bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Acute Sleep Curtailment on Salt Taste Measures and Relationships with Energy-Corrected Sodium Intake: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial with Methodology Validation
Authors: Du Chen , Keast Russell , Tan Sze-Yen , Tucker Robin
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Sleep may be a factor that influences the taste–dietary intake relationship. The effect of sleep on salt taste measures has not been adequately studied, and no standardized methodology has been developed for measuring salt taste preference. (2) Methods: A sweet taste forced-choice paired-comparison test was adapted and validated to determine salt taste preference. In a randomized cross-over trial, participants slept a curtailed night (33% reduction in sleep duration) and a habitual night, confirmed by a single-channel electroencephalograph. Salt taste tests were conducted the day after each sleep condition using five aqueous NaCl solutions. One 24-h dietary recall was obtained after each taste test. (3) Results: The adapted forced-choice paired-comparison tracking test reliably determined salt taste preference. No changes in salt taste function (intensity slopes: p = 0.844) or hedonic measures (liking slopes: p = 0.074; preferred NaCl concentrations: p = 0.092) were observed after the curtailed sleep condition compared to habitual sleep. However, sleep curtailment disrupted the association between liking slope and energy-corrected Na intake (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The present study serves as the first step toward more standardized taste assessments to facilitate comparison between studies and suggests accounting for sleep when exploring taste–diet relationships.
A Comparison of the Effect of Facemasks on Perceived Breathability and Air Quality during Daily Activities and Indoor Exercises
Authors: Qin Lai-Yin
Published: February 2023

Transmission of COVID-19 occurs predominantly through respired droplets and aerosols containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a solution, face masks have been used to protect against infection. Wearing face masks during indoor exercises is essential to prevent the spread of virus-containing respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, previous studies have not investigated all elements, including the users’ perceived breathability (PB) and perceived air quality (PAQ) when wearing a face mask during indoor exercises. The current study aimed to assess users’ perceived comfort (PC) of face masks based on assessment criteria of PB and PAQ during moderate to vigorous exercises, and compare them with those during normal daily activities. Data on PC, PB, and PAQ were collected from an online questionnaire survey from 104 participants doing regular moderate to vigorous exercises. Within-subjects comparison with self-controlled case series design was performed to compare PC, PB, and PAQ between wearing face masks during exercises and daily activities. Results showed that the degree of dissatisfaction with PC, PB, and PAQ while wearing face masks and performing indoor exercises is higher than when performing daily activities (p < 0.05). The significance of the study implies that masks comfortable for daily activities may not remain the same during moderate to vigorous exercises, especially during indoor exercises.
Polypharmacy and the Change of Self-Rated Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Barghouth Muhammad Helmi , Schaeffner Elke , Ebert Natalie , Bothe Tim , Schneider Alice , Mielke Nina
Published: February 2023

Polypharmacy is associated with poorer self-rated health (SRH). However, whether polypharmacy has an impact on the SRH progression is unknown. This study investigates the association of polypharmacy with SRH change in 1428 participants of the Berlin Initiative Study aged 70 years and older over four years. Polypharmacy was defined as the intake of ≥5 medications. Descriptive statistics of SRH-change categories stratified by polypharmacy status were reported. The association of polypharmacy with being in SRH change categories was assessed using multinomial regression analysis. At baseline, mean age was 79.1 (6.1) years, 54.0% were females, and prevalence of polypharmacy was 47.1%. Participants with polypharmacy were older and had more comorbidities compared to those without polypharmacy. Over four years, five SRH-change categories were identified. After covariate adjustment, individuals with polypharmacy had higher odds of being in the stable moderate category (OR 3.55; 95% CI [2.43–5.20]), stable low category (OR 3.32; 95% CI [1.65–6.70]), decline category (OR 1.87; 95% CI [1.34–2.62]), and improvement category (OR 2.01; [1.33–3.05]) compared to being in the stable high category independent of the number of comorbidities. Reducing polypharmacy could be an impactful strategy to foster favorable SRH progression in old age.
The Impact of Urban Rail Transit Epidemic Prevention Measures on Passengers’ Safety Perception
Authors: Ding Pengxiang , Feng Suwei , Jiang Jianning
Published: February 2023

In 2020, COVID-19 triggered concern about the safety of public transport. To meet passengers’ expectations regarding safety, the public transport department has stepped up its pandemic prevention services. Some prevention services require passengers to follow mandatory requirements. However, whether and to what extent these requirements affect passenger satisfaction with public transportation services remains unclear. This study aims to construct an integrated framework to explore the direct and indirect relationships between four constructs (regular services quality, pandemic prevention service, psychological distance, and safety perception) and passengers’ satisfaction in the context of urban rail transit services. Based on survey data collected from 500 passengers on the Shanghai Metro, this paper examines the relationships between routine service, pandemic prevention measures, safety perceptions, and satisfaction with the service. The results from the structural equation model indicate that routine service (0.608), pandemic prevention measures (0.56), and safety perception (0.05) have positive effects on passenger satisfaction. Psychological distance negatively impacts safety perception (−0.949) and has indirect effects on passenger satisfaction. Further, in order to identify the service improvements that public transportation departments should focus on, we use the three-factor theory to identify the services that should be improved: Basic factors, such as “punctual arrival of metros”, “treatment of harmful garbage”, “increasing frequency of platform disinfection”, and “measurement of station temperature” should be treated as the first priority. As the second improvement priority, “the planning of metro stations can accommodate my travel scope” can be considered. Last, public transportation departments can enhance the exciting factor by installing “metro entrance signs” when resources are available.
Asian American University Students’ Adjustment, Coping, and Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hwang Jacqueline , Ding Yi , Chen Eric , Wang Cixin , Wu Ying
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 outbreak caused global disruptions in all aspects of life. Social distancing regulations were enforced in an attempt to halt virus spread. Universities across the country closed for in-person instruction and activities, transitioning to remote learning. University students faced unprecedented challenges and stressors, especially Asian American students due to COVID-19-associated xenophobic attitudes, harassment, and assault against people of Asian complexions. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences, coping, stress, and adjustment of Asian American students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analyses were conducted on the survey responses of 207 participants (n = 103 Asian American university students, n = 104 non-Asian American students) from a larger-scale study, which focused on adaptation to the university, perceived stress, ways of coping, and COVID-19-specific factors. A series of independent samples t tests and regression analyses showed significant relationships between some university adjustment factors, ways of coping methods, and race with perceived stress and COVID-19 factors. Implications, limitations, and ideas for future directions in research are discussed.
Herbal Medicine Maekmundong-Tang on Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Cough: Study Protocol for a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Lee Boram , Park Hyo-Ju , Jung So-Young , Kwon O-Jin , Park Yang-Chun , Yang Changsop
Published: February 2023

As the treatment of nonspecific chronic cough with conventional medications that treat cough according to the cause is limited, Maekmundong-tang (comprising Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Pinelliae Tuber, Oryzae Semen, Zizyphi Fructus, Ginseng Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) has been used empirically in the clinical setting of East Asian traditional medicine. This study is the first to explore the feasibility, preliminary effect, safety, and cost-effectiveness of Maekmundong-tang for nonspecific chronic cough. This study protocol is that of a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial for comparing Maekmundong-tang with Saengmaek-san (comprising Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Ginseng Radix, and Schisandrae Fructus), a Korean national health insurance-covered herbal medicine for cough. A total of 30 nonspecific chronic cough patients will participate and receive the assigned herbal medicine for 6 weeks, and clinical parameters will be assessed at weeks 0 (baseline), 3 (midterm assessment), 6 (primary endpoint), 9, and 24 (follow-up). Study feasibility outcomes, including recruitment, adherence, and completion rates, will be assessed. Preliminary effects on cough severity, frequency, and quality of life will be evaluated using outcome measures, such as the Cough Symptom Score, Cough Visual Analog Scale, and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire. Adverse events and laboratory tests will be monitored for safety evaluation, and exploratory economic evaluations will be conducted. The results will provide evidence of Maekmundong-tang in the treatment of nonspecific chronic cough.
Shared Components of Worldwide Successful Sexuality Education Interventions for Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials
Authors: Torres-Cortés Betzabé , Leiva Loreto , Canenguez Katia , Olhaberry Marcia , Méndez Emmanuel
Published: February 2023

A crucial aspect of human development is sexuality which has implications for health, particularly in adolescence, since unfavorable sexual experiences may result in physical and mental problems. Sexuality education interventions (SEI) are one of the most used actions to promote sexual health in adolescents. Nevertheless, there is variability across their components; therefore, key elements for an effective SEI targeted at adolescents (A-SEI) are not well known. Based on this background, this study aims to identify the shared components of successful A-SEI through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCT). This study followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. A search was conducted in CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science between November and December 2021. A total of 21 studies passed the inclusion test after the review of 8318 reports. A total of 18 A-SEIs were identified in these studies. The components analyzed were the intervention’s approach, dose, type of intervention, theoretical framework, facilitators’ training, and intervention methodology. The results established that components that should be present in the design of an effective A-SEI are behavior change theoretical models, the use of participatory methodology, be targeted at mixed-sex groups, facilitators’ training, and at least ten hours of weekly intervention.
Health Literacy among Older Adults in Portugal and Associated Sociodemographic, Health and Healthcare-Related Factors
Authors: Costa Andreia , Feteira-Santos Rodrigo , Alarcão Violeta , Henriques Adriana , Madeira Teresa , Virgolino Ana , Arriaga Miguel , Nogueira Paulo J.
Published: February 2023

Although the health literacy level of the general population was described recently, little is known about its specific levels among older adults in Portugal. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the levels of health literacy demonstrated by older adults in Portugal and explore associated factors. Using a randomly generated list of telephone numbers, adults aged 65 years or more living in mainland Portugal were contacted in September and October 2022. Sociodemographic, health and healthcare-related variables were collected, and the 12-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey Project 2019–2021 was used to measure health literacy. Then, binary logistic regression models were used to investigate factors associated with limited general health literacy. In total, 613 participants were surveyed. The mean level of general health literacy was (59.15 ± 13.05; n = 563), whereas health promotion (65.82 ± 13.19; n = 568) and appraising health information (65.16 ± 13.26; n = 517) were the highest scores in the health literacy domain and the dimension of health information processing, respectively. Overall, 80.6% of respondents revealed limited general health literacy, which was positively associated with living in a difficult household financial situation (4.17; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.64–10.57), perceiving one’s own health status as poorer (7.12; 95% CI: 2.02–25.09), and having a fair opinion about a recent interaction with primary healthcare services (2.75; 95% CI: 1.46–5.19). The proportion of older adults with limited general health literacy in Portugal is significant. This result should be considered to inform health planning according to the health literacy gap of older adults in Portugal.
The Relationship between Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases of Fish Farm Household Members and Production Efficiency: The Case of Ghana
Authors: Ankrah Twumasi Martinson , Asante Dennis , Brako Jesse Nuamah , Ding Zhao , Jiang Yuansheng
Published: February 2023

Prior studies explored the production and technical efficiency of fish farms and farmers from the perspectives of factors such as credit access and cooperative membership. We focused on the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of household members and their quantitative impacts on fish farm production efficiency, based on data of earthen pond fish farms from two regions (Bono East and Ashanti) in Ghana. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the IV Tobit technique were employed for the study’s analysis. From the study’s observations, we draw the following conclusions. We found that the NCDs of household members indeed reduce farm production efficiency, and the heterogeneous impact of the NCDs of female members on farm production efficiency was more prominent than that of male members. Insights from this study suggest that the national government should provide farmers with the necessary medical care through the provision of subsidized health insurance, which can facilitate access to healthcare services. Moreover, NGOs and governments should encourage health literacy, i.e., organizing programs aimed at educating farmers on NCDs and their impact on agriculture.
Corporate Environmental Protection Behavior and Sustainable Development: The Moderating Role of Green Investors and Green Executive Cognition
Authors: Zhou Jie , Jin Shanyue
Published: February 2023

Faced with serious environmental problems, companies have become important participants in environmental protection efforts. By assuming environmental responsibilities and pursuing environmental protection, enterprises can create a good image, gain public and government support, and expand their influence. Simultaneously, green executive cognition and green investors play important roles in enterprises and the market economy. This study examines whether the environmental protection behavior of enterprises has a positive impact on their sustainable development, and how green investors and green executive cognition affect the relationship between environmental protection and sustainable development. This study adopts a fixed effects regression method to research Chinese A-share listed companies in 2011–2020. The results show that enterprises’ performance regarding environmental responsibilities or investment promotes sustainable development. The higher the participation of green investors or the higher the awareness of green executives, the more the environmental responsibility performance and environmental investment promote enterprises’ sustainable development. This study enriches the literature on the environmental protection behavior of enterprises and the sustainable development of enterprises as well as provides a theoretical foundation for related research. Moreover, the role of green investors and green executive cognition in promoting environmental protection and the sustainable development of enterprises will inspire investors and executives.
Insomnia—A Systematic Review and Comparison of Medical Resident’s Average Off-Call Sleep Times
Authors: Ardizzone Eve , Lerchbaumer Emily , Heinzel Johannes C. , Winter Natalie , Prahm Cosima , Kolbenschlag Jonas , Daigeler Adrien , Lauer Henrik
Published: February 2023

Sleep deprivation is known to have serious consequences, including a decrease in performance, attention and neurocognitive function. It seems common knowledge that medical residents are routinely sleep deprived, yet there is little objective research recording their average sleep times. To discern whether residents may be suffering from the abovementioned side effects, this review aimed to analyze their average sleep times. Thirty papers recording the average sleep time of medical residents were found via a literature search using the key words “resident” and “sleep”. An analysis of the mean sleep times cited therein revealed a range of sleep from 4.2 to 8.6 h per night, the median being 6.2 h. A sub-analysis of papers from the USA showed barely any significant differences in sleep time between the specialties, but the mean sleep times were below 7 h. The only significant difference (p = 0.039) was between the mean sleep times of pediatric and urology residents, with the former achieving less sleep. The comparison of methods for data collection showed no significant difference in the sleep times collected. The results of this analysis imply that residents are regularly sleep deprived and may therefore suffer from the abovementioned consequences.
Statistical Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Using Wastewater-Based Data of Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Chekkala Aashlesha , Atasoy Merve , Williams Cecilia , Cetecioglu Zeynep
Published: February 2023

An approach based on wastewater epidemiology can be used to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic by assessing the gene copy number of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. In the present study, we statistically analyzed such data from six inlets of three wastewater treatment plants, covering six regions of Stockholm, Sweden, collected over an approximate year period (week 16 of 2020 to week 22 of 2021). SARS-CoV-2 gene copy number and population-based biomarker PMMoV, as well as clinical data, such as the number of positive cases, intensive care unit numbers, and deaths, were analyzed statistically using correlations and principal component analysis (PCA). Despite the population differences, the PCA for the Stockholm dataset showed that the case numbers are well grouped across wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, when considering the data from the whole of Stockholm, the wastewater characteristics (flow rate m3/day, PMMoV Ct value, and SARS-CoV gene copy number) were significantly correlated with the public health agency’s report of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates (0.419 to 0.95, p-value < 0.01). However, while the PCA results showed that the case numbers for each wastewater treatment plant were well grouped concerning PC1 (37.3%) and PC2 (19.67%), the results from the correlation analysis for the individual wastewater treatment plants showed varied trends. SARS-CoV-2 fluctuations can be accurately predicted through statistical analyses of wastewater-based epidemiology, as demonstrated in this study.
Acceptability of Primary Care Counseling and Brief Educational Messages to Increase Awareness about Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risks among Bisexual and Lesbian Women
Authors: Balenger Adelaide , Scott Lia C. , Swahn Monica H. , Aneja Ritu
Published: February 2023

This research had two aims: (1) to assess how often bisexual and lesbian women self-report screening and counseling for alcohol use in primary care settings; and (2) understand how bisexual and lesbian women respond to brief messages that alcohol increases breast cancer risk. The study sample consisted of 4891 adult U.S. women who responded to an online, cross-sectional Qualtrics survey in September–October 2021. The survey included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), questions about alcohol screening and brief counseling in primary care, and questions assessing awareness of the link between alcohol use and breast cancer. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were conducted. Bisexual and lesbian women had higher odds of harmful drinking (AUDIT score ≥ 8) than heterosexual women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.57 for bisexual women; AOR =1.78, 95% CI = 1.24–2.57 for lesbian women). However, bisexual and lesbian women were no more likely than heterosexual women to be advised about drinking in primary care. In addition, bisexual, lesbian, and heterosexual women had similar reactions to messages highlighting that alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer. Women across all three sexual orientations who are harmful drinkers more often agreed to search for more information online or talk to a medical professional compared to non-harmful drinkers.
Impact of Digital Village Construction on Agricultural Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Mainland China
Authors: Zhang Yue , Feng Mengwei , Fang Zhengshuai , Yi Fujin , Liu Zhenzhen
Published: February 2023

Reducing agricultural carbon emissions is required to reach the goal of carbon neutrality and mitigate the effects of climate change. With the advent of the digital economy, we aimed to determine if digital village construction can achieve carbon reduction in agriculture. As such, in this study, we used balanced panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020 to conduct an empirical analysis based on measuring the digital village construction level in each province. We found the following: Firstly, digital village construction is conducive to reducing the carbon emitted from agriculture, and the results of further tests showed that the carbon reduction effect of digital villages is mainly based on the reduction in carbon emissions from chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Secondly, the digital village construction has a stronger inhibiting effect on agricultural carbon emissions in major grain-producing areas than in non-major grain-producing areas. The level of rural human capital is the limiting condition for digital village construction to enable green agricultural development; in areas with higher levels of human capital, digital village construction has a significant inhibiting effect on agricultural carbon emissions. The above conclusions are valuable for the future promotion of digital village construction and the design of a green development model for agriculture.
Soil Fungal Community Structure and Its Effect on CO2 Emissions in the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Ji Linhui , Xin Yu , Guo Dufa
Published: February 2023

Soil salinization is one of the most compelling environmental problems on a global scale. Fungi play a crucial role in promoting plant growth, enhancing salt tolerance, and inducing disease resistance. Moreover, microorganisms decompose organic matter to release carbon dioxide, and soil fungi also use plant carbon as a nutrient and participate in the soil carbon cycle. Therefore, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the characteristics of the structures of soil fungal communities under different salinity gradients and whether the fungal communities influence CO2 emissions in the Yellow River Delta; we then combined this with molecular ecological networks to reveal the mechanisms by which fungi adapt to salt stress. In the Yellow River Delta, a total of 192 fungal genera belonging to eight phyla were identified, with Ascomycota dominating the fungal community. Soil salinity was the dominant factor affecting the number of OTUs, Chao1 index, and ACE index of the fungal communities, with correlation coefficients of −0.66, 0.61, and −0.60, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the fungal richness indices (Chao1 and ACE) and OTUs increased with the increase in soil salinity. Chaetomium, Fusarium, Mortierella, Alternaria, and Malassezia were the dominant fungal groups, leading to the differences in the structures of fungal communities under different salinity gradients. Electrical conductivity, temperature, available phosphorus, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, and clay had a significant impact on the fungal community structure (p < 0.05). Electrical conductivity had the greatest influence and was the dominant factor that led to the difference in the distribution patterns of fungal communities under different salinity gradients (p < 0.05). The node quantity, edge quantity, and modularity coefficients of the networks increased with the salinity gradient. The Ascomycota occupied an important position in the saline soil environment and played a key role in maintaining the stability of the fungal community. Soil salinity decreases soil fungal diversity (estimate: −0.58, p < 0.05), and soil environmental factors also affect CO2 emissions by influencing fungal communities. These results highlight soil salinity as a key environmental factor influencing fungal communities. Furthermore, the significant role of fungi in influencing CO2 cycling in the Yellow River Delta, especially in the environmental context of salinization, should be further investigated in the future.
Clinical Alarms in a Gynaecological Surgical Unit: A Retrospective Data Analysis
Authors: Jämsä Juho O. , Uutela Kimmo H. , Tapper Anna-Maija , Lehtonen Lasse
Published: February 2023

Alarm fatigue refers to the desensitisation of medical staff to patient monitor clinical alarms, which may lead to slower response time or total ignorance of alarms and thereby affects patient safety. The reasons behind alarm fatigue are complex; the main contributing factors include the high number of alarms and the poor positive predictive value of alarms. The study was performed in the Surgery and Anaesthesia Unit of the Women’s Hospital, Helsinki, by collecting data from patient monitoring device clinical alarms and patient characteristics from surgical operations. We descriptively analysed the data and statistically analysed the differences in alarm types between weekdays and weekends, using chi-squared, for a total of eight monitors with 562 patients. The most common operational procedure was caesarean section, of which 149 were performed (15.7%). Statistically significant differences existed in alarm types and procedures between weekdays and weekends. The number of alarms produced was 11.7 per patient. In total, 4698 (71.5%) alarms were technical and 1873 (28.5%) were physiological. The most common physiological alarm type was low pulse oximetry, with a total of 437 (23.3%). Of all the alarms, the number of alarms either acknowledged or silenced was 1234 (18.8%). A notable phenomenon in the study unit was alarm fatigue. Greater customisation of patient monitors for different settings is needed to reduce the number of alarms that do not have clinical significance.
Sibling Resemblance in Physical Activity Levels: The Peruvian Sibling Study on Growth and Health
Authors: Santos Carla , Maia José , Pereira Sara , Vasconcelos Olga , Garganta Rui , Lightfoot J. Timothy , Tani Go , Hedeker Donald , Katzmarzyk Peter T. , Bustamante Alcibíades
Published: February 2023

Physical activity is associated with a host of positive health outcomes and is shaped by both genetic and environmental factors. We aim to: (1) estimate sibling resemblance in two physical activity phenotypes [total number of steps∙day−1 and minutes for moderate steps per day (min∙day−1)]; and (2) investigate the joint associations of individual characteristics and shared natural environment with intra-pair sibling similarities in each phenotype. We sampled 247 biological siblings from 110 nuclear families, aged 6–17 years, from three Peruvian regions. Physical activity was measured using pedometers and body mass index was calculated. In general, non-significant variations in the intraclass correlation coefficients were found after adjustment for individual characteristics and geographical area for both phenotypes. Further, no significant differences were found between the three sib-ship types. Sister-sister pairs tended to take fewer steps than brother-brother (β = −2908.75 ± 954.31). Older siblings tended to walk fewer steps (β = −81.26 ± 19.83), whereas body mass index was not associated with physical activity. Siblings living at high-altitude and in the Amazon region had higher steps/day (β = 2508.92 ± 737.94; β = 2213.11 ± 776.63, respectively) compared with their peers living at sea-level. In general, we found no influence of sib-types, body mass index, and/or environment on the two physical activity phenotypes.
Landscape Pattern Change and Ecological Effect in a Typical Mountain–Oasis–Desert Region in the Northwest Region of China
Authors: Meng Haiyan , Hu Yi , Dong Zuoji
Published: February 2023

China has experienced dramatic changes in its land use and landscape pattern in the past few decades. At present, a large number of studies have carried out in-depth and systematic analyses on the landscape variation and its ecological effects in Central and Eastern China, but research on the northwest arid region is relatively deficient. In the present study, the city of Hami, which is located in the northwest arid region of China, was selected as the study area to investigate the responses in the habitat quality, water yield and carbon storage to land use and cover change during 2000–2020. We found that (1) during the entire study period (2000–2020), the variation intensity of the first decade (2000–2010) was significantly greater than that of the second decade (2010–2020), and the conversion between desert and grassland played a dominant role in the conversion among these land types. (2) The maximum value of the habitat degradation degree in Hami city increased during the study period, indicating that the habitat presented a trend of degradation. (3) The total carbon storage in Hami city was approximately 11.03 × 106 t, 11.16 × 106 t and 11.17 × 106 t in 2000, 2010 and 2020, respectively, which indicated an increasing trend. (4) According to the calculation, the average water yield and the total water conservation showed a decreasing trend in the study area. The corresponding results will help to formulate protective measures that are conducive to the restoration of ecosystem functions in extremely arid regions.
Protective Role of Social Networks for the Well-Being of Persons with Disabilities: Results from a State-Wide Cross-Sectional Survey in Kerala, India
Authors: Devassy Saju Madavanakadu , Scaria Lorane , Yohannan Shilpa V. , Pathrose Sunirose Ishnassery
Published: February 2023

The current study presents the findings from a cross-sectional survey on social factors associated with the well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kerala, India. We conducted a community-based survey across three geographical zones, North, Central, and South of Kerala state, between April and September 2021. We randomly selected two districts from each zone using a stratified sample method, followed by one local self-government from each of these six districts. Community health professionals identified individuals with disabilities, and researchers collected information on their social networks, service accessibility, well-being, and mental health. Overall, 244 (54.2%) participants had a physical disability, while 107 (23.78%) had an intellectual disability. The mean well-being score was 12.9 (S.D = 4.9, range = 5–20). Overall, 216 (48%) had poor social networks, 247 (55%) had issues regarding service accessibility, and 147 (33%) had depressive symptoms. Among the PWDs with issues with service access, 55% had limited social networks. A regression analysis revealed that social networks (b = 2.30, p = 0.000) and service accessibility (b = −2.09, p = 0.000) were associated with well-being. Social networks are more important than financial assistance because they facilitate better access to psycho-socioeconomic resources, a prerequisite for well-being.
Piloting a Nurse-Led Critical Care Outreach Service to Pre-Empt Medical Emergency Team Calls and Facilitate Staff Learning
Authors: Geisler Anja , Hedegaard Susanne , Bucknall Tracey K.
Published: February 2023

A nurse-led critical care outreach service (NLCCOS) can support staff education and decision making in the wards, managing at-risk patients with ward nurses to avoid further deterioration. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients identified as at-risk, the types of treatments they required to prevent deterioration, the education initiated by the NLCCOS, and the perceived experiences of ward nurses. This prospective observational pilot study using mixed methods took place in one medical and one surgical ward at a university hospital in Denmark. Participants were patients nominated as at-risk by head nurses in each ward, the ward nurses, and nurses from the NLCCOS. In total, 100 patients were reviewed, 51 medical and 49 surgical patients, over a six-month period. Most patients (70%) visited by the NLCCOS had a compromised respiratory status, and ward nurses received teaching and advice regarding interventions. Sixty-one surveys were collected from ward nurses on their learning experience. Over 90% (n = 55) of nurses believed they had learned from, and were more confident with, managing patients following the experience. The main educational areas were respiratory therapy, invasive procedures, medications, and benefits of mobilization. Further research needs to measure the impact of the intervention on patient outcomes and MET call frequency over time in larger samples.
Enjoyed by Jack but Endured by Jill: An Exploratory Case Study Examining Differences in Adolescent Design Preferences and Perceived Impacts of a Secondary Schoolyard
Authors: Leigh Gweneth , Muminovic Milica , Davey Rachel
Published: February 2023

The school grounds provide students opportunities for respite, relaxation and relief from daily stresses during breaks in the school day. However, it is unclear whether secondary schoolyard designs adequately support the diverse and evolving needs of adolescents, particularly at a time when they are experiencing rapid emotional and physical developmental change. To investigate this, quantitative methods were used to explore differences in perceptions of schoolyard attractiveness and restorative quality based on student gender and year level. A school-wide survey was administered to approximately 284 students in years 7 to 10 at a secondary school in Canberra, Australia. Results indicate significant declines in student perceptions of schoolyard attractiveness and restorative quality. Higher ratings of schoolyard likeability, accessibility, personal connection and restorative quality of ‘being away’ were associated with male students across all year levels. Further work is needed to explore how schoolyard environments can better support the design preferences and well-being needs of older and female students. Such information would help planners, designers and land managers develop schoolyard designs that are more equitable in their benefits to secondary school students of different genders and year levels.
Chinese Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy Scale among Chinese Female Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Cheng Andy S. K. , Lee Suki , Li Nadia , Tsang Sammi , Zeng Yingchun
Published: February 2023

Breast cancer is the leading cancer type among women globally. Since breast cancer has a high survival rate, most survivors are likely to return to work (RTW). In recent years, breast cancer cases have risen significantly in younger age groups. As self-efficacy is an important factor in the success of RTW, this study performed a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Chinese version of the Return-To-Work Self-Efficacy Scale (CRTWSE-19) and examined its psychometric properties in patients with breast cancer. This validation study followed standard guidelines, including forward translation, back translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric testing. The results of this study show that the CRTWSE-19 met reliability standards, including high internal reliability for the total scores and subscales. An exploratory factor analysis of 19 items extracted 3 factors showing consistency with the original version of the RTWSE-19. Criterion validity was demonstrated by comparing subdomains with the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory. Furthermore, the known-group validity was studied by comparing mean scores among the unemployed group and the employed group. We conclude that the CRTWSE-19 has very good screening accuracy and is able to discriminate between working and unemployed populations. It can facilitate health care professionals in triaging, planning, and evaluating interventions in clinical practice.
A Brief Review on Chemoresistance; Targeting Cancer Stem Cells as an Alternative Approach
Authors: Toledo Belén , González-Titos Aitor , Hernández-Camarero Pablo , Perán Macarena
Published: February 2023

The acquisition of resistance to traditional chemotherapy and the chemoresistant metastatic relapse of minimal residual disease both play a key role in the treatment failure and poor prognosis of cancer. Understanding how cancer cells overcome chemotherapy-induced cell death is critical to improve patient survival rate. Here, we briefly describe the technical approach directed at obtaining chemoresistant cell lines and we will focus on the main defense mechanisms against common chemotherapy triggers by tumor cells. Such as, the alteration of drug influx/efflux, the enhancement of drug metabolic neutralization, the improvement of DNA-repair mechanisms, the inhibition of apoptosis-related cell death, and the role of p53 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in chemoresistance. Furthermore, we will focus on cancer stem cells (CSCs), the cell population that subsists after chemotherapy, increasing drug resistance by different processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an enhanced DNA repair machinery, and the capacity to avoid apoptosis mediated by BCL2 family proteins, such as BCL-XL, and the flexibility of their metabolism. Finally, we will review the latest approaches aimed at decreasing CSCs. Nevertheless, the development of long-term therapies to manage and control CSCs populations within the tumors is still necessary.
Characterization of a New Glucose-Tolerant GH1 β-Glycosidase from Aspergillus fumigatus with Transglycosylation Activity
Authors: Pereira Lucas Matheus Soares , Bernardi Aline Vianna , Gerolamo Luis Eduardo , Pedersoli Wellington Ramos , Carraro Cláudia Batista , Silva Roberto do Nascimento , Uyemura Sergio Akira , Dinamarco Taísa Magnani
Published: February 2023

Concern over environmental impacts has spurred many efforts to replace fossil fuels with biofuels such as ethanol. However, for this to be possible, it is necessary to invest in other production technologies, such as second generation (2G) ethanol, in order to raise the levels of this product and meet the growing demand. Currently, this type of production is not yet economically feasible, due to the high costs of the enzyme cocktails used in saccharification stage of lignocellulosic biomass. In order to optimize these cocktails, the search for enzymes with superior activities has been the goal of several research groups. For this end, we have characterized the new β-glycosidase AfBgl1.3 from A. fumigatus after expression and purification in Pichia pastoris X-33. Structural analysis by circular dichroism revealed that increasing temperature destructured the enzyme; the apparent Tm value was 48.5 °C. The percentages of α-helix (36.3%) and β-sheet (12.4%) secondary structures at 25 °C were predicted. Biochemical characterization suggested that the optimal conditions for AfBgl1.3 were pH 6.0 and temperature of 40 °C. At 30 and 40 °C, the enzyme was stable and retained about 90% and 50% of its activity, respectively, after pre-incubation for 24 h. In addition, the enzyme was highly stable at pH between 5 and 8, retaining over 65% of its activity after pre-incubation for 48 h. AfBgl1.3 co-stimulation with 50–250 mM glucose enhanced its specific activity by 1.4-fold and revealed its high tolerance to glucose (IC50 = 2042 mM). The enzyme was active toward the substrates salicin (495.0 ± 49.0 U mg−1), pNPG (340.5 ± 18.6 U mg−1), cellobiose (89.3 ± 5.1 U mg−1), and lactose (45.1 ± 0.5 U mg−1), so it had broad specificity. The Vmax values were 656.0 ± 17.5, 706.5 ± 23.8, and 132.6 ± 7.1 U mg−1 toward p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), D-(-)-salicin, and cellobiose, respectively. AfBgl1.3 displayed transglycosylation activity, forming cellotriose from cellobiose. The addition of AfBgl1.3 as a supplement at 0.9 FPU/g of cocktail Celluclast® 1.5L increased carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) conversion to reducing sugars (g L−1) by about 26% after 12 h. Moreover, AfBgl1.3 acted synergistically with other Aspergillus fumigatus cellulases already characterized by our research group—CMC and sugarcane delignified bagasse were degraded, releasing more reducing sugars compared to the control. These results are important in the search for new cellulases and in the optimization of enzyme cocktails for saccharification.
Role of Sterically Bulky Azobenzenes in the Molecular Assembly of Pyrene Derivatives: Rectangular Sheet-like Structures and Their Emission Characteristics
Authors: Thu Pyae , Han Mina
Published: February 2023

The development of pyrene-based fluorescent assembled systems with desirable emission characteristics by reducing conventional concentration quenching and/or aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) is highly desirable. In this investigation, we designed a new azobenzene-functionalized pyrene derivative (AzPy) in which sterically bulky azobenzene is linked to pyrene. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic results before and after molecular assembly indicate that even in a dilute N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution (~10 μM), AzPy molecules experienced significant concentration quenching, whereas the emission intensities of AzPy DMF-H2O turbid suspensions containing self-assembled aggregates were slightly enhanced and showed similar values regardless of the concentration. The shape and size of sheet-like structures, from incomplete flakes less than one micrometer in size to well-completed rectangular microstructures, could be adjusted by changing the concentration. Importantly, such sheet-like structures exhibit concentration dependence of their emission wavelength from blue to yellow-orange. Comparison with the precursor (PyOH) demonstrates that the introduction of a sterically twisted azobenzene moiety plays an important role in converting the spatial molecular arrangements from H- to J-type aggregation mode. Thus, AzPy chromophores grow into anisotropic microstructures through inclined J-type aggregation and high crystallinity, which are responsible for their unexpected emission characteristics. Our findings provide useful insight into the rational design of fluorescent assembled systems.
Semilicoisoflavone B Induces Apoptosis of Oral Cancer Cells by Inducing ROS Production and Downregulating MAPK and Ras/Raf/MEK Signaling
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Ju , Ho Hsin-Yu , Lo Yu-Sheng , Lin Chia-Chieh , Chuang Yi-Ching , Abomughaid Mosleh Mohammad , Hsieh Ming-Chang , Chen Mu-Kuan
Published: February 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. Despite advancement in treatment, advanced-stage OSCC is associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer activities of semilicoisoflavone B (SFB), which is a natural phenolic compound isolated from Glycyrrhiza species. The results revealed that SFB reduces OSCC cell viability by targeting cell cycle and apoptosis. The compound caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and downregulated the expressions of cell cycle regulators including cyclin A and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, 6, and 4. Moreover, SFB induced apoptosis by activating poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspases 3, 8, and 9. It increased the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak, reduced the expressions of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and increased the expressions of the death receptor pathway protein Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), and TNFR1-associated death domain protein (TRADD). SFB was found to mediate oral cancer cell apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The treatment of the cells with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) caused a reduction in pro-apoptotic potential of SFB. Regarding upstream signaling, SFB reduced the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK1/2, p38, and JNK1/2 and suppressed the activation of Ras, Raf, and MEK. The human apoptosis array conducted in the study identified that SFB downregulated survivin expression to induce oral cancer cell apoptosis. Taken together, the study identifies SFB as a potent anticancer agent that might be used clinically to manage human OSCC.
Genetic Heterogeneity of X-Linked Ichthyosis in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Case Series Report
Authors: Vasilyeva Tatyana A. , Marakhonov Andrey V. , Tebieva Inna S. , Kadyshev Vitaly V. , Borovikov Artem O. , Markova Zhanna G. , Chukhrova Alyona L. , Ginter Evgeny K. , Kutsev Sergey I. , Zinchenko Rena A.
Published: February 2023

North Caucasus has always been a residence of a lot of different authentic ethnic groups speaking different languages and still living their traditional lifestyle. The diversity appeared to be reflected in the accumulation of different mutations causing common inherited disorders. X-linked ichthyosis represents the second most common form of genodermatoses after ichthyosis vulgaris. Eight patients from three unrelated families of different ethnic origin, Kumyk, Turkish Meskhetians, and Ossetian, with X-linked ichthyosis from the North Caucasian Republic of North Ossetia–Alania were examined. NGS technology was implied for searching for disease-causing variants in one of the index patients. Known pathogenic hemizygous deletion in the short arm of chromosome X encompassing the STS gene was defined in the Kumyk family. A further analysis allowed us to establish that likely the same deletion was a cause of ichthyosis in a family belonging to the Turkish Meskhetians ethnic group. In the Ossetian family, a likely pathogenic nucleotide substitution in the STS gene was defined; it segregated with the disease in the family. We molecularly confirmed XLI in eight patients from three examined families. Though in two families, Kumyk and Turkish Meskhetian, we revealed similar hemizygous deletions in the short arm of chromosome X, but their common origin was not likely. Forensic STR markers of the alleles carrying the deletion were defined to be different. However, here, common alleles haplotype is hard to track for a high local recombination rate. We supposed the deletion could arise as a de novo event in a recombination hot spot in the described and in other populations with a recurrent character. Defined here are the different molecular genetic causes of X-linked ichthyosis in families of different ethnic origins sharing the same residence place in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania which could point to the existing reproductive barriers even inside close neighborhoods.