bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast Time Response Full Absorption Faraday Cup and Its Application in the Measurement of Intensive Electron Beam Diodes
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Lai Dingguo , Yang Hailiang , Sun Jiang , Luo Wei
Published: January 2023

A magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL) is an inevitable choice for ultra-high power density energy transmissions. Its working process is complex, with an obvious influence on the working process of electron beam diodes and other load devices. The power coupling process of an electron beam diode driven by an MITL is a difficult problem in pulse power applications. No research is available on the electron beam characteristics of its anode. In this paper, a fast time response full absorption Faraday cup was developed. An intense electron beam measurement waveform showing the multi-stage characteristics was obtained through measurements using the Faraday cup absorber as the anode of the electron beam diode. The stage characteristics of the beam were in good agreement with the vacuum transmission, magnetic insulation formation, and multi-stage process of the stable magnetic insulation. The beam intensity corresponded with the conduction current of the cathode. It was obviously smaller than the current of the anode. The results reflected the influence of the different processes of the magnetic insulation on the transmission line on the beam waveforms in the diode area and provided a reference for the power transmission of the power device and the load system design.
Ensemble Machine Learning for Predicting the Power Output from Different Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Raj Veena , Dotse Sam-Quarcoo , Sathyajith Mathew , Petra M. I. , Yassin Hayati
Published: January 2023

In this paper, ensemble-based machine learning models with gradient boosting machine and random forest are proposed for predicting the power production from six different solar PV systems. The models are based on three year’s performance of a 1.2 MW grid-integrated solar photo-voltaic (PV) power plant. After cleaning the data for errors and outliers, the model features were chosen on the basis of principal component analysis. Accuracies of the developed models were tested and compared with the performance of models based on other supervised learning algorithms, such as k-nearest neighbour and support vector machines. Though the accuracies of the models varied with the type of PV systems, in general, the machine learned models developed under the study could perform well in predicting the power output from different solar PV technologies under varying working environments. For example, the average root mean square error of the models based on the gradient boosting machines, random forest, k-nearest neighbour, and support vector machines are 17.59 kW, 17.14 kW, 18.74 kW, and 16.91 kW, respectively. Corresponding averages of mean absolute errors are 8.28 kW, 7.88 kW, 14.45 kW, and 6.89 kW. Comparing the different modelling methods, the decision-tree-based ensembled algorithms and support vector machine models outperformed the approach based on the k-nearest neighbour method. With these high accuracies and lower computational costs compared with the deep learning approaches, the proposed ensembled models could be good options for PV performance predictions used in real and near-real-time applications.
Consumers’ Attitude towards Renewable Energy in the Context of the Energy Crisis
Authors: Gârdan Iuliana Petronela , Micu Adrian , Paștiu Carmen Adina , Micu Angela Eliza , Gârdan Daniel Adrian
Published: January 2023

The use of renewable energy (RE) is considered one of the most important topics of discussion regarding sustainable consumption and environmental protection nowadays. More than ever, a new energy crisis is forming due to the effect of political and military conflicts that have already been in place for some time. Our research envisages using a sample of 1126 respondents for the validation of a theoretical model that highlights the complex relationship between specific variables, such as concern for the environment, knowledge about renewable energy, perceived utility regarding RE usage, ease of use regarding RE, attitude toward RE utilization and behavioral intentions to use RE. The results show that attitudes towards renewable energy consumption are strongly influenced by the other latent constructs with perceived utility, social influence and concern for the environment being among the most determining ones. Behavioral intentions and the actual consumption behavior for RE are more and more clearly expressed in terms of decisions regarding the type of renewable energy technology preferred by consumers, and correlations with variables such as the level of education and higher income are easily highlighted.
Assessment of Carbon Productivity Dynamics in Aspen Stands under Climate Change Based on Forest Inventories in Central Siberia
Authors: Vais Andrey Andreevich , Popova Valentina Valerievna , Andronova Alina Andreevna , Nemich Viktor Nikolaevich , Nepovinnykh Artem Gennadievich , Mikhaylov Pavel Vladimirovich
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present research was to study the dynamics of growth and conditions of aspen stands under climate change, according to different periods of forest inventory. The study was conducted in modal aspen forests growing in the subtaiga/forest steppe region of Central Siberia. Aspen forests grow intensively at young age, which allows them to realize maximum carbon sequestration potential. The research was based on forest inventory data from 1972, 1982, 2002, and 2021 (the study was conducted on a limited territory). There was a steady increase in temperatures in the growing season from 1982 to 2002. The amount of precipitation in the same season and period, however, did not exceed the median value. With an increase in the sum of temperatures in 1982–2002 from 1800 °C to 2100 °C, carbon stored in the stands increased from 0.56 to 1.48 tons C/ha per year. This statement is true for pure aspen forests aged from 10 to 30 years. There is a certain (although indirect) influence that climate trends have on aspen forests’ carbon dynamics. There was a decrease in the average carbon increment in aspen forests from the age of 40. After 55 years, the average carbon increment values in the aspen forests leveled off, and the differences depending on the stand composition became insignificant. Along with an increase in biomass increment with age, aspen stands started losing resilience, and trees began to die due to natural and pathogenic mortality. At ages between 50 and 80, carbon emission increased from 1 to 12 tons C/ha.
Succinic Acid Production from Oil Palm Biomass: A Prospective Plastic Pollution Solution
Authors: Hariz Hikmah Bajunaid , Zaidi Siti Aisyah Syazwani , Luthfi Abdullah Amru Indera , Bukhari Nurul Adela , Sajab Mohd Shaiful , Markom Masturah , Harun Shuhaida , Tan Jian-Ping , Ding Gong-Tao , Abdul Peer Mohamed
Published: January 2023

Plastic pollution has placed a significant emphasis on the need for synthesising bioplastics, such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), which is derived from succinic acid. Furthermore, environmental concerns and the depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels have initiated an interest in exploring the biotechnological route of succinic acid production via fermentation. Consequently, oil palm biomass might be a prospective substitute for the costlier pure carbon source, which is more sustainable and cost-effective due to its abundance and high lignocellulosic content. The current review focuses on the potential of oil palm biomass utilisation to synthesise succinic acid and its associated bioplastics. The pretreatment and hydrolysis of various oil palm biomass and studies on bioplastics generation from oil palm biomass are also discussed. This review also identified the challenges of manufacturing succinic acid from oil palm biomass and included several recommendations.
Preparation Process Optimization of Peptides from Agaricus blazei Murrill, and Comparison of Their Antioxidant and Immune-Enhancing Activities Separated by Ultrafiltration Membrane Technology
Authors: Zou Xian-Guo , Chi Yun , Cao Yu-Qin , Zheng Miao , Deng Ze-Yuan , Cai Ming , Yang Kai , Sun Pei-Long
Published: January 2023

Agaricus blazei murrill (ABM), a large fungus, is reported to have extensive biological activities but the antioxidant and immune-regulatory capacities have been less studied and the components responsible for the functions are unclear. This study prepared ABM peptides (ABMP) using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) strategy and cascade ultrafiltration (UF) membrane technology. The UAEE extraction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with four factors and three levels to achieve the maximum ABMP yield (34.03%); the optimal conditions were an enzyme amount of 4%, ratio of ABM to water of 1:30, ultrasonic power of 360 W, and ultrasonic time of 30 min. Four ABMP fractions were obtained after UF with different pore size and their antioxidant and immune-regulatory abilities were evaluated and compared. The results showed that they could effectively scavenge DPPH, hydroxyl, and ABTS radicals, especially for ABMP-2; the scavenging rate of the above radicals were 79.31%, 63.60%, and 96.08%, respectively. In addition, four ABMP fractions also activated macrophage activity through strengthening phagocytosis and the production of NO, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the ABMP-2 fraction with a MW of 3–5 kDa and peptide purity of 82.88% was found to have the best effect, showing the maximum phagocytosis (189.37%) as well as NO (7.98 μM), IL-6 (195.05 pg/mL), IL-1β (876.15 pg/mL), and TNF-α (1620 pg/mL) secretion at a treatment concentration of 150 μg/mL. The findings indicated that the ABMP, especially for the separate ABMP-2, could be used as dietary supplements and have the potential to be exploited as immune-enhancing agents.
The Antiproliferative Activity of a Mixture of Peptide and Oligosaccharide Extracts Obtained from Defatted Rapeseed Meal on Breast Cancer Cells and Human Fibroblasts
Authors: Ferrero Romina Lis , Weinstein-Oppenheimer Caroline Ruth , Cabrera-Muñoz Zaida , Zúñiga-Hansen María Elvira
Published: January 2023

Oligosaccharide and peptide extracts obtained separately from defatted rapeseed meal (DRM) have shown antiproliferative activities on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. However, oligosaccharide extracts were not tested on human fibroblasts and have low yields. The objective of the present study was to combine two antiproliferative extracts, the peptides and oligosaccharides, that were obtained independently with commercial enzymes from DRM, allowing improvement of the mass yield and antiproliferative activity. The DRM was solubilized in an alkaline medium to obtain an insoluble meal residue (IMR) and an alkaline extract (RAE). To produce the oligosaccharide extract from IMR, three enzymes and different enzyme/substrate ratios were used. The oligosaccharide extract (molecular weight <30 kDa) recovered with the commercial enzyme. Endogalacturonase showed an 80% inhibition on MCF-7 cells at 20 mg/mL. The combination of this oligosaccharide extract with the peptide extract (obtained with Alkalase 2.4 L from a RAE at 10 mg/mL) inhibited 84.3% of MCF-7 cells proliferation at a concentration of 20 mg/mL, exhibiting no cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts. The mass yield of the extract pool was 27.07% (based on initial DRM). It can be concluded that a mixture of antiproliferative extracts was produced from DRM which was selective against MCF-7 cells.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Polyphenols from Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl) on RAW264.7 Macrophages Induced by Monosodium Urate and Potential Mechanisms
Authors: Li Yibin , Deng Wei , Wu Li , Chen Shouhui , Zheng Zhipeng , Song Hongbo
Published: January 2023

Acute gouty arthritis is an acute inflammatory reaction caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints and surrounding soft tissues. Controlling inflammation is the key to preventing acute gouty arthritis. Anti-inflammatory activities and the possible molecular mechanisms of plum (Prunus salicina Lindl cv. “furong”) polyphenols (PSLP) on RAW264.7 macrophage cells induced by monosodium urate were investigated. PPSF significantly inhibited the activity of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18). In addition, PPSF exhibited excellent activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results of global screening of all transcripts by RNA-seq revealed 8585 differentially expressed genes between the PSLP-treated group and the MUS group. From GO analysis, PSLP could affect the occurrence and development of RAW264.7 macrophage inflammation through biological processes, such as organic substance metabolism, intracellular organelles, and binding function. The regulation mechanism of PSLP on MSU-induced RAW264.7 macrophage inflammation may be achieved through the HIF-1 signaling pathway, renal cell carcinoma, the ErbB signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Therefore, PSLP has great prospects in the prevention of gout and similar inflammatory diseases.
Murici (Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth and verbascifolia (L.)) and Tapereba (Spondias mombin) Improve Hepatic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in High-Fat-Diet Rats
Authors: de Souza Vanessa Rosse , Lima Thuane Passos Barbosa , Bedê Teresa Palmiciano , Faria Sabrina Baptista Alves , Alves Renata , Louzada Alana , de Moraes Bianca Portugal Tavares , Silva Adriana Ribeiro , Gonçalves de Albuquerque Cassiano Felippe , de Azeredo Vilma Blondet , Teodoro Anderson Junger
Published: January 2023

The present study investigated the effects of murici and tapereba on improving hepatic and inflammatory biomarkers in high-fat-diet rats. Female Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 10/group): control (CON), high-fat diet (HF), murici drink + high-fat diet (Mu-HF), tapereba drink + high-fat diet (Tap-HF), and murici and tapereba blend drink + high-fat diet (MT-HF). Drinks were offered daily for 60 days, following which body and liver weights, hepatosomatic indexes, serum parameters, inflammatory profile, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ORAC) were analyzed. The cell death of hepatic cells was evaluated using flow cytometry. It was observed that weight gain was similar among the groups, while glycemia was lower in the MT-HF group. A high-fat diet increased the concentration of cholesterol total, ALT, IL-1β (in plasma and liver), and TNF-α (in the liver), and this was reduced by treatment with the fruit-based beverages. The other evaluated parameters showed no statistically significant difference. Compared to the CON and HF groups, the groups that received the drinks had higher cellular antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress, lipid oxidation, and development of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β. A high-fat diet induced higher cell death in hepatic tissue, which was prevented by the murici, tapereba, and the fruit-blend drinks. The consumption of murici, tapereba, and fruit-blend-based beverages showed beneficial effects on liver metabolism; therefore, they may serve as a nutritional approach for preventing and treating non-alcoholic liver disease.
Aquaphotomics Monitoring of Lettuce Freshness during Cold Storage
Authors: Vitalis Flora , Muncan Jelena , Anantawittayanon Sukritta , Kovacs Zoltan , Tsenkova Roumiana
Published: January 2023

Fresh-cut leafy vegetables are one of the most perishable products because they readily deteriorate in quality even during cold storage and have a relatively short shelf life. Since these products are in high demand, methods for rigorous quality control and estimation of freshness that are rapid and non-destructive would be highly desirable. The objective of the present research was to develop a rapid, non-destructive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based method for the evaluation of changes during cold storage of lettuce using an aquaphotomics approach to monitor the water molecular structure in lettuce leaves. The reference measurements showed that after 6 days of dark, cold storage, the weight and water activity of lettuce leaves decreased and β-carotene decreased, while chlorophylls slightly increased. Aquaphotomics characterization showed large differences in the lettuce leaves’ spectra depending on their growth zone. Difference spectra, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) confirmed the differences in the inner and outer leaves and revealed that spectra change as a function of storage time. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) allowed the prediction of the time spent in storage with a coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.80 and standard error of RMSE = 0.77 days for inner, and R2 = 0.86 and RMSE = 0.66 days for outer leaves, respectively. The following water absorbance bands were found to provide the most information in the spectra: 1348, 1360, 1373, 1385, 1391, 1410, 1416, 1422, 1441, 1447, 1453, 1466, 1472, 1490, 1503, 1515, 1521, 1534 and 1571 nm. They were further used as water matrix coordinates (WAMACs) to define the water spectral patterns (WASPs) of lettuce leaves. The WASPs of leaves served to succinctly describe the state of lettuces during storage. The changes in WASPs during storage reveled moisture loss, damage to cell walls and expulsion of intracellular water, as well as loss of free and weakly hydrogen-bonded water, all leading to a loss of juiciness. The WASPs also showed that damage stimulated the defense mechanisms and production of vitamin C. The leaves at the end of the storage period were characterized by water strongly bound to collapsed structural elements of leaf tissues, mainly cellulose, leading to a loss of firmness that was more pronounced in the outer leaves. All of this information was reflected in the changes of absorbance in the identified WAMACs, showing that the water molecular structure of lettuce leaves accurately reflects the state of the lettuce during storage and that WASPs can be used as a multidimensional biomarker to monitor changes during storage.
From Grapes to Wine: Impact of the Vinification Process on Ochratoxin A Contamination
Authors: La Placa Laura , Tsitsigiannis Dimitrios , Camardo Leggieri Marco , Battilani Paola
Published: January 2023

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the major mycotoxins, classified as “potentially carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and wine is one of its main sources of intake in human consumption. The main producer of this toxin is Aspergillus carbonarius, a fungus that contaminates grapes early in the growing season. The vinification process, as a whole, reduces the toxin content in wine compared to the grapes; however, not all vinification steps contribute equally to this reduction. During the maceration phase in red wines, toxin concentrations generally tend to increase. Based on previous studies, this review provides an overview of how each step of the vinification process influences the final OTA contamination in wine. Moreover, certain physical, chemical, and microbiological post-harvest strategies are useful in reducing OTA levels in wine. Among these, the use of fining agents, such as gelatin, egg albumin, and bentonite, must be considered. Therefore, this review describes the fate of OTA during the winemaking process, including quantitative data when available, and highlights actions able to reduce the final OTA level in wine.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Raw Eating Quality in 81 Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) Varieties
Authors: Xu Ximing , Wu Shiyu , Chen Kuangji , Zhang Heyao , Zhou Shuke , Lv Zunfu , Chen Yuantao , Cui Peng , Cui Zhongqiu , Lu Guoquan
Published: January 2023

The raw eating quality of sweet potato is complex. As consumers start paying more attention to the raw eating quality of tuberous roots in sweet potato, the evaluation of the raw eating quality of sweet potato is becoming an important issue. Therefore, we measured 16 quality indicators in 81 varieties of sweet potato. It was found that these 16 quality traits had different coefficients of variation (C.V.). Among them, the C.V. of fructose, glucose, and adhesiveness were the largest: 87.95%, 87.43% and 55.09%, respectively. The cluster analysis method was used to define six categories of the different tuberous roots of sweet potato. Group I, III, and IV had a stronger hardness and higher starch and cellulose content. Groups II, V, and VI were softer, with a high moisture and soluble sugar content. The principal component analysis method was used to comprehensively evaluate 16 quality indicators of 81 sweet potato varieties. It was found that Futian1, Taishu14, and Nanshu022 are good varieties in terms of raw eating quality. These varieties have low hardness, high adhesiveness in texture, high soluble sugar content, and low starch and cellulose. Future research should focus on improving the raw eating quality of sweet potato by reducing hardness, starch, and cellulose, while increasing adhesiveness, soluble sugar, and moisture content.
Treatment of a Coupled System for Quadratic Functional Integral Equation on the Real Half-Line via Measure of Noncompactness
Authors: El-Sayed Ahmed M. A. , Omar Yasmin M. Y. , Hashem Hind H. G. , Al-Issa Shorouk M.
Published: January 2023

This article is devoted to the solvability and the asymptotic stability of a coupled system of a functional integral equation on the real half-axis. Our consideration is located in the space of bounded continuous functions on R+(BC(R+)). The main tool applied in this work is the technique associated with measures of noncompactness in BC(R+) by a given modulus of continuity. Next, we formulate and prove a sufficient condition for the solvability of that coupled system. We, additionally, provide an example and some particular cases to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of our results.
Fractional Dual-Phase-Lag Model for Nonlinear Viscoelastic Soft Tissues
Authors: Fahmy Mohamed Abdelsabour , Almehmadi Mohammed M.
Published: January 2023

The primary goal of this paper is to create a new fractional boundary element method (BEM) model for bio-thermomechanical problems in functionally graded anisotropic (FGA) nonlinear viscoelastic soft tissues. The governing equations of bio-thermomechanical problems are briefly presented, including the fractional dual-phase-lag (DPL) bioheat model and Biot’s model. The more complex shapes of nonlinear viscoelastic soft tissues can be handled by the boundary element method, which also avoids the need for the interior domain to be discretized. The fractional dual-phase-lag bioheat equation was solved using the general boundary element method (GBEM) based on the local radial basis function collocation method (LRBFCM). The poroelastic fields are then calculated using the convolution quadrature boundary element method (CQBEM) The numerical findings show that our proposed numerical model is valid, efficient, and accurate.
Identification of the Order of the Fractional Derivative for the Fractional Wave Equation
Authors: Ashurov Ravshan , Sitnik Sergei
Published: January 2023

A fractional wave equation with a fractional Riemann–Liouville derivative is considered. An arbitrary self-adjoint operator A with a discrete spectrum was taken as the elliptic part. We studied the inverse problem of determining the order of the fractional time derivative. By setting the value of the projection of the solution onto the first eigenfunction at a fixed point in time as an additional condition, the order of the derivative was uniquely restored. The abstract operator A allows us to include many models. Several examples of operator A are discussed at the end of the article.
Flustramine Q, a Novel Marine Origin Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor from Flustra foliacea
Authors: Kowal Natalia M. , Di Xiaxia , Omarsdottir Sesselja , Olafsdottir Elin S.
Published: January 2023

The bryozoan Flustra foliacea produces a range of indole alkaloids, and some have shown weak antibiotic, muscle-relaxant and cytotoxic properties; however, most of them have not been tested for bioactivity. Many of these alkaloids possess a physostigmine scaffold, and physostigmine is a well-known acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. AChE inhibitors are of interest as drug leads in neurodegenerative diseases and are currently used in symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, the AChE inhibitory activity of Flustra alkaloids was studied in vitro using the colorimetric method of Ellman and AChE from Electrophorus electricus. Twenty-five compounds isolated from the Icelandic bryozoan F. foliacea were screened at a 100 µM concentration. Two of them, flustramine E and flustramine I, showed inhibition of 48%, and flustramine Q showed 82% inhibition. For flustramine Q, the IC50 was 9.6 µM. Molecular modelling and docking studies indicated that simple in silico designed derivatives of flustramine Q could have potential for increased potency. Marine natural products including brominated indole alkaloids from Flustra foliacea are an interesting new source of AChE inhibitors with potential towards central nervous system disorders, e.g., Alzheimer’s disease.
Enrichment of 3D-Printed k-Carrageenan Food Gel with Callus Tissue of Narrow-Leaved Lupin Lupinus angustifolius
Authors: Belova Kseniya , Dushina Elena , Popov Sergey , Zlobin Andrey , Martinson Ekaterina , Vityazev Fedor , Litvinets Sergey
Published: January 2023

The aim of the study is to develop and evaluate the printability of k-carrageenan inks enriched with callus tissue of lupin (L. angustifolius) and to determine the effect of two lupin calluses (LA14 and LA16) on the texture and digestibility of 3D-printed gel. The results demonstrated that the enriched ink was successfully 3D printed at concentrations of 33 and 50 g/100 mL of LA14 callus and 33 g/100 mL of LA16 callus. The feasibility of 3D printing is extremely reduced at higher concentrations of callus material in the ink. The hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess of the 3D-printed gel with LA16 callus were weakened compared to the gel with LA14 callus. The results of rheological measurements showed that an increase in the content of LA16 callus interfered with the formation of a k-carrageenan gel network, while LA14 callus strengthened the k-carrageenan gel with increasing concentration. Gel samples at different concentrations of LA14 and LA16 calluses formed a spongy network structure, but the number of pores decreased, and their size increased, when the volume fraction occupied by LA14 and LA16 calluses increased. Simple polysaccharides, galacturonic acid residues, and phenolic compounds (PCs) were released from A-FP gels after sequential in vivo oral and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. PCs were released predominantly in the simulated intestinal and colonic fluids. Thus, incorporating lupin callus into the hydrocolloid ink for food 3D printing can be a promising approach to developing a gelling material with new mechanical, rheological, and functional properties.
Nutritional Management in a 101-Year-Old Woman with Physical Inactivity and General Weakness: A Case Report
Authors: Mineyama Ryoko , Tezuka Fumie , Takagi Nobuko , Kokabu Shoichiro , Okubo Masahiko
Published: January 2023

Japan has the world’s highest life longevity, and centenarian patients are no longer rare. However, sufficient information related to centenarians is not available. Herein, we report the case of a 101-year-old centenarian woman who recovered from extreme inactivity and general weakness, mainly through nutritional management at home, to understand instances of nutritional management in centenarians. The patient developed lethargy, with a rapid decline in activity levels and food intake. She was diagnosed with senility by a primary doctor. We concluded that she had no problems with feeding and swallowing and predicted that her motivation to eat had decreased. We planned an intervention that lasted three months. To reduce the risk of aspiration, we paid attention to her posture while eating. To stimulate her appetite, we increased the variety and color of food items. To consider both the texture of food and safety, we changed the form of foods from paste (IDDSI Level 4)-like to solid food of regular size as much as possible. We recommended that the patient consume her favorite sweet between meals to enjoy eating. Two and half months after the initial intervention, the patient’s inactivity and general weakness improved dramatically, which was recognized by her willingness to eat, laugh loudly, and hum, although she could not speak clearly. The patient finally was able to have dinner with her family.
Organisational Culture Research in Healthcare: A Big Data Bibliometric Study
Authors: Qin Xiaoping , Wang Richard , Huang Yu-Ni , Zhao Jinhong , Chiu Herng-Chia , Tung Tao-Hsin , Harrison Jeff , Wang Bing-Long
Published: January 2023

Across international healthcare, organisational culture and work environment have become central to all patient safety. However, there is a lack of comprehensive overview to assess and track the evolution of the literature on organisational culture in healthcare. This study aims to describe the current situation and global trends in organisational culture research in healthcare. The methodology is based on bibliometric mapping using scientific visualisation software (CiteSpace and VOSviewer). The big data were collected from the Web of Science core citation database. After applying the search criteria, we retrieved 1559 publications, which have steadily increased over the last two decades. In addition, 92 countries and regions have published studies on organisational culture in healthcare. The United States has made significant contributions to this field. In particular, organisational culture occupies an important position in the quality management of different types of care and caregiving. At the same time, organisational culture in healthcare may be inadequately researched in terms of theoretical underpinnings, which in turn leads to a lack of widespread dissemination of practice, and research on organisational culture in healthcare through evidence-based medicine may remain a significant focus and hot topic throughout the research field in the coming years.
Sharing Health Information Using a Blockchain
Authors: Elvas Luis B. , Serrão Carlos , Ferreira Joao C.
Published: January 2023

Data sharing in the health sector represents a big problem due to privacy and security issues. Health data have tremendous value for organisations and criminals. The European Commission has classified health data as a unique resource owing to their ability to enable both retrospective and prospective research at a low cost. Similarly, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) encourages member nations to create and implement health data governance systems that protect individual privacy while allowing data sharing. This paper proposes adopting a blockchain framework to enable the transparent sharing of medical information among health entities in a secure environment. We develop a laboratory-based prototype using a design science research methodology (DSRM). This approach has its roots in the sciences of engineering and artificial intelligence, and its primary goal is to create relevant artefacts that add value to the fields in which they are used. We adopt a patient-centric approach, according to which a patient is the owner of their data and may allow hospitals and health professionals access to their data.
Association between Migraine and Workplace Social Support in the Social Context of China: Using a Validated Chinese Version of the DCSQ
Authors: Wei Du , Chang Yue , Lu Xiaolong , Fan Xingying , Hu Jiaqi , Manta Otilia , Kaabar Mohammed K. A.
Published: January 2023

Background: Workplace social support might have a protective function against migraine in the social context of China, as close co-worker relationships and collectivism are acknowledged as work values in Chinese society. Objectives: This paper aimed to analyse the association between migraine and workplace social support. The validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Support scale of the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ) used were also determined. Methods: Following international guidelines, this study was carried out in two stages. Stage I involved translations and pilot testing to assess content and face validity of the Chinese version of the DCSQ Support scale. Stage II was a cross-sectional survey (N = 677 bank employees) to evaluate structural validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Support scale, as well as to examine the association between workplace social support and a migraine-positive diagnosis. Results: A high level of social support in the workplace was associated with a 74% decreased likelihood of migraine (adjusted OR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.14–0.46). Of the six aspects of workplace social support, co-worker support had the greatest protective effect (adjusted OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39–0.60). The Chinese version of the DCSQ Support scale established satisfactory content and face validity (I-CVIs ≥ 0.78; S-CVIAVE ≥ 0.90). Confirmatory factor analysis verified its one-dimensional theoretical factor, with adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s α 0.98; item-total correlations ≥ 0.80) and test-retest reliability (weighted Kappa coefficients 0.81–0.87; percentages agreement 85.23–88.92%). Conclusions: In the Chinese social context, workplace social support could protect against migraine, with the strongest benefit coming from co-workers. This study also provides a Chinese-language DCSQ Support scale as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring workplace social support.
Growing Taller without Hormones? Dr. Consult Google—An Evaluation of Online Information Related to Limb Lengthening
Authors: Key Sefa , Yalın Mustafa , Erten Mehmet
Published: January 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability, content and readability of the information available on the Internet related to limb lengthening surgeries, which have recently been progressively in fashion. Methods: The three most commonly used browsers on the Internet were determined and a search term for “Limb Lengthening Surgery” was typed for each browser. The websites were categorized by their type, and the content and the quality of them was evaluated using the DISCERN score, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark and the Global Quality Score (GQS). The Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FKRS) were used to evaluate the readability. Each website also assessed the presence (or absence) of the Health on Net (HON) code. Results: The academic category was found to be significantly higher than the medical and commercial categories. Mean FKGL and FCRS scores, DISCERN score values, JAMA, GQS and LLCS score values of Websites with HON code were significantly higher than those without. Conclusions: The quality of online information related to limb lengthening was of low quality. Although some websites, especially academic resources, were of higher quality, the readability of their content is just about 2.5 degrees higher than the sixth-grade reading level.
Fear Related to COVID-19, Mental Health Issues, and Predictors of Insomnia among Female Nursing College Students during the Pandemic
Authors: Albikawi Zainab Fatehi
Published: January 2023

Fear of infection has been sparked by the advent of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Insomnia in college students, especially its correlations and predictions with mental diseases, remains a research concern. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of fear related to COVID-19, depression, anxiety, and insomnia among female nursing college students throughout the pandemic and to determine the predictors of insomnia. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional descriptive study used 145 female nursing college students. Results: Students reported fear related to COVID-19, depression, and anxiety at rates of 79.3%, 30.2%, and 35.2%, respectively. Insomnia disturbed 24.7% of students. Anxiety predicted worsening insomnia in the student (AOR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.92–0.97, p < 0.001). Fear related to COVID-19 was also a predictor (AOR = 0.96, 95% CI: 1.07–1.21, p < 0.05). Additionally, when depression severity declined, the chance of insomnia improved (AOR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.85–0.91, p < 0.001). Insomnia was more common in chronically unwell students (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.01–2.24, p < 0.05). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, university students’ mental health should be monitored, and all essential safeguards should be taken, including resource allocation, awareness raising efforts, and the building of a mental health counseling facility.
Key Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Perspective of Collectivism
Authors: Lee Yi-Chih , Wu Wei-Li
Published: January 2023

Vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic remains a major part of global immunization policy. The aim of this study was to explore young people’s willingness to continue to receive vaccination against COVID-19 in a collectivist culture. In this study, an online questionnaire was used to measure willingness to continue vaccination, the tendency towards collectivism, the degree of disease anxiety, vaccine brand loyalty, and perceived infectability in 2022. The results showed that women were more willing to be vaccinated than men (70.1% vs. 29.9%). Young people who were willing to receive continuous vaccination had a relatively higher tendency towards collectivism (p < 0.001), a relatively higher degree of disease anxiety (p < 0.001), and lower vaccine brand loyalty (p = 0.034). The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and, since young people are the most active in group activities, policy-makers should weigh the factors influencing vaccination among the young to create effective policy measures.
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Matthiopoulou Georgia , Ioannou Petros , Mathioudaki Anna , Papadakis John A. , Daraki Vasiliki N. , Pappas Angelos , Souris Sotiris , Maraki Sofia , Stathopoulou Chrysoula , Kofteridis Diamantis P.
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a common finding in patients with diabetes. Moreover, patients with diabetes and ASB have a greater risk for symptomatic urinary tract infections and associated severe complications. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ASB, as well as to identify independent risk factors and related pathogens associated with ASB in female and male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Methods: This prospective case-control study was performed at the University hospital, and the Venezeleion General Hospital, Heraklion, Greece between 2012 and 2019. All patients with T2D attending the diabetes and hypertension outpatient clinics at both hospitals were enrolled, and data regarding their medical history and clinical and laboratory profiles were recorded. Asymptomatic patients with positive urine cultures were assigned as cases while those with negative urine cultures were designated as controls. Results: A total of 437 adult patients of which 61% were female and 39% were male patients with a mean age of 70.5 ± 9.6 years, were enrolled. The prevalence of ASB was 20.1%, in total. ASB was noted in 27% of female participants and 9.4% of male participants. Higher glycated hemoglobin (OR = 3.921, 95%CI: 1.521–10.109, p < 0.001) and urinary tract infection within the previous year (OR = 13.254, 95%CI: 2.245–78.241, p < 0.001) were independently positively associated with ASB, while higher levels of vitamin B12 were independently negatively associated with ASB (OR = 0.994 per ng/mL, 95%CI: 0.989–0.999, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Development of ASB was associated with specific factors, some of which may be modifiable. Interestingly, high B12 was found to be negatively associated with ASB.
The Importance of Resilience and Level of Anxiety in the Process of Making a Decision about SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Józefacka Natalia Maja , Podstawski Robert , Potoczny Wiktor , Pomianowski Andrzej , Kołek Mateusz Franciszek , Wrona Sylwia , Guzowski Konrad
Published: January 2023

People’s opinions on immunization are diverse. Despite the constant improvement of vaccine formulas, the number of people reluctant to immunize is not decreasing. The purpose of our study is to assess the psychological determinants of immunization reluctance in depth. We measured levels of anxiety (death-related and general), fear of COVID-19, self-esteem and resilience among 342 adults. We found that the level of COVID-19 related fear is higher among the vaccinated population, despite general anxiety levels being lower. Surprisingly we didn’t find significant differences in resilience and self-esteem levels. Findings are concurrent with previous research—COVID-19 related fear level is higher among vaccinated people. Resilience and self-esteem are defined as stable, trait-like constructs, and thus may not manifest higher levels in very specific pandemic situations, although they may lower the levels of general anxiety.
Smart Walk: A Culturally Tailored Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction among African American Women
Authors: Joseph Rodney P. , Todd Michael , Ainsworth Barbara E. , Vega-López Sonia , Adams Marc A. , Hollingshead Kevin , Hooker Steven P. , Gaesser Glenn A. , Keller Colleen
Published: January 2023

This article reports the results of Smart Walk: a randomized pilot trial of an 8-month culturally tailored, smartphone-delivered physical activity (PA) intervention for African American women with obesity. Sixty participants (age range = 24–49 years; BMI range = 30–58 kg/m2) were randomized to the Smart Walk intervention (n = 30) or a wellness comparison intervention (n = 30). Results supported the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, as demonstrated by participant retention (85% at 4 months and 78% at 8 months), Smart Walk app use, and intervention satisfaction (i.e., 100% of PA participants completing the intervention [n = 24] reported they would recommend it to friend). Smart Walk participants also reported greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA (4-month between-arm difference in change [b] = 43.3 min/week; p = 0.018; Cohen’s d = 0.69; 8-month b = 56.6 min/week; p = 0.046; d = 0.63) and demonstrated clinically relevant, although not statistically significant (p-values > 0.05), baseline to 4 months improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (b = 1.67 mL/kg/min; d = 0.40), systolic blood pressure (b = −3.33 mmHg; d = 0.22), diastolic blood pressure (b = −4.28 mmHg; d = 0.37), and pulse wave velocity (b = −0.46 m/s; d = 0.33). Eight-month cardiometabolic outcomes followed similar trends, but had high rates of missing data (45–53%) due to COVID-19 restrictions. Collectively, findings demonstrated favorable outcomes for acceptability and feasibility, while also highlighting key areas for refinement in future research.
A Review of the Role of the School Spatial Environment in Promoting the Visual Health of Minors
Authors: Zhou Huihui , Bai Xiaoxia
Published: January 2023

Rising childhood myopia rate has detrimental health consequences that pose a considerable challenge to health systems. The school spatial environment, which is where students are for the longest period of time, has a high health value for myopia systematic intervention. While research has demonstrated associations between physical daylight environments, medical gene and visual health, the literature currently lacks a synthesis of evidence that will act as a spatially-organized resource for school designers. This study is based on literature from the period 2000–2022 and has been taken from the Web of Science, scopus, Medline and CNKI core collection database. Collaboration, literature co-citation and quantitative and qualitative analysis, in addition to keyword co-occurrence are adopted to conduct a visual health research review. The results indicate that intensive near work activity (as a risk factor) and longer time spent outdoors (as a protective factor), are involved in visual health factors. Two main research themes are obtained and relate to: (1) The environment of visual work behavior (especially the near work learning environment) and adaptable multimedia learning environment; and (2) the environment of outdoor exposure behavior. Furthermore, with the variation of educational demands, models and concepts, there are different demands for near work behavior, and this study makes an important contribution by pointing to two future research directions, including the accurate and controllable environment of near work behavior, which operate in accordance with various educational mode requirements and the active design of the environment of outdoor exposure behavior. In referring to differences between regions and countries, as well as the development of the educational environment, it provides insight into how these demands can be controlled.
Characteristics of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Korea
Authors: Kee Dohyung
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to analyze trends for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) from 1996 to 2020 in Korea and to investigate characteristics of WMSDs, including WMSD approval rates, distribution by WMSD names, and the effects of industry type and size, and workers’ age and gender on WMSD occurrence. The data included those obtained from the official yearbooks for industrial accidents published by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and those obtained personally from the Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service. The results showed that although the incidence of WMSDs differed by year, approximately 9500 cases of WMSDs occurred in 2019 and 2020, the incidence rate of WMSDs was approximately 5.0 per 10,000 workers, and the proportions of WMSDs among industrial accidents were almost 9%. Low back pain was the leading cause of WMSDs; WMSDs occupied 9.5–71.5% of total occupational diseases by year and occurred most frequently in the manufacturing industry, followed by construction, transportation/warehouse and communication, and mining industries, and nearly 60% of WMSDs occurred in small business with <50 workers. Among chronic WMSDs, rotator cuff syndrome in the shoulder ranked first, intervertebral disc disorders second, and rotator cuff and tendon injuries third. By body parts, the shoulder was most susceptible to chronic WMSDs, followed by the low back, leg, and elbow/lower arm. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis showed that industry type and size and workers’ gender and age were significantly associated with WMSD approval. It can be concluded that the WMSD preventive efforts should focus on low back pain and rotator cuff syndrome by WMSD name, manufacturing by industry, small business by industry size, men by gender, and aged workers by age.