bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Parents Perceive Practitioners to Have a Specific Role in Change? A Longitudinal Study Following Participation in an Evidence-Based Program
Authors: Leitão Sara M. , Pereira Marco , Santos Rita V. , Gaspar Maria Filomena , Seabra-Santos Maria João
Published: July 2022

Little attention has been given to the role of practitioners in evidence-based parenting programs and to the evaluation that parents make of their importance in the process of change. This study aims to explore the role that parents assign to the facilitators of the Incredible Years (IY) program in enabling long-term life changes, as well as the association between parents’ evaluation of the practitioners’ skills and specific changes perceived after the intervention. In this longitudinal study, we applied 1 survey to 80 community parents who had participated in an IY group 2 years before, and we retrieved archival data to assess changes in parents’ ratings of sense of competence and in children’s behaviors immediately after the end of the intervention. Two years after the intervention, parents perceived significant improvements, especially in their parenting and their children’s behaviors, and they recognized that their IY practitioners had played a significant role in these life changes. Parents who attributed a greater role to the practitioners’ skills reported a greater number of improvements in parental sense of competence and in children’s behaviors. The practitioners’ skills relating more broadly to these specific changes are the practitioners’ sensitivity and flexibility towards parents’ needs and the practitioners’ ability to clearly share knowledge with parents. The practitioner’s assigned role when implementing an evidence-based parenting program seems to go far beyond the mere conveyance of the program’s specific contents and methods and deserves to be researched further.
Nurse-Led Interventions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Aranburu-Imatz Alejandra , López-Carrasco Juan de la Cruz , Moreno-Luque Ana , Jiménez-Pastor José Manuel , Valverde-León María del Rocío , Rodríguez-Cortés Francisco José , Arévalo-Buitrago Pedro , López-Soto Pablo Jesús , Morales-Cané Ignacio
Published: July 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.32 million deaths in 2019. COPD management has increasingly become a major component of general and hospital practice and has led to a different model of care. Nurse-led interventions have shown beneficial effects on COPD patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. This systematic review was conducted to identify and assess nurse-led interventions in COPD patients in terms of mental, physical, and clinical status. The review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The relevance of each manuscript was assessed according to the inclusion criteria, and we retrieved full texts, as required, to reach our conclusions. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Forty-eight articles were included in the analysis, which focused on the management of COPD patients by hospital, respiratory and primary nursing care. Nursing management was shown to be highly effective in improving quality of life, emotional state, and pulmonary and physical capacity in COPD patients. In comparison, hospital and respiratory nurses carried out interventions with higher levels of effectiveness than community nurses.
Revitalization of the Waterfront Park Based on Industrial Heritage Using Post-Occupancy Evaluation—A Case Study of Shanghai (China)
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Lee Jooho , Jiang Bin , Kim Gunwoo
Published: July 2022

With the rapid development of urban construction, the waterfront industrial heritage park has played an active role in shaping the city’s image, regional economic development and environmental improvement, and the continuation of the city’s waterfront history. The waterfront park based on industrial heritage using post-occupancy evaluation will help improve the sustainable management, maintenance, and design level of the project in the future. However, there is insufficient research on the waterfront industrial heritage park using post-occupancy evaluation. This paper takes Shanghai Houtan Park and Xuhui Binjiang Park, the representative industrial heritage parks in China, as the research objects. Through field investigation and nearly 200 questionnaires and interviews regarding user behavior, the importance of design elements (place characteristics, natural environmental characteristics, usability characteristics, and administrative characteristics) and the correlation of satisfaction help us to understand the use of the two parks and analyze and organize the survey data, carrying out the analysis of the questionnaire results using frequency analysis, IPA analysis, t-test, variance analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The research results include: (1) Both parks are mainly used by people in their twenties and forties, and the trail received the highest utilization rate as the main facility, while the visitor center in charge of guiding functions had the lowest utilization rate. (2) While Houtan Park received high satisfaction with natural environmental characteristics, it was found that Xu Hui Binjiang Park had relatively high satisfaction with the place and usability characteristics. (3) The natural environmental characteristics of Houtan Park have a positive impact on overall satisfaction and return visit satisfaction. Site characteristics and utilization characteristics of Xuhui Binjiang Industrial Park have a positive impact on overall satisfaction, while usability characteristics have a positive impact on return visit satisfaction. Finally, according to the questions and suggestions raised by users, an optimization strategy is proposed for the renewal of the park, and it is hoped that it can provide suggestions for the reconstruction and design of similar Chinese waterfront industrial heritage parks.
The Spatiotemporal Distribution and Drivers of Urban Carbon Emission Efficiency: The Role of Technological Innovation
Authors: Zheng Ruijing , Cheng Yu , Liu Haimeng , Chen Wei , Chen Xiaodong , Wang Yaping
Published: July 2022

Urban agglomerations have become the core areas for carbon reduction in China since they account for around 75% of its total emissions. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta (PRD), which are its most important poles of regional development and technological innovation, are key to achieving China’s carbon peak emissions target. Based on the panel data of these three major urban agglomerations from 2003 to 2017, this study estimated the carbon emission efficiency (CEE) by the super-efficiency slacks-based measure (super-SBM) model and analyzed its spatiotemporal distribution pattern. The Dagum Gini coefficient was used to evaluate the difference in CEE between the three major agglomerations, while panel data models were established to analyze the impact of technological innovation on the three agglomerations. The overall CEE showed an upward trend during the study period, with significant spatial and temporal variations. Additionally, the main source of urban agglomeration difference in CEE evolved from inter-regional net differences to intensity of transvariation. While technological innovations are expected to significantly improve CEE, their effect varies among urban agglomerations. These results provide policymakers with insights on the collaborative planning of urban agglomerations and the low-carbon economy.
Measured and Perceived Effects of Upper Limb Home-Based Exergaming Interventions on Activity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gelineau Axelle , Perrochon Anaick , Robin Louise , Daviet Jean-Christophe , Mandigout Stéphane
Published: July 2022

After discharge from the hospital to home, stroke patients may experience weakness and reduced movement in their hemiparetic arms that limits their ability to perform daily activities. Therapists can use exercise games (exergames) to maintain functional abilities and daily use of the arm at home. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the efficiency of upper limb home-based rehabilitation, using exergaming on activity abilities in stroke. Randomized controlled trials were reviewed in the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS online databases. Clinical measures of observation and self-reporting were studied in post-intervention and follow-up. Nine studies were included in this systematic review (535 participants). The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score was 6.6/10 (SD 1.0, range 5–8), indicating good quality. This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that upper limb home-based exergaming interventions were no more effective in terms of activity than conventional therapy after stroke, according to the observational and subjective assessments in post-intervention and follow-up. Using this same approach, future studies should focus on evaluating home-based exergames through subgroup analysis to be able to propose recommendations.
The Evolution of Effort-Reward Imbalance in Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in France—An Observational Study in More than 8000 Workers
Authors: Delamarre Louis , Tannous Salma , Lakbar Ines , Couarraze Sébastien , Pereira Bruno , Leone Marc , Marhar Fouad , Baker Julien S. , Bagheri Reza , Berton Mickael , Rabbouch Hana , Zak Marek , Sikorski Tomasz , Wasik Magdalena , Nasir Hijrah , Quach Binh , Jiao Jiao , Aviles Raimundo ,   COVISTRESS Network, Clinchamps Maëlys , Dutheil Fréderic
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: The effects of lockdown repetition on work-related stress, expressed through Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), during the COVID-19 pandemic are poorly documented. We investigated the effect of repetitive lockdowns on the ERI in French workers, its difference across occupations, and the change in its influencing factors across time. (2) Methods: Participants were included in a prospective cross-sectional observational study from 30 March 2020 to 28 May 2021. The primary outcome was the ERI score (visual analog scale). The ERI score of the population was examined via Generalized Estimating Equations. For each period, the factors influencing ERI were studied by multivariate linear regression. (3) Results: In 8121 participants, the ERI score decreased in the first 2 lockdowns (53.2 ± 0.3, p < 0.001; 50.5 ± 0.7, p < 0.001) and after lockdown 2 (54.8 ± 0.8, p = 0.004) compared with the pre-pandemic period (59 ± 0.4). ERI was higher in medical than in paramedical professionals in the pre-pandemic and the first 2 lockdowns. Higher workloads were associated with better ERI scores. (4) Conclusions: In a large French sample, Effort-Reward Imbalance worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of the 2nd lockdown. Paramedical professionals experienced a higher burden of stress compared with medical professionals.
Adolescents’ Experience of Stress: A Focus Group Interview Study with 16–19-Year-Old Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Perming Camilla , Thurn Åsa , Garmy Pernilla , Einberg Eva-Lena
Published: July 2022

The purpose was to investigate stress among adolescents (16–19 years old) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Focus group (n = 9) interviews with students at upper secondary schools (16–19 years old, n = 41) were conducted in southern Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. The analysis revealed five categories of experience of stress: (1) School-related stress, (2) Stress in relationships and leisure, (3) How stress manifests itself, (4) Stress can increase performance, and (5) Experiences of counteracting stress. The adolescents in the study experienced stress linked to school and relationships, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic increased stress levels. The adolescents stated that high stress levels were experienced negatively and impaired their ability to perform, while moderate stress could contribute to achieving goals and improving performance. School nurses and other health professionals who meet with adolescents are important to support adolescents experiencing stress.
Does Remote Work Make People Happy? Effects of Flexibilization of Work Location and Working Hours on Happiness at Work and Affective Commitment in the German Banking Sector
Authors: Kortsch Timo , Rehwaldt Ricarda , Schwake Manon E. , Licari Chantal
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: In view of the advancing digitalization of the German banking sector, offering remote work can be an opportunity for banks to meet changing customer and employee needs at the same time. It allows flexible consultations at changing locations and, due to the high degree of autonomy, it also increases motivation, meaningfulness, happiness at work, and commitment. (2) Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design to investigate how remote work affects happiness at work and affective commitment among employees in a German public bank. Therefore, two groups of customer advisors were examined, who work either remotely (N = 32) or stationary (N = 110) at similar tasks. (3) Results: The group comparisons show significantly higher values overall on three of the investigated four happiness dimensions (“meaningfulness”, “self-actualization”, and “community professional”) for employees in the remote group. Commitment also differs, as employees in the remote group show significantly stronger commitment. The quantitative results were confirmed by qualitative interviews. (4) Conclusions: By investigating the positive effects of remote working, this study shows new findings on what is likely to be a growing design form of New Work in the future. The study provides evidence that self-selected work environments and working hours offer an opportunity to make work more conducive to happiness—even in a sector that still undergoes significant shifts.
Analysis of the Objective and Subjective Stress Response of Students and Professors in Practical Nursing Exams and Their Relationship with Academic Performance
Authors: Sánchez-Conde Paula , Beltrán-Velasco Ana , Clemente-Suárez Vicente
Published: July 2022

The aim of the present research was to analyse the objective and subjective stress responses of students in a clinical case evaluation and the correlation with academic performance, as well as to analyse the differences in grade and difficulty perceptions between students and professors that designed the clinical case. A sample of 103 first-year students from a nursing degree was studied. In this sample, the objective stress was analysed by measuring the autonomic modulation (through the heart rate variability); moreover, the subjective stress was analysed using the SUDS scale. Furthermore, the difficulty perception and academic performance were measured using scales for both students and professors. The measures were taken before and after the clinical exams. A large subjective and objective stress response was observed at the beginning of the clinical case, and this response was related to a high academic performance perception. Upon completion of the clinical evaluation, both the stress response and the academic performance perception decreased. The professors and students presented different grade and difficulty perceptions concerning the clinical case.
Message Source Credibility and E-Cigarette Harm Perceptions among Young Adults
Authors: Lee Donghee N. , Stevens Elise M.
Published: July 2022

This study examined the effect of message source credibility on e-cigarette harm perceptions among U.S. young adults. An online experimental study was conducted where young adults (n = 302, Mage = 23.7) were randomized to an e-cigarette public health education message from an expert or a peer young adult. Then, participants answered questions about their perceptions about the message source and e-cigarettes. Results suggest that young adults rated experts as a more credible source (vs. peer) (b = −0.39, SE = 0.15, 95% CI [−0.67, −0.10], p < 0.01). Young adults reported greater perceived credibility of the expert message (vs. peer), which was associated with increased e-cigarette harm perceptions. Increased perceived source credibility mediated the association of increased e-cigarette absolute harm perceptions from viewing an expert message (b = −0.11, SE = 0.04, 95% CI: −0.20, −0.02). Source credibility should be considered when designing e-cigarette education messages for young adults.
The Effects of Strain-Based Work–Parenting Conflict on Dual Income Couples’ Energy
Authors: Paoletti Jensine , Derrick Jaye L. , Fagundes Christopher P. , Leonard Kenneth E.
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: Gender differences between men’s and women’s parenting roles are well-documented as the “second shift”. We examined the main effects and interaction of work distress and parenting distress with energy (i.e., vigor) in a sample of 310 dual-income, different-sex couples with kids married for approximately nine years. (2) Methods: We used actor–partner interdependence modeling (APIM) to examine how spouses’ distress was associated with their energy. (3) Results: For both wives and husbands, there were negative associations between the actor’s parenting distress and their energy level and between the actor’s work distress and their energy level. However, only wives experienced a significant interaction of work and parenting distress such that high levels of both forms of distress were associated with low levels of energy, indicating that only wives experience this form of work–family conflict. (4) Conclusions: When women experience more strain at home than men, they may need more time to recover from their work and family duties. If they cannot do so, they will have less energy to carry out their responsibilities and may be at a higher risk of future adverse health outcomes.
Microscopic Simulating the Impact of Cruising for Parking on Traffic Efficiency and Emission with Parking-and-Visit Test Data
Authors: Sui Xinliu , Ye Xiaofei , Wang Tao , Yan Xingchen , Chen Jun , Ran Bin
Published: July 2022

Cruising for parking creates a moving queue of cars that are waiting for vacated parking spaces, but no one can see how many cruisers are in the queue because they are mixed with normal cars. In order to mitigate the influence of cruising for parking on normal cars, the simulation framework based on VISSIM was proposed for reproducing the cruising vehicles and normal traffic flows. The car-following model of cruising vehicles was calibrated by the GPS and video data. The scenarios under different cruising ratios were analyzed to evaluate the influence of cruising for parking on traffic efficiency and emissions. Finally, the layout optimization changing the parking locations and positions of entrance-exit gates were discussed to mitigate the negative effect. The results indicated that cruising for parking deteriorates the traffic congestion and emissions on the road sections, intersections and network. The closer distances the intersections and sections are to the parking lot, the greater the negative impact is. But the negative effect after the 30% proportion on traffic performance only illustrates the slight deterioration, because the carrying capacity of the network is reached. The research results provide a quantitative method for the hidden contribution of cruising for parking on traffic congestion and emissions.
Absence of Injury Is Not Absence of Pain: Prevalence of Preseason Musculoskeletal Pain and Associated Factors in Collegiate Soccer and Basketball Student Athletes
Authors: Owoeye Oluwatoyosi B. A. , Neme Jamil R. , Buchanan Paula , Esposito Flavio , Breitbach Anthony P.
Published: July 2022

Unlike musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries, MSK pain is rarely studied in athletes. In this study, we examined the prevalence of preseason MSK pain in apparently healthy collegiate soccer and basketball players and its relationship with previous injuries (1-year history), among other factors. Ninety-seven eligible student athletes (mean age: 20.1 (SD: 1.6) years; 43% male; 53% soccer players) completed a baseline questionnaire comprising questions related to demographics, medical and 1-year injury history and any current MSK pain and the corresponding body location. The overall prevalence of preseason MSK pain was 26% (95% CI: 17–36%) and it did not differ by sex or sport. The back (6.2%) and knee (5.2%) regions were reported to be the most frequently affected body parts for preseason MSK pain. Athletes with a previous injury and with perception of incomplete healing had 3.5-fold higher odds (OR: 3.50; 95% CI: 1.28–9.36) of baseline MSK pain compared with those without a previous injury. One in four collegiate soccer and basketball players had preseason MSK pain. Collegiate sports medicine professionals should consider conducting routine preseason evaluations of MSK pain in their athletes and initiate appropriate interventions for the prevention of MSK pain and its potential consequences among athletes.
Dietary Diversity and Dietary Patterns in School-Aged Children in Western Kenya: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Liu Tiange , Broverman Sherryl , Puffer Eve S. , Zaltz Daniel A. , Thorne-Lyman Andrew L. , Benjamin-Neelon Sara E.
Published: July 2022

Inadequate diet among children has both immediate and long-term negative health impacts, but little is known about dietary diversity and dietary patterns of school-aged children in rural Kenya. We assessed dietary diversity and identified dietary patterns in school-aged children in Western Kenya using a latent class approach. We collected dietary intake using a 24 h dietary recall among students in elementary schools in two rural villages (hereafter village A and B) in Western Kenya in 2013. The mean (SD) age was 11.6 (2.2) years in village A (n = 759) and 12.6 (2.2) years in village B (n = 1143). We evaluated dietary diversity using the 10-food-group-based women’s dietary diversity score (WDDS) and found a mean (SD) WDDS of 4.1 (1.4) in village A and 2.6 (0.9) in village B. We identified three distinct dietary patterns in each village using latent class analysis. In both villages, the most diverse pattern (28.5% in A and 57.8% in B) had high consumption of grains, white roots and tubers, and plantains; dairy; meat, poultry, and fish; and other vegetables. Despite variation for some children, dietary diversity was relatively low for children overall, supporting the need for additional resources to improve the overall diet of children in western Kenya.
Italian Validation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in a Population of Healthy Children: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Scialpi Alessia , Mignolli Ester , De Vito Corrado , Berardi Anna , Tofani Marco , Valente Donatella , Galeoto Giovanni
Published: July 2022

Background: Sleep disorders are one of the most discussed topics in scientific literature every year. Although they are one of the most studied topics, in both adults and children, knowledge of sleep disorders and their treatment is still not completely clear, and there is a need to deepen and analyze these disorders on a country-by-country basis. However, research in the Italian literature reveals a scarce quantity of tools to evaluate sleep quality in children. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is probably the most commonly used retrospective self-assessment questionnaire in the adult population. Purpose: We aimed to validate and analyze the psychometric characteristics of this tool in order to detect and explore the presence of sleep disorders in a healthy Italian population of children throughout the country. Methods: Individuals aged between 3 and 16 years without symptoms of insomnia were included in this study. The reliability and construct validity of the PSQI were assessed according to Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines. Results: We enrolled 222 individuals in this study (mean age 11 years). The PSQI demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.719). Test–retest reliability was assessed on a randomized subgroup of the sample (n = 35). The PSQI showed good test–retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.829 for the total score (95% confidence interval: 0.662–0.914). The Pearson correlation coefficient, used for construct validity, showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Conclusion: The PSQI proved to be a very reliable and valid tool to investigate sleep experiences in children.
Preserving Authenticity in Urban Regeneration: A Framework for the New Definition from the Perspective of Multi-Subject Stakeholders—A Case Study of Nantou in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Li Shuyang , Qu Fei
Published: July 2022

Urban villages are a modern heritage in China that provide affordable housing for urban immigrants and accommodate diverse communities of cohabitation. The regeneration and displacement of urban villages in the past decade have raised the potential risk of social exclusion and led to debates regarding the preservation of cultural and social authenticity. This paper establishes a new conceptual framework for the definition of authenticity from multi-subject perspectives. Taking Nantou as a massive regeneration case, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with multiple stakeholders, involving planning officials, developers, designers, researchers, merchandisers, curation NGOs, local residents, and tourists. Key factors and concepts related to the multi-subject evaluation of the planning decision and its effect on urban regeneration have been identified, using a grounded theory approach for interview analysis. A further coding of the data reveals four cognitive dimensions in the subjects’ expression of authenticity. The shift in the definition of urban authenticity implies that stakeholders might use different notions of authenticity in negotiations to resist or embrace urban interventions. The multivariant definition framework of authenticity can be adapted to guide future regeneration strategies, and would motivate the proliferation of urban preservation to take social and negotiable character into its definition.
The Baltimore Urban Food Distribution (BUD) App: Study Protocol to Assess the Feasibility of a Food Systems Intervention
Authors: Gittelsohn Joel , Lewis Emma C. , Martin Nina M. , Zhu Siyao , Poirier Lisa , Van Dongen Ellen J. I. , Ross Alexandra , Sundermeir Samantha M. , Labrique Alain B. , Reznar Melissa M. , Igusa Takeru , Trujillo Antonio J.
Published: July 2022

Low-income urban communities in the United States commonly lack ready access to healthy foods. This is due in part to a food distribution system that favors the provision of high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium processed foods to small retail food stores, and impedes their healthier alternatives, such as fresh produce. The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) study is a multilevel, multicomponent systems intervention that aims to improve healthy food access in low-income neighborhoods of Baltimore, Maryland. The primary intervention is the BUD application (app), which uses the power of collective purchasing and delivery to affordably move foods from local producers and wholesalers to the city’s many corner stores. We will implement the BUD app in a sample of 38 corner stores, randomized to intervention and comparison. Extensive evaluation will be conducted at each level of the intervention to assess overall feasibility and effectiveness via mixed methods, including app usage data, and process and impact measures on suppliers, corner stores, and consumers. BUD represents one of the first attempts to implement an intervention that engages multiple levels of a local food system. We anticipate that the app will provide a financially viable alternative for Baltimore corner stores to increase their stocking and sales of healthier foods, subsequently increasing healthy food access and improving diet-related health outcomes for under-resourced consumers. The design of the intervention and the evaluation plan of the BUD project are documented here, including future steps for scale-up. Trial registration #: NCT05010018.
The Role of Internal Audit to Reduce the Effects of Creative Accounting on the Reliability of Financial Statements in the Jordanian Islamic Banks
Authors: Jarah Baker Akram Falah , AL Jarrah Mufleh Amin , Al-Zaqeba Murad Ali Ahmad , Al-Jarrah Mefleh Faisal Mefleh
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to look into the role of internal audit (IA) in reducing the effects of creative accounting (CA) on financial statement reliability in Jordanian Islamic Banks. The research study used the survey methodology to examine the role of internal audit (including independence and objectivity, verifiability, professional care, and neutrality) to reduce the effects of CA on the reliability of financial statements in Jordanian Islamic Banks. The population consists of all practicing auditors in Jordanian Islamic Banks, with a sample of 100 practicing auditors chosen from the total population of 143 auditors using a simple random selection approach. The questionnaire was distributed to the internal auditors working in these banks. Moreover, the primary data were analyzed using the partial least squares (3.3.3) software. The results showed that there was a role for IA (including independence objectivity, verifiability, professional care, and impartiality) in limiting the effects of CA on the reliability of financial statements in Jordanian Islamic Banks.
Global Spatial Suitability Mapping of Wind and Solar Systems Using an Explainable AI-Based Approach
Authors: Sachit Mourtadha Sarhan , Shafri Helmi Zulhaidi Mohd , Abdullah Ahmad Fikri , Rafie Azmin Shakrine Mohd , Gibril Mohamed Barakat A.
Published: July 2022

An assessment of site suitability for wind and solar plants is a strategic step toward ensuring a low-cost, high-performing, and sustainable project. However, these issues are often handled on a local scale using traditional decision-making approaches that involve biased and non-generalizable weightings. This study presents a global wind and solar mapping approach based on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI). To the best of the author’s knowledge, the current study is the first attempt to create global maps for siting onshore wind and solar power systems and formulate novel weights for decision criteria. A total of 13 conditioning factors (independent variables) defined through a comprehensive literature review and multicollinearity analysis were assessed. Real-world renewable energy experiences (more than 55,000 on-site wind and solar plants worldwide) are exploited to train three machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP). Then, the output of ML models was explained using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). RF outperformed SVM and MLP in both wind and solar modeling with an overall accuracy of 90% and 89%, kappa coefficient of 0.79 and 0.78, and area under the curve of 0.96 and 0.95, respectively. The high and very high suitability categories accounted for 23.2% (~26.84 million km2) of the site suitability map for wind power plants. In addition, they covered more encouraging areas (24.0% and 19.4%, respectively, equivalent to ~50.31 million km2) on the global map for hosting solar energy farms. SHAP interpretations were consistent with the Gini index indicating the dominance of the weights of technical and economic factors over the spatial assessment under consideration. This study provides support to decision-makers toward sustainable power planning worldwide.
Mechanisms of Nanotoxicology and the Important Role of Alternative Testing Strategies
Authors: Wu Yuan-Hua , Ho Sheng-Yow , Wang Bour-Jr , Wang Ying-Jan
Published: July 2022

Recently, rapid advances in nanotechnology have provided a lot of opportunities for the mass production of engineered nanomaterials of various types of chemicals, including metals and nonmetals, promoting the development of a new generation of industrial and commercial products and the field of nanomedicine [...]
The L-Type Lectin-like Receptor Kinase Gene TaLecRK-IV.1 Regulates the Plant Height in Wheat
Authors: Saidou Mamoudou , Zhang Zengyan
Published: July 2022

Dwarfing is important for the production of wheat (Triticumaestivum L.). In model plants, receptor-like kinases have been implicated in signal transduction, immunity, and development. However, functional roles of lectin receptor-like kinases in wheat are poorly understood. In this study, we identified an L-type lectin receptor-like kinase gene in wheat, designated as TaLecRK-IV.1, and revealed its role in plant height. Real time quantitative PCR analyses indicated that TaLecRK-IV.1 transcript level was lower in a dwarf wheat line harboring the Rht-D1b gene compared to its transcript level detected in a taller wheat line CI12633. Importantly, the virus-induced gene silencing results showed that silencing of TaLecRK-IV.1 in the wheat line CI12633 led to dwarf plants. The results of the disease resistance test performed after the gene silencing experiment suggest no significant role of TaLecRK-IV.1 in the resistance reaction of wheat line CI12633 to sharp eyespot. Gene expression analysis revealed that the transcript abundance of TaLecRK-IV.1 was more up-regulated after the exogenous application of gibberellic acid and auxin, two development-related phytohormones, compared to the gene transcript levels detected in the control plants (mock treatment). These findings support the potential implication of TaLecRK-IV.1 in the pathway controlling plant height rather than the disease resistance role, and suggest that TaLecRK-IV.1 may be a positive regulator of plant height through the gibberellic acid and auxin-signaling pathways.
Chronic-Antibiotics Induced Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Rescues Memory Impairment and Reduces β-Amyloid Aggregation in a Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Model
Authors: Bello-Medina Paola C. , Corona-Cervantes Karina , Zavala Torres Norma Gabriela , González Antonio , Pérez-Morales Marcel , González-Franco Diego A. , Gómez Astrid , García-Mena Jaime , Díaz-Cintra Sofía , Pacheco-López Gustavo
Published: July 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial pathology characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits, Tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammatory response, and cognitive deficit. Changes in the bacterial gut microbiota (BGM) have been reported as a possible etiological factor of AD. We assessed in offspring (F1) 3xTg, the effect of BGM dysbiosisdysbiosis in mothers (F0) at gestation and F1 from lactation up to the age of 5 months on Aβ and Tau levels in the hippocampus, as well as on spatial memory at the early symptomatic stage of AD. We found that BGM dysbiosisdysbiosis with antibiotics (Abx) treatment in F0 was vertically transferred to their F1 3xTg mice, as observed on postnatal day (PD) 30 and 150. On PD150, we observed a delay in spatial memory impairment and Aβ deposits, but not in Tau and pTau protein in the hippocampus at the early symptomatic stage of AD. These effects are correlated with relative abundance of bacteria and alpha diversity, and are specific to bacterial consortia. Our results suggest that this specific BGM could reduce neuroinflammatory responses related to cerebral amyloidosis and cognitive deficit and activate metabolic pathways associated with the biosynthesis of triggering or protective molecules for AD.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Pulmonary Fibrosis Post-COVID-19: Focus on Galectin-1, -3, -8, -9
Authors: Oatis Daniela , Simon-Repolski Erika , Balta Cornel , Mihu Alin , Pieretti Gorizio , Alfano Roberto , Peluso Luisa , Trotta Maria Consiglia , D’Amico Michele , Hermenean Anca
Published: July 2022

Pulmonary fibrosis is a consequence of the pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which finally leads to lung scarring. Although the pulmonary fibrogenesis is almost known, the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its post effects added new particularities which need to be explored. Many questions remain about how pulmonary fibrotic changes occur within the lungs of COVID-19 patients, and whether the changes will persist long term or are capable of resolving. This review brings together existing knowledge on both COVID-19 and pulmonary fibrosis, starting with the main key players in promoting pulmonary fibrosis, such as alveolar and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, lipofibroblasts, and macrophages. Further, we provide an overview of the main molecular mechanisms driving the fibrotic process in connection with Galactin-1, -3, -8, and -9, together with the currently approved and newly proposed clinical therapeutic solutions given for the treatment of fibrosis, based on their inhibition. The work underlines the particular pathways and processes that may be implicated in pulmonary fibrosis pathogenesis post-SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. The recent data suggest that galectin-1, -3, -8, and -9 could become valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung fibrosis post-COVID-19 and promising molecular targets for the development of new and original therapeutic tools to treat the disease.
A NanoBRET-Based H3R Conformational Biosensor to Study Real-Time H3 Receptor Pharmacology in Cell Membranes and Living Cells
Authors: Ma Xiaoyuan , Gao Meichun , Vischer Henry F. , Leurs Rob
Published: July 2022

Conformational biosensors to monitor the activation state of G protein-coupled receptors are a useful addition to the molecular pharmacology assay toolbox to characterize ligand efficacy at the level of receptor proteins instead of downstream signaling. We recently reported the initial characterization of a NanoBRET-based conformational histamine H3 receptor (H3R) biosensor that allowed the detection of both (partial) agonism and inverse agonism on living cells in a microplate reader assay format upon stimulation with H3R ligands. In the current study, we have further characterized this H3R biosensor on intact cells by monitoring the effect of consecutive ligand injections in time and evaluating its compatibility with photopharmacological ligands that contain a light-sensitive azobenzene moiety for photo-switching. In addition, we have validated the H3R biosensor in membrane preparations and found that observed potency values better correlated with binding affinity values that were measured in radioligand competition binding assays on membranes. Hence, the H3R conformational biosensor in membranes might be a ready-to-use, high-throughput alternative for radioligand binding assays that in addition can also detect ligand efficacies with comparable values as the intact cell assay.
Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation and Leukemia Development: The Role of Clock Genes as Promising Biomarkers
Authors: Sanford Ana Beatriz Aguiar , da Cunha Leidivan Sousa , Machado Caio Bezerra , de Pinho Pessoa Flávia Melo Cunha , Silva Abigail Nayara dos Santos , Ribeiro Rodrigo Monteiro , Moreira Fabiano Cordeiro , de Moraes Filho Manoel Odorico , de Moraes Maria Elisabete Amaral , de Souza Lucas Eduardo Botelho , Khayat André Salim , Moreira-Nunes Caroline Aquino
Published: July 2022

The circadian clock (CC) is a daily system that regulates the oscillations of physiological processes and can respond to the external environment in order to maintain internal homeostasis. For the functioning of the CC, the clock genes (CG) act in different metabolic pathways through the clock-controlled genes (CCG), providing cellular regulation. The CC’s interruption can result in the development of different diseases, such as neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, as well as cancer. Leukemias correspond to a group of malignancies of the blood and bone marrow that occur when alterations in normal cellular regulatory processes cause the uncontrolled proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. This review aimed to associate a deregulated CC with the manifestation of leukemia, looking for possible pathways involving CG and their possible role as leukemic biomarkers.
Functional Versatility of the Human 2-Oxoadipate Dehydrogenase in the L-Lysine Degradation Pathway toward Its Non-Cognate Substrate 2-Oxopimelic Acid
Authors: Nemeria Natalia S. , Nagy Balint , Sanchez Roberto , Zhang Xu , Leandro João , Ambrus Attila , Houten Sander M. , Jordan Frank
Published: July 2022

The human 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase complex (OADHc) in L-lysine catabolism is involved in the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoadipate (OA) to glutaryl-CoA and NADH (+H+). Genetic findings have linked the DHTKD1 encoding 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase (E1a), the first component of the OADHc, to pathogenesis of AMOXAD, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and several neurodegenerative diseases. A multipronged approach, including circular dichroism spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry, and computational approaches, was applied to provide novel insight into the mechanism and functional versatility of the OADHc. The results demonstrate that E1a oxidizes a non-cognate substrate 2-oxopimelate (OP) as well as OA through the decarboxylation step, but the OADHc was 100-times less effective in reactions producing adipoyl-CoA and NADH from the dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (E2o) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). The results revealed that the E2o is capable of producing succinyl-CoA, glutaryl-CoA, and adipoyl-CoA. The important conclusions are the identification of: (i) the functional promiscuity of E1a and (ii) the ability of the E2o to form acyl-CoA products derived from homologous 2-oxo acids with five, six, and even seven carbon atoms. The findings add to our understanding of both the OADHc function in the L-lysine degradative pathway and of the molecular mechanisms leading to the pathogenesis associated with DHTKD1 variants.
Transcriptome Analysis to Explore the Cause of the Formation of Different Inflorescences in Tomato
Authors: Yang Yahui , Zhao Tingting , Xu Xiangyang , Jiang Jingbin , Li Jingfu
Published: July 2022

The number of inflorescence branches is an important agronomic character of tomato. The meristem differentiation and development pattern of tomato inflorescence is complex and its regulation mechanism is very different from those of other model plants. Therefore, in order to explore the cause of tomato inflorescence branching, transcriptome analysis was conducted on two kinds of tomato inflorescences (single racemes and compound inflorescences). According to the transcriptome data analysis, there were many DEGs of tomato inflorescences at early, middle, and late stages. Then, GO and KEGG enrichments of DEGs were performed. DEGs are mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, biohormone signaling, and cell cycle pathways. According to previous studies, DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, and FALSIFLORA (FA) and ANANTHA (AN) genes were the most notable of 41 DEGs related to inflorescence branching. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for understanding inflorescence branching, but also provides a new idea for the follow-up study of inflorescence.
Integrated CRISPR-Cas9 System-Mediated Knockout of IFN-γ and IFN-γ Receptor 1 in the Vero Cell Line Promotes Viral Susceptibility
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Nowakowska Aleksandra , Kim Young Bong , Shin Ha Youn
Published: July 2022

The current pandemic and the possible emergence of new viruses urgently require the rapid development of antiviral vaccines and therapeutics. However, some viruses or newly generated variants are difficult to culture in common cell types or exhibit low viral susceptibility in vivo, making it difficult to manufacture viral vector-based vaccines and understand host–virus interactions. To address these issues, we established new cell lines deficient in both type I and type II interferon responses, which are essential for host immunity and interference with virus replication. These cell lines were generated by developing an integrated CRISPR-Cas9 system that simultaneously expresses dual-guide RNA cassettes and Cas9 nuclease in a single plasmid. Using this highly efficient gene-editing system, we successfully established three cell lines starting from IFN-α/β-deficient Vero cells, deleting the single interferon-gamma (IFNG) gene, the IFNG receptor 1 (IFNGR1) gene, or both genes. All cell lines clearly showed a decrease in IFN-γ-responsive antiviral gene expression and cytokine production. Moreover, production of IFN-γ-induced cytokines remained low, even after HSV-1 or HCoV-OC43 infection, while expression of the receptor responsible for viral entry increased. Ultimately, knockout of IFN-signaling genes in these cell lines promoted cytopathic effects and increased apoptosis after viral infection up to three-fold. These results indicate that our integrated CRISPR-Cas9-mediated IFNG- and IFNGR1-knockout cell lines promote virus replication and will be useful in viral studies used to design novel vaccines and therapies.
Addiction of Cancer Stem Cells to MUC1-C in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Yamashita Nami , Kufe Donald
Published: July 2022

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options. TNBC progression is associated with expansion of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Few insights are available regarding druggable targets that drive the TNBC CSC state. This review summarizes the literature on TNBC CSCs and the compelling evidence that they are addicted to the MUC1-C transmembrane protein. In normal epithelia, MUC1-C is activated by loss of homeostasis and induces reversible wound-healing responses of inflammation and repair. However, in settings of chronic inflammation, MUC1-C promotes carcinogenesis. MUC1-C induces EMT, epigenetic reprogramming and chromatin remodeling in TNBC CSCs, which are dependent on MUC1-C for self-renewal and tumorigenicity. MUC1-C-induced lineage plasticity in TNBC CSCs confers DNA damage resistance and immune evasion by chronic activation of inflammatory pathways and global changes in chromatin architecture. Of therapeutic significance, an antibody generated against the MUC1-C extracellular domain has been advanced in a clinical trial of anti-MUC1-C CAR T cells and in IND-enabling studies for development as an antibody–drug conjugate (ADC). Agents targeting the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain have also entered the clinic and are undergoing further development as candidates for advancing TNBC treatment. Eliminating TNBC CSCs will be necessary for curing this recalcitrant cancer and MUC1-C represents a promising druggable target for achieving that goal.
Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Limbus-Derived Stromal/Mesenchymal Stem Cells—Novel Mechanistic Insights into the Pathways Involved in Corneal Wound Healing
Authors: Tavakkoli Fatemeh , Damala Mukesh , Koduri Madhuri Amulya , Gangadharan Abhilash , Rai Amit K. , Dash Debasis , Basu Sayan , Singh Vivek
Published: July 2022

Limbus-derived stromal/mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) are vital for corneal homeostasis and wound healing. However, despite multiple pre-clinical and clinical studies reporting the potency of LMSCs in avoiding inflammation and scarring during corneal wound healing, the molecular basis for the ability of LMSCs remains unknown. This study aimed to uncover the factors and pathways involved in LMSC-mediated corneal wound healing by employing RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) in human LMSCs for the first time. We characterized the cultured LMSCs at the stages of initiation (LMSC−P0) and pure population (LMSC−P3) and subjected them to RNA-Seq to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in comparison to native limbus and cornea, and scleral tissues. Of the 28,000 genes detected, 7800 DEGs were subjected to pathway-specific enrichment Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. These DEGs were involved in Wnt, TGF-β signaling pathways, and 16 other biological processes, including apoptosis, cell motility, tissue remodeling, and stem cell maintenance, etc. Two hundred fifty-four genes were related to wound healing pathways. COL5A1 (11.81 ± 0.48) and TIMP1 (20.44 ± 0.94) genes were exclusively up-regulated in LMSC−P3. Our findings provide new insights involved in LMSC-mediated corneal wound healing.