bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-Specific Relationships of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour with Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers in Young Adults
Authors: Corral-Pérez Juan , Alcala Martin , Velázquez-Díaz Daniel , Perez-Bey Alejandro , Vázquez-Sánchez María Á. , Calderon-Dominguez Maria , Casals Cristina , Ponce-González Jesús G.
Published: January 2023

This study aims to analyse sex-specific associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in a young-adult population. Sixty participants (21 women, 22.63 ± 4.62 years old) wore a hip accelerometer for 7 consecutive days to estimate their physical activity and sedentarism. Oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products) and inflammatory (tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) markers were measured. Student t-tests and single linear regressions were applied. The women presented higher catalase activity and glutathione concentrations, and lower levels of advanced protein-oxidation products, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 than the men (p < 0.05). In the men, longer sedentary time was associated with lower catalase activity (β = −0.315, p = 0.04), and longer sedentary breaks and higher physical-activity expenditures were associated with malondialdehyde (β = −0.308, p = 0.04). Vigorous physical activity was related to inflammatory markers in the women (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, β = 0.437, p = 0.02) and men (interleukin−6, β = 0.528, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the women presented a better redox and inflammatory status than the men; however, oxidative-stress markers were associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviours only in the men. In light of this, women could have better protection against the deleterious effect of sedentarism but a worse adaptation to daily physical activity.
Aerobic Capacity in Relation to Selected Elements of Body Posture
Authors: Mucha Dawid Konrad , Pałka Tomasz , Skalska-Izdebska Renata , Teległów Aneta , Mucha Teresa , Makuch Robert , Mucha Dariusz
Published: January 2023

Background: In the 21st century, with the rapid development of many human life areas, physical activity should be prevalent in health maintenance and promotion. Body posture is a motor habit characteristic of every individual. Its correctness depends on numerous aspects, e.g., physical activity, age, mental state, or eating habits. There are numerous reports in the literature on the impact of physical activity on body posture, correct foot arch development, and the level of aerobic capacity in children and adolescents, but there is a noticeable lack of assessments of these characteristics and their correlations in adults. Aim: To evaluate aerobic capacity in males and females in relation to selected body posture elements. Methods: The study involved 45 females and 46 males aged 20–21 years. The inclusion criteria involved declared good health and no contraindications. Selected somatic traits, body posture, and physical capacity indicators were determined. Results: Physical capacity shows a significant relationship with body mass in both sexes (female: r = −0.346; p = 0.020; male: r = −0.321; p = 0.030). A significant correlation was observed between aerobic capacity and lean body mass in females (r = −0.428; p = 0.003) and body mass (r = −0.461; p = 0.001) and body fat percentage in males (r = −0.443; p = 0.002). A significant correlation was demonstrated between maximal oxygen uptake and Clarke’s angle (r = −0.300; p = 0.045) in females, between maximal oxygen uptake and the loaded area of the right foot (r = −0.247; p = 0.098) in the male group, and between maximal oxygen uptake and spine lateral deviation (r = 0.352; p = 0.018) in females. There was no dimorphism between body posture elements and physical capacity except for the level of foot longitudinal arches, feet loading surface, spine lateral deviation, and the range of spine mobility in the sagittal and frontal planes. Aerobic capacity significantly influenced lean body mass (β = −0.379; p = 0.007) and spine deviation from the anatomical axis in the frontal plane in females (β = 0.287; p = 0.039) and body fat percentage in males (β = −0.443; p = 0.002). Conclusions: Selected body posture elements demonstrate relationships with physical capacity in both sexes. The results should find wide practical applications, e.g., in promoting a comprehensive assessment of body posture and physical capacity as determinants of health maintenance.
Somatosensory Impairment and Chronic Pain Following Stroke: An Observational Study
Authors: Haslam Brendon S. , Butler David S. , Kim Anthony S. , Carey Leeanne M.
Published: January 2023

Background: Chronic pain and somatosensory impairment are common following a stroke. It is possible that an interaction exists between pain and somatosensory impairment and that a change in one may influence the other. We therefore investigated the presence of chronic pain and self-reported altered somatosensory ability in individuals with stroke, aiming to determine if chronic pain is more common in stroke survivors with somatosensory impairment than in those without. Methods: Stroke survivors were invited to complete an online survey that included demographics, details of the stroke, presence of chronic pain, and any perceived changes in body sensations post-stroke. Results: Survivors of stroke (n = 489) completed the survey with 308 indicating that they experienced chronic pain and 368 reporting perceived changes in somatosensory function. Individuals with strokes who reported altered somatosensory ability were more likely to experience chronic pain than those who did not (OR = 1.697; 95% CI 1.585, 2.446). Further, this difference was observed for all categories of sensory function that were surveyed (detection of light touch, body position, discrimination of surfaces and temperature, and haptic object recognition). Conclusions: The results point to a new characteristic of chronic pain in strokes, regardless of nature or region of the pain experienced, and raises the potential of somatosensory impairment being a rehabilitation target to improve pain-related outcomes for stroke survivors.
Recommending Breast Cancer Screening to My Mum: Examining the Interplay of Threat, Efficacy, and Virality on Recommendation Intention in the Chinese Context
Authors: Luo Chen , Zhang Zizhong , Jin Jing
Published: January 2023

The burgeoning eHealth campaigns and the emerging daughter-to-mother health communication necessitate a close examination of the intricate mechanism behind recommending preventive behaviors in online settings. The present study addresses existing gaps by investigating how message characteristics and platform-generated virality cues jointly influence younger females’ intention to recommend breast cancer screening to their mothers. Drawing on the extended parallel process model (EPPM) as the theoretical basis, a 2 (threat: low vs. high) × 2 (efficacy: low vs. high) × 2 (virality: low vs. high) randomized between-subjects experiment (n = 269) was performed. Results revealed a three-way interaction effect between threat, efficacy, and virality on message involvement. Message involvement was positively associated with recommendation intention and mediated the three-way interaction effect on recommendation intention. This study demonstrates that a high threat can initiate message involvement but fail to trigger recommendation intention. In contrast, a low-threat, high-efficacy, high-virality combination would yield a salutary outcome. Besides, the indispensable role of message involvement in the underlying psychological mechanism behind recommending preventive behaviors was reaffirmed. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.
Towards Green and Sustainable Healthcare: A Literature Review and Research Agenda for Green Leadership in the Healthcare Sector
Authors: Berniak-Woźny Justyna , Rataj Małgorzata
Published: January 2023

The health sector is one of the keys to sustainable development. Although it is directly related to only one Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 3, “Ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being at all ages”), the sector itself, which aims to protect health, is paradoxically at the same time the main emitter of environmental pollutants that have a negative impact on health itself. Therefore, sustainability has become a key priority for health sector organizations, and leadership in this area is essential at all levels. Scientific research plays a particular role here, helping to more clearly define the links between environmental sustainability and the health effects of a polluted environment and climate change as well as indicating the direction of actions needed and disseminating good practices that can help accelerate the adoption of efforts towards climate neutrality and sustainable development of health sector organizations. The aim of this article is to present the current state of the art and future research scenarios in the field of green and sustainable healthcare through a literature review by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method to perform a bibliometric analysis of papers published in 2012–2022. The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database is used for this purpose. A total of 144 papers are included for analysis, categorized based on eight fields: author(s), title, year of publication, country, journal, scientific category, and number of citations. Based on the results, themes for future research on green leadership in the healthcare sector are identified and recommended.
The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies with Control Groups
Authors: Kwon Chan-Young
Published: January 2023

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction can arise after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and heart rate variability (HRV) tests can assess its integrity. This review investigated the relationship between the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HRV parameters. Comprehensive searches were conducted in four electronic databases. Observational studies with a control group reporting the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the HRV parameters in July 2022 were included. A total of 17 observational studies were included in this review. The square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) was the most frequently investigated. Some studies found that decreases in RMSSD and high frequency (HF) power were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or the poor prognosis of COVID-19. Also, decreases in RMSSD and increases in the normalized unit of HF power were related to death in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the severity and prognosis of COVID-19, are likely to be reflected in some HRV-related parameters. However, the considerable heterogeneity of the included studies was highlighted. The methodological quality of the included observational studies was not optimal. The findings suggest rigorous and accurate measurements of HRV parameters are highly needed on this topic.
Assessment of Diagnosis, Prognosis and Immune Infiltration Response to the Expression of the Ferroptosis-Related Molecule HAMP in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Leng Jing , Xing Zixuan , Li Xiang , Bao Xinyue , Zhu Junzheya , Zhao Yunhan , Wu Shaobo , Yang Jiao
Published: January 2023

Background. Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP) is a key factor in maintaining iron metabolism, which may induce ferroptosis when upregulated. However, its prognostic value and relation to immune infiltrating cells remains unclear. Methods. This study analyzed the expression levels of HAMP in the Oncomine, Timer and Ualcan databases, and examined its prognostic potential in KIRC with R programming. The Timer and GEPIA databases were used to estimate the correlations between HAMP and immune infiltration and the markers of immune cells. The intersection genes and the co-expression PPI network were constructed via STRING, R programming and GeneMANIA, and the hub genes were selected with Cytoscape. In addition, we analyzed the gene set enrichment and GO/KEGG pathways by GSEA. Results. Our study revealed higher HAMP expression levels in tumor tissues including KIRC, which were related to poor prognosis in terms of OS, DSS and PFI. The expression of HAMP was positively related to the immune infiltration level of macrophages, Tregs, etc., corresponding with the immune biomarkers. Based on the intersection genes, we constructed the PPI network and used the 10 top hub genes. Further, we performed a pathway enrichment analysis of the gene sets, including Huntington’s disease, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, ammonium ion metabolic process, and so on. Conclusion. In summary, our study gave an insight into the potential prognosis of HAMP, which may act as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target related to immune infiltration in KIRC.
Multi-Tasking Policy Coordination and Corporate Environmental Performance: Evidence from China
Authors: Xie Hongji , Tian Cunzhi , Pang Fangying
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates how local governments coordinate the relationship between economic growth targets (EGT) and environmental protection targets (EPT) and the impact of such coordination on firm’s environmental performance. Using the pollution emission data of China’s industrial firms covering 2003 to 2013, we show that firms in the cities where officials are setting overweighted economic growth targets have more sulfur dioxide intensity, while the central government’s hard constraints on EPT included in the official performance evaluation system could partially mitigate the environmental externality of the economic growth target. Further, we find that overweighted EGT significantly decreases firms’ desulfurization facilities, capacity, and ratio, while the hard constraint of EPT helps mitigate this negative relationship. We also find that the positive relationship between overweight EGT and firm emissions is more pronounced in the dirty industry, while the hard constraint of EPT helps to mitigate this relationship. The above results help to identify an underlying mechanism of environmental regulation. Finally, we show that converting the hard constraints of environmental protection targets to self-constraint by local government officials could reverse the environmental externality of the economic growth target.
Muscle Contractile Properties Measured by the Tensiomyography (TMG) Method in Top-Level Football Players of Different Playing Positions: The Case of Serbian Super League
Authors: Pajović Lazar , Toskić Lazar , Stanković Veroljub , Lilić Ljubiša , Cicović Borislav
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in muscle contractile properties measured by the TMG method between top-level football players of different playing positions. The sample consisted of 57 football players from the Serbian Super League, divided into three groups: defenders—DF, midfielders—MF, and forwards—FW. Muscles included in the study were the Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Medialis (VM), Vastus Lateralis (VL), Biceps Femoris (BF), and Semitendinosus (ST) of the right (R) and left (L) leg. The TMG parameters used in this study were contraction time (Tc), delay time (Td), relaxation time (Tr), maximal displacement (Dm), and sustain time (Ts). The ANOVA results showed that differences in TMG parameters between top-level football players of different playing positions are small and exist only in the Tr of RF (F = 4.658, p = 0.014), BF (F = 4.433, p = 0.016), and ST muscle (F = 3.808, p = 0.028), and the Tc (F = 3.214, p = 0.048) and Td (F = 3.705, p = 0.031) of the VM muscle. All differences were detected between DF and FW players, and all differences were in the left (non-dominant) leg. The results obtained in this study indicate that the training and selection process in football, from the aspect of functional and mechanical muscle properties, should be similar for all players, regardless of playing position. It has been shown that TMG has relatively low sensitive strength for detecting differences between football players of different playing positions.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Soils Amended with Cornstalk Biochar at Different Addition Ratios
Authors: Zhou Yongchun , Li Danyang , Li Zhenglong , Guo Sibo , Chen Zhimin , Wu Liulin , Zhao Yan
Published: January 2023

Biochar addition has been recommended as a potential strategy for mitigating climate change. However, the number of studies simultaneously investigating the effects of biochar addition on CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions and sequentially global warming potential (GWP) is limited, especially concerning its effect on native soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. An incubation experiment was conducted to investigate soil physicochemical properties, CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions and GWP in the treatments with 0% (CK), 1% (BC1) and 4% (BC4) cornstalk biochar additions, and clarify the priming effect of biochar on native SOC mineralization by the 13C tracer technique. Generally, biochar addition increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity, SOC and total nitrogen, but decreased NH4+-N and NO3−-N. Compared with CK, BC1 and BC4 significantly reduced CO2 emissions by 20.7% and 28.0%, and reduced N2O emissions by 25.6% and 95.4%, respectively. However, BC1 significantly reduced CH4 emission by 43.6%, and BC4 increased CH4 emission by 19.3%. BC1 and BC4 significantly reduced the GWP by 20.8% and 29.3%, but there was no significant difference between them. Biochar addition had a negative priming effect on native SOC mineralization, which was the reason for the CO2 emission reduction. The negative priming effect of biochar was attributed to the physical protection of native SOC by promoting microaggregate formation and preferentially using soluble organic carbon in biochar. The N2O emission decrease was rooted in the reduction of nitrification and denitrification substrates by promoting the microbial assimilation of inorganic nitrogen. The inconsistency of CH4 emissions was attributed to the different relative contributions of CH4 production and oxidation under different biochar addition ratios. Our study suggests that 1% should be a more reasonable biochar addition ratio for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in sandy loam, and emphasizes that it is necessary to furtherly investigate nitrogen primary transformation rates and the relative contributions of CH4 production and oxidation by the 15N and 13C technique, which is helpful for comprehensively understanding the effect mechanisms of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emissions.
Multiple Concurrent Causal Relationships and Multiple Governance Pathways for Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies in Pandemics: A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on 102 Countries and Regions
Authors: Zhang Yaming , Zhang Jiaqi , Koura Yaya Hamadou , Feng Changyuan , Su Yanyuan , Song Wenjie , Kong Linghao
Published: January 2023

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has been wreaking havoc on all aspects of human societies. In addition to pharmaceutical interventions, non-pharmaceutical intervention policies have been proven to be crucial in slowing down the spread of the virus and reducing the impact of the outbreak on economic development, daily life, and social stability. However, no studies have focused on which non-pharmaceutical intervention policies are more effective; this is the focus of our study. We used data samples from 102 countries and regions around the world and selected seven categories of related policies, including work and school suspensions, assembly restrictions, movement restrictions, home isolation, international population movement restrictions, income subsidies, and testing and screening as the condition variables. A susceptible-exposed-infected-quarantined-recovered (SEIQR) model considering non-pharmaceutical intervention policies and latency with infectiousness was constructed to calculate the epidemic transmission rate as the outcome variable, and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was applied to explore the multiple concurrent causal relationships and multiple governance paths of non-pharmaceutical intervention policies for epidemics from the configuration perspective. We found a total of four non-pharmaceutical intervention policy pathways. Among them, L1 was highly suppressive, L2 was moderately suppressive, and L3 was externally suppressive. The results also showed that individual non-pharmaceutical intervention policy could not effectively suppress the spread of the pandemic. Moreover, three specific non-pharmaceutical intervention policies, including work stoppage and school closure, testing and screening, and economic subsidies, had a universal effect in the policies grouping for effective control of the pandemic transmission.
Profile of Drug Utilization in Patients with Rare Diseases in Tuscany, Italy: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Gorini Francesca , Santoro Michele , Pierini Anna , Mezzasalma Lorena , Baldacci Silvia , Coi Alessio
Published: January 2023

Patients with rare diseases (RDs) generally have delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, which lead to inappropriate care or the need to modify treatment during the course of the disease. The medical care of RD patients can be further complicated by the presence of comorbidities. In this population-based study, we evaluated the prevalence, intensity of use, and consumption of drugs prescribed to RD patients residing in Tuscany (Italy) in the years 2008–2018. Data from the Registry of Rare Diseases of Tuscany were integrated with information retrieved from regional pharmaceutical prescription databases. The overall prevalence of drug use in the RD patients was 85.4%. Drugs for the alimentary tract and metabolism and antiinfectives for systemic use showed the highest prevalence of use, while drugs for the nervous system had the highest intensity of use only in the pediatric patients. The adults exhibited a female preponderance in terms of the prevalence of use and drug consumption in almost all the age groups and therapeutic categories. Conversely, a higher prevalence of use was observed in the male children. These results provide relevant insights into drug profiles in RD patients, representing a first step for future analyses to monitor changes in drug utilization in patients with RDs over time.
Travelers’ Subjective Well-Being as an Environmental Practice: Do Airport Buildings’ Eco-Design, Brand Engagement, and Brand Experience Matter?
Authors: Abdel-Gayed Aly H. , Hassan Thowayeb H. , Abdou Ahmed Hassan , Abdelmoaty Mostafa A. , Saleh Mahmoud I. , Salem Amany E.
Published: January 2023

The physical environment of airports plays a crucial role in improving travelers’ perceptions and well-being. Adopting a green physical environment may elicit customers’ cognitive and emotional responses and provide a convenient consumption environment. Brand experience and engagement are other important consumer–firm interactions that influence the attributes of the passengers’ well-being. The current study sought to assess the impact of the eco-design of buildings, brand experience and engagement on the well-being of travelers at an international airport in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the current study investigated the possible effects of eco-design on airport experience and engagement. The results of the structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the eco-design of airport buildings was independently associated with passengers’ well-being and brand engagement, but not with brand experience. Additionally, well-being was significantly predicted by brand engagement and experience. Airport managers are advised to adopt an internal eco-design to help promote passengers’ connection with the brand and improve their well-being, which would eventually be reflected in their behavioral attributes and decision-making.
Proposal of Construction Method of Smart Liner to Block and Detect Spreading of Soil Contaminants by Oil Spill
Authors: Lee Kicheol , Yuu Jungjo , Park Jeongjun , Hong Gigwon
Published: January 2023

Soil is an important factor for public health, and when a soil contaminant occurs by oil spill, it has a great impact on the ecosystem, including humans. Accordingly, the area is blocked using a vertical barrier, and various remediation methods are being applied when an oil spill occurs. This study intends to use a smart liner to prevent and detect the spreading of soil contaminants in a situation in which oil spill detection is important. However, the smart liner is in the form of a fiber, so it is impossible to construct it in a general method. Therefore, the roll spreading and inserting method (RSIM) is proposed for smart liner construction. RSIM is a method of installing a supporting pile after excavating the ground and connecting the smart liner vertically to the ground surface. This method is the first method proposed in this study, and the design and concept have not been established. In this study, a conceptual design was established to apply RSIM in the actual field, and a scale model experiment was performed to prove it. As a result of the scale model experiment, the applicability of RSIM was confirmed. Finally, numerical analysis using Abaqus/CAE was performed to carry out the detailed design of RSIM (installation conditions such as dimensions). Analysis parameters were embedded depth, thickness, diameter, and material properties of a supporting pile according to the ground type. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the results of RSIM analysis were interacting with all parameters according to the ground conditions. Therefore, it was confirmed that the actual design should be based on ground investigation and economic conditions, not standardized regulations.
Heart Rate Variability in Individuals with Down Syndrome: A Scoping Review with Methodological Considerations
Authors: Gąsior Jakub S. , Zamunér Antonio Roberto , Madeyska Margaret , Tomik Anna , Niszczota Cezary , Williams Craig A. , Werner Bożena
Published: January 2023

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present similar heart rate variability (HRV) parameters at rest but different responses to selected movement maneuvers in comparison to individuals without DS, which indicates reduced vagal regulation. The present study undertakes a scoping review of research on HRV in individuals with DS, with special attention paid to the compliance of the studies with standards and methodological paper guidelines for HRV assessment and interpretation. A review was performed using PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL databases to search for English language publications from 1996 to 2020 with the MESH terms “heart rate variability” and “down syndrome”, with the additional inclusion criteria of including only human participants and empirical investigations. From 74 studies, 15 were included in the review. None of the reviewed studies met the recommendations laid out by the standards and guidelines for providing the acquisition of RR intervals and necessary details on HRV analysis. Since authors publishing papers on this research topic do not adhere to the prescribed standards and guidelines when constructing the methodology, results of the research papers on the topic are not directly comparable. Authors need to design the study methodology more robustly by following the aforementioned standards, guidelines and recommendations.
Assessment of the Impact of Pentafecta Parameters Affecting the Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Wojtarowicz Mateusz , Przepiera Adam , Lemiński Artur , Gołąb Adam , Słojewski Marcin
Published: January 2023

Prostate cancer is being detected in increasingly younger men. These patients expect to preserve their current quality of life and quickly recover after treatment. Medical technology and surgical techniques are advancing along with the growing expectations of patients. In addition, the universal method of assessing the quality of outcomes after operations is constantly being researched. As of today, biochemical remission alone, after radical prostatectomy, is insufficient for the patient. Therefore, multi-parametric evaluation methods are being developed, such as trifecta, which assesses biochemical remission, continence, and erectile function. The improvement over the trifecta is the pentafecta, which additionally evaluates postoperative complications and infiltration of surgical margins. Our study was conducted within a group of patients who were surgically treated for prostate cancer in 2017 at the Clinic of Urology and Urological Oncology of the Pomeranian Medical University. We recruited 237 men for the study. From that group, 131 men met the criteria to be included in the analysis. Maintaining continence (87.78%) is the easiest pentafecta parameter to obtain and will have the greatest impact on quality of life in the future. Maintaining biochemical remission (82.44%) is the second most important aspect for the patient. Retaining erectile function is the most difficult pentafecta parameter to obtain (29.01%) while having little impact on the quality of life. Negative surgical margins (66.41%) showed a negligible impact on the quality of life. The occurrence of complications (32.07%) has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients, but only during the treatment of complications.
(Dis)Agreement with Dysthanasia, Religiosity and Spiritual Experience as Factors Related to Nurses’ Workload during End-of-Life Care
Authors: Juranić Brankica , Včev Aleksandar , Vuletić Suzana , Rakošec Željko , Roguljić Domagoj , Mikšić Štefica , Jakab Jelena , Vujanić Jasenka , Lovrić Robert
Published: January 2023

This study intended to investigate whether the workload of nurses in the course of providing end-of-life care correlated with their religiousness, spiritual experience and level of agreement with dysthanasia procedures. The respondents included 279 nurses from four Croatian hospitals. A structured and validated instrument was applied. Almost 90% of respondents are religious, and almost 45% of them have daily spiritual experiences. Respondents, especially those with high levels of religiousness and spiritual experience, express a low level of agreement with dysthanasia (mean = 58.21; score = 25–125). Moreover, nurses self-rated (on a scale of 1–5) their workload as quite high, especially when performing contradictory tasks imposed on them by their superiors (mean = 3.05) and during direct contact with dying patients and their family members (mean = 2.56). This significantly highest level of workload was experienced by the youngest nurses (p = 0.01) and nurses with little work experience (p < 0.01). This study also indicated that nurses who agree with dysthanasia experienced a higher level of workload when providing end-of-life care (r = 0.178; p < 0.01), while more frequent spiritual experiences reduced the level of workload (r = −0.205; p < 0.01). A deeper understanding of nurses’ attitudes toward dysthanasia, as well as of their religiousness and spiritual experiences, may ensure the collection of data beneficial to the timely identification of potential risks caused by workload.
Barriers to Health and Social Services for Unaccounted-For Female Migrant Workers and Their Undocumented Children with Precarious Status in Taiwan: An Exploratory Study of Stakeholder Perspectives
Authors: Wang Ming Sheng , Lin Ching-Hsuan
Published: January 2023

Unaccounted-for migrant workers (UMWs), who have left their employment placement and whose whereabouts are unknown, make up a vulnerable population in Taiwan. The children of UMWs have a particularly precarious status because they are undocumented/stateless, immigrant, and young. Living with this precarious status limits their children’s rights to survival and development. Moreover, services for female UMWs and their undocumented children are underdeveloped. This study explores the accessibility and availability of social services for UMWs and undocumented children, based on interviews with 12 stakeholders from multiple systems, including a local government, a child welfare placement center, a migrant worker detention center, a hospital, a regional religious center, and a foreign country office. Preliminary findings indicate the following: First, UMWs’ rights to healthcare are not preserved, and they experience greater prenatal risks because their illegal status excludes them from universal health coverage. Second, undocumented children’s rights to survival and development are concerning because these children can be placed in residential care without individualized care or environmental stimulation. Third, children’s rights to cultural identity and permanency are uncertain in that repatriation or adoption does not guarantee their future best interests.
Analysis of Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Farmers’ Green Production Behaviors in China
Authors: He Zejun , Jia Yunfei , Ji Yifan
Published: January 2023

The green production behavior of pig farmers is the basis for high-quality development in animal husbandry. In order to solve the problem of poor green production behaviors in small- and medium-sized pig farmers, it is necessary to analyze the influencing factors and how they interact with each other. The Rational Peasant Theory and Prospect Theory were used in this paper to analyze the occurrence motivation of the green production behaviors of small- and medium-sized pig farmers. The Logit model and the ISM analysis method were used to test the influencing factors and their mechanisms. This was conducted using data from a study of 747 small- and medium-sized pig farmers in Henan Province. The results show that the green production behaviors of small- and medium-sized pig farmers are motivated by internal expected return, affected by the monitoring pressure from external stakeholders and limited by their own resource capacity; the influencing factors of different green production behaviors are different, and there are more influencing factors of scientific disease control, standardized management and waste recycling than of rational feeding. The following shows how the influencing factors on pig farmers’ green production behavior interact with one another: level of education → external pressure, farming conditions and operating characteristics → cognition of return → green production behavior (i.e., cognition of return is the direct factor; external pressure, farming conditions and operating characteristics are indirect factors; and level of education is the underlying factor). Some measures should be implemented to promote green production behaviors, such as the continuation of the support for green production, the strengthening of supervision and publicity, the increasing of investment in technology and equipment, and the improving of the green production literacy of farmers. In conclusion, this paper deepens the understanding of the mechanism of green production behaviors of small- and medium-sized pig farmers, and provides the theoretical basis and concrete measures for the government and for pig farmers.
Application of Pb Isotopes and REY Patterns in Tracing Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils from the Upper-Middle Area of Yangtze River
Authors: Ning Yongqiang , Yang Bizheng , Yang Shaochen , Ye Jiaxin , Li Junjie , Ren Limin , Liu Zhifu , Bi Xiangyang , Liu Jinling
Published: January 2023

Farmland heavy metal pollution—caused by both human activity and natural processes—is a major global issue. In the current study, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) analysis, and isotope fingerprinting were combined to identify sources of heavy metal pollution in soil from different farmland types in the upper-middle area of the Yangtze River. The concentrations of Zn and Cu were found to be higher in the vegetable base and tea plantation soil compared with their concentrations in the orangery soil. On the other hand, greater accumulation of Cd and Pb was observed in the orangery soil versus the vegetable base and tea plantation soils. Influenced by the type of bedrock, REY was significantly enriched in the orangery soil and depleted in the vegetable base soil, as compared with the tea plantation soil. The Pb isotopic compositions of the tea plantation (1.173–1.193 for 206Pb/207Pb and 2.070–2.110 for 208Pb/206Pb) and vegetable base (1.181–1.217 for 206Pb/207Pb and 2.052–2.116 for 208Pb/206Pb) soils were comparable to those of coal combustion soil. The compositions of 206Pb/207Pb (1.149–1.170) and 208Pb/206Pb (2.121–2.143) in the orangery soil fell between those observed in soils obtained from coal combustion and ore smelting sites. Using the IsoSource model, the atmospheric Pb contributions of the vegetable base, tea plantation, and orangery soils were calculated to be 66.6%, 90.1%, and 82.0%, respectively, and the bedrock contributions of Pb were calculated to be 33.3%, 9.90%, and 18.1%, respectively. Based on the PCA, CA, and REY results, as well as the Pb isotope model, it appears that heavy metals in the orangery soil may be derived from atmospheric deposition and bedrock weathering, while heavy metals in the vegetable base and tea plantation soils may be derived from mining and the use of fertilizer.
Demand–Resource Profiles and Job Satisfaction in the Healthcare Sector: A Person-Centered Examination Using Bayesian Informative Hypothesis Testing
Authors: Marzocchi Ivan , Ghezzi Valerio , Di Tecco Cristina , Ronchetti Matteo , Ciampa Valeria , Olivo Ilaria , Barbaranelli Claudio
Published: January 2023

Work characteristics may independently and jointly affect well-being, so that whether job demands deplete or energize employees depends on the resources available in the job. However, contradictory results on their joint effects have emerged so far in the literature. We argue that these inconsistencies can be partially explained by two arguments in the contemporary literature in the field. First, most studies in the job design domain are based on classic variable-centered methodologies which, although informative, are not well suited to investigate complex patterns of interactions among multiple variables. Second, these studies have mainly focused on generic work characteristics (e.g., workload, control, support), and are lacking in occupational specificity. Thus, to overcome these limitations, in the current research we include generic and occupation-specific work characteristics and adopt a person-centered approach to (a) identify different patterns of interactions of job demands and resources in a sample of healthcare employees, and (b) determine the degree to which these patterns are associated with employee well-being. We involved a sample of 1513 Italian healthcare providers and collected data on key job demands (workload, emotional dissonance, patient demands and physical demands) and resources (control, management support and peers’ support). We focused on job satisfaction as a broad indicator of well-being. Latent profile analysis revealed four profiles of job demands and resources: high strain–isolated, resourceless, resourceful and active job on the ward. The results of Bayesian informative hypothesis testing showed the highest support for the hypothesis stating that healthcare employees belonging to the active job on the ward profile (medium–high demands, high resources) were the most satisfied. Conversely, employees belonging to the high strain–isolated profile (high demands, low resources) and the resourceless profile (medium–low demands, low resources) were the least satisfied. Overall, our study confirms the key role played by job resources in determining well-being in high-risk sectors, demonstrating that job satisfaction can develop both in challenging and less demanding situations. On a practical level, mapping the complexity of the healthcare psychosocial work environment has important implications, allowing for a better assessment process of employee well-being and helping to identify the most effective and fitting interventions.
Effectiveness of Psychological First Aid e-Orientation among the General Population in Muntinlupa, the Philippines
Authors: Iiyama Satoshi , Izutsu Takashi , Miyamoto Yuki , Benavidez John Russel Manuel , Tsutsumi Atsuro
Published: January 2023

This present study examined the effectiveness of the Psychological First Aid (PFA) e-orientation as well as face-to-face PFA orientation among the general population in Muntinlupa City, the Philippines. The e-orientation group consisted of 150 participants who received a two-hour PFA e-orientation (male: 47, female: 97, others: 6, mean age: 33.4 (SD = 12.1)), the face-to-face (F2F) group consisted of 139 participants who received a two-hour face-to-face PFA orientation (male: 41, female: 95, others: 3, mean age: 35.0 (SD = 13.8)), and the control group consisted of 117 participants who received a two-hour face-to-face health promotion orientation for obesity (male: 48, female: 65, others: 4, mean age: 34.2 (SD = 13.8)). In order to see the effect of these interventions, the confidence to provide PFAs was compared between the pre- and post-interventions in each group with paired t-tests. Further, the number of correct answers regarding the knowledge on PFA was also compared between the pre- and post-interventions utilizing a McNemar test. The results demonstrated that the mean scores on the confidence increased significantly in the e-orientation (pre: 25.1 (SD = 4.7), post: 26.1 (SD = 5.3), p = 0.02) and F2F (pre: 26.2 (SD = 6.0), post: 29.6 (SD = 6.9), p < 0.01) groups. Regarding knowledge on PFA, in the e-orientation group, the number of those who answered correctly increased significantly in a question (pre: 10, post: 24, p = 0.01), and there was a trend for improvement in another question (pre: 63, post: 76, p = 0.06). In the F2F group, the number of those who answered correctly increased significantly in two questions (pre: 21, post: 38, p < 0.01, and pre: 5, post: 14, p = 0.05), and there were trends for improvement in two questions (pre: 69, post: 82, p = 0.06, and pre: 17, post: 27, p = 0.09), while in the control group, there were no significant differences in any of the questions between pre- and post-intervention. The results suggest that both the PFA e-orientation and face-to-face orientation are effective for the general population in terms of increasing confidence and knowledge related to PFA.
Gender Differences in Coping and Psychological Adaptation during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Cholankeril Rosann , Xiang Ellen , Badr Hoda
Published: January 2023

This population-based study investigated gender differences in the use of coping strategies and their relationship to anxiety symptoms during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period in the United States. A national online survey was administered between 13 April 2020 and 8 June 2020. The study sample comprised 1673 respondents (66% women). Overall, 46% reported high levels of anxiety, and women experienced significantly (p < 0.001) higher levels of anxiety than men. Women were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to use acceptance, self-distraction, positive reframing, and emotional support than men. Significant interactions between gender and coping strategies were also identified. Women engaging in high (+1SD) vs. low (−1SD) levels of active coping were not found to have significantly different anxiety levels. In contrast, men reported higher levels of anxiety when they engaged in high levels of active coping and lower levels of anxiety when they engaged in low levels of active coping (b2 = 0.88, t = 3.33, p = 0.001). Additionally, women engaging in high levels of acceptance and positive reframing reported significantly lower anxiety levels than when engag-ing in low levels of acceptance (b1 = −1.03, t = −4.58, p < 0.001) and positive reframing (b1 = −0.72, t = −3.95, p < 0.001). No significant associations between acceptance and positive reframing levels and anxiety levels were found with men. Overall, these findings extend our understanding of the nature of gender differences in stress responsivity during periods of high psychological distress and can inform the development of mental health interventions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Contrasting Near-Surface Ozone Pollution in Wet and Dry Year over China
Authors: Ding Shuo , Jiang Xiaotong , Wu Changhao
Published: January 2023

The near-surface ozone concentration was evaluated in two typical years with contrasting climatic impacts over the China region induced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which had either dry conditions (drought) with intense solar radiation and higher temperatures or wet conditions with opposite meteorological conditions. Surface ozone was observed to aggravate notably by 30% over Northern China in summer and by 50% over Eastern China in autumn in the dry year compared to the wet year. The ozone aggravation was found to be mainly ascribed to the reduced precipitation (relative humidity), enhanced solar radiation and increased temperature rather than primary emission (indicated by carbon monoxide). The health impacts showed the mortality attributable to ozone sharply increased by ~55% in Guangdong while the number of cases dying from ozone-related respiratory diseases per 100,000 population at risk was elevated by ~41% and ~17% for Guangdong (in the Pearl River Delta) and Jiangsu (in the Yangtze River Delta) province (two regions that have been reported to be highly influenced by surface ozone in China), respectively, in the dry year relative to the wet year, indicative of the significant adverse health effects of ozone aggravation. These results highlight the essential contribution of climate anomalies to surface ozone pollution. Efforts to suppress ozone aggravation can be beneficial to public health if extreme drought is predicted, and reasonable policy is implemented.
Platinum-Based Regimens Are Active in Advanced Pediatric-Type Rhabdomyosarcoma in Adults and Depending on HMGB1 Expression
Authors: Hindi Nadia , Carrillo-García Jaime , Blanco-Alcaina Elena , Renshaw Marta , Luna Pablo , Durán José , Jiménez Natalia , Sancho Pilar , Ramos Rafael , Moura David S. , Martín-Broto Javier
Published: January 2023

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in adults is a rare and aggressive disease, which lacks standard therapies for relapsed or advanced disease. This retrospective study aimed to describe the activity of BOMP-EPI (bleomycin, vincristine, methotrexate and cisplatin alternating with etoposide, cisplatin and ifosfamide), an alternative platinum-based regimen, in adult patients with relapsed/metastatic RMS. In the study, 10 patients with RMS with a median age at diagnosis of 20.8 years and a female/male distribution of 6/4 received a mean of 2.5 cycles of BOMP-EPI. The best RECIST response was a complete response in 1/10 (10%) patients, a partial response in 5/10 (50%), stable disease in 3/10 (30%) and progression in 1/10 (10%). With a median follow-up in the alive patients from the start of therapy of 30.5 months (15.7–258), all patients progressed with a median progression-free survival of 8.47 months (95% CI 8.1–8.8), and 7/10 patients died with a median overall survival of 24.7 months (95% CI 13.7–35.6). BOMP-EPI was an active chemotherapy regimen in adults with pediatric-type metastatic RMS, with outcomes in terms of survival that seem superior to what was expected for this poor-prognosis population. Low HMGB1 expression level was identified as a predictive factor of better response to this treatment.