bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Nutmeg With Different Mildew Degree Based on HPLC Fingerprint, GC-MS, and E-Nose
Authors: Yang Rui-Qi , Li Jia-Hui , Feng Hui-Shang , Yao Yue-Bao , Guo Xing-Yu , Yu Shu-Lin , Cui Yang , Zou Hui-Qin , Yan Yong-Hong
Published: June 2022

Nutmeg (Myristicae Semen), the so-called Rou-Dou-Kou in Chinese, is one kind of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) as well as a globally popular spice. Hence, its stable quality and safe application attract more attention. However, it is highly prone to mildew during storage due to its rich volatile components and fatty oil. Therefore, in this study, an electronic nose (E-nose) was introduced to attempt to reliably and rapidly identify nutmeg samples with different degrees of mildew. Meanwhile, the chemical composition and volatile oil were analyzed using HPLC fingerprint and GC-MS, respectively, which could support and validate the result of E-nose. The results showed that the cluster results of HPLC fingerprint and GC-MS were generally consistent with E-nose, and they all clustered into two categories. Additionally, a discriminant model was established, which divided the samples into three categories: mildew-free, mildew-slight, and mildew, and a high DPR was obtained, which indicates that the E-nose could be a novel and promising approach for the establishment of a quality evaluation system to identify CHMs with different degrees of mildew rapidly, especially to identify early mildew.
Research Progress of Long Non-Coding RNA GAS5 in Malignant Tumors
Authors: Lin Guohong , Wu Tianzhun , Gao Xing , He Ziqin , Nong Wenwei
Published: June 2022

With completing the whole genome sequencing project, awareness of lncRNA further deepened. The growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) was initially identified in growth-inhibiting cells. GAS5 is a lncRNA (long non-coding RNA), and it plays a crucial role in various human cancers. There are small ORFs (open reading frames) in the exons of the GAS5 gene sequence, but they do not encode functional proteins. In addition, GAS5 is also the host gene of several small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA). These snoRNAs are believed to play a suppressive role during tumor progression by methylating ribosomal RNA (rRNA). As a result, GAS5 expression levels in tumor tissues are significantly reduced, leading to increased malignancy, poor prognosis, and drug resistance. Recent studies have demonstrated that GAS5 can interact with miRNAs by base-pairing and other functional proteins to inhibit their biological functions, impacting signaling pathways and changing the level of intracellular autophagy, oxidative stress, and immune cell function in vivo. In addition, GAS5 participates in regulating proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis through the above molecular mechanisms. This article reviews the recent discoveries on GAS5, including its expression levels in different tumors, its biological behavior, and its molecular regulation mechanism in human cancers. The value of GAS5 as a molecular marker in the prevention and treatment of cancers is also discussed.
Early enteral vs. oral nutrition after Whipple procedure: Study protocol for a multicentric randomized controlled trial (NUTRIWHI trial)
Authors: Joliat Gaëtan-Romain , Martin David , Labgaa Ismail , Melloul Emmanuel , Uldry Emilie , Halkic Nermin , Fotsing Ginette , Cristaudi Alessandra , Majno-Hurst Pietro , Vrochides Dionisios , Demartines Nicolas , Schäfer Markus
Published: June 2022

Background

Malnutrition has been shown to be a risk factor for postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). In addition, patients needing a PD, such as patients with pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis, often are malnourished. The best route of postoperative nutrition after PD remains unknown. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate if early postoperative enteral nutrition can decrease complications after PD compared to oral nutrition.

Methods

This multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial will include 128 patients undergoing PD with a nutritional risk screening ≥3. Patients will be randomized 1:1 using variable block randomization stratified by center to receive either early enteral nutrition (intervention group) or oral nutrition (control group) after PD. Patients in the intervention group will receive enteral nutrition since the first night of the operation (250 ml/12 h), and enteral nutrition will be increased daily if tolerated until 1000 ml/12 h. The primary outcome will be the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) at 90 days after PD.

Discussion

This study with its multicentric and randomized design will permit to establish if early postoperative enteral nutrition after PD improves postoperative outcomes compared to oral nutrition in malnourished patients.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/(NCT05042882) Registration date: September 2021.
In Situ Tumor Vaccine Expressing Anti-CD47 Antibody Enhances Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhang Bin , Shu Yongheng , Hu Shichuan , Qi Zhongbing , Chen Yanwei , Ma Jinhu , Wang Yunmeng , Cheng Ping
Published: June 2022

In situ tumor vaccine is a potential cancer therapy due to their advantages in induction of antitumor immune responses. Oncolytic virotherapy utilizes natural or engineered oncolytic viruses to kill tumors selectively, representing a promising in situ tumor vaccine for cancer immunotherapy. In addition to direct oncolysis, oncolytic viruses elicit potent and durable antitumor immune responses by induction of immunogenic cell death of tumors. Membrane protein CD47 overexpressed on tumor cells engages in “don’t eat me” signal that prevents macrophages from engulfing tumor cells. CD47-targeting agents have been tested via preclinical and clinical trials. As potential tumor vaccine vectors, oncolytic viruses can be engineered to express anti-CD47 antibodies to induce potentiated tumor killing. Therefore, we developed an adenovirus-based tumor vaccine loaded with a CD47-targeting nanobody fused with the IgG2a Fc protein. B16-F10 melanoma, A20 lymphoma, and 4T1 breast cancer models in immunocompetent mice were established to evaluated in vivo antitumor efficacy of in situ tumor vaccination. The tumor vaccine armed with a nanobody against CD47 induced durable suppression of the tumor and long-term survival of tumor-bearing mice, and also elevated the number of tumor-infiltrating immune cells with an activated immunophenotype, suggesting that it could remodel the tumor immune microenvironment. Systemic antitumor effects and immune memory were also observed in immunocompetent mice following in situ vaccination with the anti-CD47 tumor vaccines; tumorigenesis was completely inhibited in these mice after tumor re-challenge. The recombinant anti-CD47 tumor vaccine has an effectual antitumor activity and may be a promising antitumor agent.
TP53 Mutations Identified Using NGS Comprise the Overwhelming Majority of TP53 Disruptions in CLL: Results From a Multicentre Study
Authors: Catherwood Mark A. , Wren Dorte , Chiecchio Laura , Cavalieri Doriane , Donaldson David , Lawless Sarah , ElHassadi Ezzat , Hayat Amjad , Cahill Mary R. , O’Shea Derville , Sargent Jeremy , Stewart Peter , Maurya Manisha , Quinn John , Murphy Philip , de Castro David Gonzalez , Mills Ken , Cross Nicholas C. P. , Forconi Francesco , Iyengar Sunil , Schuh Anna , Thornton Patrick
Published: June 2022

Limited data exists to show the correlation of (tumour protein 53) TP53 mutation detected by Next generation sequencing (NGS) and the presence/absence of deletions of 17p13 detected by FISH. The study which is the largest series to date includes 2332 CLL patients referred for analysis of del(17p) by FISH and TP53 mutations by NGS before treatment. Using a 10% variant allele frequency (VAF) threshold, cases were segregated into high burden mutations (≥10%) and low burden mutations (<10%). TP53 aberrations (17p [del(17p)] and/or TP53 mutation) were detected in 320/2332 patients (13.7%). Using NGS analysis, 429 TP53 mutations were identified in 303 patients (13%). Of these 238 (79%) and 65 (21%) were cases with high burden and low burden mutations respectively. In our cohort, 2012 cases did not demonstrate a TP53 aberration (86.3%). A total of 159 cases showed TP53 mutations in the absence of del(17p) (49/159 with low burden TP53 mutations) and 144 cases had both TP53 mutation and del(17p) (16/144 with low burden mutations). Only 17/2332 (0.7%) cases demonstrated del(17p) with no TP53 mutation. Validated NGS protocols should be used in clinical decision making to avoid missing low-burden TP53 mutations and can detect the vast majority of TP53 aberrations.
Hormone Therapy Reduces Recurrence in Stage II-IV Uterine Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcomas: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Huang Xiaodi , Peng Peng
Published: June 2022

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS) is a rare and indolent malignancy. Hormone therapy has been reported as an adjuvant treatment for LG-ESS, although its effectiveness is controversial. Here we aimed to investigate the effects of postoperative hormone therapy on recurrence in patients with uterine LG-ESS. Between January 2010 and December 2019, a total of 152 patients (23 with and 129 without fertility-sparing) with a diagnosis of primary uterine LG-ESS confirmed by pathologists were enrolled in this study. In the cohort without fertility-sparing, 22 (17.7%) patients had recurrence, and the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 47 (2-130) months; only one of these patients died of LG-ESS. No significant difference was found in recurrence between the groups with and without hormone therapy (p=0.802). However, subgroup analysis showed that hormone therapy decreased the recurrence rate in stage II-IV (p=0.001, HR 0.144, 95% CI: 0.038-0.548), but not in stage I disease (p=0.256). High-dose progestins notably reduced recurrence (p=0.012, HR 0.154, 95% CI: 0.036-0.660), whereas non-progestin therapy marginally influenced recurrence (p=0.054) compared with no hormone therapy in stage II-IV disease. Moreover, hormone therapy within 12 months was effective in reducing recurrence (p=0.038, HR 0.241, 95% CI: 0.063-0.922). Ovarian preservation (p=0.004, HR 6.250, 95% CI: 1.786-21.874) and negative expression of ER/PR (p=0.000, HR 23.249, 95% CI: 4.912-110.026) were high-risk factors for recurrence in patients without fertility-sparing. In the fertility-sparing cohort, 15 (65.2%) patients experienced recurrence, and the median DFS was 24 (3-107) months. Six patients successfully delivered healthy fetuses, and five received hormone therapy. Twelve patients finally accepted hysterectomy after repeated recurrence, and only two of them had given birth before surgery. Patients who received hormone therapy showed longer DFS, although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.466). In conclusion, postoperative hormone therapy reduces recurrence in patients with stage II–IV uterine LG-ESS without fertility-sparing, and high-dose treatment with progestins within 12 months is recommended. Bilateral oophorectomy can also reduce the risk of recurrence. Patients with fertility-sparing have a high risk of recurrence and poor pregnancy outcomes, and hormone therapy may be a reasonable choice in postoperative management.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neonates Admitted to a Tertiary Care NICU in Bulgaria
Authors: Rangelova Vanya R. , Raycheva Ralitsa D. , Kevorkyan Ani K. , Krasteva Maya B. , Kalchev Yordan I.
Published: June 2022

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common hospital-acquired infection (HAI) among neonatal patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) and is a serious challenge for neonatologists because it affects critically ill patients who need prolonged mechanical ventilation. In Bulgaria, there is no detailed data at regional and national levels on the characteristics of VAP in newborns, which imposes a necessity for specific studies of risk factors and etiology of VAP. The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency, characteristics and risk factors for the occurrence of VAP in newborns hospitalized in intensive care unit. This was a prospective study, conducted between January 2017 and June 2018 in the NICU of University Hospital “St. George” Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The sample consisted of 507 neonates, followed up prospectively, 107 of whom were placed on mechanical ventilation for ≥48 h. VAP was diagnosed in 33 out of 107 neonates (31%). The VAP incidence rate was 35.06/1.000 ventilator days. We confirmed differences between the median birth weight (1,310 vs. 1,690 g, p = 0.045) and average gestational age (31.08 g.w. vs. 33.08 g.w, p = 0.04) of the patients with and without VAP. The average stay of patients with VAP in the NICU was statistically significantly longer than the hospital stay of non-VAP patients (35.70 ± 21.84 days vs. 21.77 ± 17.27 days (t = 3.241, p = 0.002). In neonates with VAP, the duration of mechanical ventilation was statistically significantly longer compared with non-VAP patients (16.88 ± 11.99 vs. 5.42 ± 4.48; t = 5.249, p = 0.000). A statistically significant prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria among VAP patients was demonstrated (91%) compared to the Gram-positive (9%), p < 0.05. The leading causative agent of VAP was Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBLs + (27%), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (14%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%) and Escherichia coli (12%). In multivariate logistic regression, mechanical ventilation >7 days was established as an independent risk factor for VAP (OR 3.6; 95% CI: 1.7–6.5, p = 0.003). VAP remains a serious and outstanding issue in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. The findings of the current study emphasize that the birth weight, gestational age, and duration of hospital stay have a significant association with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Sinomenine Confers Protection Against Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Preventing Oxidative Stress, Cellular Apoptosis, and Inflammation
Authors: Xia Boyu , Li Qi , Wu Jingjing , Yuan Xiaomei , Wang Fei , Lu Xu , Huang Chao , Zheng Koulong , Yang Rongrong , Yin Le , Liu Kun , You Qingsheng
Published: June 2022

Sinomenine (SIN), an alkaloid extracted from the root of S. acutum. sinomenine, has been shown to have antiarrhythmic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) ex vivo. In this study, we investigated the cardioprotective effects of SIN in an in vivo mouse model of MIRI. Adult male C57BL/6J mice received SIN (80 mg/kg) for 5 days and underwent 30 min of percutaneous occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Results showed that pretreatment with SIN significantly reduced myocardial infarct size and concentrations of markers of cardiac injury and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (FS) in MIRI mice. The SIN pretreatment prevented the MIRI-induced decrease in the expression levels of Bcl-2, increase in the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax, and increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells in ischemic heart tissue. It was also found that pretreatment with SIN prevented the MIRI-induced oxidative stress imbalance in ischemic heart tissue, as shown by the increase in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione (GSH) and the decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and dihydroethidium (DHE) density. Further studies showed that the stimulus of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion caused a remarkable increase in the expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA in ischemic heart tissue, which was effectively prevented by pretreatment with SIN. These results demonstrate that SIN can attenuate MIRI-induced cardiac injury in vivo by preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Design of Dual-Functional Metaoptics for the Spin-Controlled Generation of Orbital Angular Momentum Beams
Authors: Vogliardi Andrea , Romanato Filippo , Ruffato Gianluca
Published: June 2022

The capability of multiple orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes generation with high resolution and diversified functionalities in the visible and near-infrared regime is challenging for flat and integrated optical devices. Additionally, having a static tiny optical device capable of generating multiple structured spots in space reduces the complexity of optical paths that typically use dynamic optical components and/or many standard elements, leading to unprecedented miniaturization and compactness of optical systems. In this regard, we propose dual-functional transmission dielectric metalenses based on a set of Pancharatnam-Berry phase meta-atoms with different cross-sections, for the combined manipulation of the dynamic and geometric phases. In particular, we present and describe the numerical algorithms for the computation of dual-functional metaoptics and we apply those techniques to the design of optical elements which are able to generate and focus different OAM modes at distinct points in space. In the specific, the designed elements enable the independent or simultaneous manipulation of right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized waves, by acting on the helicity of the input beam to enable or disable a specific optical operation. The theoretical proof-of-concept results highlight the capability of the designed metalenses to generate multiple high-resolution focused OAM modes at different points in space by exploiting the polarization of the incident beam as a degree of freedom, thus providing new integrated optics for applications in the fields of high-resolution microscopy, optical manipulation, and optical communications, both in the classical and single-photon regimes.
Not Lower-Limb Joint Strength and Stiffness but Vertical Stiffness and Isometric Force-Time Characteristics Correlate With Running Economy in Recreational Male Runners
Authors: Zhang Qin , Nassis George P. , Chen Shiqin , Shi Yue , Li Fei
Published: June 2022

Neuromuscular characteristics, such as lower-limb joint strength, the ability to reuse elastic energy, and to generate force are essential factors influencing running performance. However, their relationship with running economy (RE) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between isokinetic lower-limb joint peak torque (PT), lower-limb stiffness, isometric force-time characteristics and RE among recreational-trained male runners. Thirty male collegiate runners (aged 20–22 years, VO2max: 54.02 ± 4.67 ml·kg−1·min−1) participated in test sessions on four separate days. In the first session, the body composition and RE at 10 km·h−1 were determined. In the second session, leg and vertical stiffness (Kleg and Kvert), knee and ankle stiffness (Kknee and Kankle) were evaluated. In the third session, isokinetic knee and ankle joint PT at velocity of 60°s−1 were tested. The force-time characteristics of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) were evaluated in the final session. The Pearson’s product-moment correlations analysis shows that there were no significant relationships between knee and ankle joint concentric and eccentric PT, Kknee and Kankle, Kleg, and RE at 10 km·h−1. However, Kvert (r = −0.449, p < 0.05) and time-specific rate of force development (RFD) for IMTP from 0 to 50 to 0–300 ms (r = −0.434 to −0.534, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with RE. Therefore, superior RE in recreational runners may not be related to knee and ankle joint strength and stiffness. It seems to be associated with vertical stiffness and the capacity to rapidly produce force within 50–300 ms throughout the lower limb.
Genome-Wide Dissection of the Genetic Basis for Drought Tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum L. Races
Authors: Guo Xinlei , Wang Yuanyuan , Hou Yuqing , Zhou Zhongli , Sun Runrun , Qin Tengfei , Wang Kunbo , Liu Fang , Wang Yuhong , Huang Zhongwen , Xu Yanchao , Cai Xiaoyan
Published: June 2022

Drought seriously threats the growth and development ofGossypium hirsutumL. To dissect the genetic basis for drought tolerance in theG. hirsutumL. germplasm, a population, consisting of 188 accessions ofG. hirsutumraces and a cultivar (TM-1), was genotyped using the Cotton80KSNP biochip, and 51,268 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained. Based on the phenotypic data of eight drought relative traits from four environments, we carried out association mapping with five models using GAPIT software. In total, thirty-six SNPs were detected significantly associated at least in two environments or two models. Among these SNPs, 8 and 28 (including 24 SNPs in 5 peak regions) were distributed in the A and D subgenome, respectively; eight SNPs were found to be distributed within separate genes. An SNP, TM73079, located on chromosome D10, was simultaneously associated with leaf fresh weight, leaf wilted weight, and leaf dry weight. Another nine SNPs, TM47696, TM33865, TM40383, TM10267, TM59672, TM59675, TM59677, TM72359, and TM72361, on chromosomes A13, A10, A12, A5, D6, and D9, were localized within or near previously reported quantitative trait loci for drought tolerance. Moreover, 520 genes located 200 kb up- and down-stream of 36 SNPs were obtained and analyzed based on gene annotation and transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that three candidate genes,Gh_D08G2462, Gh_A03G0043, andGh_A12G0369, may play important roles in drought tolerance. The current GWAS represents the first investigation into mapping QTL for drought tolerance inG. hirsutumraces and provides important information for improving cotton cultivars.
Integrate QTL Mapping and Transcription Profiles Reveal Candidate Genes Regulating Flowering Time in Brassica napus
Authors: Liu Zigang , Dong Xiaoyun , Zheng Guoqiang , Xu Chunmei , Wei Jiaping , Cui Junmei , Cao Xiaodong , Li Hui , Fang Xinlin , Wang Ying , Tian Haiyan
Published: June 2022

Flowering at the proper time is an important part of acclimation to the ambient environment and season and maximizes the plant yield. To reveal the genetic architecture and molecular regulation of flowering time in oilseed rape (Brassica napus), we performed an RNA-seq analysis of the two parents after vernalization at low temperature and combined this with quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in an F2 population. A genetic linkage map that included 1,017 markers merged into 268 bins and covered 793.53 cM was constructed. Two QTLs associated with flowering time were detected in the F2 population. qFTA06 was the major QTL in the 7.06 Mb interval on chromosome A06 and accounted for 19.3% of the phenotypic variation. qFTC08 was located on chromosome C06 and accounted for 8.6% of the phenotypic variation. RNA-seq analysis revealed 4,626 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two parents during vernalization. Integration between QTL mapping and RNA-seq analysis revealed six candidate genes involved in the regulation of flowering time through the circadian clock/photoperiod, auxin and ABA hormone signal, and cold signal transduction and vernalization pathways. These results provide insights into the molecular genetic architecture of flowering time in B. napus.
Adaptative Mechanisms of Halophytic Eutrema salsugineum Encountering Saline Environment
Authors: Li Chuanshun , Duan Chonghao , Zhang Hengyang , Zhao Yaoyao , Meng Zhe , Zhao Yanxiu , Zhang Quan
Published: June 2022

Salt cress (Eutrema salsugineum), an Arabidopsis-related halophyte, can naturally adapt to various harsh climates and soil conditions; thus, it is considered a desirable model plant for deciphering mechanisms of salt and other abiotic stresses. Accumulating evidence has revealed that compared with Arabidopsis, salt cress possesses stomata that close more tightly and more succulent leaves during extreme salt stress, a noticeably higher level of proline, inositols, sugars, and organic acids, as well as stress-associated transcripts in unstressed plants, and they are induced rapidly under stress. In this review, we systematically summarize the research on the morphology, physiology, genome, gene expression and regulation, and protein and metabolite profile of salt cress under salt stress. We emphasize the latest advances in research on the genome adaptive evolution encountering saline environments, and epigenetic regulation, and discuss the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in salt cress. Finally, we discuss the existing questions and opportunities for future research in halophytic Eutrema. Together, the review fosters a better understanding of the mechanism of plant salt tolerance and provides a reference for the research and utilization of Eutrema as a model extremophile in the future. Furthermore, the prospects for salt cress applied to explore the mechanism of salt tolerance provide a theoretical basis to develop new strategies for agricultural biotechnology.
Classification of Toona sinensis Young Leaves Using Machine Learning and UAV-Borne Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Wu Haoran , Song Zhaoying , Niu Xiaoyun , Liu Jun , Jiang Jingmin , Li Yanjie
Published: June 2022

Rapid and accurate distinction between young and old leaves of Toona sinensis in the wild is of great significance to the selection of T. sinensis varieties and the evaluation of relative yield. In this study, UAV hyperspectral imaging technology was used to obtain canopy hyperspectral data of biennial seedlings of different varieties of T. sinensis to distinguish young and old leaves. Five classification models were trained, namely Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Decision Tree (DT), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Raw spectra and six preprocessing methods were used to fit the best classification model. Satisfactory accuracy was obtained from all the five models using the raw spectra. The SVM model showed good performance on raw spectra and all preprocessing methods, and yielded higher accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and specificity than other models. In the end, the SVM model based on the raw spectra produced the most reliable and robust prediction results (99.62% accuracy and 99.23% sensitivity on the validation set only, and 100.00% for the rest). Three important spectral regions of 422.7~503.2, 549.2, and 646.2~687.2 nm were found to be highly correlated with the identification of young leaves of T. sinensis. In this study, a fast and effective method for identifying young leaves of T. sinensis was found, which provided a reference for the rapid identification of young leaves of T. sinensis in the wild.
Accessing the Influence of Consumer Participation on Purchase Intention Toward Community Group Buying Platform
Authors: Hongsuchon Tanaporn , Li Jing
Published: June 2022

The rapid development of community group buying platforms has attracted a huge attention from both the practical and academic communities. Although previous research has explored the influence patterns of community group buying platform on the customers’ purchase intention, there are limited studies on how customers’ purchase intention is influenced by their participation behavior. Therefore, based on social identity theory, this study constructs a theoretical model of consumer participation influencing users’ purchase intention through community identity in the community group purchase context, and examines the moderating role of users’ privacy concerns in this process in conjunction with privacy concern theory to systematically explore the role of consumer participation on purchase intention and its boundary conditions. In this study, the data collected from 532 valid samples are analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results of the study found that customer engagement behavior had a significant effect on purchase intention through the mediation of community identity, where privacy concerns negatively moderated the effect of community identity on purchase intention. The study reveals the intrinsic mechanism of customer engagement influencing purchase intention and its boundary conditions, which provides the suggestions for the marketing management and business practice of community group platforms.
Exploring Trends in Environmental, Social, and Governance Themes and Their Sentimental Value Over Time
Authors: Park Joonbeom , Choi Woojoo , Jung Sang-Uk
Published: June 2022

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is an indicator that measures a company’s non-financial performance. Many firms have recently emphasized the importance of ESG. Ascertaining what topics are being discussed around ESG and how they change over time will contribute significantly to gaining insight into ESG. Using 73,397,870 text data scraped and refined from publicly available Twitter data, this study applied Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and the dynamic topic model (DTM) to ascertain the hidden structure of the ESG-related document collection and the topics being discussed. The study further conducts a sentiment analysis to examine the sentiment of the general public regarding ESG. Topic modeling shows that various topics regarding ESG are being discussed and evolve over time. Sentiment analysis shows that many people have neutral or positive sentiments toward ESG-related issues. This study contributes to exploring insights into ESG among the public and understanding public reactions toward ESG. We further conclude the study with a discussion of managerial implications and potential future research.
Investigating the Parental and Media Influence on Gender Stereotypes and Young Student’s Career Choices in Pakistan
Authors: Hassan Mehdi , Luo Yingzi , Gu Jianxiu , Mushtaque Iqra , Rizwan Muhammad
Published: June 2022

The study aimed to examine the impact of parental influence and media richness on gender stereotypes and career decisions among students at the secondary level in Pakistan. The sample size was 200 students, selected through a simple random sampling technique from government and private schools. Four questionnaires were used to gather data. The data was analyzed quantitatively using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Regression analyses were used to investigate the impact of parental influence (β = 0.50) on gender stereotypes and media richness influence (β = 0.26) on gender stereotype beliefs. Furthermore, parental, media, and gender stereotype behavior all have a significant impact on students’ career choices (R2 = 0.694). On the scale of the parental influence and media richness, no significant gender differences were found. It is concluded that parental influence has a greater effect on students’ gender stereotyping behavior and career choices.
CEOs’ Financial Background and Non-financial Enterprises’ Shadow Banking Business
Authors: Yang Chen , Shen Weitao
Published: June 2022

In recent years, the “financial-like” behavior of non-financial enterprises has contributed to the “off real to virtual,” which has seriously restricted the virtuous cycle of finance and economy. This study selects non-financial enterprises listed on Chinese A-shares from 2008 to 2019 as the research sample, and empirically analyzes the impact of CEOs’ financial background (FB) on the shadow banking business of non-financial enterprises and its mechanism. The results show that: (1) CEOs’ FB has a positive effect on shadow banking business of non-financial enterprises; among which, the positive effect generated by non-banking FB is stronger. The conclusions still hold after robustness tests by replacing the measurement of variables, controlling for other shocks, changing the parameter estimation method, and considering the endogeneity problem. (2) The mechanism analysis reveals the positive effect mainly by reducing the level of entity investment by enterprises. (3) The heterogeneity analysis finds that, on the one hand, with respect to the internal micro characteristics of enterprises, the positive effect is more significant in state-owned enterprises, non-manufacturing enterprises, and non-growth stage enterprises. On the other hand, with respect to the external macro environment, the positive effect is more significant in periods of easy monetary policy, in industries with a higher competition or in regions with a better institutional environment. This study reveals the intrinsic mechanism of CEOs’ FB and non-financial enterprises’ shadow banking business, enriches the study of the influencing factors of non-financial enterprises’ shadow banking business, and provides micro-level empirical support to alleviate the “off real to virtual” of the economy.
The Moderating Effect of Learning Experience on Learning Motivation and Learning Outcomes of International Students
Authors: Zhang Jingxiao , Sun Gangzhu , Xu Lin , Khan Inayat , Lv Weidong , Philbin Simon P.
Published: June 2022

With the increasing level of internationalization in higher education, the number of international students in mainland China is rapidly increasing. However, limited research has considered that student results may be affected by a reduced motivation to learn. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the effect of the learning motivation on the learning outcomes of international students and the moderating role of learning experience. A sample of 130 international students from 23 countries studying in mainland China was analyzed. The study found a significant correlation between the learning motivations and international students' learning outcomes. It was also determined that learning experience has significantly enhances the relationship between learning motivation and the learning outcomes of international students. This study contributes to the higher education literature on learning motivation by students and learning outcomes.
Psychological Emotion and Behavior Analysis in Music Teaching Based on the Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction Motivation Model
Authors: Li Dong
Published: June 2022

The abbreviation ARCS in the ARCS motivational model comprises the first letters of four English words: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. The ARCS motivation model is based on a systematic and easy-to-operate motivation theory. Many research studies have verified the applicability and effectiveness of the ARCS model in education worldwide. The proposed optimized ARCS motivation model takes the traditional ARCS motivation model and systematically optimizes it to make it suitable for the coding of data from videos of music classes. The case analysis method selected 14 high-quality music lessons as the research object. The optimized ARCS model involves text conversion, coding, and statistical analysis of the transcripts of videos of high-quality music classes. The data analysis was used to analyze the characteristics of students’ emotional and behavioral motivation incentive strategies in each section of the ARCS motivation model in combination with specific high-quality case lesson fragments. This paper summarizes ways and means of using a motivational approach in the teaching of quality music classes, providing theoretical support for the practice of music teaching.
Sustainable Leadership, Environmental Turbulence, Resilience, and Employees' Wellbeing in SMEs
Authors: Iqbal Qaisar , Piwowar-Sulej Katarzyna
Published: June 2022

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory and contingency theories of leadership, this study aims to investigate how sustainable leadership (SL) influences employees' wellbeing (WB) through employee resilience (ER) and to examine the moderating effect of environmental turbulence (ET) on the “sustainable leadership-employees' wellbeing” relationship. Data were collected from 593 employees and 373 supervisors adopting two-wave design among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. The authors used structural equation modeling to empirically test the hypothesized model in this study. The research shows that SL is significantly related to the employees' WB in SMEs. Regarding mediating effect, SL also indirectly influences employees' WB through ER. Moreover, the impact of SL on employees' WB becomes more prominent in the presence of lower ET. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no prior study is available about the integrated relationship of SL, ER, ET, and employee WB.
English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Identity and Motivation: The Role of Mindfulness
Authors: Zhu Dianyong
Published: June 2022

Teaching is a career with a high rate of anxiety and burnout in all phases of teaching with specific challenges related to the feature of language education. The concept of motivation can be an important basic mechanism since educators who are not motivated are distressed because of the anxious characteristic of the education profession. Moreover, educator identity is a new issue that has built a perspective to examine educators’ growth by thinking about who they are as well as how they perform what they perform in a specific situation. Recently, programs that are based on mindfulness are known as efficient interventions enhancing motivation and decreasing tension in people. Given the prominence of mindfulness in educational settings and its neglected role in foreign language learning, the contemporary review attempts to inspect the function of mindfulness on English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ motivation and identity. Subsequently, some pedagogical recommendations for the educational representatives such as teachers and teacher trainers are offered.
Feasibility of an Extensive Strategy for Adult Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Patients Suffering From Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Therribout Norman , Karsinti Emily , Morel Alix , Dereux Alexandra , Vorspan Florence , Romo Lucia , Icick Romain
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is found in up to 20% adults with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). ADHD + SUD is associated with a more complex clinical presentation and poorer outcomes than each disorder alone. In the presence of SUD, adult ADHD is particularly difficult to diagnose as both disorders can mimic or hide the symptoms of each other. Our university hospital in Paris recently started an extensive outpatient diagnostic procedure for adult patients with SUD to ascertain or refute ADHD diagnosis and to provide therapeutic guidance. Here, we report the acceptability of the assessment procedure for patients and the preliminary description of the current and lifetime clinical profiles as a function of the final diagnosis “ADHD vs. no ADHD.”

Method

Adult SUD patients with suspected ADHD were included in the current pilot study after stating they had no objection that their de-identified data were used for research purposes, according to French ethical procedures. Patients were evaluated for ADHD, comorbid mental disorders, cognitive state and dimensional psychological variables. They were assessed by trained psychologists and psychiatrists using standardized tools over a day. ADHD diagnosis was mainly based on the Diagnostisch Interview Voor ADHD for DSM-5 (DIVA-5).

Results

Out of 18 eligible patients, 17 were included in the cohort (1 excluded) and none was opposed to using their data. Thirteen (76%) participants were diagnosed with ADHD. All patients appointed for the ADHD diagnostic procedure came, respected schedules and finished the evaluation. All patients were impaired on cognitive functioning and were highly comorbid, but ADHD patients seems to suffer even more from those conditions, especially for cannabis and stimulant use disorders.

Discussion

Preliminary results show high acceptability of the procedure by ADHD-SUD patients. This result could be explained by all the organization adapted to the psychopathology. Patients' baseline motivation to participate also represents an uncontrolled variable that could promote the ability to follow the procedure. Acceptance results of the protocol are promising and represent a starting point to identify the best procedures to design patient-centered pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.
The Relationship Between Negative Focused Disposition and Suicidal Ideation Among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Somatic Anxiety, General Distress, and Depression
Authors: Sun Guoxiao , Liu Zongyu , Ma Zhiyao , Lew Bob , Jia Cunxian
Published: June 2022

Objective

Suicide among college students is a major public health problem. Research has confirmed that negative focused disposition had a significant effect on suicidal ideation. This study aims to evaluate somatic anxiety, general distress and depression as mediators of the relationship between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation.

Methods

A total of 1798 college students (942 males) were recruited to complete measures of negative focused disposition, somatic anxiety, general distress, positive affect and suicidal ideation. The mediation models were conducted to assess the mediating effects of somatic anxiety, general distress and depression.

Results

There was a significant and positive correlation between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation in Chinese college students. On mediation analysis, somatic anxiety, general distress and depression mediated the relationship between negative focused disposition and suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

Negative focused disposition appears to directedly associate with suicidal ideation and can indirectly relate to suicidal ideation through the relation with somatic anxiety, general distress and depression. College students with few positive expectations of the future may benefit from interventions focusing on somatic anxiety, general distress and depression.
Research on the Current Situation and Countermeasures of Inpatient Cost and Medical Insurance Payment Method for Rehabilitation Services in City S
Authors: Tang Dongfeng , Bian Jinwei , He Meihui , Yang Ning , Zhang Dan
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study aimed to introduce bed-day payment for rehabilitation services in City S, China, and analyze the cost of inpatient rehabilitation services. Key issues were defined and relevant countermeasures were discussed.

Methods

The data about the rehabilitation cost of 3,828 inpatient patients from June 2018 to December 2019 was used. Descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis test were employed to describe sample characteristics and clarify the comparity of cost and length of stay (LOS) across different groups. After normalizing the distribution of cost and LOS by Box–Cox transformation, multiple linear regression was used to explore the factors influencing cost and LOS by calculating the variance inflation factor (VIF) to identify multicollinearity. Finally, 20 senior and middle management personnel of the hospitals were interviewed through a semi-structured interview method to further figure out the existing problems and countermeasures.

Results

(1) During 2015–2019: both discharges and the cost of rehabilitation hospitalization in City S rose rapidly. (2) The highest number of discharges were for circulatory system diseases (57.65%). Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases were noted to have the longest average length of stay (ALOS) reaching 105.8 days. The shortest ALOS was found to be 24.2 days from the diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Neurological, circulatory, urological, psychiatric, infectious, and parasitic diseases were observed to be generally more costly. (3) The cost of rehabilitation was determined to mainly consist of the rehabilitation fee (23.63%), comprehensive medical service fee (22.61%), and treatment fee (19.03%). (4) Type of disease, age, nature of the hospital, and grade of the hospital have significant influences both on cost and LOS (P < 0.05). The most critical factor affecting the cost was found to be the length of stay (standardized coefficient = 0.777). (5) The key issues of City S's rehabilitative services system were identified to be the incomplete criteria, imperfections in the payment system, and the fragmentation of services.

Conclusions

Bed-day payment is the main payment method for rehabilitation services, but there is a conflict between rapidly rising costs and increasing demand for rehabilitation. The main factors affecting the cost include the length of stay, type of disease, the grade of the hospital, etc. Lack of criteria, imperfections in the payment system, and the fragmentation of services limit sustainability. The core approach is to establish a three-tier rehabilitative network and innovate the current payment system.
Awareness, Barriers and Concerns of Adolescents Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Singapore
Authors: Oka Prawira , Thia Benecia Wan Qing , Gunalan Shyna Zhuoying , Kwan Janae Rae Yann , Ng Ding Xuan , Aau Wai Keong , Wee Juan Dee , Tan Ngiap Chuan
Published: June 2022

Background

COVID-19 vaccination is a key public health measure to mitigate the crippling effects of the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination began in adults and targeted adolescents at a later stage. However, medical decision-making on its uptake among the latter was unknown, which could be affected by their literacy and concerns about the vaccine. The study aimed to elucidate the awareness, concerns and barriers of adolescents toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey using a self-developed questionnaire was conducted between June to November 2021. The adolescent participants were students from institutes of post-secondary education who were recruited via convenience sampling. The data were collated from an officially approved electronic platform, audited and analyzed. Continuous and categorical variables were expressed as mean (standard deviation) and percentages, respectively.

Results

A total of 460 adolescents participated in the study (mean age: 16.99 ± 0.99; 73% female). Most of them (91.5%) were aware of the COVID-19 vaccines. The main barriers to vaccination were uncertainty about long-term health risks (38.6%) and vaccine efficacy (37.3%). Regarding the potential vaccine side effects, they were concerned about: anaphylactic shock (73.2%), low blood pressure (58.3%) and fast heartbeat (58.0%). Only 58% expressed willingness for repeated COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion

Despite high COVID-19 vaccine awareness, the adolescents were concerned about the potentially severe but rare side-effects. The study identified apprehension regarding vaccine efficacy and the potential long-term health impact as the main barriers to vaccination. Future studies should address these concerns to scale vaccination programs among adolescents.