Early bruising detection of 'Korla' pears by low-cost visible-LED structured-illumination reflectance imaging and feature-based classification models.

Introduction: Nondestructive detection of thin-skinned fruit bruising is one of the main challenges in the automated grading of post-harvest fruit. The structured-illumination reflectance imaging (SIRI) is an emerging optical technique with the potential for detection of bruises. Methods: This study presented the pioneering application of low-cost visible-LED SIRI for detecting early subcutaneous bruises in 'Korla' pears. Three types of bruising degrees (mild, moderate and severe) and ten sets of spatial frequencies (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 cycles m-1) were analyzed. By evaluation of contrast index (CI) values, 150 cycles m-1 was determined as the optimal spatial frequency. The sinusoidal pattern images were demodulated to get the DC, AC, and RT images without any stripe information. Based on AC and RT images, texture features were extracted and the LS-SVM, PLS-DA and KNN classification models combined the optimized features were developed for the detection of 'Korla' pears with varying degrees of bruising. Results and discussion: It was found that RT images consistently outperformed AC images regardless of type of model, and LS-SVM model exhibited the highest detection accuracy and stability. Across mild, moderate, severe and mixed bruises, the LS-SVM model with RT images achieved classification accuracies of 98.6%, 98.9%, 98.5%, and 98.8%, respectively. This study showed that visible-LED SIRI technique could effectively detect early bruising of 'Korla' pears, providing a valuable reference for using low-cost visible LED SIRI to detect fruit damage.

Investigation of dissolved organic matter's influence on the toxicity of cadmium to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa by biochemical and molecular assays.

Rapid economic development has increased the accumulation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and heavy metals in aquatic environments. In addition, Microcystis aeruginosa can cause the outbreak of cyanobacteria bloom and can produce microcystin, which poses a threat to human water safety. Therefore, this study analyzed the biochemical and molecular assays of DOM (0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 mg C L-1) extracted from four different sources on the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) to M. aeruginosa. The results showed that the addition of different concentrations of DOM from sediment, biochar, and humic acid alleviated the toxicity of Cd to M. aeruginosa. But the addition of rice hulls DOM at high concentrations (8 and 10 mg L-1) significantly reduced the normal growth and metabolic activities of M. aeruginosa. DOM from four different sources promoted the expression level of microcystin-related gene mcyA and the production of microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR), and mcyA was positively correlated with MC-LR. DOM from biochar, sediment, and humic acid were able to bind Cd through complexation. The results will help to understand the toxic effects of heavy metals on toxic-producing cyanobacteria in the presence of DOM, and provide certain reference for the evaluation of water environmental health.

Prevalence, Management, and Associated Factors of Obesity, Hypertension, and Diabetes in Tibetan Population Compared with China Overall.

Tibetans' life expectancy lags behind China's average. Obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to health disparity, but NCD patterns among Tibetans are unknown. To examine the prevalence, management, and associated factors for obesity, hypertension, and diabetes among Tibetans, compared with China's average, we systematically searched PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for studies between January 2010 and April 2021. Thirty-nine studies were included for systematic review, among thirty-seven that qualified for meta-analysis, with 115,403 participants. Pooled prevalence was 47.9% (95% CI 38.0-57.8) for overweight/obesity among adults (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) and 15.4% (13.7-17.2) among children using Chinese criteria, which are lower than the national rates of 51.2% and 19.0%, respectively. The estimate for hypertension (31.4% [27.1-35.7]) exceeded China's average (27.5%), while diabetes (7.5% [5.2-9.8]) was lower than average (11.9%). Men had a higher prevalence of the three conditions than women. Residents in urban areas, rural areas, and Buddhist institutes had monotonically decreased prevalence in hypertension and diabetes. Awareness, treatment, and control rates for hypertension and diabetes were lower than China's average. Urban residence and high altitude were consistent risk factors for hypertension. Limited studies investigated factors for diabetes, yet none exist for obesity. Tibetans have high burdens of obesity and hypertension. Representative and longitudinal studies are needed for tailored interventions. There are considerable variations in study design, study sample selection, and data-analysis methods, as well as estimates of reviewed studies.

Financial Incentives for Pediatric HIV Testing (FIT): Caregiver Insights on Incentive Mechanisms, Focus Populations, and Acceptability for Programmatic Scale Up.

Children living with HIV experience gaps in HIV testing globally; scaling up evidence-based testing strategies is critical for preventing HIV-related mortality. Financial incentives (FI) were recently demonstrated to increase uptake of pediatric HIV testing. As part of this qualitative follow-up study to the FIT trial (NCT03049917) conducted in Kenya, 54 caregivers participated in individual interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify considerations for scaling up FI for pediatric testing. Caregivers reported that FI function by directly offsetting costs or nudging caregivers to take action sooner. Caregivers found FI to be feasible and acceptable for broader programmatic implementation, and supported use for a variety of populations. Some concerns were raised about unintended consequences of FI, including caregivers bringing ineligible children to collect incentives and fears about the impact on linkage to care and retention if caregivers become dependent on FI.

Nitrated and parent PAHs in the surface water of Lake Taihu, China: Occurrence, distribution, source, and human health risk assessment.

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) have toxic potentials that are higher than those of their corresponding parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and thus have received increasing attention in recent years. In this study, the occurrence, distribution, source, and human health risk assessment of 15 NPAHs and 16 PAHs were investigated in the surface water from 20 sampling sites of Lake Taihu during the dry, normal, and flood seasons of 2018. The ΣPAH concentrations ranged from 255 to 7298 ng/L and the ΣNPAH concentrations ranged from not-detected (ND) to 212 ng/L. Among the target analytes, 2-nitrofluorene (2-nFlu) was the predominant NPAH, with a detection frequency ranging from 85% to 90% and a maximum concentration of 56.2 ng/L. The three-ringed and four-ringed NPAHs and PAHs comprised the majority of the detected compounds. In terms of seasonal variation, the highest levels of the ΣNPAHs and ΣPAHs were in the dry season and flood season, respectively. Diagnostic ratio analysis indicated that the prime source of NPAHs was direct combustion, whereas in the case of PAHs the contribution was predominantly from a mixed pattern including pollution from unburned petroleum and petroleum combustion. The human health risk of NPAHs and PAHs was evaluated using a lifetime carcinogenic risk assessment model. The carcinogenic risk level of the targets ranged from 2.09 × 10-7 to 5.75 × 10-5 and some surface water samples posed a potential health risk.

Brief Report: Use of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to Characterize Health Care Workers' Perspectives on Financial Incentives to Increase Pediatric HIV Testing.

BACKGROUND: A prior randomized control trial showed financial incentives increase HIV testing rates for children of unknown HIV status. Translating evidence-based interventions such as these to scale requires an implementation science approach. METHODS: A qualitative study evaluating health care providers' perceptions of barriers and facilitators of a previously completed financial incentives intervention for pediatric HIV testing was conducted at health care facilities in Kisumu, Kenya. Six focus group discussions with 52 providers explored determinants of acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability of financial incentive scale-up for pediatric HIV testing using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to inform question guides and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Providers found the use of financial incentive interventions for pediatric HIV testing to be highly acceptable. First, providers believed financial incentives had a relative advantage over existing strategies, because they overcame cost barriers and provided additional motivation to test; however, concerns about how financial incentives would be implemented influenced perceptions of feasibility and sustainability. Second, providers expressed concern that already overburdened staff and high costs of financial incentive programs would limit sustainability. Third, providers feared that financial incentives may negatively affect further care because of expectations of repeated financial support and program manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: Providers viewed financial incentives as an acceptable intervention to scale programmatically to increase uptake of pediatric testing. To ensure feasibility and sustainability of financial incentives in pediatric HIV testing programs, it will be important to clearly define target populations, manage expectations of continued financial support, and establish systems to track testing.

Specific metabolic rates of major organs and tissues across adulthood: evaluation by mechanistic model of resting energy expenditure.

BACKGROUND: The specific resting metabolic rates (K(i); in kcal · kg(-1 )· d(-1)) of major organs and tissues in adults were suggested by Elia (in Energy metabolism: tissue determinants and cellular corollaries. New York, NY: Raven Press, 1992) to be as follows: 200 for liver, 240 for brain, 440 for heart and kidneys, 13 for skeletal muscle, 4.5 for adipose tissue, and 12 for residual organs and tissues. However, Elia's K(i) values have never been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the applicability of Elia's K(i) values across adulthood and to explore the potential influence of age on the K(i) values. DESIGN: A new approach was developed to evaluate the K(i) values of major organs and tissues on the basis of a mechanistic model: REE = Σ(K(i) × T(i)), where REE is whole-body resting energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry, and T(i) is the mass of individual organs and tissues measured by magnetic resonance imaging. With measured REE and T(i), marginal 95% CIs for K(i) values were calculated by stepwise univariate regression analysis. An existing database of nonobese, healthy adults [n = 131; body mass index (in kg/m²) <30] was divided into 3 age groups: 21-30 y (young, n = 43), 31-50 y (middle-age, n = 51), and > 50 y (n = 37). RESULTS: Elia's K(i) values were within the range of 95% CIs in the young and middle-age groups. However, Elia's K(i) values were outside the right boundaries of 95% CIs in the >50-y group, which indicated that Elia's study overestimated K(i) values by 3% in this group. Age-adjusted K(i) values for adults aged >50 y were 194 for liver, 233 for brain, 426 for heart and kidneys, 12.6 for skeletal muscle, 4.4 for adipose tissue, and 11.6 for residuals. CONCLUSION: The general applicability of Elia's K(i) values was validated across adulthood, although age adjustment is appropriate for specific applications.

[Comparative study on main economic characters of different populations of Pinellia ternata in China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the content of guanosine, total alkaloid and individual yield of Pinellia ternata from different populations in China and evaluate its quality. METHOD: Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the content of guanosine. The content of alkaloid was determined by ultra violet spectrophometry. The results were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULT: The contents of guanosine and total alkaloid in P. ternata were 0.0136% -0.0264% and 0.0155% -0.0652% respectively. Individual yield was 0.5536-2.9740 g. All of the populations could be classified into 3 types through hierarchical cluster analysis. CONCLUSION: There exist significant differences in the content of guanosine, total content of alkaloid and individual yield of P. ternata from different populations. It is suggested that breeding and selection for type II of P. ternata should be strengthened.