bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mechanistic physiologically based model to assess the effect of study design and modified physiology on formulation safe space for virtual bioequivalence of dermatological drug products
Authors: Clarke J. F. , Thakur K. , Polak S.
Published: December 2022

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are widely accepted tools utilised to describe and predict drug pharmacokinetics (PK). This includes the use of dermal PBPK models at the regulatory level including virtual bioequivalence (VBE) studies. The current work considers the Topicort® Spray formulation, which contains 0.25% desoximetasone (DSM), as an example formulation. Quantitative formulation composition and in vitro permeation testing (IVPT) data were obtained from the public literature to develop a mechanistic model using the multi-phase, multi-layer (MPML) MechDermA IVPT module in the Simcyp Simulator. In vitro–in vivo extrapolation functionality was used to simulate in vivo PK for various scenarios and predict a ‘safe space’ for formulation bioequivalence using the VBE module. The potential effect of vasoconstriction, impaired barrier function, and various dosing scenarios on the formulation safe space was also assessed. The model predicted ‘safe space’ for formulation solubility suggesting that a 50% change in solubility may cause bio-in-equivalence, whereas viscosity could deviate by orders of magnitude and the formulation may still remain bioequivalent. Evaporation rate and fraction of volatile components showed some sensitivity, suggesting that large changes in the volume or composition of the volatile fraction could cause bio-in-equivalence. The tested dosing scenarios showed decreased sensitivity for all formulation parameters with a decreased dose. The relative formulation bioequivalence was insensitive to vasoconstriction, but the safe space became wider with decreased barrier function for all parameters, except viscosity that was unaffected.
Prevalence and predictors of medication non-adherence in children with inflammatory bowel disease in China: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wu Yuanyuan , Huang Lingfei , Sun Jin , Wang Huijuan , Fang Luo , Miao Jing
Published: December 2022

Background: Non-adherence to physician-prescribed medications, especially oral medications, is common in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and medication non-adherence is associated with poorer outcomes in IBD. Therefore, understanding and improving medication adherence in children with IBD is critical for optimizing treatment and improving treatment outcomes. Despite the relatively high prevalence of IBD in children in China, to date, very little is known about medication adherence in these patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of medication non-adherence and its risk factors in children with IBD in China to provide a basis for developing adherence improvement strategies.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. Children (aged <18 years) with IBD who visited the Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from September 2020 to December 2021 were included. Data were collected by a general information questionnaire, the 4-item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-4) and Crohn’s and Colitis Knowledge (CCKNOW) questionnaire. Subsequently, forward stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of medication non-adherence.

Results: A total of 119children were included in this study. The results showed that 33 (27.73%) and 86 (72.27%) children had poor and good medication adherence, respectively. Of these, 83 (69.75%) had forgotten to take their medications sometimes, often, or always. On binary logistic regression, we found that the incidence of medication non-adherence in children with IBD course of 3 years and above [OR 4.82 (95%CI: 1.47-15.88); p = 0.01] was significantly higher than that in children with course of 3 months to 1 year, whereas children with higher parental CCKNOW scores [OR 0.77 (95%CI: 0.67-0.88); p = 0.00] had significantly lower incidence of medication non-adherence than those with lower parental CCKNOW scores, and the results of the correlation between parental knowledge scores of the four categories and children’s medication adherence showed that drug knowledge scores (r = 0.36, p < 0.00) and complication knowledge scores (r = 0.24, p = 0.01) were positively correlated with medication adherence.

Conclusion: Poor medication adherence in children with IBD in China was common, and forgetting to take medication was the main barrier. Longer disease duration (3 years and above) in children could act as a risk factor for medication adherence, whereas higher level of parental knowledge about IBD could act as a protective factor, and one interesting novel finding was that the level of parental knowledge about drug and complication were significantly correlated with medication adherence in children with IBD. Our results may inform on the design and implementation of medication adherence interventions for children with IBD.
Pharmacological inhibition of protein tyrosine kinases axl and fyn reduces TNF-α-induced endothelial inflammatory activation in vitro
Authors: Ellermann Sophie F. , Jongman Rianne M. , Luxen Matthijs , Kuiper Timara , Plantinga Josee , Moser Jill , Scheeren Thomas W. L. , Theilmeier Gregor , Molema Grietje , Van Meurs Matijs
Published: December 2022

Major surgery induces systemic inflammation leading to pro-inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. Endothelial inflammation is one of the drivers of postoperative organ damage, including acute kidney injury Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) is an important component of surgery-induced pro-inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. Kinases, the backbone of signalling cascades, can be targeted by pharmacological inhibition. This is a promising treatment option to interfere with excessive endothelial inflammation. In this study, we identified activated kinases as potential therapeutic targets. These targets were pharmacologically inhibited to reduce TNF-α-induced pro-inflammatory signalling in endothelial cells. Kinome profiling using PamChip arrays identified 64 protein tyrosine kinases and 88 serine-threonine kinases, the activity of which was determined at various timepoints (5–240 min) following stimulation with 10 ng/ml TNF-α in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. The PTKs Axl and Fyn were selected based on high kinase activity profiles. Co-localisation experiments with the endothelial-specific protein CD31 showed Axl expression in endothelial cells of glomeruli and Fyn in arterioles and glomeruli of both control and TNF-α-exposed mice. Pharmacological inhibition with Axl inhibitor BMS-777607 and Fyn inhibitor PP2 significantly reduced TNF-α-induced pro-inflammatory activation of E-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8 at mRNA and VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 at protein level in HUVEC in vitro. Upon pharmacological inhibition with each inhibitor, leukocyte adhesion to HUVEC was also significantly reduced, however to a minor extent. In conclusion, pre-treatment of endothelial cells with kinase inhibitors BMS-777607 and PP2 reduces TNF-α-induced endothelial inflammation in vitro.
Renewable sources to promote well-being in poor regions of Brazil
Authors: Filho Aloısio S. Nascimento , Borges Toni , Salvador Hugo , Ferreira Paulo , Saba Hugo
Published: December 2022

Fossil fuels as a primary source have affected the environmental balance, with the effects being more intense in poor regions of the world. The good news is that the 21st century has witnessed intensified efforts to use clean energy sources capable of competing with fossil fuels. An additional concern is to combine energy sustainability and socioeconomic well-being. The intensified use of renewable energy in poor regions may create scenarios of expanding and democratizing the use of electricity and enhancing new businesses and services. Biomass, solar energy, and wind energy are examples of renewable sources in countries such as Brazil. This research aims to characterize the features of the energy matrix suitable for different regions of Brazil and match optimal points for the implementation of micro-electric power plants for generation, distribution, and storage from renewable energy sources. This is an opportunity to contribute to a cycle of regional economic growth from a sustainable perspective.
The effects of allelochemicals from root exudates of Flaveria bidentis on two Bacillus species
Authors: Sun Chaofang , Li Qiao , Han Lingling , Chen Xue , Zhang Fengjuan
Published: December 2022

To determine the allelopathic effects of root exudates from Flaveria bidentis on function of Bacillus, pot experiment was used to collect root exudates from living plants and test its allelopathic effects on function of Bacillus frigoritolerans and Bacillus megaterium, which were two dominant bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of F. bidentis. To obtain the allelopathic substances, the root exudates were successively extracted by N-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and N-butanol, and their allelopathic effects were tested. The results showed that B. frigoritolerans and B. megaterium considerably increased the concentration of available phosphorus and nitrogen, respectively, when the soil was treated with different concentrations of root exudates. Among the four organic solvent extracts, dichloromethane extracts significantly increased the abundances of B. frigoritolerans and B. megaterium and promoted their nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing abilities. Phenol was detected in dichloromethane extracts by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Meanwhile, phenol promoted the ability to fix nitrogen of B. megaterium and its growth by increasing the soil available nitrogen concentration, but phenol promoted the ability to solubilize phosphate of B. frigoritolerans only in 0.1mg/mL concentration. Therefore, phenol was an allelochemicals in the root exudates of F. bidentis that affects the growth and activities of B. megaterium.
Responses of tree growth, leaf area and physiology to pavement in Ginkgo biloba and Platanus orientalis
Authors: Cui Bowen , Wang Xuming , Su Yuebo , Gong Cheng , Zhang Danhong , Ouyang Zhiyun , Wang Xiaoke
Published: December 2022

Trees growing on paved lands endure many environmental stresses in the urban environment. However, the morphological and physiological mechanisms underlying tree adaptation to pavement in the field are less known. In this study, we investigated 40 sites where Ginkgo biloba and Platanus orientalis grow on adjacent pairs of paved and vegetated plots in parks and roadsides in Beijing, China. Relative to the vegetated land, the mean increments in the diameter at breast height and height in the paved land were significantly decreased by 44.5% and 31.9% for G. biloba and 31.7% and 60.1% for P. orientalis, respectively. These decreases are related to both the decrease in assimilation products due to the reductions in leaf area, leaf total nitrogen content, and chlorophyll content and the increase in energy cost due to the synthesis of more soluble sugar and proline for mitigating stress. The increase in leaf soluble sugar content, proline content, and δ13C indicated that trees could adapt to the paved land through the regulation of osmotic balance and the enhancement of water-use efficiency. Piecewise structural equation models showed that trees growing on the paved land are stressed by compounding impacts of the leaf morphological and physiological changes. Therefore, it is critical to explore the complex response of plant morphological and physiological traits to the pavement-induced stress for improving tree health in urban greening.
Influence of nanosilicon on drought tolerance in plants: An overview
Authors: Verma Krishan K. , Song Xiu-Peng , Singh Munna , Huang Hai-Rong , Bhatt Rajan , Xu Lin , Kumar Vinod , Li Yang-Rui
Published: December 2022

Insufficient availability of water is a major global challenge that plants face and that can cause substantial losses in plant productivity and quality, followed by complete crop failure. Thus, it becomes imperative to improve crop cultivation/production in unsuitable agricultural fields and integrate modern agri-techniques and nanoparticles (NPs)-based approaches to extend appropriate aid to plants to handle adverse environmental variables. Nowadays, NPs are commonly used with biological systems because of their specific physicochemical characteristics, viz., size/dimension, density, and surface properties. The foliar/soil application of nanosilicon (nSi) has been shown to have a positive impact on plants through the regulation of physiological and biochemical responses and the synthesis of specific metabolites. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in plants in response to drought/water scarcity, which may enhance the ability for adaptation in plants/crops to withstand adverse surroundings. The functions of ROS influenced by nSi and water stress have been assessed widely. However, detailed information about their association with plants and stress is yet to be explored. Our review presents an update on recent developments regarding nSi and water stress in combination with ROS accumulation for sustainable agriculture and an eco-friendly environment.
Dynamic landscape of long noncoding RNAs during leaf aging in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kim Jung Yeon , Lee Juhyeon , Kang Myeong Hoon , Trang Tran Thi My , Lee Jusung , Lee Heeho , Jeong Hyobin , Lim Pyung Ok
Published: December 2022

Leaf senescence, the last stage of leaf development, is essential for whole-plant fitness as it marks the relocation of nutrients from senescing leaves to reproductive or other developing organs. Temporally coordinated physiological and functional changes along leaf aging are fine-tuned by a highly regulated genetic program involving multi-layered regulatory mechanisms. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are newly emerging as hidden players in many biological processes; however, their contribution to leaf senescence has been largely unknown. Here, we performed comprehensive analyses of RNA-seq data representing all developmental stages of leaves to determine the genome-wide lncRNA landscape along leaf aging. A total of 771 lncRNAs, including 232 unannotated lncRNAs, were identified. Time-course analysis revealed 446 among 771 developmental age-related lncRNAs (AR-lncRNAs). Intriguingly, the expression of AR-lncRNAs was regulated more dynamically in senescing leaves than in growing leaves, revealing the relevant contribution of these lncRNAs to leaf senescence. Further analyses enabled us to infer the function of lncRNAs, based on their interacting miRNA or mRNA partners. We considered functionally diverse lncRNAs including antisense lncRNAs (which regulate overlapping protein-coding genes), competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs; which regulate paired mRNAs using miRNAs as anchors), and mRNA-interacting lncRNAs (which affect the stability of mRNAs). Furthermore, we experimentally validated the senescence regulatory function of three novel AR-lncRNAs including one antisense lncRNA and two mRNA-interacting lncRNAs through molecular and phenotypic analyses. Our study provides a valuable resource of AR-lncRNAs and potential regulatory networks that link the function of coding mRNA and AR-lncRNAs. Together, our results reveal AR-lncRNAs as important elements in the leaf senescence process.
Mechanism of macroalgae Gracilaria bailiniae responding to cadmium and lanthanum
Authors: Huang Bowen , Cui Jianjun , Ran Yu , Chen Chunli , Li Feng , Zhang Yulei , Li Zailiang , Xie Enyi
Published: December 2022

Macroalgae can accumulate a wide array of metals, leading to their appliance as biomonitors of aquatic environments. With the rapid development of industrial and agricultural-based activities, Cd pollution in aquatic environments is considered an increasingly severe problem worldwide. Although La could alleviate the Cd stress in higher terrestrial plants, the response mechanisms of macroalgae to Cd and La are unknown. Along these lines, in this work, Cd significantly affected the growth, internal cellular structure, photosynthesis, pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation level of G. bailiniae. However, the presence of La alleviated these adverse effects from Cd. Furthermore, the response mechanism of G. bailiniae to Cd was attributed to the self-antioxidant ability enhancement, membrane defense, and programmed-cellular regulation. However, the presence of La mediated the biosynthesis of both flavonoids and lipids, which inhibited the Cd accumulation, modulated algal stress signalling networks, renewed the impaired chlorophyll molecule, maintained the activity of the crucial enzyme, enhanced antioxidant ability, and maintained the stabilization of redox homeostasis, alleviating the adverse impact from Cd and improve the growth of G. bailiniae. The experimental results successfully demonstrate a new detoxicant to alleviate Cd stress, promoting a more comprehensive array of macroalgal applications.
Tracking changes in touch desire and touch avoidance before and after the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Ujitoko Yusuke , Yokosaka Takumi , Ban Yuki , Ho Hsin-Ni
Published: December 2022

Touch is essential for survival, social bonding, and overall health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic calls for an abrupt withdrawal from physical contact, and the prolonged lockdown has left many people in solitude without touch for months. This unprecedented dissociation from touch has cast a shadow on people's mental and physical well-being. Here we approached the issue by examining COVID-19's impact on people's touch attitudes. We analyzed people's desire and avoidance for animate and inanimate targets based on large-scale Japanese Twitter posts over an 8-year span. We analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak with the difference-in-differences estimation method, which can estimate the impact while accounting for other changes over time such as seasonality or long-term effects. As a result, we found that people's desire for touching the human body and pet animals increased significantly after the COVID-19 outbreak and remained high afterward. In contrast, the avoidance of touching everyday objects (e.g., doorknobs and money) increased immediately after the outbreak but gradually returned to the pre-COVID-19 levels. Our findings manifest the impact of COVID-19 on human touch behavior. Most importantly, they highlight the sign of “skin hunger,” a public health crisis due to social distancing, and call attention to the trend that people are becoming less aware of infection control as COVID-19 persists.
The distinction between state and trait anxiety levels in patients with BPPV in comparison with healthy controls
Authors: Kalderon Liran , Chaimoff Moshe , Katz-Leurer Michal
Published: December 2022

Introduction

An association exists between vestibular dysfunction and anxiety, yet a distinction between state and trait anxiety in patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in comparison with healthy subjects has not been well established. The aim of this study is to assess both state and trait anxiety levels in patients with BPPV in comparison with healthy controls, and their relations with cardiac autonomic parameters.

Materials and methods

A case–control study, that included patients with BPPV (N = 18) referred to vestibular physiotherapy and gender and age matched healthy controls (N = 18). All participants completed the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire, while heart-rate (HR) and heart-rate variability (HRV) measures were recorded.

Results

Patients with BPPV (age range 32–66 years; 12 women and 6 men) showed a higher state anxiety level (10 points median difference, p = 0.001) in comparison with healthy controls (age range 34–66 years; 12 women and 6 men), yet no differences were found in trait anxiety score or total STAI score. Only among patients with BPPV, a positive-moderate correlation was found between state anxiety and HR (r = 0.53, p < 0.05), and a negative moderate-strong correlation was found between state anxiety and HRV (r = −0.67, p < 0.01).

Discussion

Patients with BPPV do not differ from healthy subjects in terms of predisposition to feel anxious, and only their temporary state anxiety levels are higher in comparison with healthy controls. We recommend researchers and clinicians who assess anxiety levels in patients with BPPV to distinguish between anxiety as a temporary state (state anxiety) and anxiety as a personality trait (trait anxiety).
The sense of belonging reduces ingroup favoritism in children
Authors: Park Joo Hyang , Jin Kyong-sun
Published: December 2022

Belonging is an important motive for intergroup behavior. Adults display pronounced ingroup favoritism when the sense of inclusion by an ingroup is decreased or threatened. The present study investigated whether ingroup belonging reduces ingroup favoritism in 6-year-old children in terms of costly sharing. Children were allocated to a novel group in a minimal-group paradigm. In two conditions, children played a brief ball-tossing game and were either included (ingroup-inclusion condition) or excluded (ingroup-exclusion condition) by their ingroup members. Children in a no-interaction condition did not have any interactions with the members of the ingroup. After this manipulation, we tested the extent to which children shared resources with ingroup and outgroup members. We found that children in the ingroup-exclusion and no-interaction conditions shared more resources with their ingroup member than their outgroup member, while children in the ingroup-inclusion condition shared equally with the ingroup and outgroup members. These results could inform interventions aimed at fostering positive intergroup relations.
Effects of colored lights on an individual's affective impressions in the observation process
Authors: Xie Xing , Cai Jun , Fang Hai , Tang Xiaoying , Yamanaka Toshimasa
Published: December 2022

The lighting environment has an important influence on the psychological and physical aspects of a person. On certain occasions, reasonable lighting design can regulate people's emotions and improve their feelings of comfort in a space. Besides, specific lighting can create a specific atmosphere according to space requirements. However, in the study of an individual's affective impressions, there is still some uncertainty about how colored lights affect an individual's moods and impressions toward visual objects. This research improves the understanding of the emotional impact of colored light in space. To better understand the lighting environment in the observation process, the project studied the effects of four groups of lights (green, blue, red, and yellow) on the participants' moods and impressions. Participants watched two sets of visual images under four different lighting conditions and provided feedback on their emotions and evaluations through the Multiple Mood States Scale, Two-Dimensional Mood Scale, and Semantic Differential Scale. The results show that different colors of light have a significant effect on mood, and red light can arouse emotional changes to calm, irritated, relaxed, nervous, stability, and pleasure. At the same time, different colors of light have a certain relevance to participants' impressions and this provides further research value for the design of the colored light environment in an individual's affective impressions. Therefore, this study discusses the feasibility of colored lights as a display method, which has potential application prospects for constructing different space atmospheres.
Patients with affective disorders profit most from telemedical treatment: Evidence from a naturalistic patient cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rohrmann Tobias , Praus Peter , Proctor Tanja , Benedyk Anastasia , Tost Heike , Hennig Oliver , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Wahl Anna-Sophia
Published: December 2022

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic telemedicine became essential in maintaining diagnostic procedures and treatment in psychiatry. However, it is still an open question if telemedicine is a feasible treatment option for all groups of psychiatric patients alike. This prospective monocentric observational trial was conducted to assess the general applicability of telemedical treatment in a naturalistic psychiatric outpatient cohort and to identify groups of disorders and clusters of psychopathology that respond particularly well to telemedical treatment considering sociodemographic characteristics and patients' perspectives.

Methods

Patients were recruited April 2020–April 2021 and asked to fill out the WHO-5 and the SCL-90R at baseline, after 4–6 and 8–12 weeks and a feedback-survey. Additionally, medical records, psychopathology, psychosocial functioning, and socio-demographic data were analyzed. Primary outcomes were well-being, psychopathology and functioning during treatment. Secondly, diagnostic groups and psychopathology linked to a superior treatment-response were determined with respect to patients' subjective experiences.

Results

Out of 1.385 patients, 254—mostly with hyperkinetic (35.3%) and depressive disorders (24.6%)—took part. Well-being and SCL-90R total scores improved substantially (both p < 0.001). CGI and GAF scores were worse in depressed subjects (both p < 0.05). Improvement was mainly seen in depressed patients; chronic disorders experienced a decline in well-being. Sociodemographic characteristics could not explain this difference. Particularly female (r = 0.413) patients found telepsychiatry equivalent to conventional treatment. The more virtual sessions participants attended the more likely they were to find telepsychiatry equal to conventional treatment (r = 0.231).

Conclusion

Telemedicine is an effective treatment for patients with depression under naturalistic conditions. Telemedical consultations are a simple and reliable way of monitoring symptom severity and directing treatment choices during the treatment of depressive disorders. Patients with depression benefited more from telemedical treatment compared to participants with chronic non-episodic psychiatric disorders. Future research needs to concentrate on improving telemedical treatment options suited for the latter conditions. Psychiatric telemedicine yielded overall high degrees of satisfaction among users.
Improving occupational health for health workers in a pilot hospital by application of the HealthWISE international tool: An interview and observation study in China
Authors: Zhang Min , Huang Yiming , Wu Fengyao , Liu Dongmei , Wei Caiyun , Qin Yaqin
Published: December 2022

Objective

For a safe and healthy workplace in the health sector, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly developed HealthWISE, an international technical tool that helps health workers (HWs) to identify workplace hazards and apply low-cost solutions. This study sought to gather experiences and lessons from a Chinese pilot hospital for the scale-up application of HealthWISE.

Methods

A qualitative study was undertaken at a Chinese public hospital with a ≥5-year application of HealthWISE through in-depth interviews with targeted HWs who participated in the Training-of-Trainer (TOT) workshops, and observations were gathered using evidence from photos and publications, then, thematic analysis was formulated.

Results

Driven by motivation, the participants learned from the HealthWISE TOT workshop alongside the favorite and worst parts of it. Positive changes and results of occupational health for HWs occurred after the workshop, the participants trained others and planned to implement HealthWISE within their responsibility. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Hospital acted the approaches of protecting the health, safety and well-being of HWs with significant results. Further suggestions on workshop and HealthWISE implementing as well as the national policies were collected. The study indicated the Hospital's experience of leadership and participation, supporting and facilitating, system establishment, and culture creation. The suggestion included keeping staff engaged under a positive safety and health culture, promoting recognition of HealthWISE among public health institutions nationwide, developing online courses for medical colleges, focusing on the alignment among various law systems, and adopting measures under the principle of the hierarchy of occupational hazards controls.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated the systematic improvement of occupational health for HWs by HealthWISE implementation in the Chinese hospital. The valuable experiences and lessons derived here can be shared with other hospitals in China and beyond, especially under the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, to achieve the goals of safety, health, and well-being for HWs by building a resilient health system.
Occupational and environmental pesticide exposure and associated health risks among pesticide applicators and non-applicator residents in rural Ethiopia
Authors: Tessema Roba Argaw , Nagy Károly , Ádám Balázs
Published: December 2022

Intensive pesticide use increased concern about the potential acute and chronic health effects of pesticides in general and among applicators in particular. This study aims to explore occupational and environmental pesticide exposure and health risks among pesticide applicators and residents. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1,073 individuals. We examined the health effects potentially attributable to pesticide exposure using regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). A higher proportion of good knowledge of pesticides [75 vs. 14%; APR = 1.542 (1.358–1.752), p < 0.001] and a higher mean score of perceived health risk of pesticide use [4.21 vs. 3.90; APR = 1.079 (1.004–1.159), p < 0.05] were observed among applicators than residents. A significantly higher proportion of applicators experienced health effects presumably related to pesticide exposure among themselves (36%) than residents (16%), and a higher proportion of them used prescribed drugs in the past 12 months [51 vs. 32%; APR = 1.140 (1.003–1.295), p < 0.05]. Skin irritation, shortness of breath, cough, and dizziness were more likely reported by applicators than residents. Perceived toxicity of currently applied pesticide products, mix pesticides without gloves, regularly maintain and wash sprayer tank after application, occurrence of an incidental splash during mixing and application, and using home-based care after experiencing a symptom presumably due to pesticide exposure were significantly associated with health effects among applicators. Use of face mask and visiting health facility when experiencing a symptom presumably due to pesticide exposure were significantly positively correlated with attending training on the health risks and use of pesticides. A substantial proportion of applicators reported improper use of preventive measures and methods of pesticide waste disposal. These observations point out that applicators can face high health risks of occupational pesticide exposure in Ethiopia. Even trained applicators pursued poor preventive practices; hence, comprehensive practice-oriented in-depth training focusing on safety precautions and proper use of personal protective equipment, and provision of adequate pesticide waste disposal means are crucial interventions.
The impact of nurses' sense of security on turnover intention during the normalization of COVID-19 epidemic: The mediating role of work engagement
Authors: Tang Yao , Dias Martins Luís M. , Wang Shi-bin , He Qing-xia , Huang Hui-gen
Published: December 2022

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has entered a normal stage in China. During this phase, nurses have an increased workload and mental health issues that threaten the sense of security. Poor sense of security may have a considerable impact on turnover intention through low work engagement. It was challenging to maintain the nurse workforce. Fewer studies have been conducted on the effect of nurses' sense of security on their turnover intention in that phase. This study aimed to investigate the interrelationship between nurses' sense of security, work engagement, and turnover intention during the normalization phase of the epidemic in China and to explore the impact of sense of security on turnover intention.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2020 to May 2021 in Guangdong Province, China. Data were collected online using Sense of Security Scale for Medical Staff (SSS-MS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and Turnover Intention Scale. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between sense of security, work engagement, and turnover intention. The hypothesis model used multiple linear regression models and the bootstrapping procedure to analyze the relationship between these variables.

Results

Data were collected from 2,480 nurses who met the inclusion criteria. Over half(64.5%) of nurses had a high and very high turnover intention. After controlling the demographic and working variables, sense of security (β = 0.291, P < 0.001) had a direct positive effect on work engagement. Sense of security (β = −0.447, P < 0.001) and work engagement (β = −0.484, P < 0.001) had a direct negative effect on turnover intention. Sense of security and all of its components were associated with turnover intention through the partially mediating effects of work engagement.

Conclusions

Nurses' turnover intention was at a high level during the normalization phase of the epidemic. Sense of security and its components act as positive resources to reduce turnover intention by improving work engagement. Policy makers and managers may pay attention to the needs of nurses' sense of security, which may be a new perspective to help managers reduce their turnover intention and stabilize the nurse team.
No magic bullet: Limiting in-school transmission in the face of variable SARS-CoV-2 viral loads
Authors: Van Egeren Debra , Stoddard Madison , Malakar Abir , Ghosh Debayan , Acharya Antu , Mainuddin Sk , Majumdar Biswajit , Luo Deborah , Nolan Ryan P. , Joseph-McCarthy Diane , White Laura F. , Hochberg Natasha S. , Basu Saikat , Chakravarty Arijit
Published: December 2022

In the face of a long-running pandemic, understanding the drivers of ongoing SARS-CoV-2 transmission is crucial for the rational management of COVID-19 disease burden. Keeping schools open has emerged as a vital societal imperative during the pandemic, but in-school transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can contribute to further prolonging the pandemic. In this context, the role of schools in driving SARS-CoV-2 transmission acquires critical importance. Here we model in-school transmission from first principles to investigate the effectiveness of layered mitigation strategies on limiting in-school spread. We examined the effect of masks and air quality (ventilation, filtration and ionizers) on steady-state viral load in classrooms, as well as on the number of particles inhaled by an uninfected person. The effectiveness of these measures in limiting viral transmission was assessed for variants with different levels of mean viral load (ancestral, Delta, Omicron). Our results suggest that a layered mitigation strategy can be used effectively to limit in-school transmission, with certain limitations. First, poorly designed strategies (insufficient ventilation, no masks, staying open under high levels of community transmission) will permit in-school spread even if some level of mitigation is present. Second, for viral variants that are sufficiently contagious, it may be difficult to construct any set of interventions capable of blocking transmission once an infected individual is present, underscoring the importance of other measures. Our findings provide practical recommendations; in particular, the use of a layered mitigation strategy that is designed to limit transmission, with other measures such as frequent surveillance testing and smaller class sizes (such as by offering remote schooling options to those who prefer it) as needed.
The design and implementation of natural population cohort study Biobank: A multiple-center project cooperation with medical consortia in Southwest China
Authors: Fan Ping , Zhang Shu , Wang Weiya , Yang Zongze , Tan Weiwei , Li Shujun , Zhu Chenxing , Hu Dan , Zhou Xinran , Tian Zixuan , Wang Yaxi , Liu Fang , Huang Wei , Chen Lei
Published: December 2022

Objective

The West China Hospital of Sichuan University collaborated with regional medical consortia in Sichuan Province to launch a natural population cohort study (NPCS) to investigate the health status of residents and collect public health data in southwest China.

Methods

Up to 80,000 participants will be enrolled by the NPCS from 11 regional medical consortia over five years. Individuals are invited to visit one of 11 participating medical consortia to fill out questionnaires, receive a free health exam, and donate biospecimens upon enrolment. All participating medical facilities adhered to standard operating procedures for collecting and processing biospecimens to ensure uniformity (serum, lithium heparinized plasma, ethylene diamine tetraacetie acid plasma, and buffy coat). The Electronic Data Capture System, Picture Archiving and Communication System, Laboratory Information Management System, Biospecimen Quality Control System, Biobank Information Management System, and will be used to sort and classify clinical indices, imaging data, laboratory parameters, pre-analytical variables, and biospecimen information, respectively. All quality assurance and quality control procedures in the NPCS biobank adhered to the “DAIDS Guidelines for Good Clinical Laboratory Practice Standards”. This project will integrate high-dimensional multi-omics data, laboratory data, clinical data, questionnaire data, and environmental risk factors.

Results

An estimated 2,240,000 aliquots of the sample will be stored by the end of the study. These samples are linked with comprehensively collected clinical indices, imaging data, and laboratory parameters. Big data analysis can be implemented to create predictive algorithms, explore pathogenesis mechanisms, uncover potential biomarkers, and provide information on public health.

Conclusions

NPCS will provide an integrative approach to research risk factors and pathogenesis of major chronic or endemic diseases in Sichuan Province and provide key scientific evidence to support the formulation of health management policies in China.
Implications of COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable consumption patterns. Evidence from Iasi County, Romania
Authors: Brumă Ioan-Sebastian , Ulman Simona-Roxana , Tanasă Lucian , Cautisanu Cristina
Published: December 2022

Across the literature, two broad behavior strategies toward sustainable food consumption are emphasized across the literature. The first strategy is related to sustainable product choices concerning how the outcome is produced, while the second one keeps a check on sustainable dietary patterns in terms of the composition within product categories. Considering these behavior strategies, while focusing especially on purchasing sustainable organic foods and preferring curtailment behaviors, conversion to this type of intake became a relevant objective among the specialists established for attaining sustainability. Consequently, the aim of this study was to observe the main changes in sustainable consumption patterns concerning these behavior strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020), compared to the previous period (November–December 2019), in Iasi County, Romania. This study emphasizes an image of daily consumption that has been changed, at least regarding some specific aspects, due to the pandemic in the investigated Romanian context. First, the tendency to shop more during the working days could be generally observed and completed by the fact that the consumers felt safer in open spaces, like the food markets, compared to close spaces, be they supermarkets or grocery stores. Next, other main results showed that (1) the responsibility of consumers increased with regard to the purchase and waste of fresh vegetables and meat, preferring to buy more often and throw away less during the pandemic; (2) the behavior strategy in terms of organic food seemed to be discouraged in this period; and (3) local food appeared to have increased consumers' support. In addition, the pandemic crisis was shown as a driver in the digitalization of the shopping process. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have significant effects on sustainable consumption over the short and (at least) medium run, determining some changes in consumption patterns that could support, to a considerable extent, the effort of attaining a more sustainable path. However, our findings revealed some gaps in terms of societal knowledge about sustainable consumption and, consequently, call for the necessity of educating individuals on what this concept really means and why it is important to be achieved.
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry profiling of bovine skim milk for subclinical mastitis detection
Authors: Cuccato Matteo , Divari Sara , Sacchi Paola , Girolami Flavia , Cannizzo Francesca Tiziana
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Mastitis is one of most impacting health issues in bovine dairy farming that reduces milk yield and quality, leading to important economic losses. Subclinical forms of the disease are routinely monitored through the measurement of somatic cell count (SCC) and microbiological tests. However, their identification can be tricky, reducing the possibilities of early treatments. In this study, a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry approach was applied to milk samples collected from cows classified according to the SCC, to identify differences in polypeptide/protein profiles.

Materials and methods

Twenty-nine raw milk samples with SCC >200,000 cell/ml (group H) and 91 samples with SCC lower than 200,000 (group L) were randomly collected from 12 dairy farms. Spectral profiles from skim milk were acquired in the positive linear mode within the 4,000–20,000 m/z mass acquisition range.

Results and discussion

Based on signal intensity, a total of 24 peaks emerged as significant different between the two groups. The most discriminant signals (4,218.2 and 4,342.98 m/z) presented a ROC curve with AUC values higher than 0.8. Classification algorithms (i.e., quick classifier, genetic algorithm, and supervised neural network) were applied for generating models able to classify new spectra (i.e., samples) into the two classes. Our results support the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry profiling as a tool to detect mastitic milk samples and to potentially discover biomarkers of the disease. Thanks to its rapidity and low-cost, such method could be associated with the SCC measurement for the early diagnosis of subclinical mastitis.
Producción de artículos de divulgación expositiva en el nivel universitario: características textuales
Authors: Enciso-Soto Ramiro Alcides , Simangas-Villalobos Aram Roosell , Collazos-Roque Edith Geovana , Álvarez-Huari María Ysabel
Published: December 2022

La producción textual posee un rol muy importante en la adquisición y transmisión del conocimiento; sin embargo, diversos estudios demuestran deficiencias en esta competencia comunicativa; por ello, surge la necesidad de investigar sobre estas debilidades, pero enfocada en las características textuales de la producción de textos escritos. Por consiguiente, el objetivo del estudio fue describir los niveles de las características textuales en la producción de artículos de divulgación expositiva en estudiantes de una universidad privada en Lima, Perú. El estudio fue de enfoque cuantitativo, diseño no experimental de carácter descriptivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por 109 estudiantes universitarios del II ciclo de la Unidad Académica de Estudios Generales. El instrumento aplicado fue la rúbrica de valoración de textos expositivos cuyo objetivo fue evaluar los artículos de divulgación expositiva, redactados por los estudiantes universitarios. Este instrumento valora la estructura, organización, finalidad, objetividad, tema, audiencia y las marcas lingüísticas del texto redactado. Los resultados demostraron que un 46,8% del total de encuestados se ubicó en un nivel aceptable y solo el 1,8%, en excelente, por lo tanto, se concluyó que los estudiantes evidenciaron deficiencias en el uso de las características textuales al redactar sus artículos de divulgación expositiva. Esto motiva a investigar y trabajar en estrategias, proyectos, programas, módulos o talleres orientados a mejorar esta competencia, fundamental para la formación profesional de los estudiantes universitarios.
A Method to Study the Influence of the Pesticide Load on the Detailed Distribution Law of Downwash for Multi-Rotor UAV
Authors: Yang Fengbo , Zhou Hongping , Ru Yu , Chen Qing , Zhou Lei
Published: December 2022

Multi-rotor plant protection Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have suitable terrain adaptability and efficient ultra-low altitude spraying capacity, which is a significant development direction in efficient plant protection equipment. The interaction mechanisms of the wind field, droplet, and crop are unclear, and have become the bottleneck factor restricting the improvement of the deposition quality. This paper suggests a method to study the influence of the pesticide load on the detailed distribution law of downwash for a six-rotor UAV. Based on a hexahedral structured mesh, a 3D numerical calculation model was established. Analysis showed that the relative errors between the simulated and measured velocities in the z-axis were less than 11% when the downwash air flow was stable. Numerical simulations were carried out for downwash in hover under 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 kg loads. The effect of load on the airflow was evident, and the greater the load was, the higher the wind speed of downwash would be. Then, the influence of wing interference on the distribution of airflow would be more pronounced. Furthermore, under the rotation of the rotor and the extrusion of external atmospheric pressure, the “trumpet” phenomenon appeared in the downwash airflow area. As an extension, the phenomenon of the “shrinkage–expansion” was shown in the longitudinal section under heavy load, while the phenomenon of “shrinkage–expansion–shrinkage” was present under light load. After that, based on the detailed analysis of the downwash wind field, the spray height of this multi-rotor UAV was suggested to be 2.5 m or higher, and the nozzle was recommended to be mounted directly under the rotor and to have the same rotation direction as the rotor. The research in this paper lays a solid foundation for the proposal of the three-zone overlapping matching theory of wind field, droplet settlement, and canopy shaking.
The Determinants of Grape Storage: Evidence from Grape Growers in China
Authors: Sun Xiaoyu , Yang Xiaoli , Zhang Ruilong
Published: December 2022

Storage of high-value agricultural products is essential to increase their added value. Exploring growers’ storage strategies for high-value agricultural products is helpful in developing the agricultural industry. In this paper, we analyzed the factors affecting growers’ storage decisions using Probit and Tobit models based on field data from 1026 grape growers in China. We conclude that the in-season price has a negative effect on growers’ storage decisions. Expected price, market risk perception and grape quality have a positive effect on storage decisions. Borrowing behavior has a positive effect on the storage decisions of large-scale growers. In addition, the higher the expected price and the greater the market risk perception, the more growers prefer long-term storage; and the better the quality of the grapes, the more growers tend to store grapes in the short term.