bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Dietary intake of vitamin E with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease events in US adults: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2013–2018
Authors: Liu Ziyi , Su Yingjie , Chen Qing , Xiao Lihua , Zhao Xue , Wang Feichi , Peng Zhenyu , Zhang Hongliang
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Several studies have demonstrated that vitamin E intake is negatively associated with the development of several diseases, but the relationship between vitamin E intake and COPD in different groups of people is not clear. The aim was to investigate the relationship between vitamin E intake and COPD in different groups of people.

Methods

This study used data from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) from 2013–2018. A final total of 4,706 participants were included, univariate versus multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models adjusted for confounders were used to explore the relationship between vitamin E intake and COPD, and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess whether there are differences in the relationship between vitamin E intake and COPD in different populations or conditions.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, higher vitamin E intake showed a significant negative association with COPD [Model 1(unadjusted covariates, OR = 0.48;95% CI:0.33–0.70; p < 0.001), Model 2(adjusted for age, sex, and race, OR = 0.48;95% CI:0.31–0.73; p < 0.01), and Model 3(adjusted for all covariates, OR = 0.57;95% CI:0.36–0.91; p = 0.02)]. And a restricted cubic spline curve showed a significant negative correlation between vitamin E intake and COPD (p for nonlinear = 0.2036). In the subgroup analysis, we found a negative association between vitamin E intake and COPD in all subgroups as well.

Conclusion

After analyzing data based on the NHANES database from 2013–2018, the results showed that vitamin E intake among U.S. adults was well below the recommended levels and that higher vitamin E intake was negatively associated with COPD incidence.
Evaluation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet with sustainable nutrition knowledge and environmentally responsible food choices
Authors: Yassıbaş Emine , Bölükbaşı Hatice
Published: April 2023

Background

Dietary patterns and their possible effects on health and the environment are becoming increasingly important. It is thought that nutritionally balanced diets can also be compatible with environmental targets and, therefore, the Mediterranean diet (MD), which is regarded as a sustainable diet model, comes to the fore. This study was carried out to evaluate adherence to the MD with sustainable nutrition knowledge and environmentally responsible food choices and to determine the factors affecting adherence.

Methods

A questionnaire prepared by the researchers was sent to individuals online and 1732 adults living in Turkey participated in this cross-sectional study. Adherence to the MD was evaluated with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). In addition, questions were asked about nutritional knowledge and environmentally responsible food choices to evaluate the sustainable nutritional behaviors of individuals.

Results

Half of the participants (51.1% of men / 53% of women) adhere to the MD at a moderate level. Even the individuals with the highest adherence to the MD had low compliance with the recommendations for fruit (43.4%) and fish (37.3%) consumption. A one-unit increase in age, sustainable nutrition knowledge score, and environmentally responsible food choices score increases the MD adherence score by 0.08, 0.125, and 0.148 points, respectively (p < 0.005). Individuals with high adherence to the MD avoid consuming genetically modified organism food more (p < 0.001), prefer to consume environmentally labeled foods (p < 0.001), and buy food more from local businesses (p < 0.001), while they prefer to buy imported food less (p = 0.034).

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that some strategies should be developed to increase the adaptation of individuals to the MD and sustainable nutritional behaviors. Nutritionally adequate, sustainable, and eco-friendly nutritional behaviors should be encouraged to increase the possible health benefits of nutrition and minimize environmental effects. To promote sustainable nutrition, firstly it is important to determine the knowledge level of individuals concerning sustainable nutrition and, for this purpose, it is thought that an international valid sustainable nutrition knowledge assessment tool is needed.
Inhibitory effect of fucoidan on TNF-α-induced inflammation in human retinal pigment epithelium cells
Authors: Lee Sol , Lee Eun Jeoung , Lee Gyu Min , Yun Ji-Hyun , Yoo Wonbeak
Published: April 2023

Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a brown seaweed that contains a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide called fucoidan and is known to possess beneficial bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidative, and antitumoral effects. This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of AB_SH (hydrothermal extracts from S. horneri) and its bioactive compound (fucoidan) against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced inflammation in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. AB_SH did not exhibit any cytotoxicity, and it decreased the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 and the production of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. It also suppressed the expression levels of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK), p38 protein kinases (p38), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) proteins, suggesting that AB_SH inhibits activation of the NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway. Since fucoidan was identified in the composition analysis of AB_SH, it was additionally shown to be required for its anti-inflammatory effects in TNF-α-stimulated human RPE cells. In line with the AB_SH results, fucoidan reduced the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-8 and production of the cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 through the downregulation of the NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the ability of AB_SH from S. horneri hydrothermal extracts to reduce inflammation indicates that it may be a good functional ingredient for managing ocular disorders.
Circular RNAs as a potential source of neoepitopes in cancer
Authors: Xia Jiaqi , Li Shuai , Ren Baorui , Zhang Pengxia
Published: April 2023

Neoepitopes have attracted much attention as targets for immunotherapy against cancer. Therefore, efficient neoepitope screening technology is an essential step in the development of personalized vaccines. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are generated by back-splicing and have a single-stranded continuous circular structure. So far, various circRNAs have been poorly characterized, though new evidence suggests that a few translated circRNAs may play a role in cancer. In the present study, circRNA was used as a source of neoepitope, a novel strategy as circRNA-derived neoepitopes have never been previously explored. The present study reports CIRC_neo (circRNA-derived neoepitope prediction pipeline), which is a comprehensive and automated bioinformatic pipeline for the prediction of circRNA-derived neoepitopes from RNA sequencing data. The computational prediction from sequencing data requires complex computational workflows to identify circRNAs, derive the resulting peptides, infer the types of human leukocyte antigens (HLA I and HLA II) in patients, and predict the neoepitopes binding to these antigens. The present study proposes a novel source of neoepitopes. The study focused on cancer-specific circRNAs, which have greatly expanded the source pool for neoepitope discovery. The statistical analysis of different features of circRNA-derived neoepitopes revealed that circRNAs could produce long proteins or truncated proteins. Because the peptides were completely foreign to the human body, they could be highly immunogenic. Importantly, circRNA-derived neoepitopes capable of binding to HLA were discovered. In the current study, circRNAs were systematically analyzed, revealing potential targets and novel research clues for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prospective personalized vaccine research.
A novel preclinical model of craniospinal irradiation in pediatric diffuse midline glioma demonstrates decreased metastatic disease
Authors: Knox Aaron J. , Van Court Benjamin , Oweida Ayman , Barsh Elinor , DeSisto John , Flannery Patrick , Lemma Rakeb , Chatwin Hannah , Vibhakar Rajeev , Dorris Kathleen , Serkova Natalie J. , Karam Sana D. , Gilani Ahmed , Green Adam L.
Published: April 2023

Background

Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is an aggressive pediatric central nervous system tumor with strong metastatic potential. As localized treatment of the primary tumor improves, metastatic disease is becoming a more important factor in treatment. We hypothesized that we could model craniospinal irradiation (CSI) through a DMG patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model and that CSI would limit metastatic tumor.

Methods

We used a BT245 murine orthotopic DMG PDX model for this work. We developed a protocol and specialized platform to deliver craniospinal irradiation (CSI) (4 Gy x2 days) with a pontine boost (4 Gy x2 days) and compared metastatic disease by pathology, bioluminescence, and MRI to mice treated with focal radiation only (4 Gy x4 days) or no radiation.

Results

Mice receiving CSI plus boost showed minimal spinal and brain leptomeningeal metastatic disease by bioluminescence, MRI, and pathology compared to mice receiving radiation to the pons only or no radiation.

Conclusion

In a DMG PDX model, CSI+boost minimizes tumor dissemination compared to focal radiation. By expanding effective DMG treatment to the entire neuraxis, CSI has potential as a key component to combination, multimodality treatment for DMG designed to achieve long-term survival once novel therapies definitively demonstrate improved local control.
A decade of outcomes: The evolution of an australasian outcomes collaboration for chronic pain services
Authors: Holloway David , Allingham Samuel , Bryce Meredith , Cameron Kate , Cook Michelle , Shebeshi Dinberu
Published: April 2023

Since the establishment of the electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) in 2013, ongoing improvements in benchmarking and quality improvement activities have provided the opportunity for ePPOC to grow to support more than one hundred adult and pediatric services delivering care to Individuals living with persistent pain throughout Australia and New Zealand. These improvements straddle multiple domains, including benchmarking and indicators reports, internal and external research collaboration and the integration of quality improvement initiatives with pain services. This paper outlines improvements undertaken and lessons learned in relation to the growth and maintenance of a comprehensive outcomes registry and its articulation with pain services and the wider pain sector.
What is needed by parents of constipated infants and toddlers: A cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Cao Jinjin , Zhang Weiying , Chen Hongyu , Li Mei , Liu Zhifeng , Wang Jianan
Published: April 2023

Background

Childhood functional constipation is a worldwide problem that affects the intestinal function of children and the quality of life of their families. Treatment and management of the disease need to be carried out at home by parents. Assessment of caregiving needs is an important link in planning and implementing the intervention. This study aimed to assess the caregiving needs of parents of FC infants and toddlers.

Methods

The researchers recruited convenience samples of parents from an outpatient pediatric constipation clinic of a children's medical center. Totally 211 fathers/mothers were recruited. Nursing needs were measured by a questionnaire, and associations between nursing needs and potential factors were examined using multiple regression analysis.

Results

The vast majority of participants (88.7%) expressed the need of receiving support from professionals, and only 44 (20.85%) had obtained help from medical staff. The needs of parents mainly include information needs, health needs, psychological needs, and social needs. Of all the needs, the highest score was for information needs (3.87 ± 0.69), followed by the dimension of health needs (3.74 ± 0.82). Results showed statistically significant differences in parental education, place of residence, age of children, duration of FC, defecation frequency, difficulty of defecation, and stool traits in nursing needs (p < 0.05). The regression model explained 64.2% of the variance of nursing needs.

Conclusions

Information needs were the major concern for parents, and the unmet needs of parents should be addressed during treatment and care. When developing care plans and providing health education, it should be adjusted according to the specific conditions of the child and parents to improve the compliance of the parents with treatment and care.
Flecainide induces a sustained countercurrent dependent effect on RyR2 in permeabilized WT ventricular myocytes but not in intact cells
Authors: Steer Emma J. , Yang Zhaokang , Al-Owais Moza M. , Kirton Hannah M. , White Edward , Steele Derek S.
Published: April 2023

Background and purpose: While flecainide is now an accepted treatment for arrhythmias associated with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), its mechanism of action remains controversial. In studies on myocytes from CPVT mice, inhibition of proarrhythmic Ca2+ waves was initially attributed to a novel action on the type-2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2). However, subsequent work on wild type (WT) myocytes questioned the conclusion that flecainide has a direct action on RyR2. In the present study, the effects of flecainide were compared in intact and permeabilized WT myocytes.

Experimental approach: Intracellular Ca2+ was measured using confocal microscopy in intact or saponin permeabilized adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVM). In some experiments on permeabilized cells, flecainide was studied following partial inhibition of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) counter-current.

Key results: Flecainide induced sustained changes Ca2+ sparks and waves in permeabilized ARVM, which were comparable to those reported in intact or permeabilized myocytes from CPVT mice. However, a relatively high level of flecainide (25 μM) was required to induce these effects. Inhibition of the SR counter-current potentiated the effects of flecainide on SR Ca2+ waves. In intact field stimulated ARVM, prolonged exposure to 15 μM flecainide decreased wave frequency but RyR2 dependent effects on Ca2+ sparks were absent; higher drug concentrations blocked field stimulation, consistent with inhibition of Nav1.5.

Conclusions and implications: In intact ARVM, the absence of effects on Ca2+ sparks suggests that the intracellular flecainide concentration was insufficient to influence RyR2. Wave inhibition in intact ARVM may reflect secondary effects of Nav1.5 inhibition. Potentiation of flecainide’s action by counter-current inhibition can be explained if transient polarization of the SR membrane during SR Ca2+ release facilitates its action on RyR2.
A π-Type Memristor Synapse and Neuron With Structural Plasticity
Authors: Su Bowen , Cai Jueping , Wang Ziyang , Chu Jie , Zhang Yizhen
Published: April 2023

A synaptic structure with memristor state initialization function and a neuronal circuit with structural variability are presented in this article. In contrast to the popular use of voltage as a medium for containing information and realizing the computational function of a neuron in the form of voltage–current–voltage, the proposed neuron circuit adopts current as a carrier of information; also the computation will be realized in the form of current–voltage instead. Since the sum of currents can be achieved by direct connection, this will greatly reduce the hardware area of the artificial neuron. In addition, by adjusting the switches, the initialization of the memristor can be implemented, and the process of structural changes of neurons in biology can also be mimicked. Comparing with several popular synaptic circuits, it is proven that the π-type synapse has more structural advantages. Simulations show that the π-type synaptic structure can obtain the specified weight value faster and complete the initial state setting of the memristors in 1.502 ms. Even in the worst case, where the weight needs to be changed from −1 to 1, it can be completed in only 1.272 ms. Under the condition of achieving the same function, the area of the proposed neuron with 100 synapses will be reduced by at least 97.42%. Moreover, there is better performance in terms of linearity.
Inactivation of photosynthetic cyclic electron transports upregulates photorespiration for compensation of efficient photosynthesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Chen Qi , Lan Yixin , Li Qinghua , Kong Mengmeng , Mi Hualing
Published: April 2023

Plants have multiple mechanisms to maintain efficient photosynthesis. Photosynthetic cyclic electron transports around photosystem I (CET), which includes the PGR5/PGRL1 and NDH pathways, and photorespiration play a crucial role in photosynthetic efficiency. However, how these two mechanisms are functionally linked is not clear. In this study, we revealed that photorespiration could compensate for the function of CET in efficient photosynthesis by comparison of the growth phenotypes, photosynthetic properties monitored with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic oxygen evolution in leaves and photorespiratory activity monitored with the difference of photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate under high and low concentration of oxygen conditions between the deleted mutant PGR5 or PGRL1 under NDH defective background (pgr5 crr2 or pgrl1a1b crr2). Both CET mutants pgr5 crr2 and pgrl1a1b crr2 displayed similar suppression effects on photosynthetic capacities of light reaction and growth phenotypes under low light conditions. However, the total CET activity and photosynthetic oxygen evolution of pgr5 crr2 were evidently lower than those of pgrl1a1b crr2, accompanied by the upregulation of photorespiratory activity under low light conditions, resulting in severe suppression of photosynthetic capacities of light reaction and finally photodamaged phenotype under high light or fluctuating light conditions. Based on these findings, we suggest that photorespiration compensates for the loss of CET functions in the regulation of photosynthesis and that coordination of both mechanisms is essential for maintaining the efficient operation of photosynthesis, especially under stressed conditions.
Case report: Diagnostic challenges in a patient with alcohol use disorder that developed following a stroke
Authors: Zeitlin Jacob , Kotbi Nabil
Published: April 2023

Patients with comorbid neurological and psychiatric diseases often face considerable impairment, causing challenges that pervade many aspects of their lives. Symptoms can be especially taxing when one or more of these conditions is severely disabling, as the resulting disability can make it more challenging to address comorbidities. For clinicians, such patients can be quite difficult to both diagnose and treat given the immense potential for overlap between the underlying psychiatric and neurologic causes of their symptoms—as well as the degree to which they might exacerbate or, conversely, mask one another. These intricate relationships can also obscure the workup of more acute pathologies, such as alcohol withdrawal and delirium. This report details the complex history and clinical challenges in a 54-year-old man who was no longer able to work after developing multiple neurologic deficits from a left MCA stroke a decade earlier. The intellectual and motor disabilities he faced in the aftermath of his stroke were subsequently compounded by a steady increase in alcohol consumption, with his behavior ultimately progressing to severe alcohol use disorder. The coinciding neurologic and psychiatric manifestations obfuscate the workup—and therefore the management—of his major depressive disorder. In pursuit of the optimal approach to address these comorbid conditions and promote recovery, an investigation into possible mechanisms by which they are interconnected revealed several potential neuropsychiatric explanations that suggest targets for future therapeutic strategies.
Relationships between physical activity, fundamental motor skills, and body mass index in preschool children
Authors: Ma Fei-Fei , Luo Dong-Mei
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To investigate whether there is a potential relationship between physical activity (PA), fundamental motor skills (FMS), and Body Mass Index (BMI) in preschool children and to further explore the differences in PA and FMS between normal-weight and overweight/obese preschool children.

Method

Participants were 366 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years; 358 completed all tests (194 boys and 164 girls). PA, FMS, body weight, and height were measured by triaxial accelerometer, the Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition (TGMD-2), and anthropometry measurement, respectively.

Result

The overall rate of overweight/obesity was 17.0%, with no significant gender difference (χ2 = 0.628, p = 0.428). Older children perform significantly better in both object control skills and locomotor skills. Independent samples t-tests were used to examine the difference between genders on FMS and PA: girls in the 5-year-old group display better locomotor skills (p = 0.012) than boys. Boys spent more time on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and less time on sedentary activity when compared to girls. Results of partial correlation analysis showed that PA was significantly and positively correlated with both locomotor skills and object control skills in preschool children (p < 0.01), while there was no correlation between FMS, PA level, and BMI. Results of ANCOVA revealed no significant difference in FMS between normal-weight and overweight or obese preschool children; normal-weight girls had significantly longer MPA and MVPA duration and significantly shorter sedentary periods than overweight or obese girls (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Overweight/obesity in preschool children requires effective measures. PA is positively associated with FMS, while BMI is not potentially related to FMS or PA in preschool years. Overweight or obese girls should develop healthier weight status by increasing MVPA hours and reducing sedentary time.
Cardiovascular diseases morbidity and mortality among children, adolescents and young adults with dialysis therapy
Authors: Li Lung-Chih , Tain You-Lin , Kuo Hsiao-Ching , Hsu Chien-Ning
Published: April 2023

Background

The age-specific burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in pediatric and young adult patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) remains unclear. We aimed to examine the prevalence and incidence of CVD and all-cause mortality in children and adolescents compared with adults with dialysis in Taiwan.

Methods

This retrospective observational cohort study comprised 3,910 patients with more than 2 time point receipts of dialysis therapy in a year, including 156 aged <12 years (children), 250 aged 13–20 years (adolescents), 1,036 aged 21–30 years (young adults) and 2,468 aged 31–40 years (adults) in a large healthcare delivery system in Taiwan (2003–2017). Age groups were classified by the date of first receipt of dialysis therapy. The outcomes include the composite of CVD events and any cause of death. Death-censored Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the composite outcome risk of CVD in the four age groups.

Results

Among patients receiving dialysis treatment, the risk of composite CVD events [HR, 1.63 (1.22–2.19)] and mortality [HR, 1.76 (1.38–2.25)] was greater in children than the dialysis initiated in older patients. Non-atherosclerotic CVD was more prevalent, especially in younger patients, within the first 6 months after the initiation of dialysis. After 6 months of initial dialysis, the risk of atherosclerotic CVD was higher in adults than those for adolescents and children. The magnitude of CVD risk in adolescents who initiated dialysis therapy was higher in females [HR, 2.08 (1.50–2.88)] than in males [HR, 0.75 (0.52–1.10)].

Conclusion

Younger patients undergoing chronic dialysis with a higher risk of CVD events than older patients are associated with a faster onset of non-atherosclerotic CVD and a higher risk of both CVD- and non-CVD-related mortality.
Sensory quality of upcycled legume water: Expectation vs. reality
Authors: Hippolite Lauryn Rose , Feng Ziqian , Zhang Yanyu , Lee Sung Je , Serventi Luca
Published: April 2023

Aquafaba and liluva are names used to define the processing water of food legumes. Large volumes of liluva are generated by frozen pea manufacturers (blanching water) and tofu producers (tofu whey). Studies have shown the potential of aquafaba and liluva in food applications as texture improvers and sources of bioactive substances and prebiotics. Nonetheless, no information on consumer perception of these new food ingredients is available. Therefore, this study investigated consumer expectations of steam blanching pea water (SBPW) and tofu whey (TW), correlating it with their actual sensory qualities and functional properties. Specifically, liluva was used as a source of prebiotics and hydrocolloids in 3D-printed mashed potatoes to enhance their rheology and printability. A preliminary survey showed a limited understanding of SBPW and TW as food ingredients, with only 43% and 38% of subjects willing to try TW and SBPW, respectively, with most subjects unsure on whether they wanted to or not (34% tofu whey and 49% liluva). Once the actual sensory test was conducted, TW-added mashed potato received favorable scores for all sensory attributes (appearance, aroma, taste, and texture). In contrast, SBPW-added mashed potato had a negative score on the color, as all nine focus group subjects described the color as gray. Overall, TW enhanced the printability of mashed potatoes due to its emulsifying ability and possibly coagulants derived from tofu making, and it was more appreciated sensory-wise, resulting in being the most preferred out of three samples (SBPW, TW, and control). Therefore, emphasizing consumer education may be key when expanding these innovative food ingredients to other food areas.
Effect of augmented reality navigation technology on perioperative safety in partial nephrectomies: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Cheng Cong , Lu MaCheng , Zhang Ye , Hu XingQian
Published: April 2023

Aim

To evaluate the impact of augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN) technology on short-term outcomes of partial nephrectomy (PN).

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science for eligible studies published through March 28, 2022. Two researchers independently performed the article screening, data extraction and quality review. Data analysis was performed using Cochrane Review Manager software.

Results

A total of 583 patients from eight studies were included in the analysis, with 313 in the ARSN-assisted PN group (AR group) and 270 in the conventional PN group (NAR group). ARSN-assisted PN showed better outcomes than conventional surgery in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, global ischemia rate, warm ischemia time, and enucleation rate. However, there were no significant differences in the rate of Conversion to radical nephrectomy (RN), postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), positive margin rate, and postoperative complication rate.

Conclusion

The utilization of ARSN can improve the perioperative safety of PN. Compared with conventional PN, ARSN-assisted PN can reduce intraoperative blood loss, shorten operative time, and improve renal ischemia. Although direct evidence is lacking, our results still suggest a potential advantage of ARSN in improving renal recovery after PN. However, as the ARSN system is still in an exploratory stage, its relevance in PN have been poorly reported. Additional high-quality randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies will be required to confirm the effect of ARSN on PN.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=301798, identifier PROSPERO ID: CRD42022301798.
Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Acidification Characteristics of Tea Plantations in Karst Areas of Southwest China
Authors: Liu Yanling , Zhang Meng , Li Yu , Zhang Yarong , Huang Xingcheng , Yang Yehua , Zhu Huaqing , Xiong Han , Jiang Taiming
Published: April 2023

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is one of the causes of soil acidification at tea plantations. However, the effect of N fertilizer application on the soil acidification characteristics of tea plantations with different acidities remains unclear. In this study, field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer application rates on the pH, pH buffer capacity (pHBC), exchangeable total acidity (ETA), exchangeable base cations (EBCs), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the topsoil of non-acidified (NA), mildly acidified (MA), and heavily acidified (HA) tea plantations. The results showed that the exchangeable Al3+ (E-Al) and CEC were HA > MA > NA in all tea plantations, whereas the EBCs and base saturation percentage (BSP) were HA < MA < NA. In the tea plantations with pH > 4.0, the pH, EBCs, and BSP showed decreasing trends with increasing N fertilizer application, whereas E-Al showed an increasing trend. In the tea plantations with pH < 4.0, the soil pH showed a small increasing trend with the increase in N fertilizer application, whereas the soil exchangeable H+ (E-H), E-Al, and CEC showed decreasing trends. Meanwhile, in the pH range of 4–6, the soil acid–base buffer curve rose sharply, and an excessive application of N fertilizer (N900) significantly reduced the pHBC. In addition, a stepwise regression analysis showed that the BSP, EBCs, and exchangeable Mg2+ (E-Mg) had significant direct effects on the soil pH, whereas the CEC and N application had significant direct effects on the soil pHBC. In conclusion, a decrease in the BSP and an increase in E-Al were the main mechanisms of acidification at tea plantations, whereas a decrease in the BSP caused by the application of N fertilizer was the main cause of exacerbated soil acidification in non-acidified tea plantations.
Suitability of Volcanic Ash, Rice Husk Ash, Green Compost and Biochar as Amendments for a Mediterranean Alkaline Soil
Authors: De la Rosa José María , Pérez-Dalí Sara María , Campos Paloma , Sánchez-Martín Águeda , González-Pérez José Antonio , Miller Ana Zelia
Published: April 2023

Today’s agriculture has the challenge of ensuring food supply for a growing population while human activity has already deteriorated about 40% of the world’s soils, reducing productive capacity and increasing reliance on mineral fertilizers. In this context, valorizing and recycling mineral and agricultural waste for use as substrates or soil supplements enhance a sustainable economy, as well as the development of activities focused on finishing the soil nutrients’ cycle. Looking for an effective solution to the massive waste generation and to enhance the agronomic qualities of soils, this study investigates the agronomic impact of contrasting inorganic and organic materials such as green compost (GC), wood biochar (WB), rice husk ash (RA), and volcanic ash (VA) as amendments to an alkaline Luvisol under controlled conditions. In this sense, barley seeds were planted and grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions for 60 days on a soil amended with the aforementioned materials. The amendments demonstrated appropriate attributes for improving soil agronomic properties, enhancing the soil’s nutritional content with no effect on barley germination. The WB showed high aromaticity and abundance of refractory organic C. Both ash-rich amendments showed high P and K contents, which are important elements for plant development. The GC has high water retention capacity and an adequate C and N balance. Although the application of the amendments had no effect on barley yields, the plants from the ash-amended pots showed an increase of Photosystem II efficiency, indicative of a better physiological status. In terms of toxicological safety, the abundance of trace elements in soils and plants was investigated. All soils met the maximum allowable limits for these persistent pollutants. Nevertheless, longer-term tests on plants are required to determine the risk of Pb accumulation, particularly in soils amended with GC and compost-ash mixtures. The simultaneous combination of organic and inorganic amendments showed adequate agronomic attributes. WB analysis revealed its great recalcitrance and carbon sequestration potential.
Insect Pest Incidence with the System of Rice Intensification: Results of a Multi-Location Study and a Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chintalapati Padmavathi , Rathod Santosha , Repalle Naganna , Varma Nadimpalli Rama Gopala , Karthikeyan Kolandhaivelu , Sharma Sanjay , Kumar Rapolu Mahender , Katti Gururaj
Published: April 2023

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar has spread to many parts of the world, including India. This study assessing insect pest prevalence on rice grown with SRI vs. conventional methods at multiple locations in India was prompted by reports that SRI-managed rice plants are healthier and more resistant to pest and disease damage. Field experiments were conducted under the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project over a 5-year period. The split-plot design assessed both cultivation methods and different cultivars, hybrids and improved varieties. Across the eight locations, SRI methods of cultivation showed a lower incidence of stem borer, planthoppers, and gall midge compared to conventional methods. Whorl maggots and thrips, on the other hand, were observed to be higher. Grain yield was significantly higher with SRI management across all locations. Higher ash, cellulose, hemicellulose, as well as silica content in rice plants under SRI management could explain at least in part the SRI plants’ resistance to pest damage. Analysis of guild composition revealed that in SRI plots, there were more natural enemies (insect predators and parasitoids) present and fewer crop pests (phytophages). A meta-analysis that considered other published research on this subject revealed a lower incidence of dead hearts, white ear-heads, and leaf folders, along with higher grain yield, in SRI plots.
The Preservation of the Effects of Preweaning Nutrition on Growth, Immune Competence and Metabolic Characteristics of the Developing Heifer
Authors: Ockenden Emma M. , Russo Victoria M. , Leury Brian J. , Giri Khageswor , Wales William J.
Published: April 2023

This experiment investigated the preservation effects of two preweaning milk feeding nutritional treatments (High: 8 L and Low: 4 L milk per day) on 20, 12-month-old Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers (Bos taurus). A vaccination immune challenge was initially implemented on these 20 heifers at 6 weeks of age and the findings indicated superior growth, immune competence and favorable metabolic characteristics from the calves that had been fed 8 L milk per day. Postweaning, all heifers were treated the same under non-experimental conditions, and the immune challenge was repeated at 12 months of age for the current experiment. Consistent with the first immune challenge, heifers from the High preweaning treatment group still had higher white cell count and neutrophil count, indicating superior immune competence. The differences found in metabolic biomarkers, including beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and insulin, in the preweaning phase had disappeared, suggesting these biomarkers were influenced directly by the nutritional input at the time. There were no differences in NEFA levels between treatments at either stage of development. Postweaning, the heifers from the Low preweaning treatment group experienced accelerated growth with slightly numerically higher ADG (0.83 kg/day vs. 0.89 kg/day), resulting in the initial differences in bodyweight recorded at weaning being eliminated by 13 months of age. These results are evidence of a form of immunological developmental programming as a result of accelerated preweaning nutrition and therefore, are not supportive of restricted milk feeding of calves.
Identification of Genetic Polymorphisms of PI, PIII, and Exon 53 in the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase-α (ACACα) Gene and Their Association with Milk Composition Traits of Najdi Sheep
Authors: Matar Abdulkareem M. , Alharthi Abdulrahman S. , Ayadi Moez , Al-Garadi Maged A. , Aljummah Riyadh S.
Published: April 2023

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to sheep milk products, which are high in saturated fatty acids (SFA), and the extent of their impact on human health. This study aimed to identify SNPs for PI, PIII, and Exon 53 in the ACACα gene and their association with the MC and FA profiles in Najdi sheep milk. A total of 76 multiparous Najdi ewes were used, and they were maintained using the same feeding system. Milk and blood samples were collected during the first lactation. A genetic polymorphism analysis identified 20 SNPs: 4 SNPs on PI, 6 SNPs on PIII, and 10 SNPs on Exon 53. In PI, the SNP g.4412G > A was associated (p < 0.05) with palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1 n-7) and linoleic acid (LA), while SNP g.4485C > G was associated with CLA and vaccenic acid (VA) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in PIII, two SNPs (g.1168A > G and g.1331G > T) were associated with milk protein (p < 0.05), while the SNP g.6860G > C in Exon 53 was associated with milk fat (p < 0.05). SNPs in the Najdi breed have been shown to be strongly related to milk fat and EFA contents. This could support a genetic selection program and the control of milk traits in the Najdi breed of high-quality dairy sheep.
Assessment of 2D Digital Image Correlation for Experimental Modal Analysis of Transient Response of Beams Using a Continuous Wavelet Transform Method
Authors: Régal Xavier , Cumunel Gwendal , Bornert Michel , Quiertant Marc
Published: April 2023

The modal parameters of structures, and in particular their mode shapes, are generally determined based on the measurement of accelerometers or laser vibrometers. However, these sensors do not allow the performance of full-field measurements. In this study, the free vibration of a beam triggered by a shock is investigated using a high-speed camera with high image definition. With the help of digital image correlation (DIC), the beam displacement fields are deduced from the images. To analyse the DIC measurement quality, different tests and analyses are performed. First, the systematic errors and uncertainties in the DIC calculation for a simple translation are analysed considering different speckles. Then, tests on two configurations of a vibrating beam are filmed and full-field displacement measurements are computed. The modal parameters of the beam are deduced from these measurements using a continuous wavelet transform method. Particular care was taken to adapt the method to the post-processing of the numerous and noisy signals obtained for these experiments. All the steps of the post-processing are detailed in this paper. Finally, the modal parameters obtained with the proposed method are compared with those obtained in a more classical way using accelerometers and from the beam theory. In particular, the comparison of the signal-to-noise ratio of the different measurement methods is discussed.
Transfer Learning Based on Clustering Difference for Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization
Authors: Yao Fangpei , Wang Gai-Ge
Published: April 2023

Dynamic multi-objective optimization problems (DMOPs) have become a research hotspot in engineering optimization, because their objective functions, constraints, or parameters may change over time, while quickly and accurately tracking the changing Pareto optimal set (POS) during the optimization process. Therefore, solving dynamic multi-objective optimization problems presents great challenges. In recent years, transfer learning has been proved to be one of the effective means to solve dynamic multi-objective optimization problems. However, this paper proposes a new transfer learning method based on clustering difference to solve DMOPs (TCD-DMOEA). Different from the existing methods, it uses the clustering difference strategy to optimize the population quality and reduce the data difference between the target domain and the source domain. On this basis, transfer learning technology is used to accelerate the construction of initialization population. The advantage of the TCD-DMOEA method is that it reduces the possibility of negative transfer and improves the performance of the algorithm by improving the similarity between the source domain and the target domain. Experimental results show that compared with several advanced dynamic multi-objective optimization algorithms based on different benchmark problems, the proposed TCD-DMOEA method can significantly improve the quality of the solution and the convergence speed.
Evaluation of Anti-Skid Performance of Asphalt Mixture Based on Accelerated Loading Test
Authors: Wang Houzhi , Liu Yixuan , Yang Jun , Shi Xudong , Xu Xinquan , Luo Sang , Huang Wei
Published: April 2023

Anti-skid performance is the most critical indicator that reflects the safety performance of the road surface. A good anti-skid performance of the road surface guarantees the safe and fast driving of vehicles. However, the asphalt pavement of highways has gradually exposed the anti-skid performance attenuation, which affects driving safety. Therefore, this study aims to accurately evaluate the anti-skid durability of asphalt mixtures based on a 1/3-size accelerated loading test with different anti-skid surfaces as the research object and explores the key factors affecting the long-term anti-skid performance of asphalt mixtures. The texture depth test and the pendulum value test show that the anti-skid durability of the SMA asphalt mixture is better than that of the AC asphalt mixture. The attenuation prediction equation of the British Pendulum Number (BPN), an anti-skid performance index based on an indoor accelerated loading test, was constructed. After the accelerated loading test stabilized, the BPN and BPN attenuation rate b were used as an index to evaluate the anti-skid durability of the asphalt mixture.
Evaluation of Radioactivity and Heavy Metals Content in a Basalt Aggregate for Concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy: A Case Study
Authors: Caridi Francesco , Paladini Giuseppe , Marguccio Santina , Belvedere Alberto , D’Agostino Maurizio , Messina Maurizio , Crupi Vincenza , Venuti Valentina , Majolino Domenico
Published: April 2023

In the present paper, an investigation on the natural and anthropic radioactivity and heavy metals content in a basalt aggregate for concrete from Sicily, Southern Italy, was performed as a case study. In particular, the evaluation of the specific activity of radium-226, thorium-232, potassium-40 and caesium-137 radionuclides was performed by using High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry, together with the estimation of several indexes developed to evaluate the radiological risk for the population related to radiation exposure, i.e., the alpha index (Iα), the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed γ-dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor (AEDEout) and indoor (AEDEin). Moreover, measurements of the average heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, thallium and zinc) concentrations in the analyzed sample were performed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Furthermore, with the aim to investigate any possible chemical pollution, the Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were assessed. Finally, the identification of the source of the aforementioned radioisotopes of natural origin was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thus identifying the major mineralogical phases present in the investigated basalt aggregate for concrete.
Efficient Method for Calculating Slope Failure Risk Based on Element Failure Probability
Authors: Peng Pu , Li Ze , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Wei , Dong Wushu
Published: April 2023

The finite element method (FEM) and the limit equilibrium method (LEM) are commonly used for calculating slope failure risk. However, the FEM needs to carry out post-processing to estimate slope sliding surface, while the LEM requires assumption of the shape and location of the sliding surface in advance. In this paper, an element failure risk method (EFR) for calculating soil slope failure risk is proposed based on element failure probability (EFP) acquired by plastic limit analysis. The proposed method does not require any assumptions about failure modes. Firstly, the non-common-node triangle element is used to discrete the slope then the random field is generated based on the Cholesky decomposition midpoint method. According to the reliability stochastic programming model and solution strategy, the external overload coefficient, bulk overload coefficient, slope stability coefficient and velocity field of the slope under each random field are obtained, according to which the failure of the element is judged and the failure risk of the slope is calculated. In order to verify the correctness of the proposed method, two classical slopes are systematically analyzed. The research shows that compared with the traditional slope failure risk analysis method, the greatest advantage of the proposed method is that it can capture all failure modes of the slope and greatly simplify the calculation of the slope failure consequences of each failure mode. An efficient upper bound method (UBM) parallel program is prepared, which greatly improves the calculation efficiency.
Extended Smoothing Methods for Sparse Test Data Based on Zero-Padding
Authors: Zhou Pan , Shi Tuo , Xin Jianghui , Li Yaowei , Lv Tian , Zang Liguo
Published: April 2023

Aiming at the problem of sparse measurement points due to test conditions in engineering, a smoothing method based on zero-padding in the wavenumber domain is proposed to increase data density. Firstly, the principle of data extension and smoothing is introduced. The core idea of this principle is to extend the discrete data series by zero-padding in the wavenumber domain. The conversion between the spatial and wavenumber domains is achieved using the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT). Then, two sets of two-dimensional discrete random data are extended and smoothed, respectively, and the results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the algorithm. The method can effectively increase the density of test data in engineering tests, achieve smoothing and extend the application to areas related to data processing.