bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical PK investigation of a novel IDO1/TDO dual inhibitor—SHR9146 in mouse plasma and tissues by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Xiao Mei , Zhong Kan , Guo Li , Li Wei , Wang Xiaoli , Qiu Zhenjun , Hang Taijun
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to establish a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of SHR9146, a novel IDO1/TDO dual inhibitor, in mouse plasma and tissues, and to apply it to investigate the preclinical plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of SHR9146 in mice.

Methods

Samples were spiked with deuterated SHR9146-d4 as an internal standard and pretreated by protein-precipitation extraction with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Venusil ABS C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) by isocratic elution with 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer containing 0.1% formic acid solution and methanol as mobile phases. MS detection was conducted in positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring at m/z 444.1/229.4 for SHR9146 and m/z 448.4/229.2 for the internal standard.

Results

The method showed good linearity in the calibration range from 0.05 to 50.0 μg/mL. Precisions (intra- and inter-run) were in the range from 0.5% to 5.1%, and accuracies (RE) were between −3.0% and 4.4% for all the concentration levels. SHR9146 was stable in all the tested bio-samples with recoveries >90%. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by non-compartmental analysis. SHR9146 has a half-life of 0.713 h when IV-injected, with CL 12 mL/min/kg and Vd 0.666 L/kg. After oral dosing from 20 to 80 mg/kg, Cmax (range from 8.751 to 12.893 μg/mL) and AUC0-t (range from 15.606 to 69.971 μg·h/mL) of SHR9146 showed dose proportionality. Other post-oral pharmacokinetic parameters in plasma were as follows (n=6): Tmax 0.79 ± 0.36 h, t1/2 1.586 ± 0.853 h, CL 19.8 ± 0.9 mL/min/kg, Vd 3.427± 1.617 L/kg, and absolute bioavailability of 54.2% ± 12.6% (range from 40.2% to 64.7%). In addition, SHR9146 was found to be absorbed rapidly and distributed widely and mainly in the stomach, adrenal gland, liver, and lung.

Conclusion

The method was simple, sensitive, accurate, and specific and was successfully applied for the preclinical pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study of SHR9146 in mice. The results showed that SHR9146 had dose-independent kinetics in mice via oral administration and was absorbed rapidly and distributed widely. The study provides a good basis for further drug development assessment.
Giant paratesticular dedifferentiated liposarcoma with intraabdominal extension: a case report
Authors: Azizi Muhammad Hasif , Rizuana Iqbal Hussain , Wong Yin Ping , Sidek Khairiyah , Fam Xeng Inn
Published: July 2023

Giant paratesticular liposarcoma is a rare presentation of paratesticular tumor. We present a case of the largest paratesticular liposarcoma described to date with a weight of 4,100 g and measuring 460 × 210 × 130 mm. It was initially mistaken as an inguinoscrotal hernia until a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a huge left paratesticular tumor extending from the scrotum to the mid-abdomen. The challenge was to achieve a tumor-free margin orchidectomy due to the poor fat plane of the tumor to the external iliac artery, psoas muscle, descending colon, and anterior abdominal wall. The surgery was started with laparoscopic dissection for the intraabdominal part of tumor from the vital structure, then followed by inguinal radical orchidectomy and inguinal mesh repair. Postoperative histopathological report revealed a paratesticular dedifferentiated liposarcoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation with clear margin. The patient had good recovery post operation.
Impact of BMI z-score on left ventricular mechanics in adolescent girls
Authors: Paysal Justine , Merlin Etienne , Rochette Emmanuelle , Terral Daniel , Nottin Stéphane
Published: July 2023

Background

Adolescent weight disorders ranging from anorexia nervosa (AN) to obesity (OB) can impact the heart by causing opposite alterations in its morphology, suggesting a direct impact of body mass index (BMI) on the heart. Cardiac function is relatively preserved as assessed by standard echocardiography. However, few studies have used 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), which can detect subtle alterations of left ventricular (LV) function by evaluating deformations. This study aimed to assess the link between the BMI z-score of adolescent girls and myocardial function.

Methods

Ninety-one adolescent girls comprising 26 AN patients (age 14.6 ± 1.9 years), 28 OB patients (age 13.2 ± 1.4 years), and 37 controls (age 14.0 ± 2.0 years) underwent 2D-STE to assess LV morphology and myocardial global and regional deformations.

Results

The BMI z-score of our population ranged from −4.6 to 5.2. LV morphological remodeling was significantly and positively correlated with the BMI z-score (R2 = 0.456, p < 0.0001 for LV mass). Global longitudinal strain (LS) and regional LS recorded at the mid and apical levels were significantly correlated with the BMI z-score (R2 = 0.196, p = 0.0001 and R2 = 0.274, p < 0.0001, respectively, for apical and medial LS). Circumferential strains and twisting mechanics were not correlated with the BMI z-score. Fibrinogen and systolic blood pressure were the main variables explaining the alteration of LS.

Conclusion

We observed that the BMI z-score had an impact on LV mechanics, especially on medial and apical LS. Neither circumferential nor twisting mechanics were altered by the BMI z-score in adolescent girls.
Neonatal respiratory support strategies—short and long-term respiratory outcomes
Authors: Kaltsogianni Ourania , Dassios Theodore , Greenough Anne
Published: July 2023

Mechanical ventilation (MV), although life-saving, is associated with chronic respiratory morbidity in both preterm and term born infants. New ventilation modes have been developed with the aim of minimising lung injury. These include invasive and non-invasive respiratory support strategies, techniques for less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) and closed-loop automated oxygen control (CLAC) systems. Increasingly, newborn infants with signs of respiratory distress are stabilised on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and receive LISA. Early CPAP when compared to mechanical ventilation reduced the incidence of BPD and respiratory morbidity at 18 to 22 months corrected age. Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation reduced treatment failure rates compared to CPAP, but not bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). LISA compared with intubation and surfactant delivery reduced BPD, but there is no evidence from randomised trials regarding long-term respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Synchronisation of positive pressure inflations with the infant's respiratory efforts used with volume targeting should be applied for infants requiring intubation as this strategy reduces BPD. A large RCT with long term follow up data demonstrated that prophylactic high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) improved respiratory and functional outcomes at school age, but those effects were not maintained after puberty. CLAC systems appear promising, but their effect on long term clinical outcomes has not yet been explored in randomised trials. Further studies are required to determine the role of newer ventilation modes such as neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA). All such respiratory support strategies should be tested in randomised controlled trials powered to assess long-term outcomes.
Effects of CYP3A4*22 polymorphism on trough concentration of tacrolimus in kidney transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kim Jung Sun , Shim Sunyoung , Yee Jeong , Choi Kyung Hee , Gwak Hye Sun
Published: July 2023

Purpose: Tacrolimus (Tac) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent in kidney transplantation. Cytochrome P450 (CYP), especially CYP3A4 enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of drugs. However, the correlation between plasma Tac concentration and CYP3A4*22 gene variants is controversial. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between CYP3A4*22 polymorphism and the dose-adjusted trough concentration (C0/D) of Tac in adult kidney transplant patients.

Methods: We conducted a literature review for qualifying studies using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases until July 2023. For the continuous variables (C0/D and daily dose), mean difference (MD) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association between the CYP3A4*22 and Tac pharmacokinetics. We performed an additional analysis on the relationship of CYP3A5*3 with Tac PKs and analyzed the effects of CYP3A4*22 in CYP3A5 non-expressers.

Results: Overall, eight eligible studies with 2,683 renal transplant recipients were included in this meta-analysis. The CYP3A4*22 allele was significantly associated with a higher C0/D (MD 0.57 ng/mL/mg (95% CI: 0.28 to 0.86; p = 0.0001) and lower mean daily dose requirement (MD -2.02 mg/day, 95% CI: −2.55 to −1.50; p < 0.00001). An additional meta-analysis demonstrated that carrying the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism greatly impacted Tac blood concentration. From the result with CYP3A5 non-expressers, CYP3A4*22 showed significant effects on the Tac C0/D and dose requirement even after adjusting the effect of CYP3A5*3.

Conclusion: Patients with CYP3A4*22 allele showed significantly higher plasma C0/D of Tac and required lower daily dose to achieve the therapeutic trough level after kidney transplantation. These findings of our meta-analysis may provide further evidence for the effects of genetic polymorphism in CYP3A4 on the PKs of Tac, which will improve individualized treatment in a clinical setting.
Contraception, female cycle disorders and injuries in Swiss female elite athletes—a cross sectional study
Authors: Baumgartner Sabrina , Bitterlich Norman , Geboltsberger Sarah , Neuenschwander Maja , Matter Sibylle , Stute Petra
Published: July 2023

Aim: The national Olympic committee of Switzerland has conducted an online survey among female elite athletes with a focus on cycle disorders, contraception, and injuries in 2021.

Methods: A total of 1,092 female elite athletes from 107 different sports were asked to answer the questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was carried out to determine location parameters and create frequency tables.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 408 athletes (37.4%) from 92 different sports. 43.4% participated in a lean sport. 57.1% reported no injuries, 32.6% one injury, and 10.2% two or more injuries per year. A considerable proportion reported being affected by primary amenorrhoea (10.8%). Primary amenorrhoea occurred significantly more often in female athletes with a BMI lower than 21.7 kg/m2 (15.2%) than in athletes with a BMI above 21.7 kg/m2 (7.4%, p = 0.021). Considering contraception, 25.8% of female athletes were currently using an oral contraceptive pill. The proportion of female athletes not using contraception at all or using non-hormonal contraceptive methods was high at 54.4%. In lean sports, significantly more athletes used no or non-hormonal contraceptives (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Among top Swiss female athletes, a considerable proportion used non-hormonal or no contraceptives. This trend was more evident in lean sports. Delayed menarche and cycle irregularities were common among female athletes, especially among athletes with high training volumes as well as a BMI below 21.7 kg/m2. This orienting survey underlines the importance of specialized gynecological care for elite female athletes.
Measuring social and emotional learning implementation in a research-practice partnership
Authors: Grant Nickholas , Meyer Joanna L. , Strambler Michael J.
Published: July 2023

The measurement of social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation is a critical part of enhancing and understanding the effects of SEL programming. Research has shown that high-quality SEL implementation is associated with social, emotional, and academic outcomes. Schools achieve these outcomes in part through organizational practices that emphasize ongoing communication, collaboration, coordination, shared decision making, and strategic planning, processes that are ideally informed by evidence. The application of implementation science to SEL has advanced our understanding of the role of implementation in achieving student outcomes. However, the development of practical approaches for measuring and supporting SEL implementation have lagged behind work on measuring student SEL outcomes. Research-practitioner partnerships (RPP), long-term, mutually-beneficial collaborations geared toward identifying problems of practice and testing solutions for improvement, are a promising means for addressing this important gap. Though implementation science and RPPs have complementary aims, there has been limited attention to the integration of these approaches in the context of SEL programming. The goal of this paper is to offer practical strategies for measuring and using SEL implementation data in schools, using the example of an RPP that used implementation science practices to guide SEL implementation. We give special attention to structures that can support the collection and use of implementation data to improve practice, as well as considerations around developing measures, considering trade-offs of data collection decisions, and conducting data analysis.
Horticultural therapy for stress reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lu Shan , Liu Jianjiao , Xu Meijing , Xu Feng
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Horticultural therapy has been increasingly accepted as a non-pharmacological stress reduction treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated its therapeutic effects, with the effect varying according to the populations, settings, and interventions of horticultural therapy. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature regarding the effectiveness of horticultural therapy in reducing stress.

Methods

We selected databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP Data as our data source, and the original search was completed in January 2023.

Results

Our results showed significantly increased effects of horticultural therapy on psychological indicators compared to a control group, but an insignificant effect on physiology indicators. The result of the subgroup analysis demonstrated that the stress-reducing effects of horticultural therapy were related to the characteristics of the population and indoor and virtual areas were the most effective setting for horticultural therapy. At the same time, a total duration of 100–500 minutes provided better effects of stress reduction.

Discussion

We also developed a theoretical framework based on a “Participants-Settings-Interventions” structure for horticulture therapy in terms of its stress-reduction effects, to provide a reference for future horticultural therapy activities.
Multimodality matters in numerical communication
Authors: Winter Bodo , Marghetis Tyler
Published: July 2023

Modern society depends on numerical information, which must be communicated accurately and effectively. Numerical communication is accomplished in different modalities—speech, writing, sign, gesture, graphs, and in naturally occurring settings it almost always involves more than one modality at once. Yet the modalities of numerical communication are often studied in isolation. Here we argue that, to understand and improve numerical communication, we must take seriously this multimodality. We first discuss each modality on its own terms, identifying their commonalities and differences. We then argue that numerical communication is shaped critically by interactions among modalities. We boil down these interactions to four types: one modality canamplifythe message of another; it candirectattention to content from another modality (e.g., using a gesture to guide attention to a relevant aspect of a graph); it canexplainanother modality (e.g., verbally explaining the meaning of an axis in a graph); and it canreinterpreta modality (e.g., framing an upwards-oriented trend as a bad outcome). We conclude by discussing how a focus on multimodality raises entirely new research questions about numerical communication.
Virtual reality: a promising instrument to promote sail education
Authors: Ji Fa , Zhang Xingjian , Zhao Shan , Fang Qun
Published: July 2023

Sailing has gained an increasing attention among children and adolescents in China, which raised a strong need for sail courses through physical education (PE). However, challenges in teaching practice arise with rapid development of the sport. In the current study, we proposed a perspective that virtual reality (VR) technology makes high-quality sail education accessible for students. Critical analysis summarized the prominent features that enhance sail education, including immersive experience, interactive learning, the first-person view, and practice under well-controlled conditions. Further, research on VR sport training indicated successful transfer from virtual environment to real situation. Specifically, significant improvement in skill performance and tactical behaviors were identified, which was attributed to the enhanced perception-action coupling after VR training. Additionally, VR-based coding programs provide students with affordances of designing the virtual environment. The content design education promotes comprehension and application of knowledge and theories when students develop the simulated environment with a high level of presence. Therefore, VR technology is a promising instrument to meet the increasing demand on sail education. While VR enriches educational resources for a large class size, the interdisciplinary feature of VR-based sail course can attract students with different study interests and backgrounds to the class.
Language-switching and retrieval-based learning: an unfavorable combination
Authors: Wußing Moritz , Grabner Roland H. , Sommer Hannah , Saalbach Henrik
Published: July 2023

Language-switching costs arise when learners encode information in one language and subsequently recall that information in a different language. The assumed cognitive mechanism behind these costs is the principle of encoding specificity that implies language-dependent representations of information. The aim of our study was to test this mechanism and to gain insights into the impact of language-switching on subsequent learning. To this end, we used retrieval-based learning as a carrier-paradigm. In a 2×3-design, 117 participants learned mathematical concepts with a practice-test or a restudy opportunity (within-subjects factor). In addition, the sample was divided into three groups regarding language-switching (between-subjects factor): one group without switching, one switched for the final tests, and one switched between initial learning and subsequent learning. Results show the expected main effects: participants performed better for the items learned via retrieval-based learning (testing-effect) and worse in conditions with language-switching (language-switching-costs). Most importantly, we were able to find an interaction between learning condition and language-switching: retrieval-based learning suffers particularly from language-switching. Additionally, our results indicate that language switching before subsequent learning seems to be particularly detrimental. These results provide both validation for encoding specificity as mechanism underlying language-switching costs and new information on the impact of the time of language-switching that can be considered in educational designs such as “Content and Language Integrated Learning.”
Influence of preparedness on caregiver burden, depression, and quality of life in caregivers of people with disabilities
Authors: Uhm Kyeong Eun , Jung Heeyoune , Woo Min Woo , Kwon Hyo Eun , Oh-Park Mooyeon , Lee Bo Ram , Kim Eun Joo , Kim Jung Hwan , Lee Seung Ah , Lee Jongmin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Caregiver preparedness is defined as the perceived preparation of caregivers to care for the physical and emotional needs of the patient.

Purpose

This study investigated caregiver preparedness and its influences on caregiver burden, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in caregivers of individuals with disabilities.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional survey study on caregivers caring for patients with disabilities. Sociodemographic characteristics were collected via questionnaires. The Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCS), Burden Interview (BI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) were administered.

Results

A total of 151 caregivers were enrolled. The mean age of caregivers was 53.7 ± 12.4 years, and 80.8% were female. The majority of participants were the main caregivers of patients with stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. The mean PCS score was 2.1 ± 0.9, demonstrating significant relationships with BI (r = −0.512, p < 0.001), CES-D (r = −0.622, p < 0.001), and EQ-VAS (r = 0.441, p < 0.001). The CES-D was significantly associated with the PCS after controlling other variables. However, PCS did not show any correlation with the duration of caregiving or amount of time spent per day on caregiving.

Discussion

The clinical implications of this study are that higher caregiver preparedness is a predictor of less caregiver burden and depression, and better QoL. However, preparedness did not increase as the duration or time spent on caregiving was extended. Therefore, efforts to enhance the caregivers’ preparedness are required to reduce caregiver burden and improve health outcomes for both caregivers and patients.
Low antiretroviral therapy uptake and low early retention among pregnant women who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus in informal health centers in urban and semi-rural settings in Cameroon: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Onambele Audrey Amboua Schouame , Yuya Francis , Schouame Arielle Andtoungou , Nolna Sylvie Kwedi , Socpa Antoine
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Despite the efforts of Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health against informal health centers (IHCs) because of their illegitimacy, the number of IHCs is increasing in Cameroon. Most of these IHCs have antenatal care services and screen pregnant women for HIV. However, nothing is known about the subsequent outcomes of those who tested positive for HIV. This study aimed to assess the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in ART-naïve pregnant women screened HIV positive in IHCs within three months of diagnosis and their ART retention at three months post-initiation. In addition, we sought to identify the factors associated with ART non-initiation in this population.

Methods

May 01, 2019 to August 31, 2020, we carried out a prospective cohort study of ART-naïve pregnant women who attended their first antenatal care visit and screened HIV positive at IHCs in the cities of Douala and Ebolowa in Cameroon. Standardized questionnaires were used to interview consenting participants at three points: the day of the delivery of the antenatal HIV test result, three months later, and three months after ART initiation. The data collected were entered into KoboCollect and analyzed using SPSS V23.0 software. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, Kaplan Meier techniques and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate retention in ART and identify factors associated with ART non-retention, respectively.

Results and discussion

A total of 85 ART-naïve pregnant women living with HIV were enrolled in the study. The median age and gestational age at the first antenatal care visit were 29 years (interquartile range (IQR), 2333.5) and 28weeks of amenorrhea (IQR, 2032), respectively. Only 34% (29/85) initiated ART, and 65.5% (19/29) of the initiators were retained in ART three months later. Lack of perceived self-efficacy to initiate ART (adjust Hazard Ratio = 5.57, 90% CI: 1.29 to 24.06), increased the probability of not be retaining in ART by any time during three months post initiation. Given the low ART uptake and the low retention in care among pregnant women living with HIV screened in IHCs, PMTCT policies in Cameroon should pay greater attention to this population, to facilitate their continuum of PMTCT care.
Decision trees: from efficient prediction to responsible AI
Authors: Blockeel Hendrik , Devos Laurens , Frénay Benoît , Nanfack Géraldin , Nijssen Siegfried
Published: July 2023

This article provides a birds-eye view on the role of decision trees in machine learning and data science over roughly four decades. It sketches the evolution of decision tree research over the years, describes the broader context in which the research is situated, and summarizes strengths and weaknesses of decision trees in this context. The main goal of the article is to clarify the broad relevance to machine learning and artificial intelligence, both practical and theoretical, that decision trees still have today.
Green Chemistry—Sustainability at the Atom Scale
Authors: Streets Jessica , Johnston Amy-Louise , Ali Hamza , Azim Hiba , Licence Peter
Published: July 2023

Chemists use atoms as the building blocks in reactions to design new molecules for materials, medicines, and much more. However, the chemical elements on our planet are a finite resource, so we need to prevent them from running out or being wasted. How do chemists do this? The principles of Green Chemistry guide chemists, helping them to design new products both efficiently and safely, while limiting or preventing pollution along the way. Scientists consider them through every step of creating a new product—from early experiments in the laboratory, all the way up to large-scale industrial production. Chemists can compare the materials and processes used to create their products using a Life Cycle Assessment, which can calculate factors such as water, energy, and resource inputs as well as production of pollutants like carbon dioxide. All of this means we can do exciting and important science while protecting our planet, too!
Women’s sport and everyday resistance
Authors: Isard Risa F. , Melton E. Nicole , Macaulay Charles D. T.
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a conceptual model to understand the relationship between everyday resistance and women’s sport. Everyday resistance refers to when members of an oppressed group engage in mundane actions (i.e., playing sports) to resist dominant power structures and social norms. After reviewing resistance literature, we identify two levels of everyday resistance for women’s sport: women’s sport as everyday resistance and everyday resistance within women’s sport. The former refers to when women participate in sport, thereby challenging social norms that marginalize women in society and exclude them from sport. The latter refers to how women athletes with intersecting marginalized identities resist the norms of who participates in women’s sport and how, given the norms of sport that privilege whiteness, heteronormativity, and higher social classes among others. The model we introduce advances both sport scholarship and everyday resistance literature and can help scholars conceptualize how women create change in sport and in society—as well as how women athletes create change within women’s sport, specifically.
Temporal perception is distorted by submaximal and maximal isometric contractions of the knee extensors in young healthy males and females
Authors: Gardner Hayley R. , Konrad Andreas , Alizadeh Shahab , Graham Andrew , Behm David G.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The estimate of time (temporal perception) is important for activities of daily living, sports and even survival, however time perception research needs greater scrutiny. Time estimation can influence movement decisions and determine whether the individual is successful at their goal, The objectives of this study were to examine participants perception of time at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-s intervals to determine possible distortions of time estimates caused by varying intensity isometric contractions, and sex differences.

Methods

In this repeated measures study, 19 participants (10 females, 9 males) endured two sessions, which consisted of a cognitive task of estimating time intervals while performing an isometric knee extension at maximal, submaximal (60%), and distraction (10%) intensities and a non-active control. In addition to time estimates; heart rate (HR), tympanic temperatures and electromyography during the intervention contractions were monitored. Maximal contractions induced significantly greater time underestimations at 5-s (4.43 ± 0.93,p = 0.004), 20-s (18.59 ± 2.61-s,p = 0.03), and 30-s (27.41 ± 4.07-s,p = 0.004) than control. Submaximal contractions contributed to time underestimation at 30-s (27.38 ± 3.17-s,p = 0.001). Females demonstrated a greater underestimation of 5-s during the interventions than males (p = 0.02) with 60% submaximal (−0.64-s ± 0.26) and distraction (−0.53-s ± 0.22) conditions. For the other 10-, 20-, 30-s intervals, there was no significant time perception sex differences. The control condition exhibited lower HR (75.3 ± 11.6) than the maximal (92.5 ± 13.9), 60% submaximal (92.2 ± 14.4) or distraction (90.5 ± 14.7) conditions. Tympanic temperatures were not influenced by the contraction intensities.

Discussion

There was greater integrated knee extensor electromyographic activity during the maximal contractions to suggest greater neuromuscular activation that may influence time perception. However, there was no consistent effect of changes in HR or temperature on time estimates. This work adds to the growing literature of time perception during exercise to state that time is significantly underestimated when performing moderate to vigorous intensity exercise.
Food Insecurity, Healthcare Utilization, and Healthcare Expenditures: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Choe Hwi , Pak Tae-Young
Published: July 2023

Objective: This study examines the longitudinal association between household food insecurity and healthcare utilization and expenditure.

Methods: A multi-wave longitudinal cohort study was conducted using the 2008–2019 and 2021 waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study. The baseline data included participants aged ≥19 years with valid responses to the food insecurity and healthcare questionnaires in the 2008 wave (n = 12,166). Healthcare outcomes encompassed outpatient visits, inpatient admissions, days hospitalized, and personal healthcare expenditure. Random effects Poisson and linear regressions were estimated.

Results: Severe food insecurity was associated with a higher incidence rate of outpatient visits (IRR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.12–1.17), days of hospitalization (IRR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13–1.22), and inpatient admissions (IRR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18–1.65). Moderate food insecurity was associated with 10.4% (β = −0.11; 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.07) or 238,276 KRW reductions in personal healthcare expenditures in the subsequent year.

Conclusion: Household food insecurity was linked to increased healthcare utilization and reduced personal healthcare expenditure among Korean adults. Our findings present opportunities to identify target populations for healthcare policies and interventions.
A Stable IIR Filter Design Approach for High-Order Active Noise Control Applications
Authors: Zhuang Yongjie , Liu Yangfan
Published: July 2023

In commercial non-adaptive active noise control (ANC) applications, an IIR filter structure is often used to reduce real-time computations. On the contrary, an FIR filter structure is usually preferred in the filter design phase because the FIR filter design formulation can be convex and is simple to solve. To combine the benefits of both FIR and IIR filter structures, one common approach in ANC applications is to use an IIR filter structure to fit a pre-designed FIR filter. However, to ensure stability, most of the common IIR filter fitting approaches involve the computation and relocation of poles which can be difficult for high-order cases. In this current work, a stable IIR filter design approach that does not need the computation and relocation of poles is improved to be applicable in ANC applications. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve better fitting accuracy and steady-state noise control performance in high-order non-adaptive applications when the pre-designed noise control FIR filter is fitted. Besides fitting the noise control filter, the proposed method can also be used to fit the secondary path and acoustic feedback path to reduce the required real-time computations if adaptive controllers are applied.
Flow Structures and Aerodynamic Behavior of a Small-Scale Joined-Wing Aerial Vehicle under Subsonic Conditions
Authors: New Tze How , Teo Zhen Wei , Li S. , Ong Z. A. , Nagel Björn
Published: July 2023

Flow behavior and aerodynamic performance of a small-scale joined-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was studied experimentally and numerically under various pitch and yaw angle combinations in subsonic flow conditions. Selected numerical results are compared against experimental results obtained using surface oil flow visualizations and force measurements, with additional simulations expanding the range of combined pitch and yaw configurations. Under zero-yaw conditions, increasing the pitch angle leads to the formation of symmetric ogive vortex roll-ups close to the fuselage and their significant interactions with the fore-wing. Additionally, contributions to lift and drag coefficients under zero-yaw conditions by the key UAV components have been documented in detail. In contrast, when the UAV is subjected to combined pitch and yaw, no clear evidence of such ogive vortex roll-ups can be observed. Instead, asymmetric flow separations occur over the fuselage’s port side and resemble bluff-body flow behavior. Additionally, these flow separations become more complex, and they interact more with the fuselage and fore- and aft-wings when the yaw angle increases. Lift and drag variations due to different pitch and yaw angle combinations are also documented. Finally, rolling and yawing moment results suggest that the present UAV possesses adequate flight stability unless the pitch and yaw angles are high.
Computational and Experimental Modeling in Magnetoplasma Aerodynamics and High-Speed Gas and Plasma Flows (A Review)
Authors: Kuzenov Victor V. , Ryzhkov Sergei V. , Varaksin Aleksey Yu.
Published: July 2023

This paper provides an overview of modern research on magnetoplasma methods of influencing gas-dynamic and plasma flows. The main physical mechanisms that control the interaction of plasma discharges with gaseous moving media are indicated. The ways of organizing pulsed energy input, characteristic of plasma aerodynamics, are briefly described: linearly stabilized discharge, magnetoplasma compressor, capillary discharge, laser-microwave action, electron beam action, nanosecond surface barrier discharges, pulsed spark discharges, and nanosecond optical discharges. A description of the physical mechanism of heating the gas-plasma flow at high values of electric fields, which are realized in high-current and nanosecond (ultrafast heating) electric discharges, is performed. Methods for magnetoplasma control of the configuration and gas-dynamic characteristics of shock waves arising in front of promising and advanced aircraft (AA) are described. Approaches to the control of quasi-stationary separated flows, laminar–turbulent transitions, and static and dynamic separation of the boundary layer (for large PA angles of attack) are presented.
Screening for Low-Cadmium Accumulation in Maize Varieties Based on Species Sensitivity Distribution and Research on Soil Environmental Thresholds
Authors: Cao Chi , Zhang Ning , Tao Ronghao , Zheng Jing , Hu Hanxiu , Li Jiangxia , Ma Youhua , Liao Xia
Published: July 2023

Screening for low-accumulation varieties is an effective way to reduce the cadmium (Cd) content in crops and decrease human Cd intake. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to analyze the characteristics of Cd absorption and accumulation in 24 maize varieties at maturity in farmland with different levels of Cd pollution. Cluster analysis and Pareto analysis methods were used to screen for maize varieties with low Cd absorption. In addition, the environmental threshold of Cd in farmland in the study area was estimated based on the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) characteristics of different maize Cd enrichment coefficients (1/BCF). The results showed that maize in the study area was subject to varying degrees of Cd pollution, with total soil Cd content ranging from 1.81 to 2.71 mg·kg−1 at test site 1 and from 0.95 to 1.76 mg·kg−1 at test site 2. Only the Cd content of heavy metals in maize kernels at test site 2 did not exceed China’s national food safety standard (GB 2762-2022, 0.1 mg·kg−1), with the Cd content of different maize varieties at test site 2 ranging from 0.008 to 0.073 mg·kg−1 and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of maize kernels for Cd ranging from 0.004 to 0.054. According to cluster analysis and Pareto analysis, the low-Cd accumulation maize varieties suitable for local planting were identified as Yufeng 303, Nongda 372, Jingnongke 728, MC121 (Fengda Seed Industry), and Jinyu 1233. In addition, the soil Cd environmental threshold for ensuring that 95% of maize would not be polluted by Cd in soil was derived as 1.39 mg·kg−1.
The Role of Buildings in Rural Areas: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations for Sustainable Development
Authors: Cogato Alessia , Cei Leonardo , Marinello Francesco , Pezzuolo Andrea
Published: July 2023

Rural buildings represent the functional relationship between rural communities and agricultural land. Therefore, research on rural buildings has practical repercussions on environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Comprehensive state-of-the-art research on rural buildings may address research activities. We present a systematic review of the scientific research between 2000 and 2022 based on the PRISMA protocol. Five main topics were identified. The results showed that the primary research focus was production (25.1%) and environmental management issues (23.2%). However, construction and efficiency are rapidly taking centre stage (20.6%). Regarding sustainability (20.8%), life cycle assessment, green buildings, recycling and global warming should be the future research focus. Energy efficiency will benefit from studies on thermal energy. More research on engineering and technologies (10.3%), specifically remote and automatic detection and transport in rural areas, will increase cost efficiency. The results may help improve the global efficiency of rural buildings in a modern farming system.
The Seed–Seedling Transition in Commercial Soybean Cultivars with the Presence of Greenish Seeds in the Sample: A Perspective from Classical Genetic Parameters
Authors: Ajala-Luccas Daiani , Ribeiro-Oliveira João Paulo , Teixeira Renake N. , Ducatti Karina Renostro , França-Neto J. B. , Hilhorst Henk W. M. , da Silva Edvaldo Aparecido Amaral
Published: July 2023

Chlorophyll retention reduces the quality of soybean grain and seeds, but little is known about the relationship between this anomaly and the seed–seedling transition or classical genetic breeding. Taking this into account, we provide a new perspective about how greenish seeds are associated with genetic material. For that, we used seed–seedling transition measurements of nine commercial cultivars cultivated by different seed farmers. Our findings demonstrated that: (i) The anomaly of greening in soybean seeds seems to be more expressed as a function of thermal variation than rainfall; (ii) There are commercial cultivars with distinct sensitivity to the greening phenotype, indicating potential for classical breeding for the species; (iii) The seed–seedling transition is significantly modified by the presence of greenish seeds, and the diagnosis of their presence can be anticipated by the analysis of embryo protrusion.
Slaughtering of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with and without Stunning: A Focus on the Neurobiology of Pain, Hyperalgesia, and Sensitization
Authors: Grandin Temple , Velarde Antonio , Strappini Ana , Gerritzen Marien , Ghezzi Marcelo , Martínez-Burnes Julio , Hernández-Ávalos Ismael , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Casas-Alvarado Alejandro , Mota-Rojas Daniel
Published: July 2023

The slaughter process in livestock is considered a stressor where the transport and handling of animals, as well as the selected stunning and bleeding methods, can cause acute pain, distress, and suffering. In water buffaloes, although stunning is known to be performed before bleeding to induce unconsciousness, no emphasis is made on the nociceptive events during this process. Particularly, current mechanical stunning methods applied to cattle are unsuitable for water buffaloes due to anatomical differences in the skull from other large ruminants. Furthermore, although very high-pressure pneumatic (200–220 psi) may be effective in the frontal position for lighter-weight water buffalos, for heavier animals, it is less likely to be effective. The present review aims: (1) to analyze the anatomical particularities of water buffaloes to discuss the importance of selecting a stunning method suitable for buffaloes, and (2) to revise the potential pain-related consequences, such as hyperalgesia and sensitization, and the signs to assess the stun quality and death to comprehend the relevance of a proper technique according to the species.
The Potential Effects of Quercetin-Loaded Nanoliposomes on Amoxicillin/Clavulanate-Induced Hepatic Damage: Targeting the SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Microbiota Modulation
Authors: Abd El-Emam Mahran Mohamed , Mostafa Mahmoud , Farag Amina A. , Youssef Heba S. , El-Demerdash Azza S. , Bayoumi Heba , Gebba Mohammed A. , El-Halawani Sawsan M. , Saleh Abdulrahman M. , Badr Amira M. , El Sayed Shorouk
Published: July 2023

Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Co-Amox), a commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections, has been associated with drug-induced liver damage. Quercetin (QR), a naturally occurring flavonoid with pleiotropic biological activities, has poor water solubility and low bioavailability. The objective of this work was to produce a more bioavailable formulation of QR (liposomes) and to determine the effect of its intraperitoneal pretreatment on the amelioration of Co-Amox-induced liver damage in male rats. Four groups of rats were defined: control, QR liposomes (QR-lipo), Co-Amox, and Co-Amox and QR-lipo. Liver injury severity in rats was evaluated for all groups through measurement of serum liver enzymes, liver antioxidant status, proinflammatory mediators, and microbiota modulation. The results revealed that QR-lipo reduced the severity of Co-Amox-induced hepatic damage in rats, as indicated by a reduction in serum liver enzymes and total liver antioxidant capacity. In addition, QR-lipo upregulated antioxidant transcription factors SIRT1 and Nrf2 and downregulated liver proinflammatory signatures, including IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and iNOS, with upregulation in the anti-inflammatory one, IL10. QR-lipo also prevented Co-Amox-induced gut dysbiosis by favoring the colonization of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides over Clostridium and Enterobacteriaceae. These results suggested that QR-lipo ameliorates Co-Amox-induced liver damage by targeting SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB and modulating the microbiota.
Forecasting and Inventory Planning: An Empirical Investigation of Classical and Machine Learning Approaches for Svanehøj’s Future Software Consolidation
Authors: Wahedi Hadid J. , Heltoft Mads , Christophersen Glenn J. , Severinsen Thomas , Saha Subrata , Nielsen Izabela Ewa
Published: July 2023

Challenges related to effective supply and demand planning and inventory management impose critical planning issues for many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In recent years, data-driven methods in machine learning (ML) algorithms have provided beneficial results for many large-scale enterprises (LSE). However, ML applications have not yet been tested in SMEs, leaving a technological gap. Limited recourse capabilities and financial constraints expose the risk of implementing an insufficient enterprise resource planning (ERP) setup, which amplifies the need for additional support systems for data-driven decision-making. We found the forecasts and determination of inventory management policies in SMEs are often based on subjective decisions, which might fail to capture the complexity of achieving performance goals. Our research aims to utilize the leverage of ML models for SMEs within demand and inventory management by considering various key performance indicators (KPI). The research is based on collaboration with a Danish SME that faced issues related to forecasting and inventory planning. We implemented the following ML models: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest (RF), Wavelet-ANN (W-ANN), and Wavelet-LSTM (W-LSTM) for forecasting purposes and reinforcement learning approaches, namely Q-learning and Deep Q Network (DQN) for inventory management. Results demonstrate that predictive ML models perform superior concerning the statistical forecasting approaches, but not always if we focus on industrial KPIs. However, when ML models are solely considered, the results indicate careful consideration must be regarded, given that model evaluation can be perceived from an academic and managerial perspective. Secondly, Q-learning is found to yield preferable economic results in terms of inventory planning. The proposed models can serve as an extension to modern ERP systems by offering a data-driven approach to demand and supply planning decision-making.
Detection of Anomalous Behavior of Manufacturing Workers Using Deep Learning-Based Recognition of Human–Object Interaction
Authors: Rijayanti Rita , Hwang Mintae , Jin Kyohong
Published: July 2023

The increasing demand for industrial products has expanded production quantities, leading to negative effects on product quality, worker productivity, and safety during working hours. Therefore, monitoring the conditions in manufacturing environments, particularly human workers, is crucial. Accordingly, this study presents a model that detects workers’ anomalous behavior in manufacturing environments. The objective is to determine worker movements, postures, and interactions with surrounding objects based on human–object interactions using a Mask R-CNN, MediaPipe Holistic, a long short-term memory (LSTM), and worker behavior description algorithm. The process begins by recognizing the objects within video frames using a Mask R-CNN. Afterward, worker poses are recognized and classified based on object positions using a deep learning-based approach. Next, we identified the patterns or characteristics that signified normal or anomalous behavior. In this case, anomalous behavior consists of anomalies correlated with human pose recognition (emergencies: worker falls, slips, or becomes ill) and human pose recognition with object positions (tool breakage and machine failure). The findings suggest that the model successfully distinguished anomalous behavior and attained the highest pose recognition accuracy (approximately 96%) for standing, touching, and holding, and the lowest accuracy (approximately 88%) for sitting. In addition, the model achieved an object detection accuracy of approximately 97%.
Correction: Wang et al. Current and Potential Future Global Distribution of the Raisin Moth Cadra figulilella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under Two Different Climate Change Scenarios. Biology 2023, 12, 435
Authors: Wang Bing-Xin , Zhu Liang , Ma Gang , Najar-Rodriguez Adriana , Zhang Jin-Ping , Zhang Feng , Avila Gonzalo A. , Ma Chun-Sen
Published: July 2023

In the original publication [...]