach allowed to obtain a broader picture of the plant status, from biometric, eco-physiological and molecular point of view. Gene expression analysis showed a different regulation of genes involved in pathways related to abscisic acid, osmoprotectant compounds and heat shock proteins, depending on the treatments.

Discussion

Overall, results showed significant changes in tomato plants due to the bacterial inoculation, also under water deficit, that hold promise for future field applications of these bacterial strains, suggesting that a synergistic and complementary interaction between diverse PGPB is an important point to be considered for their exploitation.
Touch, feel, heal. The use of hospital green spaces and landscape as sensory-therapeutic gardens: a case study in a university clinic
Authors: Dinu Roman Szabo Mihaela , Dumitras Adelina , Mircea Diana-Maria , Doroftei Dana , Sestras Paul , Boscaiu Monica , Brzuszek Robert F. , Sestras Adriana F.
Published: November 2023

It has been documented that patients with mental or physical disabilities can benefit from being placed within the setting of a natural environment. Consequently, the concept of creating spaces that can enhance health preservation or patient recovery, while also augmenting environmental and aesthetic value, has merged as a contemporary discourse. Green areas around hospitals can offer a great opportunity to incorporate healing gardens to benefit their patients and not only. The aim of this paper is to propose a design for a sensory-therapeutic garden based on key principles derived from selected academic literature, focusing on the application of these principles in a healthcare setting in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The design was informed also by onsite data collection and analysis, and it aims to create a healing landscape that addresses the needs of patients, healthcare providers, and visitors. This study seeks to augment the discourse in the field by demonstrating the practical application of key therapeutic garden design principles in a specific context and how these principles impacted the design process.
The relationships between teachers’ emotional health and stress coping
Authors: Emeljanovas Arūnas , Sabaliauskas Stanislav , Mežienė Brigita , Istomina Natalja
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Teaching is a profession that involves challenges to emotional health. Teachers experience high levels of work-related stress, which causes symptoms such as anxiety, depression and burnout. Teachers’ mental health affects not only their own well-being, but also the quality of education and student achievement. Coping strategies can effectively improve teachers’ emotional health. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between teachers’ emotional health and stress coping.

Methods

The sample consisted of 385 teachers from Lithuania, with an average age of 50.2 (±9.62) years and 24.9 (±11.8) years of school experience. The WHO-5, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), the Spanish Burnout Inventory, Educational Version (SBI-Ed) and the Coping Strategies Scale were used in the study.

Results

The study results show that teachers’ age, seniority, size of residence, and marital status do not affect their emotional health, but their financial situation and hobbies have a positive impact on enthusiasm. Effective coping strategies such as problem solving, exercise, and hobbies improve emotional well-being, whereas negative coping methods such as self-isolation and alcohol consumption lead to psychological distress and lower enthusiasm at work.
Social services for the elderly: a multivariate perspective study
Authors: Vega-Hernández María-Concepción , Román-Gallego Jesús-Ángel , Pérez-Delgado María-Luisa , Torres-García Ana-Victoria
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Today’s society is aware that healthy aging favors quality of life in the future, even more so as life expectancy increases in populations such as Europe. As in countries such as Japan, it is necessary for institutions to provide social services to support the elderly, with the aim of achieving an optimal quality of life for these people. The aim of this study is to analyze the different types of social services and activities that certain institutions provide to the elderly in order to find areas for improvement or to propose relationships between them that will benefit both users and institutions.

Methods

Official data from Junta de Castilla y León (Spain) on social services for the elderly in the 9 provinces of the autonomous community of Castilla y León from 2007 to 2021 were analysed using multivariate statistical techniques.

Results

Throughout the period under analysis, there is an association between the number of places in public and private non-profit residential centers for the elderly and the number of places in day-care centers or the number of students in the Inter-University Experience Programme. The variables associated with the telecare programme are related to the number of people under guardianship. On the other hand, three well-differentiated clusters of provinces of Castilla y León were observed.

Discussion

Our findings have implications for the quality of life of the elderly, as the differences in social services in the areas analysed have a direct impact on the health of the elderly.
The association between physical activity and sleep in adult ADHD patients with stimulant medication use
Authors: Zhu Feilong , Liu Boya , Kuang Dongqing , Zhu Xiaotong , Bi Xiaoyu , Song Yiqi , Quan Tianshen , Yang Yiming , Ren Yuanchun
Published: November 2023

Background

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may experience sleep problems doubly suffering from the disease and side effects of stimulant medications. Physical activity (PA) is known to produce numerous beneficial effects in adults. However, it was not well-characterized whether PA would still be effective in this situation. The main objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between PA and sleep among adult ADHD patients who were using stimulant medications and quantify the form of this association.

Methods

Adult ADHD participants with stimulant medications use condition from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database between January 1, 2013, and March 2020 (prepandemic) were included in the cross-sectional analysis. Weighted logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between PA level and sleep. A restricted cubic spline model was used to relax the linear relationship assumptions and investigate the associations between the risk of trouble sleeping and time spent engaging in moderate-to-vigorous PA per week.

Results

A total of 162 eligible adult ADHD participants who reported using stimulant medicines were included. Participants who adhered to the general recommendation of guidelines in the US of 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA had a significant lower risk of complaining of trouble sleeping (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10–0.67, p = 0.006), and this association was seen in men (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.09–0.56, p = 0.002), but was not seen in women (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.27–1.88, p = 0.500). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that the incidence of trouble sleeping gradually decreased after at least 105 min of moderate-intensity PA per week in participants (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.92–1.14). A significant difference appeared after 341 min (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76–0.99), and the curve leveled after 1,250 min (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.46–0.79).

Conclusion

Our findings observed associations between PA and sleep condition in the adult ADHD patients with stimulant medication use population. Moderate-to-vigorous PA may be beneficial to sleep in adults with ADHD who were using stimulants and thus should be recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle. Gender difference should be considered as an important factor for further studies to examine these associations and explore potential mechanisms.
Association between N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide exposure and the odds of kidney stones in US adults: a population-based study
Authors: Wei Chengcheng , He Jiatai , Wei Zhuo , Huang Yu , Xiong Ming , Deng Changqi , Chen Zhaohui , Li Wencheng , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: November 2023

Background

Currently, there is limited research on the specific relationship between N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) exposure and the odds of kidney stones. We aimed to investigate the relationship between DEET exposure and the prevalence of kidney stones.

Methods

We included 7,567 qualified participants in our research from the 2007–2016 NHANES survey. We carried out three logistic regression models to explore the potential association between DEET exposure and the odds of kidney stones. Spline smoothing with generalized additive models (GAM) was utilized to assess the non-linear relationship and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves was to determine the dose–response association. Multivariate regression models were used to conduct stratified analysis and sensitivity analysis.

Results

Baseline characteristics of study participants presented the distribution of covariables. Regression analysis revealed that the odds of kidney stones were positively associated with the main metabolites of 3-diethyl-carbamoyl benzoic acid (DCBA) (log2) (OR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.08). The fourth quartile of urine DCBA showed a greater risk of kidney stones in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.72). Another DEET metabolite of N, N-diethyl-3-hydroxymethylbenzamide (DHMB) was used to confirm the accuracy and stability of the results. The spline smoothing curve represented two main DEET metabolites had similar no-linear relationships and a positive trend with kidney stones proportion. RCS implied that the incidence of kidney stones rose with increasing levels of DEET exposure. High-risk groups on kidney stones were exhibited by stratified analysis under DEET exposure.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that DEET exposure is positively associated with odds of kidney stones. Further investigation into the underlying processes of this association is required to guide the prevention and treatment of kidney stones.
COVID-19 impacts on cross-border mobility of senior population between Shenzhen and Hong Kong
Authors: He Shi , Niu Caicheng , Wei Yue , Cai Yinger , Zhang Wen , Xiao Yingbo , Yin Jie
Published: November 2023

The onset of the COVID-19 outbreak led to widespread adoption of mobility intervention policies, which were widely regarded as effective measures to control the spread of the virus. The initial pandemic wave, accompanied by the enforcement of mobility intervention policies, greatly changed human mobility patterns, especially cross-border mobility (CBM). This study investigates the impact of the first wave of the pandemic and related mobility intervention policies on the CBM of the senior population between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Based on anonymous mobile phone trajectory data from 17 million devices active in Shenzhen spanning December 2019 to May 2020, we consider the implementation of mobility intervention policies during different stages of pandemic in both cities. We adopt interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to explore the causal effects of different mobility intervention policies on the CBM of older people between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We find that most mobility intervention policies have a significant abrupt or gradual effect on the CBM of older people, especially in the 60–64 age group. As these policies neglect the mobility needs and characteristics among the senior groups, such as visiting relatives or friends and seeking medical treatment across borders, we suggest that more coordinated and integrated policies and measures are required to address the CBM needs of older people in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, especially in the post-pandemic era.
Social robot for older adults with cognitive decline: a preliminary trial
Authors: Figueroa David , Yamazaki Ryuji , Nishio Shuichi , Maalouly Elie , Nagata Yuma , Satake Yuto , Yamakawa Miyae , Suzuki Maki , Kanemoto Hideki , Ikeda Manabu , Ishiguro Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

The number of older adults living alone is rapidly increasing. Loneliness in older adults not only degrade their quality of life but also causes troubles such as heavy burden on the medical staff, especially when cognitive decline is present. Social robots could be used in several ways to reduce such problems. As a first step towards this goal, we introduced conversation robots into the homes of older adults with cognitive decline to evaluate the robot’s availability and acceptance during several months. The study involved two steps, one for evaluating the robustness of the proposed robotic system, and the second one to examine the long-term acceptance of social robots by older adults with cognitive decline living alone. Our data shows that after several weeks of human-robot interaction, the participants continued to use the robot and successfully integrated them into their lives. These results open the possibility of further research involving how sustained interaction can be achieved, as well as which factors contributed to the acceptance of the robot.
Examining the difference between 10- and 20-min of immersive virtual reality on symptoms, affect, and central sensitization in people with chronic back pain
Authors: Baker Nancy A. , Polhemus Augusta , Kenney Megan , Bloch Rina , Ward Nathan , Intriligator James , Edwards Robert
Published: November 2023

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) is increasingly used as a treatment for chronic pain. In this crossover randomized pilot study, we examined the effect of 10- and 20-min dosages on back pain intensity, affect, and measures of pain sensitization in people with chronic back pain (CBP). Twenty-one people with CBP were seen for two visits of IVR. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 10- or 20-min of IVR in Visit 1 and the other dosage in Visit 2. Our primary analyses were effect sizes and simple inferential comparisons for pain intensity, affect, fatigue, and measures of pain sensitization assessed using quantitative sensory testing. Overall, IVR had a moderate, significant effect in reducing back pain intensity, negative affect, and painful aftersensations. When dosage was examined, 20-min had a moderate, significant effect on pain while 10-min had a small, non-significant effect, although the between-dosage difference was non-significant. Interestingly, effects were much larger in Visit 1, particularly for 20-min, but this diminished in Visit 2, and both dosages had a smaller effect in Visit 2. We interpret these results to indicate that pain modulation may be associated with novelty and engagement that can attenuate over time if the IVR encounter is not sufficiently engaging. Moreover, that if participants are engaged in a single session, 20-min may be necessary to obtain sufficient competency with IVR, while in subsequent sessions, 10-min of IVR may be sufficient to affect pain.
Fresh Groundwater Beneath Our Oceans
Authors: Hoffmann Jasper J. L. , Micallef Aaron
Published: November 2023

Have you ever tried to dig a deep hole at the beach? At the bottom of the hole, it probably got very wet, making it difficult to dig any deeper. That is when you reached the groundwater. In many places, groundwater is the main source of fresh water for drinking and farming. In your hole on the beach, the water was probably salty and not drinkable right? That is because you are so close to the salty ocean. However, in some locations, you can find freshwater coming out of the ground right on the beach. In other locations, if you swim out into the ocean and dive down, you can find holes in the seafloor where fresh groundwater comes out. These groundwater springs in the ocean are important for the surrounding ecosystems and coastal communities. Fresh groundwater can be found up to 90 km off the coast and could be a potential future source of drinking water in dry regions.