bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Inference of Base-Pairing Probabilities with Neural Networks Improves Prediction of RNA Secondary Structures with Pseudoknots
Authors: Akiyama Manato , Sakakibara Yasubumi , Sato Kengo
Published: November 2022

Existing approaches to predicting RNA secondary structures depend on how the secondary structure is decomposed into substructures, that is, the architecture, to define their parameter space. However, architecture dependency has not been sufficiently investigated, especially for pseudoknotted secondary structures. In this study, we propose a novel algorithm for directly inferring base-pairing probabilities with neural networks that do not depend on the architecture of RNA secondary structures, and then implement this approach using two maximum expected accuracy (MEA)-based decoding algorithms: Nussinov-style decoding for pseudoknot-free structures and IPknot-style decoding for pseudoknotted structures. To train the neural networks connected to each base pair, we adopt a max-margin framework, called structured support vector machines (SSVM), as the output layer. Our benchmarks for predicting RNA secondary structures with and without pseudoknots show that our algorithm outperforms existing methods in prediction accuracy.
Full Mitochondrial Genomes Reveal Species Differences between the Venerid Clams Ruditapes philippinarum and R. variegatus
Authors: Tang Yumei , Huo Zhongming , Liu Yang , Wang Yuhang , Zuo Luya , Fang Lei , Zhao Wen , Tan Yue , Yan Xiwu
Published: November 2022

In natural sea areas along the coast of China, venerid clams Ruditapes philippinarum and R. variegatus exhibit similar adult shell forms and are especially difficult to distinguish as spat and juveniles. This study used comparative mitochondrial genome analysis to reveal differences between these species. The results showed that: (1) the mitochondrial genomes of R. philippinarum and R. variegatus share a large number of similar gene clusters arranged in consistent order, yet they also display noncommon genes, with both gene rearrangements and random losses found; (2) the 13 protein-coding genes in R. philippinarum as well as two-fold and four-fold degenerate sites in R. variegatus have an evident AT bias; (3) the Ka/Ks ratio of the mitochondrial ATP8 gene was significantly higher in R. philippinarum than in R. variegatus, and an analysis of selection pressure revealed that the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 gene of R. variegatus were under great selective pressure during its evolution; and finally, (4) the two species clustered into one branch on a phylogenetic tree, further affirming their phylogenetic closeness. Based on these results, we speculate that the species differences between R. variegatus and R. philippinarum are largely attributable to adaptive evolution to the environment. The present findings provide a reference for the development of germplasm identification.
Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNA in Malignant Pleural Effusion
Authors: Shojaee Samira , Romano Giulia , Sanchez Trinidad M. , Yermakhanova Gulmira , Saviana Michela , Le Patricia , Nigita Giovanni , Calore Federica , Guthrie Rachel , Hess Kathryn , Kang Le , Swift-Scanlan Theresa , Graham Jacob T. , Rahman Najib M. , Nana-Sinkam Patrick S. , Acunzo Mario
Published: November 2022

Lung and breast cancer are the two most common causes of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). MPE diagnosis plays a crucial role in determining staging and therapeutic interventions in these cancers. However, our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of MPE at the molecular level is limited. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and their contents, including microRNAs (miRNAs), can be isolated from all bodily fluids, including pleural fluid. This study aims to compare EV-miRNA patterns of expression in MPE caused by breast (BA-MPE) and lung (LA-MPE) adenocarcinomas compared to the control group of heart-failure-induced effusions (HF-PE). We conducted an analysis of 24 pleural fluid samples (8 LA-MPE, 8 BA-MPE, and 8 HF-PE). Using NanoString technology, we profiled miRNAs within EVs isolated from 12 cases. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated differential expression of miR-1246 in the MPE group vs. HF-PE group and miR-150-5p and miR-1246 in the BA-MPE vs. LA-MPE group, respectively. This difference was demonstrated and validated in an independent cohort using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). miRNA-1246 demonstrated 4-fold increased expression (OR: 3.87, 95% CI: 0.43, 35) in the MPE vs. HF-PE group, resulting in an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.99). The highest accuracy for differentiating MPE vs. HF-PE was seen with a combination of miRNAs compared to each miRNA alone. Consistent with prior studies, this study demonstrates dysregulation of specific EV-based miRNAs in breast and lung cancer; pleural fluid provides direct access for the analysis of these EV-miRNAs as biomarkers and potential targets and may provide insight into the underlying pathogenesis of tumor progression. These findings should be explored in large prospective studies.
Variations in Growth and Photosynthetic Traits of Polyploid Poplar Hybrids and Clones in Northeast China
Authors: Jiang Luping , Xu Xiangzhu , Cai Qun , Han Rui , Tigabu Mulualem , Jiang Tingbo , Zhao Xiyang
Published: November 2022

To evaluate differences among 19 different ploidy hybrid poplar clones grown in northeast China, 21 traits related to growth traits and photosynthetic characteristics were detected and analyzed. Abundant phenotypic variations exist among and within populations, and these variations are the basis of forest tree genetic improvements. In this research, variance analysis showed that the traits except the net photosynthesis rate among the different ploidies and all the other traits exhibited significant differences among the ploidies or clones (p < 0.01). Estimation of phenotypic coefficients of variation, genotypic coefficients of variation, and repeatability is important for selecting superior materials. The larger the value, the greater the potential for material selection improvement. The repeatability of the different traits ranged from 0.88 to 0.99. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation of all the investigated traits ranged from 6.88% to 57.40% and from 4.85% to 42.89%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that there were significant positive correlations between tree height, diameter, and volume. Transpiration rate, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, and stomatal conductance were significantly positively correlated with each other but negatively correlated with instantaneous water use efficiency. Growth traits were weakly correlated with photosynthetic indexes. The rank correlation coefficient showed that most of the growth indicators reached a significant correlation level among different years (0.40–0.98), except 1-year-old tree height with 4-year-old tree height and 1-year-old ground diameter with 3-year-old tree height, which indicated the potential possibility for early selection of elite clones. Principal analysis results showed that the contribution rate of the first principal component was 46.606%, and 2-year-old tree height, 2-year-old ground diameter, 3-year-old tree height, 3-year-old ground diameter, 3-year-old diameter at breast height, 3-year-old volume, 4-year-old tree height, 4-year-old ground diameter, 4-year-old diameter at breast height, and 4-year-old volume showed higher vector values than other traits. With the method of multiple-trait comprehensive evaluation to evaluate clones, SX3.1, SY3.1, and XY4.2 were selected as elite clones, and the genetic gains of height, basal diameter, diameter at breast height, and volume of selected clones ranged from 12.85% to 64.87% in the fourth growth year. The results showed fundamental information for selecting superior poplar clones, which might provide new materials for the regeneration and improvement of forests in Northeast China.
The Combined Analysis of Transcriptome and Antioxidant Enzymes Revealed the Mechanism of EBL and ZnO NPs Enhancing Styrax tonkinensis Seed Abiotic Stress Resistance
Authors: Liu Ze-Mao , Faizan Mohammad , Chen Chen , Zheng Li-Hong , Yu Fang-Yuan
Published: November 2022

As global climate change worsens, trees will have difficulties adapting to abiotic pressures, particularly in the field, where environmental characteristics are difficult to control. A prospective commercial and ornamental tree species, Styrax tonkinensis, has its seed oil output and quality reduced as a result, which lowers the economic benefits. This necessitates growers to implement efficient strategies to increase the seeds of woody biofuel species’ tolerance to abiotic stress. Numerous studies have shown that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), a new material, and BRs assist plants to increase their resilience to abiotic stress and subsequently adapt to it. However, there have not been many investigations into S. tonkinensis seed resistance. In this study, we examined the changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and transcriptomic results of S. tonkinensis seeds throughout the seed development period to investigate the effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), one of the BRs, and ZnO NPs treatments alone or together on the stress resistance of S. tonkinensis seeds. On 70, 100, and 130 days after flowering (DAF), spraying EBL or ZnO NPs increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, and CAT) in S. tonkinensis seeds. Moreover, when the EBL and ZnO NPs were sprayed together, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were the strongest, which suggests that the positive effects of the two can be superimposed. On 70 and 100 DAF, the EBL and ZnO NPs treatments improved seed stress resistance, mostly through complex plant hormone crosstalk signaling, which includes IAA, JA, BR, and ABA signaling. Additionally, ABA played an essential role in hormone crosstalk, while, on 130 DAF, due to the physiological characteristics of seeds themselves in the late stage of maturity, the improvement in seed stress resistance by EBL and ZnO NPs was related to protein synthesis, especially late embryogenesis-abundant protein (LEA), and other nutrient storage in seeds. Spraying EBL and ZnO NPs during the seed growth of S. tonkinensis could significantly increase seed stress resistance. Our findings provide fresh perspectives on how cultural practices can increase abiotic stress tolerance in woody seedlings.
Factors Influencing Sleep Quality in Open-Heart Patients in the Postoperative Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Lin Ting-Ru , Cheng Ching-Hui , Wei Jeng , Wang Tsae-Jyy
Published: November 2022

Open-heart patients often experience sleep problems postoperatively. This cross-sectional study is aimed to investigate open-heart patients’ sleep quality and its influencing factors during intensive care. A consecutive sample of 117 eligible open-heart patients was recruited from an intensive care unit (ICU) of a general hospital. Data were collected using questionnaires. The respondents were 22–88 years, with a median age of 60.25 (13.51). Seventy-nine (67.5%) respondents were male. Most respondents reported a low-to-moderate postoperative pain level (average pain score = 2.02; range: 0–10). The average anxiety score was 4.68 (standard deviation [SD] = 4.2), and the average depression score was 6.91 (SD = 4.52; range: 0–21). The average sleep efficiency index was 70.4% (SD = 10.74%). Most (95.7%) respondents had a sleep efficiency index below 85%, indicating that most patients did not sleep well in the ICU. Linear regression analysis showed that the key predictors of the sleep quality of open-heart patients in the ICU were wound pain (β = −1.9) and noise disturbance (β = −1.86). These results provide information on sleep quality and the factors affecting postoperative patients in the ICU. These findings can be used as a reference for developing relevant interventions.
A Bibliometrics-Enhanced, PAGER-Compliant Scoping Review of the Literature on Paralympic Powerlifting: Insights for Practices and Future Research
Authors: Puce Luca , Trabelsi Khaled , Trompetto Carlo , Mori Laura , Marinelli Lucio , Currà Antonio , Faelli Emanuela , Ferrando Vittoria , Okwen Patrick , Kong Jude Dzevela , Ammar Achraf , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi
Published: November 2022

Paralympic powerlifting (PP), formerly known as “International Paralympic Committee” (IPC) powerlifting, is the format of powerlifting adapted for athletes with disabilities, and it differs from the version for able-bodied athletes in that it consists of bench press only. According to the mandate of the IPC, PP athletes should be enabled to achieve sporting excellence. As such, rigorous evidence is needed. However, to the best of our knowledge, there exists no systematic assessment of the body of scholarly evidence in the field of PP. Therefore, the present study was conducted to fill in this gap of knowledge, by conducting a scoping review of the literature enhanced by a bibliometrics analysis and by mining two major scholarly databases (MEDLINE via PubMed and Scopus). The aim was to provide a review/summary of the findings to date to help practitioners and athletes. Thirty-seven studies were retained in the present study. These covered the following thematic areas: (i) warm-up strategies (n = 2); (ii) aspects of training (n = 2); (iii) physiological aspects and responses (n = 2); (iv) psychological aspects and responses (n = 2); (v) biomechanics of bench press (n = 8); (vi) recovery strategy (n = 5); (vii) impact of the disability and type of disability (n = 4); (viii) epidemiology of PP (n = 6); and (ix) new analytical/statistical approaches for kinematics assessments, internal load monitoring, and predictions of mechanical outputs in strength exercises and in PP (n = 6). Bibliometrics analysis of the PP-related scientific output revealed that, despite having already become a paralympic sports discipline in 1984, only in the last few years, PP has been attracting a lot of interest from the community of researchers, with the first scholarly contribution dating back to 2012, and with more than one-third of the scientific output being published this year (2022). As such, this scholarly discipline is quite recent and young. Moreover, the community dealing with this topic is poorly interconnected, with most authors contributing to just one article, and with one single author being a hub node of the author network. Distributions of the number of articles and the authors/co-authors were found to be highly asymmetrical, indicating that this research is still in its infancy and has great room as well as great potential to grow. Reflecting this, many research topics are also overlooked and underdeveloped, with the currently available evidence being based on a few studies.
Deciphering Latent Health Information in Social Media Using a Mixed-Methods Design
Authors: Shaw George , Zimmerman Margaret , Vasquez-Huot Ligia , Karami Amir
Published: November 2022

Natural language processing techniques have increased the volume and variety of text data that can be analyzed. The aim of this study was to identify the positive and negative topical sentiments among diet, diabetes, exercise, and obesity tweets. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design for our analytical framework, we analyzed a data corpus of 1.7 million diet, diabetes, exercise, and obesity (DDEO)-related tweets collected over 12 months. Sentiment analysis and topic modeling were used to analyze the data. The results show that overall, 29% of the tweets were positive, and 17% were negative. Using sentiment analysis and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling, we analyzed 800 positive and negative DDEO topics. From the 800 LDA topics—after the qualitative and computational removal of incoherent topics—473 topics were characterized as coherent. Obesity was the only query health topic with a higher percentage of negative tweets. The use of social media by public health practitioners should focus not only on the dissemination of health information based on the topics discovered but also consider what they can do for the health consumer as a result of the interaction in digital spaces such as social media. Future studies will benefit from using multiclass sentiment analysis methods associated with other novel topic modeling approaches.
Investigation of the Relationship between the Disease Severity and Quality of Life of Psoriasis Patients and Their Anthropometric Measurements and Diets
Authors: Atayoglu Ali Timucin , Çapar Aslı Gizem , Basmisirlioglu Eda , Yasar Yagmur , Aykemat Yusuf , Guner Atayoglu Ayten , Inanc Neriman
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis is a multifaceted, chronic, inflammatory skin disease that impacts patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the disease severity and quality of life of psoriasis patients and their nutritional status. The study included 40 patients in the psoriasis group, compared with 40 healthy individuals in the control group. A questionnaire for determination of socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional intake, anthropometric measurements, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were used for the assessments. Daily food consumption details were recorded for three consecutive days to determine daily energy and nutrient intakes. Compared to the control group, the frequencies of single participants, primary school graduates, and housewives were higher in the psoriasis group (p < 0.05). The psoriasis patients weighed more and had an increased waist/hip ratio in comparison with the healthy individuals. The energy intake was lower in the psoriasis group (p < 0.01). There was not a significant statistical difference in the intake of proteins, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, Zn, Fe, and Mg supplements between the groups. However, there was an inverse correlation between the daily vitamin E intake and PASI scores (p < 0.05). There was a positive moderate correlation between the DLQI and PASI scores (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that lower daily vitamin E intake levels were associated with the severity of psoriasis. In addition to this, abdominal obesity seems to be another risk factor in psoriasis patients, even if they have a normal body mass index (BMI). An integrated healthcare approach with dermatologists, family physicians, and dietitians is essential to the management of psoriasis.
Nursing Assessment of Pressure Injury Risk with the Braden Scale Validated against Sensor-Based Measurement of Movement
Authors: Kennerly Susan M. , Sharkey Phoebe D. , Horn Susan D. , Alderden Jenny , Yap Tracey L.
Published: November 2022

Nursing staff assessment to accurately identify pressure injury (PrI) risk is a hallmark in PrI prevention care. Risk scores from the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk© (hereafter Braden), a commonly used tool for assessing PrI risk, signal the need for preventative care. Braden Mobility, Activity, and Sensory Perception subscale subgroups associated with repositioning movement features help identify preventative strategies that minimize pressure intensity and duration. Evidence confirming subscale rating accuracy is needed. This study compared assessment score accuracy with movement data collected via accelerometer sensor. Sample included 913 nursing home residents from the Turn Everyone and Move for Pressure Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) cluster randomized trial. Movements and Braden Mobility and Activity subscale scores were evaluated for significant differences and associations. Mobility subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying and upright movement features (0.002 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.195). Activity subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying, upright, and ambulating movements (0.016 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.248). Significant associations occurred among subscale subgroups and most movements. Nursing assessment ratings using Braden scale’s Mobility and Activity subscale scores are accurate indicators of actual repositioning movements and can be relied upon for PrI prevention care planning for older adults.
Evaluating the Impacts of Alcohol-Based Solutions on Silk: Chemical, Mechanical and Wettability Changes before and after Artificial Ageing
Authors: Costantini Rosa , Balliana Eleonora , Dalla Torre Davide , Aricò Fabio , Zendri Elisabetta
Published: November 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2020, alcohol-based sanitisers have been frequently used in museums and historic sites. Although they provide a safer environment for visitors, the impact of the (components in) sanitisers on the cultural heritage on open display is still uncertain. The current study investigated the effects of ethanol and isopropanol solutions on silk artefacts specifically in relation to possible mechanical changes and to their long-term impact based on artificial ageing. Thus, samples from three modern silk fabrics were treated through spraying and immersion with six solutions, two of which contained benzalkonium chloride (BZK), a surfactant suggested by Italian national guidelines in the formulation of sanitisers for museums. The impact of the treatment was studied from a chemical perspective, i.e., through spectroscopic techniques, and considering changes in the mechanical strength through uniaxial tensile testing. In addition, water wettability was measured. To study whether the contact with the solutions can affect the degradation path of silk, after the treatment, samples were exposed to light ageing and were stored at medium and high RH, i.e., 55% and 80%. Furthermore, treated and untreated silk textiles were placed in the Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo (Venice) to define the behaviour in an actual museum environment. The results show that, even when silk is immersed in the solutions for 180 min, no relevant chemical and physical changes can be observed on silk fibres. Variations noted at the end of the light ageing occurred regardless of the treatments with the solutions, so they are not affected by the contact with sanitisers. Nevertheless, when treating the samples (also through spraying) with solutions containing BZK, the surfactant is adsorbed by the textile. Once adsorbed, BZK significantly increases the water wettability of silk, causing a persistent modification of the property as also observed at the end of the ageing and in situ tests.
Efficiency of Sodium and Calcium Chloride in Conferring Cross-Tolerance to Water Deficit in Periwinkle
Authors: Zomorrodi Nahid , Rezaei Nejad Abdolhossein , Mousavi-Fard Sadegh , Feizi Hassan , Nikoloudakis Nikolaos , Fanourakis Dimitrios
Published: November 2022

The potential of using pre-stress NaCl or CaCl2 applications to confer a cross-tolerance to a water deficit was evaluated in periwinkle. The plants initially received five applications of NaCl (0, 30 and 50 mM), or CaCl2 (15 and 25 mM) via irrigation, and then they were cultivated under different water deficit regimes (80, 50 and 20% available water content). The water deficit induced smaller and denser stomata. It promoted a water use efficiency, a proline content and antioxidant enzyme activity. However, it downgraded the aesthetic value (plant stature, flower size and vegetation greenness), magnified the stem bending probability and strongly decreased the floral longevity. It additionally impeded the growth by reductions in the leaf area and photosynthesis. Plants undergoing a water deficit maintained a lower hydration and expressed oxidative damage symptoms, including enhanced chlorophyll and membrane degradation. As the water deficit intensified, these effects were more pronounced. Pre-stress CaCl2 or NaCl applications generally restored most of the water severity-induced effects, with the former being more effective. For CaCl2, the highest concentration (25 mM) was generally optimal, whereas NaCl was the lowest concentration (30 mM). In conclusion, pre-stress CaCl2 or NaCl applications effectively confer a cross-tolerance to the water deficit by promoting the aesthetic value and extending the floral longevity, with the promotive effects being incremental as the water deficit becomes more severe.
Risk Stratification of COVID-19 Using Routine Laboratory Tests: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Mlambo Farai , Chironda Cyril , George Jaya
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic placed significant stress on an already overburdened health system. The diagnosis was based on detection of a positive RT-PCR test, which may be delayed when there is peak demand for testing. Rapid risk stratification of high-risk patients allows for the prioritization of resources for patient care. The study aims were to classify patients as severe or not severe based on outcomes using machine learning on routine laboratory tests. Data were extracted for all individuals who had at least one SARS-CoV-2 PCR test conducted via the NHLS between the periods of 1 March 2020 to 7 July 2020. Exclusion criteria: those 18 years, and those with indeterminate PCR tests. Results for 15437 patients (3301 positive and 12,136 negative) were used to fit six machine learning models, namely the logistic regression (LR) (the base model), decision trees (DT), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), convolutional neural network (CNN) and self-normalising neural network (SNN). Model development was carried out by splitting the data into training and testing set of a ratio 70:30, together with a 10-fold cross-validation re-sampling technique. For risk stratification, admission to high care or ICU was the outcome for severe disease. Performance of the models varied: sensitivity was best for RF at 75% and accuracy of 75% for CNN. The area under the curve ranged from 57% for CNN to 75% for RF. RF and SNN were the best-performing models. Machine Learning (ML) can be incorporated into the laboratory information system and offers promise for early identification and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients, particularly in areas of resource-poor settings.
A Multi-Segmented Human Bioheat Model for Asymmetric High Temperature Environments
Authors: Geng Jing , Gu Yin , Weng Wenguo , Fu Ming , Shen Shifei , Zhou Rui
Published: November 2022

In workplaces such as steel, power grids, and construction, firefighters and other workers often encounter non-uniform high-temperature environments, which significantly increase the risk of local heat stress and local heat discomfort for the workers. In this paper, a multi-segment human bioheat model is developed to predict the human thermal response in asymmetric high-temperature environments by considering the sensitivity of the modeling to angular changes in skin temperature and the effects of high temperatures on human thermoregulatory and physiological responses simultaneously. The extended model for asymmetric high-temperature environments is validated with the current model results and experimental data. The result shows that the extended model predicts the human skin temperature more accurately. Under non-uniform high-temperature conditions, the local skin temperature predictions are highly consistent with the experimental data, with a maximum difference of 2 °C. In summary, the proposed model can accurately predict the temperature of the human core and skin layers. It has the potential to estimate human physiological and thermoregulatory responses under uniform and non-uniform high-temperature environments, providing technical support for local heat stress and local thermal discomfort protection.
Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life, Medication Adherence, and Prevalence of Depression in Kidney Failure Patients
Authors: Butt Muhammad , Ong Siew , Butt Fatima , Sajjad Ahsan , Rasool Muhammad , Imran Imran , Ahmad Tanveer , Alqahtani Faleh , Babar Zaheer-Ud-Din
Published: November 2022

Background: Kidney failure is a global health problem with a worldwide mean prevalence rate of 13.4%. Kidney failure remains symptomless during most of the early stages until symptoms appear in the advanced stages. Kidney failure is associated with a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), deterioration in physical and mental health, and an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with decreased HRQOL and other factors affecting the overall health of patients. Another objective was to measure how medication adherence and depression could affect the overall HRQOL in patients with kidney failure. Methodology: The study used a prospective follow-up mix methodology approach with six-month follow-ups of patients. The participants included in the study population were those with chronic kidney disease grade 4 and kidney failure. Pre-validated and translated questionnaires (Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Urdu Version, and Morisky Lewis Greens Adherence Scale) and assessment tools were used to collect data. Results: This study recruited 314 patients after an initial assessment based on inclusion criteria. The mean age of the study population was 54.64 ± 15.33 years. There was a 47.6% male and a 52.4% female population. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus remained the most predominant comorbid condition, affecting 64.2% and 74.6% of the population, respectively. The study suggested a significant (p < 0.05) deterioration in the mental health composite score with worsening laboratory variables, particularly hematological and iron studies. Demographic variables significantly impact medication adherence. HRQOL was found to be deteriorating with a significant impact on mental health compared to physical health. Conclusions: Patients on maintenance dialysis for kidney failure have a significant burden of physical and mental symptoms, depression, and low HRQOL. Given the substantial and well-known declines in physical and psychological well-being among kidney failure patients receiving hemodialysis, the findings of this research imply that these areas related to health should receive special attention in the growing and expanding population of kidney failure patients.
ASPHALT II: Study Protocol for a Multi-Method Evaluation of a Comprehensive Peer-Led Youth Community Sport Programme Implemented in Low Resource Neighbourhoods
Authors: Christensen Julie Hellesøe , Ljungmann Cecilie Karen , Pawlowski Charlotte Skau , Johnsen Helene Rald , Olsen Nikoline , Hulgård Mathilde , Bauman Adrian , Klinker Charlotte Demant
Published: November 2022

To reduce inequalities in children’s sport participation, studies are needed to explore ways in which children from low resource neighbourhoods can be engaged and retained in sport. GAME Community is a peer-led community sport programme which aims to promote physical activity through participation in inclusive street sports activities targeting 8–15-year-old children living in low resource neighbourhoods. The GAME Community intervention is implemented by the non-profit street sport organisation GAME. Five components support the implementation of GAME Community: (1) training of peer leaders; (2) a focus on inclusion of inactive girls; (3) parental involvement; (4) community engagement; (5) strengthened organisational support to peer leaders. In the ASPHALT II study, we aim to evaluate GAME Community and hence contribute to understanding how children growing up in low resource neighbourhoods can be engaged and retained in physical activity through participation in peer-led, community-based sport and to generate new understandings on the scale up of community interventions. The primary objective of the evaluation is to investigate the implementation of GAME Community and the programme’s reach, and to establish the functioning and mechanisms of the programme. The secondary objective is to establish the health enhancing potential of the programme. The evaluation of GAME Community involves three linked but independent studies that investigate (1) the functioning (i.e., mechanisms and processes), (2) reach, and (3) outcomes. The functioning of the five intervention components is investigated using qualitative methodologies. Programme reach will be investigated based on participant registrations. Systematic observations using a novel combination of validated tools will provide information on outcomes (physical activity level and social behaviour) during GAME Community activities. Investigating functioning, reach, and outcomes of the GAME Community intervention by using multiple methods is a strength, as different data complement and inform each other. This study will provide in-depth insights into if and how children living in low resource neighbourhoods can be engaged and retained in physical activity through participation in peer-led, community-based sport. Contributions of this evaluation include new understanding of the mechanisms and scalability of a community-based street sport intervention.
Critical Analysis of the Evaluation Methods of Extended Reality (XR) Experiences for Construction Safety
Authors: Salinas Daniel , Muñoz-La Rivera Felipe , Mora-Serrano Javier
Published: November 2022

The construction industry has high accident rates. The sector is exploring various tools to improve safety management, training, and awareness to achieve zero accidents. This work focuses on extended reality (XR), which encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies. Several authors have developed training experiences for construction safety in XR environments with positive conclusions about their effectiveness. However, there is no standardization regarding the evaluation methods used in the sector, and many experiences do not use any method. This lack is critical, as whenever the aim is to evaluate the degree of awareness of security issues, the implementation of evaluation systems is indispensable to make known the methods used in the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of the experiences and represent support for future research. This research identifies developments in XR experiences and analyzes the validation methods through a systematic review using the PRISMA methodology. It identifies two evaluation methods, objective and subjective, which are each broken down into four categories. The results show the types of evaluation, safety-related purposes, and safety application objectives used by the database classification.
Co-Design of an eHealth Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Male Taxi Drivers: ManGuard
Authors: McMahon James , Thompson David R. , Brazil Kevin , Ski Chantal F.
Published: November 2022

Taxi driving, a male-dominated occupation, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The increased risk is linked to a high prevalence of modifiable CVD risk factors including overweight/obesity, poor nutrition, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Behaviour change interventions may prove advantageous, yet little research has been conducted to reduce CVD risk in this population. The purpose of this study was to co-design an eHealth intervention, ‘ManGuard’, to reduce CVD risk in male taxi drivers. The IDEAS framework was utilised to guide the development of the eHealth intervention, with the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) incorporated throughout to ensure the intervention was underpinned by behaviour change theory. Development and refinement of ManGuard was guided by current literature, input from a multidisciplinary team, an online survey, a systematic review and meta-analysis, and focus groups (n = 3) with male taxi drivers. Physical inactivity was identified as the prime behavior to change in order to reduce CVD risk in male taxi drivers. Male taxi drivers indicated a preference for an eHealth intervention to be delivered using smartphone technology, with a simple design, providing concise, straightforward, and relatable content, and with the ability to track and monitor progress.
Gender Differences in Eating Habits of Polish Young Adults Aged 20–26
Authors: Gil Marian , Rudy Mariusz , Stanisławczyk Renata , Duma-Kocan Paulina , Żurek Jagoda
Published: November 2022

The aim of the study was to examine the nutritional behaviour of young adults depending on gender. A survey was conducted among 467 young adults using the “Questionnaire for the study of nutritional behaviour and opinions on food and nutrition”. Questions concerned the frequency of consumption of selected groups of food products. The questionnaire was supplemented by questions regarding the number of portions of fruits and vegetables consumed, putting sugar in drinks, putting salt in dishes and the number of glasses of water drunk. Differences in nutritional behaviours were determined using the χ2 test, at p < 0.05. The dietary choices of women more often than those of men corresponded to the principles of healthy nutrition, related to a greater number of meals consumed during the day, more frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables and the selection of products with lower energy value or preferring healthier methods of culinary processing. Health education programs should prevent the emergence of unfavourable dietary habits such as skipping breakfast or other meals or limiting the consumption of fruits and vegetables and frequently replacing them with high-energy snacks.
Negotiating Awareness: Dutch Midwives’ Experiences of Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Counseling
Authors: de Vries Marieke , Oostdijk Danique , Janssen Kim G. T. , de Vries Raymond , Sanders José
Published: November 2022

Background: Discussion of the topic of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) has become a standard part of Dutch maternity care practice. This means that pregnant women who are contemplating NIPS can receive counseling from their midwife or obstetrician. The aim of this study is to understand the communicative practices and decision-making principles regarding first-tier use of NIPS, as experienced by Dutch midwives. Methods: Qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with Dutch midwives (n = 10) exploring their conversations about NIPS counseling and decision making. Results: Midwives value the autonomy of women in decisions on NIPS. They consider it a midwifery task to assess women’s awareness of the risks and implications of using or not using this mode of screening. The optimal level of awareness may differ between women and midwives, creating novel challenges for informed decision making in midwifery communication. Key conclusions and implications for practice: Negotiating awareness about NIPS in individual women is a relatively new and complex midwifery task in need of counseling time and skill. NIPS practices call for a reflection on midwifery values in the context of integrated maternity care.
Caring for Older People during and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Residential Health Care Workers
Authors: Lai Veronica Sze-Ki , Yau Sui-Yu , Lee Linda Yin-King , Li Becky Siu-Yin , Law Susan Sin-Ping , Huang Shixin
Published: November 2022

Older people and health care workers in residential care homes are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID-19 has been spreading around the world for more than two years, the nature of care delivery has been substantially transformed. This study aims at understanding the long-term and ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the delivery of care in residential care homes. It investigates how the delivery of care has been transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic and how health care workers adapted to these changes from the perspectives of frontline health care workers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from February to December 2021 with a purposive sample of 30 health care workers from six residential care homes in Hong Kong. Thematic analysis identified three themes, including (1) enhancing infection prevention and control measures; (2) maintaining the psychosocial wellbeing of residents; and (3) developing resilience. Discussions and implications were drawn from these findings.
Reported Cases of Alcohol Consumption and Poisoning for the Years 2015 to 2022 in Hail, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhaidan Taghreed , Alzahrani Abdullah R. , Alamri Abdulwahab , Katpa Abrar A. , Halabi Asma , Felemban Alaa H. , Alsanosi Safaa M. , Al-Ghamdi Saeed S. , Ayoub Nahla
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to determine the pattern of alcohol consumption and its poisoning among the Saudi population in the city of Hail, KSA. Data from a retrospective cohort were collected qualitatively at King Khalid Hospital (KKH) and Hail General Hospital (HGH), covering 550 participants from 2015 to 2022. Two groups were formed comprising patients admitted to the emergency room (ER) and community members; their ages ranged from 19 to 75 years. Group 1 contained 400 participants, of which 250 were patients (244 males, six females) who came to the (ER) with a suspected alcohol overdose or poisoning, and 150 were patients (128 males and 22 females) who were discharged from the (ER) with minimal complaints because of their drinking. Group 2 comprised 150 participants (128 males, 22 females) who were community members, who were surveyed using a questionnaire or interview. In Group 1, 30% of patients reported an altered state of consciousness as a major complaint, 28.8% of patients exhibited abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), 27% had abnormal renal function tests (RFT) with decreased glomerular filtration rates (GFR) and elevated levels of urea and creatinine or low levels of electrolytes or calcium, and 35.6% patients showed elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes. One death was reported due to high alcohol consumption. In Group 2, the community participants reported that they started drinking alcohol due to the influence of other people (29%), stress (11%), depression (10.8%), curiosity (4.4%), and boredom (4%). In addition, 77% of participants were frequent alcohol drinkers and 20% consumed it daily. Further, 68.7% claimed to drink alcohol for more than one hour at a time, while 83.3% experienced blackouts and 70% had problems related to their liver. Moreover, 72.7% of the participants ended up in the hospital and 34.6% suffered from multiple chronic diseases. It is concluded that social influences and stress contributed to the initiation of alcohol use. Despite data gaps, the findings of this study provide a practical understanding of alcohol consumption among the Saudi population and guidance for policymakers.
Research Progress and Improvement Ideas of Anti-Epidemic Resilience in China’s Urban Communities
Authors: Cui Peng , Zou Ping , Ju Xuan , Liu Yi , Su Yalu
Published: November 2022

In the post-epidemic era, China’s urban communities are at the forefront of implementing the whole chain of accurate epidemic prevention and control. However, the uncertainty of COVID-19, the loopholes in community management and people’s overly optimistic judgment of the epidemic have led to the frequent rebound of the epidemic and serious consequences. Existing studies have not yet formed a panoramic framework of community anti-epidemic work under the concept of resilience. Therefore, this article first summarizes the current research progress of resilient communities from three perspectives, including ideas and perspectives, theories and frameworks and methods and means, and summarizes the gap of the current research. Then, an innovative idea on the epidemic resilience of urban communities in China is put forward: (1) the evolution mechanism of community anti-epidemic resilience is described through the change law of dynamic networks; (2) the anti-epidemic resilience of urban communities is evaluated or predicted through the measurement criteria; (3) a simulation platform based on Multi-Agent and dynamic Bayesian networks simulates the interactive relationship between “epidemic disturbance–cost constraint-–epidemic resilience”; (4) the anti-epidemic strategies are output intelligently to provide community managers with decision-making opinions on community epidemic prevention and control.
The Influence of Health-Promoting Leadership on Employees’ Positive Workplace Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Employability and the Moderating Role of Workplace Civility
Authors: Zhang Chunyu , Liu Liping
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely accelerated the transformation and rapid organisational change in the workplace. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hotel industry will not fade in a short time, and the long-term coexistence with the COVID-19 pandemic pressure is a real dilemma for the hotel industry. The topic of How to create employee positive workplace outcomes (task performance and innovative work behaviour) during the COVID-19 pandemic has garnered increasing interest in both practical and academic fields. Leaders play a critical role in influencing employee workplace outcomes, yet few studies have explored the predicting role of health-promoting leadership. Drawing upon the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study aims to examine the employability mediator effect and workplace civility as the moderator effect in the relationship between health-promoting leadership and employee-positive workplace outcomes (task performance and innovative work behaviour). We conducted a two-wave survey of 421 participants from the hotel industry in China and formulated a series of hypotheses that were tested with structural equation modelling. The results showed that health-promoting leadership has a significant positive effect on employees’ employability (β = 0.479, p < 0.001), task performance (β = 0.250, p < 0.001), and innovative work behaviour (β = 0.446, p < 0.001). Employability has a significant positive effect on task performance (β = 0.438, p < 0.001) and innovative work behaviour (β = 0.296, p < 0.001). This study makes certain contributions to the extant hotel industry employees’ positive workplace outcomes literature by attending to the healthy leadership styles that promote employability during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its novel point is to evaluate the workplace civility moderating effect between the above model. It also provides practical insight that mutual transformation in workplace relationships inspire those positive outcomes.
Effect of a Child-Owned Poultry Intervention Providing Eggs on Nutrition Status and Motor Skills of Young Children in Southern Ethiopia: A Cluster Randomized and Controlled Community Trial
Authors: Omer Anteneh , Hailu Dejene , Whiting Susan J.
Published: November 2022

Eggs are highly nutritious foods, yet intake by children in Ethiopia is low. We hypothesized that a nutrition-sensitive poultry intervention improves nutritional status of children 6–18 months using a 6-month cluster randomized controlled community trial. Intervention group (IG) children received a gift of two egg-laying hens in a ceremony where children’s ownership of the chickens was declared by community leaders. Parents promised to add more hens and feed the owner-child one-egg-a-day. Trained community workers reinforced egg feeding, environmental sanitation and poultry husbandry. Control group (CG) mothers received usual nutrition education on child feeding. At baseline 29.6% of children were stunted, 19.4% underweight and 8.6% wasted. Egg consumption significantly increased only in IG, at 6 months. The intervention increased weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores by 0.38 (95% CI = 0.13–0.63) and 0.43 (95% CI = 0.21–0.64), respectively. Binary logit model indicated IG children were 54% (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.26–0.84) and 42% (OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.37–0.91) less likely to be underweight and stunted, respectively, compared to CG. IG children attained the milestone of running (p = 0.022; AHR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.05–1.95), kicking a ball (p = 0.027; AHR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.04–1.87) and throwing a ball (p = 0.045; AHR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.01–1.86) earlier than CG. This nutrition-sensitive child-owned poultry approach should be implemented where animal-source food intake is low.