bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethnological approach to acorn utilization in prehistory: A case study of acorn mook making in South Korea
Authors: An Ting , Tang Mengxia , An Juhui
Published: October 2022

Acorn remains are reported from prehistoric sites across the world. Acorn is argued to have been an important food resource for human beings in prehistory. However, relevant research is still limited and it is often difficult to recognize archaeological remains relating to acorn utilization. TheChaîne Opératoireof acorn utilization is yet to be addressed. Such is of great significance to the study of human subsistence strategy in pre-agricultural period and moreover the origin of agriculture. By conducting a case study of ‘mook making’ using acorns in Yongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, the current paper explores theChaîne Opératoireof acorn utilization in prehistory using an ethnological approach. We draw attention to the laborious nature of acorn processing and to different methods of acorn processing due to different species and culinary tradition. Our case study also brings new insights into archaeological interpretations of acorn remains from prehistoric sites.
The plant hormone ethylene promotes abiotic stress tolerance in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Bharadwaj Priyanka S. , Sanchez Lizbeth , Li Dongdong , Enyi Divine , Van de Poel Bram , Chang Caren
Published: October 2022

Plants are often faced with an array of adverse environmental conditions and must respond appropriately to grow and develop. In angiosperms, the plant hormone ethylene is known to play a protective role in responses to abiotic stress. Here we investigated whether ethylene mediates resistance to abiotic stress in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, one of the most distant land plant relatives of angiosperms. Using existing M. polymorpha knockout mutants of Mpein3, and Mpctr1, two genes in the ethylene signaling pathway, we examined responses to heat, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and continuous far-red light. The Mpein3 and Mpctr1 mutants were previously shown to confer ethylene insensitivity and constitutive ethylene responses, respectively. Using mild or sub-lethal doses of each stress treatment, we found that Mpctr1 mutants displayed stress resilience similar to or greater than the wild type. In contrast, Mpein3 mutants showed less resilience than the wild type. Consistent with ethylene being a stress hormone, we demonstrated that ethylene production is enhanced by each stress treatment. These results suggest that ethylene plays a role in protecting against abiotic stress in M. polymorpha, and that ethylene has likely been conserved as a stress hormone since before the evolutionary divergence of bryophytes from the land plant lineage approximately 450 Ma.
Development of a fuzzy logic-controlled system for home cultivation of sweet basil
Authors: Kim Jung-Sun Gloria , Jeong Wooyoung , Park Seongmin , Yang Myongkyoon
Published: October 2022

As environmental pollution and the global population increase, and the COVID-19 pandemic becomes more severe, demands for indoor farming, especially home food gardening, have also increased. However, most research thus far has focused on large-scale food production, with very few studies having been conducted at the household scale. Also, the devices cultivating household crops with control systems in a continuous way, which minimize fluctuations of environmental conditions, have been rarely developed. Therefore, this study aimed to design a household cultivation system for sweet basil that is automatically and continuously controlled by fuzzy logic with a Raspberry Pi4. Three inputs (temperature, humidity, and growth stage) and seven outputs (fan, humidifier, heater 1, heater 2, LED red, green, and blue) were used with six rules, ensuring that three lights operated independently upon three growth stages. Simulation and actual operation were carried out, resulting in an appropriately controlled system that operated with few defects. In the case of an operation of the input variable, temperature and humidity were maintained at an average of 21.24 °C and 75.58%, respectively, and the LED operation for the growth stage was confirmed to be flawless. For verification of the designed fuzzy system, a comparison between the simulation and actual operation was performed to examine differences and identify problems. To this end, Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used, and the direction of correction of the fuzzy logic system was proposed. Through these results, the feasibility of a home cultivation system using fuzzy logic was demonstrated, and it is expected that further studies applying it will be conducted in the future.
Stochasticity and the limits of molecular signaling in plant development
Authors: Lintilhac Philip M.
Published: October 2022

Understanding plant development is in part a theoretical endeavor that can only succeed if it is based upon a correctly contrived axiomatic framework. Here I revisit some of the basic assumptions that frame our understanding of plant development and suggest that we consider an alternative informational ecosystem that more faithfully reflects the physical and architectural realities of plant tissue and organ growth. I discuss molecular signaling as a stochastic process and propose that the iterative and architectural nature of plant growth is more usefully represented by deterministic models based upon structural, surficial, and stress-mechanical information networks that come into play at the trans-cellular level.
Cyber security threats: A never-ending challenge for e-commerce
Authors: Liu Xiang , Ahmad Sayed Fayaz , Anser Muhammad Khalid , Ke Jingying , Irshad Muhammad , Ul-Haq Jabbar , Abbas Shujaat
Published: October 2022

This study explores the challenge of cyber security threats that e-commerce technology and business are facing. Technology applications for e-commerce are attracting attention from both academia and industry. It has made what was not possible before for the business community and consumers. But it did not come all alone but has brought some challenges, and cyber security challenge is one of them. Cyber security concerns have many forms, but this study focuses on social engineering, denial of services, malware, and attacks on personal data. Firms worldwide spend a lot on addressing cybersecurity issues, which grow each year. However, it seems complicated to overcome the challenge because the attackers continuously search for new vulnerabilities in humans, organizations, and technology. This paper is based on the conceptual analysis of social engineering, denial of services, malware, and attacks on personal data. We argue that implementing modern technology for e-commerce and cybersecurity issues is a never-ending game of cat and mouse. To reduce risks, reliable technology is needed, training of employees and consumer is necessary for using the technology, and a strong policy and regulation is needed at the firm and governmental level.
Moving toward a spiritual pedagogy in L2 education: Research, practice, and applications
Authors: Song Dongmei
Published: October 2022

Spiritual pedagogy (SP) as a new educational theory aims to apply cultural and spiritual values in classroom practices. It has been the focus of research in different fields such as counselling, management, and science in the past decades. However, its application in second/foreign language research and practice has been widely overlooked by L2 researchers, to date. To fill this gap, the present study made an effort to provide a theoretical analysis of the conceptualizations, scientific background, benefits, and practical techniques to implement SP in the context of L2 education. In so doing, this paper suggests a number of practices through which SP can be integrated into L2 education among which positive psychology (PP) was more highlighted. Additionally, some practical implications were provided for EFL teachers, teacher trainers, students, curriculum designers, and researchers to enhance their knowledge of spirituality and education. In the end, different suggestions for future research were presented to move this research domain forward.
Is negative e-WOM more powerful? Multimodal data analysis on air passengers’ perception of COVID-19 safety measures
Authors: Bai Shizhen , Yu Dingyao , Yang Mu , Tang Rui , He Hao , Zhao Jiayuan , Huang Peihua
Published: October 2022

During the normalization stage of the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, the safety threats caused by improper epidemic prevention measures of airlines have become the primary concern for air passengers. Negative e-WOM related to safety perception obtained based on online multimodal reviews of travel websites has become an important decision-making basis for potential air passengers when making airline choices. This study aims to examine the relationship between potential air passengers’ negative safety perception and the usefulness of online reviews, as well as to test the moderating effect of review modality and airline type. It also further explores the effectiveness and feasibility of applying big data sentiment analysis to e-WOM management. To this end, the theoretical model of negative safety perception, review modality, and airline type affecting review usefulness was constructed. Then we select 10 low-cost airlines and 10 full-service airlines, respectively, according to the number of reviews sorted by the TripAdvisor website, and use crawling techniques to obtain 10,485 reviews related to COVID-19 safety of the above companies from December 2019 to date, and conduct safety perception sentiment analysis based on Python’s Textblob library. Finally, to avoid data overdispersion, the model is empirically analyzed by negative binomial regression using R software. The results indicate that (1) Negative safety perception significantly and negatively affects review usefulness, that is, extreme negative safety perception can provide higher review usefulness for potential air passengers. (2) Review modality and airline type have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between negative safety perception and review usefulness, in which multimodal reviews and full-service airlines both weakened the negative impact of negative safety perception on review usefulness. The theoretical model in this paper is both an extension of the application of big data sentiment analysis techniques and a beneficial supplement to current research findings of e-WOM, providing an important reference for potential air passengers to identify useful reviews accurately and thus reduce safety risks in online decision-making.
Applications of technology in the assessment and treatment of cannabis use disorder
Authors: Brezing Christina A. , Levin Frances R.
Published: October 2022

Cannabis use and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) have been increasing. There are no FDA approved medications and evidence-based psychotherapy is limited by insufficient providers, serving very few patients effectively. The lack of resources for prevention and treatment of CUD has resulted in a significant gap between the need for services and access to treatment. The creation of a scalable system to prevent, screen, refer and provide treatment for a chronic, relapsing diagnosis like CUD could be achieved through the application of technology. Many studies have utilized ecological momentary assessments (EMA) in treatment seeking and non-treatment seeking cannabis users. EMA allows for repeated, intensive, longitudinal data collection in vivo. EMA has been studied in cannabis use and its association with affect, craving, withdrawal, other substances, impulsivity, and interpersonal behaviors. EMA has the potential to serve as a valuable monitoring tool in prevention, screening, and treatment for CUD. Research has also focused on the development of internet and application-based treatments for CUD, including a currently available prescription digital therapeutic. Treatment options have expanded to more broadly incorporate telehealth as an option for CUD treatment with broad acceptance and change in regulation following the COVID-19 pandemic. While technology has limitations, including cost, privacy concerns, and issues with engagement, it will be a necessary medium to meet societal health needs as a consequence of an ever-changing cannabis regulatory landscape. Future work should focus on improving existing platforms while ethically incorporating other functions (e.g., sensors) to optimize a public and clinical health approach to CUD.
A scoping review of mobile apps for sleep management: User needs and design considerations
Authors: Al Mahmud Abdullah , Wu Jiahuan , Mubin Omar
Published: October 2022

Sleep disorders are prevalent nowadays, leading to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and other health problems. Due to the proliferation of mobile devices and the development of communication technologies, mobile apps have become a popular way to deliver sleep disorder therapy or manage sleep. This scoping review aims to conduct a systematic investigation of mobile apps and technologies supporting sleep, including the essential functions of sleep apps, how they are used to improve sleep and the facilitators of and barriers to using apps among patients and other stakeholders. We searched articles (2010 to 2022) from Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore using the keyword sleep apps. In total, 1,650 peer-reviewed articles were screened, and 51 were selected for inclusion. The most frequently provided functions by the apps are sleep monitoring, measuring sleep, providing alarms, and recording sleep using a sleep diary. Several wearable devices have been used with mobile apps to record sleep duration and sleep problems. Facilitators and barriers to using apps were identified, along with the evidence-based design guidelines. Existing studies have proved the initial validation and efficiency of delivering sleep treatment by mobile apps; however, more research is needed to improve the performance of sleep apps and devise a way to utilize them as a therapy tool.
Computational analysis of probabilistic reversal learning deficits in male subjects with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Bağci Başak , Düsmez Selin , Zorlu Nabi , Bahtiyar Gökhan , Isikli Serhan , Bayrakci Adem , Heinz Andreas , Schad Daniel J. , Sebold Miriam
Published: October 2022

Background

Alcohol use disorder is characterized by perseverative alcohol use despite negative consequences. This hallmark feature of addiction potentially relates to impairments in behavioral flexibility, which can be measured by probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) paradigms. We here aimed to examine the cognitive mechanisms underlying impaired PRL task performance in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUDP) using computational models of reinforcement learning.

Methods

Twenty-eight early abstinent AUDP and 27 healthy controls (HC) performed an extensive PRL paradigm. We compared conventional behavioral variables of choices (perseveration; correct responses) between groups. Moreover, we fitted Bayesian computational models to the task data to compare differences in latent cognitive variables including reward and punishment learning and choice consistency between groups.

Results

AUDP and HC did not significantly differ with regard to direct perseveration rates after reversals. However, AUDP made overall less correct responses and specifically showed decreased win–stay behavior compared to HC. Interestingly, AUDP showed premature switching after no or little negative feedback but elevated proneness to stay when accumulation of negative feedback would make switching a more optimal option. Computational modeling revealed that AUDP compared to HC showed enhanced learning from punishment, a tendency to learn less from positive feedback and lower choice consistency.

Conclusion

Our data do not support the assumption that AUDP are characterized by increased perseveration behavior. Instead our findings provide evidence that enhanced negative reinforcement and decreased non-drug-related reward learning as well as diminished choice consistency underlie dysfunctional choice behavior in AUDP.
Selective D3 receptor antagonism modulates neural response during negative emotional processing in substance dependence
Authors: Vamvakopoulou Ioanna A. , Fonville Leon , Hayes Alexandra , McGonigle John , Elliott Rebecca , Ersche Karen D. , Flechais Remy , Orban Csaba , Murphy Anna , Smith Dana G. , Suckling John , Taylor Eleanor M. , Deakin Bill , Robbins Trevor W. , Nutt David J. , Lingford-Hughes Anne R. , Paterson Louise M.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Negative affective states contribute to the chronic-relapsing nature of addiction. Mesolimbic dopamine D3 receptors are well placed to modulate emotion and are dysregulated in substance dependence. Selective antagonists might restore dopaminergic hypofunction, thus representing a potential treatment target. We investigated the effects of selective D3 antagonist, GSK598809, on the neural response to negative emotional processing in substance dependent individuals and healthy controls.

Methodology

Functional MRI BOLD response was assessed during an evocative image task, 2 h following acute administration of GSK598809 (60 mg) or placebo in a multi-site, double-blind, pseudo-randomised, cross-over design. Abstinent drug dependent individuals (DD, n = 36) comprising alcohol-only (AO, n = 19) and cocaine-alcohol polydrug (PD, n = 17) groups, and matched controls (n = 32) were presented with aversive and neutral images in a block design (contrast of interest: aversive > neutral). Whole-brain mixed-effects and a priori ROI analyses tested for group and drug effects, with identical models exploring subgroup effects.

Results

No group differences in task-related BOLD signal were identified between DD and controls. However, subgroup analysis revealed greater amygdala/insular BOLD signal in PD compared with AO groups. Following drug administration, GSK598809 increased BOLD response across HC and DD groups in thalamus, caudate, putamen, and pallidum, and reduced BOLD response in insular and opercular cortices relative to placebo. Multivariate analyses in a priori ROIs revealed differential effects of D3 antagonism according to subgroup in substantia nigra; GSK598809 increased BOLD response in AO and decreased response in PD groups.

Conclusion

Acute GSK598809 modulates the BOLD response to aversive image processing, providing evidence that D3 antagonism may impact emotional regulation. Enhanced BOLD response within D3-rich mesolimbic regions is consistent with its pharmacology and with attenuation of substance-related hypodopaminergic function. However, the lack of group differences in task-related BOLD response and the non-specific effect of GSK598809 between groups makes it difficult to ascertain whether D3 antagonism is likely to be normalising or restorative in our abstinent populations. The suggestion of differential D3 modulation between AO and PD subgroups is intriguing, raising the possibility of divergent treatment responses. Further study is needed to determine whether D3 antagonism should be recommended as a treatment target in substance dependence.
COVID-19, lifestyle behaviors and mental health: A mixed methods study of women 6 months following a hypertensive pregnancy
Authors: Gow Megan L. , Rossiter Chris , Roberts Lynne , Henderson Maddison J. , Yang Lin , Roche Judith , Hayes Erin , Canty Alison , Denney-Wilson Elizabeth , Henry Amanda
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to both the physical and psychological health of postpartum women. The aim of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the diet, physical activity and mental health of women 6 months following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.

Methods

Mixed methods sub-study of the Blood Pressure Postpartum trial, which recruited women following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy from six Sydney metropolitan hospitals. Cross sectional analysis of baseline quantitative data, collected at 6-months postpartum from March 2019-February 2022, and qualitative data analysis from semi-structured telephone interviews, was performed. Dates of COVID-19 lockdowns for Sydney, Australia were collected from government websites. Diet (vegetable, fruit, alcohol, take away intake) and physical activity (walking, vigorous activity, strength training frequency and duration) were assessed using the self-report NSW Population Health Survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale and GAD-7 scale, respectively. Outcome data were compared between women who completed surveys “In Lockdown” vs. “Not in Lockdown” as well as “Prior to any Lockdown” vs. “During or Following any Lockdown”.

Results

Of 506 participants, 84 women completed the study surveys “In Lockdown,” and 149 completed the surveys “Prior to any Lockdown.” Thirty-four participants were interviewed. There were no statistically significant differences in diet, physical activity, depression and anxiety among women who completed the survey “In Lockdown” vs. “Not in Lockdown.” “Prior to any Lockdown,” participants were more likely to do any walking (95% vs. 89%, p = 0.017), any vigorous activity (43% vs. 30%, p = 0.006) or any strength training (44% vs. 33%, p = 0.024), spent more time doing vigorous activity (p = 0.003) and strength training (p = 0.047) and were more likely to drink alcohol at least monthly (54% vs. 38%, p < 0.001) compared with “During or Following any Lockdown.”

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the confinements of lockdown did not markedly influence the mental health, diet and physical activity behaviors of women 6 months following hypertensive pregnancy. However, physical activity levels were reduced following the emergence of COVID-19, suggesting targeted efforts may be necessary to re-engage postpartum women with exercise.

Trial registration

https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376286&isReview=true, identifier: ACTRN12618002004246.
Interpreting global variations in the toll of COVID-19: The case for context and nuance in hypothesis generation and testing
Authors: Stein Roger M. , Katz David L.
Published: October 2022

Key points

As of January 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic was on-going, affecting populations worldwide. The potential risks of the Omicron variant (and future variants) still remain an area of active investigation. Thus, the ultimate human toll of SARS-CoV-2, and, by extension, the variations in that toll among diverse populations, remain unresolved. Nonetheless, an extensive literature on causal factors in the observed patterns of COVID-19 morbidity and cause-specific mortality has emerged—particularly at the aggregate level of analysis. This article explores potential pitfalls in the attribution of COVID outcomes to specific factors in isolation by examining a diverse set of potential factors and their interactions.

Methods

We sourced published data to establish a global database of COVID-19 outcomes for 68 countries and augmented these with an array of potential explanatory covariates from a diverse set of sources. We sought population-level aggregate factors from both health- and (traditionally) non-health domains, including: (a) Population biomarkers (b) Demographics and infrastructure (c) Socioeconomics (d) Policy responses at the country-level. We analyzed these data using (OLS) regression and more flexible non-parametric methods such as recursive partitioning, that are useful in examining both potential joint factor contributions to variations in pandemic outcomes, and the identification of possible interactions among covariates across these domains.

Results

Using the national obesity rates of 68 countries as an illustrative predictor covariate of COVID-19 outcomes, we observed marked inconsistencies in apparent outcomes by population. Importantly, we also documented important variations in outcomes, based on interactions of health factors with covariates in other domains that are traditionally not related to biomarkers. Finally, our results suggest that single-factor explanations of population-level COVID-19 outcomes (e.g., obesity vs. cause-specific mortality) appear to be confounded substantially by other factors.

Conclusions/implications

Our methods and findings suggest that a full understanding of the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, as would be central to preparing for similar future events, requires analysis within and among diverse variable domains, and within and among diverse populations. While this may seem apparent, the bulk of the recent literature on the pandemic has focused on one or a few of these drivers in isolation. Hypothesis generation and testing related to pandemic outcomes will benefit from accommodating the nuance of covariate interactions, in an epidemiologic context. Finally, our results add to the literature on the ecological fallacy: the attempt to infer individual drivers and outcomes from the study of population-level aggregates.
Italian health professionals on the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine: An online cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ghirotto Luca , Díaz Crescitelli Matías Eduardo , De Panfilis Ludovica , Caselli Luana , Serafini Arianna , De Fiore Luca , Galeazzi Gian Maria , Costantini Massimo
Published: October 2022

Italy was the first country in Europe to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for healthcare professionals by imposing restrictions in cases of non-compliance. This study investigates the opinions of the Italian healthcare professionals' categories affected by the regulation. We performed a qualitative online survey: the questionnaire comprised both close- and open-ended questions. The final dataset included n = 4,677 valid responses. Responses to closed-ended questions were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The framework method was applied for analyzing the open-ended questions. The sample spanned all health professions subject to compulsory vaccination, with a prevalence of physicians (43.8%) and nurses (26.3%). The vaccine adhesion before the introduction of the obligation was substantial. 10.4% declared not to have adhered to the vaccination proposal. Thirty-five percent of HPs who opted not to get vaccinated said they experienced consequences related to their choice. The trust in the vaccine seems slightly cracked, demonstrating overall vaccine confidence among professionals. Nonetheless, our results show that whether (or not) professionals adhere to vaccination is not a reliable indicator of consent to how it was achieved. There are criticisms about the lawfulness of the obligation. The data show a great variety of participants interpreting their roles concerning public and individual ethics. The scientific evidence motivates ethics-related decisions—the epidemic of confusing and incorrect information affected professionals. The Law triggered an increased disaffection with the health system and conflicts between professionals. Dealing with the working climate should be a commitment to assume soon.
A topology-based evaluation of resilience on urban road networks against epidemic spread: Implications for COVID-19 responses
Authors: Tang Junqing , Lin Huali , Fan Xudong , Yu Xiong , Lu Qiuchen
Published: October 2022

Road closure is an effective measure to reduce mobility and prevent the spread of an epidemic in severe public health crises. For instance, during the peak waves of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented road closure policies, such as the traffic-calming strategy in the UK. However, it is still not clear how such road closures, if used as a response to different modes of epidemic spreading, affect the resilient performance of large-scale road networks in terms of their efficiency and overall accessibility. In this paper, we propose a simulation-based approach to theoretically investigate two types of spreading mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of both static and dynamic response scenarios, including the sporadic epidemic spreading based on network topologies and trajectory-based spreading caused by superspreaders in megacities. The results showed that (1) the road network demonstrates comparatively worse resilient behavior under the trajectory-based spreading mode; (2) the road density and centrality order, as well as the network's regional geographical characteristics, can substantially alter the level of impacts and introduce heterogeneity into the recovery processes; and (3) the resilience lost under static recovery and dynamic recovery scenarios is 8.6 and 6.9%, respectively, which demonstrates the necessity of a dynamic response and the importance of making a systematic and strategic recovery plan. Policy and managerial implications are also discussed. This paper provides new insights for better managing the resilience of urban road networks against public health crises in the post-COVID era.
Workplace violence against Chinese health professionals 2013–2021: A study of national criminal judgment documents
Authors: Xiao Yu , Chen Ting-ting , Zhu Shao-yi , Zong Ling , Du Na , Li Chun-ya , Cheng Hao-fei , Zhou Qi , Luo Li-shi , Jia Juan
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Patient-initiated hospital violence is a global problem which threatens the safety of health professionals and is indicative of doctor-patient tensions, impeding health system quality and access. The current study aimed to improve the understanding of medical workplace violence (WPV) in China, using authoritative and nationally representative judgment records, and to approach violence prevention strategies.

Methods

All litigation records relating to violence against health professionals between 2013 and 2021 were extracted from the China Judgment Online System. Basic case information, victim characteristics, perpetrator characteristics and the nature of the violence were collated. The relationship between different treatment outcomes and violence was also explored.

Results

Numbers of cases of hospital violence gradually increased from 2013 to a peak in 2016 before gradually decreasing in the following years. The most common perpetrators were patients' relatives (58.2%), followed by patients themselves (38.2%). Only 9 perpetrators had a confirmed history of mental illness and only two were intoxicated with alcohol. More than half of the cases (52.5%) occurred in rural areas and this percentage is even greater for primary health care institutions (71.4%) and secondary hospitals (73.5%). On a departmental level, the highest incidence of medical WPV was found in the emergency (18.9%), pediatrics (13.2%) and obstetrics (11.5%) departments. Violent behaviors, such as stalking, mass occupation of the ward and sharp instrument injury were significantly related to cases not involving patient death (p < 0.05). Disruptive behavior, such as hanging banners, blocking hospital passages, placing flower wreaths and burning paper money were significantly correlated with cases involving patient death (p < 0.01). The interval between a patient's death and the ensuing violence was short, happening on the same day in 54.8% of cases.

Conclusions

A comprehensive overview of medical WPV in China is presented and may have utility for the formulation of prevention strategies.
Study on the mechanism of cadmium chloride pollution accelerating skin tissue metabolism disorder, aging and inhibiting hair regeneration
Authors: Du Weibin , Dong Yi , Wang Zhenwei , Yao Sai , Wang Meijiao , Ji Jinjun , Ruan Hongfeng , Quan Renfu
Published: October 2022

Drinking water contaminated by Cd2+ is one of the main pathways for Cd to enter the body. The skin barrier is destroyed when the skin is contaminated by environmental Cd2+, however, the detailed mechanism by which Cd2+ induces skin metabolic disorder, and senescence and affects hair regeneration is not completely understood. In this study, 18 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a Control group, a Low-dose group, and a High-dose group with 6 mice in each group, and intragastrically administered with different concentrations of cadmium chloride once a day, respectively. After 1 month of intervention, the skin tissues on the back of mice were collected for non-targeted metabolomics analysis, and the related proteins were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis result showed that compared with the Control group, there were 29 different metabolites, mainly including lysophospholipids, fatty acids, and bile acids, in the Low-dose group, and 39 differential metabolites in the High-dose group, in addition to the above compounds, there were more amino acid compounds, and most of the metabolites had a reduced response after administration. Immunofluorescence assay result showed that the higher the concentration of cadmium chloride led to the more obvious the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis promotion effects of skin cells, and the more significant damage to hair follicle stem cells. Thus, our findings demonstrate that cadmium chloride pollution can accelerate skin metabolism disorder, and aging and impair hair regeneration.
The comparative short-term efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon vs. drug-eluting stent for treating small-vessel coronary artery lesions in diabetic patients
Authors: Li Kui , Cui Kaijun , Dan Xuechuan , Feng Jian , Pu Xiaobo
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This meta-analysis aimed to explore the comparative short-term efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon (DCB) vs. drug-eluting stent (DES) for treating small-vessel coronary artery lesions in diabetic patients.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledgement Infrastructure (CNKI) for retrieving relevant studies regarding the comparison of DCB with DES in treating small-vessel coronary artery lesions in diabetic patients until May 31, 2022. Two independent authors screened study, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Then, the meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan software, version 5.4.

Results

We included 6 studies with 847 patients in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that DCB was associated with fewer major adverse cardiac events (MACE) [RR, 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39–0.93; p = 0.02], myocardial infarction (MI) (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19–0.94; p = 0.03), target lesion revascularization (TLR) (RR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.08–0.69; p < 0.001), target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.18–0.63; p < 0.001), binary restenosis (RR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11–0.68; p = 0.005), and late lumen loss (LLL) [mean difference (MD), −0.31; 95% CI, −0.36 to −0.27; p < 0.001], but was comparable technique success rate, death, minimal lumen diameter (MLD), and net lumen gain (NLG) to DES. There was no difference in long-term outcomes between these two techniques.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis shows that DCB is better than DES in the short-term therapeutic efficacy and safety of small-vessel coronary artery lesions in diabetic patients. However, more studies are required to validate our findings and investigate the long-term effects and safety of DCB.
Equity financing intention of elderly care enterprises: Influence of institutional logic and operation mode
Authors: Zhao Yiqi , Wei Dong , Zhao Xianfeng , Dong Xianglan , Guo Luzhi
Published: October 2022

The elderly population in China is expected to exceed 300 million and enter the stage of moderate aging during the 14th Five-Year plan period from 2021 to 2025. From the sustainable development perspective of elderly care enterprises, the supply of elderly care services would be unsustainable if enterprises suffer long-term losses. In the latter pursuit of high profits, the burden on consumers will increase. Equity financing of these enterprises is the key to achieving high-quality transformation and development by considering economic and social benefits. This study considers 20 well-known China-based elderly care enterprises as the research object. It uses a fuzzy set to explore system logic, operation mode, management performance, and attitude of elderly care enterprises toward investment through the qualitative comparative analysis method. The causal relationship between them is clarified—because, before the endowment enterprise equity financing intention of China, it is important to explore the effective path of equity financing of endowment enterprises. In the past, this helped Chinese elderly care enterprises actively cope with the trend of population aging, meet the needs of diversified and multi-level elderly care services, establish a sustainable development mode, and achieve high-quality transformation and development. The results show that (1) the operating performance of elderly care enterprises under the mode of public construction and private operation is poor; (2) elderly care enterprises driven by public welfare logic are more likely to achieve higher business performance, and (3) elderly care enterprises driven by business logic are more willing to introduce investment when they have made profits.
Predicting Chinese older adults' intention to live in nursing homes using an integrated model of the basic psychological needs theory and the theory of planned behavior
Authors: Lei Ming , Deeprasert Jirawan , Li Rita Yi Man , Wijitjamree Natchuda
Published: October 2022

The growing number of aging populations has become a major problem worldwide. Nursing homes play an essential role in the later life of older adults. Previous research indicated potential associations between external factors and older adults' intention to live in nursing homes. However, intrinsic motivation has yet to be fully understood. This article addresses an academic void that integrated the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explore older adults' intentions to live in nursing homes. More specifically, it tested the effects of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs satisfaction as defined in the BPNT on attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and live-in intentions toward nursing homes in the TPB. An online survey provided quantitative data from 425 aging people. The results indicated that the higher the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy needs, competence needs, and relatedness needs) of the older adults, the lower their intention to live in nursing homes. Furthermore, social pressure partially mediates this relationship. That is, the higher the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of older adults, the lower the pressure from society. Thus, they should be admitted to the nursing home, and the lower their intention to live in nursing homes. The results contribute to a better understanding of the deep psychological motivation of the older adults' intention to live in nursing homes and support further development of the BPNT-TPB model in older adults' health research.
Risk factors for alcohol use among adolescents: The context of township high schools in Tshwane, South Africa
Authors: Mmereki Bonolo , Mathibe Mmampedi , Cele Lindiwe , Modjadji Perpetua
Published: October 2022

Background

Risk factors for alcohol use originate from many interconnected factors to an interplay of social and physical environments. However, there is a scarcity of data on the contextual risk factors of alcohol use among the adolescents regarding high schools located in townships in South Africa. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for alcohol use among adolescents attending selected township high schools in Tshwane, South Africa.

Method

A validated researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the demographics, as well as current alcohol use, types, quantity, and frequency among adolescents (n= 403) in the three high schools. Data were analyzed using STATA 17.

Results

The response rate was 97%, with the mean age of 16 ± 2 years for the adolescents. Forty-eight % (48%) of the adolescents reported current alcohol use, which was associated with sex, age, number of children, school grade, repeated grade, spare time job and types, having a pocket money to school, child social grant, transport mode to school, and smoking. The odds of current alcohol use were higher for adolescents in grade 10 [AOR = 6.71; 95% CI: 3.16–14.24], grade 11 [AOR = 4.45; 95% CI: 2.21], grade 12 [AOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.47–6.31], repeating a grade [AOR =2 .20; 95% CI: 1.32–3.67), and working during a spare time [AOR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.33–6.37]. Both sexes had higher odds of alcohol use in the ages of 15–17 and 18–21 years, than adolescents aged 13–14 years.

Conclusion

Key risk factors for alcohol use among learners were sex, age, school grade, repeated grade, and working during a spare time. More evidence-based interventions that would have a greater impact in addressing alcohol use among adolescents, such as focusing on availability, marketing, and taxation of alcoholic beverages, are necessary.
Physicochemical characterization of microwave-stabilized rice bran oil from Ethiopian small-scale rice-processing plants
Authors: Bultum Lemessa Etana , Emire Shimelis Admasu , Tufa Lemma Teshome
Published: October 2022

Rice bran is one of the main byproducts of rice-processing industries, making approximately 10% of the total mass of rice kernels. It is rich in bioactive phytochemicals, which have several health benefits. Among others, rice bran contains 10%–23% oil, constituting the major bioactive elements of the bran. The aim of this work is therefore to evaluate rice bran oil obtained from Ethiopian small-scale rice-milling plants for suitability of human consumption. The rice bran was stabilized using microwave heating to inactivate endogenous lipase enzymes that would otherwise cause rancidity of the oil and render it inedible. The oil was then extracted and evaluated for its physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and antioxidant activity using standard methods. The result of the work confirmed that the rice bran oil from Ethiopian rice-milling plants has physicochemical characteristics that satisfy the acceptable threshold values set by various organizations. Interestingly, the oil contained a substantial fatty acid profile (high amount of unsaturated fatty acids) and a high content of unsaponifiable matter which contributes to the claimed health benefits of the oil. In addition, it exhibited a strong antioxidant activity (95.319%) at a concentration of 18 mg/ml, which also essentially contributes to its health benefits. Proper integration of rice milling with byproduct utilization such as rice bran oil production will contribute to the efforts to alleviate the oil scarcity in the country.
Potential gross and net N2O production by the gut of different termite species are related to the abundance of nitrifier and denitrifier groups
Authors: Miambi Edouard , Jusselme Thi My Dung , Châtelliers Charline Creuzé des , Robert Alain , Delort Abigail , Le Roux Xavier
Published: October 2022

Termites can be a significant source of N2O emissions in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. The emission rates vary greatly between species, with many species creating emission hotspots while others acting as net sinks. We studied the relationships between net and gross N2O production/consumption and the abundances of eight nitrifier and denitrifier groups (as determined by functional marker genes) in termite gut homogenates for eleven species from five feeding guilds. Overall, the abundance of nitrite reducers and, to a lesser extent, nitrifiers in the gut was strongly correlated with gross N2O production, whereas N2O reduction was correlated with the abundance of nosZ1 N2O reducers and the nosZ1/nirK ratio. Our results show that the differences in gross and net N2O production rates between termite species are primarily due to differences in nitrifier and denitrifier abundances, as well as the ratio of related functional gene marker abundances in the guts. N2O production rates were negatively correlated to the ratio of nosZ to nir. N2O production rates by live individuals measured for a subset of termite species were lower in the wood-feeding than in other species. Our results suggest that the differences in functional gene abundances may be associated with feeding guild, although this should be tested on a larger number of termite species.
Symptoms of mental illness among university student-athletes during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Canada
Authors: Boudreault Véronique , Labossière Sophie , Gauthier Véronique , Brassard Sophie , Couture Sophie , Dionne Frédérick , Laurier Catherine , Durand-Bush Natalie
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown disrupted the university sports season and had negative consequences on the academic and personal life of university student-athletes, resulting in several psychological challenges. The goal of this study is to document the symptoms of mental illness among university student-athletes during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Canada. It aims to (a) assess the prevalence of mental illness symptoms (anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and dangerous drinking) among university student-athletes and (b) identify which sociodemographic and sports characteristics, pandemic impacts, and levels of perceived stress most influence these symptoms. A total of 424 university student-athletes completed an online survey, which included questions on mental illness and the impact of the pandemic lockdown. The results revealed a notable prevalence of the symptoms of mental illness; depressive symptoms are reported by 37.9% of the participants, anxiety symptoms by 24.9%, dangerous drinking symptoms by 10.1%, and disordered eating by 8.6%. In addition, being female [OR = 0.56, 95% CI (0.33, 0.95)] or a member of a visible minority group [OR = 2.63, 95% CI (1.02, 6.78)] are significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. Low academic motivation has a significant negative influence on the presence of depressive [OR = 3.37, 95% CI (1.82, 6.25)] and anxiety symptoms [OR = 2.75, 95% CI (1.35, 5.62)]. However, the presence of perceived stress was strongly associated with depressive [OR = 7.07, 95% CI (3.26, 15.35)], anxiety [OR = 6.51, 95% CI (3.30, 12.84)], and dangerous drinking symptoms [OR = 5.74, 95% CI (2.51, 13.14)]. This study advocates for specific mental illness prevention and treatment resources tailored to the unique needs of university student-athletes. Accordingly, partnerships and practical interventions to support university student-athletes' mental health are presented.