bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlations among Soil, Leaf Morphology, and Physiological Factors with Wear Tolerance of Four Warm-season Turfgrass Species
Authors: Wei Hongjian , Yang Wen , Wang Yongqi , Ding Jie , Ge Liangfa , Richardson Michael , Liu Tianzeng , Zhang Juming
Published: March 2022

Traffic resistance of turfgrasses is an essential indicator of urban recreational and sports turf quality (TQ). In our study, four turfgrass species were investigated for their wear resistance. A self-made traffic simulator was used to determine the wear resistance of the study turf area in a 2-year field trial (2019–20). The experimental plots were established using a randomized block design with three replicates. The morphological characteristics, soil physical properties, and physiological indices of the grasses were analyzed. Using the acquired quantitative data, we set the turf cover index (TCI), the turf quality index (TQI), and the shoot density index (SDI) as the wear tolerance index, and assessed the correlations among these morphological characteristics, soil physical properties, physiological indices, and wear tolerance. ‘Lanyin III’ zoysiagrass and ‘Tifgreen’ hybrid bermudagrass provided relatively greater wear tolerance, followed by ‘Qingdao’ zoysiagrass and common bermudagrass after 12 weeks of traffic exposure in 2019 and 2020. Traffic changes the soil physical properties and affects the physiological metabolism of turfgrasses. Leaf morphology characteristics and the mechanical strength of these grasses were related significantly to TCI, TQI, and SDI, and most physiological responses and soil properties correlated significantly with TCI and TQI. Our findings of the correlations among physiological responses, soil properties, leaf morphology, and wear tolerance will allow grass breeders to evaluate their breeding procedures more efficiently.
Measurable signatures of bosonic fractional Chern insulator states and their fractional excitations in a quantum-gas microscope
Authors: Wang Botao , Dong Xiaoyu , Eckardt André
Published: March 2022

The recent progress in engineering topological band structures in
optical-lattice systems makes it promising to study fractional Chern
insulator states in these systems. Here we consider a realistic finite
system of a few repulsively interacting bosons on a square lattice with
magnetic flux and sharp edges, as it can be realized in quantum-gas
microscopes. We investigate under which conditions a fractional Chern
insulator state corresponding to the Laughlin-like state at filling
\nu=1/2ν=1/2
can be stabilized and its fractional excitations probed. Using numerical
simulations, we find an incompressible bulk density at the expected
filling for systems, whose linear extent is as small as 6-8 sites. This
is a promising result, since such small systems are favorable with
respect to the required adiabatic state preparation. Moreover, we also
see very clear signatures of excitations with fractional charge in
response both to static pinning potentials and dynamical flux insertion.
Since the compressible edges, which are found to feature chiral
currents, can serve as a reservoir, these observations are robust
against changes in the total particle number. Our results suggest that
signatures of both a fractional Chern insulator state and its fractional
excitations can be found under realistic experimental conditions.
Algebraic theory of quantum synchronization and limit cycles under dissipation
Authors: Buča Berislav , Booker Cameron , Jaksch Dieter
Published: March 2022

Synchronization is a phenomenon where interacting particles lock their motion and display non-trivial dynamics. Despite intense efforts studying synchronization in systems without clear classical limits, no comprehensive theory has been found. We develop such a general theory based on novel necessary and sufficient algebraic criteria for persistently oscillating eigenmodes (limit cycles) of time-independent quantum master equations. We show these eigenmodes must be quantum coherent and give an exact analytical solution for all such dynamics in terms of a dynamical symmetry algebra. Using our theory, we study both stable synchronization and metastable/transient synchronization. We use our theory to fully characterise spontaneous synchronization of autonomous systems. Moreover, we give compact algebraic criteria that may be used to prove absence of synchronization. We demonstrate synchronization in several systems relevant for various fermionic cold atom experiments.
Causas del encarcelamiento de mujeres migrantes por el delito de trata de personas: estereotipos de género y políticas criminales
Authors: Izcara Palacios Simón Pedro
Published: March 2022

La trata de personas con fines de explotación sexual es un delito que requiere una estructura compleja, bien capitalizada y con capacidad para corromper a las autoridades. Sin embargo, numerosos trabajos empíricos realizados en cárceles mexicanas revelan que el perfil de las personas sentenciadas por el delito de trata en muchos casos se corresponde con el de mujeres migrantes pobres, desconocedoras de la geografía mexicana, que carecen de los medios logísticos y contactos para cometer el citado delito. El objetivo de esta investigación, sustentada en un examen de informes gubernamentales y de la literatura académica sobre el tema, es examinar qué factores propician que en México un número elevado de mujeres migrantes hayan sido encarceladas por el delito de trata de personas. Se concluye que la vigilancia de Estados Unidos, el diseño neo-abolicionista de la ley de trata de personas, de México de 2012, y la identificación de las mujeres migrantes centroamericanas con el mito de la Malinche: mujer-traidora e inmoral, que abandona el rol hogareño, que por naturaleza le corresponde, para emigrar sola y asumir el rol masculino de proveedor, que por naturaleza le corresponde al hombre, convierte a las primeras en un chivo expiatorio por el delito de trata de personas.
Ambientes incluyentes
Authors: Flórez Montaño Sebastián
Published: March 2022

Se presenta una reflexión situada acerca de las condiciones ecológicas, educativas, ambientales, legales y de gestión, con el fin de abordar los distintos desafíos que admiten los ambientes incluyentes para una formación signada por los principios de igualdad y benevolencia en el contexto escolar. En todo el análisis reflexivo se manifiesta de forma imprescindible la necesidad de construir esfuerzos colectivos que creen redes de trabajo, en virtud de diferentes razones expuestas en toda la línea retórica del texto. Se presentan los beneficios que brinda el trabajo en red en distintos niveles, partiendo de lo micro (interacciones en el aula) hasta lo macromeso (áreas de la gestión escolar).
El amor en la relación maestro-estudiante y su influencia como posible factor de protección en la salud mental del maestro
Authors: Cárdenas Cuadros John Albert
Published: March 2022

El presente escrito pretende justificar cómo el amor en la relación maestroestudiante puede ser un factor de protección de la salud mental del maestro. Paraello, se presenta una serie de argumentos en los cuales se evidencia la importancia de dicho estudio. Se parte de identificar las características y cualidades que debetener un maestro, las cuales muchas de ellas han sido heredadas y asumidas de manera casi automática por parte de aquellos que han visto en la profesión docentesu proyecto de vida. Después de este perfil del maestro, se presenta una serie de riesgos socioemocionales y psicológicos propios de la función docente, en esteacápite se hace una mención especial de cómo los maestros han asumido su rol frente a la pandemia generada por la COVID-19 y las implicaciones emocionales que han generado en ellos dicha situación sanitaria. En los siguientes acápites de este escrito se desarrollan el concepto de “amor” (amorosidad) desde la perspectivateórica de Paulo Freire, que ha de ser la propuesta teórica que va a guiar este proyecto de investigación doctoral; se presentan algunos de los posibles factores de protección de la salud mental asociados a la profesión docente; para finalizar, se presentan algunas conclusiones en las que se enuncian las pistas que pueden permitir relacionar el amor hacia el ser maestro, a sus prácticas y a su relación conlos estudiantes y la influencia de estos en la salud mental del docente.
La política y la corrupción en la Rebelión en la granja
Authors: Gómez López Carlos Arturo , Marulanda Zuluaga Santiago , Romero Cárdenas Roberto M.
Published: March 2022

El propósito de este ensayo es identificar dentro de una pieza de la literatura universal, esta es, Rebelión en la granja de George Orwell, los elementos políticos y sociológicos determinantes en la gesta de los movimientos sociales emancipadores en el marco de regímenes autoritarios como el experimentado en el siglo XX con el caso soviético. La metodología empleada es analítico-interpretativa de corte cualitativo. Tiene como fuentes de información la obra mencionada y otras piezas bibliográficas pertinentes. Como resultado del ejercicio desarrollado se presenta este ensayo en donde se presentan los principales caracteres de la obra estudiada y su interpretación a la luz de conceptos de interés para la política y el derecho, como lo son los sistemas políticos, los movimientos sociales, el autoritarismo y la corrupción.
Las Acciones desplazatorias de estado en la filiación extramatrimonial
Authors: Alejandría Giancarlo , Muñoz Felipa
Published: March 2022

El presente artículo de revisión literaria tiene como título “Las acciones desplazatorias de estado en la filiación extramatrimonial”. Objetivo: Analizar las acciones desplazatorias de estado filiatorio extramatrimonial eliminan la irrevocabilidad del reconocimiento de paternidad. Método: estudios descriptivos de artículos científicos indexados en bases de datos de revistas nacionales e internacionales entre los años 2006 – 2021. Los materiales examinados exponen estudios descriptivos, analíticos e inductivos. Resultados: se localizaron 43 investigaciones, siendo seleccionados para efectos del trabajo 21 estudios. Conclusiones: Las acciones desplazatorias de estado, constituyen herramientas importantes y de gran utilidad para eliminar filiaciones extramatrimoniales que se originan de reconocimientos fraudulentos y carentes de vinculo consanguíneo entre el reconociente y reconocido.
La transgresión de lo tradicional y el código ético en Un perro andaluz (filme 1929)
Authors: Delgado Jesús
Published: March 2022

Este artículo reconstruye el contexto histórico y cinematográfico que permitió que la película de Luis Buñuel y Salvador Dalí tuviera una intencionalidad distinguible. Para demostrar ese acápite, retomo los estudios críticos que se han hecho en torno a este cortometraje, así como las categorías pertinentes de las vanguardias del dadaísmo y el surrealismo, junto con el psicoanálisis de Sigmund Freud y Jacques Lacan. Con todo ello, propongo que el objetivo de este trabajo es fundamentar las razones que generaron que esta producción fílmica estuviera orientada a transgredir lo tradicional y lo ético de la sociedad europea. Esa volición solo se lograría desde la epifanía de su arte onírico e inconexo.
Digital divide and sustainable development of Ukrainian regions
Authors: Deineko Liudmyla , Hrebelnyk Oleksandr , Zharova Liubov , Tsyplitska Olena , Grebeniuk Nadiia
Published: March 2022

Digital inequality of the regions is considered one of the topical issues of sustainable development provision in less developed countries. It can be defined as a gap between the geographical areas regarding the access opportunities to ICT and the Internet use for different activities. The goal of the study is to identify the link between the regional digital divide and the level of economic development in Ukraine and generalize international practices of digitalization promotion in lagging regions. Methodologically, various statistical methods (analytical grouping, variation, and correlation analysis) were used. The most appropriate and available data for assessing the digital divide referred to the State Statistical Service of Ukraine’s survey on Internet users in Ukrainian regions. The study revealed an overall shrink in the variation coefficient of the share of Internet users (from 36.4% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2019). However, the variation coefficients for the share of interacting with public authorities, reading online, and e-mailing persons remain significant.Furthermore, analytical grouping of regions suggested that the level of industrial sector development influenced the penetration of digital technologies into public life vastly, though several unaccounted factors also existed. Finally, the paper examined international practices of managing the digital divide. As a result, recommendations for public policy (e.g., the implementation of training programs for late adults and elderly, improved digital maintenance and digitalization programs for schools, price equalization for digital technologies, equal Internet provision in different regions, and investments in services digitalization) were developed.
Vertical vibration modeling for 2:1-roping traction elevator system
Authors: Shi Jipeng , Zhang Weimin , Wu Chengjun
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a vertical vibration model for 2:1-roping traction elevator system. In this model, masses of suspension ropes are considered and their kinetic energy is calculated by applying Rayleigh method. Equations of motion for free vibration are derived. To verify the improvement of the model, an output dependent only modal test scheme using eigenvalue realization algorithm is conducted to obtain natural frequencies from a real elevator installation. The comparison of experimental results and numerical results of proposed model and previous similar models is presented on calculation of natural frequencies. The results show that proposed model is able to reflect the 5th natural frequencies more exactly under 0 % and 100 % load conditions.
The method of economic-geographic profiling of agriculture for territories with contrasting indicators of development
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Danshin Alexander I. , Radikevich Andrey V. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University
Published: March 2022

This work explores spatial differentiation of agriculture and the identification of the existing differentiation in a territory where there are contrasts in economic development as a whole and of the agricultural sector in a particular industry. The method of economic-geographic profiling for the Inter-capital region (along the line of the Minsk-Moscow profile) was used, and dynamics for the last 10 years were investigated. Approaches are proposed for the use of profiling to identify possible growth centers that can become drivers of agricultural development, as well as depressed areas that need to be developed primarily with the help of various instruments of interethnic and regional policy. The most important role in the development of depressed areas can be played by agriculture, which is characterized by short production cycles and the ability to quickly introduce innovations that inevitably arise in cross-border cooperation due to the flow of knowledge and technology, and exchange of experience and cooperation. Because of the profile, two emerging territorial agrarian clusters in Belarus were identified. Also, quantitatively and qualitatively, the gap at the level of agricultural development between the two states was highlighted, which turned out to be more significant than expected (for some product categories by more than an order of magnitude). Profiling for different time periods includes main trends in agricultural development of the Intercapital Region: gravitation of agriculture towards the centers of districts (agropolisation), polarization and the outrunning development of the Russian sector in recent years of the import substitution policy. With this influence of the capitals of the two countries and capacious consumer markets, the formation of high-intensity suburban agriculture is not shown at this stage. The absence of the influence of the inter-capital situation for the peripheral territories of Belarus and Russia is shown.
Winter thermal and ice regimes of small Karelian lakes against the background of regional climatic variability
Authors:   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Zdorovennova Galina E. , Golosov Sergei D. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Palshin Nikolai I. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Zverev Ilya S. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Efremova Tatiana V. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Terzhevik Arkady Yu. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Zdorovennov Roman E. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Bogdanov Sergei R. ,   Northern water problems Institute Karelian research centre of RAS, Fedorova Irina V. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: March 2022

This article investigates regularities of thermal and ice regimes of three small lakes of Karelia under current climatic conditions. Data of measurements of water temperature at autonomous stations and results of numerical calculations of the dates of ice-on and ice-off and the thickness of ice in these lakes using the one-dimensional parameterized model FLake in the anomalously warm winter season of 2019-2020 are analyzed. Data obtained are compared with long-term values over 1994-2019. The dates of the ice-on and ice-off on the lakes were quite close; however, on two larger lakes, intermediate ice destruction was observed at the beginning of winter, due to which the duration of the ice season differed between lakes by two weeks. The winter months of 2019-2020 were 6.4-9.4 ° C warmer than the baseline, which was reflected in a noticeably smaller ice thickness on the lakes compared to previous years of measurements (40-48 cm at the end of March 2020 compared to the values ​​in mid-April in 1994-2004 - 65-85 cm and in 2005-2018 - 50-65 cm). The decrease in ice thickness contributed to an early onset (mid-March) and long duration (more than five weeks) of spring subglacial convection. The model calculation, taking into account the atmospheric impact based on the ERA-5 re-analysis, reproduced the main features of the ice regime of the lakes, including the intermediate destruction of ice at the beginning of winter on two larger lakes. Significant regression relationships have been obtained between the dates of ice-on and ice-off on Lake Vendyurskoe, the dates of the onset and duration of spring under-ice convection, and the characteristics of the regional climate of southern Karelia (air temperature and the number of days with thaw in winter and spring months) for 1994-2020. The relationship between the dates of ice-on and the water temperature in the lake in winter is shown.
Dynamics of intraregional features of migration of the population of the Stavropol Territory
Authors:   North Caucasus Federal University, Soloviev Ivan A.
Published: March 2022

Using official statistics, this article carries out an historical and geographical analysis of factors and trends of migration processes of the population of the Stavropol Territory over the past 60 years in order to identify intra-regional features of population migration (at the level of cities and districts). The main research tools are analytical, cartographic, historical reconstruction, statistical, comparative geographical, and comparative historical methods. The study also used scientific literature, archival statistical data from the North Caucasus Statistical Service, and materials from a sociological survey. The time period according to characteristics of factors, trends, and forms of population migration in Russia was divided into three parts: the last three Soviet decades (1963–1991); forced migration (1992–2000); and contemporary (2001–2019). The study revealed the transformation of population migration at each of the considered periods. The article focuses on identifying dynamics of coefficients of migration growth in cities and districts of the Stavropol Territory at different periods. The main regularity of the intraregional features of population migration in the Stavropol Territory is a gradual increase in the area of territories with negative migration performance, which was natural for agro-industrial Stavropol in the conditions of the classical stage of urbanization, and which was characterized by significant migrations of the rural population to cities. This pattern was interrupted in the 1990s, when stress factors were at work, and the opposite trend was noted. However, in the contemporary period, the growth of cities and regions with a migration decline has become a defining trend. Today, only territories included in the Stavropol and Caucasian Mineral Waters urban agglomerations have migration attractiveness in the Stavropol Territory. Thus, in the contemporary period there has been an increase in the importance of the position of territories in the “core-semi-periphery-periphery” system, as well as an increase in the socio-economic spatial polarization of Russia and its regions. The revealed patterns and tendencies of migration processes in the Stavropol Territory "fit" into the broad context of V. Zelinsky's theory of mobile transition, which is natural in the context of the change of the industrial era with a post-industrial society.
Factors affecting the seasonal succession of phytoplankton functional groups in a tropical floodplain reservoir in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Thanh Luu , Tran Thi Hoang Yen , Tran Thanh Thai
Published: March 2022

Phytoplankton communities can be classified into different groups based on physiological, morphological, and ecological functions. In this study, the responses of phytoplankton functional groups (PFGs) to physicochemical variables and hydraulic regimes were investigated and used as ecological indicators in the Tri An Reservoir (TAR), a eutrophic tropical floodplain reservoir located in southern Vietnam. Altogether, 148 phytoplankton taxa were identified and assigned to 16 PFGs; the four predominant PFG groups were M (Microcystis spp.), MP (filamentous cyanobacteria: Oscillatoria spp., and some other diatoms: Gomphonema angustatum, Navicula sp.), J (green algae: Coelastrum spp., Cosmarium spp., Pediastrum spp., Scenedesmus spp., Staurastrum spp., Tetradesmus spp., Tetraëdron spp., and Xanthidium spp.), and P (Closterium spp., Aulacoseira granulata, Fragilaria spp., Pinnularia spp., and Desmidium baileyi). The average PFG biovolume ranged from 79.6 ± 20.2 to 230.1 ± 69.1 mg/L with M being the dominant group. The trophic state index (TSI) indicated that the water condition was light-eutrophic to hyper-eutrophic. It was found that the large water level fluctuation resulted in seasonal nutrient dynamics, with higher nutrient concentrations and higher turbidity during the low water level period and vice versa. The redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the nutrient concentrations, water level fluctuation, and mixing regimes were critical factors in the PFG selection in the TAR. Therefore, we assumed that water level fluctuation management coupled with biological competition have the potential to control toxic cyanobacteria in the TAR. In conclusion, the PFGs are suitable for examining the effects of environmental conditions on phytoplankton dynamics in tropical floodplain reservoirs, but their sensitivity to long-term changes in water quality and eutrophication requires further investigation.
A hybrid variational mode decomposition and sparrow search algorithm-based least square support vector machine model for monthly runoff forecasting
Authors: Li Bao-Jian , Sun Guo-Liang , Li Yu-Peng , Zhang Xiao-Li , Huang Xu-Dong
Published: March 2022

Monthly runoff forecasting has always been a key problem in water resources management. As a data-driven method, the least square support vector machine (LSSVM) method has been investigated by numerous studies in runoff forecasting. However, selecting appropriate parameters for LSSVM is the key to obtaining satisfactory model performance. In this study, we propose a hybrid model for monthly runoff forecasting, VMD-SSA-LSSVM for short, which combines variational mode decomposition (VMD) with LSSVM and the parameters of LSSVM are optimized by a sparrow search algorithm (SSA). Firstly, VMD is utilized to decompose the original time series data into several subsequences. Secondly, LSSVM is employed to simulate each subsequence, for which the parameters are optimized by SSA. Finally, the simulated results for each subsequence are accumulated as the final results. The validity of the proposed model was verified by forecasting monthly runoff for two reservoirs located in China. Four frequently-used statistical indexes, namely the Nash efficiency coefficient, root mean squared error, correlation coefficient and mean absolute percentage error were used to evaluate model performance. The results demonstrate the superiority of VMD-SSA-LSSVM over the compared models in terms of all statistical indexes, indicating that it is beneficial for enhancing monthly runoff forecast accuracy.
Bacterial Metalo-Aminopeptidases as Targets in Human Infectious
Diseases
Authors: González-Bacerio Jorge , Varela Ana C. , Aguado Mirtha E. , Izquierdo Maikel , Méndez Yanira , del Rivero Maday A. , Rivera Daniel G.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Human infectious diseases caused by bacteria are a worldwide health prob-lem due to the increased resistance of these microorganisms to conventional antibiotics. For this reason, the identification of novel molecular targets and the discovery of new antibacterial com-pounds are urgently required. Metalo-aminopeptidases are promising targets in bacterial infections. They participate in crucial processes for bacterial growth and pathogenesis, such as protein and pep-tide degradation to supply amino acids, protein processing, access to host tissues, cysteine supply for redox control, transcriptional regulation, site-specific DNA recombination, and hydrogen sulfide production. Although several of these enzymes are not essential, they are required for virulence and maximal growth in conditions of nutrient limitation and high temperatures.

Objective:

In this review, we describe the structural, functional, and kinetic properties of some ex-amples of bacterial metalo-aminopeptidases, in the context of their use as antibacterial targets. In addition, we present some inhibitors reported for these enzymes.

Conclusion:

It is necessary to conduct a meticulous work to validate these peptidases as good/bad targets and to identify inhibitors with potential therapeutic use.
Beneficial Outcomes of Cancer Therapeutic Modalities Based on Targeting
Apoptosis
Authors: Johar Dina , Khafaga Asmaa F. , Barakat Abd Elmonem M. , Noreldin Ahmed E.
Published: March 2022

Background:

In the clinical setting, anticancer therapy is routinely administered to stim-ulate programmed cell death or “apoptosis.” The goal is to eliminate tumor cells. Whether selective activation of apoptosis facilitates aggressive disease relapse in the longer term is still unaddressed. Apoptosis defects have a crucial role in cancer progression and carcinogenesis. Thus, targeting apoptosis may be important in developing new cancer therapeutic modalities.

Methods:

We summarize the shift in thinking that, while apoptosis is a barrier to oncogenesis, it paradoxically drives cancer formation and progression when executed incompletely, i.e., sublethal apoptosis. Also, we review apoptotic mechanisms, the role of apoptosis in carcinogenesis, and how it contributes to cancer treatment.

Result and conclusion:

Most current research focuses on the extent of cell death in vitro, but no evidence exists that protein regulation of cell death in vitro is similar to what happens in vivo. Fu-ture research requires identifying targets upstream and downstream of such proteins through identi-fying protein-protein interactions in different survival/apoptosis pathways. Finding nexuses where such pathways interconnect is critical, along with possible mechanisms for regulation.
Natural Compounds as Integrative Therapy for Liver Protection
against Inflammatory and Carcinogenic Mechanisms: From
Induction to Molecular Biology Advancement
Authors: Banerjee Antara , Sriramulu Sushmitha , Catanzaro Roberto , He Fang , Chabria Yashna , Balakrishnan Baskar , Hari Sruthi , Ayala Antonio , Muñoz Mario , Pathak Surajit , Marotta Francesco
Published: March 2022

The liver is exposed to several harmful substances that bear the potential to
cause excessive liver damage ranging from hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease to extreme cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver ailments
have been effectively treated from very old times with Chinese medicinal herbal
formulations and later also applied by controlled trials in Japan. However, these
traditional practices have been hardly well characterized in the past till in the last
decades when more qualified studies have been carried out. Modern advances have
given rise to specific molecular targets which are specifically good candidates for
affecting the intricate mechanisms that play a role at the molecular level. These
therapeutic regimens that mainly affect the progression of the disease by inhibiting the
gene expression levels or by blocking essential molecular pathways or releasing
cytokines may prove to play a vital role in minimizing the tissue damage. This review,
therefore, tries to throw light upon the variation in the therapies for the treatment of
benign and malignant liver disease from ancient times to the current date. Nonetheless,
clinical research exploring the effectiveness of herbal medicines in the treatment of
benign chronic liver diseases as well as prevention and treatment of HCC is still
warranted.
Термофизические и механические свойства активных мембран фотоакустических генераторов вынужденных акустических колебаний
Authors: Микитчук Е.П. , Гиршова Е.И. , Кугейко М.М.
Published: March 2022

Thermophysical and mechanical properties of active membranes for photoacoustic generators of forced acoustic oscillations are studied. Dependencies of photoacoustic generators output characteristics versus active membranes for forced acoustic oscillations are found out for different heat power densities within the structures studied.
Электронный транспорт в одиночных коллоидных квантово-размерных частицах в межэлектродном нанозазоре
Authors: Жуков Н.Д. , Гавриков М.В.
Published: March 2022

Based on the current-voltage characteristics of single colloidal QDs -InSb, -PbS, -HgSe, -CdSe quantum dots, on random samples statistically determined and investigated the mechanisms of barrier and ballistic tunneling, Coulomb confinement, quasi-periodic modulation of electron transport in the model of a deep extended potential well and depending on QDs size and de Broglie wavelength for the electron. The possibility of manifestation of Bloch oscillations has been experimentally confirmed. The parameters of all investigated processes were determined and tabulated
Развитие процесса ускорения электронов и динамика плазмы микропинча
Authors: Долгов А.Н. , Клячин Н.А. , Прохорович Д.Е.
Published: March 2022

Based on the results of the experiments and numerical estimates, the authors hypothesize that the direction of propagation of the flow of high-energy electrons in a micropinch discharge is determined by the freezing of magnetic field lines into the plasma flow and the magnetization of electrons accelerated to high energies.
Evaluation of Dietary Management Using Artificial Intelligence and Human Interventions: Nonrandomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Okaniwa Fusae , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: March 2022

Background

There has been an increase in personal health records with the increased use of wearable devices and smartphone apps to improve health. Traditional health promotion programs by human professionals have limitations in terms of cost and reach. Due to labor shortages and to save costs, there has been a growing emphasis in the medical field on building health guidance systems using artificial intelligence (AI). AI will replace advanced human tasks to some extent in the future. However, it is difficult to sustain behavioral change through technology alone at present.

Objective

This study investigates whether AI alone can effectively encourage healthy behaviors or whether human interventions are needed to achieve and sustain health-related behavioral change. We examined the effectiveness of AI and human interventions to encourage dietary management behaviors. In addition, we elucidated the conditions for maximizing the effect of AI on health improvement. We hypothesized that the combination of AI and human interventions will maximize their effectiveness.

Methods

We conducted a 3-month experiment by recruiting participants who were users of a smartphone diet management app. We recruited 102 participants and divided them into 3 groups. Treatment group I received text messages using the standard features of the app (AI-based text message intervention). Treatment group II received video messages from a companion, in addition to the text messages (combined text message and human video message intervention by AI). The control group used the app to keep a dietary record, but no feedback was provided (no intervention). We examine the participants’ continuity and the effects on physical indicators.

Results

Combined AI and video messaging (treatment group II) led to a lower dropout rate from the program compared to the control group, and the Cox proportional-hazards model estimate showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.078, which was statistically significant at the 5% level. Further, human intervention with AI and video messaging significantly reduced the body fat percentage (BFP) of participants after 3 months compared to the control group, and the rate of reduction was greater in the group with more individualized intervention. The AI-based text messages affected the BMI but had no significant effect on the BFP.

Conclusions

This experiment shows that it is challenging to sustain participants' healthy behavior with AI intervention alone. The results also suggest that even if the health information conveyed is the same, the information conveyed by humans and AI is more effective in improving health than the information sent by AI alone. The support received from the companion in the form of video messages may have promoted voluntary health behaviors. It is noteworthy that companions were competent, even though they were nonexperts. This means that person-to-person communication is crucial for health interventions.
Vascular Aging Estimation Based on Artificial Neural Network Using Photoplethysmogram Waveform Decomposition: Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Park Junyung , Shin Hangsik
Published: March 2022

Background

For the noninvasive assessment of arterial stiffness, a well-known indicator of arterial aging, various features based on the photoplethysmogram and regression methods have been proposed. However, whether because of the existing characteristics not accurately reflecting the characteristics of the incident and reflected waveforms of the photoplethysmogram or because of the lack of expressive power of the regression model, a reliable arterial stiffness assessment technique based on a single photoplethysmogram has not yet been proposed.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to discover highly correlated features from the incident and reflected waves decomposed from a photoplethysmogram waveform and to develop an artificial neural network-based regression model for the assessment of vascular aging using newly derived features.

Methods

We obtained photoplethysmograms from 757 participants. All recorded photoplethysmograms were segmented for each beat, and each waveform was decomposed into incident and reflected waves by the Gaussian mixture model. The 26 basic features and 52 combined features were defined from the morphological characteristics of the incident and reflected waves. The regression model of the artificial neural network was developed using the defined features.

Results

In correlation analysis, the features from the amplitude of the reflected wave and the skewness of the photoplethysmogram showed a relatively strong correlation with the participant’s real age. In the estimation of real age, the artificial neural network model showed 10.0 years of root mean square error. Its estimated age and real age had a strong correlation of 0.63 (P<.001).

Conclusions

This study proved that the features defined from the reflected wave and skewness of the photoplethysmogram are useful to assess vascular aging. Moreover, the regression model of artificial neural network using these features shows the feasibility for the estimation of vascular aging.
App-Based Mindfulness Meditation for People of Color Who Experience Race-Related Stress: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ramos Giovanni , Aguilera Adrian , Montoya Amanda , Lau Anna , Wen Chu Yin , Cruz Torres Victor , Chavira Denise
Published: March 2022

Background

People of color (POC) who experience race-related stress are at risk of developing mental health problems, including high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness meditation may be especially well suited to help POC cope, given its emphasis on gaining awareness and acceptance of emotions associated with discriminatory treatment. However, mindfulness meditation rarely reaches POC, and digital approaches could reduce this treatment gap by addressing traditional barriers to care.

Objective

This study will test the effectiveness of a self-directed app-based mindfulness meditation program among POC who experience elevated levels of race-related stress. Implementation outcomes such as treatment acceptability, adherence, and satisfaction will be examined.

Methods

Participants (n=80) will be recruited online by posting recruitment materials on social media and sending emails to relevant groups. In-person recruitment will consist of posting flyers in communities with significant POC representation. Eligible participants will be block randomized to either the intervention group (n=40) that will complete a self-directed 4-week mindfulness meditation program or a wait-list control condition (n=40) that will receive access to the app after study completion. All participants will complete measures at baseline, midtreatment, and posttreatment. Primary outcomes include changes in stress, anxiety, and depression, and secondary outcomes constitute changes in mindfulness, self-compassion, rumination, emotion suppression, and experiential avoidance. Exploratory analyses will examine whether changes in the secondary outcomes mediate changes in primary outcomes. Finally, treatment acceptability, adherence, and satisfaction will be examined descriptively.

Results

Recruitment began in October 2021. Data will be analyzed using multilevel modeling, a statistical methodology that accounts for the dependence among repeated observations. Considering attrition issues in self-directed digital interventions and their potential effects on statistical significance and treatment effect sizes, we will examine data using both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this will be the first study to provide data on the effectiveness of a self-directed app-based mindfulness meditation program for POC recruited based on elevated race-related stress, a high-risk population. Similarly, meaningful clinical targets for POC affected by stressors related to race will be examined. Findings will provide important information regarding whether this type of intervention is an acceptable treatment among these marginalized groups.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05027113; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05027113

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/35196
Effectiveness of Serious Games for Improving Executive Functions Among Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Abd-alrazaq Alaa , Alhuwail Dari , Ahmed Arfan , Househ Mowafa
Published: March 2022

Background

Executive functions are one of the known cognitive abilities that decline with age. They are the high-order cognitive processes that enable an individual to concentrate, plan, and take action. Serious games, which are games developed for specific purposes other than entertainment, could play a positive role in improving executive functions. Several systematic reviews have pooled the evidence about the effectiveness of serious games in improving executive functions; however, they are limited by some weaknesses.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of serious games for improving executive functions among older adults with cognitive impairment.

Methods

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. To retrieve relevant studies, 8 electronic databases were searched. Further, reference lists of the included studies and relevant reviews were screened, and we checked studies that cited our included studies. Two reviewers independently checked the eligibility of the studies, extracted data from the included studies, assessed the risk of bias, and appraised the quality of the evidence. We used a narrative and statistical approach, as appropriate, to synthesize results of the included studies.

Results

Of 548 publications identified, 16 RCTs were eventually included in this review. Of the 16 studies, 14 studies were included in 6 meta-analyses. Our meta-analyses showed that serious games are as effective as no or passive interventions at improving executive functions (P=.29). Surprisingly, conventional exercises were more effective than serious games at improving executive functions (P=.03). Our subgroup analysis showed that both types of serious games (cognitive training games, P=.08; exergames, P=.16) are as effective as conventional exercises at improving executive functions. No difference was found between adaptive serious games and nonadaptive serious games for improving executive functions (P=.59).

Conclusions

Serious games are not superior to no or passive interventions and conventional exercises at improving executive functions among older adults with cognitive impairment. However, our findings remain inconclusive due to the low quality of the evidence, the small sample size in most included studies, and the paucity of studies included in the meta-analyses. Accordingly, until more robust evidence is available, serious games should not be offered by health care providers nor used by patients for improving executive functions among older adults with cognitive impairment. Further reviews are needed to assess the long-term effect of serious games on specific executive functions or other cognitive abilities among people from different age groups with or without cognitive impairment.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42021272757; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=272757
Developing Mobile Health Interventions With Implementation in Mind: Application of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) Preparation Phase to Diabetes Prevention Programming
Authors: MacPherson Megan , Merry Kohle , Locke Sean , Jung Mary
Published: March 2022

With thousands of mobile health (mHealth) solutions on the market, patients and health care providers struggle to identify which solution to use and prescribe. The lack of evidence-based mHealth solutions may be because of limited research on intervention development and the continued use of traditional research methods for mHealth evaluation. The Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) is a framework that aids in developing interventions that produce the best-expected outcomes (ie, effectiveness), given constraints imposed on affordability, scalability, and efficiency (also known as achieving intervention EASE). The preparation phase of the MOST highlights the importance of formative intervention development—a stage often overlooked and rarely published. The aim of the preparation phase of the MOST is to identify candidate intervention components, create a conceptual model, and define the optimization objective. Although the MOST sets these 3 targets, no guidance is provided on how to conduct quality research within the preparation phase and what specific steps can be taken to identify potential intervention components, develop the conceptual model, and achieve intervention EASE with the implementation context in mind. To advance the applicability of the MOST within the field of implementation science, this study provides an account of the methods used to develop an mHealth intervention using the MOST. Specifically, we provide an example of how to achieve the goals of the preparation phase by outlining the formative development of an mHealth-prompting intervention within a diabetes prevention program. In addition, recommendations are proposed for future researchers to consider when conducting formative research on mHealth interventions with implementation in mind. Given its considerable reach, mHealth has the potential to positively affect public health by decreasing implementation costs and improving accessibility. The MOST is well-suited for the efficient development and optimization of mHealth interventions. By using an implementation-focused lens and outlining the steps in developing an mHealth intervention using the preparation phase of the MOST, this study may guide future intervention developers toward maximizing the impact of mHealth outside academia.
Impact of a Conformité Européenne (CE) Certification–Marked Medical Software Sensor on COVID-19 Pandemic Progression Prediction: Register-Based Study Using Machine Learning Methods (Preprint)
Authors: Limingoja Leevi , Antila Kari , Jormanainen Vesa , Röntynen Joel , Jägerroos Vilma , Soininen Leena , Nordlund Hanna , Vepsäläinen Kristian , Kaikkonen Risto , Lallukka Tea
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

To address the current COVID-19 and any future pandemic, we need robust, real-time, and population-scale collection and analysis of data. Rapid and comprehensive knowledge on the trends in reported symptoms in populations provides an earlier window into the progression of viral spread, and helps to predict the needs and timing of professional health care.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to use a Conformité Européenne (CE)-marked medical online symptom checker service, Omaolo, and validate the data against the national demand for COVID-19–related care to predict the pandemic progression in Finland.

METHODS

Our data comprised real-time Omaolo COVID-19 symptom checker responses (414,477 in total) and daily admission counts in nationwide inpatient and outpatient registers provided by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare from March 16 to June 15, 2020 (the first wave of the pandemic in Finland). The symptom checker responses provide self-triage information input to a medically qualified algorithm that produces a personalized probability of having COVID-19, and provides graded recommendations for further actions. We trained linear regression and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models together with F-score and mutual information feature preselectors to predict the admissions once a week, 1 week in advance.

RESULTS

Our models reached a mean absolute percentage error between 24.2% and 36.4% in predicting the national daily patient admissions. The best result was achieved by combining both Omaolo and historical patient admission counts. Our best predictor was linear regression with mutual information as the feature preselector.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate short-term predictions of COVID-19 patient admissions can be made, and both symptom check questionnaires and daily admissions data contribute to the accuracy of the predictions. Thus, symptom checkers can be used to estimate the progression of the pandemic, which can be considered when predicting the health care burden in a future pandemic.