bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Recognition of Ragged Red Fibers in Muscle Biopsy from Patients with Mitochondrial Disorders
Authors: Baldacci Jacopo , Calderisi Marco , Fiorillo Chiara , Santorelli Filippo Maria , Rubegni Anna
Published: March 2022

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be a major cause of primary mitochondrial myopathy in children and adults, as reduced mitochondrial respiration and morphological changes such as ragged red fibers (RRFs) are observed in muscle biopsies. However, it is also possible to hypothesize the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in aging muscle or in secondary mitochondrial dysfunctions. The recognition of true histological patterns of mitochondrial myopathy can avoid unnecessary genetic investigations. The aim of our study was to develop and validate machine-learning methods for RRF detection in light microscopy images of skeletal muscle tissue. We used image sets of 489 color images captured from representative areas of Gomori’s trichrome-stained tissue retrieved from light microscopy images at a 20× magnification. We compared the performance of random forest, gradient boosting machine, and support vector machine classifiers. Our results suggested that the advent of scanning technologies, combined with the development of machine-learning models for image classification, make neuromuscular disorders’ automated diagnostic systems a concrete possibility.
Mental Health Shame, Caregiver Identity, and Self-Compassion in UK Education Students
Authors: Kotera Yasuhiro , Tsuda-McCaie Freya , Edwards Ann-Marie , Bhandari Divya , Williams Dan , Neary Siobhan
Published: March 2022

Although students in education have high rates of mental health problems, many of them do not ask for help, which can exacerbate their symptoms. One reason for their low help-seeking is shame associated with mental health problems. As education students aspire to provide care for children, they may feel ashamed to care for themselves, as the role identity theory suggests. Self-compassion is reported to reduce shame and mental health problems. This study explored the relationships between mental health problems, mental health shame, self-compassion, and caregiver identity among UK education students. One hundred and nine postgraduate students completed four self-report scales regarding those constructs. Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Mental health problems were positively associated with shame and identity, and negatively associated with self-compassion. Self-compassion was the only significant predictor of mental health problems. Findings will help educators and education students to develop effective approaches for their mental health problems.
The Dose-Response Efficacy of Physical Training on Frailty Status and Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Li Pei-Shan , Hsieh Chia-Jung , Tallutondok Eva Berthy , Peng Hsuan-Ju
Published: March 2022

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore the effect of physical training on frailty status and physical performance in the community dwelling elderly. Methods: We set keywords and used the Boolean operator to search the CEPS, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases from inception to 10 August 2021. The search was limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted within a five-year period. The Cochrane Collaboration bias assessment tool was used to assess article quality, and RevMan 5.4.1. software (Cochrane Training site based in London, UK) was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: Physical training was found to improve frailty status, physical performance, lower limb strength and balance. The best dose-response for physical training was 60 min per time, 2–3 times per week, for 3 months. Conclusion: Designing an appropriate physical training program can decrease the frailty score and increase physical performance in frail elderly in the community.
An Introduction to the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectral Library of Pigments
Authors: Kuzio Olivia R. , Hornak Joseph P.
Published: March 2022

A library cataloguing the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of artists’ pigments has been created. It contains spectral data collected using several spectrometers that operate at different frequencies for, currently, 51 pigments. The library is intended to serve as an open-access reference database for the scientific studies of cultural heritage objects that utilize this analytical technique. Furthermore, it is a living repository, in that entries will be added as more pigments found to have EPR signals at room temperature are studied. Because EPR is less well established in the field of heritage science than some other common spectroscopies, this companion paper serves as an educational supplement to the library. It focuses on first, describing the theory of EPR to the level necessary to understand the origins of spectral features and to utilize these for pigment identification, and then, on discussing the organization of the library to facilitate the navigation of its contents.
The Agro-Economic Feasibility of Growing the Medicinal Plant Euphorbia peplus in a Modified Vertical Hydroponic Shipping Container
Authors: Bafort Françoise , Kohnen Stephan , Maron Etienne , Bouhadada Ayoub , Ancion Nicolas , Crutzen Nathalie , Jijakli M. Haïssam
Published: March 2022

Vertical farming is considered as a potential solution to increase yield while decreasing resource use and pesticide impacts compared to conventional agriculture. However, the profitability of cultivating ordinary leafy green crops with low market prices in vertical farming is debated. We studied the agronomic feasibility and viability of growing a medicinal plant—Euphorbia peplus—for its ingenol-mebutate content in a modified shipping container farm as an alternative crop cultivation system. The impacts of three hydroponic substrates, three light intensities, three plant localizations and two surface areas on E. peplus yield and cost were tested in several scenarios. The optimization of biomass yield and area surface decreased the cultivation cost, with fresh crop cost per kg ranging from €185 to €59. Three ingenol-mebutate extraction methods were tested. The best extraction yields and cheapest method can both be attributed to ethyl acetate at 120 °C, with a yield of 43.8 mg/kg at a cost of €38 per mg. Modeling of the profitability of a pharmaceutical gel based on ingenol-mebutate showed that economic feasibility was difficult to reach, but some factors could rapidly increase the profitability of this production.
Packaging Design to Protect Hongmeiren Orange Fruit from Mechanical Damage during Simulated and Road Transportation
Authors: Zheng Dandan , Chen Jiahui , Lin Menghua , Wang Da , Lin Qiong , Cao Jingping , Yang Xiangzheng , Duan Yuquan , Ye Xianming , Sun Chongde , Wu Di , Wang Jun , Chen Kunsong
Published: March 2022

Hongmeiren is a high-quality orange fruit but susceptible to mechanical damage. This work proposes a new packaging format (Packaging C), which used the plastic partition boards to separate the folding plastic basket to avoid the fruits from crushing each other, and used a PU foam layer and placed it along the inside of the EPE foam layer to meet the different sizes of fruits. The results show that under both 3 and 10 h of simulated transportation, Packaging C achieved a much lower damage and decay rates than Packaging A (plastic bulk containers), and this was further verified by the road transportation. Besides, Packaging C could avoid dents in the peel of some large fruits compared to the gift packaging (Packaging B). Although the use of inner packaging could increase the use of packaging, it can reduce the waste of cultivation and transportation resources caused by not being able to deliver the fruit to the consumer, as well as environmental pollution caused by fruit decay. Moreover, low temperature (10 °C) and high humidity (90% RH) during transportation could further reduce the damage and packages at the rear position obtained a higher damage rate than at the front position, but no obvious difference was found between stack heights.
VIS-NIR Modeling of Hydrangenol and Phyllodulcin Contents in Tea-Hortensia (Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. serrata)
Authors: Moll Marcel Dieter , Kahlert Liane , Gross Egon , Schwarze Esther-Corinna , Blings Maria , Hillebrand Silke , Ley Jakob , Kraska Thorsten , Pude Ralf
Published: March 2022

Hyperspectral data are commonly used for the fast and inexpensive quantification of plant constituent estimation and quality control as well as in research and development applications. Based on chemical analysis, different models for dihydroisocoumarins (DHCs), namely hydrangenol (HG) and phyllodulcin (PD), were built using a partial least squares regression (PLSR). While HG is common in Hydrangea macrophylla, PD only occurs in cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. serrata, also known as ‘tea-hortensia’. PD content varies significantly over the course of the growing period. For maximizing yield, a targeted estimation of PD content is needed. Nowadays, DHC contents are determined via UPLC, a time-consuming and a destructive method. In this research article we investigated PLSR-based models for HG and PD using three different spectrometers. Two separate trials were conducted to test for model quality. Measurement conditions, namely fresh or dried leaves and black or white background, did not influence model quality. While highly accurate modeling of HG and PD for single plants was not possible, the determination of the mean content on a larger scale was successful. The results of this study show that hyperspectral modeling as a decision support for farmers is feasible and provides accurate results on a field scale.
Valorization Potential of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Seed: Nutraceutical Quality, Food Properties, Safety Aspects, and Application as a Health-Promoting Ingredient in Foods
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Chandran Deepak , Tomar Maharishi , Bhuyan Deep Jyoti , Grasso Simona , Sá Amanda Gomes Almeida , Carciofi Bruno Augusto Mattar , Radha  , Dhumal Sangram , Singh Surinder , Senapathy Marisennayya , Changan Sushil , Dey Abhijit , Pandiselvam Ravi , Mahato Dipendra Kumar , Amarowicz Ryszard , Rajalingam Sureshkumar , Vishvanathan Marthandan , Saleena Lejaniya Abdul Kalam , Mekhemar Mohamed
Published: March 2022

The tomato is a member of the Solanaceae family and is a crop that is widely cultivated around the world due to its sweet, sour, salty, juicy, and nutritious berries. The processing of tomatoes generates a significant amount of waste in the form of tomato pomace, which includes seeds and skin. Tomato seeds are reservoirs of various nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. These components make tomato seeds an important ingredient for application in food matrices. This review discusses the functional food properties of tomato seeds and their scope of utilization as major ingredients in the functional food industry. In addition, this review describes the development of tomato seeds as a potential nutritional and nutraceutical ingredient, along with recent updates on research conducted worldwide. This is the first review that demonstrates the nutritional profile of tomato seeds along with its diverse functional food properties and application as a functional food ingredient.
A Preliminary Study for Identifying Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Seed Production in Radish Using Genotyping-by-Sequencing
Authors: Kim Jinhee , Park Suhyoung , Lee Junho , Han Koeun , Jang Yoonah , Chae Wonbyoung
Published: March 2022

The high yield of seeds can reduce the cost of seed production for parental lines, as well as F1 cultivars in radish. The number of seeds per silique and silique length are two important traits among traits determining seed yield, but no study has been conducted on their quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in radish. A high-density linkage map was constructed, based on genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) of the F2 population, derived from two parental lines, significantly differed by the two traits, which were grown in a controlled environment to minimize the environmental effects. Using the map with 848 SNPs, three significant QTLs were identified, two and one of which were associated with the number of seeds per silique and silique length, respectively. Ortholog analysis was conducted with Arabidopsis thaliana genes, related to the number of seeds per silique, and revealed five radish putative candidate genes. These putative candidate genes appear to be related to ovule, embryo sac, embryo, pollen and seed development, as well as a double fertilization process. The method to pollinate the F2 population, as well as preliminary QTLs and SNPs therein, can be helpful for future QTL studies to improve seed production in radish breeding programs.
Soilless Tomato Production: Effects of Hemp Fiber and Rock Wool Growing Media on Yield, Secondary Metabolites, Substrate Characteristics and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: Nerlich Annika , Karlowsky Stefan , Schwarz Dietmar , Förster Nadja , Dannehl Dennis
Published: March 2022

Replacement of rock wool by organic substrates is considered to reduce the environmental impact, e.g., through energy savings during production and waste prevention, caused by hydroponically produced crops. A suitable substrate for plant production is characterized by an optimal composition of air- and water-filled pores. In our study, we used hemp fibers as an organic alternative to rock wool in order to cultivate tomato plants in hydroponics for 36 weeks. The leaf area, plant length, and yields, as well as the quality of fruits including soluble solid contents, dry weight content, mineral composition, and contents of phenolic compounds caused by both substrates, were similar. Carotenoids were significantly increased in fruits from plants grown in hemp at some measuring dates. Nevertheless, higher emission rates of greenhouse gases such as N2O, CO2, and CH4 caused by hemp fiber compared to those emitted by rock wool during use are rather disadvantageous for the environment. While hemp proved to be a suitable substrate in terms of some physical properties (total pore volume, bulk density), a lower volume of air and easily available water as well as very rapid microbial decomposition and the associated high nitrogen immobilization must be considered as disadvantages.
A Comprehensive Review on the Behaviour of Motorcyclists: Motivations, Issues, Challenges, Substantial Analysis and Recommendations
Authors: Abdulwahid Sarah Najm , Mahmoud Moamin A. , Zaidan Bilal Bahaa , Alamoodi Abdullah Hussein , Garfan Salem , Talal Mohammed , Zaidan Aws Alaa
Published: March 2022

With the continuous emergence of new technologies and the adaptation of smart systems in transportation, motorcyclist driving behaviour plays an important role in the transition towards intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Studying motorcyclist driving behaviour requires accurate models with accurate and complete datasets for better road safety and traffic management. As accuracy is needed in modelling, motorcyclist driving behaviour analyses can be performed using sensors that collect driving behaviour characteristics during real-time experiments. This review article systematically investigates the literature on motorcyclist driving behaviour to present many findings related to the issues, problems, challenges, and research gaps that have existed over the last 10 years (2011–2021). A number of digital databases (i.e., IEEE Xplore®, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched and explored to collect reliable peer-reviewed articles. Out of the 2214 collected articles, only 174 articles formed the final set of articles used in the analysis of the motorcyclist research area. The filtration process consisted of two stages that were implemented on the collected articles. Inclusion criteria were the core of the first stage of the filtration process keeping articles only if they were a study or review written in English or were articles that mainly incorporated the driving style of motorcyclists. The second phase of the filtration process is based on more rules for article inclusion. The criteria of inclusion for the second phase of filtration examined the deployment of motorcyclist driver behaviour characterisation procedures using a real-time-based data acquisition system (DAS) or a questionnaire. The final number of articles was divided into three main groups: reviews (7/174), experimental studies (41/174), and social studies-based articles (126/174). This taxonomy of the literature was developed to group the literature into articles with similar types of experimental conditions. Recommendation topics are also presented to enable and enhance the pace of the development in this research area. Research gaps are presented by implementing a substantial analysis of the previously proposed methodologies. The analysis mainly identified the gaps in the development of data acquisition systems, model accuracy, and data types incorporated in the proposed models. Finally, research directions towards ITS are provided by exploring key topics necessary in the advancement of this research area.
Motivation to Participate in Intergenerational Programs: A Comparison across Different Program Types and Generations
Authors: Cohen-Mansfield Jiska
Published: March 2022

Much research has attested to the benefits of intergenerational programs (IGPs) for older and younger participants, but there is a lack of understanding about what motivates them to participate and to persevere. We conducted structured interviews with 83 older (mean age = 77) and 96 younger (mean age = 23) participants who participated in 13 IGPs in Israel, some involving specific topics, and some providing assistance to older adults. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed differences in motivation across generations and program types and compared initial and ongoing motivation to participate. We found differences regarding motivation by age group and program type: Among older participants, interest in the specific subject was a more prevalent motivation in topic-focused groups, while receiving support was more common in assistance groups. Among young persons, motivations relating to obligation, such as receipt of a financial scholarship, and the wish to help others were the most prevalent motivators. Ongoing motivation was often explained by positive intergenerational relationships and enjoyment. For older adults, offering more diverse topic-focused activities may motivate greater participation. For young adults, integrating IGPs within more and different settings, and promoting IGPs as opportunities to help others are potential motivators.
The IWH-BEAT Questionnaire Validation
Authors: Toledo Mario , Charles-Leija Humberto , Castro Carlos Gustavo , Guerrero Iván , Ballesteros-Valdés Rosalinda
Published: March 2022

Positive Psychology has been devoted to enhancing well-being within organizations during the first two decades of the current millennium. Unfortunately, little data is available on current assessment related to positive psychology practices in the workplace. Therefore, to assess organizational well-being in a valid and reliable way, a new scale has been created and validated by the Institute for Wellbeing and Happiness at Tecmilenio University in Mexico: the BEAT Questionnaire whose main contribution to previous models is the element of meaningful work. EFA and CFA were carried out to determine and confirm the scale’s structure; internal consistency tests were performed too; additionally, convergence with measures of engagement, labor resources, and worker relations were also confirmed, and discriminant validity was tested by comparing associations with job search intentions and negative relationships in the workplace, yielding an instrument with four clearly defined latent dimensions, composed by 24 highly consistent items, convergent with three other valid and reliable scales. All procedures complied with statistical requirements, delivering a valid and reliable instrument for measuring well-being in the workplace.
Cessation of Care for Frail Older Adults: Physical, Psychological and Economic Outcomes for Family Carers
Authors: Tur-Sinai Aviad , Halperin Dafna , Ben David Nissim , Lowenstein Ariela , Katz Ruth
Published: March 2022

Global population aging and increased longevity are making family care a nearly universal experience. Caregiving is a dynamic process that varies over time and in intensity but often takes a physical and emotional toll on carers and may inflict financial costs by attenuating their labor market participation. The study explores the implications of the ‘cessation of care’ of frail elders by adult (middle-aged and older) kin by comparing two ethnic groups in Israel with respect to their health and their psychological and economic life. Using secondary data analyses based on SHARE-Israel data for persons aged 50+, it is found that subjective health assessment and financial capability are significantly higher among those who stop providing care than among those who continue to do so, while carers report a downturn in life satisfaction after they stop giving care. Those who continue are younger than the others, and their labor force participation rate is higher. Significant implications of cessation of care for all three areas studied—psychological, health, and economic—are found as well: the subjective rating of health and financial capability improve whereas life satisfaction decreases. Furthermore, a cessation of care moderates the relation between individuals’ age and their self-rated health, which is better among those who continue to provide care. These results emphasize and deepen our understanding of the cessation-of-care phase as a key component of the process of care for frail older adults by family members.
Exploring the Reciprocal Relationships between Happiness and Life Satisfaction of Working Adults—Evidence from Abu Dhabi
Authors: Badri Masood A. , Alkhaili Mugheer , Aldhaheri Hamad , Yang Guang , Albahar Muna , Alrashdi Asma
Published: March 2022

This paper examines the relationships between a range of well-being factors and two commonly used subjective well-being measures—happiness and life satisfaction. Data from the second cycle of the Quality of Life (QoL) Survey in Abu Dhabi were used, which included 32,087 working adults. The well-being factors included in the analysis covered various aspects of life themes: income and jobs, work–home balance, health and physical activities, social and community services, living environment, and family/friends’ relationships and connections. Using standardized data, path analysis yielded an optimal path model that suggested the presence of a reciprocal relationship between happiness and life satisfaction. In addition, the final model suggested that four variables—job satisfaction, mental health, satisfaction with relationships with people, and the size of the social support network—had direct effects on happiness and life satisfaction. The model also identified three variables—satisfaction with family life, mental health, and job satisfaction—to have the most significant effect on happiness.
Daily Associations of Air Pollution and Pediatric Asthma Risk Using the Biomedical REAI-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE) Kit
Authors: Hao Hua , Eckel Sandrah P. , Hosseini Anahita , Van Vliet Eleanne D. S. , Dzubur Eldin , Dunton Genevieve , Chang Shih Ying , Craig Kenneth , Rocchio Rose , Bastain Theresa , Gilliland Frank , Okelo Sande , Ross Mindy K. , Sarrafzadeh Majid , Bui Alex A. T. , Habre Rima
Published: March 2022

Background: Exposure to air pollution is associated with acute pediatric asthma exacerbations, including reduced lung function, rescue medication usage, and increased symptoms; however, most studies are limited in investigating longitudinal changes in these acute effects. This study aims to investigate the effects of daily air pollution exposure on acute pediatric asthma exacerbation risk using a repeated-measures design. Methods: We conducted a panel study of 40 children aged 8–16 years with moderate-to-severe asthma. We deployed the Biomedical REAI-Time Health Evaluation (BREATHE) Kit developed in the Los Angeles PRISMS Center to continuously monitor personal exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), relative humidity and temperature, geolocation (GPS), and asthma outcomes including lung function, medication use, and symptoms for 14 days. Hourly ambient (PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3)) and traffic-related (nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM2.5) air pollution exposures were modeled based on location. We used mixed-effects models to examine the association of same day and lagged (up to 2 days) exposures with daily changes in % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and % predicted peak expiratory flow (PEF), count of rescue inhaler puffs, and symptoms. Results: Participants were on average 12.0 years old (range: 8.4–16.8) with mean (SD) morning %predicted FEV1 of 67.9% (17.3%) and PEF of 69.1% (18.4%) and 1.4 (3.5) puffs per day of rescue inhaler use. Participants reported chest tightness, wheeze, trouble breathing, and cough symptoms on 36.4%, 17.5%, 32.3%, and 42.9%, respectively (n = 217 person-days). One SD increase in previous day O3 exposure was associated with reduced morning (beta [95% CI]: −4.11 [−6.86, −1.36]), evening (−2.65 [−5.19, −0.10]) and daily average %predicted FEV1 (−3.45 [−6.42, −0.47]). Daily (lag 0) exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 exposure was associated with reduced morning %predicted PEF (−3.97 [−7.69, −0.26]) and greater odds of “feeling scared of trouble breathing” symptom (odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.83 [1.03, 3.24]). Exposure to ambient O3, NOx, and NO was significantly associated with increased rescue inhaler use (rate ratio [95% CI]: O3 1.52 [1.02, 2.27], NOx 1.61 [1.23, 2.11], NO 1.80 [1.37, 2.35]). Conclusions: We found significant associations of air pollution exposure with lung function, rescue inhaler use, and “feeling scared of trouble breathing.” Our study demonstrates the potential of informatics and wearable sensor technologies at collecting highly resolved, contextual, and personal exposure data for understanding acute pediatric asthma triggers.
Barriers and Facilitators to Sustaining School-Based Mental Health and Wellbeing Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: March Anna , Stapley Emily , Hayes Daniel , Town Rosa , Deighton Jessica
Published: March 2022

Despite an increasing focus on schools to deliver support and education around mental health and wellbeing, interventions are often not sustained beyond initial funding and research. In this review, the barriers and facilitators to sustaining mental health and wellbeing interventions in schools are explored. A systematic review was conducted using keywords based on the terms: ‘sustainability’, ‘school’, ‘intervention’, ‘mental health’, and ’emotional wellbeing’. Six online databases (PsycINFO, Embase, MEDLINE, British Education Index, ERIC, and Web of Science) and relevant websites were searched resulting in 6160 unique references. After screening, 10 articles were included in the review and extracted data were qualitatively synthesized using thematic analysis. Data synthesis led to the identification of four sustainability factors at the school level (school leadership, staff engagement, intervention characteristics, and resources) and one at the wider system level (external support). These factors were separated into 15 themes and discussed as barriers and facilitators to sustainability (for example, school culture and staff turnover). Most articles included no definition of sustainability, and nearly all barriers and facilitators were discussed at the school level. The findings suggest that more longitudinal and theory-driven research is required to develop a clearer picture of the sustainability process.
Feeding Difficulties Associated with IBD during the Working Day: Qualitative Study, Alicante Spain
Authors: Martinez-Riera José , Comeche-Guijarro José , Gutierrez-Hervas Ana , García-Sanjuán Sofia , Caballero Pablo
Published: March 2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Nutrition is a key aspect as it can modulate much of the symptomatology. People affected by IBD often experience difficulties at work in all areas, including adapting their dietary management to workplace situations. The aim of this study is to identify the difficulties associated with eating during the working day in people diagnosed with IBD. A qualitative study was conducted through a nominal and focus group with people affected by IBD. After the thematic analysis of the data, three main themes emerged: management of food during the working day, searching for strategies to live with the disease, and the importance of visibility and support. This study shows that IBD influences the working life of people with IBD and makes it difficult to maintain an adequate diet. The institutions in charge of the treatment of IBD patients should consider the support of multidisciplinary teams, including nutrition professionals, as a fundamental part of the pathology control and dietary treatment to minimize its repercussions at work.
Accessibility to Digital Mental Health Services among the General Public throughout COVID-19: Trajectories, Influencing Factors and Association with Long-Term Mental Health Symptoms
Authors: Lu Zheng-An , Shi Le , Que Jian-Yu , Zheng Yong-Bo , Wang Qian-Wen , Liu Wei-Jian , Huang Yue-Tong , Liu Xiao-Xing , Yuan Kai , Yan Wei , Shi Jie , Bao Yan-Ping , Lu Lin
Published: March 2022

Digital mental health services (DMHSs) have great potential for mitigating the mental health burden related to COVID-19, but public accessibility (ease of acquiring services when needed) to DMHSs during the pandemic is largely unknown. Accessibility to DMHSs was tracked longitudinally among a nationwide sample of 18,804 adults in China from before to one year after COVID-19 outbreak. Unconditional and conditional latent growth curve models and latent growth mixture models were fitted to explore the overall growth trend, influencing factors, and latent trajectory classes of accessibility to DMHSs throughout COVID-19. Generalized estimating equation models and generalized linear mixed models were employed to explore the association between accessibility to DMHSs and long-term mental health symptoms. We found that people generally reported increased difficulty in accessing DMHSs from before to one year after COVID-19 outbreak. Males, youngsters, individuals with low socioeconomic status, and individuals greatly affected by COVID-19 reported greater difficulty in accessing DMHSs. Four DMHS accessibility trajectory classes were identified: “lowest–great increase” (6.3%), “moderate low–slight increase” (44.4%), “moderate high–slight decrease” (18.1%) and “highest–great decrease” (31.2%). Trajectory classes reporting greater difficulty in accessing DMHSs were at higher risk for long-term mental symptoms. In conclusion, an overall increase in difficulty in accessing DMHSs is observed throughout COVID-19, and heterogeneity exists in DMHS accessibility trajectories. Our results suggest that easy access to DMHSs should be consistently facilitated. Moreover, access gaps should be reduced across demographic groups, and target populations for service allocation should alter as the pandemic evolves.
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Habitat Quality and Its Response of Landscape Dynamic in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China
Authors: Liu Shuangshuang , Liao Qipeng , Xiao Mingzhu , Zhao Dengyue , Huang Chunbo
Published: March 2022

Habitat quality is an important indicator for assessing biodiversity and is critical to ecosystem processes. With urban development and construction in developing countries, habitat quality is increasingly influenced by landscape pattern changes. This has made habitat conservation to be an increasingly urgent issue. Despite the growing interest in this issue, studies that reveal the role of land use change in habitat degradation at multiple scales are still lacking. Therefore, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of habitat quality of the Three Gorges Reservoir area by the InVEST habitat quality model and demonstrated the responses of habitat quality to various landscape dynamics by correspondence analysis. The result showed that the habitat quality score of this area increased from 0.685 in 2000 to 0.739 in 2015 and presented a significant spatial heterogeneity. Habitat quality was significantly higher in the northeastern and southwestern parts of the reservoir area than in other regions. Meanwhile, habitat quality improved with altitude and slope, and increased for all altitude and slope zones. The habitat quality of >1000 m and >25° zone exceeds 0.8, while the habitat quality of <500 m and <15° zone is less than 0.6. Habitat quality significantly varied among landscape dynamics and was extremely sensitive to vegetation recovery and urban expansion. The vegetation restoration model of returning farmland to forest is difficult to sustain, so we suggest changing the vegetation recovery model to constructing complex vegetation community. This study helps us to better understand the effects of landscape pattern changes on habitat quality and can provide a scientific basis for formulating regional ecological conservation policies and sustainable use of land resources.
A Concept Analysis of Nurses’ Clinical Decision Making: Implications for Korea
Authors: Oh Sunyoung , Gu Minkyung , Sok Sohyune
Published: March 2022

The study’s purpose was to identify the meaning and the attributes of Korean nurses’ clinical decision making. A sequential and systematic literature review with reflection according to the conceptual analysis method of Walker and Avant was used in this study. Data sources included the National Assembly Library, the National Digital Science Library, ProQuest, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. Finally, twenty-six articles were included in this concept analysis. The concept of Korean nurses’ clinical decision making consisted of the following attributes: clinical reasoning, choosing and applying challenging alternatives, and professional assessment and resetting. Antecedents consisted of: recognizing complex and diverse patient situations with high uncertainty, the need to solve problems according to priority, prior experience in clinical decision making, and interrelationships with fellow medical staff. Consequences consisted of: providing high-quality nursing services, improving the patient’s safety, and increased satisfaction with clinical decision making. Based on these results, the conceptual attributes of Korean nurses’ clinical decision making had slightly different characteristics but were organically interrelated. The results of analyzing the concept of Korean nurses’ clinical decision making provide a better understanding of it and contribute to expanding nursing knowledge and developing a valid and reliable measurement.
Design and Preliminary Realization of a Screening and Early Warning Health Management System for Populations at High Risk for Depression
Authors: Chen Xin , Xu Liangwen , Pan Zhigeng
Published: March 2022

Depression has a high incidence in the world. Based on the concept of preventive treatment of disease of traditional Chinese medicine, timely screening and early warning of depression in populations at high risk for this condition can avoid, to a certain extent, the dysfunctions caused by depression. This work studied a method to collect information on depression, generate a database of depression features, design algorithms for screening populations at high risk for depression and creating an early warning model, develop an early warning short-message service (SMS) platform, and implement a scheme of depression screening and an early warning health management system. The implementation scheme included mobile application (app), cloud form, screening and early warning model, cloud platform, and computer software. Multiple modules jointly realized the screening, early warning, and management of the health functions of individuals at high risk for depression. At the same time, function modules such as mobile app and cloud form for collecting depression health information, early warning SMS platform, and health management software were designed, and the functions of the modules were preliminarily developed. Finally, the black-box test and white-box test were used to assess the system’s functions and ensure the reliability of the system. Through the integration of mobile app and computer software, this study preliminarily realized the screening and early warning health management of a population at high risk for depression.
Resilient Health and the Healthcare System. A Few Introductory Remarks in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Augustynowicz Anna , Opolski Janusz , Waszkiewicz Michał
Published: March 2022

People across the globe are facing increasingly complex public health emergencies that are responsible for the loss of life, economic and social problems with unprecedented damage and costs. For some sociologists, our society is even “a risk society” and our time is highly violative. Emergencies of different origin: stemming from natural environmental disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, intense drought, technical accidents, social unrest and last but not least—outbreaks of infectious diseases. This decade started with one of the most significant pandemics in the history of man-kind—COVID-19. Hence, the problems of resilient health and healthcare systems have become urgent. Especially since SARS-CoV-2 may cause long-term health threats and recurrent crises. It is very important to have a common language. So far, definitions and concepts of health and healthcare resilience differ substantially and are seldom clearly defined. The aim of this paper is to describe how health and healthcare system resilience is defined to either uncover, recall, or in combination, its concept and prepare an introductory conceptual review as a preliminary step for further studies.
Leader’s Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility and Team Members’ Psychological Well-Being: Mediating Effects of Value Congruence Climate and Pro-Social Behavior
Authors: Jeong Jae-Geum , Choi Suk Bong , Kang Seung-Wan
Published: March 2022

Previous research, that showed that corporate social responsibility (CSR) had positive effects on the corporate image and performance, has attracted much attention and resulted in an increasing number of follow-up studies. However, CSR-related activities are focused on their effect on external stakeholders, although they are social service activities geared towards internal and external stakeholders, thus showing a research gap regarding the effects of internal stakeholders on organizational effectiveness. Therefore, this study investigated the mediating effects of the value congruence climate and prosocial behavior among the team members in the relationship between leader’s CSR perception and team members’ psychological well-being, using a multilevel analysis of the relationship between the team and individual level factors. For the empirical analysis, 69 teams (334 employees) were sampled from 23 Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Analyses revealed a positive effect of a leader’s CSR perception on the team members’ psychological well-being. Furthermore, a leader’s CSR perception had a positive effect on his/her team’s value congruence environment and team members’ prosocial behavior. The team’s value congruence environment and team members’ prosocial behavior were found to mediate the relationship between the leader’s CSR perception and team members’ psychological well-being. The relationships among these variables were investigated using a multilevel analysis model capable of simultaneous validation of team- and individual-level factors associated with team members’ psychological well-being. Future research directions were then discussed based on the theoretical and practical implications and limitations of the study results.
Direct-Read Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Bioaerosol Exposure in Home Healthcare
Authors: Nathu Vishal D. , Virkutyte Jurate , Rao Marepalli B. , Nieto-Caballero Marina , Hernandez Mark , Reponen Tiina
Published: March 2022

Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) are subjected to variable working environments which increase their risk of being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. One of the potential occupational hazards within the industry includes exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize concentrations of three types of bioaerosols utilizing a novel fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument during seven activities that HHCWs typically encounter in patients’ homes. Bioaerosols were measured in an indoor residence throughout all seasons in Cincinnati, OH, USA. A fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO, USA) was utilized for all data collection. Total particle counts and concentrations for each particle type, including fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles, were utilized to form the response variable, a normalized concentration calculated as a ratio of concentration during activity to the background concentration. Walking experiments produced a median concentration ratio of 52.45 and 2.77 for pollen and fungi, respectively. Fungi and bacteria produced the highest and lowest median concentration ratios of 17.81 and 1.90 for showering, respectively. Lastly, our current study showed that sleeping activity did not increase bioaerosol concentrations. We further conclude that utilizing direct-reading methods may save time and effort in bioaerosol-exposure assessment.
Methodology for Precision Land Use Mapping towards Sustainable Urbanized Land Development
Authors: Szarek-Iwaniuk Patrycja , Dawidowicz Agnieszka , Senetra Adam
Published: March 2022

Land-use/land cover maps constitute one of the key sources of information on urban space. To address the problems associated with the lack of timely and detailed land-use maps, the authors have developed a universal methodological approach for monitoring land use structure that is particularly useful in a rapidly evolving urban environment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to develop a universal methodology for high-precision land-use analysis in urbanized areas in the context of large-scale mapping. The method uses geoinformation tools, photogrammetric data (orthophoto maps) as well as data acquired during a field inventory (involving a field survey and field mapping). The proposed approach is based on the modified existing approaches towards a detailed identification of land-use patterns while reducing the difficulties arising from the limitations of existing land use data sources. The methodology consists of several steps. First, the data sources for land-use analysis were selected. Subsequently, the classification of land-use categories in urban space was made. Finally, the method to high-precision land-use analysis for large-scale mapping was defined under the assumption that it is to be universal for use in countries with different levels of spatial and economic development. The proposed research method is based on an interpolation algorithm. It is highly valid, flexible, modifiable, accurate, and it can be applied to process publicly available and free sources of spatial data. Validation of the method on a test object (city of Ostróda, Poland) showed its high effectiveness, which is limited only by the type of data. The results obtained with the use of the proposed method not only supported the determination of the present land-use structure in the town but were also used to identify areas with the highest and lowest intensity and concentration of specific land-cover types.
Sources of Risk of AI Systems
Authors: Steimers André , Schneider Moritz
Published: March 2022

Artificial intelligence can be used to realise new types of protective devices and assistance systems, so their importance for occupational safety and health is continuously increasing. However, established risk mitigation measures in software development are only partially suitable for applications in AI systems, which only create new sources of risk. Risk management for systems that for systems using AI must therefore be adapted to the new problems. This work objects to contribute hereto by identifying relevant sources of risk for AI systems. For this purpose, the differences between AI systems, especially those based on modern machine learning methods, and classical software were analysed, and the current research fields of trustworthy AI were evaluated. On this basis, a taxonomy could be created that provides an overview of various AI-specific sources of risk. These new sources of risk should be taken into account in the overall risk assessment of a system based on AI technologies, examined for their criticality and managed accordingly at an early stage to prevent a later system failure.
The Relationship between Alexithymia and Mental Health Is Fully Mediated by Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Quinto Rossella Mattea , De Vincenzo Francesco , Graceffa Dario , Bonifati Claudio , Innamorati Marco , Iani Luca
Published: March 2022

Background: Psoriasis is a common skin disease that affects quality of life, especially mental health. Alexithymia has been considered a relevant feature in psoriasis patients. Moreover, psoriasis was found to be associated with negative psychological health, including anxiety and depression. As the pathways linking alexithymia and mental health remain unclear among patients with psoriasis, we aimed to examine the mediating role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between alexithymia and mental health in these patients. Methods: To explore our variables of interest, we used the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Forty-four percent of patients were alexithymic and reported higher anxiety and depression, and lower quality of life compared to non-alexithymic patients. Alexithymic patients also had lower educational attainment. A correlation analysis showed positive associations between alexithymia and both anxiety and depression, whereas mental and physical health were negatively associated with alexithymia. Moreover, anxiety and depression fully mediated the relationship between alexithymia and mental health. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of assessing alexithymia and psychological distress in clinical practice to identify vulnerable patients and to implement interventions aimed at improving negative emotional states.