Hot Articles

  • Remote sensing identification of early planting information of rapeseed in mountainous areas

    As a major oilseed crop with high ornamental value, Accurate and timely determination of their distribution and area under cultivation is essential to ensure food security and achieve sustainable development goals. The bright yellow flowers are a unique feature of rapeseed compared to other crops. Therefore, the yellow flower index was previously used to detect rapeseed on aerial images or medium-resolution satellites. However, the impact of its unique topographic terrain structure confuses crop planting structure, while the yellow flower signal of rapeseed is weak in the early stage of rapeseed growth. Therefore, it remains challenging to accurately identify early rapeseed in the southwest mountains. In this study, a new mountain rape index (MWRI) is proposed based on Sentinel-2 time series images. First, the NDVI characteristics of vegetation were used to filter out non-vegetated areas. Secondly, the weak rapeseed signal of non-pure image elements was enhanced by combining the time series reflection variation curves of rapeseed in red, green, NIR, and SWIR bands. The MRM method was used to extract the rapeseed cultivation in Chongqing, a typical mountainous rapeseed growing area in China. Three different previously proposed rapeseed indices: normalized difference yellowness index (NDYI), and yellowness index (RYI) were also calculated for comparison, and validation using high-resolution image interpretation samples in Google earth showed that MWRI has higher rapeseed recognition accuracy OA above 0.97, while other rapeseed indices OA between 0.9 and 0.95. The results indicate that MWRI is an effective index to distinguish mountain rapeseed from other crops.

  • THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORAL FISH COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTATION ON SKIN AGING: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF SKIN HYDRATION, SKIN ELASTICITY, AND SKIN WRINKLES

    Introduction: Skin aging is a complex biological process with cumulative structural and physiological changes, progressive changes in each layer of the skin, and changes in the appearance of the skin. Human skin undergoes 2 types of skin aging, that are intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging. Skin aging is characterized by a decrease in skin hydration and elasticity, as well as an increase in skin wrinkles. Anti-aging strategies are still being developed. A new anti-aging therapy modality that has been widely used is nutraceutical supplementation, such as fish collagen. Fish collagen is a new alternative source of collagen with a high degree of homology to human collagen structure and high bioavailability. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of oral fish collagen supplementation on skin aging. Methods: This study was an analytic observational study, with systematic review and meta-analysis. Data searching was conducted online at Pubmed-MEDLINE, EBSCO (CINAHL), Scopus, SpringerLink, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cambridge Core, and Google Scholar, as well as hand searching from libraries in Indonesia. Twelve studies were included in the qualitative analysis (systematic review) (n=753 subjects) and 6 of them were included in the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis) (n=426 subjects). Results: The results of the meta-analysis showed that the increase in skin hydration in the group given oral fish collagen supplementation was greater significantly than in the placebo group, with standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% CI)=0.56 (0.32 to 0.81), Z=4.47 (p

  • MICRO-NEVI IN PERI-TUMORAL SKIN OF CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AND BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

    Background: Harboring many melanocytic nevi is a risk factor for melanoma. The prevalence of micro-nevi, melanocytic nevi that can only be detected microscopically, has been studied scarcely and the significance is unknown. Objectives: To systematically analyze the presence of micro-nevi in cutaneous excisions from cutaneous melanoma and basal cell carcinoma to achieve an insight in the density of micro-nevi per mm peri-tumoral skin. Also to speculate in the relevance and significance of micro-nevi for evolving melanoma at the same anatomical site. Methods: We re-examined histologically peri-tumoral skin of primary and re-excised melanomas and primary excisions of basal cell carcinomas for comparison. The size of a micro-nevus was defined to a diameter < 2 mm, of either a junctional, compound or intradermal nevus. Results: 104 melanoma and 208 basal cell carcinoma cases were microscopically re-examined. In the melanoma group 6 micro-nevi were found. The sum of the peri-tumoral skin was 1768 mm, giving a density of 1 nevus per 295 mm. In the basal cell carcinoma group 5 micro-nevi were found. The sum of the peri-tumoral skin was 1370 mm, giving a density of 1 nevus per 274 mm. No difference in the density of micro-nevi in the two groups of skin cancer was found. Conclusions: The significance of these micro-nevi remains unclear. The aim with this study is to draw attention to the existence of micro-nevi and further studies are needed to determine the significance of the presence of micro-nevi.

  • ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS AWARENESS AMONG SAMPLE OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

    Background: Drug reactions are a fundamental issue in many branches of medicine. Adverse drug reactions result in high mortality and morbidity globally. There is always the risk of unwanted side effects associated with the use of any substance that has a therapeutic effect. The safe use of drugs remains a critical issue for all health care professionals. Objective: The current study investigates the level of drug reaction awareness among the public in northern Saudi Arabia. Materials/methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected using Google Forms, which were coded and processed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 23. Results: Altogether 475 people participated in this study including 382 women [80.4%] and 93 men [19.6%]. Of the 475 participants, 83.6% were aware of drug reactions, 40.4% believed drug reactions are hereditary, 50.9% had received a previous skin allergy test, and 21.3% had received a previous blood test for an allergy. Conclusion: The public in northern Saudi Arabia are aware of drug reactions. We found that only half of the participants in our study had received a skin allergy test. It is the responsibility of physicians to provide the community with a valuable database of information on the adverse effects of drugs. We recommend that health care institutions carry out more studies with a larger sample to improve the understanding and awareness of drug reactions.

  • Course of Care for Hepatitis C in Users of Psycho-active Substances According to the Addictological System of Care and Place of the Test and Treat Strategy

    Aim: The treatment of addiction is well structured in France, with different care and prevention services available, such as addiction treatment and prevention centers, the network of medical microstructures centred on general practitioners, and lower risk consumption rooms. The objectives of our study were to compare the courses of care for hepatitis C provided within one addictology center offering all three of these services, as well as to clarify the role and factors associated with the test and treat strategy. Methods: 573 users were included prospectively from all three of the above-mentioned services: 168 from the addiction treatment and prevention center, 291 from the network of medical microstructures and 114 from the lower risk consumption room. They were consumers of one or several psycho-active substances (illegal substances, alcohol, tobacco). The different hepatitis C courses of care were compared between the three services. The test and treat strategy was evaluated in comparison with conventional strategy in all the users. Results: The users were characterized as being predominantly male (65.4%), with high occurrence of polydrug use (61.2%) and low socioeconomic status (complementary health solidarity 43.8%, precarious housing or homelessness 23.9%, living alone 47.1% and lack of paid employment 72.9%). The course of care for hepatitis C did not differ significantly between the three services: screening performed for 90% with HCV RNA detected in 100% of users, access to treatment varied from 61 to 100%; hepatitis C was cured in all users. The test and treat strategy was used in the majority of cases, particularly those treated at lower risk consumption room (93.8%). This strategy was associated with type of consumption and low socioeconomic status (p

  • Vaping among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), created a global pandemic that has changed many aspects of life. Because of respiratory implications, it is interesting to investigate the impact of the pandemic and its effects on the usage of tobacco products including vaping. The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of vaping among college students as well as their perceptions and knowledge of risks associated with tobacco use, primarily vaping. The investigators are interested in determining associations of vaping with demographics and use of alcohol and smoking, and “Intention to vape” products amid the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey of 353 students attending University of North Carolina in Wilmington was carried out. The study results showed about 43% and 67% reported ever using cigarettes and vaping products, respectively. Of the respondents, 25% reported current dual use (e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes). About 55% of respondents maintained they would probably or definitely not use e-cigarettes either pre- or post-COVID-19. There was, however, a slight decline (3.7%) in those reporting they would definitely use e-cigarettes post-COVID-19 vs. pre-COVID-19. The high prevalence of vaping (39.5%) during the pandemic among university students in our study warrants increased efforts to address this problem on a national level.

  • Study on Adsorption Characteristics of Coal Reservoirs in Yangyi Mine

    The method for studying the adsorption characteristics of the coal seam has the density method, the mercury-pressing method and the adsorption method. In this experiment, a low temperature nitrogen adsorption method was used to determine the relative data of the coal-like porosity by using the surface area meter TriStarI3020 to determine the arrangement of the nitrogen molecules on the surface of the coal-like samples. Before the beginning of the experiment, the samples of Yang dong coal reservoir were prepared, weighed, the devaporation time was set at 2h, and the temperature was kept at 105℃.The low temperature nitrogen adsorption experiment was carried out by TriStarII3020.The data of adsorption of nitrogen molecules by coal samples at low temperature are obtained by experiments. The gap characteristics of coal samples are studied by analyzing the characteristic folding points and relative relations of the generated linear diagram. Get coal samples under the condition of low temperature changing with pressure adsorption nitrogen molecular data changes, through the analysis of the linear graph of generated features that are characteristic of fold point and relative relationship to study the space characteristics of the coal sample. Through the analysis can determine the area mainly for both ends of the open pores in coal mine, the porosity of the thin neck bottle type, this research has great significance to the adsorption of gas in the coal reservoir, facilitate monitoring during the coal mining operations have an impact on safety production of the gas such as gas. Can get the conclusion: in the low relative pressure p/p°< 0.1 the surface of the coal samples are distributed in nitrogen molecular monolayer, with the increase of pressure surface of coal samples began to multilayer adsorption intensified will appear the characteristics of the molecular cohesion, condensation of a pressure value after the single nitrogen...

  • Enhancing Public Sector Digital Service Design through Pre-Commercial Procurement

    This paper addresses the challenges in designing and provisioning digital services for public sector. The ongoing digitalization of public services calls for scalable models for ecosystem based collaborative service design. However, while digitalization of services has been studied extensively from technical and financial viewpoints, less focus has been devoted for the collaborative service design processes. In this paper, we present a critical analysis of an alternative approach to public sector driven ecosystem based service design. The analysis is based on a deductive review of earlier research on ecosystem based digital service design, and an inductive theory making based on a representative case study applying pre-commercial-procurement practices. The paper contributes to existing knowledgebase on ecosystem based digital service design. The managerial contribution is innovative approach to public sector service design process. The paper concludes with call for further research and practice on innovative digital service design models for public sector.

  • Trends in Herbal and Dietary Supplement Use Among U. S. Adults with Chronic Liver Disease

    Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) are used by over 50% of Americans, but commonly their use is not reported to healthcare providers. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HDS use among patients with Chronic Liver Disease (CLD), with a focus on those using supplements known to cause hepatotoxicity. We accessed 61,951 individuals polled in the NHANES database between 2001-2011, which represented a population size of 1,763,482,931. 573 respondents reported a history of CLD (population size of 19,998,331.655). Of those 573 respondents, 41 respondents (population size 1,399,884) endorsed using HDS that are associated with causing hepatotoxicity, which are listed under the NIH complied master list. Our study demonstrates the need for better counseling of patients on the potential risks of these readily available products.

  • THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LACTOBACILLUS CRISPATUS PROBIOTICS AS PROPHYLACTIC THERAPY FOR BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS RECURRENCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

    Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one the main causes of fluor albus in women which is found in 15 – 50% of all reproductive age in the world. Regimen therapy for bacterial vaginosis consists of antibiotics, but the recurrence rates remain high. Probiotics appear to have an effect on treating or preventing bacterial vaginosis recurrence. One of the probiotics is Lactobacillus crispatus. Methods: The result of online searching on Pubmed-MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Cambridge Core, ProQuest, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases had found 4 relevant articles included in this systematic review (n = 516 subjects), from which 3 articles were used in meta-analysis (n = 350 subjects). Results: The meta-analysis of effectiveness of L. crispatus probiotics intervention group compared to the placebo group showed a homogeneity in data (Q=2.170, df=2; p=0.338, Tau2=0.026). Meta-analysis showed the value of Q statistic was z value = -2.683; (p=0.007) and overall risk ratio is 0.694 (95% CI= 0.532 to 0.906) with p=0.007. This demonstrated that the group with L. crispatus probiotics had 0.694 times lower risk in having bacterial vaginosis recurrence compared to the placebo group. The test for overall effect found the time to recurrence of placebo group was shorter compared to probiotics group with overall mean time to recurrence between probiotics group and placebo group was -0.960±0.20 (Z value= -4.730; p