bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid-Lowering Effects of Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharide In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Yang Mo , Hu Dong , Cui Zhengying , Li Hongxuan , Man Chaoxin , Jiang Yujun
Published: December 2021

Excessive lipid intake will cause hyperlipidemia, fatty liver metabolism disease, and endanger people’s health. Edible fungus polysaccharide is a natural active substance for lipid lowering. In this study, the HepG2 cell model induced by oleic acid and mice model induced by a high-fat diet was established. The lipid-lowering effects of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Glucose (251.33 mg/g), rhamnose (11.53 mg/g), ribose (5.10 mg/g), glucuronic acid (6.30 mg/g), and galacturonic acid (2.95 mg/g) are present in IOP, at a ratio of 85.2:3.91:1.73:2.14:1. The molecular weight of IOP is 42.28 kDa. Treatment with 60 mg/L of IOP showed a significant lipid-lowering effect in HepG2 cells compared with the oleic acid-treated group. In the oil red O-stained images, the red fat droplets in the IOP-treated groups were significantly reduced. TC and TG levels of IOP-treated groups decreased. IOP can alleviate the lipid deposition in the mice liver due to high-fat diet, and significantly reduce their serum TC, TG, and LDL-C contents. IOP could activate AMPK but decrease the SREBP-1C, FAS, and ACC protein expression related to adipose synthesis in mice. IOP has a certain potential for lipid-lowering effects both in vivo and in vitro.
Dietary Curcumin Alleviated Aflatoxin B1-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Ducks by Regulating NLRP3–Caspase-1 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Jin Sanjun , Yang Hao , Wang Yingjie , Pang Qian , Jiao Yihan , Shan Anshan , Feng Xingjun
Published: December 2021

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin widely distributed in animal feed and human food; it represents a serious threat to human and animal health. This study investigates the mechanism by which dietary curcumin protected liver against acute damage caused by AFB1 administration in ducks. One-day-old male ducks (n = 450) were randomly assigned to three groups, the control group, the AFB1 group, and the AFB1 + curcumin group; the first group were fed with basic diet, while the third group was fed basic diet containing 500 mg/kg curcumin. Ducks in the AFB1 group and AFB1 + curcumin group were challenged with AFB1 at the age of 70 days. The results show that AFB1 administration caused liver damage, increased CYP450 content and AFB1-DNA adducts in the liver, and induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the liver. Dietary curcumin significantly inhibited the generation of H2O2 and MDA in liver, activated the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, and suppressed the NLRP3–caspase-1 signaling pathway in the liver of ducks. Conclusively, curcumin in diet could protect duck liver against the generation of AFB1-DNA adducts, toxicity, oxidation stress and inflammatory response induced by AFB1 through regulating the NLRP3–caspase-1 signaling pathways, demonstrating that curcumin is a potential feed additive agent to reduce the serious harmful effects of AFB1 on duck breeding.
Comprehensive Genome-Wide Identification and Transcript Profiling of GABA Pathway Gene Family in Apple (Malus domestica)
Authors: Zheng Qingbo , Su Shenghui , Wang Zhe , Wang Yongzhang , Xu Xiaozhao
Published: December 2021

γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a four-carbon non-protein amino acid, is a significant component of the free amino acid pool in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. GABA is involved in pH regulation, maintaining C/N balance, plant development and defence, as well as a compatible osmolyte and an alternative pathway for glutamate utilization via anion flux. Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T, EC 2.6.1.19) are two key enzymes involved in the synthesis and metabolism of GABA. Recently, GABA transporters (GATs), protein and aluminium-activated malate transporter (ALMT) proteins which function as GABA receptors, have been shown to be involved in GABA regulation. However, there is no report on the characterization of apple GABA pathway genes. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of the GABA pathway gene family in the apple genome. A total of 24 genes were identified including five GAD genes (namely MdGAD 1–5), two GABA-T genes (namely MdGABA-T 1,2), 10 GAT genes (namely GAT 1–10) and seven ALMT genes (namely MdALMT1–7). These genes were randomly distributed on 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analyses grouped GABA shunt genes into three clusters—cluster I, cluster II, and cluster III—which had three, four, and five genes, respectively. The expression profile analysis revealed significant MdGAD4 expression levels in both fruit and flower organs, except pollen. However, there were no significant differences in the expression of other GABA shunt genes in different tissues. This work provides the first characterization of the GABA shunt gene family in apple and suggests their importance in apple response to abiotic stress. These results can serve as a guide for future studies on the understanding and functional characterization of these gene families.
Important Roles of Key Genes and Transcription Factors in Flower Color Differences of Nicotiana alata
Authors: Zheng Yalin , Chen Yudong , Liu Zhiguo , Wu Hui , Jiao Fangchan , Xin Haiping , Zhang Li , Yang Long
Published: December 2021

Nicotiana alata is an ornamental horticultural plant with a variety of flower colors and a long flowering period. The genes in four different colored N. alata (white, purple, red, and lemon green) were analyzed to explain the differences in flower color using transcriptomes. A total of 32 differential expression genes in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway and 41 in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were identified. The enrichment analysis showed that the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway play critical roles in the color differences of N. alata. The HEMA of the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway was up-regulated in lemon green flowers. Compared with white flowers, in the red and purple flowers, F3H, F3′5′H and DFR were significantly up-regulated, while FLS was significantly down-regulated. Seventeen differential expression genes homologous to transcription factor coding genes were obtained, and the homologues of HY5, MYB12, AN1 and AN4 were also involved in flower color differences. The discovery of these candidate genes related to flower color differences is significant for further research on the flower colors formation mechanism and color improvements of N. alata.
VarGenius-HZD Allows Accurate Detection of Rare Homozygous or Hemizygous Deletions in Targeted Sequencing Leveraging Breadth of Coverage
Authors: Musacchia Francesco , Karali Marianthi , Torella Annalaura , Laurie Steve , Policastro Valeria , Pizzo Mariateresa , Beltran Sergi , Casari Giorgio , Nigro Vincenzo , Banfi Sandro
Published: December 2021

Homozygous deletions (HDs) may be the cause of rare diseases and cancer, and their discovery in targeted sequencing is a challenging task. Different tools have been developed to disentangle HD discovery but a sensitive caller is still lacking. We present VarGenius-HZD, a sensitive and scalable algorithm that leverages breadth-of-coverage for the detection of rare homozygous and hemizygous single-exon deletions (HDs). To assess its effectiveness, we detected both real and synthetic rare HDs in fifty exomes from the 1000 Genomes Project obtaining higher sensitivity in comparison with state-of-the-art algorithms that each missed at least one event. We then applied our tool on targeted sequencing data from patients with Inherited Retinal Dystrophies and solved five cases that still lacked a genetic diagnosis. We provide VarGenius-HZD either stand-alone or integrated within our recently developed software, enabling the automated selection of samples using the internal database. Hence, it could be extremely useful for both diagnostic and research purposes.
Magnetic Expression of Hydrothermal Systems Hosted by Submarine Calderas in Subduction Settings: Examples from the Palinuro and Brothers Volcanoes
Authors: Cocchi Luca , Caratori Tontini Fabio , Muccini Filippo , de Ronde Cornel E. J.
Published: December 2021

Volcanism is the most widespread expression of cyclic processes of formation and/or destruction that shape the Earth’s surface. Calderas are morphological depressions resulting from the collapse of a magma chamber following large eruptions and are commonly found in subduction-related tectono-magmatic regimes, such as arc and back-arc settings. Some of the most impressive examples of seafloor hydrothermal venting occur within submarine calderas. Here, we show the results of magnetic investigations at two hydrothermally active submarine calderas, i.e., Palinuro Seamount in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, and Brothers volcano of the Kermadec arc, New Zealand. These volcanoes occur in different geodynamic settings but show similarities in the development of their hydrothermal systems, both of which are hosted within calderas. We present a new integrated model based on morphological, geological and magnetic data for the Palinuro caldera, and we compare this with the well-established model of Brothers caldera, highlighting the differences and common features in the geophysical expressions of both hydrothermal systems. For consistency with the results at Brothers volcano, we build a model of demagnetised areas associated with hydrothermal alteration derived from 3D inversion of magnetic data. Both these models for Brothers and Palinuro show that hydrothermal up-flow zones are strongly controlled by caldera structures which provide large-scale permeability pathways, favouring circulation of the hydrothermal fluids at depth.
Long Term Implications of Home Healthcare Management on Mortality in Older Adults with Functional Difficulties in the Saudi Community
Authors: Alabbasi Khalid H. , Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc
Published: December 2021

Background: This study aims to investigate whether certain demographic factors of patients receiving home healthcare (HHC) interventions have any positive impact on mortality. Methods: the study included all patients who were enrolled in the HHC program in a referred medical complex, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between the years 2017 and 2020 (593 patients). Results: A total of 6548 HHC visits were received during the study period. From the total number of visits, 3592 (54.9%) HHC visits were scheduled in the year 2020 compared to 157 (2.4%) scheduled HHC visits in 2017 (p < 0.001). The most successful HHC visits were provided in 2020 compared with the year 2017 (2193 vs. 132; p < 0.001). The cancelled HHC visits were observed to be the lowest (194) in 2019. Three explanatory variables of mortality [age, having a major diagnosis (diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, and bedridden), and having more cancelled visits] made a statistically significant contribution to the logistic regression model after controlling for other variables. Suffering from cerebrovascular diseases and/or bedridden were the strongest predictor of death in patients receiving HHC. Conclusions: During the 2020 pandemic, there was a sharp increase in HHC compared to previous years. Three significant explanatory variables of mortality [age, having a major diagnosis (diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, and bedridden), and having more cancelled visits] were reported.
Associated Factors with Perceived Fear of COVID-19 among Vietnamese Hospital Healthcare Workers during Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Implications for Interconnected and Social- and Personal-Based Health Support
Authors: Doan Quoc-Hung , Tran Nguyen-Ngoc , Than Manh-Hung , Nguyen Hoang-Thanh , Bui Van-San , Nguyen Dinh-Hung , Vo Hoang-Long , Do Trong-Thien , Pham Ngoc-Thach , Nguyen Tuan-Khanh , Cao Duc-Chinh , Nguyen Vu-Trung , Tran Thi-Mai T. , Pham Ba-Hien , Tran Anh-Long , Nguyen Van-Thuong , Nguyen Van-Thanh , Tran Xuan-Thang , Nguyen Thi-Lan , Lai Duc-Truong , Vu Quang-Hieu , Otsu Satoko
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: The present study measures the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers and identifies several factors associated with increasing fear of COVID-19. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based survey was conducted on healthcare workforce recruited from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases from 1 October 2021 and 20 October 2021. We selected the participants who have been directly involved in diagnosing, treating, or providing nursing care to patients with COVID-19. The primary data was collected via sending the invitation directly to the participants, utilizing structured self-completed questionnaires. The seven-item fear of COVID-19 scale was used to measure the data. The responses of 208 hospital healthcare workers were included in the final analysis. (3) Results: Total score of COVID-19 fear was 19.62 (SD = 5.22). The COVID-19 fear score of 7 items ranged from 2.38 (SD = 0.83) to 3.21 (SD = 0.96). The lowest and highest scores were the item ‘My hands become clammy when I think about Corona’ and the item ‘I am most afraid of corona’ was the highest, respectively. Linear regression of the COVID-19 fear showed that the factors positively correlated with the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers were: being influenced by the community (p = 0.001), feeling at very high risk of COVID-19 (p = 0.03), and experiencing traumatic stress with an academic event (p = 0.042). (4) Conclusions: Although these findings merit further elaboration, these preliminary findings suggest relatively great fear of the COVID-19 pandemic among Vietnamese hospital healthcare workers and that social and personal connections are necessary for maintaining the mental wellbeing.
Developing and Validating the Narcissistic Personality Scale (NPS) among Older Thai Adults Using Rasch Analysis
Authors: Chinnarasri Pitchapat , Wongpakaran Nahathai , Wongpakaran Tinakon
Published: December 2021

Background: Being older could be stressful, especially among people with narcissistic personality disorders. Nevertheless, the tool is yet to be available among older Thai individuals. The study aimed to develop a tool to detect symptoms of narcissistic personality, and to validate its psychometric properties among older Thai adults. Methods: The Narcissistic Personality Scale (NPS) was developed based on nine domain symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), consisting of 80 items. The original scale was field-tested using Rasch analysis for item reduction, rendering a final 43 items. NPS was further investigated among 296 seniors aged 60 years old. Rasch analysis was used to assess its construct validity. Result: Of 43 items, 17 were further removed as infit or outfit mean square >1.5. The final 26-item NPS met all necessary criteria of unidimensionality and local independence without differential item functioning due to age and sex, and good targeting with subjects. Person and item reliability were 0.88 and 0.95, respectively. No disordered threshold or category was found. Conclusions: The NPS is a promising tool with a proven construct validity based on the Rasch measurement model among Thai seniors. This new questionnaire can be used as outcome measures in clinical practice.
Augmented Reality Storytelling Submerged. Dry Diving to a World War II Wreck at Ancient Phalasarna, Crete
Authors: Liestøl Gunnar , Bendon Michael , Hadjidaki-Marder Elpida
Published: December 2021

Underwater heritage and archaeology is, in general, limited to the few who have permission, and the means to actually dive on location and experience the submarine sites. Dry dive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) now offer unprecedented opportunity to change this situation. This paper explores the use of AR storytelling with regard to a World War II landing craft at Phalasarna, Greece. Tank Landing Craft A6 (TLC) was sunk by German aircraft while evacuating Allied troops from Crete in 1941. Its remains still lie just off the coast in a few metres of water. This project revolves around the development of a 3D–animation to make the site more accessible to those who cannot dive. By visually reconstructing the dramatic event of the craft’s final moments under German attack before it settled to the seabed, as well as the site’s present condition, visitors can experience and learn more about both the vessel itself and the historical context. The Indirect AR simulation contains two main modes: a dry dive reconstruction of the wreck as it looks today with detailed multimodal explanations based on historical and archaeological research, and an animation sequence that reconstructs the actual German attack on the ship. This article presents detailed descriptions of the site’s historical background, of the vessel and the design challenges involved in the production process of the app itself. Feedback provided by visitors who recently tested the AR simulation on location is also reported here.
Changes in the Polyphenol Content of Red Raspberry Fruits during Ripening
Authors: Kobori Ryo , Yakami Syuichi , Kawasaki Takashi , Saito Akiko
Published: December 2021

Berry fruits that contain large amounts of polyphenol compounds are expected to exhibit health and anti-aging effects due to the antioxidant activities of these components. Among the various polyphenols, flavan-3-ol derivatives are known to have a particularly high functionality. In this study, the maturity of red raspberry fruits is classified into eight stages based on the polyphenol content at each stage. Quantification of the various compounds and investigation of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were carried out. The total polyphenol content, including that of the flavan-3-ol derivatives, was the highest in immature fruits, gradually decreasing during fruit maturation, during which the radical scavenging activity also decreased. Based on our quantitative results, it was considered that the decrease in the flavan-3-ol derivative content due to fruit ripening was largely related to the increase in the amount of anthocyanin derivatives. Considering that the decreased contents of these compounds were related to the expression levels of polyphenol biosynthetic enzymes, quantification was performed using the semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, but the only change observed was the increased expression of the enzyme that synthesizes anthocyanins during maturation. Therefore, it was suggested that it is necessary to inhibit anthocyanin synthesis to increase the contents of highly functional flavan-3-ol derivatives in the mature fruit.
Factors Associated with Pre-Vaccination SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk among Hospital Nurses Facing COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Coppeta Luca , Ferrari Cristiana , Mazza Andrea , Trabucco Aurilio Marco , Rizza Stefano
Published: December 2021

The objective of this work was to evaluate the magnitude of COVID-19 spread and the related risk factors among hospital nurses employed in a COVID hospital in Rome, before the beginning of the vaccination programmes commenced in 2021. Participants periodically underwent (every 15–30 days) nasopharyngeal swab and/or blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 IgG examination. From 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2020, we found 162 cases of COVID-19 infection (n = 143 nasopharyngeal swab and n = 19 IgG-positive) in a total of 918 hospital nurses (17.6%). Most SARS-CoV-2-infected hospital nurses were night shift workers (NSWs), smokers, with higher BMI and lower mean age than that of individuals who tested negative. After adjusting for covariates, age (OR = 0.923, 95% C.I. 0.895–0.952), night shift work (OR = 2.056, 95% C.I. 1.320–2.300), smoking status (OR = 1.603, 95% C.I. 1.080–2.378) and working in high-risk settings (OR = 1.607, 95% C.I. 1.036–2.593) were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 hospital infection, whereas BMI was not significantly related. In conclusion, we found a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospital nurses at a Rome COVID hospital in the pre-vaccination period. Smoking, young age, night shift work and high-risk hospital settings are relevant risk factors for hospital SARS-CoV-2 infection; therefore, a close health surveillance should be necessary among hospital nurses exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
eHealth and mHealth Development in Spain: Promise or Reality?
Authors: Mahou Xosé , Barral Bran , Fernández Ángela , Bouzas-Lorenzo Ramón , Cernadas Andrés
Published: December 2021

In the last decades, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has progressively spread to society and public administration. Health is one of the areas in which the use of ICTs has more intensively developed through what is now known as eHealth. That area has recently included mHealth. Spanish health system has stood out as one of the benchmarks of this technological revolution. The development of ICTs applied to health, especially since the outbreak of the pandemic caused by SARS Cov-2, has increased the range of health services delivered through smartphones and the development of subsequent specialized apps. Based on the data of a Survey on Use and Attitudes regarding eHealth in Spain, the aim of this research was to conduct a comparative analysis of the different eHealth and mHealth user profiles. The results show that the user profile of eHealth an mHealth services in Spain is not in a majority. Weaknesses are detected both in the knowledge and use of eHealth services among the general population and in the usability or development of their mobile version. Smartphones can be a democratizing vector, as for now, access to eHealth services is only available to wealthy people, widening inequality.
Effect of Climate Change on CO2 Flux in Temperate Grassland, Subtropical Artificial Coniferous Forest and Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Man Zihao , Che Shengquan , Xie Changkun , Jiang Ruiyuan , Liang Anze , Wu Hao
Published: December 2021

The interactions between CO2 flux, an important component of ecosystem carbon flux, and climate change vary significantly among different ecosystems. In this research, the inter-annual variation characteristics of ecosystem respiration (RE), gross ecosystem exchange (GEE), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were explored in the temperate grassland (TG) of Xilinhot (2004–2010), the subtropical artificial coniferous forest (SACF) of Qianyanzhou (2003–2010), and the tropical rain forest (TRF) of Xishuangbanna (2003–2010). The main factors of climate change affecting ecosystem CO2 flux were identified by redundancy analysis, and exponential models and temperature indicators were constructed to consider the relationship between climate change and CO2 flux. Every year from 2003 to 2010, RE and GEE first increased and then decreased, and NEE showed no significant change pattern. TG was a carbon source, whereas SACF and TRF were carbon sinks. The influence of air temperature on RE and GEE was greater than that of soil temperature, but the influence of soil moisture on RE and GEE was greater than that of air moisture. Compared with moisture and photosynthetically active radiation, temperature had the greatest impact on CO2 flux and the exponential model had the best fitting effect. In TG and SACF, the average temperature was the most influential factor, and in TRF, the accumulated temperature was the most influential factor. These results provide theoretical support for mitigating and managing climate change and provide references for achieving carbon neutrality.
Threshold for Relationship between Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone in Chinese Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Hu Yichun , Li Siran , Wang Jun , Zheng Deqiang , Zhang Huidi , Yu Wei , Zhu Lijia , Liu Zhen , Yang Xiaoguang , Yang Lichen
Published: December 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) in Chinese childbearing women, and to estimate the optimum threshold of 25(OH)D that maximally inhibits the PTH, which is considered to be the optimal status for vitamin D sufficiency. Methods: Serum samples were selected from the biological samples’ bank of the Chinese Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Survey (CCDNS) 2015. The serum 25(OH)D concentration was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and the serum PTH was determined by electronic chemiluminescence. Simple linear and partial correlation analysis, locally weighted regression smooth scatterplot (LOESS), nonlinear least squares estimation (NLS), and segmented regression (SR) were utilized to estimate the relationship of 25(OH)D and PTH, and to determine the threshold of 25(OH)D. Results: A total of 1568 serum samples of 25(OH)D concentration and PTH concentration were analyzed. A significant inverse relationship between 25(OH)D and PTH concentration was observed below 15.25 (14.22–16.28) ng/mL, and PTH decreased slowly with the increase of 25(OH)D above 16.75 (15.43–18.06) ng/mL after adjusting by age, latitude, city type, season, corrected calcium, and phosphorus. A very short plateau of PTH was found at 15.25 ng/mL and 16.75 ng/mL in terms of 25(OH)D according to LOESS, NLS, and SR. Conclusions: The serum 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with the serum PTH. The threshold of VitD sufficiency was found in the range of 14.22–18.06 ng/mL in terms of serum 25(OH)D concentration for Chinese childbearing women aged 18–44 years old.
Longitudinal Effects of the Pandemic and Confinement on the Anxiety Levels of a Sample of Spanish Children in Primary Education
Authors: Giménez-Dasí Marta , Quintanilla Laura , Fernández-Sánchez Marta
Published: December 2021

(1) Background: The psychological effects of confinement due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic on children are only partially known. In Madrid, Spain, children suffered a strict confinement for 10 weeks and they returned to school under conditions that were far from normal. This work assesses the effects of the pandemic on the anxiety levels of a group of children living in Madrid. (2) Methods: Children were aged 6 to 11 years (N = 215). A self-report measure of anxiety was completed by participants at two time-points: (1) a few months before the beginning of the pandemic and (2) 1 year later. A smaller subgroup of participants also completed the measure during the confinement period (n = 60). (3) Results: A comparison of these three measures shows that the children’s anxiety was reduced during confinement, and that one year later these levels continue below those registered before the start of the pandemic. (4) Conclusions: These results contradict some previous studies, which found an increase in children’s anxiety as a result of confinement and the pandemic. The discussion considers protective and vulnerability factors in the context of the pandemic, which may affect children’s levels of anxiety.
Research on the Natural Hazard Emergency Cooperation Behavior between Governments and Social Organizations Based on the Hybrid Mechanism of Incentive and Linkage in China
Authors: Liu Jida , Dong Changqi , An Shi , Guo Yanan
Published: December 2021

Social organizations have become an important component of the emergency management system by virtue of their heterogeneous resource advantages. It is of great significance to explore the interaction between the local government and social organizations and to clarify the key factors affecting the participation of social organizations in natural hazard emergency responses. With the aim of exploring the relationship between the local government and social organizations, based on evolutionary game theory, the emergency incentive game model and the emergency linkage game model of natural hazard emergency responses were constructed. The evolutionary trajectories of the emergency incentive game system and the emergency linkage game system were described by numerical simulation. Meanwhile, the influence mechanism of government decision parameters on the strategy selection of both game subjects was analyzed. The results show that both governmental incentive strategy and linkage strategy can significantly improve the enthusiasm of social organizations for participating in natural hazard emergency responses. Moreover, they could encourage social organizations to choose a positive participation strategy. Nevertheless, over-reliance on incentives reduces the probability of the local government choosing a positive emergency strategy. In addition, we found that, when both game subjects tend to choose a positive strategy, the strategy selection of the local government drives that of social organizations.
Knowledge Mapping of Research on Land Use Change and Food Security: A Visual Analysis Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer
Authors: Cheng Peng , Tang Houtian , Dong Yue , Liu Ke , Jiang Ping , Liu Yaolin
Published: December 2021

Many scholars have conducted in-depth research on the theme of land use change and food security, and formed fruitful research results, but there is a lack of quantitative analysis and comprehensive evaluation of research achievements. Therefore, based on the relevant literature on the theme of land use change and food security in the core collection of the Web of Science (WOS) database, this paper takes the advantage of CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometric software to draw the cooperative network and keyword cooccurrence map to analyze the research progress and frontier. The results reveal that: (1) The research started in 1999 and can be divided into three stages: initial research, rapid development, and a stable in-depth stage. This topic has increasingly become a research hotspot in the academic community. (2) The distribution of research institutions is concentrated and forms a small cluster, and the research networks between developed and developing countries have been established, and developed countries are in the core position, but the cooperation network is not prominent. (3) The research content is becoming increasingly organized and systematic, and the research hot topics are divided into seven aspects. (4) The research area of the subject covers multiple levels, such as global, national, and specific natural geographical regions, and has formed a research system of geographic information technology and satellite remote sensing technology. It also presents the trend of cross integration with economics, land management and soil science. In the future, theoretical innovation still needs to be strengthened, and we should strengthen the research on the impact of agricultural chemical fertilizers on food security and study the impact of urban expansion on land use change.
Research Design, Protocol, and Participant Characteristics of COLEAFS: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Childcare Garden Intervention
Authors: Cosco Nilda Graciela , Wells Nancy M. , Monsur Muntazar , Goodell Lora Suzanne , Zhang Daowen , Xu Tong , Hales Derek , Moore Robin Clive
Published: December 2021

Childcare garden interventions may be an effective strategy to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and physical activity among young children. The objective of this paper is to describe the research design, protocol, outcome measures, and baseline characteristics of participants in the Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments as Active Food Systems (“COLEAFS”) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the effect of a garden intervention on outcomes related to diet and physical activity. Fifteen childcare centers in low-income areas were randomly assigned to intervention (to receive garden intervention in Year 1), waitlist control (to receive garden intervention in Year 2), and control group (no intervention). The garden intervention comprised six raised beds planted with warm-season vegetables and fruits, and a garden activity booklet presenting 12 gardening activities. FV knowledge and FV liking were measured using a tablet-enabled protocol. FV consumption was measured by weighing FV before and after a snack session. Physical activity was measured using Actigraph GT3x+ worn by children for three consecutive days while at the childcare center. Of the 543 eligible children from the 15 childcare centers, 250 children aged 3–5 years received parental consent, assented, and participated in baseline data collection. By employing an RCT to examine the effect of a garden intervention on diet and physical activity among young children attending childcare centers within low-income communities, this study offers compelling research design and methods, addresses a critical gap in the empirical literature, and is a step toward evidence-based regulations to promote early childhood healthy habits.
Information Preference and Information Supply Efficiency Evaluation before, during, and after an Earthquake: Evidence from Songyuan, China
Authors: Li Shasha , Peng Xinyu , Pang Ruiqiu , Li Li , Song Zixuan , Ye Hongying
Published: December 2021

Efficient risk communication is aimed at improving the supply of risk information to meet the information needs of individuals, thus reducing their vulnerability when facing the risk of emergency. There is little information available in the literature regarding information preference from an individual’s need perspective, and there is a lack of differentiation in evaluation between information need and supply. Under the guidance of the crisis stage analysis theory, using multiple response analysis and weighted analysis methods, this study explores earthquake disaster information content and communication channel preferences, and develops an information deviation index (IDI) to evaluate the efficiency of risk communication before, during, and after an earthquake. A questionnaire-based survey of 918 valid respondents in Songyuan, China, which had been hit by a small earthquake swarm, was conducted to provide practical evidence for this study. The results indicated the following. Firstly, the information needs of individuals are highly differentiated in the different stages of an earthquake. From pre-disaster to post-disaster, individuals show a shift in information need from “preparedness and response knowledge” to “disaster information”, then to “disaster information and disaster relief information” in parallel, to “reconstruction and reflection information”. Based on the above analysis, a composition of the main earthquake disaster information is proposed for different stages. Secondly, by measuring the values of the IDI, we found that most individuals’ information needs were met for the earthquake. Thirdly, the TV and the internet were the two preferred commutation channels for acquiring disaster information from among all the effective channels in all the stages.
Oral Assessment and Preventive Actions within the Swedish Quality Register Senior Alert: Impact on Frail Older Adults’ Oral Health in a Longitudinal Perspective
Authors: Bellander Lisa , Andersson Pia , Wijk Helle , Hägglin Catharina
Published: December 2021

Poor oral health is common among older people in nursing homes. To identify and prevent oral health problems among the residents, ROAG-J (Revised Oral Assessment Guide–Jönköping), a risk-assessment instrument, is used by nursing staff routinely, and the outcome is registered in the web-based Swedish quality register Senior Alert. This study aims to investigate the preventive actions registered when oral health problems are identified and the effect of these actions longitudinally. ROAG-J data registered at nursing homes in Sweden during 2011–2016 were obtained from the Senior Alert database. Out of 52,740 residents (≥65 years), 41% had oral health problems, of whom 62% had preventive actions registered. The most common action was “Assistance with cleaning teeth”. Longitudinally, during the five-year observation period, a slight increase in oral health problems assessed with ROAG-J was found. Registered preventive actions, however, led to significant improvement in the subsequent assessment for the ROAG items lips, tongue, and dentures. Standardised risk assessments like ROAG-J provide an opportunity to detect problems early and establish preventive actions. The study, however, indicates a further need for structured education and a continuous follow-up in ROAG-J. Moreover, increased collaboration between nursing and dental care to improve oral health for older residents at nursing homes is needed.
When and Why Demands Reveal Their Challenging Potential during Change
Authors: Blum Charlotte , Rigotti Thomas
Published: December 2021

This study contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of the demands that arise during organisational change. We investigated classic and change-specific demands in relation to emotional exhaustion and work engagement within the challenge–hindrance framework. We focused on workload and individual job impact and tested trust and autonomy as moderators. Data were collected via a cross-sectional online questionnaire. The convenience sample consisted of 388 employees experiencing organisational change at the time of responding. We conducted regression analyses to test for both direct and moderating effects. The results indicate that workload and individual job impact exhibit challenge and hindrance qualities. We also identified the significant moderating effects of trust and autonomy on individual job impact. This study integrates the challenge–hindrance framework into the job demands–resources model and offers a new perspective by applying this framework in the context of organisational change. We examined the specific roles of autonomy and trust regarding demands during change processes, and their potential in channelling challenging qualities is examined, offering new perspectives on the buffering of change demands.
Alcohol and Cigarette Use among Adolescents and Young Adults in Austria from 2004–2020: Patterns of Change and Associations with Socioeconomic Variables
Authors: Strizek Julian , Uhl Alfred , Schaub Michael , Malischnig Doris
Published: December 2021

Background: Adolescents and young adults are a crucial target group for preventing harm related to substance use. Recently, declining alcohol and tobacco consumption in young people has been observed in many countries. Based on survey data from 2004 to 2020, we describe time trends for several subgroups of adolescents and young adults (based on consumption levels and socioeconomic variables) and analyze associations between the level of alcohol per capita consumption or daily smoking and socioeconomic variables. Methods: Time trends for males and females are analyzed by a two-way ANOVA and predictors of use by using multivariate regression and logistic regression. Results: Alcohol per capita consumption decreased significantly for both sexes in the 16-year period, with male and female consumption levels converging. Daily smoking was equally prevalent for young males and females and decreased to a similar degree for both sexes. Being male and living in rural areas are associated with a higher level of alcohol consumption. Daily smoking is associated with a low level of education and is more prevalent among young adults who have already started to work. Conclusions: The decline in alcohol use and daily smoking among adolescents and young adults is taking place simultaneously. However, higher levels of alcohol consumption and daily smoking occur in different groups of adolescents and young adults, which should be considered in prevention strategies.
Improving the Environmental Footprint through Employees: A Case of Female Leaders from the Perspective of CSR
Authors: Wei Shilong , Sial Muhammad Safdar , Zhou Wenxia , Badulescu Alina , Badulescu Daniel
Published: December 2021

Environmental quality strongly depends on human behavior patterns. Many environmental challenges are rooted in human actions, and thus, it is believed that these problems can be reduced through the promotion of pro-environmental behaviors (PB). Owing to this reality, the current study aims to reduce the environmental footprint of a hospital by promoting its employees’ environment-specific behavior via corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical leadership (EL). More importantly, the study also considered the role of female leaders in the proposed relationship. The current study collected the data from the respondents employed in different hospitals of a developing economy through a questionnaire (paper-pencil method). A total of 489 valid responses were collected, which were analyzed by employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. As per the current study’s findings, there is a positive relationship between CSR, while EL mediates between CSR and PB. Likewise, the moderating role of female leaders in the proposed relationship was more significant than that of male leaders. More specifically, the study’s findings have considerable theoretical and practical implications, as it opens paths for researchers to further investigate the applicability of different dimensions of CSR and the role of gender in environmental sustainability. It provides insight to policymakers on how to restructure their CSR preferences, priorities on the environment, and gender differences.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Care and Health-Related Quality of Life of Non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic/Latina and Non-Hispanic White Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the U.S.: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol
Authors: Acquati Chiara , Chen Tzuan A. , Martinez Leal Isabel , Connors Shahnjayla K. , Haq Arooba A. , Rogova Anastasia , Ramirez Stephanie , Reitzel Lorraine R. , McNeill Lorna H.
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had critical consequences for cancer care delivery, including altered treatment protocols and delayed services that may affect patients’ quality of life and long-term survival. Breast cancer patients from minoritized racial and ethnic groups already experience worse outcomes, which may have been exacerbated by treatment delays and social determinants of health (SDoH). This protocol details a mixed-methods study aimed at comparing cancer care disruption among a diverse sample of women (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latina) and assessing how proximal, intermediate, and distal SDoH differentially contribute to care continuity and health-related quality of life. An embedded mixed-methods design will be implemented. Eligible participants will complete an online survey, followed by a semi-structured interview (with a subset of participants) to further understand factors that influence continuity of care, treatment decision-making, and self-reported engagement. The study will identify potentially modifiable factors to inform future models of care delivery and improve care transitions. These data will provide the necessary evidence to inform whether a subsequent, multilevel intervention is warranted to improve quality of care delivery in the COVID-19 aftermath. Additionally, results can be used to identify ways to leverage existing social resources to help manage and support patients’ outcomes.
Gender Differences in How Parents, Peers, and Exposure to Sexually Explicit Materials Influence the Intention to Engage in Casual Sex among Adolescents and Young Adults in Taiwan: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Tseng Ying-Hua , Hou Wen-Li , Kuo Shih-Hsien , Liu Yu-Hsiang , Wang Hui-Ling , Hsiao Ray C. , Chou Fan-Hao , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: December 2021

The aims of this study were to examine gender differences in how parent–child discussions on sex issues, peer interactions around sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials affect the intention to engage in casual sex among adolescents and young adults in Taiwan. This cross-sectional survey study recruited 767 participants (348 men and 419 women) aged 15–24 years. The survey collected data on participants’ intention to engage in casual sex, their attitude toward and perception of casual sex based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) (favorable attitude, perceiving positive social norms toward casual sex, and perceived control over involvement), parent–child and peer discussions about sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that parent–child discussions on sex issues, peer interactions around sexual issues, and exposure to sexually explicit materials were significantly associated with the intention to engage in casual sex. The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) further supported that favorable attitude, perceiving positive social norms toward casual sex, and control over involvement mediated the associations. For men, decreased favorable attitude mediated the negative association between parent–child discussions and casual sex intention; increased favorable attitudes and decreased control over involvement mediated the positive associations between peer interactions and casual sex intention. For women, decreased control over involvement mediated the positive association between exposure to sexually explicit materials and casual sex intention. The associations between peer interaction and subjective norms of acceptance, perceived control over involvement, and casual sex intention were stronger in men than in women; the association of favorable attitudes with casual sex intention was also stronger in men than in women.
The Prevalence and Correlates of Disability in Singapore: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Subramaniam Mythily , Koh Yen Sin , AshaRani P. V. , Devi Fiona , Shafie Saleha , Wang Peizhi , Abdin Edimansyah , Vaingankar Janhavi Ajit , Sum Chee Fang , Lee Eng Sing , Chong Siow Ann
Published: December 2021

Objective: The study aims to estimate the prevalence of disability and the association of disability with socio-demographic correlates and health outcomes among the Singapore population. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a representative sample of Singapore’s population. Using the Washington Group’s questionnaire, disability was defined using both the ‘standard’ (a lot of difficulty or higher in one or more domains) and the ‘wider’ threshold (of ‘some’ or greater difficulty). Data on socio-demographic correlates, self-reported lifestyle, physical activity, chronic conditions, and health-related quality of life were also collected. Results: The prevalence of any disability using the standard threshold was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.4–4.1). When separated by disability type, mobility (1.8%) was the most prevalent, followed by vision (0.8%), cognition (0.5%), hearing (0.3%), and self-care (0.2). In the adjusted regression analysis, lower education and unemployed and economically inactive status (versus employed) were significantly associated with disability. Conclusions: Although this prevalence is lower than other countries, it is a significant finding in terms of actual numbers and impact at both the individual and the societal levels. Our findings also highlight the need to strengthen health services and preventive interventions targeting older adults and those who are physically inactive to reduce the burden of disability in these groups.