bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk among in-patients with depression compared to healthy controls
Authors: Gerber Markus , Cody Robyn , Beck Johannes , Brand Serge , Donath Lars , Eckert Anne , Hatzinger Martin , Imboden Christian , Kreppke Jan-Niklas , Lang Undine E. , Ludyga Sebastian , Mans Sarah , Mikoteit Thorsten , Oswald Anja , Schweinfurth-Keck Nina , Zahner Lukas , Faude Oliver
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Compared to the general population, individuals with depression have an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, little is known so far whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) moderates this relationship. Therefore, we examined whether common physiological cardiovascular risk factors differ between patients with depression and healthy (non-depressed) controls, whether patients and controls differ in CRF, and whether higher CRF is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk in both patients and healthy controls. Additionally, we examined whether within the patient sample, cardiovascular risk factors differ between patients with mild, moderate and severe depression, and whether the relationship between symptom severity and cardiovascular risk is moderated by patients’ CRF levels.

Methods

Data from a multi-centric, two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was analyzed, including 210 patients (F32, single episode: n = 72, F33, recurrent major depression: n = 135, F31-II, bipolar type II: n = 3) and 125 healthy controls. Waist circumference, body mass index, body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood glucose were considered as cardiovascular risk markers. CRF was assessed with a submaximal ergometer test. Differences between groups were examined via χ2-tests and (multivariate) analyses of covariance.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, patients with depression had a higher cardiovascular risk as evident from about half of the examined indicators. In the total sample, participants with good CRF had more favourable scores across nearly all risk markers than counterparts with poor CRF. For most variables, no interaction occurred between group and fitness, indicating that in patients and controls, similar differences existed between participants with poor and good CRF. Few differences in risk markers were found between patients with mild, moderate and severe depression, and no interaction occurred between depression severity and CRF.

Discussion

Patients with depression and healthy controls differ in several cardiovascular risk markers, putting patients at increased risk for CVDs. In contrast, people with good CRF show more favourable cardiovascular risk scores, a relationship which was observed in both healthy controls and patients with depression. Physical health of psychiatric patients should receive the clinical attention that it deserves. Lifestyle interventions targeting healthy diet and/or physical activity are recommended as a physically active and healthy lifestyle contributes equally to patients’ mental well-being and cardiovascular health.
Effects of ambient temperature and relative humidity on preterm birth during early pregnancy and before parturition in China from 2010 to 2018: a population-based large-sample cohort study
Authors: Wu Yu , Yuan Jie , Yuan Yanling , Kong Cai , Jing Wenzhan , Liu Jue , Ye Hanfeng , Liu Min
Published: June 2023

Background

The progression of global warming and increase in instances of extreme weather have received considerable attention. We conducted a cohort study on women of childbearing age in Yunnan Province, examined the association between ambient temperature and humidity on preterm birth and evaluated the effects of extreme weather during early pregnancy and before parturition on preterm birth.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study on women of childbearing age 18–49 years who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) in Yunnan Province from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2018. Meteorological data, namely daily average temperature (°C) and daily average relative humidity (%), were obtained from China National Meteorological Information Center. Four exposure windows were explored: 1 week of pregnancy, 4 weeks of pregnancy, 4 weeks before delivery, and 1 week before delivery. We used a Cox proportional hazards model and adjusted the potential risk factors for preterm birth to obtain the effects of exposure to temperature and humidity on preterm birth among the stages of pregnancy.

Results

At 1 week of pregnancy and at 4 weeks of pregnancy, the association between temperature and preterm birth was U-shaped. The correlation between relative humidity and the risk of preterm birth was n-type at 1 week of pregnancy. The correlation between preterm birth and temperature and relative humidity at 4 weeks before delivery and at 1 week before delivery is J-shaped. Low temperature and low humidity were protective factors against preterm birth, whereas high temperature and high humidity were risk factors for preterm birth.

The effects of high temperature and extremely high temperature were the strongest at 4 weeks before delivery, with HRs of 1.417 (95% CI: 1.362–1.474) and 1.627 (95% CI: 1.537–1.722), respectively. The effects of extremely low humidity and low humidity were strongest at 1 week before delivery, with HRs of 0.681 (95% CI: 0.609–0.761) and 0.696 (95% CI: 0.627–0.771), respectively.

Conclusion

Temperature and relative humidity affect preterm birth differently for each pregnancy stage. The effects of meteorological factors on pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth should not be ignored.
Expanding opportunities for chronic disease prevention for Hispanics: the Better Together REACH program in Pennsylvania
Authors: Calo William A. , Aumiller Betsy , Murray Andrea , Crawford Laurie , Bermudez Madeline , Weaver Lisa , Henao Maria Paula , Gray Nicole Maurer , DeLoatch Vicki , Rivera-Collazo Darilyn , Gomez Janelle , Kraschnewski Jennifer L.
Published: June 2023

Background

Hispanics in Lebanon and Reading, Pennsylvania, experience high levels of socioeconomic and health disparities in risk factors for chronic disease. In 2018, our community-academic coalition “Better Together” received a Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) award to improve healthy lifestyles. This report describes our work-in-progress and lessons learned to date from our REACH-supported initiatives in Lebanon and Reading.

Methods

For the past 4 years, our coalition has leveraged strong community collaborations to implement and evaluate culturally-tailored practice- and evidence-based activities aimed at increasing physical activity, healthy nutrition, and community-clinical linkages. This community case report summarizes the context where our overall program was implemented, including the priority population, target geographical area, socioeconomic and health disparities data, community-academic coalition, conceptual model, and details the progress of the Better Together initiative in the two communities impacted.

Results

To improve physical activity, we are: (1) creating new and enhancing existing trails connecting everyday destinations through city redesigning and master planning, (2) promoting outdoor physical activity, (3) increasing awareness of community resources for chronic disease prevention, and (4) supporting access to bikes for youth and families. To improve nutrition, we are: (1) expanding access to locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables in community and clinical settings, through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program to beneficiaries of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and the Veggie Rx to patients who are at risk for or have diabetes, and (2) providing bilingual breastfeeding education. To enhance community-clinical linkages, we are training bilingual community health workers to connect at-risk individuals with diabetes prevention programs.

Conclusions

Intervening in areas facing high chronic disease health disparities leads us to develop a community-collaborative blueprint that can be replicated across Hispanic communities in Pennsylvania and the United States.
Cholera outbreak in Syria amid humanitarian crisis: the epidemic threat, future health implications, and response strategy – a review
Authors: Eneh Stanley Chinedu , Admad Sofya , Nazir Abubakar , Onukansi Francisca Ogochukwu , Oluwatobi Alese , Innocent David Chinaecherem , Ojo Temitope Olumuyiwa
Published: June 2023

The war in Syria, which started over 11 years ago, has devastated the country’s water sources, healthcare system, and other vital facilities for healthy living. The country is vulnerable to outbreaks, especially epidemic-prone ones like cholera, due to its fragile health system. Syria experienced its last hit of cholera in 2009, which led to the deaths of several Syrian children and affected about 1,000 people. The current cholera resurgence in Syria calls for public concern. Considering the poor access to clean water, the forced relocation of people, and other destruction caused by the war, these factors have exposed Syrian children to infectious diseases like cholera. We argued for more efforts toward the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the country. We also pointed out the need for proper education and sensitization campaigns using all available resources to educate the populace, mass chlorination of wells, mapping vulnerable areas, and implementing WASH while encouraging vaccination coverage for cholera as a strategy to reduce its incidence. Improving the national surveillance systems will aid in the timely and appropriate reporting of any outbreak. Again, more negotiations should be done to seek a lasting solution to ending the war and restoring peace and serenity in the country.
Providing freedom or financial remuneration? A cross-sectional study on the role of monetary and legal incentives on COVID-19 further booster vaccination intention in the Italian context
Authors: Barello Serena , Acampora Marta , Paleologo Michele , Palamenghi Lorenzo , Graffigna Guendalina
Published: June 2023

Vaccine hesitancy became a more and more important issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the emergence of new variants, many international health agencies have already begun administering booster doses of the vaccine in response to these threats. Studies have emphasized the effectiveness of different types of incentive-based strategies to increase vaccination behaviors. The purpose of the present study was to identify the correlation between different types of incentives (legal or financial) with people’s intentions to get a COVID-19 booster vaccine. We conducted a cross-sectional study between 29 January 2022 and 03 February 2022. An online quantitative survey was carried out in Italy. One thousand and twenty-two Italian adults were recruited by a professional panel provider. Descriptive statistics were computed for the five variables concerning the incentives (monetary, tax, fee, health certification, travel) toward vaccination. A general linear model (GLM) was then computed to compare the scores of the five different variables within the subjects. The general linear model showed a significant within-subjects main effect. Post-hoc comparisons showed that among the financial incentive, the monetary reward is rated lower than all the others. Tax and fees both resulted lower than both the legal incentives. Finally, COVID-19 health certification and travel did not result significantly different from each other. This study offers an important contribution to public policy literature and to policymakers in their efforts to explain and steer booster vaccination acceptance while facing an ongoing pandemic.
Prevalence of smoking cigarettes and beliefs regarding smoking habits among medical students: a cross-sectional study in Sudan
Authors: Jarelnape Ahmed Abdalla , Ahmed Waled , Omer Suaad , Fadlala Aida , Ali Zeinab , Hassan Mohamed , Ahmed Ragaa , Hakami Manal , Ali Mujtaba , Mohammed Khalid , Sagiron Elwaleed , Abdalla Yahya Hussein , Osman Abdalla , Abdelazeem Eltayeb , Balola Hamza
Published: June 2023

Background

Smoking is a common problem in university students worldwide. Smoking is one of the most dangerous social phenomena and has a significant impact on public health. This study investigated the beliefs and attitudes of medical students toward smoking in Sudan.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Al Neelain University, Sudan, from March to June 2022 using a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of eight items on demographic characteristics and 13 on the beliefs and attitudes toward smoking. Other data included smoking status, smoking habits, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and smoking duration. Data analysis was performed descriptively, and chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted using SPSS version 24. Statistical significance was set at 0.05.

Results

A total of 336 students participated in this study, and the smoking prevalence was 48.8% (41.1% in men and 7.7% in women). In total, 76.8% reported smoking daily at a rate of 5–10 cigarettes per day. In terms of students’ beliefs about smoking, 86.8% disagreed with selling cigarettes at the university. Of the respondents, 68.4% did not approve smoking on campus. There was a relationship between smoking habits and the age group of 22–25 years, which was the highest smoking category among students (p-value = 0.01).

Conclusion

The prevalence of cigarette smoking among medical students is disturbing, particularly as they are future doctors. There is a need to include plans to reduce smoking among students that can be incorporated into courses and special programs.
Convergent validity and inter-rater reliability of a lower-limb multimodal physical function assessment in community-dwelling older adults
Authors: O’Brien Myles W. , Neyedli Heather F. , Bosquet Laurent , Leadbetter Brianna , Smith Alex , Gallant Francois , Tanguay Pamela , Bélanger Mathieu , Mekari Said
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Lower-limb physical function declines with age and contributes to a greater difficulty in performing activities of daily living. Existing assessments of lower-limb function assess one dimension of movement in isolation or are not time-efficient, which discourages their use in community and clinical settings. We aimed to address these limitations by assessing the inter-rater reliability and convergent validity of a new multimodal functional lower-limb assessment (FLA).

Methods: FLA consists of five major functional movement tasks (rising from a chair, walking gait, stair ascending/descending, obstacle avoidance, and descending to a chair) performed consecutively. A total of 48 community-dwelling older adults (32 female participants; age: 71 ± 6 years) completed the FLA as well as timed up-and-go, 30-s sit-to-stand, and 6-min walk tests.

Results: Slower FLA time was correlated with a slower timed up-and-go test (ρ = 0.70), less sit-to-stand repetitions (ρ = −0.65), and a shorter distance in the 6-min walk test (ρ = −0.69; all, p < 0.001). Assessments by two raters were not different (12.28 ± 3.86 s versus 12.29 ± 3.83 s, p = 0.98; inter-rater reliability ρ = 0.993, p < 0.001) and were statistically equivalent (via equivalence testing). Multiple regression and relative weights analyses demonstrated that FLA times were most predicted by the timed up-and-go performance [adjusted R2 = 0.75; p < 0.001; raw weight 0.42 (95% CI: 0.27, 0.53)].

Discussion: Our findings document the high inter-rater reliability and moderate-strong convergent validity of the FLA. These findings warrant further investigation into the predictive validity of the FLA for its use as an assessment of lower-limb physical function among community-dwelling older adults.
Alternative psychopharmacologic treatments for pediatric catatonia: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Smith Joshua R. , Baldwin Isaac , York Tasia , Anderson Carina , McGonigle Trey , Vandekar Simon , Wachtel Lee , Luccarelli James
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Pediatric catatonia is a highly co-morbid condition with treatment options often limited to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or lorazepam. However, lorazepam may not be readily available, and access to ECT is limited by restrictive legislation and stigma. This study aims to provide alternative treatment options for pediatric catatonia.

Methods

The study involved a single-site retrospective analysis of a private university hospital in the southern United States. The study included patients under eighteen with catatonia who received psychopharmacologic treatment with an agent other than lorazepam. The patients were evaluated with the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), Kanner Catatonia Severity Scale (KCS), and Kanner Catatonia Examination (KCE) at the time of initial evaluation and upon stabilization. A retrospective clinical global impressions-improvement (CGI-I) score was assigned by four authors.

Results

102 pediatric patients diagnosed with catatonia were identified, and 31 met criteria for the study. 20 (65%) were white, 6 (19%) were Black, 4 (13%) were Hispanic, and 1 (3%) were Indian. Most patients (N = 18; 58%) were insured by Medicaid. The mean age at the time of catatonia diagnosis was 13.5 years. All patients were stabilized on either clonazepam or diazepam, with 21 (68%) requiring treatment with an additional medication of either an anti-epileptic, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, and aripiprazole or clozapine. Statistically significant reductions in the BFCRS [t = 11.2, df = 30, std = 6.3, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (7.8, 15.1)], KCS [t = 4.6, df = 38, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (12.0, 31.0)], and KCE [t = 7.8, df = 30, std = 1.8, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (1.9, 3.2)] were observed. For CGI-I the results showed that the estimated probability of observing a score better than no change (>4) is 0.976 [t.s. = 43.2, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (0.931,0.992)], indicating the average subject is expected to experience some improvement.

Discussion

In conclusion, all patients responded to these treatments with improvement in their catatonic symptoms. Alternative pharmacologic interventions for catatonia, including benzodiazepines other than lorazepam, valproic acid, NMDA receptor antagonists, and atypical antipsychotics were safe and effective in treating catatonia in this population.
Analysis of integration of sustainability in sustainability certifications in the hotel industry
Authors: Rodríguez-García Roberto , Ferrero-Ferrero Idoya , Fernández-Izquierdo María Ángeles
Published: June 2023

There is a worldwide consensus that sustainability is the main basis for the recovery of tourism. In this context, tools and standards play an important role to facilitate the integration of the principles of sustainable tourism in practice. Within the tourism sector, the hotel industry is one of the key industries with a high growth rate. The main objective is to carry out an analysis based on the concept of sustainability in the sustainability certifications of the hotel industry, delving into those certifications adopted by the large hotel companies. For this purpose, a comparative analysis of the certification criteria is carried out using as a basis the World Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This article evidences the primacy of the environmental dimension and establishes recommendations that guide holistic and integrated sustainability strategies from a comprehensive perspective that allow the recovery of tourism in general and the sustainable hotel industry in particular.
Socio-hydrological dynamics and water conflicts in the upper Huasco valley, Chile
Authors: Dame Juliane , Nüsser Marcus , Schmidt Susanne , Zang Carina
Published: June 2023

In arid regions of north-central Chile, mining activities and agricultural land use changes lead to competing water demands, water insecurity, and related conflicts. Different local and external user groups rely on the scarce water resources. This case study investigates socio-hydrological transformations in the upper Huasco valley. It builds on a mixed method approach that combines remote sensing assessments (Corona, Landsat, Sentinel-2) with a set of social science methods including interviews and an analysis of Twitter tweets. Against the backdrop of the recent mega drought, results show that the upper Huasco valley faces adverse environmental impacts and conflicts over mining activities as well as an expansion of export-oriented agriculture. While water availability largely depends on the cryosphere, remote sensing analyses show a drastic glacier decrease in the vicinity of the mining project, where three glaciers completely disappeared since 2000. Furthermore, an expansion of the cultivated area from 2,000 ha in the 1990s to about 3,210 ha occurred in the 2000s. Agricultural expansion has come to a halt and only a slight increase of 100 ha can be detected over the last decade. Interview and social media data show local concerns and discourses on issues of water scarcity and quality related to these land use changes. The study stresses the necessity of integrative assessments for a better understanding of water scarcity and water-related conflicts. Equitable water governance in climate-sensitive areas requires contextualizing land use changes and the precarious drinking water situation from a socio-hydrological perspective.
Effect of different sources of dietary zinc on sperm quality and oxidative parameters
Authors: Mousavi Esfiokhi Seyed Hamid , Norouzian Mohammad Ali , Najafi Abouzar
Published: June 2023

Zinc has a critical physiological role in sperm function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different sources of zinc on sperm quality. For this purpose, 18 Zandi lambs with an average weight of 32 ± 1.2 kg were subjected to three treatments in a completely randomized design. Experimental treatments include (1) control treatment of basal diet without zinc supplementation, (2) basal diet with 40 mg/kg of zinc supplementation from zinc sulfate source and (3) basal diet with 40 mg/kg of zinc supplementation with organic source. At the end of feeding period, lambs were slaughtered. To determine the effect of experimental treatments on sperm quality, the testes were transferred to the laboratory. After that, epididymal spermatozoa were evaluated for sperm motility parameters, abnormal morphology, viability, membrane functionality, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant activity [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)], sperm concentration and testosterone level. Zinc sulfate administration decreased MDA levels compared to other treatments and increased GPx and TAC activity compared to the control (P < 0.05), although SOD activity was not affected by any supplementation. Also, the use of zinc sulfate supplementation increased the percentage of total and progressive motility compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Membrane integrity and sperm viability were also affected by zinc sulfate supplementation (P < 0.05). Therefore, the results of this study showed that the use of zinc sulfate, can improve sperm motility and survival indices and its antioxidant capacity.
Energy Efficiency of LEDs during Micropropagation of Helleborus ‘Molly’s White’
Authors: Nowakowska Karolina , Kowalczyk Katarzyna , Pawełczak Anna , Gajc-Wolska Janina
Published: June 2023

For many years, there has been a growing trend toward producing plants using tissue culture, the most efficient method at present. Every year, more and more protocols for micropropagation of economically valuable species are appearing. Many factors influence the regenerating explants under sterile laboratory conditions. One of the most important is light. The aim of the present study was to increase the efficiency of micropropagation of hellebore ‘Molly’s White’ using energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which were compared to traditionally used fluorescent lamps (FLs). To choose the best light and reduce production costs, white, blue or red LEDs with two levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), 40 and 70 μmol/m2/s, were used at the multiplication and rooting stages. LED light color has been shown to affect regeneration rate and plant growth in length during micropropagation, while both light parameters (color as well as intensity) affect the length of regenerating shoots and the content of assimilation pigments in plants. The use of white LED light, which gives the highest multiplication rate, at an intensity of 70 μmol/m2/s saves more than 57 kWh during an 8-week micropropagation cycle compared to conventional fluorescent lamps with the same parameters.
Can Direct Marketing Increase Fishery Profitability and Environmental Quality? Empirical Evidence of Aquaculture Farm Households in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Tzong-Haw , Liu Song-Yue , Huang Chiou-Lien , Chang Hung-Hao , Wang Jiun-Hao
Published: June 2023

Marketing strategies play a significant role in determining farm income. Although direct marketing has been proposed as an innovative way to improve producers’ economic welfare, little is known about producers’ adoption of direct marketing among aquaculture farms. This study examines the adoption of wholesaler markets, individual wholesalers or shippers, and direct marketing among aquaculture farms. In addition, we quantify the effects of the use of different marketing channels on fishery revenues, profits, and production inputs. A sample of 25,180 aquaculture family farms in Taiwan was drawn from the fishery census survey. After estimating the simultaneous equation system model, we find that the use of multiple marketing channels generates the highest fishery revenues, which highlights the importance of marketing channel diversity on selling fishery products. Moreover, we find a positive effect of direct marketing on fishery revenues and profits. We also find that the use of direct marketing can reduce the use of groundwater in aquaculture production. Since the decrease in groundwater use can mitigate the severity of land subsidence, this paper provides evidence that direct marketing can possibly provide a win-win strategy to improve fishery producers’ revenues and environmental quality.
Study on Phyllosphere Microbial Community of Nettle Leaf during Different Seasons
Authors: Jia Shuan , Chen Yongcheng , Huang Rongzheng , Chai Yuxin , Ma Chunhui , Zhang Fanfan
Published: June 2023

Nettle (Urtica cannabina) is an excellent feed resource widely distributed worldwide. Phyllosphere microbes are important as they have living conditions similar to those of the above-ground parts of host plants. Exploring amino acids (AA) and microorganisms can further understand the growth of plants in different seasons. The present study investigated the content of AA and phyllosphere microbes’ structure of nettle plants in different seasons. The results found that AA contents varied significantly with the season, such as alanine, aspartate, cysteine, glutamate, glycine, and methionine contents decreased significantly from spring to winter (p < 0.05), the contents of arginine, histidine, serine, and lysine were highest in summer (p < 0.05). The results suggested that the diversity of bacteria and fungi both increased during winter. During winter, Sphingomonas (relative abundance 25.22–28.45%) and Filobasidum (27.6–41.14%) became dominant. According to the redundancy analysis (RDA) of the correlation between AA and microbes, these two microbes were both the most important factors and showed a negative correlation with AA during winter. Thus, seasons could significantly affect the distribution of phyllosphere microbial communities on the nettle, especially in winter. According to the function prediction(PICRUS2 (KEGG pathway) and FUNGuild) results, the bacteria in the phyllosphere of U. cannabina mainly participated in metabolism. Pathogenic fungi were relatively high in autumn. The present study reveals the influence of seasonal change on the phyllosphere microbial community in U. cannabina.
Physiological and Histological Characterization of the ESB1 TILLING Mutant of Brassica rapa L.: Potential Use in Biofortification and Phytoremediation Programs
Authors: Atero-Calvo Santiago , Rios Juan José , Navarro-León Eloy , Ruiz Juan M. , Blasco Begoña
Published: June 2023

Enhanced suberin1 (ESB1) is a protein whose mutation is correlated with an increase in root suberin and altered nutrient concentrations. Here, we show a physiological and histological characterization of esb1 mutant plants of Brassica rapa L. Therefore, the potential use of this mutant in selenium (Se) biofortification and/or cadmium (Cd) phytoremediation programs was also evaluated by applying 20 μM of Na2SeO4 and 0.49 μM of CdCl2 to a nutrient solution. With respect to wild type (WT) plants, an increase in root suberin was observed in esb1 at the level of the exodermis. This increase in root suberin did not affect photosynthesis performance. However, the esb1 mutant showed an increase in transpiration rate and a decrease in water use efficiency. Additionally, root histological changes affected the transport and concentration of some mineral elements. Thus, our results suggest that esb1 mutants of B. rapa would not be useful for Se biofortification because no significant differences were observed between the two genotypes at the leaf level. Nevertheless, the esb1 mutant reduced Cd translocation to the leaves and increased Fe and Cu uptake, so ESB1 mutation could be useful for Cd phytoremediation and Fe and Cu biofortification, although further research is needed. Therefore, this study provides detailed information on the effect of ESB1 mutation in B. rapa and suggests its potential use in biofortification and phytoremediation programs.
Significant Effects of Long-Term Application of Straw and Manure Combined with NPK Fertilizers on Olsen P and PAC in Red Soil
Authors: Sun Fengxia , Sun Nan , Wang Boren , Cai Zejiang , Xu Minggang
Published: June 2023

The application of manure (M) and straw (S) will increase the Olsen P and phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC) in soil. Clarifying the increasing trend of Olsen P and PAC is crucial for rational fertilization. This study fitted the equation between the accumulated P surplus, Olsen P, and PAC in four treatments for 28 years and analyzed the changes and rates of P fractions. The results showed Olsen P and PAC increase linearly with NPK and NPKS treatments; for every 100 kg ha−1 of P surplus, Olsen P increased by 5.9 and 6.7 mg kg−1, and PAC increased by 0.52% and 0.50%. With M and MNPK treatments, the sigmoid curve equation was the best fitting method. The equilibrium values were 167 and 164 mg kg−1 for Olsen P, and 10.4 and 10.2 mg kg−1 for PAC. There was a correlation between Al-P, Ca2-P, Resin-P, NaOH-Pi, C/N, SOC, and pH, which had the highest interpretation rates for Olsen P and PAC. Manure is significantly better than straw in improving Olsen P in red soil. It is recommended to reduce the amount of manure applied for a long time to avoid a zero increase in Olsen P.
A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016–2021)
Authors: Andrews Amy L. M. M. , Youngman Katie L. , Packer Rowena M. A. , O’Neill Dan G. , Kafarnik Christiane
Published: June 2023

Brachycephalic breeds have increased in popularity despite growing awareness of their predisposition to a wide range of conformation-related diseases. The extreme facial conformation of many popular brachycephalic breeds compromises their ocular surface health, increasing the risk of painful corneal ulceration. Medial canthoplasty (MC) is a surgical procedure to address ocular abnormalities in brachycephalic dogs, which are collectively referred to as brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS). This study retrospectively reviewed the records of dogs recommended MC at a referral hospital between 2016 and 2021. A questionnaire was designed to identify owners’ perceptions pre- and post-operatively. From 271 brachycephalic dogs recommended MC, 43.5% (118/271) underwent surgery and 72.0% (85/118) were Pugs. The majority of dogs (73.7%, 87/118) that underwent surgery had current or historical corneal ulceration. Follow-up was available in 104 dogs, of which 5.7% (6/104) had corneal ulceration post-operatively. Sixty-four owners completed the questionnaire and reported post-operative corneal ulceration in 12.5% of dogs (8/64), reduced ocular discharge (70.8%, 34/48), reduced ocular irritation (67.7%, 21/31) and less periocular cleaning (52.5%, 32/61). Owners were satisfied with the clinical (85.9%, 55/64) and cosmetic (87.5%, 56/64) outcome. In conclusion, MC has high clinical relevance for the surgical management of BOS, restoring functional conformation and improving the quality of life of affected dogs.
Redox Mechanisms Underlying the Cytostatic Effects of Boric Acid on Cancer Cells—An Issue Still Open
Authors: Paties Montagner Giulia , Dominici Silvia , Piaggi Simona , Pompella Alfonso , Corti Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Boric acid (BA) is the dominant form of boron in plasma, playing a role in different physiological mechanisms such as cell replication. Toxic effects have been reported, both for high doses of boron and its deficiency. Contrasting results were, however, reported about the cytotoxicity of pharmacological BA concentrations on cancer cells. The aim of this review is to briefly summarize the main findings in the field ranging from the proposed mechanisms of BA uptake and actions to its effects on cancer cells.
Comparative Analysis of Hot and Cold Brews from Single-Estate Teas (Camellia sinensis) Grown across Europe: An Emerging Specialty Product
Authors: Carloni Patricia , Albacete Alfonso , Martínez-Melgarejo Purificación A. , Girolametti Federico , Truzzi Cristina , Damiani Elisabetta
Published: June 2023

Tea is grown around the world under extremely diverse geographic and climatic conditions, namely, in China, India, the Far East and Africa. However, recently, growing tea also appears to be feasible in many regions of Europe, from where high-quality, chemical-free, organic, single-estate teas have been obtained. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize the health-promoting properties in terms of the antioxidant capacity of traditional hot brews as well as cold brews of black, green and white teas produced across the European territory using a panel of antioxidant assays. Total polyphenol/flavonoid contents and metal chelating activity were also determined. For differentiating the characteristics of the different tea brews, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry were employed. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time that teas grown in Europe are good quality teas that are endowed with levels of health-promoting polyphenols and flavonoids and that have an antioxidant capacity similar to those grown in other parts of the world. This research is a vital contribution to the characterization of European teas, providing essential and important information for both European tea growers and consumers, and could be of guidance and support for the selection of teas grown in the old continent, along with having the best brewing conditions for maximizing the health benefits of tea.
Aggregate Channel Features and Fast Regions CNN Approach for Classification of Ship and Iceberg
Authors: Sethu Ramasubiramanian Sivapriya , Sivasubramaniyan Suresh , Peer Mohamed Mohamed Fathimal
Published: June 2023

Detection and classification of icebergs and ships in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images play a vital role in marine surveillance systems even though available adaptive threshold methods give satisfying results on detection and classification for ships and icebergs, including techniques of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), but need more accuracy and precision. An efficient and accurate method was developed to detect and classify the ship and icebergs. Hence, the research method proposed locating and classifying both ships and icebergs in a given SAR image with the help of deep learning (DL) and non-DL methods. A non-DL method utilized here was the aggregate channel features (ACF) detector, which extracts region proposals from huge SAR images. The DL object detector called fast regions CNN (FRCNN) detects objects accurately from the result of ACF since the ACF method avoids unwanted regions. The novelty of this study was that ACF-FRCNN concentrates only on accurately classifying ships and icebergs. The proposed ACF-FRCNN method gave a better performance in terms of loss (18.32%), accuracy (96.34%), recall (98.32%), precision (95.97%), and the F1 score (97.13%). Compared to other conventional methods, the combined effect of ACF and FRCNN increased the speed and quality of the detection of ships and icebergs. Thus, the ACF-FRCNN method is considered a novel method for over 75 × 75 resolution ship and iceberg SAR images.
ADAL-NN: Anomaly Detection and Localization Using Deep Relational Learning in Distributed Systems
Authors: Ahmed Kashan , Altaf Ayesha , Jamail Nor Shahida Mohd , Iqbal Faiza , Latif Rabia
Published: June 2023

Modern distributed systems that operate concurrently generate interleaved logs. Identifiers (ID) are always associated with active instances or entities in order to track them in logs. Consequently, log messages with similar IDs can be categorized to aid in the localization and detection of anomalies. Current methods for achieving this are insufficient for overcoming the following obstacles: (1) Log processing is performed in a separate component apart from log mining. (2) In modern software systems, log format evolution is ongoing. It is hard to detect latent technical issues using simple monitoring techniques in a non-intrusive manner. Within the scope of this paper, we present a reliable and consistent method for the detection and localization of anomalies in interleaved unstructured logs in order to address the aforementioned drawbacks. This research examines Log Sequential Anomalies (LSA) for potential performance issues. In this study, IDs are used to group log messages, and ID relation graphs are constructed between distributed components. In addition to that, we offer a data-driven online log parser that does not require any parameters. By utilizing a novel log parser, the bundled log messages undergo a transformation process involving both semantic and temporal embedding. In order to identify instance–granularity anomalies, this study makes use of a heuristic searching technique and an attention-based Bi-LSTM model. The effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness of the paper are supported by the research that was performed on real-world datasets as well as on synthetic datasets. The neural network improves the F1 score by five percent, which is greater than other cutting-edge models.
Dual-Functional Energy Harvesting and Low-Frequency Vibration Attenuation: Electromagnetic Resonant Shunt Series Quasi-Zero-Stiffness Isolators
Authors: Yang Qingchao , Ma Zhaozhao , Zhou Ruiping , Lee Heow Pueh , Chai Kai
Published: June 2023

In recent times, there has been a significant focus on electromagnetic resonant shunt damping (ERSD) and quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolators (QZS VI) as prominent solutions for vibration mitigation or energy harvesting. In this paper, an innovative retrofittable model is proposed for dual-functional energy harvesting and low-frequency vibration attenuation by combining the ERSD and two-stage quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator (TQZS VI). The viscous dissipative element between the TQZS VI upper and lower layers is implemented using an electromagnetic shunt transducer that is connected in parallel with a resonant RLC (resistor–inductor–capacitor) circuit. Firstly, the mathematical model of the electromagnetic resonant shunt series quasi-zero-stiffness isolator (ERS-TQZS VI) is developed. Then, the magnitude-frequency response equations of the ERS-TQZS VI system are approximately solved using the harmonic balance method (HBM) in combination with the pseudo-arc-length method (PLM). The analytical approach is validated using numerical simulations. Moreover, the force transmissibility and output power of the ERS-TQZS VI are defined, and detailed parametric analysis for energy harvesting and low-frequency vibration attenuation is performed to assess the critical design parameters that result in optimal performance of the ERS-TQZS VI. The results demonstrate that the ERS-TQZS VI exhibits a significant reduction in resonance peaks of low-frequency vibration while simultaneously enabling effective vibration energy harvesting.
Streaming-Based Anomaly Detection in ITS Messages
Authors: Moso Juliet Chebet , Cormier Stéphane , de Runz Cyril , Fouchal Hacène , Wandeto John Mwangi
Published: June 2023

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) enhance safety, comfort, transport efficiency, and environmental conservation by allowing vehicles to communicate wirelessly with other vehicles and road infrastructure. Cooperative awareness messages (CAMs) contain information about vehicles status, which can reveal road anomalies. Knowing the location, time, and frequency of these anomalies is valuable to road users and road authorities, and timely detection is critical for emergency response teams, resulting in improved efficiency in rescue operations. An enhanced locally selective combination in parallel outlier ensembles (ELSCP) technique is proposed for data stream anomaly detection. A data-driven approach is considered with the objective of detecting anomalies on the fly from CAMs using unsupervised detection approaches. Based on the experiments carried out, we note that ELSCP outperforms other techniques, with 3.64 % and 9.83 % better performance than the second-best technique, LSCP, on AUC-ROC and AUCPR, respectively. Based on our findings, ELSCP can effectively detect anomalies in CAMs.
Assessment of Smart Mechatronics Applications in Agriculture: A Review
Authors: Amertet Sairoel , Gebresenbet Girma , Alwan Hassan Mohammed , Vladmirovna Kochneva Olga
Published: June 2023

Smart mechatronics systems in agriculture can be traced back to the mid-1980s, when research into automated fruit harvesting systems began in Japan, Europe, and the United States. Impressive advances have been made since then in developing systems for use in modern agriculture. The aim of this study was to review smart mechatronics applications introduced in agriculture to date, and the different areas of the sector in which they are being employed. Various literature search approaches were used to obtain an overview of the current state-of-the-art, benefits, and drawbacks of smart mechatronics systems. Smart mechatronics modules and various networks applied in the processing of agricultural products were examined. Finally, relationships in the data retrieved were tested using a one-way analysis of variance on keywords and sources. The review revealed limited use of sophisticated mechatronics in the agricultural industry in practice at a time of falling production rates and a dramatic decline in the reliability of the global food supply. Smart mechatronics systems could be used in different agricultural enterprises to overcome these issues.
Determining the Deformation Characteristics of Railway Ballast by Mathematical Modeling of Elastic Wave Propagation
Authors: Kurhan Dmytro , Kurhan Mykola , Horváth Balázs , Fischer Szabolcs
Published: June 2023

The article solves the problem of theoretically determining the deformable characteristics of railway ballast, considering its condition through mathematical modeling. Different tasks require mathematical models with different levels of detail of certain elements. After a certain limit, excessive detailing only worsens the quality of the model. Therefore, for many problems of the interaction between the track and the rolling stock, it is sufficient to describe the ballast as a homogeneous isotropic layer with a vertical elastic deformation. The elastic deformation of the ballast is formed by the deviation of individual elements; the ballast may have pollutants, the ballast may have places with different levels of compaction, etc. To be able to determine the general characteristics of the layer, a dynamic model of the stress–strain state of the system based on the dynamic problem of the theory of elasticity is applied. The reaction of the ballast to the dynamic load is modeled through the passage of elastic deformation waves. The given results can be applied in the models of the railway track in the other direction as initial data regarding the ballast layer.
An Optimized Random Forest Regression Model for Li-Ion Battery Prognostics and Health Management
Authors: Wang Geng , Lyu Zhiqiang , Li Xiaoyu
Published: June 2023

This study proposes an optimized random forest regression model to achieve online battery prognostics and health management. To estimate the battery state of health (SOH), two aging features (AFs) are extracted based on the incremental capacity curve (ICC) to quantify capacity degradation, further analyzed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient. To further predict the remaining useful life (RUL), the online AFs are extrapolated to predict the degradation trends through the closed-loop least square method. To capture the underlying relationship between AFs and capacity, a random forest regression model is developed; meanwhile, the hyperparameters are determined using Bayesian optimization (BO) to enhance the learning and generalization ability. The method of co-simulation using MATLAB and LabVIEW is introduced to develop a battery management system (BMS) for online verification of the proposed method. Based on the open-access battery aging datasets, the results for the mean error of estimated SOH is 1.8152% and the predicted RUL is 32 cycles, which is better than some common methods.
Polyphenols Profile and Antioxidant Activity Characterization of Commercial North Italian Ciders in Relation to Their Geographical Area of Production and Cidermaking Procedures
Authors: Mainente Federica , Vincenzi Simone , Rizzi Corrado , Pasini Gabriella
Published: June 2023

Twenty-four samples of differently produced commercial Italian cider were analyzed for their polyphenols profile and antioxidant activity. A partial least square regression was used to correlate the ciders’ antioxidant activity with their polyphenolic content. Statistical analyses revealed only a clustering pattern in the samples based on their geographical area of production (North-West, NW, vs. North-East, NE). Indeed, NW ciders, compared to NE ones, showed higher antioxidant activity and higher contents of procyanidin B1, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, and total polyphenols. On the contrary, no clear-cut clustering pattern determined by cidermaking procedures (i.e., Charmat or Champenoise method) has been observed. These data suggest that the differences observed between NW and NE ciders might be accounted uniquely to the use of different apple varieties and/or the maturation status, as well as the pedoclimatic conditions of their production areas and not for cellar procedures’ specificity.