bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical Profiling, Mineral Elements, and Biological Activities of Artemisia campestris L. Grown in Algeria
Authors: Zahnit Wafa , Smara Ouanissa , Bechki Lazhar , Bensouici Chawki , Messaoudi Mohammed , Benchikha Naima , Larkem Imane , Awuchi Chinaza Godswill , Sawicka Barbara , Simal-Gandara Jesus
Published: October 2022

Artemisia campestris L. is commonly used in folk medicine due to its antioxidant, antidiabetic, nutritional, and culinary properties. Our study assessed the total phenolics contents, antioxidant, and pharmacological activities of various organic extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Artemisia campestris, and its mineral elements and chemical profile were analyzed. ICP-OES was used to analyze the mineral profile and the LC-MS/MS analysis was used to characterize the phytochemical profiling. A series of antioxidant tests were carried out using DPPH, ABTS, beta-carotene, GOR, RP, CUPRAC, and O-Phenanthroline assays. In vitro potent inhibitory actions of A. campestris extracts were investigated to evaluate their anti-cholinesterase, anti-lipase and anti-diabetic activities. The photoprotective effect of the plant was measured by the sun protection factor. The most powerful inhibitor of α-amylase was AcPEE (IC50 = 11.79 ± 0.14 μg/mL), which also showed a significant butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effect (IC50 = 93.50 ± 1.60 μg/mL). At IC50 = 23.16 ± 0.19 μg/mL, AcEAE showed the most powerful inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase. A. campestris was found to have a strong photoprotective ability, absorbing UV radiations with SPF values ranging from 26.07 ± 0.22 to 40.76 ± 0.11. The results showed that A. campestris extract has strong antioxidant activity in all the test samples except for the carotene bleaching assay. The LC/MS-MS results showed that AcDE, AcEAE, and AcBE identified 11 compounds belonging to Polyphenols Compounds. Our result also showed that A. campestris contains a high concentration of essential minerals, including macro-and micro-elements with their values close to the FAO’s recommended concentration. A. campestris has the capacity to improve pharmaceutical formulations, health, and medical research, due to its compositions and potent biological properties.
Potato Aeroponics: Effects of Cultivar and Plant Origin on Minituber Production
Authors: Broćić Zoran , Oljača Jasmina , Pantelić Danijel , Rudić Jelena , Momčilović Ivana
Published: October 2022

Aeroponics is a modern and soilless technology that is used for the efficient production of pre-basic seed potatoes, namely minitubers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the cultivar and type of planting material on the production of minitubers in the aeroponic facility in Guča, Serbia, at short, 7-day harvest intervals. Although aeroponic cultivation prolonged the vegetative cycle in all five investigated cultivars, the dynamics of minituber formation varied between genotypes. Two early maturing cultivars, Cleopatra and Sinora, quickly completed the vegetative cycle and formed a small number of minitubers, while the medium-late to late cultivars, Kennebec and Agria, steadily tuberized during the entire cultivation period in the aeroponic facility. The type of planting material affected the dynamics of minituber formation in three investigated cultivars. Sinora, Cleopatra, and Désirée’s plants of in vitro origin reached the final number of minitubers and the vines started senescing much earlier than plants of minituber origin. Kennebec and Agria plants of in vitro origin produced the largest number of minitubers (53.8–54.5) and showed the highest yield (9.8–10.5 kg m−2) during the cultivation period, while the heaviest minitubers were formed by Sinora plants of minituber origin (15.48 g). In addition, the temperature during pre-harvest periods significantly affected the number of tubers at harvests in Kennebec and Agria, and minituber mass in Désirée.
Effect of Organic Matter Fertilizers on the Composition of Volatiles, Morphometrical and Anatomical Parameters of Essential Oil-Bearing Thymus × citriodorus Cultivated in an Open Field Conditions
Authors: Vaičiulytė Vaida , Ložienė Kristina , Sivicka Irina
Published: October 2022

Thymus × citriodorus (Lamiaceae) is medicinal, essential oil-bearing hybrid, synthesizing significant amounts of geraniol. This hybrid is suitable for cultivation in an open ground in the Baltic region; therefore, increasing the yield and amounts of bioactive compounds by organic matter fertilization during organic farming is realized. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with liquid cattle dung and humus on the quantitative and qualitative composition of essential oils as well as on biomass for some morphometrical and anatomical parameters of Thymus × citriodorus that were grown in open ground for two years. Each fertilization treatment was carried out on four replications, and four separate experimental plots were used as control plots. For anatomical investigations, the impress method and light microscopy were used. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The results showed somewhat different effects of liquid cattle dung and humus on the investigated parameters of hybrid in the first (warmer and drier) and second (rainier and cooler) experimental years. Liquid cattle dung had positive effects on biomass, height and the area covered by plants and on the number and length of inflorescences as well as on the density of stomata in the lower epidermis in the first year, but in the second experimental year, effects were observed on the length of inflorescences only. The effect of humus on the density of glandular trichomes in the upper epidermis of leaves was positive in the first year, but negative in the second experimental year. Moreover, in the second experimental year, humus affected negatively the height of plants and the percentage of the essential oil. The conclusion was that although it is fertilized with the same organic fertilizers, different climatic conditions in different years can influence chemical, anatomical and morphometrical parameters of plants growing in an open ground.
Transcriptomic Analysis Provides Insights into Anthocyanin Accumulation in Mulberry Fruits
Authors: Mo Rongli , Zhang Na , Li Jinxin , Jin Qiang , Zhu Zhixian , Dong Zhaoxia , Li Yong , Zhang Cheng , Yu Cui
Published: October 2022

Mulberry fruits are rich in anthocyanins, which are important secondary metabolites that give mulberries their bright color, favorable taste and high nutritional quality, making them a popular fruit. However, few studies have focused on the molecular mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation in mulberries and the gene regulatory networks of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with anthocyanin accumulation between two mulberry genotypes (‘Zi Jing’, ZJ and ‘Zhen Zhu Bai’, ZZB, with purple and white fruit flesh, respectively) at 5, 18, 27 and 31 days after flower. Using transcriptome analysis, we explored several key DEGs involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, including the structural genes: CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR1, DFR2 and ANS, known as MBW complex genes: MYB (M.alba_G0017209), MYB (M.alba_G0017689), bHLH (M.alba_G0012659), bHLH (M.alba_G0009347) and bHLH3 (M.alba_G0016257) and the ethylene response factor: ERF (M.alba_G0016603). Of these, changing trends related to expression pattern and anthocyanin content showed their most positive correlation at the post-flowering stage in both genotypes. Our results indicated that ethylene enhances anthocyanin accumulation in mulberry fruits. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to confirm the above-mentioned genes’ expression (except for MYB (M.alba_G0017689) and bHLH (M.alba_G0009347) was significantly up-regulated under ethylene treatment at 300 mg/L. These findings help uncover the gene regulatory networks of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway and will contribute to engineering purposes in future mulberry breeding programs.
Development of InDel Markers for Gypsophila paniculata Based on Genome Resequencing
Authors: Jin Chunlian , Liu Bin , Ruan Jiwei , Yang Chunmei , Li Fan
Published: October 2022

Gypsophila paniculata is the only species in the genus Gypsophila that has been used as cut flowers, and the sequencing of its genome has just been completed, opening a new chapter in its molecular genetic breeding. The molecular marker system is the basis for genetic molecular research in the era of genomics, whereas it is still a gap for G. paniculata. In this study, we constructed a genome-wide InDel marker system of G. paniculata after genome resequencing of another wild-type accession with white flowers. Consequently, 407 InDel markers at a distance of ~2 Mb were designed for all 17 chromosomes. Later, the validation of these markers by PCR revealed that 289 markers could distinguish alleles of the two wild-type alleles clearly. The predicted polymorphisms of two wild-type alleles were then transferred to the commercial cultivars, which displayed a rich polymorphism among four commercial cultivars. Our research established the first genome-level genetic map in G. paniculata, providing a comprehensive set of marker systems for its molecular research.
Potential Metabolic Pathways and Related Processes Involved in Pericarp Browning for Postharvest Pomegranate Fruits
Authors: Qi Xiaoxiao , Zhao Jianrong , Jia Zhenyu , Cao Zhen , Liu Chunyan , Li Jiyu , Su Ying , Pan Yongbao , He Cong , Xu Yiliu , Qin Gaihua
Published: October 2022

Pericarp browning occurs widely in postharvest pomegranate fruit, but little is known about its mechanism. In this study, ‘Baiyushizi’, a browning-sensitive cultivar, was used to investigate the physiological and genetic changes during pericarp browning. The pericarp browning index (BI) increased greatly after 3 d storage at room temperature, and, consequently, the fruit appearance became unattractive after 6 d. The increasing concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage were detected in browning pericarp. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity increased significantly after 3 d, while ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activity decreased steadily during storage. Total phenolics content decreased gradually during storage, while ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents increased firstly, then declined. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of pericarp under different browning degrees were identified in the metabolic processes of phenolic compounds, lipids, ascorbic acid, glutathione, sugar, starch, energy-related, ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. Accordingly, the potential metabolic pathways and related processes involved in pericarp browning were described. The results not only provided insights on the genetic mechanism of pericarp browning in pomegranate but also guidance on controlling postharvest fruit browning in general.
Screening of the Volatile Composition of Moroccan Olive Oils by Using SPME/GC-MS-FID over a Two-Year Period: A Pedoclimatic Discrimination
Authors: Lechhab Touria , Lechhab Wafae , Trovato Emanuela , Salmoun Farida , Mondello Luigi , Cacciola Francesco
Published: October 2022

The volatile profile of an olive oil is a crucial attribute indicating its sensory quality. Hence, to elucidate the impact of geographical origin (including edaphoclimatic conditions) and the crop season on the volatile composition of monovarietal Moroccan olive oil “Picholine Marocaine”, over a two-year harvest period (2018/19 and 2019/20), thirty-eight olive oil samples were obtained from nineteen Moroccan areas well-known by the abundance of olive tree cultivation. By using SPME/GC-FID-MS, 229 and 215 volatile compounds were characterized in olive oils produced during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 crop years, respectively. The identified compounds belong to nine volatile groups: terpenes, hydrocarbons, furans, esters, alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, and nitrogen compounds. The one-way ANOVA and interactive heatmap revealed significant differences in the volatiles proportion in oils from different geographical origins. Our results imply that environmental (edaphoclimatic) conditions considerably influence the volatile compounds’ biosynthesis, e.g., when soil granulometry decreases (from sand to silt), alcohols become esters due to the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and alcohol acetyl transferase (AAT) enzymes. Moreover, our findings exhibit a significant influence of the crop season on the volatile composition of Moroccan olive oils.
Metallurgical Characterization of a Copper-Alloy Aramaic-Inscribed Object from Tulûl Mas‘ud (Elyakhin)
Authors: Ashkenazi Dana , Lewis Rafael Y. , Eshel Esther , Tal Oren
Published: October 2022

An Aramaic-inscribed object made of copper-alloy was discovered in 1993 in the south-western part of Tulûl Mas‘ud (Moshav Elyakhin) and has recently been studied using an archaeometallurgical approach. Based on visual testing and multifocal light microscopy observation, the object was probably produced in a nearby workshop, with the inscription engraved using a sharp tool during the production process. Given the larger assemblage of inscribed copper-alloy artefacts from the site, this item appears not only to have been used as a cultic object, but was also most probably made for the purpose of cultic offerings. The XRF analysis results of the Aramaic-inscribed object after it was sanded revealed the core metal to have been made of relatively pure copper with a tin content of less than 1.0 wt. % Sn. The choice to produce the object using a low-tin copper-alloy indicates that the alloy was chosen based on technological considerations, in order to facilitate plasticity in fashioning the part into its cylindrical shape. The manufacturing process involved bending the object while it was hot and shaping it into its final form by means of several cycles of forging and annealing. Although the current research has revealed the bulk composition and the general manufacturing process of the object, the microstructure of the core alloy could not be observed because destructive testing was not permitted. Although only a single copper object was analysed, the current archaeometallurgical study allows to gain further information on metallurgical knowledge and manufacturing processes of copper objects in the Persian period Levant.
Assessment of a Coastal Aquifer in the Framework of Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater—The Case of the River Nestos Western Delta, NE Greece
Authors: Kampas George , Gkiougkis Ioannis , Panagopoulos Andreas , Pliakas Fotios-Konstantinos , Diamantis Ioannis
Published: October 2022

This paper presents research regarding the assessment of the hydrogeological system of the River Nestos Western Delta, NE Greece, during the period of 2019. The procedure included the collection and analysis of relevant hydrological and hydrogeological data concerning the aquifer system of the study area. Specifically, groundwater level measurements and sampling were carried out in a monitoring well network in the shallow unconfined and the deep confined aquifers of the study area, respectively; and surface water sampling was conducted from the River Nestos at selected locations in each of the main drainage canals, as well as in lagoons of the study area; followed by analysis and processing of the relevant chemical analyses results. Finally, piezometric, hydrochemical maps and diagrams were constructed to augment the evaluation of results and the assessment of the system. The present study contributes to the development and management of water resources in the River Nestos Delta area by providing insight into the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical status of the system based on comprehensive contemporary data that can support and justify the compilation of realistic measurements. The conjunctive management of the surface and groundwater in the study area can improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the water. The water level in piezometric maps varies from −4 m up to 16 m for both time periods (May 2019 and October 2019). Moreover, the maximum values of EC are 2700 μS/cm and 2390 μS/cm for the confined and unconfined aquifer systems, respectively. The maximum values of Cl− concentrations are 573.89 mg/L for the confined aquifer system and 514.73 mg/L for the unconfined aquifer system for both time periods (May 2019 and October 2019).
Possibility Assessment of Reservoir Expansion in the Conterminous United States
Authors: Heidari Hadi , Francois Baptiste , Brown Casey
Published: October 2022

Reservoir expansion is commonly considered an adaptation strategy to attenuate water shortage conditions. In many locations in the United States, there are ongoing discussions about the effectiveness and feasibility of reservoir expansion with regard to the growing drought conditions and a consequent significant decrease in surface water. This study investigates if the expansion of the existing Unites States reservoirs should be still considered an effective and adequate management solution to cope with water shortages. To this end, we have defined three reservoir expansion metrics to assess the efficiency, feasibility, and usefulness of increasing the storage capacity of 304 reservoirs across the conterminous United States (CONUS). The efficiency metric is defined as the ratio of reservoir average storage to maximum active storage. The feasibility metric is defined as the ratio of reservoir average annual inflow to maximum active storage and the usefulness metric is described as the ratio of the reservoir average annual excess inflow (average annual inflow–maximum active storage) to the average intensity of water shortages. The finding indicates that most reservoirs in Colorado and Utah currently have high or very high efficiency metrics meaning that these reservoirs are, on average, more than half full while most reservoirs in Texas have low or medium efficiency metrics indicating that these reservoirs are, on average, less than half full. Additionally, the feasibility metrics indicate that reservoir expansion in most western and southern states may not be fruitful because the average annual inflow to reservoirs is less than their maximum active storage over the historical period. Nevertheless, the usefulness metrics show that reservoir expansion can be a useful adaptation strategy to mitigate or attenuate water shortages for some reservoirs in California and Colorado while it cannot considerably decrease the intensity of water shortages in Texas. Findings from this study highlight the utility of the assessment of reservoir expansion at a regional scale considering both available freshwater as an input to reservoirs and the potential water shortage conditions as the main trigger.
Urban WEF Nexus: An Approach for the Use of Internal Resources under Climate Change
Authors: Goodarzi Mohammad Reza , Mohtar Rabi H. , Piryaei Reza , Fatehifar Atiyeh , Niazkar Majid
Published: October 2022

This study strives to utilize WEF resources for the sustainable development of the city, with respect to future climate change. Two diffusion scenarios of Rcp8.5 and Rcp2.6 from the 5th Assessment Report by the IPCC, with the output of the HADGEM2 model were used and the city of Borujerd, Iran was chosen as the case study. The urban morphological dataset was calculated using ArcGIS. Furthermore, the water requirement of some crops (apples, grapes, lettuce and vegetables with leaves) is estimated with the NETWAT and CROPWAT models. This output indicates that in the next period, an approximate 2.25 °C change will take place in the temperature and the rainfall will change between 20–40%. Adopting a WEF Nexus, this study suggests that an urban centralized agriculture will provide 21.3% of the local demand for fruit and a significant amount of the local demand for vegetables. The water reused for urban agricultural irrigation purposes and 3.6% of the freshwater resource demand and sewage cycling can be supplied by harvesting rainwater. Water treatment and recycling can also provide 60.74% of the city’s current water demand. Furthermore, the production of biogas from human sewage and urban wastewater can save 32.4% of the current electricity, on a monthly basis.
Monkeypox: From A Neglected Tropical Disease to a Public Health Threat
Authors: Antunes Francisco , Cordeiro Rita , Virgolino Ana
Published: October 2022

Since the first case of human monkeypox was diagnosed in 1970, the disease remained endemic in several countries in West and Central Africa. In 1996, there was a sudden increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and since 2017 an ongoing outbreak in Nigeria took place, probably related to the population growth, human invasion of MPXV animal habitat reservoirs, and the waning of the cross-protection offered from smallpox immunization, later ending in 1980. Since May 2022, an unprecedented outbreak of human monkeypox has rapidly spread around the world, outside endemic regions of Africa, through new modes of transmission, showing differences in clinical features compared with previous reports. The 2022 MPXV strain belongs to the clade of West Africa but diverges from the original strain, making the virus more transmissible. The authors review the main milestones in more than 50 years of history of human monkeypox, from a rare viral zoonotic infection to a public health emergency.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Organization of Cancer Care in Belgium: Lessons Learned for the (Post-)Pandemic Future
Authors: Kenis Ilyse , Theys Sofie , Hermie Ella , Foulon Veerle , Van Hecke Ann
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed tremendous challenges to healthcare systems. Care for oncology patients, a vulnerable population during the pandemic, was disrupted and drastically changed. A multicenter qualitative study was conducted in 11 Belgian hospitals with the aim to provide an overview of the most important changes that were made in the care of oncology patients in Belgium. In each hospital, a nurse or physician was interviewed by telephone. Two rounds of structured interviews—during the first and second waves of the pandemic—were conducted. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The impact of COVID-19 on care practices for patients with cancer was enormous during the first wave. Major changes, including good but also less patient-centered practices, were implemented with unprecedented speed. After the initial wave, regular care was resumed and only limited new care practices were maintained. In only a few hospitals, healthcare teams reflected on lessons learned and on the maintenance of good practices that came from the COVID-19 experience. As a result, opportunities for healthcare innovation and quality improvement seemed to be missed. Our recommendations aim to support policymakers, hospital managers, and healthcare professionals to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and to drive patient-centered initiatives in future cancer care.
The Prevalence of Adolescent Social Fears and Social Anxiety Disorder in School Contexts
Authors: Alves Francisca , Figueiredo Diana Vieira , Vagos Paula
Published: October 2022

Social fears arise when fearing to be judged in social events. When these fears are intense, persistent, and debilitating, the individual may suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD), which has its most frequent onset during adolescence and tends to be chronic. Still, evidence on the prevalence of social fears and SAD in adolescence is scarce. This study analyzed the prevalence of social fears and of SAD in Portuguese adolescents. Of the initial sample (n = 1495), 26% presented with intense self-reported social fears. Of those, 53.9% accepted to be further assessed for diagnosis, resulting in a point-estimate prevalence of adolescent SAD of 9.4%; this is slightly higher than previously found. Social performance was the most feared social event. Of the adolescents with SAD, 12.9% were receiving psychological intervention, 12.1% refused intervention, and 92 (65.7%) accepted intervention. Findings confirm SAD as a highly prevalent mental disorder among adolescents, particularly girls, and additionally, that most of these adolescents did not seek treatment but are willing to receive help if made available. Hence, schools should be invested not only in identifying vulnerable adolescents but also in providing diverse intervention options, tailored to their needs, and directing them to successful developmental trajectories.
Assessment of the Driving Pollution Factors of Soil Environmental Quality Based on China’s Risk Control Standard: Multiple Bigdata-Based Approaches with Intensive Sampling
Authors: Wang Xiahui , Wei Nan , Ji Guohua , Liu Ruiping , Huang Guoxin , Zhang Hongzhen
Published: October 2022

Identifying the driving factors of soil environmental quality is critical in raising countermeasures for managing the soil environment efficiently and precisely. In 2018, China issued risk control standards to divide soil environmental quality into three classes to meet the demands of environment management. However, there is a lack of knowledge of this new standard. An intensive field-sampling research (2598 top-soil samples were analyzed) was conducted in the agricultural land of Hubei province, central China, to find the driving factors of pollutants based on this new standard. According to the standard, the proportion of classes 1, 2, and 3 in the overall quality grade was 57.3%, 41.7%, and 1%, respectively. The standardized index showed that the pollution levels of cadmium, arsenic, lead, and chromium were higher than that of mercury. The first component of the principal component analysis explained 56.4% of the total variance, and the loading of cadmium, arsenic and lead were −53.5%, −52.1%, and −51.2%, respectively. The general linear modeling found that cadmium and arsenic showed positive and significant effects (p < 0.001) on the grading results of soil environmental quality. Based on the random forest algorithm, cadmium showed the greatest importance on soil environmental quality (increase in mean squared error = 32.5%). Overall, this study revealed that cadmium, arsenic, and lead were driving pollutants affecting soil environment quality grade. The large data size increased the reliability and robustness of the study’s conclusions, and it provided reference methods for future studies investigating China’s new standard for assessing soil environmental quality.
Tonic Endocannabinoid Levels Modulate Retinal Signaling
Authors: Yates Charles F. , Huang Jin Y. , Protti Dario A.
Published: October 2022

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is critically involved in the modulation of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, playing an important role in the control of emotional responses, neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity among other functions. The eCB system is also present in the retina, with studies indicating changes in function after application of cannabinoid receptor agonists, antagonists and in knockout models. Whether eCBs are tonically released in the retina and their physiological functions is, however, still unknown. We investigated the role of the eCB system in the modulation of response strength of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to light stimulation, their receptive field organization, contrast sensitivity and excitability properties by performing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in mouse RGCs before and after bath application of URB597, an inhibitor of the enzyme that degrades the eCB anandamide. Our results show that URB597 application leads to a reduction in the strength of synaptic inputs onto RGCs but paradoxically increases RGC excitability. In addition, URB597 was shown to modulate receptive field organization and contrast sensitivity of RGCs. We conclude that tonically released eCBs modulate retinal signaling by acting on traditional cannabinoid receptors (CB1R/CB2R) as well as on non-cannabinoid receptor targets. Thus, a thorough understanding of the effects of drugs that alter the endogenous cannabinoid levels and of exogenous cannabinoids is necessary to fully comprehend the impact of their medical as well as recreational use on vision.
Sedentary Behavior and Lower-Extremity Physical Function across the Lifespan of Adults with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Jeng Brenda , Šilić Petra , Huynh Trinh L. T. , Motl Robert W.
Published: October 2022

One outcome of aging with multiple sclerosis (MS) involves the decline in physical function, including compromised balance, reduced walking speed, and lower-extremity strength. Sedentary behavior, the other end of the activity continuum, may be targeted for improvements in physical function among adults with MS, but less is known about the relationship between sedentary behavior and physical function with increasing age in MS. This study examined the associations between device-measured volume and pattern of sedentary behavior and physical function based on SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery) of ambulatory persons with MS across the lifespan. We categorized participants (N = 216) into young (20–39 years), middle-aged (40–59 years), and older (60–79 years) age groups. Participants completed the SPPB during a single visit to the laboratory and wore an accelerometer for a 7-day period. The one-way analysis of variance indicated no differences in volume and pattern of sedentary behavior among the three age groups, except for average sedentary bout length. Spearman bivariate correlations indicated that pattern, but not volume, of sedentary behavior was associated with physical function in young, middle-aged, and older adults, and the magnitude of these associations varied by age group. Future interventions may reduce and break up prolonged periods of sedentary behavior for improvements in physical function and possibly other consequences in persons with MS.
Building Capacity for Community-Academia Research Partnerships by Establishing a Physical Infrastructure for Community Engagement: Morgan CARES
Authors: Sheikhattari Payam , Shaffer Emma , Barsha Rifath Ara Alam , Silver Gillian Beth , Elliott Bethtrice , Delgado Christina , Purviance Paula , Odero-Marah Valerie , Bronner Yvonne
Published: October 2022

Research partnerships between universities and communities following the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) have the potential to eliminate cycles of health disparities. The purpose of this article is to describe the process of establishing a community-campus network with a distinct mission and vision of developing trusting and successful research partnerships that are sustained and effective. In 2019, Morgan CARES was established to facilitate community engagement by founding a community center “within” a low-income residential neighborhood as a safe and accessible hub for creating a vibrant learning community. A community needs assessment and asset mapping was conducted and several necessary resources and services were provided to maximize networking opportunities, nurture innovative ideas and proposals, and provide seed funding. Lessons learned informed the optimization of a theoretical model that has guided the development and implementation of the program’s key components. By December 2021, Morgan CARES had recruited 222 community and 137 academic members representing diverse expertise from across Baltimore City. We also successfully established new partnerships and funded a total of 17 small community-academic awards. Although in its early stages, Morgan CARES has established a dynamic learning community following a conceptual framework that could guide future similar initiatives.
Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Ischemic Trigger Point Compression in the Gluteus Medius in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Short-Term Clinical Trial
Authors: Álvarez Sara Delgado , Velázquez Saornil Jorge , Sánchez Milá Zacarías , Jaén Crespo Gonzalo , Campón Chekroun Angélica , Barragán Casas José Manuel , Frutos Llanes Raúl , Rodríguez Sanz David
Published: October 2022

Background: The presence of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the gluteus medius is one of the possible causes of non-specific low back pain. Dry needling (DN) and ischemic compression (IC) techniques may be useful for the treatment of these MTrPs. Methods: For this study, 80 participants were randomly divided into two groups: the dry needling group, who received a single session of DN to the gluteus medius muscle plus hyperalgesia (n = 40), and the IC group, who received a single session of IC to the gluteus medius muscle plus hyperalgesia (n = 40). Pain intensity, the pressure pain threshold (PPT), range of motion (ROM), and quality of life were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, after 48 h, and one week after treatment. Results: Statistically significant differences were shown between the two groups immediately after the intervention, showing a decrease in PPT (p < 0.05) in the DN group and an increase in PPT in the IC group. These values increased more and were better maintained at 48 h and after one week of treatment in the DN group than in the IC group. Quality of life improved in both groups, with greater improvement in the DN group than in the IC group. Conclusions: IC could be more advisable than DN with respect to UDP and pain intensity in the most hyperalgesic latent MTrPs of the gluteus medius muscle in subjects with non-specific low back pain, immediately after treatment. DN may be more effective than IC in terms of PPT, pain intensity, and quality of life in treating latent plus hyperalgesic gluteus medius muscle MTrPs in subjects with non-specific low back pain after 48 h and after one week of treatment.
Pharmacoepidemiological Research on N-Nitrosodimethylamine-Contaminated Ranitidine Use and Long-Term Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Chun-Hsiang , Chen I-I , Chen Chung-Hung , Tseng Yuan-Tsung
Published: October 2022

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a carcinogenic chemical, has recently been identified in ranitidine. We conducted a population-based study to explore ranitidine use and cancer emergence over time. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, a population-based cohort study was conducted. A total of 55,110 eligible patients who received ranitidine between January 2000 and December 2018 were enrolled in the treated cohort. We conducted a 1:1 propensity-score-matching procedure to match the ranitidine-treated group with the ranitidine-untreated group and famotidine controls for a longitudinal study. The association of ranitidine exposure with cancer outcomes was assessed. A multivariable Cox regression analysis that compared cancer risk with the untreated groups revealed that ranitidine increased the risk of liver (hazard ratio (HR): 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–1.36, p < 0.001), lung (HR: 1.17, CI: 1.05–1.31, p = 0.005), gastric (HR: 1.26, CI: 1.05–1.52, p = 0.012), and pancreatic cancers (HR 1.35, CI: 1.03–1.77, p = 0.030). Our real-world observational study strongly supports the pathogenic role of NDMA contamination, given that long-term ranitidine use is associated with a higher likelihood of liver cancer development in ranitidine users compared with the control groups of non-ranitidine users treated with famotidine or proton-pump inhibitors.
Genetic Analysis Implicates Dysregulation of SHANK2 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression
Authors: Chang Chi-Fen , Huang Shu-Pin , Hsueh Yu-Mei , Geng Jiun-Hung , Huang Chao-Yuan , Bao Bo-Ying
Published: October 2022

SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains (SHANK) is a family of scaffold proteins that were first identified to be involved in balancing synaptic transmission via regulation of intracellular signalling crosstalk and have been linked to various cancers. However, the role of the SHANK genes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether genetic variants in SHANK family genes affect the risk of RCC and survival of patients. A genetic association study was conducted using logistic regression and Cox regression analyses, followed by the correction for a false discovery rate (FDR), in 630 patients with RCC and controls. A pooled analysis was further performed to summarise the clinical relevance of SHANK gene expression in RCC. After adjustment for known risk factors and the FDR, the SHANK2 rs10792565 T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of RCC (adjusted odds ratio = 1.79, 95% confidence interval = 1.32–2.44, p = 1.96 × 10−4, q = 0.030), whereas no significant association was found with RCC survival. A pooled analysis of 19 independent studies, comprising 1509 RCC and 414 adjacent normal tissues, showed that the expression of SHANK2 was significantly lower in RCC than in normal tissues (p < 0.001). Furthermore, low expression of SHANK2 was correlated with an advanced stage and poor prognosis for patients with clear cell and papillary RCC. This study suggests that SHANK2 rs10792565 is associated with an increased risk of RCC and that SHANK2 may play a role in RCC progression.
Contamination Evaluation and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals in Karst Soil Using UNMIX Model and Pb-Cd Isotopes
Authors: Yu Enjiang , Liu Hongyan , Dinis Faustino , Zhang Qiuye , Jing Peng , Liu Fang , Ju Xianhang
Published: October 2022

Karst terrain is the typical area covered with a high background of heavy metals under geochemical anomaly. This research explored the accumulation of geochemical elements and soil sources in karst terrain from rock and soil exposed in carbonate areas. The comprehensive ecological risk and enrichment of heavy metals from parent rock weathered to soil was investigated in 11 formations in the carbonate and clastic areas of the Weining and Hezhang counties in northwest Guizhou. The single factor pollution index, geoaccumulation index, and the potential risk coefficient were used to assess the environmental risk. The results revealed that the heavy metals in an overall geologically high background level of soil in northwest Guizhou is at a slight risk level. However, except for Cd, the heavy metals did not exceed the standard pollution reference. Moreover, the UNMIX model and Cd and Pb isotopes were used to analyze the source of heavy metals, comprising of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), and the geochemical elements of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca). The study showed that most elements in the soil carbonate area exceed the national standard, and the heavy metals in the soil showed a strong enrichment, while the major elements Si and Mg display strong loss. Heavy metal concentrations in soil in the carbonate area were higher than in the clastic area. Geological sources and atmospheric deposition were the main contributors to heavy metal concentrations in both carbonate and clastic areas, and their concentrations differ according to soils developing in different formations.
Empirical Research into the Development Mechanism of Industry Innovation of Health and Wellness Tourism in the Context of the Sharing Economy
Authors: Li Li , Chen Xuejun
Published: October 2022

Health and wellness tourism has become an emerging form of tourism economy. In the era of the sharing economy, it is of theoretical and practical significance to study the development mechanism of the industry innovation (II) of health and wellness tourism. Based on theoretical analysis, hypotheses were proposed for the relationships of industry sharing (IS) as well as its constitutional dimensions with the resource acquisition capability (RAC), policy support (PS), and II of health and wellness tourism. The constitutional dimensions of IS include public operational resources (PORs), infrastructures, and industry cooperation networks (ICNs). In addition, a model for the influencing mechanism of IS on the II of health and wellness tourism was established. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with 542 managers of health and wellness tourism enterprises in 21 provinces (or municipalities) in China, using the empirical research method, and the survey data are subjected to mathematical statistical analysis. Results show that the PORs, infrastructures, and ICNs of the IS of health and wellness tourism have significant positive influences on the II. RAC has a partial mediating effect between the IS and the II of health and wellness tourism. PS exerts a moderating effect between the IS and the II of health and wellness tourism. Finally, suggestions for promoting the II development of health and wellness tourism are proposed from the perspective of optimizing IS.
The Impact of Reduced Fire Risk Cigarettes Regulation on Residential Fire Incidents, Mortality and Health Service Utilisation in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Ghassempour Nargess , Tannous Wadad Kathy , Agho Kingsley Emwinyore , Avsar Gulay , Harvey Lara Ann
Published: October 2022

Smoking materials are a common ignition source for residential fires. In Australia, reduced fire risk (RFR) cigarettes regulation was implemented in 2010. However, the impact of this regulation on residential fires is unknown. This paper examines the impact of the RFR cigarettes regulation on the severity and health outcomes of fire incidents in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, from 2005 to 2014. Fire department data from 2005 to 2014 were linked with ambulance, emergency department, hospital, outpatient burns clinic and mortality datasets for NSW. Negative binomial regression analysis was performed to assess the changes to fire incidents’ severity pre- and post-RFR cigarettes regulation. There was an 8% reduction in total fire incidents caused by smokers’ materials post-RFR cigarettes regulation. Smokers’ materials fire incidents that damaged both contents and structure of the building, where fire flames extended beyond the room of fire origin, with over AUD 1000 monetary damage loss, decreased by 18, 22 and 12%, respectively. RFR cigarettes regulation as a fire risk mitigation has positively impacted the residential fire incident outcomes. This provides support for regulation of fire risk protective measures and bestows some direction for other fire safety policies and regulations.
Decision Tree-Based Foot Orthosis Prescription for Patients with Pes Planus
Authors: Jung Ji-Yong , Yang Chang-Min , Kim Jung-Ja
Published: October 2022

Pes planus, one of the most common foot deformities, includes the loss of the medial arch, misalignment of the rearfoot, and abduction of the forefoot, which negatively affects posture and gait. Foot orthosis, which is effective in normalizing the arch and providing stability during walking, is prescribed for the purpose of treatment and correction. Currently, machine learning technology for classifying and diagnosing foot types is being developed, but it has not yet been applied to the prescription of foot orthosis for the treatment and management of pes planus. Thus, the aim of this study is to propose a model that can prescribe a customized foot orthosis to patients with pes planus by learning from and analyzing various clinical data based on a decision tree algorithm called classification and regressing tree (CART). A total of 8 parameters were selected based on the feature importance, and 15 rules for the prescription of foot orthosis were generated. The proposed model based on the CART algorithm achieved an accuracy of 80.16%. This result suggests that the CART model developed in this study can provide adequate help to clinicians in prescribing foot orthosis easily and accurately for patients with pes planus. In the future, we plan to acquire more clinical data and develop a model that can prescribe more accurate and stable foot orthosis using various machine learning technologies.
Incidence, Prevalence, and Sources of COVID-19 Infection among Healthcare Workers in Hospitals in Malaysia
Authors: Harith Abdul Aziz , Ab Gani Mohd Hafiz , Griffiths Robin , Abdul Hadi Azlihanis , Abu Bakar Nor Aishah , Myers Julia , Mahjom Maznieda , Robat Rosnawati Muhamad , Zubir Muhammad Zulfakhar
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced significant novel risks for healthcare workers and healthcare services. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, trends, characteristics, and sources of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysian hospitals. A cross-sectional study used secondary data collected from a COVID-19 surveillance system for healthcare workers between January and December 2020. Two surges in COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers in Malaysia were epidemiologically correlated to a similarly intense COVID-19 pattern of transmission in the community. The period prevalence of COVID-19 infection and the mortality rate among healthcare workers in Malaysia were 1.03% and 0.0019%, respectively. The majority of infections originated from the workplace (53.3%); a total of 36.3% occurred among staff; a total of 17.0% occurred between patients and staff; and 43.2% originated from the community. Healthcare workers had a 2.9 times higher incidence risk ratio for the acquisition of COVID-19 infection than the general population. Nursing professionals were the most highly infected occupational group (40.5%), followed by medical doctors and specialists (24.1%), and healthcare assistants (9.7%). The top three departments registering COVID-19 infections were the medical department (23.3%), the emergency department (17.7%), and hospital administration and governance (9.1%). Occupational safety and health units need to be vigilant for the early detection of a disease outbreak to prevent the avoidable spread of disease in high-risk settings. The transformation of some tertiary hospitals to dedicated COVID-19 care, the monitoring of new procedures for the management of COVID-19 patients, and appropriate resource allocation are key to successful risk mitigation strategies.
Assessment and Evaluation of Psychological Status of Undergraduate College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Dalky Heyam F. , Aljawarneh Yousef M. , Rajab Lubna M. , Almas Salma , Mazemi Feddah Al , Ali Latifa Al , Abdulghani Sana , Shamsi Shamma Al
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus instigated a worldwide lockdown that affected students mitigating various psychological issues including depression, stress, and anxiety. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate university students’ psychological status in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 206 students from the Higher College of Technology (HCT), Sharjah Campuses participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected between March and May 2021. Participants completed an online survey including a demographic data questionnaire and the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21). The mean depression, stress, and anxiety scores were 15.56 (±11.573), 17.13 (±10.946), and 14.90 (±10.523) respectively. Categorically, most students (33.3%) reported no depression, while 26.1% of students reported moderate depression. For stress, the majority (44.4%) experienced no stress, while 19.8% reported moderate stress. Strikingly, 36.7% of students reported extreme severe anxiety, with 28% reporting no anxiety. Students with history of depression, stress, and anxiety symptoms reported a statistically significant mean difference in depression, stress, and anxiety compared with those with no previous history of those symptoms. We conclude with a recommendation to expand mental health screening among undergraduate university students and design appropriate therapeutic modalities.