The best Cd-tolerant strain, Bacillus pumilus, exhibited plant growth stimulation in vivo and in vitro experiments. We determined the toxic concentrations (30 (ppm)) of both NPs for plant growth. B. pumilus, ZnO NPs (20 (ppm)), and TiO2 NPs (10 (ppm)) had a synergistic effect on plant growth promotion in Cd-contaminated soil (120 (ppm)) in a pot experiment. Both alone and in combination, these therapies reduced Cd toxicity, resulting in improved stress metabolism and defense responses. The combined treatments showed increased relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, proline, total sugars, and proteins and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation. Moreover, this combination increased the levels of minerals and antioxidants and reduced Cd bioaccumulation in shoots and roots by 40–60%. Our in silico pipeline presented a novel picture of the participation of ZnO–TiO2 protein interaction in both B. pumilus and maize. These findings provide fresh insights on the use of B. pumilus, ZnO, and TiO2 NPs, both separately and in combination, as a viable and environmentally benign strategy for reducing Cd stress in maize.The efficiency of Cd-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO Worldwide maize production reached 1162 million tons in 2020. The worldwide output of maize increased from 313 million tons in 1971 to 1162 million tons in 2020, expanding at a 3.07% yearly pace .Metal contamination is a serious hazard for soil and cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential and hazardous heavy metal that is readily taken up by roots and deposited in diverse plant tissues, posing a global threat to crop development and output. Plants use various mechanisms to resist Cd’s inhibitory impact, including nutrient management as one option for overcoming Cd toxicity . Sulfur Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous heavy metal; nevertheless, its toxicity varies depending on the organism. Cadmium-tolerant bacteria (CdtB) are varied and are not linked phylogenetically. Because of their ecological significance, bacteria become more significant when pollution occurs, and human health is affected. Exploring plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria in agriculture is thus one of the more promising approaches for enhancing agricultural yield while minimizing environmental damage. Simultaneously, nanotechnological applications have a significant impact . Plant-gNovel technologies are frequently used to attain the requisite crop yields in the quest to increase food production with an environmentally responsible approach and with limited resources. Compared to conventional fertilizers, nanofertilizers are more successful in promoting plant development because plants quickly absorb them. As a result, nanomaterials such as nanofibers, nanofertilizers, and nanopesticides have the potential to revolutionize agriculture. With nanomaterials such as silver, titanium, zinc oxide, silica, and gold, PGPR could be a promising technique for controlling plant growth and productivity. To investigate interactive studies of PGPR with different nanoparticles in a cost-effective and result-oriented manner, a prediction-based validation method was utilized to lower the cost of experimentation . On the Nanotechnology has paved the way towards many applications, and the introduction of nanoparticles such as metallic nanoparticles into the biological sciences has been noted to provide desired effects. In addition to this hese particles having been used in environmental cleanup and soil transport systems. The size, shape, inertness, and surface coating materials of nanoparticles are well-known. Under certain conditions, they are less hazardous and highly resistant to surface oxidation. Furthermore, nanoparticles are delivered into the cell using different routes depending on their size. PGPR are soil microorganisms, which are regarded as ecosystem building blocks, and are vulnerable to nanoparticles, although their mechanisms of action are unknown. This could be due to nanoparticles’ various types and natures, and there is no specific model for interpreting nanoparticle interactions with PGPR .2) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO), which reduced soil salinity. NPs have also made an impact on sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, they have been applied to the roots or as a foliar spray to boost plant growth enzyme activity, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, stress tolerance, yield, and crop quality. Agricultural products which can be produced from nanoparticles are crucial for increasing plant growth and crop yield. In addition, they provide favorable alternatives for farmers, compared with conventional chemicals and techniques, because of various properties such as their small size, simplicity of transport, easy handling, long-term storage, high efficacy, and nontoxicity. As a result, nano-based commercialization is gaining popularity worldwide [Different plants have benefited from the application of titanium dioxide , Islamabad, Pakistan. First, the surface was sanitized with a 90% ethanol solution, before being treated with a 3.5% sodium hypochlorite solution. After that, the seeds were washed five times with distilled water .2 and ZnO NPs were evaluated to determine their toxic concentrations. Four different concentrations—25, 50, 100, and 150 ppm—were used. Soaked seeds were then analyzed to determine the effect of varying concentrations of NPs.TiOBacterial strains  preserved in glycerol were taken from the Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Lab, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad. To select the bacterial strain with the highest cadmium (Cd) tolerance, the ten bacterial strains were allowed to grow on Petri plates for 48 h with various Cd concentrations, i.e., 2 ppm, 4 ppm, 6 ppm, and 8 ppm. Seeds were soaked in bacterial pellets for 3 h for this purpose. Pellets were prepared by obtaining the pure cultures of strains and then allowing them to grow in a liquid broth. After 24–48 h, each culture was centrifuged for 15 min at 4000 rpm to obtain the desired pellets. We aimed to determine the most Cd-tolerant strain by determine root length (RL), shoot length (SL), leaf area (LA), fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW).To select a tolerable concentration of Cd for the seeds of maize, the sterile seeds of maize were grown on Petri plates in triplicates at different concentrations  along with the control which had no Cd stress. Seeds were allowed to grow for two weeks; after that, their germination and biomass were noted.2 and ZnO NPs (20 ppm) and cadmium stress were applied to the plants at the three-leaf stage. After 15 days of treatment, the plants were harvested. The experimental design was randomized, and the specifics are listed below. For biomass analyses, root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, and relative water contents were separated. Roots and shoots were harvested separately for each duplicate and kept at 40 °C for various enzymatic tests.A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of COMSATS University, Islamabad . The experiment was conducted by ensuring the availability of natural light and 1.5 kg of autoclaved dried soil enriched in potassium and nitrogen. The soil which was used was called nitisol (WRB 2015) and the predominant soil particles were fine sand and silt, with percentages ranging from 49.48% to 77.78% and 10.66% to 34.23% . Soil was placed in pots of 10 × 10 cm in size with drainage holes in the bottom. A plastic plate was placed under each pot to collect the leachate, which was further irrigated onto the soil surface. Eight seeds per pot were sown in the autoclaved soil. Each treatment was applied in triplicate. The moisture of the soil content was maintained around 60% with distilled water. The finalized doses of TiOBiomass studies involve the assessment of parameters such as the shoot length, root length, fresh weight, relative water content, dry weight, germination percentage, germination index, promptness index, and seedling vigor index. The harvested plants were measured using a measuring scale and a weighing balance.To determine the RWC, leaves were soaked in water overnight after measuring their fresh weight. The next day, the fully turgid weight of maize leaves was measured. The leaves were then allowed to dry to determine the dry weight ,17.PercThe estimation of photosynthetic pigments such as carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b was performed by placing 0.5 g of the fresh leaves in test tubes. Into each test tube, 10 mL of dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) was added and the test tube was allowed to stay for 4 h in the water bath at 65 °C or for 72 h at room temperature. After this period, the supernatant was taken, and the absorbance was measured at 480, 648, and 665 nm. All of the calculations were performed according to the protocol of Chappelle, Kim .EstimatTo prepare the enzyme extract, 0.5 g of roots and leaves were taken separately and washed with distilled water. The roots and leaves were ground on a pre-cooled pestle and mortar and 2 to 3 mL of phosphate buffer was added, ensuring that the pH was 7 to 8. A homogenized sample was made, and the volume of the solution was raised to 5 mL. The samples were centrifuged at 8000 to 13,000 rpm at 4 °C for 15 min .The protocol reported by Gibon  was follThe quantity of lipid peroxidation was calculated based on the malondialdehyde (MDA) generated by thiobarbituric acid in this test. The technique developed by Buege and Aust  was follThe catalase (CAT) activity was assessed using the procedure of Kumar et al. , and theDried maize leaves (0.5 g) were subjected to acidic digestion . The Cd 2 protein interaction network. The STITCH database is a knowledge base of interactions among proteins and small molecules. This database is widely used for determining inter-relationships between drug targets, chemicals/receptors, and single molecules associations with metabolic pathways. We entered the “ZnO-TiO2” compound as a query in either B. pumilus or Zea may L. species, which displayed a protein interaction network. The database also provided multiple functional tabs for further analysis and enrichment studies of a given network. Finally, we exported both ZnO–TiO2 protein interaction networks with a confidence score of 0.400 for the comprehensive coverage of available interactions.We used the STITCH version 5.0 database to construct the ZnO–TiOp = 0.05 [STATISTIX (version 8.1) software was used to evaluate all of the data statistically. To compare different mean values of all treatments, the least significant difference (LSD) was computed at p = 0.05 .These 10 bacterial strains  exhibited cadmium (Cd) tolerance. Out of these 10 bacterial strains, 6 of them showed morphological changes at different cadmium concentrations. At 2 ppm, strains showed colony formation, thus indicating resistance against Cd stress. By increasing the concentration from 4 to 6 ppm, the growth of each strain decreased. Only JW, 9K, and RHG, 13RK1 showed the maximum resistance against Cd stress of 6 ppm, which was depicted by enhanced growth on the media supplemented with Cd stress. Thus, these strains were selected for the seed priming of maize to further extract the best one, with the most prominent growth-inducing ability chosen as the treatment to be used in the pot experiments.Maize showed a 40% germination rate without PGPR priming. However, the germination rate varied in different PGPR strains treatments. The maximum germination rate in the JW treatment was observed to be 85% compared to the control (without PGPR treatment). Other bacterial strains with effective germination-inducing abilities were 13RK1, GW3, 9K, BG, and MRH1. All the PGPR  showed a prominent increase in the shoot length (SL), root length (RL), and fresh weight (FW). The leaf area (LA) was promoted by all the PGPR strains except 8RK1 and RHG. Similarly, all the PGPR strain treatments showed an increase in the germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), and promptness index (PI) in comparison with controls. However, the seedling vigor index (SVI) was promoted by all the PGPR strains except MRH1 and 8RK1. The maximum ability to increase all the parameters is shown by JW, which was selected for the pot experiments with maize plants. The maximum increase caused by JW in shoot length (SL), root length (RL), fresh weight (FW), leaf area(LA), dry weight (DW), germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), productivity index (PI), and standard vegetation index (SVI) were revealed to be 33%, 195%, 300%, 430%, 600%, 113%, 128%, 116%, and 371%, respectively, compared with the controlled seedlings, as shown in Cd stress  induced severe damage to maize seedlings in the Petri plate experiment. Yellowing and wilting of leaves were the prominent features noted in the case of stressed seedlings compared with the control (without Cd stress). An increase in the doses of Cd stress decreased the SL, RL, LA, FW, DW, GP, GI, PI, and SVI by one, two, and three times compared to the control. Under the Cd stress level of 40 ppm, the distortion was not clearly visible, and the plant survived. However, the plant exhibited severe distortion under 120 ppm Cd stress. Thus, 120 ppm was regarded as the toxic Cd stress level for maize. Under 80 ppm Cd stress, the plants exhibited wilting, but the damage was not unbearable. Thus, the Cd concentration of 120 ppm was selected for the pot experiments.2 and ZnO NP treatments  and showed that the most effective concentration of TiO2 and ZnO NPs was 20 ppm. The best growth results were observed at a concentration of 20 ppm for both NPs, but with the increase in the concentration NPs, wilting and yellowing of leaves were observed. The results from the experiment are shown in This Petri plate experiment involved TiOCd stress (120 ppm) showed significant decreases in GP, GI, PI, and SVI of 75%, 30%, 35%, and 132% compared to the unstressed controlled plants. All the treatments showed significant stress alleviation. All the treatments involving seeds of maize primed with the JW strain revealed a substantial enhancement in the germination rate compared with unprimed seeds. Unprimed seeds exhibited a reduction in the germination rate of 20%. In unstressed plants, PGPR and NP treatments revealed a notable increase in the GP, GI, PI, and SVI, ranging from 9% to 44%. In the case of stressed plants the values ranged from 25% to 50%. In unstressed plants, combined treatment using PGPR and NPs exhibited maximum increases of 100%, 66%, 192%, and 212% in GP, GI, PI, and SVI, respectively. However, the maximum increase in the germination percentage, GI, PI, and SVI in the case of stressed plants exposed only to the JW treatment in combination with NP treatment was noted, with values of 39%, 41%, and 111% and 114%, 222%, and 260%, respectively, as shown in Cd stress was associated with considerable decreases in plant biomass, i.e., FW, DW, and RWC, of 247.4%, 70%, and 22.2%, respectively, compared with non-stressed controls. A significant reduction in Cd-induced toxic effects was observed in the plant biomass in the case of all treatments. Plants treated with PGPR and NPs showed visible enhancements in FW, DW, and RWC, ranging from 21% to 76.7%, 81% to 122%, and 125% to 218%, respectively, in non-stressed maize plants. This increase ranged from 340% to 512%, 122% to 211%, and 111% to 233%, respectively, in stressed plants. All the treatments exhibited positive results in the maize seedlings even under stress. However, maximum increases of 86.7%, 142%, and 203% in FW, DW, and RWC, respectively, were revealed in the case of combined treatment with JW and NPS in non-stressed maize plants. On the other hand, in stressed plants, the maize seedlings exposed to NPs exhibited a maximum RWC value of 248%. Similarly, the maximum FW and DW values due to Cd stress alleviations were revealed under combined JW and NP treatment, at 582% and 239%.Cd stress reduced the carotenoid and chlorophyll a and b content in maize by 42%, 65%, and 74.20%, respectively, compared with the non-stressed controls. All the treatments showed significant enhancements in carotenoid and chlorophyll a and b content in the non-stressed plants, ranging from 100% to 400%. In the case of stressed plants, all treatments showed elevations in carotenoid and chlorophyll a and b levels, ranging from 40% to 420%, respectively, compared with stressed controls. The maximum values of carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b were observed with the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, with increases of 411%, 315%, and 65% in the case of non-stressed plants compared with non-stressed controls. Similarly, in the case of the Cd-stressed plants, the maximum Cd stress alleviation was observed with the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, with increases of 502%, 238%, and 127% in the content of carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b, respectively .The treatment of maize plants with Cd stress was associated with a significant increase in the proline content of 89.2%, compared with the non-stressed control. In the case of stressed plants, the application of PGPR and NPs compensated for the damage by producing more proline, with increases ranging from 3% to 300%. However, in non-stressed plants, the values of proline exhibited a significant reduction, ranging from 22% to 49% depicting the non-stressed state of plants. The maximum increase in proline content was observed with the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, at 150% in the plants exposed to Cd stress. Similarly, in the case of non-stressed plants, the minimum proline content was detected in the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, at 49%, compared with the non-stressed control. Proline helps combat damage in plants by protecting and enabling them to survive under stressful conditions .Exposing plants to 120 ppm Cd stress resulted in severe damage to the lipid membrane, demonstrated by the enhanced values of MDA, which were 157% higher compared with non-stressed plants. However, the damage was reduced in exposed plants treated with PGPR and NPs, revealed by decreased MDA values ranging from 44% to 65% compared with the stressed plants. In the non-stressed plants, lower values of MDA ranged from 13% to 57%, revealing minor damage due to the non-stressed conditions compared with the non-stressed controls. With the combined treatment with PGPR we observed the maximum Cd stress alleviation, and NPs reduced the MDA value by 10%. However, in the case of non-stressed plants, the minimum MDA value was observed with the combined treatment with PGPR and NPs, which revealed a reduced MDA content of 59% compared to non-stressed control .Zea mays. The maximum CAT activity was observed in the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, with increases of 45% and two times in leaves and roots, respectively, compared to the stressed controls. However, the minimum CAT activity was observed in non-stressed plants treated with the combined treatment of PGPR and NPs, at 41% and 43% in leaves and roots, respectively. The reduced CAT values observed in non-stressed conditions revealed the low concentrations of antioxidants due to the absence of stress exposure. Results depicting CAT activity are represented graphically in Compared to the control plants (without Cd stress), treating plants with 120 ppm Cd stress caused a rapid increase in CAT activity of 50% to 75% in leaves and roots, respectively. The level of CAT was further elevated in stressed plants due to PGPR and NP treatment, with increases ranging from 6% to 42% in leaves and 28% to 150% in roots, compared with stressed controls. In non-stressed plants, decreased values of CAT were observed, ranging from 20% to 51% and 23% to 53% in leaves and roots, respectively, compared with non-stressed controls representing the non-stressed state of Exposing maize plants to Cd stress at 120 ppm raised the POD level in leaves and roots by 32% and 61%, respectively, compared with the non-stressed controls. Compared with the stressed plants, further treatment of stressed plants with PGPR and NPs boosted the POD levels in leaves and roots, with increases ranging from 22% to 81% and 4% to 90%, respectively. However, the maximum POD value was exceeded by 70% in the leaves and roots of stressed plants due to the synergistic treatment with PGPR and NPs. Moreover, non-stressed plants showed decreased POD values ranging from 16% to 61% and 21% to 52%, respectively, after the synergistic treatment with PGPR and NPs .Zea mays with PGPR and NPs showing increases ranging from 20% to 70% in leaves and roots compared with the stressed controls. The maximum increase in the SOD value was observed in the combined treatment with PGPR and NPs, at 70% in the leaves and roots of maize. On the contrary, the level of SOD declined in the non-stressed plant and was as low as 10% to 500% in the non-exposed plants treated with the synergistic treatment containing PGPR and NPs compared with non-stressed plants  and 12 edges (interactions) in B. pumilus. ZnO positively regulates BPUM_0711, treA, and yqgT proteins, whereas TiO2 positively regulates glsA, katX1, KatX2, gls protein with the deactivation of the glnA protein. In this protein interaction network, several components, including BPUM_1020yvgN, sodA, ykuU, sodf, BPUM_0725, prkc, ytbE, and BPUM_3004, showed a lack of any physical association with the ZnO–TiO2 network. The network components were mainly involved in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, microbial metabolism in diverse environments, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and the alanine-aspartate-arginine-proline-tryptophan metabolism pathway. The network’s involvement in various pathways illustrates its role in carbohydrate synthesis from a fatty acid that leads to progress in growth and development under stress conditions (We constructed a ZnO-TiOnditions .2 protein interaction network with 50 nodes (proteins) and 83 edges (interactions) in maize. ZnO positively regulates GRMZM2G006069_P01, whereas TiO2 positively regulates IDP114, CAT1, CAT2, CAT3, and pco147635a, respectively, and the proteins GRMZM2G145914_P01, GRMZM2G456132_P01, and GRMZM2G121311_P01. The protein interaction network of the CAT1-CAT2-CAT3 complex exhibited, without a molecular mode of action, physical interaction with 15 members. The network components were mainly found to be involved in response to stimulus and oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species metabolism, hydrogen peroxide metabolism, and other diverse cellular event pathways. The network’s involvement in various pathways illustrates its role in plant survival, stability, and the rapid rational response to stress situations  . In addiB. pumilus) and ZnO and TiO2 NPs in maize growing in Cd-rich soil was observed when they were used as single treatments and in combination. We discovered that Cd stress reduced GP and plant biomass in terms of SL, RL, LA, FW, and DW. The harmful effects of Cd on plants’ physiological and biochemical processes, the scarcity of nutrients, increased ROS production, and the breakdown of cellular machinery and chlorophyll contributed to the stunted development of plants and decreased biomass [2 NPs resulted in significantly increased plant growth and biomass. Making use of symbiotic interactions between PGPR and plants in the soil has been recognized as a successful technique for managing stressed crops [In this study, the detoxifying potential of PGPR  . By creae damage . The confying HM ,42. In C2 positively regulates glutaminase (glsA), Cctalase (katX1), and catalase (katX2), which contribute to glutamine metabolic processes and oxidoreductase reactions. TiO2 negatively regulates glutamine synthetase (glnA), which induces the glutamate-ammonia ligase process and the cell response towards nitrogen homeostasis. ZnO positively regulates the Zn-dependent exopeptidase superfamily protein (GRMZM2G006069_P01) involved in metallocarboxypeptidase activity. TiO2 positively regulates catalase isozyme 1 (CAT1), catalase isozyme 2 (CAT2), and catalase isozyme 3 (CAT3), which are core regulators, which protect cellular machinery from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide. TiO2 positively regulates nucleic acid binding protein (GRMZM2G456132_P01) and DNA-damage-repair/toleration protein (GRMZM2G121311_P01), which are active participants in the oxidative demethylation process and the repair of damaged sites. TiO2 positively regulates the hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein family protein (pco147635a), which is involved in demethylation and mRNA metabolism. In our in silico analysis, ZnO positively regulated peptidase M14 (BPUM_0711) and uncharacterized protein YqgT (yqgT), which are involved in metallocarboxypeptidase activity. ZnO activates trehalose-6-phosphate hydrolase (treA), which participates in the catabolic processes of alpha-phosphotrehalase. TiO2 complex importantly triggered the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, speeding up the generation of the energy requirements in B. pumilus. On the other hand, the ZnO-TiO2 complex produced an additive effect in terms of stress management, affecting the machinery of cell defense proteins in maize.The ZnO-TiOB. pumilus and ZnO and TiO2 NPs can reduce the symptoms caused by Cd stress in maize. Under conditions of Cd stress, B. pumilus and ZnO and TiO2 NPs successfully enhanced maize’s biomass, antioxidants, proline, nutritional content, and phytohormones. In maize, combining B. pumilus with NPs resulted in the maximum growth and improved defensive mechanisms against Cd stress. Furthermore, PGPR and metallic NPs showed synergistic effects, with strengthened performance as plant growth promoters. We concluded that using B. pumilus and ZnO and TiO2 NPs to reduce Cd stress in maize is a viable, environmentally friendly solution. Our in silico pipeline presented a novel picture of ZnO–TiO2 protein interaction and participation in both B. pumilus and maize. In this scenario, the ZnO–TiO2 combination is an ideal therapeutic strategy to encounter heavy metals, specifically Cd, in order to combat their effects on plant growth and physiology. We also suggest that ZnO–TiO2 protein interactors could be excellent biomarkers of Cd toxicity.In this study, we concluded that


Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are a group of pathological conditions characterized by inflammation and functional disability. There is evidence suggesting that regular consumption of polyphenols has therapeutic effects capable of relieving RD symptoms.To synthesize data from randomized controlled trials on administration of polyphenols and their effects on RD activity.Systematic review conducted at Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.A systematic search was conducted in the databases PubMed (Medline), LILACS (BVS), IBECS (BVS), CUMED (BVS), BINACIS (BVS), EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library and in the grey literature. The present study followed a PRISMA-P checklist.In total, 646 articles were considered potentially eligible, of which 33 were then subjected to complete reading. Out of these, 17 randomized controlled trials articles were selected to form the final sample. Among these 17 articles, 64.71% assessed osteoarthritis (n = 11), 23.53% rheumatoid arthritis (n = 4), 5.88% rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia (n = 1) and 5.88% osteoarthritis and rheumatoid (n = 1). Intake of polyphenol showed positive effects in most of the studies assessed (94.12%): it improved pain (64.70%) and inflammation (58.82%).Polyphenols are potential allies for treating RD activity. However, the range of polyphenol sources administered was a limitation of this review, as also was the lack of information about the methodological characteristics of the studies evaluated. Thus, further primary studies are needed in order to evaluate the effects of polyphenol consumption for reducing RD activity.PROSPERO - CRD42020145349. Instead, it causes structural damage and joint inflammation, which result in progressive structural and functional losses.4They give rise to a heterogeneous group of clinical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, tendinitis, gout and lupus, among others. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common RDs.6 OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 14 million people in the United States.7 Moreover, RA affects about five in every 1,000 adults and the number of individuals affected is expected to rise to approximately 67 million by 2030.8RDs are more common in developed countries and in women. In Europe and North America, their prevalence is 0.5%-1.0%.8Many treatments for diminishing RD activity are available. These include tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, adalimumab, tocilizumab, abatacept, rituximab, tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, secukinumab, ustekinumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab and belimumab. However, these can be costly and can have side effects like abdominal pain, back pain, chest pain and nausea.9 The Nurses’ Health Study cohort showed lower RA incidence among individuals who followed healthy dietary patterns  than among individuals who followed inadequate dietary patterns.10 Regular consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and spices rich in phytochemicals can mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation, and relieve symptoms.11Diet therapy can be used to assist RD therapies, since it helps to reduce pain and inflammation effects.3 Polyphenols are metabolites found in plants that are produced in metabolic pathways triggered by plant interactions with environmental factors. They are involved in plant reproduction and in communication between plants, as well as in their defense against pathogens. Polyphenols are found in vegetables, fruits, cocoa and nuts, and also in their derivatives, such as juices and teas.12The therapeutic effects of phytochemicals, especially polyphenols, on RDs have been studied, given their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.15 and experimental studies on animal models and in vitro investigations about the role played by polyphenols in RDs have been conducted. Diets rich in bioactive compounds are associated with improvement of disease activity, since these substances act as protective factors against inflammatory processes and against endothelial dysfunction linked to development of worsening of clinical signs and symptoms.3Epidemiological studies have presented associations between polyphenol intake and RDs,16 However, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has been conducted with the aim of evaluating the association between administration of polyphenols and RD symptoms.A systematic review of the literature showed that total flavonoids and specific subclasses of flavonoids such as flavanols, flavanones, flavones, isoflavones and anthocyanins  are associated with low risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular events and mortality.The aim of the present article was to review the effects of polyphenols on RD activity, based on information available in the literature .Supplementary Material Table 1 (available from https://drive.google.com/file/d/106nzdLxTUbI7rRQt9s0kAsA_V8rOvxe6/view?usp=sharing). The analytic methods and inclusion criteria for the present review were documented in a systematic review protocol recorded on the PROSPERO platform of the University of York, United Kingdom (CRD42020145349).The present systematic review was conducted in accordance with the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis” guidelines (PRISMA-P). To define the research question, the PICOS (Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) strategy was used, as shown in A search was conducted in the PubMed (via Medline), LILACS, IBECS, CUMED, BINACIS, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases and in the grey literature to find studies in which the aim had been to investigate associations between polyphenol administration and rheumatic diseases. This search was conducted between July 22, 2019, and September 10, 2020.Supplementary Material that is available from https://drive.google.com/file/d/106nzdLxTUbI7rRQt9s0kAsA_V8rOvxe6/view?usp=sharing.The descriptors used were previously defined in the MeSH, DECS and Emtree databases. These related to “Rheumatic Diseases” or “Disease, Rheumatic” or “Rheumatic Disease” or “Rheumatism” and “Polyphenols” or “Provinols”. Detailed search strategies are presented in Only double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) analyzing outcomes from interventions consisting of polyphenol administration to improve disease activity were included in this study. No restrictions on the date of publication or language used were imposed in relation to article selection.The exclusion criteria encompassed duplicates, in vitro studies, reviews, cross-sectional or observational studies, case reports, case series, ecological studies, studies about other morbidities or studies on pregnant women, children or teenagers.The references retrieved through the search strategies were exported to an Endnote file , and duplicates were removed. Two independent researchers (HNC and APD) selected titles and abstracts; potential texts were evaluated to check their eligibility based on the criteria described above. A third researcher (NSG) resolved any discrepancies resulting from disagreements between HNC and APD. In addition, the grey literature, such as monographs, dissertations, theses and conference proceedings, was assessed based on references in the articles selected.Two independent researchers (HNC and APD) extracted data on features such as study design, name of the first author, publication year, participants, participants’ age and sex, intervention features, placebo groups , intervention types (polyphenol use), sample size and outcomes .The quality of the RCT methodology was assessed through the Cochrane tool for risk of bias in Cochrane randomized studies , which classifies studies as having high or low risk of bias. The methodological quality was assessed by two independent researchers (HNC and APD), and a third researcher (NSG) resolved any score divergences.The search in the databases and in the grey literature resulted in 646 studies. In total, 641 publications were evaluated after duplicate removal (n = 5). From among these, 542 articles were excluded from the sample because of the title and 66 through reading the abstract. The remaining 33 studies were then read in full . SixteenAmong these 17 clinical trials, 52.94% (n = 9) were published in the last five years (2015-2019); 23.53% were conducted in the United States (n = 4), 17.65% in Iran (n = 3), 11.65% in India (n = 2), 5.89% in Iraq (n = 1), 5.89% in Armenia (n = 1), 5.89% in Australia (n = 1), 5.89% in Japan (n = 1), 5.89% in Egypt (n = 1), 5.89% in Belgium (n = 1), 5.89% in Brazil (n = 1) and 5.89% in Finland (n = 1). The number of individuals evaluated reached 1,244 . Studies reporting the sample characteristics (n = 14) showed that 55.55% of the participants were women (n = 691). In all the studies, the total of 1,244 participants were in the age group 45-85 years.The analysis on the studies included in this review was demonstrated through three tables that were organized according to the pathological conditions found. Among RDs, 64.71% of the studies assessed osteoarthritis (n = 11) ; 23.53%,Online Supplementary Material, available from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/106nzdLxTUbI7rRQt9s0kAsA_V8rOvxe6/view?usp=sharing). The polyphenol doses administered ranged from 42 mg/day17 to 1,585 mg/day.18Table 2 in Online Supplementary Material (available from https://drive.google.com/file/d/106nzdLxTUbI7rRQt9s0kAsA_V8rOvxe6/view?usp=sharing) describes the doses administered, their source and the polyphenol composition.Polyphenols were administered in the form of either capsules of a specific polyphenol or concentrates of food sources of polyphenols  of rheumatic diseases (outcome variable) led to positive results in 94.12% of the studies selected. Pain improved in 64.70% of the cases (n = 11), based on assessment using a visual analogue scale, and inflammation improved in 58.82% of the cases (n = 10). The only study that recorded negative results for RD mitigation only assessed participants’ antioxidant capacity based on biochemical markers.26 Among all the articles, five did not mention the allocation method.27 Nine studies had a high risk of bias because the study participants were not blinded to either the intervention or the placebo groups.30 In six studies, an imbalance in either the number of or the reasons for missing data, between the experimental and control groups, was observed.30 Lastly, just four authors described all the outcomes targeted and measured.30The lack of information about the methodological characteristics of the studies evaluated in the present review made it difficult to classify the quality of evidence, as shown in We found out that polyphenols are capable of helping to treat RDs, with reductions of inflammation and pain. Therefore, their use in treatments for RDs can impact the quality of life of the individuals affected.To the best of our knowledge, the present systematic review was a pioneer in assessing the association between polyphenol administration and mitigation/improvement of rheumatic disease activity in humans.33 Based on the information in these articles, pain and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis were the main symptoms mitigated/relieved in the populations assessed.32Positive effects from polyphenol intake on the improvement/mitigation of rheumatic disease activity were observed in most of the studies selected (94.12% of the articles).32 reductions of the levels of cytokines and pro-inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α);30 reductions of disease activity as assessed through reductions of the levels of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOc), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and Coll2-1 markers;26 increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-13;28 and improvements in oxidative stress caused by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA).33The studies showed positive results in terms of reduction of RD activity, due to pain relief;34 Inflammatory biomarker levels are increased in RDs, and are associated with the pain and other symptoms of the disease.6 They can be divided into the following categories: pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and chemokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are mainly produced by adipocytes: the main ones are IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α.34 Specific biomarkers of RD, such as MMP, stand out among them. These biomarkers belong to a family of enzymes that account for the extracellular degradation of cartilage matrix components, including collagen type II and aggrecan; they change bone metabolism, cartilage and the synovial membrane, which leads to joint destruction.35RD improvement was mostly identified by means of biochemical markers that indicate normal or pathological functioning.36 Overall, drug therapy involves use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and meloxicam, but these substances lead to several side effects like peptic ulcers. Accordingly, anti-inflammatory compounds can come from food. Thus, it is essential to define the compounds capable of mitigating pain and inflammation.There is a specific treatment for each clinical condition in RDs. These treatments can range from medication to secondary therapies such as individualized diet therapy.36 Polyphenols link to aromatic rings that reduce free radicals, inhibit formation of reactive species during metabolism, perform anti-inflammatory immunomodulatory actions3 and have an anabolic effect on cartilage cells.37 Experimental studies have already shown the beneficial action of flavonoids with regard to increasing cartilage anabolic activity and improving the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), osteocalcin and physical morphogenetic protein.38 Reproduced clinical trials have shown that blueberries are a source of polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory effects and can improve gait capacity parameters among older adults.40Polyphenols have been described in the literature as potent anti-inflammatory drugs that can be used to minimize the effects of diseases on different health conditions.17The magnitude of the results recorded can change depending on polyphenol type, dose , delivery route , association with other compounds (such as drug therapy) and the types of markers analyzed.41 and even different degrees of bioavailability.45 However, studies that have reviewed the effects of polyphenols for prevention or treatment of several diseases used a wide variety of sources and different quantities of polyphenols,48 given the heterogeneity of sources of polyphenols and the scarcity of existing literature on this subject from primary studies. Lack of information about the medications or dietary supplements used by participants in the 17 studies evaluated may have been another form of bias. Some studies did not mention the type or dosage of medication administered to control the diseases assessed. Therefore, doubts regarding the effects of polyphenols in isolation are raised.Polyphenols from different sources were administered in the studies reviewed here. This made it difficult to interpret the results, since there may have different mechanisms of action49 randomized controlled clinical trials presenting good methodological quality are characterized by clear planning, execution and reporting, and should guarantee adequate confidentiality of allocation, degree of blinding and randomization. Thus, when these studies are meticulously designed, executed and reported, they can be considered to represent the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness of healthcare interventions. However, despite the large numbers of studies included in the search and analysis processes of the present review, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis. This was because the studies selected assessed different evaluation parameters for disease activity in RDs, and also used different doses and types of polyphenols.Lack of clarity about several aspects of the studies evaluated in the present review made it difficult to classify the quality of evidence found in these studies. According to Gordis et al.,Given the lack of consensus on the best doses and types of polyphenols in the studies assessed in this review, the results should be interpreted with caution and attention. There is a need to conduct primary studies that focus on the minimum dose necessary to achieve the protective effects of polyphenols on the health of patients with RDs. Accordingly, for better guidance for healthcare professionals and patients, future research must focus on, and align with, daily recommendations for foods that are known to be source of polyphenols that are capable of preventing and protecting health and helping in treating RDs, due to the importance of consuming such bioactive compounds.Despite the bias in the primary data sources that is reported here, this review produced promising results, considering that, overall, the dietary intake from polyphenol-rich sources had positive effects with regard to reducing both inflammation and the symptoms of RDs.


To investigate the impact of gestational weight gain (GWG) on the body mass index-for-age z score (BAZ) and obesity risk among twin offspring.This study included 263 women who were pregnant with twins and their offspring. Maternal GWG was measured in each trimester, and infant weight and length were measured at 6, 12, and 24 months.Total GWG was positively correlated with offspring birthweight and BAZ at 6, 12 and 24 months . Excessive total GWG was related to an increased relative risk (RR) of large for gestational age (LGA) and overweight at 6 and 12 months. Only the second trimester gestational weight gain rate (GWGR) was positively correlated with birthweight , and RRs of 6.818 (95% CI: 1.568–29.642) and 2.852 (95% CI: 1.466–5.548) were found for LGA and overweight at 12 months, respectively.Total GWG and the second trimester GWGR were correlated with BAZ and overweight/obesity risk in twin offspring; the impact was obvious in the first year of life and gradually disappeared over time.ChiCTR-OOC-16008203, Registered on 1 April 2016 at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Overweight and obesity in children have become increasingly common in recent years  and are According to the “Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases” theory, intrauterine environmental factors and early life nutrition conditions impact the long-term health of offspring . As repoTwin pregnancies have become more prevalent in many countries, partly owing to the increasing maternal age at conception and advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART) . Twin fen = 45), severe congenital malformations of one or both fetuses (n = 5), and incomplete GWG records for each trimester (n = 20), the final analytic sample included 263 mother-twin pairs. The overall follow-up flow chart is illustrated in This current study was embedded in the Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS), which was established in Chongqing, China, in January 2016  . PregnanAt recruitment, a face-to-face questionnaire interview was used to obtain maternal sociodemographic data, including age, prepregnancy weight, height, educational level, occupation, obstetric history, lifestyle behaviors , and mode of conception (ART or spontaneous). Maternal pBMI was calculated by prepregnancy weight and height. Chorionicity of a twin pregnancy was identified in the first trimester and confirmed after delivery by placental examination. DNA extracted from umbilical cord blood was used to identify the zygosity of a twin pair by short tandem repeat polymerase chain reaction.Perinatal outcomes, including pregnancy complications, gestational age at delivery, delivery mode, infant sex, birth weight and length, were derived from medical records. Large for gestational age (LGA) was defined as weight over the 90th percentile for gestational age and sex, according to a Chinese twin population standard .Information about milk feeding patterns in the first 6 months was obtained by interviewing caregivers at the children's follow-up at 6 months.For women who are pregnant with twins, prenatal examination is recommended every 2 or 3 weeks, so we were able to obtain detailed information about GWG. Prepregnancy weight was self-reported by the women at recruitment, and weight was measured by obstetric staff at each prenatal examination until delivery. We collected data on maternal weight at 12 and 28 gestational weeks and prior to delivery from medical records. If a woman had no available weight measurement at 12 or 28 gestational weeks, we adopted linear interpolation between two neighboring weight timepoints to assess the weight for that week. The maternal weight prior to delivery minus the prepregnancy weight was used to calculate total gestational weight gain (TGWG). Specific trimester GWG was obtained as follows: for the first trimester, weight at 12 gestational weeks minus prepregnancy weight; for the second trimester, weight at 28 gestational weeks minus weight at 12 gestational weeks; and for the third trimester, weight before delivery minus weight at 28 gestational weeks. The specific trimester gestational weight gain rate (GWGR) (kilograms per week) was calculated as the specific trimester GWG divided by the corresponding gestational week duration.2), 14.1–22.7 kg (if 24 ≤ pBMI < 28 kg/m2) and 11.4–19.1 kg (if pBMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). In addition, we classified the GWGR in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy as inadequate, adequate, and excessive if it was below, within, or above the following recommendations: 0.63–0.94 kg/wk (pBMI < 24 kg/m2), 0.52–0.87 kg/wk (24 kg/m2 ≤ pBMI < 28 kg/m2) and 0.42–0.72 kg/wk (pBMI ≥ 28 kg/m2).The GWG guideline for twin pregnancies implemented in this study was that of the US Institute of Medicine guidelines revised in 2009 , whereashttps://www.who.int/childgrowth/software/en/), the BMI of the offspring at each time point was calculated and transformed to z scores for sex and age. A BMI-for-age z score (BAZ) ≥1.035 was used to classify children with overweight/obesity —. Anthropometric data surrounding the indicated time (±7 days) were obtained by professional nurses at the Department of Child Health Care of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children. The infants were measured with a standing measuring meter or using a digital measuring bed while wearing light clothes and without shoes; the weight and length/height measurements were accurate to within 0.1 kg and 0.1 cm, respectively. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards software  and were assessed with one-way analysis of variance. Categorical data are presented as frequencies (percentages) and were assessed with the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. We estimated the linear effect between total GWG or trimester GWGRs and age-specific BAZ by using a generalized estimation equation (GEE) model and the non-linear effect by using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) linear regression model. The GEE model is a regression method that extends the generalized linear model to adjust for the correlation between a set of twins, which is commonly used in twin studies –30. The All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata 15.0 .P = 0.001). Although there was no notable difference (P = 0.051), the incidence of GDM was lowest in women who were underweight and highest in mothers who were overweight. Other baseline information showed no differences among the three groups. Regarding twin offspring, 56.1% of the newborns were boys, the average birthweight was 2.53 kg, and the average birth length was 46.22 cm. The average birth weight, birth length and incidence of LGA were highest among the neonates born to overweight mothers . There were no differences between the groups in the BAZ and milk feeding patterns within 6 months. Due to the unavoidable loss to follow-up, the follow-up numbers of infants were 469 at 6 months, 431 at 12 months and 397 at 24 months.The basic characteristics of the twin-pregnant women and their offspring are shown in We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics between the included participants and initially enrolled participants, and the results showed that the characteristics were not different .The details of the total GWG and the specific trimester GWGR are depicted in P = 0.007).In the first trimester, according to the GWGR distribution, 40.7% of the pregnant women had an inadequate GWGR (≤ 0 kg/wk), 45.3% had an adequate GWGR (0–0.25 kg/wk), and 14.1% had an excessive GWGR (≥0.25 kg/wk). In the second trimester, 41.4, 48.3, and 10.3% of the study group had inadequate, adequate, and excessive GWGRs, respectively. No differences were found between the groups in the distribution of the first two trimester GWGRs. In the third trimester, 35.7, 42.2, and 22.1% of the study group had inadequate, adequate, and excessive GWGRs, respectively. The percentage of inadequate GWGRs was lowest in women who were overweight in the third trimester  twins than in dizygotic (DZ) twins, and the concordance rate increased with age in both MZ and DZ twins .The univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses of the correlation of total GWG categories with the risk of LGA and childhood overweight are shown in To investigate which GWG period had a key impact on offspring growth, correlations between trimester GWGRs and birthweight and childhood BAZ were determined. The results indicated that only the second trimester GWGR was positively correlated with offspring birthweight . The meaIn the subgroup analyses, this positive correlation remained evident in mothers who were underweight , normal weight  and overweight  . In addiThe correlations of unadjusted and adjusted RRs for LGA and overweight at 6, 12, and 24 months with excessive or inadequate trimester GWGRs are depicted in In this study, we examined the relationship between total GWG and offspring growth in twin pregnancies, and the results demonstrated that increased total GWG was related to higher offspring birthweight and BAZ in the first 2 years. Excessive total GWG was correlated with a higher risk of overweight at 6 and 12 months. Second, we investigated the impact of the GWGR in each trimester on twin offspring growth, and the results illustrated that only the second trimester GWGR was positively associated with offspring birthweight. Moreover, an excessive GWGR only in the second trimester was correlated with a higher risk of overweight at 12 months.Previous twin studies have reported that genetic factors have a significant influence on BMI at all ages based on a twin model , but earin utero, thus exposing the fetus to excessive levels of fatty acids and glucose, which may increase fetal insulin production and consequently result in increased adiposity , Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0192), Chongqing Health Committee (2019GDRC012), and Chongqing Education Commission (KJZD-K202100404).The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.


Individuals who followed the pattern similar to the Mediterranean diet had a higher basal metabolic rate (BMR), and the highest fat free mass, soft lean mass, and skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.05) but the lowest FMI, visceral fat area (VFA), waist–hip ratio, and FMI/FFMI ratio (p < 0.05). Higher energy-adjusted DII was associated with high BMI. Higher bound score (HBS)  and diet quality distance (DQD)  were both negatively correlated with FFMI. In conclusion, fat or muscle indexes, such as BMR, FMI, and FFMI, had an important role in predicting overweight and obesity, which suggested the importance of applying BIA among Chinese college students. Students who followed healthful dietary patterns or the high-quality diet that is similar to the Mediterranean diet but not close to the Western diet were more likely to have a healthy BMI and normal body composition.There is limited evidence regarding the effects of dietary pattern and dietary quality on the risk of unhealthy weight status and related body composition in Chinese adolescence. In particular, studies using bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) in these subjects are rare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diet in body composition, to find a healthy dietary pattern for Chinese youth, and to promote the application of BIA among this population. A total of 498 participants aged from 18 to 22 years old were included. Dietary patterns were identified by principal components analysis. Energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (DII) and diet balance index (DBI) were calculated based on semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the relationship of dietary patterns, dietary quality with body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and the effect of dietary factors on BMI levels. The majority of participants with overweight and obesity had abdominal obesity, and there was 3.7% abdominal obesity in normal BMI individuals. Four dietary patterns were detected in the subjects. The pattern with the higher energy intake, which was close to the Western diet, was positively correlated with BMI (β = 0.326,  Nowadays, the epidemic of obesity is one of the most severe health problems facing the world . The preDiets with a high intake of whole grain, vegetables, fruits, low and non-fat dairy, and lean meat are generally considered healthy dietary patterns. These patterns can reduce the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers . The MedChanges in body composition occur when there is a mismatch between nutrient intake and requirement. Body composition analysis is useful in assessing the nutritional status of adolescence and monitoring the changes associated with growth and disease conditions ,11. The The Diet Balance Index (DBI) is designed to assess undernutrition and overnutrition, based on the dietary guidelines for Chinese residents and the Pagoda of Balanced Diet published by the Chinese Nutrition Society. It has been widely used in nutritional research, so as to help people make decisions according to the dietary guidelines and assist with comprehensive evaluation for people with different dietary recommendations ,18. The In this cross-sectional study, 498 college students (aged 18–22 years) who had taken a body composition survey and 488 who had taken a dietary intake survey in a university located in an urban area and its’ affiliated school located in a suburb in Beijing were assessed. The sampling of college students was carried out randomly according to different grades. Finally, 474 individuals finished all of the projects. All subjects signed informed consent before they were included.The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) of 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS 2002)  was usedp = 0.000), PCA was applied to derive patterns from the food groups and determine factor loadings for each group. The varimax orthogonal rotation was carried out in order to simplify the interpretation of the data. The salt and soy sauce in 28 kinds of food were combined and named as “equivalent salt”. A total of 27 factors were retained based on the scree plot  is a multivariate statistical procedure to empirically derive dietary patterns. After measuring the sampling adequacy by the Kaiser Meyer–Olkin test (0.749) and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (ree plot  and the The dietary inflammatory index (DII) was used to assess the inflammatory potential of diet according to Shivappa et al.  and our The daily intake on average for each food item was calculated according to the Diet Balance Index 2016 (DBI-16) . DBI-201Based on the scores for each DBI-16 component, three indicators of diet quality were calculated: (1) the lower bound score (LBS), an indicator for inadequate food intake, was computed by adding all the negative scores; (2) the higher bound score (HBS), an indicator for excessive food intake, was calculated by adding all the positive scores; (3) the diet quality distance (DQD), an indicator of unbalanced food intake, is calculated by adding the absolute values of both positive and negative scores [2). The calculation of other body components was obtained by Inbody 770 Co. through electrophysiology combined with the relevant literature (not publicly available).Body compositions were assessed using of a BIA . Measurements were taken according to the manufacturer’s protocol . An expe2 and overweight was defined as 24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2. A person with 18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2 was normal weight, and <18.5 kg/m2 constituted thinness [According to the Working Group on Obesity in China, obesity was defined as a BMI of at least 28 kg/mthinness . Body cothinness .2 and <0.9 in male and <0.85 in female [p < 0.05, which was two-tailed, was considered statistically difference. All analyses were performed using the statistical software package IBM SPSS Statistics version 21® .After testing the normality of data by the Shapiro–Wilk test or the Kolmogorov–Smirnova test, the variables were presented as means or medians, followed by the SD or interquartile range. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni’s correction or Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied to compare means or medians across different BMI levels and the scores of dietary patterns. The χ2 test was used for categorical variables, which were presented using absolute and relative frequencies. To examine the associations of dietary patterns, diet quality, body composition, and BMI, both multivariate linear regression models and multiple logistic regression were employed. Specifically, Model 1 was unadjusted, while Model 2 was adjusted for gender, age, BMR, and total energy intake . All regression models were assessed for normality by the examination of the model residuals plotted. After evaluating collinearity and residuals, the results were presented containing the β coefficients or odds ratio (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The continuous independent variables were converted into categorical variables in order to use multivariate logistic regression. The classification principles were as follows: patterns 1–4 and DII were divided by quartile, and HBS, LBS, and DQD were divided into three grades by DBI-16 . A series of body composition indicators (except FMI and FFMI ) were dip < 0.05). The rates of overweight/obesity were much higher in male than in female. There was a statistical difference in abdominal obesity among the four groups (p < 0.05). No participants in the thinness group suffered from abdominal obesity, while 96.3% subjects with obesity had abdominal obesity. Interestingly, there was 3.7% abdominal obesity in normal BMI individuals, and almost half of subjects had abdominal obesity in overweight college students. Compared with the normal-weight group, all of the indices related to muscle mass and fat mass in the overweight and obesity groups were higher than those in the normal-weight group, but the indices in the thinness group had completely opposite results (p < 0.05). Fat-free mass, soft lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, and skeletal muscle mass index of the individuals in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in the overweight group (p < 0.05). People with obesity had more intake of flour and fried foods. Students with overweight and obesity consumed more energy than normal-weight students (p = 0.062), which could be seen as demonstrating a statistical difference. In addition, the energy-adjusted DII score had a higher trend in participants with obesity compared with the subjects in other groups, but no significant difference could be found. There was no significant difference in DBI-16 score as well.Participants were divided into four groups according to BMI . There wFour dietary patterns were identified and labeled: pattern 1, pattern 2, pattern 3, and pattern 4. These patterns explained 11.190%, 9.458%, 9.407%, and 7.462% of the total variance, respectively. Pattern 1 was characterized by aquatic products, nuts, processed meat, bean productions, and beer. Pattern 2 was characterized by cereals, tubers, fruits, flour food, and milk. Pattern 3 was characterized by high-calorie foods and the high intake of salt, including fried food, sweets and desserts, red meat, equivalent salt, flour food, poultry, oil, and drinks with sugar and rice. Pattern 4 was characterized by the intake of various vegetables, mushroom, red meat, red wine, and eggs .p < 0.05). Individuals who followed pattern 4 had the lowest FMI, VFA, waist–hip ratio, and FMI/FFMI ratio but had the highest FFM, soft lean mass, and skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.05)  and pattern 4 (36.1%). Students who followed pattern 3 had the highest FMI, VFA, waist–hip ratio, and FMI/FFMI ratio compared with the people following other patterns ( < 0.05) .p < 0.05). Participants following pattern 2 had a higher percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates, and the intake of both vitamin C and potassium were higher (p < 0.05). Pattern 3 had the highest intake of fat and a higher percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates. Subjects following pattern 3 had a higher intake of vitamin B3 (p < 0.05). The feature of pattern 4 was a higher percentage of energy intake from protein and a higher intake of animal-derived fat and PUFA (p < 0.05). Moreover, energy-adjusted DII was higher in pattern 2, and the DBI-16 score tended to be higher in pattern 3 (p < 0.05)  .p < 0.05). Model 1 is adjusted by no factors. Model 2 is adjusted for age and gender. Model 3 is additionally adjusted for BMR and energy based on model 2. In addition, pattern 2 was positively correlated with BMI in model 2 , but it disappeared when in model 3 . A similar result could be found in pattern 3 as well . Energy-adjusted DII was positively associated with BMI in model 1  and model 2 , but it disappeared in model 3  and FFMI  were the risk factors for overweight, and high FFMI was a risk factor for obesity  as well. In addition, abdominal obesity , high level of VFA  and a high level of PBF  were risk factors for overweight, while waist–hip ratio  was a protective factor. No risk of pattern 2 and pattern 3 was found in overweight and obesity. Interestingly, Q2 of pattern 4  was a protective factor for obesity. Q2 of energy-adjusted DII  could be considered a risk factor for overweight. In addition, moderate and high levels of LBS  was a risk factor for overweight , FFMI , and PBF  were protective factors for thinness. Q3 of pattern 2  could be seen as a protective factor for thinness. Medium- and high-level LBS  was a risk factor for thinness, while low- , medium-, and high-level DQD  were protective factors for thinness  (p = 0.043). For the relationship between pattern 3 and FFMI, the regression coefficient was changed from positive to negative after adjusting model 3 . Pattern 4 had a negative correlation with FMI  but a positive correlation with FFMI  in model 1. Participants with high HBS had high FFMI in model 1 , which changed into a negative correlation after adjusting model 3 . HBS was also negatively correlated with FMI in all three models (p < 0.05). LBS was negatively correlated with FFMI in model 2 . Furthermore, DQD was negatively correlated with FFMI both in models 2 and 3 . The negative correlation was also found in DQD and FMI in model 1, but it disappeared after adjusting model 2 and 3 separately. Energy-adjusted DII was positively correlated with FMI for p = 0.061 in model 2 , and it was positively correlated with FFMI in both models 1 and 2 .Pattern 1 had no significant correlation with FMI and FFMI in all three models ( > 0.05) . Particip < 0.05), while the variation in LBS was insignificant among different dietary patterns. Red-meat-derived protein was higher in pattern 3 and pattern 4. In pattern 3, poultry-derived protein was higher. Pattern 1 and pattern 3 were higher than pattern 2 and pattern 4, respectively, in processed-meat-derived protein (p < 0.05). Participants following pattern 4 had a higher egg intake of LBS, which was similar to the RNIs/AIs of eggs than pattern 1 and pattern 3 (p < 0.05) while HBS was insignificant between different dietary patterns.  and an increased risk of excess weight in those aged 6–18 years [3 in the Emirati population with obesity were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers [Pattern 3, which we named ‘Western dietary pattern’, was positively associated with BMI in this study. Because of the highest intake of fat compared with other dietary patterns, the fat-related indices including FMI, VFA, and waist–hip ratio were the highest in youths who preferred pattern 3 than others, but the fat-free indices, such as FFMI and skeletal muscle index, were not. These were similar to the other studies ,38, whic18 years , and thelunteers . A similThe Mediterranean diet represents a dietary pattern that incorporates the healthy traditional eating habits of populations from countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, which includes the high consumption of vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, beans, fish, and unsaturated fats, such as olive oil and red wine ,43. In tIn order to further exploring the quality of different diet, DBI-16 and energy-adjusted DII was calculated ,24 and uLinear regression analysis and multiple logistic regression showed more interesting and valuable results. Results confirmed the FMI and FFMI could be used for the measurement of obesity in college students. Second, based on different dietary habits, BMR and total energy intake could be the main determinants for the physical health based on different dietary habits among young people. Moreover, dietary quality is significantly associated with BMI. DII, which was adjusted by energy, was positively correlated with BMI. A moderate and high level of LBS was the risk factor for both thinness and overweight. The valuable explanation could be found in In addition, some of the diet-related indices mentioned in this paper, such as DII, have been combined with BIA applications . A recenThere were two key points showed in the present study worthy of being paid attention to in the young population. One was that BIA is the best option because of the better consistency with DXA. Although the application of this method is still widely used in people with obesity ,51,52,53There were some limitations as follows. Firstly, it has been reported that the assessment of nutrient patterns rather than dietary patterns has more advantages resulting from the structures. Their structures are not affected by special traditional behavior such as food preparation. Secondly, no causal inference could be made due to the cross-sectional nature of the study. At last, the limited number of participants might reduce the representativeness of objective population. Further studies should be conducted in future.BIA-derived indexes, such as BMR, FMI, and FFMI, might be key determinants in the definition of overweight and obesity in the youth population. A high-calorie dietary pattern that are highly loaded with refined grains, processed food, and condiments, which was close to the Western diet, could be the main dietary risk factor for obesity and abnormal fat distribution. A healthful dietary pattern, characterized by the consumption of various vegetables, red wine, and a high quality of protein, similar to the Mediterranean diet, could help maintaining a reasonable weight and BMR in youth. Energy-adjusted DII and DBI-16 were could be used to effectively assess dietary quality and the risk of overweight/obesity. The application of BIA in Chinese college students should be emphasized. These findings provide new perspectives for future health promotion interventions and behavior change among Chinese youth.


Five laminates with different stacking configurations were produced using the hand-laying-up technique. This includes a unidirectional laminate, cross-ply laminates, and quasi-isotropic laminates. Following the autoclave curing process, the responses of the composites to bending, tension and impact force were determined according to ASTM standards, and their corresponding strength, stiffness as well as impact energy were evaluated. Likewise, the flexural failure mode associated with each laminate was characterised using an optical microscope. The unidirectional laminates have higher flexural and tensile strength compared to the cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates. Moreover, as a result of material symmetry, the flexural and tensile modulus of symmetric cross-ply laminate improved by 59.5% and 3.97% compared to the unsymmetric counterpart. Furthermore, the quasi-isotropic laminates with absorption energy of 116.2 kJ/m In recent years, the use of advanced composite materials in many industries has been growing considerably higher due to their numerous advantages compared to other conventional materials ,2,3. FibRegarding failure, composites are susceptible to damage when they are acted upon by some external force such as tension, compression, and impact load, causing damages that may include delamination, matrix cracking and fibre breakage ,17,18,19Lately, the research on the performance of composite structures subjected to different loading conditions has generated much interest. However, only a few studies emphasise the influence of stacking sequence on the behaviour of composite laminates. Caminero, Rodriguez and Munoz  studied 4, s2), and quasi-isotropic laminates , continuous, high-elongation carbon fibres and an epoxy resin system. This material, SE84LV/HEC, with the physicochemical properties listed in ® 2191W releasing agent  to ease sample demoulding after curing. Subsequently, UD prepreg tape was cut into sections of approximately 400 mm by 450 mm before laying up each ply with varying stacking patterns into the mould by hand. As shown in This experiment utilised a 650 mm wide and 900 mm long glass mould to fabricate the composite. The mould was pretreated to overcome cracks and achieve a uniform surface by application of Sealer GP adhesive sourced from Chem-Trend L.P . This process was conducted by applying a small portion of the adhesive to the surface using a paper towel and then allowing the liquid to react for 15 min before applying the next coating layer. The procedure was repeated three times before the mould was further coated with Chemlease0 and 900. Similarly, LM4 and LM5 have a quasi-isotropic configuration because the plies are oriented in a manner which may result in behaviour similar to an isotropic material. These stacking patterns help in the evaluation of mechanical properties and modes of failure under different loading conditions. The fibre orientation in LM1 is unidirectional, while LM2 and LM3 are cross-ply laminates because the direction of the fibres is at 0The laminates were covered with the release film and breather before enclosing them in a vacuum bag, as shown in The test specimens were prepared by cutting the laminates along the t is the thickness (mm), and m is the slope of the tangent to the straight-line portion of the stress-strain plot.The flexural test reveals the capability of the composite to resist bending deflection under loading conditions. A three-point bending test was conducted on a Zwick Roell 1456 universal testing machine with a 5 kN load cell at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min according to ASTM D7264 . The speLikewise, the tensile stress . This variation in mechanical properties is due to different processing conditions, physicochemical properties of the materials, manufacturing techniques, the number of ply layups, laminate thickness, and testing conditions. Sudarisman and Davies reported a maximum The relationship between material stress and strain under tensile loading is presented in  loading ,37,38. OIt is also important to note that despite the rearrangement of the stacking pattern of LM4 and LM5, there are no significant differences in their tensile properties since their corresponding 2) compared to the multidirectional, LM2 (102.21 kJ/m2), LM3 (109.40 kJ/m2), LM4 (116.2 kJ/m2) and LM5 (115.12 kJ/m2) laminates.When an impact force acts upon a composite, energy is released, with part of it utilised in elastic deformation, while excess energy is dissipated through various mechanism that leads to the failure of the material ,40,41,42This characteristic exhibited by LM1 could be due to brittle fibre breakage and matrix cracking that are less obvious in other laminates  with a multidirectional layup sequence. The omposite ,45,46,47An essential factor determining the type of failure exhibited by a composite laminate is the ply stacking sequence that also determines the orientation of the fibre ,48,49. OIn flexural mode, unidirectional laminate demonstrated the highest flexural strength and modulus. However, it undergoes premature catastrophic failure.The unidirectional laminate (LM1) recorded the maximum tensile strength and modulus. This results from the alignment of the laminate ply orientation with the principal loading direction, which gives rise to the orthogonal behaviour of the composite. The carbon fibre also impacted the overall tensile properties due to the strong adhesive force between the carbon fibre and epoxy matrix, which provide high tensile properties to the laminate.The multidirectional quasi-isotropic laminates (LM4 and LM5) recorded the highest impact resistance due to high-impact energy.Microscopic analysis indicated that the laminates failed under flexural loading in typical matrix cracking, fibre pull-out, matrix debonding and delamination modes.This study examined the effect of stacking configuration of CFRP laminates subjected to flexural, tensile and impact loading. An optical micrograph of the damaged laminate surface was used to explain the failure mode of the composite. The following conclusions can be drawn based on the results obtained:Further research is required to study the compression and shear properties, which can play a vital role in further analysing the internal and interface failure of the laminates.


A lab-fabricated ocean bottom seismometer was modified and deployed terrestrially to detect low-frequency (<10 Hz) ground vibrations produced by debris flows. A frequency–response test of the new seismometer revealed that it can detect seismic signals at frequencies of 0.3–120 Hz. Its seismic ground motion detection ability was investigated by comparing its measurements of seismic signals produced by rockfalls with those of a geophone. Two new seismometers were deployed at the Aiyuzi Stream, Nantou County, Taiwan, in September 2012. Seismic signals produced by two local earthquakes, two teleseisms, and three debris flows detected by the seismometer in 2013 and 2014 were discussed. The seismic signal frequencies of the local earthquakes and teleseisms (both approximately 1800 km apart) were 0.3–30 and <1 Hz, respectively. Moreover, seismometer measurements revealed that seismic signals generated by debris flows can have minimum frequencies as low as 2 Hz. Time-matched CCD camera images revealed that debris flow surge fronts with larger rocks have lower minimum frequencies. Finally, because the seismometer can detect low-frequency seismic waves with low spatial decay rates, it was able to detect one debris flow approximately 3 min and 40 s before it arrived. Overcultivation in mountainous regions leads to frequent debris flows. Debris flows and other slope disasters, such as landslides and rockfalls, are also exacerbated by the extreme weather associated with global warming. Debris flows are rapid, gravity-induced flows of a mixture of rocks, mud, and water ,2. DebriThe characteristics of debris flow signals can be obtained by analyzing their seismic ground vibration signals. For example, mean debris flow velocities can be determined by calculating the time lags of the seismic signals detected at various seismic sensors ,16,17,23Conventional geophones have a working frequency of approximately 10–250 Hz. By contrast, seismometers, such as the Streckeisen STS-2 , have a wider range of 0.0083 Hz 120 s) to 100 Hz (0.01 s). The Streckeisen STS-2 has been adopted in global seismic networks, such as GEOSCOPE . Modern 0 s to 10Many studies have reported that debris flows generate not only seismic ground motions but also infrasonic sounds at 4–15 Hz ,20,31,32Recently, both infrasonic and seismic sensors have been deployed concurrently to increase the reliability of debris flows detection ,14,19,20Marchetti et al.  and BellAccording to the aforementioned studies, two sensor types are typically used to detect seismic ground motions generated by debris flows: high-frequency geophones and broadband seismometers. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Geophones are compact and inexpensive; however, they detect high-frequency seismic signals, which decay rapidly and therefore are only suitable for detecting local events and high-frequency components of teleseisms. By contrast, seismometers are larger, heavier, and more expensive but can monitor both local and remote events. Recent improvements of geophones and seismometers have overcome some of their respective drawbacks. For example, a new commercially available geophone, Raspberry Shake 3D , can measure low frequencies; it achieves a range of 0.5–40 Hz at a weight of 0.6 kg. A new seismometer, LE-3Dlite MkIII , achieves a measuring frequency range of 1–100 Hz at a compact size and only 1.9 kg. Chen et al.  applied In this study, a lab-fabricated ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) developed by Wang et al. , called First, a frequency–response test of the seismic sensor installed in the Yardbird seismometer was performed at the Taiwan Earthquake Research Center (TEC) to reveal the Yardbird seismometer’s measurement characteristics. The Yardbird seismometer’s ability to detect seismic ground motions was then tested by comparing its measurements of ground vibrations produced by rockfalls with those obtained using a geophone. After these tests, the seismometer was deployed to monitor debris flows at Aiyuzi Stream, Nantou County, Taiwan; the site is well-known to have frequent debris flow events. Finally, we present seismic data for various events, including debris flows, local earthquakes, and remote earthquakes, to verify the capability of the Yardbird seismometer for measuring low-frequency seismic signals and to determine whether it can be used to increase the emergency response time.The Yardbird OBS developed by Wang et al.  was modiIn the Yardbird OBS, a 4.5 Hz SM-6 Geophone  was used to pick up the seismic signals. An amplifier with negative input impedance feedback was used to overdamp the geophone such that the lower bound of the respond period is extended to several seconds. The amplifier is nonlinear; that is, the frequency response is not flat throughout the band of interest. To obtain the response curve, modified geophone sensors were tested using a vibration exciter in the desired frequency range.In the Yardbird seismometer, a modified geophone sensor, leveling device, amplifier, and data logger were assembled in a water-tight cylindrical housing made of stainless steel; the battery package was placed in a separate water-tight container with an IP68 rating. The data logger’s analog-to-digital converter converted analog three-axis ground vibration signals into digital signals at a sampling rate of 240 Hz with a resolution of 24 bits. The digital signals were transmitted via RS-485 to the instrument house for data recording. The frequency response of the Yardbird seismometer for measuring seismic signals was tested using a mechanical vibration exciter. The test was conducted at the TEC. The performance of the Yardbird seismometer for detecting ground vibrations was compared with that of a conventional geophone  in a field test. A rock weighing 13.8 kg was released from a height of 2 m and hit a dry channel bed . The Yarx-axis detected by the two sensors at a distance of 3.5 m from the impact. The upper and lower plots present the results obtained by the geophone and the Yardbird seismometer, respectively. In this study, the z-axis is perpendicular to the ground, the x-axis is parallel to the channel, and the y-axis is across the channel. The amplitudes of the rockfall-induced ground vibrations recorded with the two sensors are approximately the same , Council of Agriculture, Taiwan. Measurements from these instruments can be used to verify the occurrence of debris flows. Shen-Mu Village lies at the confluence of three streams: the Aiyuzi Stream, Huosa Stream, and the Chusui Stream. These three streams merge, forming the Hesha Stream. The bedrock in Shen-Mu Village mainly comprises sandstone with shale interlayers . Due to The Shen-Mu debris flow monitoring station was established in September 2012 and has received seismic signals from several local and distant earthquakes. In this section, seismic signals obtained by the Yardbird seismometer of some local and distant earthquakes in 2013 and 2014 are discussed. The seismic signals of the two earthquakes occurring in 2013 were obtained before any debris flow signals were observed.2/Hz, and Po is the reference value of signal power and is set to 1 (m/s)2/Hz. Accordingly, a positive PSD value indicates that the power of the signal is greater than that of the reference. Colors indicate the strength of PSD; red and blue represent stronger and weaker ground vibrations, respectively. The PSD values of the debris flow events investigated in this study were mostly −140 to −90 dB; therefore, the color code for the bars corresponded to this range. Because seismic signals caused by debris flows are typically 1–120 Hz, based on the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem [In order to reveal both temporal and spectral characteristics of seismic signals, this study determined the power spectral density (PSD) of the obtained signals by using short-time Fourier transform with a Hanning window. The PSD values are presented in spectrograms. The dimensionless PSD is given in decibels and is defined as follows: theorem , the samL) 6.24 occurred in Taiwan at 10:03:19 , UTC + 8) on 27 March 2013. Its epicenter was at Ren-Ai Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. Seismic signals were detected by the Yardbird seismometers deployed at Shen-Mu Station. z-axis ground vibration time-series data detected by the upstream seismometer at ST1. The official measurement of the maximum velocity amplitude in the z-axis by the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan (CWB) at Sun-Moon Lake Station and that by the upstream seismometer were 0.0629 and approximately 0.005 m/s, respectively. Because Sun-Moon Lake Station is much closer to the epicenter than Shen-Mu Station is, the ground vibration amplitude measured at Shen-Mu Station was smaller than that recorded at Sun-Moon Lake Station.An earthquake of Richter magnitude  7.0 earthquake occurred in China at 08:02:46 on 20 April 2013, causing numerous casualties. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Lushan County, Ya-An City, Sichuan Province. The distance between Ya-An City and Nantou County is approximately 1870 km. The upstream seismometer at the Shen-Mu Station detected minor ground vibrations at 08:10, approximately 8 min after the Ya-An earthquake occurred. According to the CWB, no local earthquake event occurred in Taiwan near that time. Therefore, the seismic signals detected by the Yardbird seismometer were long-period seismic waves caused by the Ya-An earthquake. z-axis measured by upstream seismometer from 08:10:00 on 20 April 2013. A moment magnitude scale  seismic waves.L 4.4 occurred in Taiwan at 09:39 (LT) on 14 July 2014. The epicenter was at Ren-Ai Township, Nantou County, near that of the local earthquake on 27 March 2013. A local earthquake of MW 6.1 (estimated 6.5 by China), occurred at 16:30:10 (LT) on 3 August 2014, in Yunnan Province, China. The distance between Ludan County and Nantou County is approximately 1767 km. z-axis measured by the upstream seismometer from 16:30 to 16:45 on the same day. The sensor began to receive seismic signals at 16:34:12, approximately 4 min after the earthquake occurred. The velocity amplitude of the background noise was approximately The Ludan earthquake, with a magnitude of MThe results presented in Debris flows in Taiwan are often triggered by torrential rains during the plum rain season  and typhoons (mainly July–September).A precipitation event with a rainfall duration of 3 h and a cumulative rainfall of 25 mm occurred at Shen-Mu Village on 30 May 2013. The peak rainfall intensity was 5.5 mm in 10 min . The lowz-axis measured by the upstream seismometer at the Aiyuzi Stream from 15:00 to 16:00 (LT) on 30 May 2013. The PSDs in During the debris flow, the downstream seismometer was out of order; accordingly, Moreover, The front surge of a typical debris flow contains numerous large boulders. Based on geophone measurements, Okuda et al.  and HuanAfter 15:31, the minimum frequency increases from 4 to 6 Hz, and the strength of the seismic signal PSDs at 10–30 Hz also decreased. This change may be due to a decrease in the number of large boulders in the debris flow. After the debris flow surge passed the sensor at 15:42, the debris flow wake, which contains high water contents, silt, and fine sand, produced weaker ground vibrations with frequencies of 10–60 Hz.z-axis measured by the upstream seismometer at the Aiyuzi Stream from 12:50 to 13:05; During the monsoon season in 2014, torrential rainfall that happened on 20 May induced a debris flow. Typhoon Soulik made landfall in northeastern Taiwan on 13 July 2013 at daybreak and induced a strong southwest airflow, which brought heavy rainfall to the mountainous area of Taiwan. z-axis received by the upstream seismometer from 18:00 on 12 July to approximately 07:00 on 13 July 2013. Both the upstream and downstream seismometers received seismic signals caused by a debris flow during the typhoon. Based on the results in This analysis suggests that heavy rain at 01:00–02:00 induced the first debris flow surge occurring at 01:18 , debris flows were determined to generate ground vibrations as low as 2 Hz; such signals cannot be measured using conventional geophones. Because the spatial decay rate of low-frequency seismic waves is lower than that of high-frequency waves, these low-frequency signals can be detected earlier. A more detailed examination of the seismic signals validates this fact. The surge front of a debris flow contains large rocks , and theIn addition to the seismic signals from debris flows and earthquakes, we detected ground vibration signals from the river flows with a frequency bandwidth of 8–70 Hz. This frequency bandwidth is consistent with the results obtained by Burtin et al. ,48 of 2–Many geophysical events produce seismic waves with frequencies ranging from 0.3 to 120 Hz, which lie within the working frequencies of the Yardbird seismometer. These events include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rockfalls, snow avalanches, debris flows, pyroclastic flows, and landslides, and could be identified using detected signals based on their characteristic frequency ranges.Moreover, Suriñach et al.  stated tA lab-fabricated OBS was modified and deployed terrestrially to monitor seismic signals produced by debris flows. This seismometer was referred to as the Yardbird seismometer. A frequency–response test of the seismometer performed at the TEC revealed that it can detect seismic ground motion with frequencies ranging from 0.3 to 120 Hz.Two Yardbird seismometers were deployed in September 2012 along the Aiyuzi Stream, Shen-Mu Village, Nantou County, Taiwan, and captured seismic signals produced by two local earthquakes and two teleseisms. The dominant frequency ranges of the seismic signals caused by the local earthquakes and teleseisms (at approximately ~1800 km) were 0.3–30 and ≤1 Hz, respectively.The Yardbird seismometer also detected three debris flow events, which were verified with rainfall rate data, wire sensors, and CCD camera images. These three debris flow events were small, medium, and large. An examination of the characteristics of the corresponding seismic signals revealed that low-frequency signals were detected by the Yardbird seismometer; the minimum frequency of debris flow seismic signals can be as low as 2 Hz. This frequency cannot be measured using a conventional geophone. These low-frequency components of debris flow seismic signals are consistent with those reported by other researchers.The spatial decay rate of low-frequency seismic waves is lower than that of high-frequency waves; hence, the seismometer received low-frequency signals of the debris flow that occurred on 13 July 2013 approximately 3 min and 40 s before the debris flow surge arrived at the sensor. This early detection of debris flow enabled by the low-frequency sensing capability of the Yardbird seismometer is critical for disaster mitigation.Because both the upstream and downstream seismometers received complete seismic signals of the debris flow that occurred on 13 July 2013 (before they were damaged), the mean velocity of the debris flow could be determined to be 11.8 m/s. Moreover, the source location of the debris flow was estimated based on the time that the low-frequency signals were first detected.The detected seismic signals and the CCD camera images indicate that the low frequencies of debris flow seismic signals may be caused by the motion of large rocks in the debris flows; debris flows with larger rock sizes had lower minimum frequencies.Criteria, namely the frequency range and temporal characteristics of the seismic signals, for distinguishing debris flow events from other geophysical events, such as earthquakes, rockfalls, landslides, and snow avalanches, were briefly discussed.Overall, the results of this study reveal that the Yardbird seismometer is a cost-effective sensor for both debris flow research and implementing early warning systems for geophysical events. Future studies could further examine its performance for detecting other events, such as rockfalls, landslides, or earthquakes.