bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Concentration-Time, Agar, and Sugar Concentration for Sweet Gelatinized Adzuki-Bean Jelly Cake (Yokan) by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Huang Ping-Hsiu , Cheng Yu-Tsung , Lu Wen-Chien , Li Po-Hsien
Published: August 2022

Samples of sweet gelatinized adzuki-bean jelly cake were successfully prepared and systematically analyzed to investigate the factors that affect the production, quality, and gelatin properties of yokan (gelatinized adzuki bean cake). The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of gelatinized adzuki-bean cake gelatin and identify the optimal production conditions using response surface methodology with three factors: agar concentration, sugar concentration, and concentration time. Findings show that the optimum processing conditions are 1.2–1.5% agar concentration and 34–40% sugar concentration, with 30–40 min concentration time. These conditions produced a gelatinized adzuki-bean cake favored by the majority of the sensory evaluators. Overall, the relationships between different gelatinized adzuki-bean cake processing conditions and gelatin properties were preliminarily clarified. The findings not only provide a promising avenue for gelatinized adzuki-bean cake production but also promote the potential application of various processing conditions in quality improvement.
Hydrogel Nanocomposite-Derived Nickel Nanoparticles/Porous Carbon Frameworks as Non-Precious and Effective Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Altaleb Hamud A. , Salah Abdulwahab , Thamer Badr M.
Published: August 2022

Innovative and facile methods for the preparation of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) with A highly uniform distribution and anchored on a unique substrate are receiving increasing interest for the development of efficient and low-cost catalysts in the field of alternative and sustainable energy technologies. In this study, we report a novel and facile metal-ions adsorption-pyrolysis method based on a hydrogel nanocomposite for the preparation of well-distributed nickel nanoparticles on 3D porous carbon frameworks (Ni@PCFs). The pyrolysis temperature effect on electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and catalyst stability was investigated. Physicochemical characterizations (SEM, TEM, and XRD) were used to determine the morphology and composition of the prepared electrocatalyst, which were then linked to their electrocatalytic activity. The experimental results indicate that the catalyst synthesized by pyrolysis at 800 °C (Ni@PCFs-8) exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of methanol in alkaline media. Additionally, prepared Ni@PCFs-8 displays a remarkable increase in electrocatalytic activity after activation in 1 M KOH and excellent stability. The adsorption-pyrolysis pathway ensures that the Ni NPs are trapped in the PCFs, which can provide highly reactive surface sites. This work may provide a facile and effective strategy for preparing uniformly distributed metallic NPs on a 3D PCF substrate with high catalytic activity for energy applications.
The Link between Three Single Nucleotide Variants of the GIPR Gene and Metabolic Health
Authors: Michałowska Joanna , Miller-Kasprzak Ewa , Seraszek-Jaros Agnieszka , Mostowska Adrianna , Bogdański Paweł
Published: August 2022

Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of the GIPR gene have been associated with BMI and type 2 diabetes (T2D), suggesting the role of the variation in this gene in metabolic health. To increase our understanding of this relationship, we investigated the association of three GIPR SNVs, rs11672660, rs2334255 and rs10423928, with anthropometric measurements, selected metabolic parameters, and the risk of excessive body mass and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the Polish population. Normal-weight subjects (n = 340, control group) and subjects with excessive body mass (n = 600, study group) participated in this study. For all participants, anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters were collected, and genotyping was performed using the high-resolution melting curve analysis. We did not find a significant association between rs11672660, rs2334255 and rs10423928 variants with the risk of being overweight. Differences in metabolic and anthropometric parameters were found for investigated subgroups. An association between rs11672660 and rs10423928 with MS was identified. Heterozygous CT genotype of rs11672660 and AT genotype of rs10423928 were significantly more frequent in the group with MS (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.03–1.85; p = 0.0304 and OR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.05–1.87; p = 0.0222, respectively). Moreover, TT genotype of rs10423928 was less frequent in the MS group (OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.54–0.95; p = 0.0221).
Reducing Virus Infection Risk in Space Environments through Nutrient Supplementation
Authors: Li Hui , Xue Ya-Wen , Quan Yuan , Zhang Hong-Yu
Published: August 2022

Space exploration has brought many challenges to human physiology. In order to evaluate and reduce possible pathological reactions triggered by space environments, we conducted bioinformatics analyses on the methylation data of the Mars 520 mission and human transcriptome data in the experiment simulating gravity changes. The results suggest that gene expression levels and DNA methylation levels were changed under the conditions of isolation and gravity changes, and multiple viral infection-related pathways were found in the enrichment analysis results of changed genes including Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KHSV) infection. In this study, we found that Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and vitamin D are helpful in reducing viral infection risk. In addition, the causal associations between nutrients and viral infections were calculated using Two sample Mendelian Randomization (2SMR) method, the results indicated that vitamin D can reduce EBV infection and HBV infection risk. In summary, our study suggests that space environments increase the risk of human viral infection, which may be reduced by supplementing EGCG and vitamin D. These results can be used to formulate medical plans for astronauts, which have practical application value for future space exploration.
Evaluation of Accuracy and Feasibility of a New-Generation Ultra-Rapid Urease Test for Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Cagnoni Marco , Pagnini Cristiano , Crovaro Marco , Aucello Antonio , Urgesi Riccardo , Pallotta Lorella , Fanello Gianfranco , Di Paolo Maria Carla , Graziani Maria Giovanna
Published: August 2022

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection can be diagnosed by invasive and noninvasive methods, and, among the former, Rapid Urease Tests (RUTs) are an important option. Accuracy and rapidity of results are fundamental for RUTs. The aim of the study is to prospectively evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and time to positivity of a new-generation ultra-rapid urease test (iNatal duo test) for Hp detection and compare the results with other available RUTs [CLO Test (Campylobacter-Like Organism Test), CP Test (Campylobacter pylori Test) and Pronto Dry]. Gastric biopsies were taken in consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy: two in the antrum and two in the body for histology, and one in the antrum and one in the body for each RUT. RUTs were read at 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min, 3 h and 24 h after biopsy insertion into the reagent. Histology was considered as “gold standard”. The performance of the tests was evaluated in patients not taking proton pump inhibitors (PPI) (n = 924) by calculation of sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value. Agreement rate (κ) for every RUT and histology was calculated and compared. The performance of the iNatal duo test was also tested in a subgroup of patients taking PPI (n = 198). Hp was positive in 225/924 patients (24.3%) not taking PPIs and in 56/198 (28.3%) who were taking PPIs. The iNatal duo test was more sensitive than the other RUTs for detecting Hp at every time point. The sensitivity at 5 min was 96.2% in patients not taking PPIs and 92.2% in patients taking PPIs. κ with histology was higher for the iNatal duo test than any other RUT (at 30 min: iNatal duo 0.99, CLO 0.60, CP 0.78, Pronto 0.85, at 15 min: iNatal duo 0.99, CLO 0.46, CP 0.63, Pronto 0.71). In a prospective study, the iNatal duo test demonstrated high accuracy and rapidity for Hp detection, both in patients with and without PPI therapy. This new generation of ultra-rapid urease test could be useful for the rapid and correct management of patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy for suspected Hp infection.
European Health Data Space—An Opportunity Now to Grasp the Future of Data-Driven Healthcare
Authors: Horgan Denis , Hajduch Marian , Vrana Marilena , Soderberg Jeannette , Hughes Nigel , Omar Muhammad Imran , Lal Jonathan A. , Kozaric Marta , Cascini Fidelia , Thaler Verena , Solà-Morales Oriol , Romão Mário , Destrebecq Frédéric , Sky Gross Edith
Published: August 2022

The May 2022 proposal from the European commission for a ‘European health data space’ envisages advantages for health from exploiting the growing mass of health data in Europe. However, key stakeholders have identified aspects that demand clarification to ensure success. Data will need to be freed from traditional silos to flow more easily and to cross artificial borders. Wide engagement will be necessary among healthcare professionals, researchers, and the patients and citizens that stand to gain the most but whose trust must be won if they are to allow use or transfer of their data. This paper aims to alert the wider scientific community to the impact the ongoing discussions among lawmakers will have. Based on the literature and the consensus findings of an expert multistakeholder panel organised by the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) in June 2022, it highlights the key issues at the intersection of science and policy, and the potential implications for health research for years, perhaps decades, to come.
Interventions and Impact of Pharmacist-Delivered Services for People Infected with COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ahmed Ali , Tanveer Maria , Shrestha Sunil , Khatiwada Asmita Priyadarshini , Khanal Saval , Dujaili Juman Abdulelah , Paudyal Vibhu
Published: August 2022

Pharmacists are essential members of the healthcare team. The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led pharmacists to undertake additional clinical roles. We aim to conduct a systematic review on the interventions and impact of pharmacist-delivered services in managing COVID-19 patients. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL plus, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Web of Science from 1 December 2019 (the first case of COVID-19 emerged) to 13 January 2022 to retrieve the articles. Cochrane handbook and PRISMA guidelines were followed respectively to perform and report the review. The pharmacist-led interventions were reported following the Descriptive Elements of Pharmacist Intervention Characterization Tool (DEPICT) version 2. The protocol of systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021277128). Studies quality was assessed with the modified NOS scale. In total, 7 observational studies were identified from 10,838 studies. Identification of dosage errors (n = 6 studies), regimen modifications (n = 5), removal of obsolete/duplicate medications (n = 5), identification and management of adverse drug reactions (n = 4), drug interactions prevention (n = 2), and physicians acceptance rate (n = 3) of therapy-related services delivered in-person or via tele-pharmacy were among the pharmacist-delivered services. Common interventions delivered by pharmacists also included optimizing the use of antibacterial, antivirals, and anticoagulants in COVID-19 infected patients. The acceptance of pharmacist-delivered services by physicians was high (88.5–95.5%). Included studies have described pharmacists’ beneficial role in managing patients with COVID-19 including detection, resolution, and prevention of medication-related problems, with physicians demonstrating high trust in pharmacists’ advice. Future research should assess the feasibility and scalability of such roles in real-world settings.
A Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties of Knee-Related Outcome Measures Translated, Cross-Culturally Adapted, and Validated in Arabic Language
Authors: Ateef Mahamed , Alqahtani Mazen , Alzhrani Msaad , Alkathiry Abdulaziz A. , Alanazi Ahmad , Alshewaier Shady Abdullah
Published: August 2022

During the previous two decades, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been well tested, and the tools were validated in different languages across the globe. This systematic review aimed to identify the knee disease-specific outcome tools in Arabic and evaluate their methodological quality of psychometric properties of the most promising tools based on the COSMIN checklist and PRISMA guidelines. Articles published in English, from the inception of databases until the date of search (10 August 2022), were included. Articles without at least one psychometric property (reliability, validity, and responsiveness) evaluation, and articles other than in the English language, were excluded from the study. The key terms [“Arabic” AND “Knee” AND (“Questionnaire” OR “Scale”)] were used in three databases, i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) in the advanced search strategy. Key terms were either in the title or abstract for PubMed. Key words were in the topic (TS) for WoS. COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) risk of bias checklist was used to evaluate the methodological quality of psychometric properties of the Arabic knee-related outcome measures. A total of 99 articles were identified in PubMed, SCOPUS, and WoS. After passing inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 articles describing 22 scales from five countries were included in this review. The instruments validated in the Arabic language are Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), knee outcome survey- activities of daily living scale (KOS-ADLS), Oxford knee score (OKS), anterior knee pain scale, osteoarthritis of knee and hip health-related quality of life (OAKHQoL) scale, Lysholm knee score (LKS), international documentation committee subjective knee form (IKDC), intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain (ICOAP) questionnaire, Kujala patellofemoral pain scoring system (PFPSS), anterior knee pain scale (AKPS) and osteoarthritis quality of life questionnaire (OAQoL),. All were found to have good test-retest reliability (Intra Correlation Coefficient), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and construct validity (Visual Analog Scale, Short Form-12, RAND-36, etc.). Of 20 instruments available to assess self-reported knee symptoms and function, 12 were validated in the Saudi Arabian population. Among them, KOS-ADLS is the best PROM to be used in various knee conditions, followed by KOOS and WOMAC. The assessed methodological quality of evidence says that the knee Arabic PROMs are reliable instruments to evaluate knee symptoms/function.
Predicting the Annual Funding for Public Hospitals with Regression Analysis on Hospital’s Operating Costs: Evidence from the Greek Public Sector
Authors: Zaza Paraskevi N. , Bagos Pantelis G.
Published: August 2022

The funding of public hospitals is an issue that has been of great concern to health systems in the past decades. Public hospitals are owned and fully funded by the government, providing in most countries medical care to patients free of charge, covering expenses and wages by government reimbursement. Several studies in different countries have attempted to investigate the potential role and contribution of hospital and clinical data to their overall financial requirements. Many of them have suggested the necessity of implementing DRGs (Diagnosis Related Groups) and activity-based funding, whereas others identify flaws and difficulties with these methods. What was attempted in this study is to find an alternative way of estimating the necessary fundings for public hospitals, regardless the case mix managed by each of them, based on their characteristics (size, specialty, location, intensive care units, number of employees, etc.) and its annual output (patients, days of hospitalization, number of surgeries, laboratory tests, etc.). We used financial and operational data from 121 public hospitals in Greece for a 2-years period (2018–2019) and evaluated with regression analysis the contribution of descriptive and operational data in the total operational cost. Since we had repeated measures from the same hospitals over the years, we used methods suitable for longitudinal data analysis and developed a model for calculating annual operational costs with an R²≈0.95. The main conclusion is that the type of hospital in combination with the number of beds, the existence of an intensive care unit, the number of employees, the total number of inpatients, their days of hospitalization and the total number of laboratory tests are the key factors that determine the hospital’s operating costs. The significant implication of this model that emerged from this study is its potential to form the basis for a national system of economic evaluation of public hospitals and allocation of national resources for public health.
A Study on the Establishment of Physical Activity Environment for People with Disabilities in South Korea
Authors: Oh Ah-Ra , Kim Kyungjin
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative importance and priority of what factors should be reflected in the administration to efficiently consider the needs of people with disabilities for the physical activity (PA) environment in South Korea. To achieve the purpose of the study, 32 experts (e.g., faculty members, administrators) with more than 5 years of experience with PA for people with disabilities were asked to prioritize the factors that should be reflected in the PA environment. The questionnaire consisted of 4 factors in the upper-layer (H2), 8 factors in the middle-layer (H3), and 38 items in the low-layer (H4). The research instrument was composed of a pairwise comparison of decision elements to analyze the priority. For the analysis of the questionnaire data, the relative importance and priority were analyzed using Expert Choice 2000, a solution dedicated to priority analysis. The results are as follows. The relative importance of H2 was determined by programs, instructors, facilities, and information. In the relative importance among H3, the program type was determined as the highest factor in the program, and instructor expertise was determined as the highest factor in the instructor. The type of facility was determined as the highest factor in the facility, and the information provider was determined as the highest factor in the information. As a result of analyzing the priority of H4, it was found that the program within the sports facilities had the highest priority.
How Middle and High School Students Wear Their Face Masks in Classrooms and School Buildings
Authors: Jarnig Gerald , Kerbl Reinhold , van Poppel Mireille N. M.
Published: August 2022

In addition to other mitigation measures, face masks have been used in schools worldwide as a precondition for allowing school attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quality and habits of mask wearing have, however, not been evaluated thus far, leaving uncertainty about the efficacy of this measure. It was the aim of this study to assess the accuracy of face mask wearing by children and adolescents in different school situations. In May and June 2022, students of two selected Austrian schools were asked to provide information about the different variations in wearing a face mask in different situations at school (in classrooms with or without the presence of a teacher, and in school buildings outside classrooms without the presence of a teacher). Strongly divergent results were identified for the amount of time in which face masks were worn correctly in the three different situations (p < 0.001, eta = 0.29). In the presence of a teacher, masks were worn correctly 63.7% of the time, while this percentage decreased to 31.9% when no teacher was present (p < 0.001). These results suggest the limited efficacy of mandatory face masks in schools. Should this measure become necessary again in the future due to the pandemic situation and highly pathogenic variants, special efforts are necessary in order to improve the quality of face mask wearing by school children.
Fitting Contralateral Neuroanatomical Asymmetry into the Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis
Authors: Arreola Fernando , Salazar Benjamín , Martinez Antonio
Published: August 2022

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Due to the progressive nature of the neurodegeneration associated with the disease, it is of clinical interest to achieve an early diagnosis of AD. In this study, we analyzed the viability of asymmetry-related measures as potential biomarkers to facilitate the early diagnosis of AD. These measures were obtained from MAPER-segmented MP-RAGE MRI studies available at the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, and by analyzing these studies at the level of individual segmented regions. The temporal evolution of these measures was obtained and then analyzed by generating spline regression models. Data imputation was performed where missing information prevented the temporal analysis of each measure from being realized, using additional information provided by ADNI for each patient. The temporal evolution of these measures was compared to the evolution of other commonly used markers for the diagnosis of AD, such as cognitive function, concentrations of Phosphorylated-Tau, Amyloid-β, and structural MRI volumetry. The results of the regression models showed that asymmetry measures, in particular regions such as the parahippocampal gyrus, differentiated themselves temporally before most of the other evaluated biomarkers. Further studies are suggested to corroborate these results.
Caregiver Representations of Therapeutic Patient Education Programmes for People with Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Rat Corinne , Meunier-Beillard Nicolas , Moulard Samuel , Denis Frédéric
Published: August 2022

Background: In France, there are two main types of psychosocial educational therapies for people with mental disorders: (1) therapeutic patient education (TPE) or “training”, and (2) psychoeducation. Both types of educational therapy aim to improve disease morbidity, treatment compliance and patient quality of life, but they have very different modes of application. The aim of this study was to interview mental health professionals in order to explore and identify the determinants (barriers and enablers) underlying their acceptance of therapeutic patient education (TPE) in order to facilitate the implementation of these programmes among people with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. Methods: In this multicentre cross-sectional study, we opted for a qualitative approach based on individual semi-structured interviews with 21 mental health professionals trained in TPE, regardless of whether they had practiced it before or not. In accordance with the “Jardé” law (Decree no 2016-1537 dated 16 November 2016 published on 17 November 2016 in the Official Journal of the French Republic). No regulatory approval was required for this study. Results: The major themes that emerged from the analysis were grouped into the following conceptual framework: (1) mental health professionals (MHPs) highlight important organizational and institutional challenges that they feel are beyond their scope; (2) MHPs mention in parallel their own perceptions and representations of TPE in the context of mental health care; and (3) MHPs’ representations could hide a lack of knowledge or awareness that would prevent them from appropriating TPE programmes. For each major theme, the sub-themes identified are presented. Conclusions: Although TPE is of interest in the process of patient empowerment, we found that caregivers were reluctant to appropriate this approach to care. Efforts must be made in the initial and ongoing training of MHPs to move from a paternalistic model to a patient partnership model, which is made possible by TPE. These efforts must also be firmly supported by health care facilities, and proactive governance is required for the successful implementation of TPE.
The Influence of Water Content on the Fresh and Hardened State Properties of Lime–Pozzolan Grouts
Authors: Pachta Vasiliki
Published: August 2022

Lime–pozzolan grouts concern a specific type often applied in the restoration of historic structures. Their water content, a crucial factor of their applicability, has a significant impact on their fresh and hardened state properties. In this study, four grout compositions were manufactured and tested, consisting of hydrated lime and natural pozzolan in a mass proportion 1:1. Their fresh properties were recorded, including fluidity, penetrability, volume stability, viscosity and shear stress, as well as the hardened ones (shrinkage deformations, physical and mechanical characteristics). Results show that water content reduction led to an increase in flow and penetration time, as well as a significant decrease of volume changes. Mechanical properties were significantly enhanced. Generally, the water content played a fundamental role in the behavior of the mixtures, also defining the type and range of their application.
Leaf Volatiles and Relevant Gene Expression as the Specific Characteristics in Citrus depressa Accession Discrimination
Authors: Lin Shu-Yen , Liao Yung-Yu , Chen Po-An
Published: August 2022

Citrus depressa Hayata is the native and widespread citrus species in Taiwan. The notable character is that C. depressa has a distinct aroma different from local citrus. The ex situ germplasm of scions from different collection regions has variant leaf shapes and different odor characteristics. Establishing volatile biomarkers for classifying the local C. depressa is beneficial to commercial development. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of fresh leaves from seven C. depressa accessions which were collected from different locations in Taiwan were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction and analyzed by GC-MS. The volatile compositions from each season showed the diversity, and linalool, of which the average relative content is 52.7%, was the most volatile component in any season. The other main VOCs of leaves of C. depressa were γ-terpinene, limonene, β-ocimene, and α-terpineol. The result of linear discriminant analysis by VOC markers shows that there are two main different types which are (1) accessions from the central and the east of Taiwan and (2) accessions which are closer to C. depressa in Okinawa, Japan. Five major VOC-related synthase genes were selected and the gene expression was used to classify the varieties. The clustering result is the same with VOC-based discrimination. Our results reveal leaf volatile profiling is capable of being the discrimination markers, and the possibility for constructing molecular markers is directly related to characteristics from secondary metabolites phenotyping.
Salinity-Induced Changes in the Antioxidant Status of Common Basil Plants (Ocimum basilicum L.) Grown under Controlled Conditions
Authors: Jadczak Dorota , Bojko Kamila , Kaymakanova Miroslava , Berova Malgozhata
Published: August 2022

Studies were performed to determine the influence of salinity on the antioxidant status of basil plants, var. Sweet Green. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber under controlled conditions (photoperiod—14/10 h, photosynthetic photon density (PPFD)—250–300 µmol m−2 s−1, temperature—24 ± 1 °C/16 ± 1 °C, humidity—65–70%). The plants were grown on ½ Hoagland’s nutrient solution, with the addition of elevated concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 80, 160 mM). In addition, increased content of macro- and micronutrients in the solution was applied (4/2 Hoagland’s nutrient solution and 0 mM NaCl). The activity of the antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase, content of malondialdehyde and total polyphenolic compounds, concentration of free proline, and antiradical activity were characterized. The results demonstrate that the salinity of Hoagland’s solution with 160 mM NaCl induced considerable changes concerning enzymatic and non-enzymatic elements of the plant defense and antioxidant systems. Enhancing the concentration of macro- and microelements in the nutrient solution (4/2 of Hoagland and 0 mM NaCl) in terms of biochemical parameters presented a similar trend to the variant with an additional lower concentration of sodium chloride (80 mM).
Occurrence and Distribution Patterns of Plum Tree Viruses and Genetic Diversity of Sharka Isolates in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Okić Arnela , Wetzel Thierry , Nourinejhad Zarghani Shaheen , Massart Sébastien , Grahić Jasmin , Gaši Fuad , Konjić Almira , Vončina Darko
Published: August 2022

In order to fill in a decade-long information gap regarding the biological, serological and molecular data for plum tree viruses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a three-phase study combining symptom evaluation, and serological and molecular assays with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology was conducted. The most frequently observed symptoms were discolorations in the form of ring patterns, bands and irregular shapes, as well as vein banding. Sharka-associated symptoms in the form of ring patterns and semicircles were prevalent. A total of 468 plum tree samples were tested by ELISA for the presence of PPV, ApMV, PDV, PNRSV, PBNSPaV, ACLSV and MLRSV. An overall infection incidence of 51.9% was detected, with PPV being the most prevalent (48.7%), followed by PDV (2.99%), PNRSV (0.21%) and mixed infections of PPV+PDV (1.71%). RT-PCR-assisted strain typing in 45 samples revealed PPV-D as the most common strain (22.22%), followed by PPV-REC (6.66%). Mixed infections of PPV-D+PPV-REC were detected (6.66%). HTS enabled the recovery of a 9743 nts long sequence of PPV-D (PPV_O7/80, MW412433), which shared the highest nucleotide and amino acid identities with isolates S13 (LC375131) from Serbia, SVN1 (LC375132) from Slovenia and N9 (LC375129) from Bulgaria. The phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome placed the isolate of the D strain in a distinctive group with the Slovenian isolate SVN1 (LC375132). In addition, the (Cter)NIb/(Nter)CP fragment of a PPV-REC isolate (MW412434) obtained in this survey formed a separate group with previously known isolates from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BOS64Pl and BOS257Pl).
A Preliminary Study for Identifying Genes Associated with Pellicle Development in Xinjiang Walnut (Juglans regia L.)
Authors: Jin Qiang , Gao Shan , Mo Rongli , Sheng Fang , Zhang Qinglin , Wu Cuiyun , Zhang Rui , Luo Zhengrong
Published: August 2022

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is an important nut fruit crop mainly grown for its high nutritional and medicinal value. In walnut fruit, the pellicle is the main source of polyphenols (such as proanthocyanidins), which are natural bioactive compounds but also cause astringency and bitterness for walnut fruit consumption. However, the gene regulatory networks of phenolic biosynthetic pathways remain largely unknown in walnut pellicles. Here, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with pellicle development in walnut. In this study, seven developmental stages (8-, 9-, 11-, 13-, 15-, 17-, and 19-week after pollination) of ‘Xinwen179’ pellicle tissues were harvested to conduct further transcriptome-wide profiles. Via RNA-seq, we explored several key DEGs involved in the phenolic biosynthetic pathway, such as dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR), leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR), which are dynamically expressed at developmental stages of the walnut pellicle. Among them, ANR may directly contribute to proanthocyanidins accumulation during walnut development. Taken together, our preliminary investigation on DEGs associated with pellicle development will not only elucidate the gene regulatory networks of the phenolic biosynthetic pathway for pellicle development, but also contribute to the broad spectrum of RNA-seq data resources for further genetic improvement of walnut.
Decline in Seasonal Snow during a Projected 20-Year Dry Spell
Authors: Hatchett Benjamin J. , Rhoades Alan M. , McEvoy Daniel J.
Published: August 2022

Snowpack loss in midlatitude mountains is ubiquitously projected by Earth system models, though the magnitudes, persistence, and time horizons of decline vary. Using daily downscaled hydroclimate and snow projections, we examine changes in snow seasonality across the U.S. Pacific Southwest region during a simulated severe 20-year dry spell in the 21st century (2051–2070) developed as part of the 4th California Climate Change Assessment to provide a “stress test” for water resources. Across California’s mountains, substantial declines (30–100% loss) in median peak annual snow water equivalent accompany changes in snow seasonality throughout the region compared to the historic period. We find that 80% of historic seasonal snowpacks transition to ephemeral conditions. Subsetting empirical-statistical wildfire projections for California by snow seasonality transition regions indicates a two-to-four-fold increase in the area burned, consistent with recent observations of high elevation wildfires following extended drought conditions. By analyzing six of the major California snow-fed river systems, we demonstrate snowpack reductions and seasonality transitions result in concomitant declines in annual runoff (47–58% of historical values). The negative impacts to statewide water supply reliability by the projected dry spell will likely be magnified by changes in snowpack seasonality and increased wildfire activity.
Disposable E-Cigarettes and Associated Health Risks: An Experimental Study
Authors: Lin Hsien-Chang , Buu Anne , Su Wei-Chung
Published: August 2022

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including disposable e-cigarettes, has been prevalent. Existing chemical analyses of ENDS focused on e-liquids rather than aerosols and failed to consider particle sizes and aerosol respiratory deposition fractions, which are key factors for inhalation doses. This study investigated the organic chemical and metal constituents in size-segregated ENDS aerosol and assessed the deposited doses and health risks of these substances. Aerosol chemical analyses were conducted on two popular disposable ENDS products: Puff Bar (Grape) and Air Bar (Watermelon Ice). An ENDS aerosol was generated and delivered into a Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor to collect size-segregated aerosol samples, in which organic chemicals and metals were analyzed. Daily and lifetime doses for each chemical were estimated. Cancer and non-cancer risk assessments were conducted based on the deposited doses. We found that e-cigarette aerosol contains certain harmful organic chemicals and metals documented to result in respiratory problems. Estimated respiratory cancer risks corresponding to chromium from both ENDS products and nickel from Air Bar (Watermelon Ice) were substantially above the conventionally acceptable risk. The method, findings, and implications can contribute to the extant literature of ENDS toxicity studies as well as inform tobacco regulation and future large-scale studies.
The Coronavirus Footprint on Dual-Task Performance in Post-Acute Patients after Severe COVID-19: A Future Challenge for Rehabilitation
Authors: Giardini Marica , Arcolin Ilaria , Godi Marco , Guglielmetti Simone , Maretti Alessandro , Capelli Armando , Corna Stefano
Published: August 2022

Recent studies suggest that also the non-critical form of COVID-19 infection may be associated with executive function impairments. However, it is not clear if they result from cognitive impairments or by COVID-19 infection per se. We aimed to investigate if patients in the post-acute stage of severe COVID-19 (PwCOVID), without manifest cognitive deficits, reveal impairments in performing dual-task (DT) activities compared to healthy controls (HS). We assessed balance in 31 PwCOVID vs. 30 age-matched HS by stabilometry and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test with/without a cognitive DT. The DT cost (DTC), TUG test time and sway oscillations were recorded; correct cognitive responses (CCR) were calculated to evaluate cognitive performance. Results show a significant difference in overall DT performance between PwCOVID and HS in both stabilometry (p < 0.01) and the TUG test (p < 0.0005), although with similar DTCs. The main difference in the DTs between groups emerged in the CCR (effect size > 0.8). Substantially, PwCOVID gave priority to the motor task, leaving out the cognitive one, while HS performed both tasks simultaneously. Our findings suggest that PwCOVID, even without a manifest cognitive impairment, may present a deficit in executive function during DTs. These results encourage the use of DTs and CCR in PwCOVID.
Talent Identification and Development in Male Futsal: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mendes Diogo , Travassos Bruno , Carmo José M. , Cardoso Felippe , Costa Israel , Sarmento Hugo
Published: August 2022

This review aimed to identify and synthesize the most significant literature addressing talent identification and development in futsal. A systematic review of Web of Science™ (all databases), Scopus, PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study included original articles in English, Spanish or Portuguese containing relevant data on talent development/identification of male futsal players. The search yielded 238 articles. After screening, a total of 32 manuscripts were fully reviewed. The quality of the data reviewed was generally good. Results indicate that the most successful players exhibit technical, tactical, anthropometric, physiological and psychological advantages and are distinguished from lower-level players based on their earlier dedication to training. This review highlights the need for those involved in the process of identifying and developing talented futsal players to consider the technical and tactical skills of futsal players, along with their anthropometric and physiological characteristics, scaled to age. Finally, special attention should be paid to the supportive psychosocial environments created in sports academies for developing futsal players. Overall, talent identification and development programmes in futsal need to be dynamic and offer the possibility of changing assessment parameters in the long term.
Adolescents Who Play and Spend Money in Simulated Gambling Games Are at Heightened Risk of Gambling Problems
Authors: Hing Nerilee , Dittman Cassandra K. , Russell Alex M. T. , King Daniel L. , Rockloff Matthew , Browne Matthew , Newall Philip , Greer Nancy
Published: August 2022

Simulated gambling, such as playing a virtual slot machine for points rather than money, is increasingly part of the online gaming experience for youth. This study aimed to examine (1) if youth participation in simulated gambling games is associated with participation in monetary gambling; (2) if youth participation in simulated gambling games is associated with increased risk of problematic gambling when controlling for breadth of monetary gambling (i.e., number of gambling forms); and (3) if monetary expenditure and time spent playing simulated gambling games increase the risk of problematic gambling. Two samples of Australians aged 12–17 years were recruited—826 respondents through an online panel aggregator (mean age 14.1 years) and 843 respondents through advertising (mean age 14.6 years). Aim 1 was addressed using chi-square and correlation analyses. Linear multiple regression analyses were conducted to address Aims 2 and 3. The findings in both samples supported the study’s hypotheses—that (1) youth who play simulated gambling games are more likely to participate in monetary gambling, and that (2) participation and (3) time and money expenditure on simulated gambling are positively and independently associated with risk of problematic gambling when controlling for the number of monetary gambling forms, impulsivity, age and gender. To better protect young people, simulated gambling should, at minimum, emulate the consumer protection measures required for online gambling.
Moving Back to the Parental Home in Times of COVID-19: Consequences for Students’ Life Satisfaction
Authors: Preetz Richard , Greifenberg Julius , Hülsemann Julika , Filser Andreas
Published: August 2022

Residential independence from parents is a key marker for young adults’ transition to adulthood. Losing this independence by returning to the parental home marks a regression of adult development with negative implications for returnees’ subjective wellbeing. This paper investigates how a return to the parental home during the COVID-19 pandemic affects the life satisfaction of university students. We used nationwide survey data from German university students (N = 913) to analyze differences in life satisfaction for those who did or did not return to their parental homes. Our results revealed two main findings. First, university students who moved back to their parental home reported significantly lower life satisfaction than those who remained living independently. Second, the association between moving back and life satisfaction varied by age. A return to the parental home was more detrimental to older students’ life satisfaction, while students aged 24 or younger did not experience a significant decrease when moving back to the parental home. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of young adults’ subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burnout and Mental Interventions among Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Studies
Authors: Wilczyńska Dominika , Qi Wen , Jaenes José Carlos , Alarcón David , Arenilla María José , Lipowski Mariusz
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: The subject of athlete burnout is often discussed among sports psychologists. Interventions to reduce this phenomenon are still under investigation with follow-ups. Thus, the purpose of the current meta-analysis is to examine psychological interventions that was carried out to decrease or eliminate burnout syndrome in young athletes. (2) Methods: Scientific electronic databases were searched, and five published studies published between January and June 2022 that met the criteria were selected. The systematic review and meta-analyses followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias was used to assess the studies’ quality. Metafor, a package of the R statistical program, was used to perform the analysis. (3) Results: Cognitive behavioral therapy- and mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced most dimensions of burnout. Moreover, online interventions were significantly more beneficial in this reduction. (4) Conclusions: There should be more high-quality studies on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing burnout, mainly because it leads to tremendous physical and psychological problems for athletes and their coaches; therefore, it requires particular interventions and prevention strategies.
Accelerated Cognitive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)
Authors: Jung Jaehoon , Kim Sunyoung , Kim Byungsung , Kim Miji , Yang Jisoo , Chung Dongmin , Won Changwon
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive function of community-dwelling elderly individuals. Five-year (2016 to 2020) longitudinal data of the Korea Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS) were used. There were 1559 participants in 2016 and 1455 in 2017 aged 72–84 years. Follow-up was conducted at two-year intervals. We selected participants from the database of the 2017 and 2018 surveys for intergroup comparison over 2-year follow-ups. The number of study patients in the 2017-Group was 1027 and that of the 2018-Group was 879. In the intergroup comparison, the mean difference of word list memory score from 2018 to 2020 was −0.14, while that from 2017 to 2019 was 0.53. The mean difference of word list recall score from 2018 to 2020 was −0.25, while that from 2017 to 2019 was 0.03. These were significant even after adjusting confounding variables. In the intragroup comparison, the word list memory and recall scores from 2018 to 2020 were more decreased than those from 2016 to 2018. Conclusively, cognitive function of the Korean elderly cohort declined much more during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic, particularly in terms of memory and recall function.
The Sustainable Development Goals Psychological Inventory: A Network Analysis in Italian University Students
Authors: Svicher Andrea , Gori Alessio , Di Fabio Annamaria
Published: August 2022

The Sustainable Development Goals Psychological Inventory (SDGPI) is a recently developed self-report questionnaire that assesses interest, motivation, and self-efficacy associated with each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advanced by the United Nations. This study aims to investigate, via network analysis, (a) the relationships between interest, motivation, and self-efficacy for each SDG and (b) the most central SDGs. To this end, 417 Italian university students (73.9% females and 26.1% males; mean age: 22.20; DS = 3.02) were assessed through the SDGPI, and two network structures were estimated. The first network structure investigates links (edges) between interest, motivation, and self-efficacy in relation to each specific SDG. The second network structure investigates most central SDGs as the sum of interest, motivation, and self-efficacy for each specific SDG. Regarding results, the first network structure showed that five SDGs had strong and statistically significant edges between interest, motivation, and self-efficacy; seven SDGs had strong and statistically significant edges between interest and motivation but not self-efficacy; five SDGs had no statistically significant edges linking the other dimensions. The second network structure revealed that SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) were the most central nodes. Implications for research, tailor-made interventions, and prevention were discussed.
Uncovering the Heterogeneity in Fitness App Use: A Latent Class Analysis of Chinese Users
Authors: Jiang Li Crystal , Sun Mengru , Huang Guanxiong
Published: August 2022

This study examines fitness app use patterns and their correlates among Chinese users from the perspectives of uses and gratification theory and self-determination theory. Our sample comprised 632 users of WeRun, the fitness plugin of WeChat, the largest Chinese mobile social networking app; participants completed an online survey and provided self-tracked physical activity data, which were subjected to latent class analysis. Based on the four-class latent class model (which yielded the best model fit and the most interpretable results), 30.5%, 27.5%, 24.7%, and 17.3% of the users were categorized as light users, reward-oriented users, lifestyle-oriented users, and interaction-oriented users, respectively. Moreover, class membership was associated with gender, age, education, income, life satisfaction, autonomy, and platform-based motivations. There is a significant heterogeneity in fitness app use and exercise behaviors. Platform-based motivations and autonomy are important classification factors, as users are looking for specific kinds of gratification from their use of fitness apps. Demographics and individual characteristics are also explanatory factors for class membership. The study findings suggest that fitness app designers should segment users based on motivation and gratification.