bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remuneration Sensitivity Analysis in Prosumer and Aggregator Strategies by Controlling Electric Vehicle Chargers
Authors: Diaz-Londono Cesar , Vuelvas José , Gruosso Giambattista , Correa-Florez Carlos Adrian
Published: September 2022

The efficient use of energy resources is profoundly changing power grid regulation and policy. New forms of power generation coupled with storage and the presence of new, increasingly flexible loads such as electric vehicles enable the development of multi-agent planning systems based on new forms of interaction. For instance, consumers can take advantage of flexibility by interacting directly with the grid or through aggregators that bridge the gap between these end-users and traditional centralised markets. This paper aims to provide insight into the benefits for aggregators and end-users from a financial perspective by proposing a methodology that can be applied to different scenarios. End-users may provide flexibility services related to private vehicle charging stations or battery storage systems. The paper will analyse different remuneration levels for end-users by highlighting the most beneficial scenarios for aggregators and end-users and providing evidence on potential conflict of interests. The numerical results show that some consumers may benefit more from aggregation. This is because if taken individually, consumption habits do not allow the same flexibility when considering clusters of consumers with different behaviour. It is also shown that there are cases in which consumers do not seem to benefit from the presence of intermediate parties. We provide extensive numerical results to gain insight for better decision making.
Investigation into the Aerodynamic Performance of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Endplate Design
Authors: Ung Shern-Khai , Chong Wen-Tong , Mat Shabudin , Ng Jo-Han , Kok Yin-Hui , Wong Kok-Hoe
Published: September 2022

For the past decade, research on vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) has garnered immense interest due to their omnidirectional characteristic, especially the lift-type VAWT. The H-rotor Darrieus VAWT operates based on the lift generated by aerofoil blades and typically possesses higher efficiency than the drag-type Savonius VAWT. However, the open-ended blades generate tip loss effects that reduce the power output. Wingtip devices such as winglets and endplates are commonly used in aerofoil design to increase performance by reducing tip losses. In this study, a CFD simulation is conducted using the sliding mesh method and the k-ω SST turbulence model on a two-bladed NACA0018 VAWT. The aerodynamic performance of a VAWT with offset, symmetric V, asymmetric and triangular endplates are presented and compared against the baseline turbine. The simulation was first validated with the wind tunnel experimental data published in the literature. The simulation showed that the endplates reduced the swirling vortex and improved the pressure distribution along the blade span, especially at the blade tip. The relationship between TSR regimes and the tip loss effect is also reported in the paper. Increasing VAWT performance by using endplates to minimise tip loss is a simple yet effective solution. However, the improvement of the power coefficient is not remarkable as the power degradation only involves a small section of the blades.
Peaking Carbon Emissions in a Megacity through Economic Restructuring: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Yang Yang , He Fan , Ji Junping , Liu Xin
Published: September 2022

With the growing cost of carbon emissions reduction, the application of industrial restructuring to suppress carbon emissions is becoming more attractive. By constructing an input-output optimization model, this study explored how industrial restructuring helps megacities synergistically achieve carbon peak and high-quality development. The results showed that through contributing 164.4% of the reduction in emissions from 2020 to 2025, industrial structure optimization significantly inhibited the growth of carbon emissions; From 2020 to 2025, the manufacturing structure continued to be high-end, which resulted in a reduction in industrial carbon emissions by 10.3%; through vigorous development of the low-carbon service industry, the carbon emission of the service industry would continue to slow down at an average annual rate of 2.4%. Industrial premiumization and the low-carbonization of the modern service sector are the key driving forces for Shenzhen to achieve low-carbon transformation. The results also showed that the power and retail sectors are the most important for emissions reduction. This study can provide a roadmap for megacities on how to explore potential emission reduction via optimizing their economic structure to help them achieve their carbon emissions peak.
Analytical Model for the Load-Bearing Capacity Analysis of Winter Forest Roads: Experiment and Estimation
Authors: Katarov Vasily , Syunev Vladimir , Kolesnikov Gennady
Published: September 2022

In northern forests, winter is the preferred time for logging operations, since, when wet soils freeze, their strength increases, which ensures a high load-bearing capacity of winter forest roads and reduces the cost of forestry work by increasing the load on forestry equipment, including when driving through frozen lowlands. The present article analyzes frozen loamy–sandy soil, which, at subzero temperatures, behaves like a brittle material with a sufficiently high, but limited, strength. Well-known models commonly use empirical parameters, correlations, and numerical methods to estimate the strength of such materials. An analytical model of the full load–displacement curve would reduce the number of necessary calculations and increase the ability to predict the bearing capacity of winter forest roads. However, there are few of these models. Such models were developed, as a rule, to study stress–strain in concrete and rocks, meaning that researchers have to recalculate the load into stress and displacement into deformation, which is not always simple. This work aimed at theoretically justifying a new analytical model for quantifying the bearing capacity of winter forest roads and assessing the adequacy of the model by comparing it with experimental data. To achieve this purpose, the concepts of fracture mechanics and methods of mathematical modeling were used. The model was verified using experimental data, and model examples for determining the peak load were provided. Prospects for development of the research topic were also considered, taking into account new developments in forest road monitoring for logging management.
Plant Growth-Promoting (PGP) Traits of Endophytic Bacteria from In Vitro Cultivated Tectona grandis L.f
Authors: Pinto Maísa de Siqueira , Inocente Laura Beatriz , Oliveira Perla Novais de , Silva Katchen Julliany Pereira , Carrer Helaine
Published: September 2022

Tectona grandis L.f. (teak) is a tropical tree cultivated mainly due to its resistance, valuable wood and tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors. An abundant bacteria community exists in teak tissues and knowledge of the functional roles of teak endophytic bacteria, from in vitro tissue culture, is essential for improving micropropagation techniques. In this study, we isolated endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits from two teak clones (Proteca® A3 and E4) in calli, leaves, and stems segments in a culture medium. We analyzed colony pigmentation, gram reaction, and evaluated PGP traits (phosphorous solubilization, nitrogen fixation and indol-acetic acid production) of 54 colonies from clone A3 and 50 colonies from clone E4. A total of 35 colonies of clone A3 and 42 colonies of clone E4 were capable of fixing nitrogen. Four isolated bacteria from clone A3 were capable of solubilizing phosphorous (P-Ca3(PO4)2), while no strain of E4 clone showed that capacity. Furthermore, 49 endophytic bacteria from clone A3 showed capacity to synthesize indol-acetic acid, while only 4 bacteria from the E4 clone presented that characteristic. We also identified six teak endophytic bacteria, by analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region, showing high identity with the genera Curtobacterium sp., Ochrobactrum sp., and Bacillus spp. Therefore, we demonstrate here that the abundant bacterial community existing in teak tissues, including those of in vitro cultivated plants, have PGP traits that can be further harnessed for preparation of bioformulations, for example. Our findings open the possibility for studying these isolated endophytic bacteria more closely in order to understand their association with teak growth.
Heat-Treated Wood from Grand Fir Provides the Same Quality Compared to Silver Fir
Authors: Zeidler Aleš , Borůvka Vlastimil , Remeš Jiří , Pulkrab Karel
Published: September 2022

Grand fir (Abies grandis/Dougl. ex D. Don/Lindl.) represents the North American species that has the potential to replace and complement to some extent several commercial European species, in particular, Norway spruce and silver fir. This is not only due to its high production potential but also because of its favorable effect on the soil compared to spruce or pine. We tested sample trees from these tree species growing in the same location for physical and mechanical wood properties and evaluated the effect of the thermal treatment (180 °C and 200 °C) on their wood. Wood density, swelling, surface properties, strength, and stiffness were the properties used to find the differences among species. Grand fir obtained higher values for density and compressive strength compared to silver fir. For the remaining properties, these tree species are comparable, except for toughness, which was significantly lower for grand fir. Grand fir wood was even comparable with Norway spruce in the case of density and compressive strength. The thermal treatment resulted in a decrease in density, swelling, wettability, modulus of rupture, and toughness while increasing compressive strength. The effect of the thermal treatment was similar for all tested species. From this perspective, grand fir represents a potential substitute for the timber of endangered European commercial conifers.
Differences in Transpiration Characteristics among Eucalyptus Plantations of Three Species on the Leizhou Peninsula, Southern China
Authors: Wang Zhichao , Liu Siru , Xu Yuxing , Zhu Wankuan , Du Apeng
Published: September 2022

How much transpiration water consumption varies between eucalyptus species is unknown, making the suitability of a particular eucalyptus species for large-scale planting in a given area, or whether interspecific differences need to be taken into account for eucalyptus water consumption estimates, uncertain. Here, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Ec), Eucalyptus pellita F. v. Muell. (Ep), the most resistant species, and Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake × Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden (Eug), the most widely planted species, were monitored for sap flow. Their stand transpiration was also estimated and its relationship to various influencing factors analyzed for the same stand age and site, and predictive models for daily transpiration (T) developed. The results showed that the T of all eucalyptus species was jointly influenced by meteorological factors, soil water content (SWC), and leaf area index (LAI), with great variation in the T response to each influencing factor among species. Accordingly, we developed species-specific transpiration prediction models that could adequately explain the changed T of each species (R2-values: 0.863–0.911). There were significant differences in the stand daily mean sap flow density (JC) and transpiration among the three species. Although Ec had a significantly lower JC than Ep, it was significantly higher than Eug on all timescales, where the mean annual JC of Ep (0.11 cm min−1) was 1.4 and 2.6 times that of Ec (0.08 cm min−1) and Eug (0.042 cm min−1), respectively. Transpiration of Eug was significantly less than Ep, but significantly greater than Ec on all timescales, where the annual transpiration of Ep (743.41 mm) was 2.4 and 1.5 times that of Ec (311.52 mm) and Eug (493.58 mm), respectively. These results suggest that interspecific differences cannot be ignored when estimating transpiration rates in Chinese eucalyptus plantations, whose amount of water use should be considered when choosing the most optimal species to plant regionally.
Characterizing Global Patterns of Mangrove Canopy Height and Aboveground Biomass Derived from SRTM Data
Authors: Aslan Aslan , Aljahdali Mohammed Othman
Published: September 2022

Numerous studies have been done using remotely sensed data to produce global mangrove height and biomass maps; however, little is known about the worldwide pattern of mangroves in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres that corresponds to their height and biomass. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a specific pattern that can be seen between northern and southern mangroves according to height and biomass. Based on an empirical model, we processed Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) elevation data in combination with 450 field data points to produce a global mangrove height map and its corresponding aboveground biomass (AGB) per hectare at 30 m spatial resolution. We also refined the global mangrove area maps and provided a set of equations to determine the maximum mangrove height at any given latitude. Results showed that 10,639,916 ha of mangroves existed globally in the year 2000, with a total AGB of 1.696 Gt. Even though the areal coverage of mangroves was higher in the Northern Hemisphere, the total mangrove AGB was higher in the Southern Hemisphere. The majority of mangroves in both hemispheres were found to be between 6 and 8 m tall, although height distribution differed in each hemisphere. The global mangrove height equation for northern and southern mangroves produced from this study can be used by relevant stakeholders as an important reference for developing an appropriate management plan for the sustainability of the global mangrove ecosystem.
The Carbon Sink of Mangrove Ecological Restoration between 1988–2020 in Qinglan Bay, Hainan Island, China
Authors: Jia Peihong , Huang Weida , Zhang Zhouyao , Cheng Jiaxuan , Xiao Yulong
Published: September 2022

As the world’s largest reactive carbon reservoir, the ocean plays a critical role in global climate change. Among coastal plant ecosystems, mangroves have the highest carbon storage efficiency and are prone to the impact of anthropogenic activities. In this study, taking the mangrove wetland of Qinglan Bay as an example, we extracted information on mangrove coastal surface change from 1988 to 2020 based on multi-temporal Landsat remote sensing data through field ground surveys and laboratory analysis and used the InVEST model to calculate the spatial and temporal structure of blue carbon in the mangrove area to investigate the effects of mangrove change in an ecological restoration context. The result shows that the overall area of mangrove forests exhibited a decreasing trend from 1988 to 2020, and the area of mangroves decreased from 1559.34 ha to 737.37 ha of which 52.71% was transformed into aquiculture, construction, and farm land. Accordingly, the mangrove carbon sinks from 1988 to 2020 were significantly reduced and the carbon stock decreased at an annual tendency from 1,025,901.71 tons to 712,118.69 tons. With the implementation of mangrove restoration, the decline of mangrove forests has decreased since 2003, promoting the stabilization and enhancement of carbon sinks in the mangrove wetlands of Qinglan Bay. The results of this study provide a technical method to evaluate the carbon sink contribution of mangrove wetland restoration in Hainan Province, a scientific basis and methodological innovation to monitor the carbon sink of mangrove cover change in larger regions of China, a theoretical basis to select criteria for mangrove restoration, and a scientific and systematic management strategy for ecological and mangrove restoration on Hainan Island.
Forestry Big Data: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Gao Wen , Qiu Quan , Yuan Changyan , Shen Xin , Cao Fuliang , Wang Guibin , Wang Guangyu
Published: September 2022

Due to improved data collection and processing techniques, forestry surveys are now more efficient and accurate, generating large amounts of forestry data. Forestry Big Data (FBD) has become a critical component of the forestry inventory investigation system. In this study, publications on FBD were identified via the Web of Science database, and a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, network analysis, and analysis of major research streams were conducted to present an overview of the FBD field. The results show that FBD research only began nearly a decade ago but has undergone an upswing since 2016. The studies were mainly conducted by China and the US, and collaboration among authors is relatively fragmented. FBD research involved interdisciplinary integration. Among all the keywords, data acquisition (data mining and remote sensing) and data processing (machine learning and deep learning) received more attention, while FBD applications (forecasting, biodiversity, and climate change) have only recently received attention. Our research reveals that the FBD research is still in the infancy stage but has grown rapidly in recent years. Data acquisition and data processing are the main research fields, whereas FBD applications have gradually emerged and may become the next focus.
Review of Applications of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Two Rare Disorders with Executive and Neurological Dysfunction: UCD and PKU
Authors: Khaksari Kosar , Chen Wei-Liang , Gropman Andrea L.
Published: September 2022

Studying rare diseases, particularly those with neurological dysfunction, is a challenge to researchers and healthcare professionals due to their complexity and small population with geographical dispersion. Universal and standardized biomarkers generated by tools such as functional neuroimaging have been forged to collect baseline data as well as treatment effects. However, the cost and heavily infrastructural requirement of those technologies have substantially limited their availability. Thus, developing non-invasive, portable, and inexpensive modalities has become a major focus for both researchers and clinicians. When considering neurological disorders and diseases with executive dysfunction, EEG is the most convenient tool to obtain biomarkers which can correlate the objective severity and clinical observation of these conditions. However, studies have also shown that EEG biomarkers and clinical observations alone are not sensitive enough since not all the patients present classical phenotypical features or EEG evidence of dysfunction. This article reviews disorders, including two rare disorders with neurological dysfunction and the usefulness of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a non-invasive optical modality to obtain hemodynamic biomarkers of diseases and for screening and monitoring the disease.
Comparative and Phylogenetic Analyses of Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Scrophularia incisa Complex (Scrophulariaceae)
Authors: Wang Ruihong , Gao Jing , Feng Jieying , Yang Zhaoping , Qi Zhechen , Li Pan , Fu Chengxin
Published: September 2022

The Scrophularia incisa complex is a group of closely related desert and steppe subshrubs that includes S. incisa, S. kiriloviana and S. dentata, which are the only S. sect. Caninae components found in Northwest China. Based on earlier molecular evidence, the species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within this complex remain poorly resolved. Here, we characterized seven complete chloroplast genomes encompassing the representatives of the three taxa in the complex and one closely related species, S. integrifolia, as well as three other species of Scrophularia. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that the genomic structure, gene order and content were highly conserved among these eleven plastomes. Highly variable plastid regions and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. The robust and consistent phylogenetic relationships of the S. incisa complex were firstly constructed based on a total of 26 plastid genomes from Scrophulariaceae. Within the monophyletic complex, a S. kiriloviana individual from Pamirs Plateau was identified as the earliest diverging clade, followed by S. dentata from Tibet, while the remaining individuals of S. kiriloviana from the Tianshan Mountains and S. incisa from Qinghai–Gansu were clustered into sister clades. Our results evidently demonstrate the capability of plastid genomes to improve phylogenetic resolution and species delimitation, particularly among closely related species, and will promote the understanding of plastome evolution in Scrophularia.
A Novel Framework for Analysis of the Shared Genetic Background of Correlated Traits
Authors: Svishcheva Gulnara R. , Tiys Evgeny S. , Elgaeva Elizaveta E. , Feoktistova Sofia G. , Timmers Paul R. H. J. , Sharapov Sodbo Zh. , Axenovich Tatiana I. , Tsepilov Yakov A.
Published: September 2022

We propose a novel effective framework for the analysis of the shared genetic background for a set of genetically correlated traits using SNP-level GWAS summary statistics. This framework called SHAHER is based on the construction of a linear combination of traits by maximizing the proportion of its genetic variance explained by the shared genetic factors. SHAHER requires only full GWAS summary statistics and matrices of genetic and phenotypic correlations between traits as inputs. Our framework allows both shared and unshared genetic factors to be effectively analyzed. We tested our framework using simulation studies, compared it with previous developments, and assessed its performance using three real datasets: anthropometric traits, psychiatric conditions and lipid concentrations. SHAHER is versatile and applicable to summary statistics from GWASs with arbitrary sample sizes and sample overlaps, allows for the incorporation of different GWAS models (Cox, linear and logistic), and is computationally fast.
Chasing Consistency: An Update of the TCP Gene Family of Malus × Domestica
Authors: Tabarelli Mattia , Malnoy Mickael , Janik Katrin
Published: September 2022

The 52 members of the Teosinte-Branched 1/Cycloidea/Proliferating Cell Factors (TCP) Transcription Factor gene family in Malus × domestica (M. × domestica) were identified in 2014 on the first genome assembly, which was released in 2010. In 2017, a higher quality genome assembly for apple was released and is now considered to be the reference genome. Moreover, as in several other species, the identified TCP genes were named based on the relative position of the genes on the chromosomes. The present work consists of an update of the TCP gene family based on the latest genome assembly of M. × domestica. Compared to the previous classification, the number of TCP genes decreased from 52 to 40 as a result of the addition of three sequences and the deduction of 15. An analysis of the intragenic identity led to the identification of 15 pairs of orthologs, shedding light on the forces that shaped the evolution of this gene family. Furthermore, a revised nomenclature system is proposed that is based both on the intragenic identity and the homology with Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) TCPs in an effort to set a common standard for the TCP classification that will facilitate any future interspecific analysis.
Relationships between Internal Training Intensity and Well-Being Changes in Youth Football Players
Authors: Silva Rui Miguel , Clemente Filipe Manuel , González-Fernández Francisco Tomás , Nobari Hadi , Oliveira Rafael , Silva Ana Filipa , Cancela-Carral José María
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) to analyze the variations of training intensity and well-being measures of youth football player over a 38 week period; and (ii) to test the relationships between training intensity and well-being variations throughout a youth football season. This study followed a longitudinal design, lasting 38 weeks. Twenty-five players (age: 15.0 ± 0.4 years) participated in this study. Participants were monitored daily to quantify the training intensity (TI) using the session-rate of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and its related indices: training monotony (TM), weekly training intensity (wTI), mean training intensity (mTI), and 5-day average (5d-AVG). A four-item questionnaire was collected daily to quantify the well-being status of each player. Fatigue, stress, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), sleep quality, and the Hooper Index (HI) measures were analyzed. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed significant differences for TM, mTI, wTI and 5d-AVG (H = 359.53, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.35; H = 414.97, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.41, H = 258.42, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.24 and H = 282.18, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.26). A positive large correlation was found between TM and sleep quality (r = 0.65, p = 0.05) and a negative large correlation between mTI and sleep quality (r = −0.69, p = 0.04). In conclusion, both TI and well-being measures present significant between-week differences at different periods of the season. Also, the variations of sleep quality seem to depend on TM and mTI variations across a youth football season.
The Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Improving Quality of Care in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evaluation of Patients’ and Physicians’ Satisfaction
Authors: Alrashed Fatema , Almutairi Najlaa , Shehab Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary team, including clinical pharmacists, to improve the quality of care and patient outcome. This present study aimed to assess the satisfaction of patients with IBD and physicians regarding clinical pharmacist interventions in outpatient and inpatient settings. Methods: A survey-based study was performed between 1 March and 1 August 2022 in a tertiary care IBD center. Two different questionnaires were distributed among patients and physicians focusing on satisfaction with the clinical pharmacist services. Patient demographics were obtained. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results of the survey. Results: A total of 108 patients with IBD and 23 physicians participated in this study. Among study participants, Crohn’s disease (CD) accounted for 64.8% of the total participants, while 35.2% of patients had ulcerative colitis (UC). Regarding the patient survey, most patients were extremely satisfied with clinical pharmacists’ services, during which the majority strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the counseling session. However, five patients were unsure about the amount of time spent with the clinical pharmacist. There were no patients dissatisfied with any of the services. Finally, two physicians were not sure regarding clinical pharmacists monitoring patients’ responses in of terms of toxicity and adverse effects. Conclusions: the current study illustrates patients’ and physicians’ high satisfaction with clinical pharmacists’ services in outpatient and inpatient settings. The findings of this study as well as previous studies necessitate expanding the clinical pharmacist services in the gastroenterology field.
What Does Provide Better Effects on Balance, Strength, and Lower Extremity Muscle Function in Professional Male Soccer Players with Chronic Ankle Instability? Hopping or a Balance Plus Strength Intervention? A Randomized Control Study
Authors: Mohammadi Nia Samakosh Hadi , Brito João Paulo , Shojaedin Seyed Sadredin , Hadadnezhad Malihe , Oliveira Rafael
Published: September 2022

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) has a higher frequency in soccer due to the rapid changes in body movement. Thus, this study compared the effects of eight weeks of a hopping protocol and a combined protocol of balance plus strength in a within-between group analysis. Thirty-six male professional soccer players participated in this study and were randomly allocated in three groups: control group (CG, n = 12), hopping group (HG, n = 12), and balance plus strength group (BSG, n = 12). Strength, static and dynamic balance, and function were assessed at baseline and eight weeks post intervention. First, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and FAAM sport scales were applied. Then, a dynamometer was used to measure strength of the muscles around the hip, knee, and ankle joints. The Bass stick measured static balance and the Y balance test measured dynamic balance. Additionally, functional tests were carried out by Triple Hop, the Figure 8 hop, and vertical jump. A repeated measures ANOVA [(3 groups) × 2 moments] was used to compare the within and between group differences. In general, all tests improved after eight weeks of training with both protocols. Specifically, the BSG improved with large ES for all tests, while the HG improved all test with small to large effect sizes (ES). Furthermore, HG showed higher values for vertical jump (p < 0.01, ES = 1.88) and FAAMSPORT (p < 0.05, ES = 0.15) than BSG. BSG showed higher values for hip abduction (p < 0.05, ES = 2.77), hip adduction (p < 0.05, ES = 0.87), and ankle inversion (p < 0.001, ES = 1.50) strength tests, while HG showed higher values for knee flexion [ES = 0.86, (0.02, 1.69)] and ankle plantarflexion [ES = 0.52, (−0.29, 1.33)]. Balance plus strength protocol showed more positive effects than the hopping protocol alone for soccer players with CAI.
Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Mexican Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Rojo-Contreras Wendoline , Diaz-Rizo Valeria , Trujillo Xochitl , Huerta Miguel , Rocha-Muñoz Alberto D. , Trujillo-Hernandez Benjamin , Rivera-Cameras Alicia , Dávalos-Rodríguez Ingrid P. , Salazar-Páramo Mario
Published: September 2022

We estimate the prevalence and identified the associated factors of sexual dysfunction in Mexican women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A cross-sectional survey was applied to 100 women with RA and compared with 100 healthy, sexually active, adult women. Assessments included an interview using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Assessment of factors related to sexual dysfunction included gynecologic characteristics, disease activity (DAS-28), and functioning questionnaire (HAQ-DI). Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-square test were used to compare medians and proportions between the groups. A multivariate logistic regression was performed using sexual dysfunction according to impairments shown by the FSFI. A higher proportion of RA patients had sexual dysfunction compared with controls. Domains with higher impairment in RA patients were desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm. A decrease in sexual function correlated with age (r = −0.365 p < 0.001) and higher scores in HAQ-DI (r = −0.261 p = 0.009). Those patients with a higher disability had higher impairments in desire, arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction. In the multivariate analysis, menopause was associated with sexual dysfunction (OR: 10.02; 95% CI: 1.05–95.40, p = 0.04), whereas use of methotrexate was a protective factor (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.11–0.92, p = 0.03). Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in Mexican women with RA. Clinicians should systematically evaluate the impairment in sexual function in women with RA.
Clinical-Functional Vulnerability, Functional Capacity, and Falls in Octogenarians with Different Physical Activity Levels—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: da Silva Letícia Pophal , Moreira Natália Boneti , Grando Renata Zacharias , Bento Paulo César Baraúce , Rodacki André Luiz Felix
Published: September 2022

Aim: To compare differences between frailty, functional capacity, and fall prevalence among community-dwelling oldest-old adults regarding their physical activity levels. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine octogenarians (80+ years) were allocated according to their physical activity as insufficiently active (<150 min week−1; n = 98; 84.4 ± 3.7 years), active (150 to 300 min week−1, n = 81, 83.9 ± 3.1 years), and very active (>300 min week−1, n = 60; 83.8 ± 3.4 years). Frailty (CFVI-20 questionnaire), functional capacity (Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, Timed Up and Go, Balance, and handgrip strength), fall history, and physical activity were assessed. Results: The insufficiently active group was the frailest and presented the worst functional performance compared to the other groups. The fall prevalence was higher in the insufficiently active (60.9%) compared to the active (26.4%) and very active (12.7%) groups. Conclusions: The group of insufficiently active octogenarians showed the greatest frailty, worst functional capacity, and higher fall prevalence than the active and very active groups. The engagement in physical activity of at least 300 min week−1 is essential to reverse or minimize the deleterious effects of aging on frailty, functional capacity, and falls in octogenarians.
Lifestyle, Demographic and Socio-Economic Determinants of Mental Health Disorders of Employees in the European Countries
Authors: Majcherek Dawid , Kowalski Arkadiusz Michał , Lewandowska Małgorzata Stefania
Published: September 2022

Ensuring the health and well-being of workers should be a top priority for employers and governments. The aim of the article is to evaluate and rank the importance of mental health determinants: lifestyle, demographic factors and socio-economic status. The research study is based on EHIS 2013–2015 data for a sample of N = 140,791 employees from 30 European countries. The results obtained using machine learning techniques such as gradient-boosted trees and SHAPley values show that the mental health of European employees is strongly determined by the BMI, age and social support from close people. The next vital features are alcohol consumption, an unmet need for health care and sports activity, followed by the affordability of medicine or treatment, income and occupation. The wide range of variables clearly indicates that there is an important role for governments to play in order to minimize the risk of mental disorders across various socio-economic groups. It is also a signal for businesses to help boost the mental health of their employees by creating holistic, mentally friendly working conditions, such as offering time-management training, implementing morning briefings, offering quiet areas, making employees feel valued, educating them about depression and burnout symptoms, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Comparative Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention Programs on Motor Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hassan Mohamed A. , Liu Wenxi , McDonough Daniel J. , Su Xiwen , Gao Zan
Published: September 2022

Objective: To evaluate how different physical activity (PA) interventions (traditional, exergaming, and teacher/parent education) impacted children’s motor skills (object control, locomotor, and gross motor). Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Data sources: PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Eligibility criteria: (1) Participants comprised 1708 children 3–12 years; (2) PA or exercise-based interventions were investigated; (3) only studies using a Test of Gross Motor Skills assessment were included; (4) RCT were chosen as the study design to assess the impact of PA interventions on children’s motor skills; and (5) culture-based PA studies with English language only were included. Data were analyzed using a Bayesian network meta-analysis. Results: The results were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with associated 95% credible intervals (CrIs). For object control, aerobic intervention (SMD 6.90, 95% Crl 1.39 to 13.50); for locomotor, exergaming intervention (SMD 12.50, 95% Crl 0.28 to 24.50); and for gross motor, aerobic intervention (SMD 7.49, 95% Crl 0.11 to 15.70) were the most effective treatments. Conclusion: Children’s FMSs have been improved through different PA interventions. Among them, aerobic interventions seem to be the most effective intervention in enhancing object control skills and overall gross motor skills.
Cooperation between Public Primary Health Care and Occupational Health Care Professionals in Work Ability-Related Health Issues
Authors: Vähätalo Lauri , Siukola Anna , Atkins Salla , Reho Tiia , Sumanen Markku , Viljamaa Mervi , Sauni Riitta
Published: September 2022

Work disability creates significant expenses for nations and causes human suffering by limiting patients’ lives. International studies show that to enhance recognition of and support for work disability, cooperation, mutual trust, and information exchange between public primary health care and occupational health care must be strengthened. However, little is known of how health care professionals experience this cooperation. The aim of this study was to understand how professionals experience the cooperation between public primary health care and occupational health services regarding patients’ work ability. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 health care professionals working in five small cities (<10,000 inhabitants) in Finland. Interviews were audio and video recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified from the interviews: attitudes toward the other health care sector, the exchange of information, and resources for cooperation. Professionals seem to have poor knowledge about the services available and how care is given in the other sector, appearing to lead to weak mutual trust. The public primary health care professionals especially emphasized the benefits of cooperation, but several issues were mentioned as barriers to cooperation. These results can be used when planning effective patient paths and service provisioning models.
Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Cancer: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Sousa Rodrigues Guedes Thais , Barbosa Otoni Gonçalves Guedes Marcello , de Castro Santana Rebeca , Costa da Silva José Felipe , Almeida Gomes Dantas Amanda , Ochandorena-Acha Mirari , Terradas-Monllor Marc , Jerez-Roig Javier , Bezerra de Souza Dyego Leandro
Published: September 2022

Background: Several factors affect sexual function, including cancer development and treatment. This study summarized the risk of women with cancer of developing sexual dysfunctions. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched the EMBASE, PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using the descriptors cancer, neoplasms, sexual dysfunction, sexual function, and women. The Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies assessed the quality of studies. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this review. Women with cancer presented sexual dysfunctions in 14 out of 16 included studies. The incidence of sexual dysfunctions ranged from 30% to 80%, while the risk of developing sexual dysfunction increased 2.7- and 3.5-fold in women with cervical and breast cancer, respectively. Conclusion: Different cancer treatments increase the risk of developing sexual dysfunction in women, especially desire, arousal, and orgasm, leading to biopsychosocial changes in the health of this population.
Trends in Occupational Infectious Diseases in South Korea and Classification of Industries According to the Risk of Biological Hazards Using K-Means Clustering
Authors: Shin Saemi , Yoon Won Suck , Byeon Sang-Hoon
Published: September 2022

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to identify these risks and determine whether the current level of management is appropriate to respond to the risk of biological hazards depending on the occupation. In this study, the incidence and fatality rates of occupational diseases were calculated using industrial accident statistics of South Korea, and trends by year using joinpoint regression and relative risk by industry using k-means clustering were evaluated for infectious diseases. We found that infectious diseases had the third highest incidence and fourth highest fatalities among all occupational diseases. In the incidence rate, joinpoints appeared in 2009 and 2018, and the annual percent change changed to 7.79, −16.63, and 82.11. The fatality rate showed a consistent increase with an annual percent change of 4.37, but it was not significant. Industries were classified into five groups according to risk, and the legal control measures of certain industries were not sufficient. Follow-up studies are needed to rectify the structural limitations of industrial accident statistics.
Determinants of Adolescent Reproductive Health in West Java Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Solehati Tetti , Pramukti Iqbal , Rahmat Agus , Kosasih Cecep Eli
Published: September 2022

The problem of adolescent reproductive health (ARH) in Indonesia is worrying, especially regarding the Triad Adolescent Reproductive Health (Triad ARH) behavior. Many factors influence ARH behavior. This cross-sectional study explores the association factors between demographic factors, knowledge, and attitudes toward ARH behavior. Six hundred and sixty-eight junior high school and senior high school students were randomly selected from five public schools in Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of four parts, namely: (1) demographic data of respondents; (2) knowledge including 20 questions used multiple choice questions; (3) attitude with 12 questions measured using the Likert scale; and (4) behaviors with seven questions measured using Likert scale. Results showed that gender (p = 0.006), age (p = 0.031), and level of education (p = 0.006) were associated with behavior toward ARH behavior, but knowledge (p = 0.582), religion (p = 0.628), ethnic (p = 0.276), and attitude (p = 0.094) were not associated with ARH behavior. Multivariate analysis showed that only gender (p < 0.010) significantly contributed to ARH behavior. Multivariate analysis showed that gender (OR: 2.168, 95% (CI: 1.204–3.904)) significantly contributed to ARH behavior. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the gender factor influences adolescent reproductive health behavior. This study provides further evidence that to promote positive ARH behavior’s among youth in West Java, Indonesia, gender should be put in place and be sustainable, using the media and the Internet and involving the collaboration of parents, teachers, and peers to improve adolescent reproductive health.
Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with Blood Flow Restriction at Different Phases on Abdominal Visceral Fat among Obese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Shuoqi , Guo Rong , Yu Tao , Li Shiming , Han Tenghai , Yu Wenbing
Published: September 2022

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and blood flow restriction (BFR) represent a critical nonpharmacological strategy to reduce the excess deposition of visceral fat, as well as relevant complications, among obese populations. Applying BFR at diverse phases may have different effects. Therefore, the exercise program of this study combined HIIT with BFR, so as to explore the effect of BFR on abdominal visceral fat area and its mechanism in different periods of HIIT. The aim is to provide a more effective exercise prescription for obese people who want to reduce visceral fat quickly. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial involving 72 obese adults. One week before intervention, both regional and whole-body fat masses, abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat areas, variables of blood metabolism, and VO2max were recorded. Additionally, subjects with a matched fat percentage were randomized as a no-training control (C), HIIT (H), HIIT with BFR during interval (I), and HIIT with BFR during exercise (E) groups for 24 sessions within a 12-week period, using a cycle ergometer. During session one, this study recorded blood lactate, specific serum lipolytic hormones, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and exercise heart rate (HR) and compared them among three groups. The baseline tests were repeated at 1 week after intervention. Results: There was no significant statistical difference in the indicators of each group at baseline (p > 0.05). The improvement of trunk fat mass and fat percentage of the I and E groups markedly increased relative to the H group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the I group had improved android fat mass and whole-body fat mass relative to group H (p < 0.05). Those exercise groups had markedly improved indices compared with the C group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the reduction in the I group had remarkably superior abdominal visceral fat areas (AVFA) to the H and E groups (p < 0.05). Immediately and 30 min following exercise, the E and I groups had remarkably increased growth hormone (GH) compared with the H group (p < 0.05). After exercise, the I group showed markedly increased epinephrine (EPI) compared with the H group (p < 0.05). The LA level in the I group evidently increased relative to the E group (p < 0.05), while that in the E group evidently increased compared with the H group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with HIIT alone, HIIT with BFR can better improve the body-fat level and glucose metabolism. HIIT with BFR in the interval phase better reduces the abdominal visceral-fat level than in the exercise phase, which may be due to the increase in lipolytic hormone level caused by the higher physiological load.
ECG Standards and Formats for Interoperability between mHealth and Healthcare Information Systems: A Scoping Review
Authors: Cuevas-González Daniel , García-Vázquez Juan Pablo , Bravo-Zanoguera Miguel , López-Avitia Roberto , Reyna Marco A. , Zermeño-Campos Nestor Alexander , González-Ramírez María Luisa
Published: September 2022

Interoperability is defined as the ability of a system or device to communicate between different technologies and software applications. This allows the exchange and use of data in an efficient, precise, and robust way. The present article gives researchers and healthcare information systems developers a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of the state of knowledge related to data formats and data standards proposed for mHealth devices interoperability in healthcare information systems that retrieve and store ECG data. We carry out a scoping review to answer to following questions: (1) What digital data formats or data standards have been proposed for the interoperability of electrocardiograph data between traditional healthcare information systems and mobile healthcare information systems? (2) What are the advantages and disadvantages of these data formats or data standards? The scoping review was conducted in four databases in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, and in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A total of 4018 studies were identified of which 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. Based on our findings, we identify four standards and nine formats for capturing and storing streaming ECG data in mobile health applications. The standards used were HL7, SCP-ECG, x73-PHD, and PDF/A. Formats include CSV, PDF-ECG, and seven XML-based formats. These are ECG-XML, HL7-XML, mPCG-XML, mECGML, JSON, SaECG, and CDA R2.