bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Factor of Lower Limb Amputation among Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients in North-East Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Rosedi Anas , Hairon Suhaily Mohd , Abdullah Noor Hashimah , Yaacob Nor Azwany
Published: November 2022

Lower limb amputation (LLA) is a common complication of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), which can lead to a higher 5-year mortality rate compared to all cancers combined. This study aimed to determine the prognostic factors of LLA among DFU patients in Kelantan from 2014 to 2018. A population-based study was conducted using secondary data obtained from the National Diabetic Registry (NDR). There were 362 cases that fulfilled the study criteria and were further analysed. The prognostic factors were determined by Multiple Cox Proportional Hazards Regression. There were 66 (18.2%) DFU patients who underwent LLA in this study, while 296 (81.8%) were censored. The results revealed that the factor leading to a higher risk of LLA was abnormal HDL-cholesterol levels (Adj. HR 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.92). Factors that led to a lower risk of LLA include DFU in patients aged 60 or more (Adj. HR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.89) and obesity (Adj. HR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.89). In conclusion, our model showed that abnormal HDL cholesterol was associated with a 2 times higher risk of LLA when adjusted for age and BMI. Any paradoxical phenomena should be addressed carefully to avoid wrong clinical decision making that can harm the patient.
Elevated Risk of Overweight/Obesity-Related Markers and Low Muscular Fitness in Children Attending Public Schools in Chile
Authors: Suárez-Reyes Mónica , Fernández-Verdejo Rodrigo , Salazar Gabriela
Published: November 2022

In Chile, children of low socioeconomic status usually attend public schools and have few opportunities to engage in healthy behaviors. This may increase their risk of overweight/obesity and low muscular fitness. Therefore, we aimed to determine the association between the school type attended with overweight/obesity-related markers and the muscular fitness of children in Chile. We included 1410 children (6–13 years old) attending public, subsidized, or private schools. Overweight/obesity-related markers included BMI Z-scores, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Muscular fitness assessment included handgrip strength and standing long jump. The odds ratios [95% CI] of overweight/obesity, elevated waist circumference, elevated body fat, low handgrip strength, and low standing long jump were compared between school types. Compared with boys attending public schools, those attending subsidized or private schools had lower odds ratios of low handgrip strength (0.63 [0.42–0.94] and 0.44 [0.25–0.78], respectively). Girls attending subsidized schools, compared with those in public schools, had lower odds of overweight/obesity (0.63 [0.44–0.90]) and of having low handgrip strength (0.51 [0.34–0.78]). Compared with girls in public schools, those attending private schools had lower odds (vs. public schools) of overweight/obesity (0.45 [0.28–0.74]), of having elevated body fat (0.53 [0.29–0.96]), and of having low standing long jump (0.41 [0.21–0.77]). The elevated risk of overweight/obesity-related markers and lower muscular fitness in children, particularly girls, attending public schools increase their current and future disease risk. This suggests that childhood socioeconomic status plays a central role in determining disease risk. Health-promoting interventions specifically focused on children from disadvantaged contexts are required.
The Prevalence of Anticitrullinated Protein Antibodies in Older Poles—Results from a Population-Based PolSenior Study
Authors: Chudek Anna , Kotyla Przemysław , Mossakowska Małgorzata , Grodzicki Tomasz , Zdrojewski Tomasz , Olszanecka-Glinianowicz Magdalena , Chudek Jerzy , Owczarek Aleksander J.
Published: November 2022

Little is known about the occurrence of antibodies in older subjects. We analyzed the prevalence of anticitrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP) in a representative cohort of Polish older adults, participants of PolSenior substudy. Randomly selected 1537 serum samples of community-dwelling participants aged 65 and over. Questionnaires were completed by qualified interviewers and laboratory assessments served as a database for this analysis. The frequency of anti-CCP seropositivity (N = 50) was estimated at 3.25% (95% CI: 2.45–4.30%), being higher among women—4.05% (2.83–5.73%) than men—2.41% (1.48–3.86%). The frequency of anti-CCP seropositivity was decreasing with age from 4.29% in aged 65–74 years and 4.07% in 70–84 years to 1.50% in aged 85 years or above (p < 0.05). Hypoalbuminemia, inflammatory status (C-reactive protein >10 mg/dL or interleukin-6 ≥10 pg/mL), and female gender were associated with increased, while age ≥85 years with decreased risk of seropositivity. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that hypoalbuminemia, inflammatory status, and age ≥85 years were independently associated factors of anti-CCP seropositivity. The decreased frequency of anti-CCP seropositivity in the oldest old suggests shorter survival of the seropositive individuals who developed rheumatoid arthritis. It seems that low symptomatic RA remains frequently undiagnosed in older subjects.
Minimal Dose of Resistance Exercise Required to Induce Immediate Hypotension Effect in Older Adults with Hypertension: Randomized Cross-Over Controlled Trial
Authors: Gargallo Pedro , Casaña José , Suso-Martí Luis , Cuenca-Martínez Ferran , López-Bueno Rubén , Andersen Lars Louis , López-Bueno Laura , Cuerda-del Pino Alba , Calatayud Joaquín
Published: November 2022

To determine the optimal exercise volume to generate a hypotension response after the execution of a single strength exercise in elderly subjects with hypertension (HT), a randomized crossover design was performed. A total of 19 elderly subjects with HT performed one control session and three experimental sessions of resistance training with different volumes in a randomized order: three, six, and nine sets of 20 repetitions maximum (RM) of a single elbow flexion exercise with elastic bands. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean heart rate (MHR) were tested at the beginning and immediately afterwards, at 30 and 60 min, and at 4, 5, and 6 h after the resistance exercise. The results show that the volumes of six and nine sets of 20 RM obtained statistically significant differences in the SBP at 30 and 60 min post-exercise (p < 0.05); in the DBP at 30 min after exercise (p < 0.05); and in the MHR immediately after exercise at 30 and 60 min (p < 0.05), compared to a control session. A single resistance exercise with a minimum volume of six sets of 20 RM generated an acute post-exercise antihypertensive response that was maintained for 60 min in elderly people with controlled HT.
Ligature Mark: Crime or Suicide?
Authors: Mansueto Gelsomina
Published: November 2022

Identifying the morphological findings of vitality is crucial when determining if a lesion was inflicted in life or postmortem [...]
The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns in Istanbul
Authors: Tan Elçin
Published: November 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) have set sustainability development goals to reduce diseases, deaths, and the environmental impact of cities due to air pollution. In Istanbul, although average pollutant concentrations have been on a downward trend in recent years, extreme values and their annual exceedance numbers are high based on the air quality standards of WHO and the EU. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, statistically significant reductions in emissions were observed for short periods. However, how long the effect of the lockdowns will last is unknown. For this reason, this study aims to investigate the impact of long-term lockdowns on Istanbul’s air quality. The restriction period is approximated to the same periods of the previous years to eliminate seasonal effects. A series of paired t-tests (p-value < 0.05) were applied to hourly data from 12 March 2016, until 1 July 2021, when quarantines were completed at 36 air quality monitoring stations in Istanbul. The findings reveal that the average air quality of Istanbul was approximately 17% improved during the long-term lockdowns. Therefore, the restriction-related changes in emission distributions continued in the long-term period of 476 days. However, it is unknown how long this effect will continue, which will be the subject of future studies. Moreover, it was observed that the emission probability density functions changed considerably during the lockdowns compared to the years before. Accordingly, notable decreases were detected in air quality limit exceedances in terms of both excessive pollutant concentrations and frequency of occurrence, respectively, for PM10 (−13% and −13%), PM2.5 (−16% and −30%), and NO2 (−3% and −8%), but not for O3 (+200% and +540%) and SO2 (−10% and +2.5%).
Patterns of University Students’ Risky Sexual Experiences and Their Characteristics
Authors: Łukaszek Maria
Published: November 2022

In Poland, there is little research on university students’ risky sexual behaviours. Additionally, existing studies analyse the behaviours selectively and do not group them into clusters. Hence, effective prevention is impossible. The research aims to gather information regarding the prevalence, forms and clusters of students’ risky sexual experiences. In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 universities in south-eastern Poland on a random sample (n = 2764). Fifteen risky sexual experiences, both condom-protected and unprotected, were analysed; they were mainly unprotected vaginal, oral, anal contacts; protected and unprotected sexual experiences while intoxicated and with unknown persons. Thanks Ward’s hierarchical method, four inseparable clusters of students with similar risky experiences were distinguished. Their dominant features were: (A) (24% of interviewees)—drunk partners, (B) (4.8%)—partners intoxicated with drugs, (C) (3.1%)—partner abuse and exceeding partner sexual norms, (D) (17.8%)—the anonymity of partners and going beyond the convention. It was stated that 60.3% of the respondents do not belong to any of the identified clusters. Sex education and the promotion of student sexual health should be intensified; the development of attitudes of avoiding risky sexual behaviours and dealing with their consequences should be considered.
A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Its Associated Sociodemographic Factors in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zegarra-López Angel Christopher , Florentino-Santisteban Brian , Flores-Romero Jorge , Delgado-Tenorio Ariana , Cernades-Ames Adriana
Published: November 2022

The present study aims to analyze the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its sociodemographic-associated factors in Peruvian adults. Data was extracted from a nation-wide representative survey in which depression symptoms were measured with the PHQ-9 and sociodemographic information was extracted from household data. Depression severity rates were estimated for each symptom, and responses were modeled through the Rating Scale Model to obtain a depression measure used as dependent variable on a Generalized Mixed Linear Model. The most frequent depression symptoms were emotional, such as discouragement, sad mood, hopelessness, and lack of pleasure when doing activities. Our model showed that, after controlling the effects of all the variables considered, the most relevant predictors were gender, education level, physiographic region, age, marital status, and number of coresidents. Higher depression levels were found in women, people who did not complete higher education, participants living in the Highlands, older adults, single participants, and people living alone. Thus, interventions to promote or prevent depression severity during similar situations as the pandemic should focus on specific sociodemographic groups and their particular needs.
Online Dating and Mental Health among Young Sexual Minority Black Men: Is Ethnic Identity Protective in the Face of Sexual Racism?
Authors: Wade Ryan M. , Pear Matthew M.
Published: November 2022

Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), also known as ‘sexual racism,’ is pervasive within online dating venues. RSD is associated with poor mental health outcomes among young sexual minority Black men (YSMBM), and there is limited research on factors that may mitigate this association. Ethnic identity has been identified as a potential protective factor for racial/ethnic minorities who encounter racialized stressors, though some evidence suggests that ethnic identity may also intensify the negative effects of racial discrimination. Using data from a cross-sectional web-survey of YSMBM (n = 690), a series of linear regression models were estimated to examine the moderating effect of ethnic identity search and ethnic identity commitment on the relationship between RSD and depressive symptoms/feeling of self-worth. Results indicated that having moderate-to-high scores on commitment attenuated the association between being physically objectified by White men and higher depressive symptoms. However, having high scores on commitment intensified the association between being rejected by Black men and lower feelings of self-worth. Stronger identity commitment may be protective against objectification from White men, though it may also exacerbate negative outcomes related to in-group discrimination. These findings may have important implications for the development of individual and group-level interventions addressing ethnic identity among YSMBM.
Contamination, Source Apportionment, and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils Surrounding a Typical Copper Tailings Pond
Authors: Xiao Minsi , Xu Shitong , Yang Bing , Zeng Guangcong , Qian Lidan , Huang Haiwei , Ren Sili
Published: November 2022

Tailings resulting from mining and smelting activities may cause soil heavy-metal pollution and harm human health. To evaluate the environmental impact of heavy metals from tailings on farmland soils in the surrounding area, heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in tailings and farmland soils in the vicinity of a typical copper tailings pond were analyzed. Contamination status, potential sources, and health risks for farmland soils were investigated. The results showed that the tailings contained a high concentration of Cu (1136.23 mg/kg). The concentrations of Cd and Cu in the farmland soils exceeded the soil quality standard. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicated that the soils were moderately polluted by Cu and Cd, and slightly polluted by Ni, Cr, and Zn. The absolute principal component scores–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model was applied for source apportionment. The results showed that tailings release is the main source of soil heavy-metals contamination, accounting for 35.81%, followed by agricultural activities (19.41%) and traffic emission (16.31%). The health risk assessment suggested that the children in the study region were exposed to non-carcinogenic risks caused by As, while the non-carcinogenic risk to adults and the carcinogenic risk to both adults and children were at acceptable levels. It is necessary to take effective measures to control heavy-metal contamination from tailings releases to protect humans, especially children, from adverse health risks.
Go Green, Go Social: Exploring the Antecedents of Pro-Environmental Behaviors in Social Networking Sites beyond Norm Activation Theory
Authors: Li Chia-Ying , Fang Yu-Hui
Published: November 2022

The paucity of environmental resources and the threatening warning of global climate change have led to increasing research on environmental issues [e.g., pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)]. Although norm activation theory (NAT) is a well-recognized theory for approaching PEBs, existing works appear insufficient to explain PEB in the context of social networking sites (SNSs) without taking contextual, emotional, and social factors into account. Grounded in the egocentric tactician model (ETM), NAT, along with the notions of guilt and social stressors, this study integrates a new ETM path, a supplemented emotional path, alongside the conventional NAT path to achieve a more complete picture of what are crucial determinants of PEBs in the context of SNSs. Social stressors positively moderate the emotional path. Data collected from 897 Facebook users confirm all of our proposed hypotheses. Results indicate that beyond the traditional NAT path, the new ETM path and the emotional path add values to illustrate PEBs on SNSs, and new constructs of self-influence on SNSs (SIS) and guilt remarkably drive PEBs alongside personal norms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, and guidelines for future research are identified.
Validation of the Malay Version of the Shame and Stigma Scale among Cancer Patients in Malaysia
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Azman Nizuwan , Eyu Hui Ting , Nik Jaafar Nik Ruzyanei , Mohd Salleh Sahimi Hajar , Mohamad Yunus Mohd Razif , Mohd Shariff Noorsuzana , Hami Rohayu , Mansor Nor Shuhada , Lu Ping , Leong Bin Abdullah Mohammad Farris Iman
Published: November 2022

The assessment of stigma among cancer patients is of the utmost importance as stigma may lead to various psychological sequelae and a lower quality of life. This study aimed to translate the English version of the Shame and Stigma Scale (SSS) into Malay and validate the Malay version of the SSS (SSS-M) to assess the degree of stigma among cancer patients in Malaysia. Initially, the concurrent translation and back translation of the SSS-M were performed, and the face and content validity were assessed. Subsequently, the SSS-M was administered to a total of 234 patients with mixed types of cancer to assess its reliability (internal consistency and test–retest reliability), construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity), and conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The SSS-M total score registered a good internal consistency (a Cronbach’s α of 0.881) and test–retest reliability (an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.876, p < 0.001). The EFA and CFA confirmed that the SSS-M consisted of 16 items in 3 domains. Its convergent and discriminant validity were achieved. Hence, the SSS-M demonstrated good psychometric properties and is available for use to assess stigma among cancer patients in Malaysia.
Use of Digital Technology as a Collaborative Tool among Nursing Students—Survey Study and Validation
Authors: Fischer-Suárez Natalia , Lozano-Paniagua David , García-González Jessica , Castro-Luna Gracia , Requena-Mullor Mar , Alarcón-Rodríguez Raquel , Parrón-Carreño Tesifón , Nievas-Soriano Bruno
Published: November 2022

Background: This research aimed to develop a questionnaire to analyze perceived aspects of using digital technology among nursing students as a collaborative tool. We further sought to evaluate the psychometric reliability of the instrument. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed using a questionnaire developed from scratch. Psychometric studies and univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: 132 nursing students participated. The exploratory and confirmatory analyses of the questionnaire excluded 4 of the initial 18 items and established four domains, and internal consistency was found. The mean global score of the answers to the questionnaire was 4.67 on a scale of 1–5 points, and all the domains obtained high scores. Men scored higher on the usefulness and the global score, while no differences were found regarding age. Conclusions: Nursing students positively assess the use of digital technology as a collaborative tool, regardless of age. Digital technology as a collaborative tool is perceived as beneficial, improves their involvement, and allows nursing students to obtain a better knowledge of their partners. These findings can help develop group projects and tools based on technology to train future nursing professionals. The questionnaire developed is a valid tool to assess this.
Effects of Photodegradation on the Optical Indices of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter from Typical Sources
Authors: Zhuang Wan-E , Chen Wei , Yang Liyang
Published: November 2022

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays important roles in aquatic environments, and its optical properties provide a series of indices for evaluating the source and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, little is known about the varying photodegradation of CDOM from different sources and the effects on the optical indices of DOM composition. This was studied for typical natural and anthropogenic sources (plant and leaf litter leachates, the influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant, and a river). The CDOM absorption (a280) showed a lower degradability for the plant leachate than other sources, mainly due to its low molecular weight and aromaticity. Four fluorescent components were identified with excitation–emission matrices-parallel factor analysis (EEMs-PARAFAC), namely benzoic acid/monolignol-like C1, humic-like C2 and C3, and tryptophan-like C4. The plant leachate contained mainly C1, which was photodegraded moderately, while other sources had more C2 and C3 with higher photodegradability. C4 was photodegraded in most sources but was photoproduced in the leaf litter leachate. The absorption slope (S275–295) and slope ratio (SR) increased while the humification index (HIX) decreased, suggesting a decreasing molecular weight and humic content by photodegradation. This was consistent with the decreasing %C2 and %C3 but increasing %C4, which indicated preferential removal of humic-like components. The %C1, %C2, biological index (BIX), and fluorescence index (FI) were less affected by photodegradation than other indices for most sources. These results have implications for a better understanding of the photochemistry of CDOM and the applications of optical indices.
The Association of Gender Role Attitudes and Risky Drinking: Changes in the Relationship between Masculinity and Drinking in Korean Young Men
Authors: Yang Joon-Yong , Sohn Aeree
Published: November 2022

Recently, younger men in Korean society tend not to view drinking as a proud feature of men who work. The relationship between gender role attitudes and high-risk drinking is expected to change accordingly. An online survey was conducted in January–February 2022, and the frequency of drinking, the amount of drinking, and traditional gender role attitudes, such as “men should be independent and women should take care of the children”, were measured. Participants were 786 men aged between 19 and 69 years. When comparing men in their 20s and 30s with those in their 40s to 60s, the younger men reported drinking relatively high amounts of alcohol in one place, and older men had a relatively high frequency of drinking. High-risk drinking was significantly higher in the older group. Gender role attitudes were more traditional in the older group and were a predictor of high-risk drinking in older men, but there was no significant relationship between the two variables in the younger age group. The results indicate that different generations have different perceptions of how men should drink. In addition to more detailed qualitative research on drinking motivation by generation, research on whether similar changes are occurring in other countries is needed.
Comparison of the Associations between Self-Reported Sleep Quality and Sleep Duration Concerning the Risk of Depression: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Indonesia
Authors: Amelia Vivi Leona , Jen Hsiu-Ju , Lee Tso-Ying , Chang Li-Fang , Chung Min-Huey
Published: November 2022

There is substantial evidence that a lack of sleep quality and duration can increase the risk of depression in adults. Still, few studies have compared sleep quality and duration to the risk of depression in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk of depression associated with both sleep quality and duration and identified those factors associated with sleep quality with sleep duration. This study was a cross-sectional study, and the data were obtained from the 2014 Indonesian Family Life Survey, with a total sample comprised of 19,675 respondents aged older than 15 years old. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess sleep quality and duration. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD-10) questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to examine the risk of depression, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the risk of poor sleep quality with consideration to sleep duration. The prevalence of depression was the highest in the poor sleep quality and long sleep duration groups (48.5%). After all variables associated with depression were adjusted, poor sleep quality was identified as a factor leading to a higher risk of depression (OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 3.7–4.6; p < 0.001) than long sleep duration (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.6; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the interaction between poor sleep quality and long sleep duration gave the highest risk of depression (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 3.6–5.3); p < 0.001). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the factors leading to a significant increase in the risk of poor sleep quality, with consideration to sleep duration, in the population were age, gender, marital status, education, wealth index, physical activity, chronic illness, season, and urban area (p < 0.05). Sleep quality was found to be associated with a higher risk of depression than sleep duration. The findings of this study may be beneficial to healthcare professionals who develop health promotion strategies for reducing the incidence of depression in communities.
Estimation of Psychological Impairment and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Large Regional Analysis
Authors: Mallhi Tauqeer Hussain , Ahmad Naveed , Salman Muhammad , Tanveer Nida , Shah Shahid , Butt Muhammad Hammad , Alatawi Ahmed D. , Alotaibi Nasser Hadal , Rahman Hidayat Ur , Alzarea Abdulaziz Ibrahim , Alanazi Abdullah Salah , Alzahrani Mohammad Saeed , Alshehri Sameer , Aljabri Ahmed , Khan Yusra Habib
Published: November 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures have substantially affected educational processes around the globe, resulting in psychological distress among students. The mental health of students in higher education is of paramount importance, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this vulnerable population into renewed focus. In this context, the evaluation of students‘ mental health at educational institutes has gained invaluable popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to ascertain the psychological health and coping strategies among students from a higher education institute in Saudi Arabia. Methods: An online study instrument was used to assess anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), post-traumatic stress disorder—PTSD (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R) and coping strategies (Brief-COPE). The severity of the psychological distress was classified as per the scoring criteria and correlated with demographics using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Of 1074 students (age 21.1 ± 2.1 years), 12.9% and 9.7% had severe anxiety and depression, respectively. The mean anxiety and depression scores were 7.50 ± 5.51 and 9.31 ± 6.72, respectively. About one-third (32%) of students reported suicidal ideation, with 8.4% students having such thoughts nearly every day. The average PTSD score was 21.64 ± 17.63, where avoidance scored higher (8.10 ± 6.94) than intrusion and hyperarousal. There was no association of anxiety, depression and PTSD score with the demographics of the study participants. Religious/spiritual coping (5.43 ± 2.15) was the most adoptive coping mechanism, followed by acceptance (5.15 ± 2.10). Male students were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with active copings, instrumental support, planning, humor, acceptance and religious coping. Substance use was the least adopted coping strategy but practiced by a considerable number of students. Conclusions: The long-lasting pandemic situation, onerous protective measures and uncertainties in educational procedures have resulted in a high prevalence of psychological ailments among university students, as indicated in this study. These findings accentuate the urgent need for telepsychiatry and appropriate population-specific mental health services to assess the extent of psychological impairment and to leverage positive coping behaviors among students.
Behind the Silence of the Professional Classroom in Universities: Formation of Cognition-Practice Separation among University Students—A Grounded Theory Study in China
Authors: Xu Fenghua , Yang Yanru , Chen Junyuan , Zhu A-Xing
Published: November 2022

Classroom silence is a negative form of classroom performance that is particularly prominent in the Chinese learner population. Existing research has mainly explored the silence phenomenon among Chinese university students in two types of learning contexts: overseas university classrooms and foreign language classrooms at local universities, without focusing on the Chinese undergraduates’ reticence in courses mediated by native language at domestic universities. However, the last type is the most common habitat for Chinese university students’ learning in higher education. Therefore, a sample of Chinese undergraduates majoring in education (n = 394) was recruited to determine the mechanisms of silence formation in professional classrooms. This study was based on grounded theory and in-depth interviews, and the recorded material was processed using NVivo 12. After a series of steps including open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and theoretical saturation testing, the core feature of the phenomenon of silence in professional classrooms of Chinese university students majoring in education was found to be the separation of students’ cognition and speaking practice. Then, a theoretical model of the formation and development of the phenomenon of classroom silence in professional classrooms of these undergraduates was constructed. The study showed that these university students had professional perceptions of classroom silence and displayed strong opposition to it, but they continued to maintain silent classroom behavior under the combined influence of individual characteristics, classroom experience, and learning adjustment. Following this, implications for existing research and suggestions for future practice are discussed.
The Effect of Psychological Burden on Dyslipidemia Moderated by Greenness: A Nationwide Study from China
Authors: Liu Chengcheng , Li Yao , Li Jing , Jin Chenggang , Zhong Deping
Published: November 2022

Globally, dyslipidemia is now become a leading risk factor for many adverse health outcomes, especially in the middle-aged and elderly. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to greenness and the relief of a psychological burden may decrease the prevalence of dyslipidemia. The objective of our study was to examine whether a green space can moderate the association between mental health status and dyslipidemia. Our study selected the datasets of depression symptoms, dyslipidemia from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and the satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from the 30 m annual maximum NDVI dataset in China in 2018. Ultimately, a total of 10,022 middle-aged and elderly Chinese were involved in our study. Multilevel logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between symptoms of depression and dyslipidemia, as well as the moderate effect of greenness exposure on the association. Our research suggested that adults diagnosed with depression symptoms were more likely to suffer from dyslipidemia. In addition, the NDVI was shown to moderate the effect of depression on dyslipidemia significantly, though the effect was attenuated as depression increased. Regarding the moderate effect of the NDVI on the above association across age, gender, and residence, the findings presented that females, the elderly, and respondents living in urban areas were at a greater risk of having dyslipidemia, although the protective effect of the NDVI was considered. Likewise, the moderate effect of the NDVI gradually decreased as the level of depression increased in different groups. The current study conducted in China provides insights into the association between mental health, green space, and dyslipidemia. Hence, improving mental health and green spaces can be potential targets for medical interventions to decrease the prevalence of dyslipidemia.
Personality, Defenses, Mentalization, and Epistemic Trust Related to Pandemic Containment Strategies and the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Sequential Mediation Model
Authors: Tanzilli Annalisa , Cibelli Alice , Liotti Marianna , Fiorentino Flavia , Williams Riccardo , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: November 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably influenced all domains of people’s lives worldwide, determining a high increase in overall psychological distress and several clinical conditions. The study attempted to shed light on the relationship between the strategies adopted to manage the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, and distinct features of personality and mental functioning. Methods: The sample consisted of 367 Italian individuals (68.1% women, 31.9% men; M age = 37, SD = 12.79) who completed an online survey, including an instrument assessing four response styles to the pandemic and lockdown(s), the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form, the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales-Self-Report-30, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, Credulity Questionnaire. Results: Maladaptive response patterns to pandemic restrictions were related to dysfunctional personality traits, immature defense mechanisms, poor mentalization, and epistemic mistrust or credulity. Moreover, more severe levels of personality pathology were predictive of an extraverted-maladaptive response style to health emergency through the full mediation of low overall defensive functioning, poor certainty of others’ mental states, and high epistemic credulity. Conclusions: Recognizing and understanding dysfunctional psychological pathways associated with individuals’ difficulties in dealing with the pandemic are crucial for developing tailored mental-health interventions and promoting best practices in healthcare services.
Microseismic Precursors of Coal Mine Water Inrush Characterized by Different Waveforms Manifest as Dry to Wet Fracturing
Authors: Yu Rui , Qian Jiawei , Liu Liang , Zha Huasheng , Li Nan
Published: November 2022

Microseismic monitoring systems have been widely installed to monitor potential water hazards in limestone of the coal floor. The temporal and spatial distribution of rock fracture-induced microseismic events can be used as early warning indicators of potential water inrush from the coal floor. We established a microseismic monitoring system in the working face of Wangjialing coal mine. Besides traditional fluid-independent rock fracture-induced microseismic waveforms, fluid-dependent hybrid-frequency microseismic waveforms also play important roles in determining the microseismic precursors of water inrush. Hybrid-frequency microseismic waveforms have a sharp P wave and no obvious S wave phase. We infer that the first high-frequency signal is caused by the brittleness of the rock in the floor under the influence of the water pressure. The second low-frequency signal is caused by the water oscillations in the fractures. These hybrid-frequency waveforms represent the development of fracturing. In addition, the lifting height of the complete aquiclude above the confined water is very limited, and the water inrush from the floor is often closely related to these hidden faults. Therefore, the activation signal of hidden faults in the working face of coal mining can be monitored to effectively warn about the water inrush from the coal seam floor caused by faults. By analyzing different microseismic events, the monitoring and early warning of water disaster in the coal mine floor can be improved. This will help in taking measures in advance within the mine to ensure personnel safety and to reduce property losses.
Dissolved Heavy Metal Pollution and Assessment of a Karst Basin around a Mine, Southwest China
Authors: Liao Hong-Wei , Jiang Zhong-Cheng , Zhou Hong , Qin Xiao-Qun , Huang Qi-Bo , Zhong Liang , Pu Zheng-Gong
Published: November 2022

Karst water quality is one of the most important environmental issues in karst areas. The study’s purpose was to investigate dissolved heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment in karst water basins around mines. River water and groundwater samples were analyzed by principal component analysis, correlation analysis, water quality index, hazard quotient, and hazard index. Median concentrations of dissolved heavy metals in the Sidi River were similar to the world average with a slightly alkaline characteristic. The concentrations of most dissolved heavy metals in river water were higher than those in groundwater. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd around the mine exceeded the limits of drinking water indicators. The poor water quality samples with high water quality index values were distributed around the mine. Lead (Pb), Zn, As, Cd, and Cr were potentially threatening metals in the study area. The pollution level of dissolved heavy metals in the Sidi River was at a medium level compared with other rivers worldwide. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Fe, As, and Sr mainly came from mine drainage; Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cr mainly came from the contribution of carbonate rocks; Na+ and K+ were related to local human agricultural activities. The concentrations of dissolved heavy metals in groundwater were affected by karst aquifers. The results of this study can provide a data reference for water resources prevention and human health protection in the Sidi River’s karst basin and similar karst basins.
Operationalization and Reporting Practices in Manuscripts Addressing Gender Differences in Biomedical Research: A Cross-Sectional Bibliographical Study
Authors: van den Hurk Lori , Hiltner Sarah , Oertelt-Prigione Sabine
Published: November 2022

Historically, authors in the biomedical field have often conflated the terms sex and gender in their research significantly limiting the reproducibility of the reported results. In the present study, we investigated current reporting practices around gender in biomedical publications that claim the identification of “gender differences”. Our systematic research identified 1117 articles for the year 2019. After random selection of 400 publications and application of inclusion criteria, 302 articles were included for analysis. Using a systematic evaluation grid, we assessed the provided methodological detail in the operationalization of gender and the provision of gender-related information throughout the manuscript. Of the 302 articles, 69 (23%) solely addressed biological sex. The remaining articles investigated gender, yet only 15 (6.5%) offered reproducible information about the operationalization of the gender dimension studied. Followingly, these manuscripts also provided more detailed gender-specific background, analyses and discussions compared to the ones not detailing the operationalization of gender. Overall, our study demonstrated persistent inadequacies in the conceptual understanding and methodological operationalization of gender in the biomedical field. Methodological rigor correlated with more nuanced and informative reporting, highlighting the need for appropriate training to increase output quality and reproducibility in the field.
A Deep Learning-Based Model for Predicting Abnormal Liver Function in Workers in the Automotive Manufacturing Industry: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Chongqing, China
Authors: Ni Linghao , Chen Fengqiong , Ran Ruihong , Li Xiaoping , Jin Nan , Zhang Huadong , Peng Bin
Published: November 2022

To identify the influencing factors and develop a predictive model for the risk of abnormal liver function in the automotive manufacturing industry works in Chongqing. Automotive manufacturing workers in Chongqing city surveyed during 2019–2021 were used as the study subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of abnormal liver function. A restricted cubic spline model was used to further explore the influence of the length of service. Finally, a deep neural network-based model for predicting the risk of abnormal liver function among workers was developed. Of all 6087 study subjects, a total of 1018 (16.7%) cases were detected with abnormal liver function. Increased BMI, length of service, DBP, SBP, and being male were independent risk factors for abnormal liver function. The risk of abnormal liver function rises sharply with increasing length of service below 10 years. AUC values of the model were 0.764 (95% CI: 0.746–0.783) and 0.756 (95% CI: 0.727–0.786) in the training and test sets, respectively. The other four evaluation indices of the DNN model also achieved good values.
Assessment of Motor Abilities and Physical Fitness in Youth in the Context of Talent Identification—OSF Test
Authors: Baj-Korpak Joanna , Stelmach Marian Jan , Zaworski Kamil , Lichograj Piotr , Wochna Marek
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Physical fitness during childhood is an important indicator of current and future health status. Defining physical fitness levels is a key element of talent identification in the training of children and adolescents. It is also crucial in developing a sports career path. This study sought to validate a physical fitness test (OSF test) and to determine fitness norms for children and adolescents with a special focus on talent identification within its particular sub-tests of endurance, speed, strength and power. (2) Methods: A total of 27,187 athletes who participated in the ‘Athletics for all’ (AFA) programme were included in the analysis. Physical fitness was assessed using a validated OSF test (3 × 10 shuttle run, standing broad jump, 1 kg medicine ball overhead throw, 4-min run). (3) Results: Four key motor abilities (speed, power, strength and endurance) were assessed in children and adolescents. The OSF test was normalised, i.e., a reference frame in the form of centile charts was developed. (4) Conclusions: The centile charts developed for particular parts of the OSF test make it possible to interpret scores in particular motor sub-tests and, first and foremost, enable users to compare a given score with results obtained by their peers.
Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Which Pathophysiologic Implications for Rehabilitation?
Authors: Lippi Lorenzo , Folli Arianna , Curci Claudio , D’Abrosca Francesco , Moalli Stefano , Mezian Kamal , de Sire Alessandro , Invernizzi Marco
Published: November 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a burdensome condition affecting a growing number of people worldwide, frequently related to major comorbidities and functional impairment. In these patients, several factors might have a role in promoting both bone and muscle loss, including systemic inflammation, corticosteroid therapies, sedentary behaviours, deconditioning, malnutrition, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption. On the other hand, bone and muscle tissues share several linkages from functional, embryological, and biochemical points of view. Osteosarcopenia has been recently defined by the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, but the precise mechanisms underpinning osteosarcopenia in patients with COPD are still unknown. In this scenario, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of osteosarcopenia might guide clinicians in a personalized approach integrating skeletal muscle health with the pulmonary rehabilitation framework in COPD. Taken together, our results summarized the currently available evidence about the multilevel interactions between osteosarcopenia and COPD to pave the way for a comprehensive approach targeting the most common risk factors of these pathological conditions. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of modern clinical strategies and telemedicine solutions to optimize healthcare delivery in patients with COPD, including osteopenia, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia screening in these subjects.
Anti-Metastatic Effect of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 Inhibition in Bladder Cancer via the ERK, SRC, and JNK Pathways
Authors: Lee Eun Hye , Chung Jae-Wook , Sung Eunji , Yoon Bo Hyun , Jeon Minji , Park Song , Chun So Young , Lee Jun Nyung , Kim Bum Soo , Kim Hyun Tae , Kim Tae Hwan , Choi Seock Hwan , Yoo Eun Sang , Kwon Tae Gyun , Kang Ho Won , Kim Wun-Jae , Yun Seok Joong , Lee Sangkyu , Ha Yun-Sok
Published: November 2022

Bladder cancer is a common global cancer with a high percentage of metastases and high mortality rate. Thus, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that can be helpful in diagnosis. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) belongs to the PDK family and plays an important role in glucose utilization in living organisms. In the present study, we evaluated the role of PDK4 in bladder cancer and its related protein changes. First, we observed elevated PDK4 expression in high-grade bladder cancers. To screen for changes in PDK4-related proteins in bladder cancer, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis using PDK4 knockdown cells. In bladder cancer cell lines, PDK4 silencing resulted in a lower rate of cell migration and invasion. In addition, a PDK4 knockdown xenograft model showed reduced bladder cancer growth in nude mice. Based on our results, PDK4 plays a critical role in the metastasis and growth of bladder cancer cells through changes in ERK, SRC, and JNK.
CADMA-Chem: A Computational Protocol Based on Chemical Properties Aimed to Design Multifunctional Antioxidants
Authors: Guzman-Lopez Eduardo , Reina Miguel , Perez-Gonzalez Adriana , Francisco-Marquez Misaela , Hernandez-Ayala Luis , Castañeda-Arriaga Romina , Galano Annia
Published: November 2022

A computational protocol aimed to design new antioxidants with versatile behavior is presented. It is called Computer-Assisted Design of Multifunctional Antioxidants and is based on chemical properties (CADMA-Chem). The desired multi-functionality consists of in different methods of antioxidant protection combined with neuroprotection, although the protocol can also be used to pursue other health benefits. The dM38 melatonin derivative is used as a study case to illustrate the protocol in detail. This was found to be a highly promising candidate for the treatment of neurodegeneration, in particular Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This also has the desired properties of an oral-drug, which is significantly better than Trolox for scavenging free radicals, and has chelates redox metals, prevents the ●OH production, via Fenton-like reactions, repairs oxidative damage in biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and DNA), and acts as a polygenic neuroprotector by inhibiting catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB). To the best of our best knowledge, CADMA-Chem is currently the only protocol that simultaneously involves the analyses of drug-like behavior, toxicity, manufacturability, versatile antioxidant protection, and receptor–ligand binding affinities. It is expected to provide a starting point that helps to accelerate the discovery of oral drugs with the potential to prevent, or slow down, multifactorial human health disorders.