bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Dynamic Structure and Rapid Evolution of Human Centromeric Satellite DNA
Authors: Logsdon Glennis A. , Eichler Evan E.
Published: December 2022

The complete sequence of a human genome provided our first comprehensive view of the organization of satellite DNA associated with heterochromatin. We review how our understanding of the genetic architecture and epigenetic properties of human centromeric DNA have advanced as a result. Preliminary studies of human and nonhuman ape centromeres reveal complex, saltatory mutational changes organized around distinct evolutionary layers. Pockets of regional hypomethylation within higher-order α-satellite DNA, termed centromere dip regions, appear to define the site of kinetochore attachment in all human chromosomes, although such epigenetic features can vary even within the same chromosome. Sequence resolution of satellite DNA is providing new insights into centromeric function with potential implications for improving our understanding of human biology and health.
Flap Endonuclease 1 Endonucleolytically Processes RNA to Resolve R-Loops through DNA Base Excision Repair
Authors: Laverde Eduardo E. , Polyzos Aris A. , Tsegay Pawlos P. , Shaver Mohammad , Hutcheson Joshua D. , Balakrishnan Lata , McMurray Cynthia T. , Liu Yuan
Published: December 2022

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is an essential enzyme that removes RNA primers and base lesions during DNA lagging strand maturation and long-patch base excision repair (BER). It plays a crucial role in maintaining genome stability and integrity. FEN1 is also implicated in RNA processing and biogenesis. A recent study from our group has shown that FEN1 is involved in trinucleotide repeat deletion by processing the RNA strand in R-loops through BER, further suggesting that the enzyme can modulate genome stability by facilitating the resolution of R-loops. However, it remains unknown how FEN1 can process RNA to resolve an R-loop. In this study, we examined the FEN1 cleavage activity on the RNA:DNA hybrid intermediates generated during DNA lagging strand processing and BER in R-loops. We found that both human and yeast FEN1 efficiently cleaved an RNA flap in the intermediates using its endonuclease activity. We further demonstrated that FEN1 was recruited to R-loops in normal human fibroblasts and senataxin-deficient (AOA2) fibroblasts, and its R-loop recruitment was significantly increased by oxidative DNA damage. We showed that FEN1 specifically employed its endonucleolytic cleavage activity to remove the RNA strand in an R-loop during BER. We found that FEN1 coordinated its DNA and RNA endonucleolytic cleavage activity with the 3′-5′ exonuclease of APE1 to resolve the R-loop. Our results further suggest that FEN1 employed its unique tracking mechanism to endonucleolytically cleave the RNA strand in an R-loop by coordinating with other BER enzymes and cofactors during BER. Our study provides the first evidence that FEN1 endonucleolytic cleavage can result in the resolution of R-loops via the BER pathway, thereby maintaining genome integrity.
The Recognition of Cultural Value as an Element for the Preservation of the 20th-Century Heritage: Application of the ICOMOS Multidisciplinary Approach to the ex S.M.O.M. of Pozzuoli
Authors: Vitiello Veronica , Castelluccio Roberto , Trampetti Silvia
Published: December 2022

The actions for the preservation of cultural heritage must work on the identity and specificity of the places, paying the utmost attention to the context relationships. The analysis of these elements is fundamental to the recognition of the intrinsic “value” of the building, of the cultural, architectural, and landscape type and of the “value relations” that the building holds with the surrounding context of the social and economic but, above all, cultural and identity type. The methodological approaches defined by the ICOMOS Document of Madrid–New Delhi recognize the identification of the cultural value as a fundamental passage for the promotion of the 20th-century heritage. The contribution analyzes the design process developed by applying the ICOMOS methodology for the preservation of the cultural value of a building complex in Pozzuoli dating back to the early 1900s. The evolutionary history of the different volumes and the configuration of the “modern ruins” give rise to prospective relationships with the local reality that today assume a stronger identity value than that connected to the original project. The different construction techniques used and the state of conservation of the buildings lead to the identifying of different elements of value and, consequently, to the elaborating different design choices.
Awareness of Medical Radiologic Technologists of Ionizing Radiation and Radiation Protection
Authors: Yashima Sachiko , Chida Koichi
Published: December 2022

Japanese people experienced the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, the Japan Nuclear Fuel Conversion Co. criticality accident, it was found that many human resources are needed to respond to residents’ concerns about disaster exposure in the event of a radiation disaster. Medical radiologic technologists learn about radiation from the time of their training, and are engaged in routine radiographic work, examination explanations, medical exposure counseling, and radiation protection of staff. By learning about nuclear disasters and counseling, we believe they can address residents’ concerns. In order to identify items needed for training, we examined the perceptions of medical radiologic technologists in the case of different specialties, modalities and radiation doses. In 2016, 5 years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, we conducted a survey of 57 medical radiologic technologists at two medical facilities with different specialties and work contents to investigate their attitudes toward radiation. 42 participants answered questions regarding sex, age group, presence of children, health effects of radiation exposure, radiation control, generation of X rays by diagnostic X ray equipment, and radiation related units. In a comparison of 38 items other than demographic data, 14 showed no significant differences and 24 showed significant differences. This study found that perceptions of radiation were different among radiology technologists at facilities with different specialties. The survey suggested the possibility of identifying needed training items and providing effective training.
Parenting a Child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative and Qualitative Cross-Cultural Findings
Authors: Mazzoni Noemi , Bentenuto Arianna , Filosofi Fabio , Tardivo Angela , Strathearn Lane , Zarei Kasra , De Falco Simona , Venuti Paola , Iandolo Giuseppe , Giannotti Michele
Published: December 2022

Research during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a strong relationship between child symptoms, parental stress, and mental health challenges. The pandemic has changed family routines, worsening child symptomatology and parental burden. The aim of this study was to investigate how the magnitude of the perceived changes in child externalizing behavior, parental stress, and discontinuity of therapy—from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic—affected parental mental health during the pandemic. Moreover, we sought to compare these aspects cross-culturally between European countries and the USA. To these purposes, we asked Italian, Spanish, and U.S. parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) to complete an online survey. Quantitative results showed that increased parental stress may have contributed to a worsening in parental psychological distress, regardless of culture. Moreover, they suggested an indirect effect of child externalizing behaviors on parents’ psychological distress via parental stress. Qualitative analyses highlighted that the lack, or discontinuity, of therapeutic activities may have been one of the key contributors to parenting burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, qualitative results highlighted resilience factors that could have decreased the risk of psychological problems during the pandemic, such as a strong sense of parental efficacy and the ability to adapt to changing family dynamics.
A Novel Procedure for Knee Flexion Angle Estimation Based on Functionally Defined Coordinate Systems and Independent of the Marker Landmarks
Authors: Ancillao Andrea , Verduyn Arno , Vochten Maxim , Aertbeliën Erwin , De Schutter Joris
Published: December 2022

Knee angles are kinematic quantities that are commonly presented in gait analysis reports. They are typically calculated as the relative angles between the anatomical coordinate systems rigidly attached to the femur and the tibia. To give these angles a biomechanical meaning, the coordinate systems must be defined with respect to some anatomical landmarks. For example, if one axis of the joint coordinate systems is directed along the knee flexion/extension axis, then the relative angle assumes the meaning of flexion/extension angle. Defining accurate anatomical coordinate systems is not an easy task, because it requires skills in marker placement, landmark identification and definition of a biomechanical model. In this paper, we present a novel method to (i) functionally define two coordinate systems attached to femur and tibia and (ii) functionally calculate the knee angle based on the relative differential kinematics between the previously defined coordinate systems. As the main limitation, this method is unable to provide an absolute measurement of the knee flexion/extension angle; however, it is able to accurately capture and display the relative angular motion of the knee. We show that our method produced consistent results even when the measured coordinate systems were randomly modified, removing any anatomical referencing. The proposed method has the advantage of being independent/invariant of the choice of the original coordinate systems of the femur and tibia, removing the need for accurate marker placement. Some major consequences are that (i) the markers may be placed on optimal landmarks, for example, minimizing the soft tissue artifacts or improving the subject’s comfort, and (ii) there is no need for anatomical calibration when technical marker clusters/triads are used.
Exhaled Air Metabolome Analysis for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Fingerprints Identification—The Preliminary Study
Authors: Swinarew Andrzej S. , Gabor Jadwiga , Kusz Błażej , Skoczyński Szymon , Raif Paweł , Skoczylas Ilona , Jonas Kamil , Grabka Marek , Mizia-Szubryt Magdalena , Bula Karolina , Stanula Arkadiusz , Mika Barbara , Tkacz Ewaryst , Paluch Jarosław , Gąsior Mariusz , Kopeć Grzegorz , Mizia-Stec Katarzyna
Published: December 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with a serious prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers for PAH in the breath phase and to prepare an automatic classification method to determine the changing metabolome trends and molecular mapping. A group of 37 patients (F/M: 8/29 women, mean age 60.4 ± 10.9 years, BMI 27.6 ± 6.0 kg/m2) with diagnosed PAH were enrolled in the study. The breath phase of all the patients was collected on a highly porous septic material using a special patented holder PL230578, OHIM 002890789-0001. The collected air was then examined with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The algorithms of Spectral Clustering, KMeans, DBSCAN, and hierarchical clustering methods were used to perform the cluster analysis. The identification of the changes in the ratio of the whole spectra of biomarkers allowed us to obtain a multidimensional pathway for PAH characteristics and showed the metabolome differences in the four subgroups divided by the cluster analysis. The use of GC/MS, supported with novel porous polymeric materials, for the breath phase analysis seems to be a useful tool in selecting bio-fingerprints in patients with PAH. The four metabolome classes which were obtained constitute novel data in the PAH population.
Determination of Pollution and Environmental Risk Assessment of Stormwater and the Receiving River, Case Study of the Sudół River Catchment, Poland
Authors: Godyń Izabela , Bodziony Marek , Grela Agnieszka , Muszyński Krzysztof , Pamuła Justyna
Published: December 2022

Changes in the land use of urban catchments and the discharge of stormwater to rivers are causing surface water pollution. Measurements were taken of the quality of discharged stormwater from two areas with different types of development: a residential area and a residential–commercial area, as well as the quality of the Sudół River water below the sewer outlets. The following indicators were studied: TSS, COD, N–NO3, N–NO2, TKN, TN, TP, Zn, Cu, Hg, HOI, and PAHs. The influence of land use on the magnitudes of flows in the river was modeled using the SCS–CN method and the Snyder Unit Hydrograph Model. The results showed an increase in sealing and a resulting increase in surface runoff. Concentrations of pollutants in stormwater and analysis of the potential amounts of loadings contributed by the analyzed stormwater outlets indicate that they may be responsible for the failure to meet environmental targets in the Sudół River. Environmental risk assessment shows that the aquatic ecosystem is at risk. A risk factor indicating a high risk of adverse environmental effects was determined for N–NO3, Zn, and Cu, among others.
Challenges and Limitations in Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Steijger Dirk , Chatterjee Chandrima , Groot Wim , Pavlova Milena
Published: December 2022

Background: Cost-effectiveness is a tool to maximize health benefits and to improve efficiency in healthcare. However, efficient outcomes are not always the most equitable ones. Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) offers a framework for incorporating equity concerns into cost-effectiveness analysis. Objective: This systematic review aims to outline the challenges and limitations in applying DCEA in healthcare settings. Methods: We searched Medline, Scopus, BASE, APA Psych, and JSTOR databases. We also included Google Scholar. We searched for English-language peer-reviewed academic publications, while books, editorials and commentary papers were excluded. Titles and abstract screening, full-text screening, reference list reviews, and data extraction were performed by the main researcher. Another researcher checked every paper for eligibility. Details, such as study population, disease area, intervention and comparators, costs and health effects, cost-effectiveness findings, equity analysis and effects, and modelling technique, were extracted. Thematic analysis was applied, focusing on challenges, obstacles, and gaps in DCEA. Results: In total, 615 references were identified, of which 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of these studies were published after 2017. DCEA studies were mainly conducted in Europe and Africa and used quality health-adjusted measurements. In the included studies, absolute inequality indices were used more frequently than relative inequality indices. Every stage of the DCEA presented challenges and/or limitations. Conclusion: This review provides an overview of the literature on the DCEA in healthcare as well as the challenges and limitations related to the different steps needed to conduct the analysis. In particular, we found problems with data availability, the relative unfamiliarity of this analysis among policymakers, and challenges in estimating differences among socioeconomic groups.
Heterogeneity of Attitudes toward Robots in Healthcare among the Chinese Public: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Bi Xuanyi , Gao Yu , Sun Erhong , Yan Yan , Zhou Yimin , Ye Xuchun
Published: December 2022

Attitudes are deemed critical psychological variables that can determine end users’ acceptance and adoption of robots. This study explored the heterogeneity of the Chinese public’s attitudes toward robots in healthcare and examined demographic characteristics associated with the derived profile membership. The data were collected from a sample of 428 Chinese who participated in an online survey. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct subgroups regarding attitudes toward robots—optimistic (36.9%), neutral (47.2%), and ambivalent (15.9%). Interestingly, although participants in the ambivalent attitude profile held more negative attitudes toward interaction with or social influence of healthcare robots, their attitudes tended to be positive when it came to emotional interactions with healthcare robots. All the respondents reported negative attitudes toward the social influence of healthcare robots. Multivariable regression analysis results showed that there were significant differences in age, education level, monthly income, experience with computers, experience with wearable devices, and whether to follow robot-related news or not. This study confirmed the heterogeneity of the Chinese public’s attitudes toward robots in healthcare and highlighted the importance of emotional interaction with and social influence of healthcare robots, which might facilitate a better understanding of the needs and expectations of potential end users for robots in healthcare to make them more acceptable in different situations.
Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of Palbociclib versus Ribociclib in Women with Stage IV Breast Cancer: A Real-World Data Evaluation
Authors: Al-Ziftawi Nour Hisham , Alam Mohammed Fasihul , Elazzazy Shereen , Shafie Asrul Akmal , Hamad Anas , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham
Published: December 2022

Palbociclib and ribociclib are indicated in the first-line treatment of hormonal-receptor-positive HER-2 negative (HR+/HER-2 negative) advanced breast cancer. Despite their clinical benefit, they can increase healthcare expenditure. Yet, there are no comparative pharmacoeconomic evaluations for them in developing countries, the Middle East, or Gulf countries. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of palbociclib and ribociclib in Qatar. A 10-year within-cycle-corrected Markov’s model was developed using TreeAge Pro® software. The model consisted of three main health states: progression-free (PFS), progressed-disease (PD), and death. Costs were obtained from the actual hospital settings, transition probabilities were calculated from individual-patient data, and utilities were summarized from the published literature. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) were calculated and compared to three gross-domestic-products per capita. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Ribociclib dominated palbociclib in terms of costs, life-years gained, and quality-adjusted life-years gained. The conclusions remained robust in the different cases of the deterministic sensitivity analyses. Taking all combined uncertainties into account, the confidence in the base-case conclusion was approximately 60%. Therefore, in HR+/HER-2 negative stage IV breast cancer patients, the use of ribociclib is considered cost-saving compared to palbociclib.
Associations between Frailty and Ambient Temperature in Winter: Findings from a Population-Based Study
Authors: Zhou Fenfen , Zhou Wensu , Wang Wenjuan , Fan Chaonan , Chen Wen , Ling Li
Published: December 2022

Frailty is an accumulation of deficits characterized by reduced resistance to stressors and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. However, there is little known about the effect of ambient temperature in winter on frailty among older adults, a population segment with the highest frailty prevalence. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the associations between frailty and ambient temperature in winter among older adults. This study was based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) of older adults aged ≥65 years from the 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014 waves. The 39-item accumulation of frailty index (FI) was used to assess the frailty status of the participants. The FI was categorized into three groups as follows: robust (FI ≤ 0.10), prefrail (FI > 0.10 to <0.25), and frail (FI ≥ 0.25). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were conducted to explore the associations between frailty and ambient temperature in winter. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) modification was applied in the sensitivity analysis. A total of 9421 participants were included with a mean age of 82.81 (SD: 11.32) years. Compared with respondents living in the highest quartile (≥7.5 °C) of average temperature in January, those in the lowest quartile (<−1.9 °C) had higher odds of prefrailty (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.17–1.57) and frailty (OR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.32–1.95). The associations were stronger among the low-education groups, agricultural workers before retirement, and non-current exercisers. Additionally, results from the GEE model reported consistent findings. Lower levels of ambient temperature in winter were associated with higher likelihoods of prefrailty and frailty. The findings on vulnerability characteristics could help improve public health practices to tailor cold temperature health education and warning information.
Spinel LiMn2O4 as a Capacitive Deionization Electrode Material with High Desalination Capacity: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Jiang Yuxin , Li Ken , Alhassan Sikpaam Issaka , Cao Yiyun , Deng Haoyu , Tan Shan , Wang Haiying , Tang Chongjian , Chai Liyuan
Published: December 2022

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a newly developed desalination technology with low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. The surface area restricts the desalination capacities of traditional carbon-based CDI electrodes while battery materials emerge as CDI electrodes with high performances due to the larger electrochemical capacities, but suffer limited production of materials. LiMn2O4 is a massively-produced lithium-ion battery material with a stable spinel structure and a high theoretical specific capacity of 148 mAh·g−1, revealing a promising candidate for CDI electrode. Herein, we employed spinel LiMn2O4 as the cathode and activated carbon as the anode in the CDI cell with an anion exchange membrane to limit the movement of cations, thus, the lithium ions released from LiMn2O4 would attract the chloride ions and trigger the desalination process of the other side of the membrane. An ultrahigh deionization capacity of 159.49 mg·g−1 was obtained at 1.0 V with an initial salinity of 20 mM. The desalination capacity of the CDI cell at 1.0 V with 10 mM initial NaCl concentration was 91.04 mg·g−1, higher than that of the system with only carbon electrodes with and without the ion exchange membrane (39.88 mg·g−1 and 7.84 mg·g−1, respectively). In addition, the desalination results and mechanisms were further verified with the simulation of COMSOL Multiphysics.
Mental Disorders and Level of Resilience in Eight High-Altitude Cities of Peru during the Second Pandemic Wave: A Multicenter Population-Based Study
Authors: Zila-Velasque J. Pierre , Grados-Espinoza Pamela , Coba-Villan Naomi , Quispe-Chamorro Jocelyn , Taipe-Guillén Yesenia F. , Pacheco Estefany , Ccasa-Valero Laura , Failoc-Rojas Virgilio E. , Díaz-Vélez Cristian , Valladares-Garrido Mario J.
Published: December 2022

COVID-19 has led us to take preventive measures, such as social isolation, to reduce the high transmissibility of the disease. This could have affected the mental health of various population groups and the development of resilience as a mitigator. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 700 participants from eight cities. The dependent variables were depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The independent variable was resilience. Generalized logistic regressions were used to identify the associations between the variables. The population consisted mostly of university students (65.0%); the rest of the population was distributed among workers of public or private institutions, housewives, and others (35.0%). High prevalences of anxiety (72.7%), depression (64.1%), and PTSD (15.1%) were found, as well as a median (interquartile range) resilience score of 24 points was determined. Factors associated with a high prevalence of PTSD were having lost employment and having a family member who died from COVID-19. For depression, associated factors were severe food insecurity and hypersomnia. For anxiety, associated factors were were having a deceased family member with COVID-19 and mild food insecurity. Our results show that, during the pandemic, the general population had a higher prevalence of mental disorders. In addition, anxiety was the most prevalent of the dependent variables. Special attention should be paid to the factors influencing the development of mental disorders and mental health prevention and promotion programs should be established.
Progress of Ecological Restoration Research Based on Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Wei Xi , Song Wei , Shao Ya , Cai Xiangwen
Published: December 2022

With the deterioration of the global/regional ecological environment, ecological restoration plays an important role in sustainable development. However, due to the differences in research methods, objectives, and perspectives, the research results are highly diverse. This makes it necessary to sort the publications related to ecological restoration, clarify the research status, grasp the research hotspots, and predict the future research trends. Here, 23,755 articles from the core database of Web of Science were retrieved, and bibliometric analysis was carried out to understand the global ecological restoration research progress from 1990 to 2022 from a macro perspective, with the aim to determine the future development direction. The results are as follows. (1) From 1990 to 2022, the number of publications in the field of ecological restoration constantly increased, and the fluctuation of the average annual citations increased. The most important articles were published in high-ranking journals. (2) Ecological restoration covers a wide range of research areas, including biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate change, land use, and ecological restoration theories and technologies. The four main hotspots in this field are heavy metal removal, soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen concentrations, grassland ecological restoration, and evaluation framework and modeling of ecological restoration’s effects. Currently, studies focus on river basin remediation, heavy metal removal, and forest restoration. (3) Future ecological restoration research should strengthen the multi-object aspect and multi-scale ecological restoration research, improve the ecological restoration effect evaluation system, and incorporate social and economic issues. This study identified current research hotspots and predicted potential future research directions, providing a scientific reference for future studies in the field of ecological restoration.
Rumba Dance Combined with Breathing Training as an Exercise Intervention in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Tang Yuting , Guo Xian , Wang Yi , Liu Zeyao , Cao Guoxia , Zhou Yanbing , Chen Mengmeng , Liu Jingying , Mu Jinhao , Yuan Mengjie
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) refers to involuntary leakage from the urethra, synchronous with exertion/effort, sneezing or coughing, which has a negative effect on quality of life. Studies have shown that mild-to-moderate physical activities reduce the risk of SUI by multiple mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Rumba dance combined with breathing training (RDBT) can reduce the severity of incontinence and improve the quality of life of patients with SUI. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with women who were sedentary, were postmenopausal, reported mild-to-moderate SUI on a 1-h pad test, were not already engaged in Rumba dance and did not receive estrogen replacement therapy. The patients were randomly assigned to the RDBT group (n = 13) or the control group (n = 11). The intervention included 90 min of RDBT three times per week for 16 weeks, and the vaginal resting pressure (VRP), pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and endurance, 1-h pad test, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ—UI SF), and the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I—QOL) were measured or completed at baseline and 16 weeks. None of the participants reported adverse events. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 55.75 ± 5.58 years. After 16 weeks, in the RDBT group, the urine leakage on the 1-h pad test was significantly decreased −2.91 ± 0.49 from the baseline (p = 0.000). The VRP increased from 76.00 ± 16.23 cmH2O to 95.09 ± 18.90 cmH2O (p = 0.000), the PFM endurance of class I (−3.15 ± 1.99% vs. −0.46 ± 0.97%, p = 0.000) and class II (−0.69 ± 0.95% vs. −0.23 ± 0.44%, p = 0.065) increased, and the grades of PFM strength of class I and class II were significantly enhanced (p < 0.01). Finally, the severity of self-reported incontinence (ICIQ—UI SF) significantly decreased from 6.12 ± 2.15 to 3.81 ± 1.68 (p = 0.000), and quality of life (I—QOL) improved from 75.73 ± 11.93 to 83.48 ± 7.88 (p = 0.005). Conclusion: A 16-week RDBT program can increase PFM strength and endurance to reduce the severity of incontinence symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with SUI, demonstrating the feasibility of recruiting and retaining postmenopausal women with SUI into a RDBT therapeutic program.
Does Agricultural Credit Input Promote Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity? Evidence from Spatial Panel Data of 30 Provinces in China
Authors: Wang Fuwei , Du Lei , Tian Minghua
Published: December 2022

Improving agricultural green total factor productivity is crucial to promoting high-quality agricultural development. This paper selects the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2020 and uses the super-efficiency SBM model with undesirable outputs to measure the agricultural green total factor productivity of all regions in China. On this basis, this paper uses the panel data fixed-effect model and spatial Durbin model to empirically discuss the impact of agricultural credit input on agricultural green total factor productivity and its spatial spillover effect. The main conclusions are as follows: First, from 2009 to 2020, the average values of agricultural green total factor productivity in national, eastern, central, and western regions are 0.8909, 0.9977, 0.9231, and 0.8068, respectively, and the agricultural green total factor productivity needs to be further improved. Second, the agricultural green total factor productivity presents a significant and positive spatial correlation, and the spatial distribution of agricultural green total factor productivity is not random and irregular. Third, agricultural credit input can significantly promote agricultural green total factor productivity in the local region, but it hinders the improvement of agricultural green total factor productivity in the adjacent regions. Fourth, the impact of agricultural credit input on the agricultural green total factor productivity and its spillover effect has a significant regional heterogeneity. This paper believes that paying attention to the spatial spillover effect of agricultural total factor productivity, optimizing the structure and scale of agricultural credit input, and formulating reasonable agricultural credit policies can improve agricultural green total factor productivity.
Mechanism of Changes in Goaf Water Hydrogeochemistry: A Case Study of the Menkeqing Coal Mine
Authors: Zhao Xianming , Xu Zhimin , Sun Yajun
Published: December 2022

Goaf water in mining areas is widely found in China’s coal mines. To clarify the hydrogeochemical characteristics of goaf water and the influence mechanism of water–rock interaction and further reveal microbial action on the formation of goaf water quality, the goaf water in the Menkeqing coal mine was taken as the object, and physical modeling was used to simulate the process of the real goaf changing from an oxygen-sufficient environment to an anoxic environment with the rise of groundwater level in this work. The experimental results showed that the water–rock interaction in the goaf was mainly the dissolution–precipitation of minerals in the rocks of the caving zone and fracture zone, cation exchange, and oxidation of pyrite in the coal layer. The primary sources of Na+ and K+ in the goaf water were the dissolution and reverse ion exchange of silicate minerals such as albite and potassium feldspar, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ mainly from the dissolution of minerals such as calcium feldspar, calcite, and chlorite. The oxidation of pyrite in coal was the main reason for the increase in SO42− concentration, the enhancement of reduction, and the decrease in pH and DO (dissolved oxygen) in the goaf water. Relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in goaf (e.g., Desulfosporosinus, Desulfobacterium, etc.) increased gradually, inhibiting the increase in SO42− concentration in goaf water through the devulcanization of SRB. The inverse hydrogeochemical modeling was performed using PHREEQC for two stages of the simulation experiment: 0–30 days and 30–300 days. The simulation results show that the water–rock action in the formation of goaf water mainly occurred in the simulation experiment’s early stage (0–30 days), and the mineral dissolution is dominant throughout the experimental stage. The results of the study provide a theoretical reference for the prediction of highly mineralized water pollution in goaf and its prevention and control.
Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Worksite-Weight-Loss Program for Cancer Prevention among School-District Employees with Overweight and Obesity
Authors: Lee Che Young , Robertson Michael C. , Johnston Hannah , Le Thuan , Raber Margaret , Rechis Ruth , Oestman Katherine , Neff Alise , Macneish Amber , Basen-Engquist Karen M.
Published: December 2022

The effects of Vibrant Lives, a 6-month worksite-weight-loss program, were examined in a cohort of school-district employees with overweight or obesity. The VL Basic (VLB) participants received materials and tailored text messages, the VL Plus (VLP) participants additionally received WIFI-enabled activity monitors and scales and participated in health challenges throughout the school year, and the VL Plus with Support (VLP + S) participants additionally received coaching support. The levels of program satisfaction and retention and changes in weight, physical activity (PA), and diet were compared across groups using Pearson chi-square tests, repeated-measure mixed models, and logistic regression. After the program, the VLB (n = 131), VLP (n = 87), and VLP + S (n = 88) groups had average weight losses of 2.5, 2.5, and 3.4 kg, respectively, and average increases in weekly PA of 40.4, 35.8, and 65.7 min, respectively. The VLP + S participants were more likely than the other participants to have clinically significant weight loss (≥3%; p = 0.026). Compared with the VLB participants, the VLP participants were less likely to meet the recommendations for consuming fast food (p = 0.022) and sugar-sweetened beverages (p = 0.010). The VLP and VLP + S participants reported higher program satisfaction than the VLB participants. The VL program facilitates weight loss among school-district employees with overweight and obesity by increasing their PA and healthy diet.
Change in University Student Health Behaviours after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Patin Alex , Ladner Joel , Tavolacci Marie-Pierre
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many disruptions in the lives of the population. In particular, the health behaviours of university students were impacted. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of these behaviours from before the COVID-19 period to May 2021, during which lockdowns or curfews were in effect. Methods: Two retrospective online cross-sectional studies were conducted among university students in Normandy in May 2020 and May 2021. Socio-demographics and academic characteristics were collected. Tobacco smoking, binge drinking, cannabis use, and moderate and vigorous physical activity were collected for the 4 weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown in May 2020 and in May 2021. Results: Overall, 6991 university students were included in the study (3483 in 2020 and 3508 in 2021) with a mean age of 20.8 (standard deviation = 2.5) and 73.4% of women. After logistic regression, binge drinking (occasional and regular), cannabis use (occasional), moderate physical activity (regular), and vigorous physical activity (occasional) decreased in 2020 and 2021 compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Tobacco smoking (occasional) and vigorous physical activity (regular) decreased only in 2020. Regular tobacco and cannabis use did not change significantly in 2020 and 2021 compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Discussion: Student health behaviours changed in May 2020 and May 2021 due to the implementation of measures restricting mobility and social interaction. Even if some risky consumption decreased in 2020 after the first lockdown, there was no rebound phenomenon in 2021: consumption either remained lower or similar to the pre-COVID-19 period. These behaviours need to be monitored in the future to assess the long-term effects of these restrictions on student health behaviours.
A Pilot Study of Polysubstance Use Sequences across the Lifespan among Assiniboine and Sioux People Who Use Injection Drugs
Authors: Anastario Michael , Firemoon Paula , Rodriguez Ana Maria , Wade Carrie , Prokosch Christopher , Rink Elizabeth , Wagner Eric
Published: December 2022

Compared with other racial/ethnic groups in the United States, American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest rates of acute Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, the highest HCV-related mortality, and one of the fastest climbing rates of drug overdose deaths involving stimulants. In this pilot study, a life history calendar was administered to Indigenous people who use injection drugs (IPWIDs) to understand sequences of polysubstance use across the lifespan. 40 IPWIDs completed a questionnaire and life history calendar. Social sequence analysis was used to examine patterns in sequential phenomena among substances reported over years of the lifespan. Most participants (55%) began injecting substances before the age of 21, 62.5% shared syringes with others, and 45% had ever been diagnosed with HCV. An appreciably large increase in the use of stimulants occurred between the year prior to and following injection initiation (33% to 82%). A three-cluster solution distinguished younger IPWIDs transitioning into polysubstance use involving stimulants and/or narcotic analgesics from adults using narcotic analgesics with stimulants over longer periods of time, and adults most focused on stimulant use over time. Findings from this pilot study contribute to an understanding of how methamphetamine injection plays a role in the HCV epidemic among IPWIDs.
Raising Awareness on the Clinical and Social Relevance of Adequate Chronic Pain Care
Authors: Natoli Silvia , Vittori Alessandro , Cascella Marco , Innamorato Massimo , Finco Gabriele , Giarratano Antonino , Marinangeli Franco , Cuomo Arturo
Published: December 2022

Appropriate pain care should be regarded as a right and effectively guaranteed to people with chronic pain (CP). Law 38, enacted in Italy in 2010, establishes the citizen’s right not to suffer. Twelve years later, such right appears still disregarded in Italy and the current access to adequate pain care reveals significant shortcomings. In addition, a mismatch between CP-associated burden and the available healthcare resources in the framework of our national health system has been observed. This article gathers the perspectives of a Board of Italian anesthesiologists on the state of the art of CP management in Italy and aims at strengthening the scientific rationale and clinical relevance of pursuing the enforceability of the right not to suffer and at promoting widespread multidisciplinary care of patients with CP.
Efficacy of Liposomal Melatonin in sleep EEG in Childhood: A Double Blind Case Control Study
Authors: Bonuccelli Alice , Santangelo Andrea , Castelli Francesca , Magherini Giulia , Volpi Elena , Costa Elisa , Alesci Elena , Massimetti Gabriele , Operto Francesca Felicia , Peroni Diego Giampiero , Orsini Alessandro
Published: December 2022

Electroencephalography (EEG) is pivotal in the clinical assessment of epilepsy, and sleep is known to improve the diagnostic yield of its recording. Sleep-EEG recording is generally reached by either partial deprivation or by administration of sleep-inducing agents, although it is still not achieved in a considerable percentage of patients. We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled study, involving a hundred patients between 1 and 6 years old, randomized into two groups: Group 1 received liposomal melatonin (melatosome) whereas Group 2 received a placebo. Sleep latency (SL), defined as the time span between the onset of a well-established posterior dominant rhythm, considered as a frequency of 3 to 4 Hz, increasing to 4–5 Hz by the age of 6 months, to 5–7 Hz by 12 months, and finally to 8 Hz by 3 years, and the first EEG sleep figures detected, were measured for each patient. A significant difference in SL was observed (10.8 ± 5 vs. 18.1 ± 13.4 min, p-value = 0.002). Within each group, no differences in sleep latency were detected between genders. Furthermore, no difference in EEG abnormality detection was observed between the two groups. Our study confirmed the efficacy and safety of melatonin administration in sleep induction. Nonetheless, liposomal melatonin presents a greater bioavailability, ensuring a faster effect and allowing lower dosages. Such results, never before reported in the literature, suggest that the routine employment of melatonin might improve clinical practice in neurophysiology, reducing unsuccessful recordings.
The Impact of Ambient Temperature on Cardiorespiratory Mortality in Northern Greece
Authors: Psistaki Kyriaki , Dokas Ioannis M. , Paschalidou Anastasia K.
Published: December 2022

It is well-established that exposure to non-optimum temperatures adversely affects public health, with the negative impact varying with latitude, as well as various climatic and population characteristics. This work aims to assess the relationship between ambient temperature and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, in Northern Greece. For this, a standard time-series over-dispersed Poisson regression was fit, along with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), using a maximum lag of 21 days, to capture the non-linear and delayed temperature-related effects. A U-shaped relationship was found between temperature and cardiorespiratory mortality for the overall population and various subgroups and the minimum mortality temperature was observed around the 65th percentile of the temperature distribution. Exposure to extremely high temperatures was found to put the highest risk of cardiorespiratory mortality in all cases, except for females which were found to be more sensitive to extreme cold. It is remarkable that the highest burden of temperature-related mortality was attributed to moderate temperatures and primarily to moderate cold. The elderly were found to be particularly susceptible to both cold and hot thermal stress. These results provide new evidence on the health response of the population to low and high temperatures and could be useful to local authorities and policy-makers for developing interventions and prevention strategies for reducing the adverse impact of ambient temperature.
Proteomic Approaches to Uncover Salt Stress Response Mechanisms in Crops
Authors: Kausar Rehana , Komatsu Setsuko
Published: December 2022

Salt stress is an unfavorable outcome of global climate change, adversely affecting crop growth and yield. It is the second-biggest abiotic factor damaging the morphological, physio-biochemical, and molecular processes during seed germination and plant development. Salt responses include modulation of hormonal biosynthesis, ionic homeostasis, the antioxidant defense system, and osmoprotectants to mitigate salt stress. Plants trigger salt-responsive genes, proteins, and metabolites to cope with the damaging effects of a high salt concentration. Enhancing salt tolerance among crop plants is direly needed for sustainable global agriculture. Novel protein markers, which are used for crop improvement against salt stress, are identified using proteomic techniques. As compared to single-technique approaches, the integration of genomic tools and exogenously applied chemicals offers great potential in addressing salt-stress-induced challenges. The interplay of salt-responsive proteins and genes is the missing key of salt tolerance. The development of salt-tolerant crop varieties can be achieved by integrated approaches encompassing proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, and genome-editing tools. In this review, the current information about the morphological, physiological, and molecular mechanisms of salt response/tolerance in crops is summarized. The significance of proteomic approaches to improve salt tolerance in various crops is highlighted, and an integrated omics approach to achieve global food security is discussed. Novel proteins that respond to salt stress are potential candidates for future breeding of salt tolerance.
Medium Bandgap Polymers for Efficient Non-Fullerene Polymer Solar Cells—An In-Depth Study of Structural Diversity of Polymer Structure
Authors: Zhang Shimiao , Son Dong Hwan , Nasrun Rahmatia Fitri Binti , Salma Sabrina Aufar , Suh Hongsuk , Kim Joo Hyun
Published: December 2022

A series of medium bandgap polymer donors, named poly(1-(5-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-fluorothiophen-2-yl)benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-5-((4,5-dihexylthiophen-2-yl)methylene)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene-4,6(5H)-dione) (IND-T-BDTF), poly(1-(5-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-fluorothiophen-2-yl)benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophen-2-yl)-4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)-5-((4,5-dihexylthiophen-2-yl)methylene)-3-(4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene-4,6(5H)-dione (IND-HT-BDTF), and poly(1-(5-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-fluorothiophen-2-yl)benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophen-2-yl)-6-octylthieno [3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-5-((4,5-dihexylthiophen-2-yl)methylene)-3-(6-octylthieno [3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene-4,6(5H)-dione (IND-OTT-BDTF), are developed for non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) polymer solar cells (PSCs). Three polymers consist of donor-acceptor building block, where the electron-donating fluorinated benzodithiophene (BDTF) unit is linked to the electron-accepting 4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene-4,6(5H)-dione (IND) derivative via thiophene (T) or thieno [3,2-b]thiopene (TT) bridges. The absorption range of the polymer donors based on IND in this study shows 400~800 nm, which complimenting the absorption of Y6BO (600~1000 nm). The PSC’s performances are also significantly impacted by the π-bridges. NFAs inverted type PSCs based on polymer donors and Y6BO acceptor are fabricated. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device based on IND-OTT-BDTF reaches up to 11.69% among all polymers with a short circuit current of 26.37 mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 0.79 V, and a fill factor of 56.2%, respectively. This study provides fundamental information on the invention of new polymer donors for NFA-based PSCs.