bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histopathological Tumor and Normal Tissue Responses after 3D-Planned Arc Radiotherapy in an Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Model of Human Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Dobiasch Sophie , Kampfer Severin , Steiger Katja , Schilling Daniela , Fischer Julius , Schmid Thomas , Weichert Wilko , Wilkens Jan , Combs Stephanie
Published: November 2021

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal human cancers. Innovative treatment concepts may enhance oncological outcome. Clinically relevant tumor models are essential in developing new therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we used two human PDAC cell lines for an orthotopic xenograft mouse model and compared treatment characteristics between this in vivo tumor model and PDAC patients. Tumor-bearing mice received stereotactic high-precision irradiation using arc technique after 3D-treatment planning. Induction of DNA damage in tumors and organs at risk (OARs) was histopathologically analyzed by the DNA damage marker γH2AX and compared with results after unprecise whole-abdomen irradiation. Our mouse model and preclinical setup reflect the characteristics of PDAC patients and clinical RT. It was feasible to perform stereotactic high-precision RT after defining tumor and OARs by CT imaging. After stereotactic RT, a high rate of DNA damage was mainly observed in the tumor but not in OARs. The calculated dose distributions and the extent of the irradiation field correlate with histopathological staining and the clinical example. We established and validated 3D-planned stereotactic RT in an orthotopic PDAC mouse model, which reflects the human RT. The efficacy of the whole workflow of imaging, treatment planning, and high-precision RT was proven by longitudinal analysis showing a significant improved survival. Importantly, this model can be used to analyze tumor regression and therapy-related toxicity in one model and will allow drawing clinically relevant conclusions.
Single-Cell Sequencing: Biological Insight and Potential Clinical Implications in Pediatric Leukemia
Authors: Alpár Donát , Egyed Bálint , Bödör Csaba , Kovács Gábor T.
Published: November 2021

Single-cell sequencing (SCS) provides high-resolution insight into the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic landscape of oncohematological malignancies including pediatric leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer. Besides broadening our biological understanding of cellular heterogeneity, sub-clonal architecture, and regulatory network of tumor cell populations, SCS can offer clinically relevant, detailed characterization of distinct compartments affected by leukemia and identify therapeutically exploitable vulnerabilities. In this review, we provide an overview of SCS studies focused on the high-resolution genomic and transcriptomic scrutiny of pediatric leukemia. Our aim is to investigate and summarize how different layers of single-cell omics approaches can expectedly support clinical decision making in the future. Although the clinical management of pediatric leukemia underwent a spectacular improvement during the past decades, resistant disease is a major cause of therapy failure. Currently, only a small proportion of childhood leukemia patients benefit from genomics-driven therapy, as 15–20% of them meet the indication criteria of on-label targeted agents, and their overall response rate falls in a relatively wide range (40–85%). The in-depth scrutiny of various cell populations influencing the development, progression, and treatment resistance of different disease subtypes can potentially uncover a wider range of driver mechanisms for innovative therapeutic interventions.
Knowledge Discovery by Analyzing the State of the Art of Data-Driven Fault Detection and Diagnostics of Building HVAC
Authors: Hosseini Gourabpasi Arash , Nik-Bakht Mazdak
Published: November 2021

The automated fault detection and diagnostics (AFDD) of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) using data mining and machine learning models have recently received substantial attention from researchers and practitioners. Various models have been developed over the years for AFDD of complete HVAC or its sub-systems. However, HVAC complexities, which partly have roots in its close coupling nature and interrelated dependencies, mean that understanding the relationship between faults and the suitability of the techniques remains an unanswered question. The literature analysis and interactive visualization of the data collected from the past implementation of AFDD models can provide useful insight to further explore this question by applying artificial intelligence (AI). Association rule mining (ARM) is deployed by this paper, using the frequent pattern (FP) growth algorithm to generate frequent fault sets for most common HVAC faults from the body of AFDD models developed in the literature to represent the status quo. A new model is developed for common HVAC faults and the techniques most frequently used to detect and diagnose them. A recommender system is developed using the ARM model to extract knowledge from the body of knowledge of HVAC data-driven AFDD in the form of rule-sets that reflect the associations. Findings of this review paper can significantly help civil and building engineers, as well as facility managers, in better management of building HVAC systems.
Natural Antioxidants from Plant Extracts in Skincare Cosmetics: Recent Applications, Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Hoang Hien Thi , Moon Ju-Young , Lee Young-Chul
Published: November 2021

In recent years, interest in the health effects of natural antioxidants has increased due to their safety and applicability in cosmetic formulation. Nevertheless, efficacy of natural antioxidants in vivo is less documented than their prooxidant properties in vivo. Plant extracts rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds can induce oxidative damage by reacting with various biomolecules while also providing antioxidant properties. Because the biological activities of natural antioxidants differ, their effectiveness for slowing the aging process remains unclear. This review article focuses on the use of natural antioxidants in skincare and the possible mechanisms underlying their desired effect, along with recent applications in skincare formulation and their limitations.
Linearity Enhancement of VCO-Based Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma ADCs Using Digital Feedback Residue Quantization
Authors: Choi Moo-Yeol , Kong Bai-Sun
Published: November 2021

A linearity enhancement scheme for voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)-based continuous-time (CT) delta-sigma (ΔΣ) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is proposed. Unlike conventional input feedforwarding techniques, the proposed feedforwarding scheme using digital feedback residue quantization (DFRQ) can avoid the analog summing amplifier, allow intrinsic anti-aliasing filtering (AAF) characteristic, and cause no switching noise injection into the input. A VCO-based CT ΔΣ ADC adapting the proposed DFRQ enables residue-only processing in the quantizer, avoiding the degradation of signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) due to VCO nonlinearity. The use of DFRQ also reduces the voltage swing of integrators without the drawbacks caused by conventional input feedforwarding techniques. The performance evaluation results indicate that the proposed VCO-based CT ΔΣ ADC with DFRQ provides 30.3-dB SNDR improvement, reaching up to 83.5-dB in 2-MHz signal bandwidth.
The Significance of Aggregation Methods in Functional Group Modeling
Authors: Zhang Huan , Shugart Herman H. , Wang Bin , Lerdau Manuel
Published: November 2021

The growth of forests and the feedbacks between forests and environmental changes are central issues in the planetary carbon cycle, global climate change, and basic plant ecology. A challenge to understanding both growth and feedbacks from local to global scales is that many critical metabolic processes vary among species. An innovation in solving this challenge is the recognition that species can be lumped into “functional groups” based on metabolic similarity, and these functional groups can then be studied in computational models that simulate ecosystem function. Despite the vast resources devoted to functional group studies and the progress made by them, an important logical and biological question has not been formally addressed, “How do the groupings alter the results of modeling studies?” To what extent do modeling results depend on the choices made in aggregating taxa into functional groups. Here, we consider the effects of using different aggregation strategies in simulating the carbon dynamics of a deciduous forest. Understanding the impacts that aggregation strategy has on efforts to simulate regional-to-global-scale forest dynamics offers insights into both ecosystem regulation and model function and addresses this central problem in the study of carbon dynamics.
Determination of Riparian Vegetation Biomass from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Authors: Matese Alessandro , Berton Andrea , Chiarello Valentina , Dainelli Riccardo , Nati Carla , Pastonchi Laura , Toscano Piero , Di Gennaro Salvatore Filippo
Published: November 2021

The need to rely on accurate information about the wood biomass available in riparian zones under management, inspired the land reclamation authority of southern Tuscany to develop a research based on the new remote sensing technologies. With this aim, a series of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight campaigns flanked by ground-data collection were carried out on 5 zones and 15 stream reaches belonging to 3 rivers and 7 creeks, being representative of the whole area under treatment, characterized by a heterogeneous spatial distribution of trees and shrubs of different sizes and ages, whose species’ mix is typical of this climatic belt. A careful preliminary analysis of the zones under investigation, based on the available local orthophotos, followed by a quick pilot inspection of the riverbank segments selected for trials, was crucial for choosing the test sites. The analysis of a dataset composed of both measured and remotely sensed acquired parameters allowed a system of four allometric models to be built for estimating the trees’ biomass. All four developed models showed good results, with the highest correlation found in the fourth model (Model 4, R2 = 0.63), which also presented the lowest RMSE (0.09 Mg). The biomass values calculated with Model 4 were in line with those provided by the land reclamation authority for selective thinning, ranging from 38.9 to 70.9 Mg ha−1. Conversely, Model 2 widely overestimated the actual data, while Model 1 and Model 3 offered intermediate results. The proposed methodology based on these new technologies enabled an accurate estimation of the wood biomass in a riverbank environment, overcoming the limits of a traditional ground monitoring and improving management strategies to benefit the river system and its ecosystems.
A Review on Sarcocornia Species: Ethnopharmacology, Nutritional Properties, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities and Propagation
Authors: Custódio Luísa , Rodrigues Maria João , Pereira Catarina G. , Castañeda-Loaiza Viana , Fernandes Eliana , Standing Dominic , Neori Amir , Shpigel Muki , Sagi Moshe
Published: November 2021

Sarcocornia A. J. Scott is a halophytic edible succulent plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. To date, the genus includes 28 species distributed worldwide in saline environments, usually salt marshes. Sarcocornia (Scott) is similar to Salicornia (L.), which has a recognized commercial value in morphological and taxonomical traits. Species of both genera are commonly named samphire or glassworts in Europe, and their fleshy shoots are commercialized under their traditional names. Due to their nutritional, organoleptic and medicinal properties, Sarcocornia species have a high economic potential in various biotechnology sectors. Being highly tolerant to salt, they can be cultivated in saline conditions, and dissimilar to Salicornia, they are perennial, i.e., they can be harvested year-round. Therefore, Sarcocornia species are considered promising gourmet vegetables to be explored in the context of climate change, soil and water salinization and eco-sustainability. We hereby put together and reviewed the most relevant information on Sarcocornia taxonomy, morphology, nutritional and pharmacological properties, uses in ethnomedicine, potential applications in biotechnology, and propagation strategies.
Structural Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Exopolysaccharide from Soybean Whey Fermented by Lacticaseibacillus plantarum 70810
Authors: Tian Juanjuan , Mao Qingyan , Dong Mingsheng , Wang Xiaomeng , Rui Xin , Zhang Qiuqin , Chen Xiaohong , Li Wei
Published: November 2021

Soybean whey is a high-yield but low-utilization agricultural by-product in China. In this study, soybean whey was used as a substrate of fermentation by Lacticaseibacillus plantarum 70810 strains. An exopolysaccharide (LPEPS-1) was isolated from soybean whey fermentation by L. plantarum 70810 and purified by ion-exchange chromatography. Its preliminary structural characteristics and antioxidant activity were investigated. Results show that LPEPS-1 was composed of mannose, glucose, and galactose with molar ratios of 1.49:1.67:1.00. The chemical structure of LPEPS-1 consisted of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →3)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and →2)-α-D-Manp-(1→. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that LPEPS-1 had a relatively rough surface. In addition, LPPES-1 exhibited strong scavenging activity against DPPH and superoxide radicals and chelating ability on ferrous ion. This study demonstrated that soybean whey was a feasible fermentation substrate for the production of polysaccharide from L. plantarum 70810 and that the polysaccharide could be used as a promising ingredient for health-beneficial functional foods.
Muscle MRI as a Useful Biomarker in Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Primiano Guido , Verdolotti Tommaso , D’Apolito Gabriella , Di Paolantonio Andrea , Guglielmino Valeria , Romano Angela , Lucioli Gabriele , Luigetti Marco , Servidei Serenella
Published: November 2021

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv, v for variant) is a severe and heterogeneous multisystem condition with a prevalent peripheral nervous system impairment, due to mutations in the transthyretin gene. Considering the introduction of different disease-modifying therapies in the last few years, a need of reliable biomarkers is emerging. In this study, we evaluated muscle MRI in a cohort of ATTRv patients in order to establish if the severity of muscle involvement correlated with disease severity. Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the total fatty infiltration score and NIS, NIS-LL, and Norfolk, and an inverse correlation with Sudoscan registered from feet. In conclusion, we demonstrated the role of muscle MRI in ATTRv as possible disease biomarker, both for diagnostic purposes and for assessing the severity of the disease.
Applications of CRISPR-Cas Technologies to Proteomics
Authors: Dolgalev Georgii , Poverennaya Ekaterina
Published: November 2021

CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing is a revolutionary approach that has provided an unprecedented investigational power for the life sciences. Rapid and efficient, CRISPR-Cas technologies facilitate the generation of complex biological models and at the same time provide the necessary methods required to study these models in depth. The field of proteomics has already significantly benefited from leveraging the power of CRISPR-Cas technologies, however, many potential applications of these technologies in the context of proteomics remain unexplored. In this review, we intend to provide an introduction to the CRISPR-Cas technologies and demonstrate how they can be applied to solving proteome-centric questions. To achieve this goal, we begin with the description of the modern suite of CRISPR-Cas-based tools, focusing on the more mature CRISPR-Cas9 system. In the second part of this review, we highlight both established and potential applications of the CRISPR-Cas technologies to proteomics.
Safety Performance in Acute Medical Care: A Qualitative, Explorative Study on the Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Heier Lina , Riouchi Donia , Hammerschmidt Judith , Gambashidze Nikoloz , Kocks Andreas , Ernstmann Nicole
Published: November 2021

Healthcare professionals need specific safety performance skills in order to maintain and improve patient safety. The purpose of this study is to get a deeper understanding of healthcare professionals’ perspective in acute care on the topic of safety performance. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach. Healthcare professionals working in nursing were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Using content analyzing, categories were identified which present aspects of safety performance; subcategories were developed deductively. A total of 23 healthcare professionals were interviewed, of which 15 were registered nurses, five were nursing students and three were pedagogical personnel. Nine (39.1%) were <30 years old, 17 (73.9%) were female, and 9 (39.1%) had a leadership function. Results highlight the importance of safety performance as a construct of occupational health rather than of patient safety, and the role of the organization, as well as the self-responsibility of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should be more conscious of their role, have a deeper understanding of the interaction of individual, team, patient, organization and work environment factors.
Using a Hybrid Neural Network Model DCNN–LSTM for Image-Based Nitrogen Nutrition Diagnosis in Muskmelon
Authors: Chang Liying , Li Daren , Hameed Muhammad Khalid , Yin Yilu , Huang Danfeng , Niu Qingliang
Published: November 2021

In precision agriculture, the nitrogen level is significantly important for establishing phenotype, quality and yield of crops. It cannot be achieved in the future without appropriate nitrogen fertilizer application. Moreover, a convenient and real-time advance technology for nitrogen nutrition diagnosis of crops is a prerequisite for an efficient and reasonable nitrogen-fertilizer management system. With the development of research on plant phenotype and artificial intelligence technology in agriculture, deep learning has demonstrated a great potential in agriculture for recognizing nondestructive nitrogen nutrition diagnosis in plants by automation and high throughput at a low cost. To build a nitrogen nutrient-diagnosis model, muskmelons were cultivated under different nitrogen levels in a greenhouse. The digital images of canopy leaves and the environmental factors (light and temperature) during the growth period of muskmelons were tracked and analyzed. The nitrogen concentrations of the plants were measured, we successfully constructed and trained machine-learning- and deep-learning models based on the traditional backpropagation neural network (BPNN), the emerging convolution neural network (CNN), the deep convolution neural network (DCNN) and the long short-term memory (LSTM) for the nitrogen nutrition diagnosis of muskmelon. The adjusted determination coefficient (R2) and mean square error (MSE) between the predicted values and measured values of nitrogen concentration were adopted to evaluate the models’ accuracy. The values were R2 = 0.567 and MSE = 0.429 for BPNN model; R2 = 0.376 and MSE = 0.628 for CNN model; R2 = 0.686 and MSE = 0.355 for deep convolution neural network (DCNN) model; and R2 = 0.904 and MSE = 0.123 for the hybrid model DCNN–LSTM. Therefore, DCNN–LSTM shows the highest accuracy in predicting the nitrogen content of muskmelon. Our findings highlight a base for achieving a convenient, precise and intelligent diagnosis of nitrogen nutrition in muskmelon.
Optimization of Caffeic Acid Extraction from Dendropanax morbifera Leaves Using Response Surface Methodology and Determination of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Zhang Ming , Bu Ting , Liu Shuilin , Kim Sooah
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction method for caffeic acid from the leaves of Dendropanax morbifera using response surface methodology (RSM), and subsequently determine the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the D. morbifera leaves extracts. The extraction process considered operating variables such as solvent concentration, extraction temperature, and extraction time, which were optimized via Box–Behnken experimental design. In addition, the antioxidant capacity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The optimal extraction conditions of 41.23% (v/v) methanol concentration, at 88.61 °C, and 1.86 h produced a maximum caffeic acid (CA) yield of 20.35 mg/g. Additionally, total polyphenols, total tannins, and total flavonoids contents in the leaves extracts of D. morbifera were 32.48 ± 2.05 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/g, 17.61 ± 2.61 mg GAE/g, and 9.14 ± 0.17 mg QE (quercetin equivalents)/g, respectively. The results showed that methanol extracts exhibited an IC50 of approximately 14.3 mg AAE (ascorbic acid equivalent)/g. The results suggested that the extracts of D. morbifera leaves contain potential antioxidant activity, and could be a good source of functional food and used in medicinal applications.
Evidence-Based Design for Waiting Space Environment of Pediatric Clinics—Three Hospitals in Shenzhen as Case Studies
Authors: Qi Yi , Yan Yan , Lau Siuyu Stephen , Tao Yiqi
Published: November 2021

This study explores the waiting space environment of pediatric clinics in general hospitals and the relationships between the use of space, behavioral activities and overall satisfaction. Patients often spend a lot of time waiting for doctors, and child patients waiting to be seen are particularly likely to feel bored, depressed and anxious, which negatively affects their overall experience of seeking medical attention. Since the launch of China’s second-child policy, the number of children born in China has surged. As medical resources for children are in short supply and of uneven quality, it is urgently necessary to carry out research on optimizing the design of children’s waiting space in Chinese hospitals to improve their medical environment and experience. Method: This study identified four first-level indicators and twenty-seven second-level indicators in four dimensions: functional layout (layout and area), flow organization, supporting facilities and environmental details (physical and landscape environment). The research combined subjective and objective methods, including comprehensive observation, a questionnaire survey and interviews, taking three hospitals in Shenzhen as case studies. Results: The study found that the waiting space in pediatric clinics currently fails to meet key patient needs in areas such as mother and infant rooms, children’s play areas and drinking water facilities, and there are widespread problems with the creation of natural environments, such as views of natural scenery from windows and indoor green plants. Six factors were found to significantly positively influence overall satisfaction with waiting space, describing 69.76% of the changes in the respondents’ degree of satisfaction with the waiting environment. Supporting facilities and aspects of the physical environment had the greatest influence on overall satisfaction with the waiting space. Conclusion: Optimizing the design of the waiting space in pediatric clinics, with a focus on functional layout, flow organization, supporting facilities and environmental details, can improve overall satisfaction with pediatric waiting rooms. The results are preliminary; they need to be further tested in practice to complete the process of evidence-based design. This will lead to suggestions for refining the design of pediatric waiting units which can be used by architects and hospital administrators.
Trends of Hospital Admissions Due to Congenital Anomalies in England and Wales between 1999 and 2019: An Ecological Study
Authors: Alanazi Abeer F. R. , Naser Abdallah Y. , Pakan Prisca , Alanazi Atheer F. , Alanazi Alyamama Abdulaziz A. , Alsairafi Zahra Khalil , Alsaleh Fatemah M.
Published: November 2021

Objectives: To investigate the trends in congenital anomalies-related hospital admissions in England and Wales. Methods: This was an ecological study that was conducted using hospital admission data taken from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities hospital admissions data were extracted for the period between April 1999 and March 2019. Results: Hospital admission rate increased by 4.9% [from 198.74 (95% CI 197.53–199.94) in 1999 to 208.55 (95% CI 207.39–209.71) in 2019 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p < 0.01]. The most common hospital admissions causes were congenital malformations of the circulatory system, the musculoskeletal system, genital organs, and the digestive system. The most notable increase in hospital admissions rate was observed in congenital malformations of the respiratory system (1.01-fold). The age group below 15 years accounted for 75.1% of the total number of hospital admissions. Males contributed to 57.5% of the whole number of hospital admission. Hospital admission rate between females was increased by 6.4% [from 162.63 (95% CI 161.10–164.16) in 1999 to 173.05 (95% CI 171.57–174.54) in 2019 per 100,000 persons]. Hospital admission rate between males was increased by 3.4% [from 236.61 (95% CI 234.72–238.50) in 1999 to 244.70 (95% CI 242.92–246.49) in 2019 per 100,000 persons]. Conclusions: Males had a higher percentage of hospitalisation compared to females. Further studies to investigate the factors associated with higher hospitalisation rate among males are needed.
The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Fall Risk Factors in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Elboim-Gabyzon Michal , Buxbaum Roie , Klein Roei
Published: November 2021

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves functional capacity, muscle power and physical performance in older adults with and without comorbidities. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of HIIT as a method for reducing major fall risk factors (balance, muscle strength and physical activity) in older adults. A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A computerized search was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, and AgeLine) published up to July 2021. Eleven papers (9 studies) of moderate quality (mean of 5.5 in Pedro scale) involving 328 healthy older adults met the inclusion criteria. Studies were characterized by high heterogeneity in terms of methodology, HIIT modality and protocol, subject characteristics, and outcome measures. Results indicate that HIIT cannot be recommended as a single modality for fall prevention in older adults due to insufficient data and no consensus among the studies. HIIT appears to be a safe and well-tolerated supplement to proven fall prevention programs, due to its effects on lower limb strength reflected in functional performance tests, and on dynamic balance and subjective balance perception. However, caution is warranted following HIIT, especially after the first session, due to possible temporary instability.
Dimensionality of the Chinese CES-D: Is It Stable across Gender, Time, and Samples?
Authors: Dou Diya , Shek Daniel T. L. , Zhu Xiaoqin , Zhao Li
Published: November 2021

Depression is a common mental illness among Chinese adolescents. Although the Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) has been widely used in diverse populations, the reported factor structures are inconsistent, and its longitudinal invariance is under-researched. This study examined the psychometric properties and factorial invariance across gender and time of the CES-D among Chinese adolescents. Adolescents aged above 11 years from five schools in Chengdu responded to a questionnaire at Wave 1 (n = 5690). Among them, 4981 participants completed the same questionnaire after six months (Wave 2). The matched sample was composed of 4922 students (51.5% were girls; mean age = 13.15 years) at Wave 1. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the factor structure and performed multi-group CFA to test the factorial invariance across gender and time. A three-factor solution was identified, including “positive affect”, “somatic complaints”, and “depressed affect”. Results of multi-group CFA comparisons supported the factorial invariance of the resultant three-factor solution. Using a new sample of Chinese adolescents in Southwestern China, the present study reproduced earlier findings on adolescents in other areas in China. This study has implications for depression assessment and research in Chinese adolescents.
Differential Effects of Multiple Dimensions of Poverty on Child Behavioral Problems: Results from the A-CHILD Study
Authors: Yamaoka Yui , Isumi Aya , Doi Satomi , Ochi Manami , Fujiwara Takeo
Published: November 2021

The differential effects of low income and material deprivation—in particular, deprivation related to child educational needs—have not been well examined. This study aimed to examine the effects of low income and life-related and child-related deprivation on child behavioral problems. This study used data from first-grade students who participated in the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study in 2015, 2017, and 2019 (N = 12,367) in Japan. Material deprivation was divided into life-related deprivation (i.e., lack of items for a living) and child-related deprivation (i.e., lack of children’s books, etc.), and low income was assessed via annual household income. We assessed child behavioral problems and prosocial behavior using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. One in ten children belonged to low-income families, 15.4% of children experienced life-related deprivation, and 5.4% of children experienced child-related deprivation. While life- and child-related deprivation had significant adverse effects on behavioral problems, they had no association with prosocial behavior. The effects of low income were mediated by parental psychological distress (45.0% of the total effect) and the number of consulting sources (20.8%) on behavioral problems. The effects of life-related and child-related deprivation were mediated by parental psychological distress (29.2–35.0%) and the number of consulting sources (6.4–6.9%) on behavioral problems. Life-related and child-related deprivation, but not low income, are important for child mental health.
Association between Neighborhood Social Deprivation and Stage at Diagnosis among Breast Cancer Patients in South Carolina
Authors: Babatunde Oluwole Adeyemi , Zahnd Whitney E. , Eberth Jan M. , Lawson Andrew B. , Adams Swann Arp , Boakye Eric Adjei , Jefferson Melanie S. , Allen Caitlin G. , Pearce John L. , Li Hong , Halbert Chanita Hughes
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between neighborhood social deprivation and individual-level characteristics on breast cancer staging in African American and white breast cancer patients. We established a retrospective cohort of patients with breast cancer diagnosed from 1996 to 2015 using the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry. We abstracted sociodemographic and clinical variables from the registry and linked these data to a county-level composite that captured neighborhood social conditions—the social deprivation index (SDI). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, Student’s t-test, and multivariable ordinal regression analysis to evaluate associations. The study sample included 52,803 female patients with breast cancer. Results from the multivariable ordinal regression model demonstrate that higher SDI (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02–1.10), African American race (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.29–1.41), and being unmarried (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.13–1.22) were associated with a distant stage at diagnosis. Higher tumor grade, younger age, and more recent year of diagnosis were also associated with distant-stage diagnosis. As a proxy for neighborhood context, the SDI can be used by cancer registries and related population-based studies to identify geographic areas that could be prioritized for cancer prevention and control efforts.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Standard Infection Control Precautions among Health-Care Workers in a University Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Abalkhail Adil , Al Imam Mahmudul Hassan , Elmosaad Yousif Mohammed , Jaber Mahmoud F. , Hosis Khaled Al , Alhumaydhi Fahad A. , Alslamah Thamer , Alamer Ali , Mahmud Ilias
Published: November 2021

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) contribute to increased length of hospital stay, higher mortality and higher health-care costs. Prevention and control of HAIs is a critical public health concern. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of standard infection control precautions among health-care workers (HCWs) in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey among HCWs was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Predictors of KAP were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analyses and independent sample t-tests. A total of 213 HCWs participated in the survey. The prevalence of good (≥80% correct response) knowledge, attitude, and practice were 67.6%, 61.5%, and 73.2%, respectively. The predictors of good knowledge included the age of the HCWs (>34 years) (adjusted odds ratio: 30.5, p < 0.001), and training (13.3, p < 0.001). More than 6 years of work experience was a significant predictor of having a positive attitude (5.5, p < 0.001). While the predictors of good practice were having >6 years of experience (2.9, p < 0.01), previous exposure to HAIs (2.5, p < 0.05), and training (3.5, p < 0.01). However, being female (0.22, p < 0.001) and older (>34 years) (0.34, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with knowledge. Results indicate that arranging training for HCWs might be useful in improving their knowledge of standard infection control precautions and is also expected to facilitate positive attitude and practice.
Older People’s Lived Perspectives of Social Isolation during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
Authors: Cipolletta Sabrina , Gris Francesca
Published: November 2021

The aim of the present study is to understand the experiences of isolation and strategies used to cope with it among older people living at home during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the roles of media and online technologies were also explored. Semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone between March and April 2020 with 30 people aged 72–94 years old living in Northern Italy. The thematic analysis identified six thematic areas: changes in daily life, emotions, social networks, exploited resources and strategies, use of media, and view of the future. Older people faced the emergency in heterogeneous ways; some were able to take advantage of their own residual resources and of social support, whereas in other cases, isolation exacerbated existing weaknesses. Technology and media were useful for reducing loneliness and fostering social contacts, but people with age-related impairments or low digital literacy presented many difficulties in approaching new technologies. Moreover, the overabundance of information could also increase anxiety and feelings of threat. Given the impact of social isolation on older people’s well-being, it is critical to identify and strengthen personal resources and social support strategies that may help older people cope with the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development of Toddlers’ Smartphone Flow State Scale: Parent Report Form
Authors: Byun Mikyong , Seomun GyeongAe
Published: November 2021

Toddlers come into contact with smartphones by the time they are 10 months old, and smartphones eventually become a part of the daily lives of toddlers because they are used as parenting tools and are also attractive toys. Routine exposure to these electronic devices may lead to excessive immersion, which can cause smartphone dependence when toddlers grow up. Based on Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow, we aimed to develop a new scale to measure the flow phenomenon in toddlers who are exposed to smartphones. We attempted to identify the constituent factors of a toddler’s flow in smartphones through a literature review, observations, and interviews. Initially, 32 questions were screened from the field verification stage and interviews; the final 20 questions were selected by combining technical statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and expert feasibility. We also found five eligible constituent factors, namely, a playfulness-oriented experience, reaction limited by concentration, and intentional pursuit to achieve the goal, assimilate into the virtual world, and acquire desire-fulfilling skills. We then performed a confirmatory factor analysis on our parent-reported toddlers’ smartphone flow state scale. To secure the criterion-related validity, the correlation between our scale and the preexisting smartphone dependence measurement tool for toddlers was evaluated. Cronbach’s α value of the toddlers’ smartphone flow state scale was 0.95 (each factor was verified as 0.79–0.92 and the explanatory power was 72.21%). The test–retest reliability was found to be stable with the intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient value of 0.78 (p < 0.001). Our research findings suggest that this novel smartphone flow state scale for toddlers could be a valid and reliable tool for measuring how toddlers feel the flow phenomenon while using smartphones. Furthermore, our results could contribute to the development and evaluation of the interventions that prevent side effects from smartphone overflow in toddlers.
Examining Care Assessment Scores of Community-Dwelling Adults in Flanders, Belgium: The Role of Socio-Psychological and Assessor-Related Factors
Authors: Van Doren Shauni , De Coninck David , Hermans Kirsten , Declercq Anja
Published: November 2021

One of the primary objectives of health systems is to provide a fair system by providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to caregiving rather than focusing on a single aspect of a person’s care needs. This approach is often embodied by using standardized care assessments across health and social care settings. These assessments are completed by professional assessors and yield vital information regarding a person’s health or contextual characteristics (e.g., civic engagement, psychosocial wellbeing, environmental characteristics, informal care). However, these scores may be subject to bias that endangers the fairness of the health system. In this study, we investigate to what extent socio-economic and psychological indicators and assessor-related indicators are associated with BelRAI Screener care assessment scores amongst 743 community-dwelling adults nested within 92 assessors in Flanders, Belgium. Findings indicate that there is significant variance in scores at the assessor-level. Socio-psychological characteristics of clients are associated with scores: being fluent in Dutch and providing informal care are associated with low care dependency, while living with children, feelings of depression, and the presence of an informal caregiver during assessment are associated with high care dependency. We discuss the importance of rigorous assessor training and the potential for socio-psychological factors to contribute to the allocation of welfare benefits in light of the Flemish home care system’s potential (lack of) fairness.
The Self-Absorptive Trait of Dissociative Experience and Problematic Internet Use: A National Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Lung For-Wey , Shu Bih-Ching
Published: November 2021

Functional and excessive use of internet are hard to distinguish from each other, and internet use can affect adolescents’ development of self-identity. The aim of our study was to investigate the associated relationships between the risk and protective factors for internet use, including parental monitoring, the absorptive dissociative trait, having been bullied, exercise, self-perceived depressive mood, and happiness of 12-year-old adolescents. The Taiwan Birth Cohort Study dataset, which used a national household probability sampling method and included 17,694 12-year-old adolescents, was used for this study. Our results showed that 5.3% of adolescents reported spending more than five hours online during school days. Additionally, adolescents that spent more than five hours online during school days tended to have a higher absorptive trait, perceived less care from mothers, were more likely to have been bullied, and expressed a higher level of depressed mood, which led to a lower level of perceived happiness. Adolescents that spent more than five hours online during school days, compared to those that spent less than an hour online, were more likely to have been bullied, which effected their level of happiness, showing that they may be a group of higher concern. Therefore, spending more than five hours per day online maybe a clinical prevention indicator for problematic internet use.
Ethnic Minority Groups’ Experiences of Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Exploratory Study
Authors: Rivart Pauline , Wainwright Verity , Flynn Sandra , Hunt Isabelle M. , Shaw Jenny , Smith Shirley , McGale Barry , McDonnell Sharon
Published: November 2021

It is estimated that between 36,000 and 360,000 people are affected by suicide every year in the UK, and a proportion may develop depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or engage in high-risk behaviours. Recent systematic analyses have revealed a clear gap in research on suicide bereavement in minority ethnic groups. This study aimed to understand the experiences and support needs of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds bereaved by suicide and was the first in the UK to investigate this matter. The study was a secondary analysis of data. Participants were 7158 people residing in the UK who completed an online survey about their experiences of suicide. Free-text qualitative responses of 227 participants who did not identify as White British were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: maladaptive coping strategies, emotional processes following suicide, lack of support from agencies, and the importance of mental health awareness. Ethnic minority groups reported a lack of support despite attempts to engage with services, noted the prevalence of stigma within ethnic minority groups, and expressed a need to tackle this. These preliminary results suggest that ethnic minority individuals require visible and accessible services that can successfully engage with and support them.
High Energy-Consuming Industrial Transfers and Environmental Pollution in China: A Perspective Based on Environmental Regulation
Authors: Wang Shijin , Zhou Huiying
Published: November 2021

Environmental regulation and industrial restructuring are highly relevant to environmental governance and green development in China. A dynamic game model was used to analyse the mechanisms behind the role of environmental regulation in promoting the restructuring of energy-intensive industries. A dynamic spatial Durbin model was constructed to empirically test the dynamic spatial effects and regional heterogeneity of the transfer of high energy-consuming industries on environmental pollution under environmental regulation with panel data. Thus, the study found that the environmental emission effect of a single high energy-consuming industry transfer and environmental regulation is significant, while the combined effect of both exhibits a negative environmental effect. Environmental regulation and the concentration of high energy-consuming industries have a positive spatial spillover effect on environmental pollution, and the long-term effect is greater than the short-term effect; high energy-consuming industries are gradually transferred from the more developed regions in eastern and central China to the less developed regions in western China.
Perceived Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Stress amongst Staff in a Malaysian Public University: A Workers Survey
Authors: Manaf Mohd Rizal Abdul , Shaharuddin Muhammad Al-Amin , Nawi Azmawati Mohammed , Tauhid Noorlaili Mohd , Othman Hanita , Rahman Mohd Rizam Abdul , Yusoff Hanizah Mohd , Safian Nazarudin , Ng Pei Yuen , Manaf Zahara Abdul , Kadir Nor Ba’yah Abdul , Yanasegaran Kevina , Basir Siti Munirah Abdul , Ramakrishnappa Sowmya , Ariff Mohd Izhar , Ganasegeran Kurubaran
Published: November 2021

Mental health conditions are a major part of workers’ health that predisposes to poor self-motivation for sustaining productivity. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among staff in a Malaysian public university and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 459 staff from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) between April and June 2019. A questionnaire that consisted of items on socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, employment description, lifestyle risk behaviors, personal medical history, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress was administered to participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS version 22.0. The prevalence of perceived symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the respondents was 28.7%, 50.1%, and 14.8%, respectively. Over one-quarter (26.5%) of the participants presented symptoms of two or more mental disorders. Women, those aged less than 40 years old, and non-academic professionals were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms, while those with medical conditions that required hospitalizations sustained anxiety symptoms. Perceived stress was more likely to be prevalent among staff with secondary education or less and smokers. Proactive support for staff needs to be offered in sustaining their emotional well-being.
COVID-19 Symptoms and Diagnoses among a Sociodemographically Diverse Cohort of Children from New York City: Lessons from the First Wave, Spring 2020
Authors: Kahn Linda G. , Ghassabian Akhgar , Jacobson Melanie H. , Yu Keunhyung , Trasande Leonardo
Published: November 2021

Early in the pandemic, in the North American epicenter, we investigated associations between sociodemographic factors and rates of pediatric COVID-19 diagnoses in a non-clinical setting and whether symptoms varied by child age. From 20 April–31 August 2020, COVID-19-related data were collected on 2694 children aged ≤ 18 years living in households participating in the New York University Children’s Health and Environment Study. We examined differences in rates of subjective and objective diagnoses according to sociodemographic characteristics and differences in reported symptoms by child age. Children of women who were non-Hispanic White, had private health insurance, higher income, or more education were more likely to be diagnosed via WHO criteria or healthcare provider. Children of women who were Hispanic or Asian, reported low income, had less education, or were/lived with an essential worker were more likely to test positive. Older children were less likely to experience cough or runny nose and more likely to experience muscle/body aches, sore throat, headache, and loss of smell or taste than younger children. In conclusion, relying on subjective disease ascertainment methods, especially in the early stage of an outbreak when testing is not universally available, may misrepresent the true prevalence of disease among sociodemographic subgroups. Variations in symptoms by child age should be considered when determining diagnostic criteria.