bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue-Derived Adiponectin in Vascular Homeostasis
Authors: Sowka Adrian , Dobrzyn Pawel
Published: June 2021

Studies of adipose tissue biology have demonstrated that adipose tissue should be considered as both passive, energy-storing tissue and an endocrine organ because of the secretion of adipose-specific factors, called adipokines. Adiponectin is a well-described homeostatic adipokine with metabolic properties. It regulates whole-body energy status through the induction of fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake. Adiponectin also has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties, making it an interesting subject of biomedical studies. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a fat depot that is conterminous to the vascular wall and acts on it in a paracrine manner through adipokine secretion. PVAT-derived adiponectin can act on the vascular wall through endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. The present review describes adiponectin’s structure, receptors, and main signaling pathways. We further discuss recent studies of the extent and nature of crosstalk between PVAT-derived adiponectin and endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, we argue whether adiponectin and its receptors may be considered putative therapeutic targets.
Therapy Development by Genome Editing of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Koniali Lola , Lederer Carsten W. , Kleanthous Marina
Published: June 2021

Accessibility of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for the manipulation and repopulation of the blood and immune systems has placed them at the forefront of cell and gene therapy development. Recent advances in genome-editing tools, in particular for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) and CRISPR/Cas-derived editing systems, have transformed the gene therapy landscape. Their versatility and the ability to edit genomic sequences and facilitate gene disruption, correction or insertion, have broadened the spectrum of potential gene therapy targets and accelerated the development of potential curative therapies for many rare diseases treatable by transplantation or modification of HSCs. Ongoing developments seek to address efficiency and precision of HSC modification, tolerability of treatment and the distribution and affordability of corresponding therapies. Here, we give an overview of recent progress in the field of HSC genome editing as treatment for inherited disorders and summarize the most significant findings from corresponding preclinical and clinical studies. With emphasis on HSC-based therapies, we also discuss technical hurdles that need to be overcome en route to clinical translation of genome editing and indicate advances that may facilitate routine application beyond the most common disorders.
Extracellular Vesicles and Their miRNA Content in Amniotic and Tracheal Fluids of Fetuses with Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Undergoing Fetal Intervention
Authors: Fabietti Isabella , Nardi Tiago , Favero Chiara , Dioni Laura , Cantone Laura , Pergoli Laura , Hoxha Mirjam , Pinatel Eva , Mosca Fabio , Bollati Valentina , Persico Nicola
Published: June 2021

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are at high risk of postnatal mortality due to lung hypoplasia and arterial pulmonary hypertension. In severe cases, prenatal intervention by fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) can improve survival by accelerating lung growth. However, postnatal mortality remains in the range of about 50% despite fetal treatment, and there is currently no clear explanation for this different clinical response to FETO. We evaluated the concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and associated microRNA expression in amniotic and tracheal fluids of fetuses with CDH undergoing FETO, and we examined the association between molecular findings and postnatal survival. We observed a higher count of EVs in the amniotic fluid of non-survivors and in the tracheal fluid sampled in utero at the time of reversal of tracheal occlusion, suggesting a pro-inflammatory lung reactivity that is already established in utero and that could be associated with a worse postnatal clinical course. In addition, we observed differential regulation of four EV-enclosed miRNAs (miR-379-5p, miR-889-3p; miR-223-3p; miR-503-5p) in relation to postnatal survival, with target genes possibly involved in altered lung development. Future research should investigate molecular therapeutic agents targeting differentially regulated miRNAs to normalize their expression and potentially improve clinical outcomes.
MAGI1, a Scaffold Protein with Tumor Suppressive and Vascular Functions
Authors: Wörthmüller Janine , Rüegg Curzio
Published: June 2021

MAGI1 is a cytoplasmic scaffolding protein initially identified as a component of cell-to-cell contacts stabilizing cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion in epithelial and endothelial cells. Clinical-pathological and experimental evidence indicates that MAGI1 expression is decreased in some inflammatory diseases, and also in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal, cervical, breast, brain, and gastric cancers and appears to act as a tumor suppressor, modulating the activity of oncogenic pathways such as the PI3K/AKT and the Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Genomic mutations and other mechanisms such as mechanical stress or inflammation have been described to regulate MAGI1 expression. Intriguingly, in breast and colorectal cancers, MAGI1 expression is induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), suggesting a role in mediating the tumor suppressive activity of NSAIDs. More recently, MAGI1 was found to localize at mature focal adhesion and to regulate integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we review MAGI1′s role as scaffolding protein, recent developments in the understanding of MAGI1 function as tumor suppressor gene, its role in endothelial cells and its implication in cancer and vascular biology. We also discuss outstanding questions about its regulation and potential translational implications in oncology.
Colesevelam Reduces Ethanol-Induced Liver Steatosis in Humanized Gnotobiotic Mice
Authors: Cabré Noemí , Duan Yi , Llorente Cristina , Conrad Mary , Stern Patrick , Yamashita Dennis , Schnabl Bernd
Published: June 2021

Alcohol-related liver disease is associated with intestinal dysbiosis. Functional changes in the microbiota affect bile acid metabolism and result in elevated serum bile acids in patients with alcohol-related liver disease. The aim of this study was to identify the potential role of the bile acid sequestrant colesevelam in a humanized mouse model of ethanol-induced liver disease. We colonized germ-free (GF) C57BL/6 mice with feces from patients with alcoholic hepatitis and subjected humanized mice to the chronic–binge ethanol feeding model. Ethanol-fed gnotobiotic mice treated with colesevelam showed reduced hepatic levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, but liver injury and inflammation were not decreased as compared with non-treated mice. Colesevelam reduced hepatic cytochrome P450, family 7, subfamily a, polypeptide 1 (Cyp7a1) protein expression, although serum bile acids were not lowered. In conclusion, our findings indicate that colesevelam treatment mitigates ethanol-induced liver steatosis in mice.
Plasma Enhanced-Chemical Vapor Deposition of 2-Isopropenyl-2-Oxazoline to Promote the Adhesion between a Polyethylene Terephthalate Monofilament and the Rubber in a Tire
Authors: Gaifami Carlo Maria , Zanini Stefano , Zoia Luca , Riccardi Claudia
Published: June 2021

A Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition was chosen in order to deposit an organic thin film on polyethylene terephthalate monofilament to increase its adhesion with the rubber compound in a tire. The aim of the work is to find an alternative “green” method to the classical chemical dipping with Resorcinol Formaldehyde Latex: plasma treatments are environmentally friendly and easy to use. 2-isoprepenyl-2-oxazoline (2-iox) was employed as precursor and the treatments were performed in a vacuum system, both in a continuous regime and a pulsed regime. Initially, the coatings were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate sheets to study the wettability (by the measurement of contact angle) and the thickness (by profilometer) of the plasma polymer. The chemical characterization was investigated by Infrared and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopies. Finally, the adhesion of the polyethylene terephthalate sheets was measured by Peel Test, using the coating as adhesive and as a pre-dip. The measurement of the peel force made it possible to optimize the plasma parameters that were applied on the monofilament. The adhesion was estimated by the measure of the extraction force and the evaluation of the coverage compared with those of the classical chemical treatment Resorcinol Formaldehyde Latex.
The Evolution of Intumescent Char in Flame-Retardant Coatings Based on Amino Resin
Authors: Song Wei , Wu Muting , He Yanrong , Wu Yuzhang , Qu Wei
Published: June 2021

Intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) coatings have been gaining more attention. The behaviors of intumescent char in IFR coatings play the most important role in its flame-retardant properties. However, the evolution of intumescent char throughout the whole process of protection is still unclear. In this study, both the formation and shrinkage of char were studied. The formulation of IFR includes melamine modified urea-formaldehyde resin (MUF), ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and pentaerythritol (PER). The flame-retardant properties of the coating were measured by the cone calorimeter (CONE). The evolution of the volume and the pore size distribution of char were monitored. The morphological and chemical structures were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the evolution of intumescent char could be divided into three stages. More than 50% shrinkage of char occurs in the second stage. There are obvious transformations of the morphological and chemical structures of char between the different stages.
On the Effect of Standing and Seated Viewing of 360° Videos on Subjective Quality Assessment: A Pilot Study
Authors: Hu Yan , Elwardy Majed , Zepernick Hans-Jürgen
Published: June 2021

Due to the advances in head-mounted displays (HMDs), hardware and software technologies, and mobile connectivity, virtual reality (VR) applications such as viewing 360° videos on HMDs have seen an increased interest in a wide range of consumer and vertical markets. Quality assessment of digital media systems and services related to immersive visual stimuli has been one of the challenging problems of multimedia signal processing. Specifically, subjective quality assessment of 360° videos presented on HMDs is needed to obtain a ground truth on the visual quality as perceived by humans. Standardized test methodologies to assess the subjective quality of 360° videos on HMDs are currently not as developed as for conventional videos and are subject to further study. In addition, subjective tests related to quality assessment of 360° videos are commonly conducted with participants seated on a chair but neglect other options of consumption such as standing viewing. In this paper, we compare the effect that standing and seated viewing of 360° videos on an HMD has on subjective quality assessment. A pilot study was conducted to obtain psychophysical and psychophysiological data that covers explicit and implicit responses of the participants to the shown 360° video stimuli with different quality levels. The statistical analysis of the data gathered in the pilot study is reported in terms of average rating times, mean opinion scores, standard deviation of opinion scores, head movements, pupil diameter, galvanic skin response (GSR), and simulator sickness scores. The results indicate that the average rating times consumed for 360° video quality assessment are similar for standing and seated viewing. Further, the participants showed higher resolving power among different 360° video quality levels and were more confident about the given opinion scores for seated viewing. On the other hand, a larger scene exploration of 360° videos was observed for standing viewing which appears to distract from the quality assessment task. A slightly higher pupil dilation was recorded for standing viewing which suggests a slightly more immersed experience compared to seated viewing. GSR data indicate a lower degree of emotional arousal in seated viewing which seems to allow the participants to better conduct the quality assessment task. Similarly, simulator sickness symptoms are kept significantly lower when seated. The pilot study also contributes to a holistic view of subjective quality assessment and provides indicative ground truth that can guide the design of large-scale subjective tests.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Mobile-Linked Point-of-Care Diagnostics in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Osei Ernest , Nkambule Sphamandla Josias , Vezi Portia Nelisiwe , Mashamba-Thompson Tivani P.
Published: June 2021

Mobile health devices are emerging applications that could help deliver point-of-care (POC) diagnosis, particularly in settings with limited laboratory infrastructure, such as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The advent of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in an increased deployment and use of mHealth-linked POC diagnostics in SSA. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the accuracy of mobile-linked point-of-care diagnostics in SSA. Our systematic review and meta-analysis were guided by the Preferred Reporting Items requirements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. We exhaustively searched PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and CINAHL with full text via EBSCOhost databases, from mHealth inception to March 2021. The statistical analyses were conducted using OpenMeta-Analyst software. All 11 included studies were considered for the meta-analysis. The included studies focused on malaria infections, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, soil-transmitted helminths, and Trichuris trichiura. The pooled summary of sensitivity and specificity estimates were moderate compared to those of the reference representing the gold standard. The overall pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio of mobile-linked POC diagnostic devices were as follows: 0.499 (95% CI: 0.458–0.541), 0.535 (95% CI: 0.401–0.663), 0.952 (95% CI: 0.60–1.324), 1.381 (95% CI: 0.391–4.879), and 0.944 (95% CI: 0.579–1.538), respectively. Evidence shows that the diagnostic accuracy of mobile-linked POC diagnostics in detecting infections in SSA is presently moderate. Future research is recommended to evaluate mHealth devices’ diagnostic potential using devices with excellent sensitivities and specificities for diagnosing diseases in this setting.
Self-Supervised Variational Auto-Encoders
Authors: Gatopoulos Ioannis , Tomczak Jakub M.
Published: June 2021

Density estimation, compression, and data generation are crucial tasks in artificial intelligence. Variational Auto-Encoders (VAEs) constitute a single framework to achieve these goals. Here, we present a novel class of generative models, called self-supervised Variational Auto-Encoder (selfVAE), which utilizes deterministic and discrete transformations of data. This class of models allows both conditional and unconditional sampling while simplifying the objective function. First, we use a single self-supervised transformation as a latent variable, where the transformation is either downscaling or edge detection. Next, we consider a hierarchical architecture, i.e., multiple transformations, and we show its benefits compared to the VAE. The flexibility of selfVAE in data reconstruction finds a particularly interesting use case in data compression tasks, where we can trade-off memory for better data quality and vice-versa. We present the performance of our approach on three benchmark image data (Cifar10, Imagenette64, and CelebA).
The Effect of EMI Generated from Spread-Spectrum-Modulated SiC-Based Buck Converter on the G3-PLC Channel
Authors: Sayed Waseem El , Lezynski Piotr , Smolenski Robert , Moonen Niek , Crovetti Paolo , Thomas Dave W. P.
Published: June 2021

Power line communication (PLC) is increasingly emerging as an important communication technology for the smart-grid environment. As PLC systems use the existing infrastructure, they are always exposed to conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) from switching mode power converters, which need to be tightly controlled to meet EMC regulations and to ensure the proper operation of the PLC system. For this purpose, spread-spectrum modulation (SSM) techniques are widely adopted to decrease the amplitude of the generated EMI from the power converters so as to comply with EMC regulations. In this paper, the influence of a spread-spectrum-modulated SiC-based buck converter on the G3-PLC channel performance is described in terms of channel capacity reduction using the Shannon–Hartley equation. The experimental setup was implemented to emulate a specific coupling path between the power and communication circuits and the channel capacity reduction was evaluated by the Shannon–Hartley equation in several operating scenarios and compared with the measured frame error rate. Based on the obtained results, SSM provides the EMI spectral peak amplitude reduction required to pass the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests, but results in increased EMI-induced channel capacity degradation and increased transmission error rate in PLC systems.
Industrial Robots Fuel Cell Based Hybrid Power-Trains: A Comparison between Different Configurations
Authors: Ramos Germán Andrés , Montobbio de Pérez-Cabrero Tomàs , Domènech-Mestres Carles , Costa-Castelló Ramon
Published: June 2021

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular. One of the most promising possible solutions is one where a hybrid powertrain made up of a FC (Fuel Cell) and a battery is used. This type of vehicle offers great autonomy and high recharging speed, which makes them ideal for many industrial applications. In this work, three ways to build a hybrid power-train are presented and compared. To illustrate this, the case of an industrial robot designed to move loads within a fully automated factory is used. The analysis and comparison are carried out through different objective criteria that indicate the power-train performance in different battery charge levels. The hybrid configurations are tested using real power profiles of the industrial robot. Finally, simulation results show the performance of each hybrid configuration in terms of hydrogen consumption, battery and FC degradation, and dc bus voltage and current regulation.
Design of a Modular Battery Management System for Electric Motorcycle
Authors: Chen Hung-Cheng , Li Shin-Shiuan , Wu Shing-Lih , Lee Chung-Yu
Published: June 2021

This paper proposes a modular battery management system for an electric motorcycle. The system not only can accurately measure battery voltage, charging current, discharging current, and temperature but also can transmit the data to the mixed-signal processor for battery module monitoring. Moreover, the system can control the battery balancing circuit and battery protection switch to protect the battery module charging and discharging process safety. The modular battery management system is mainly composed of a mixed-signal processor, voltage measurement, current measurement, temperature measurement, battery balancing, and protection switch module. The testing results show that the errors between the voltage value measured by the voltage measurement module and the actual value are less than 0.5%, about 1% under the conditions of different charging and discharging currents of 9 A and 18 A for the current measuring module, less than 1% for the temperature measurement module; and the battery balancing in the battery management system during the charging process. When the module is charged at 4.5 A for about 805 s, each cell of the battery has reached the balancing state. Finally, the testing results validate that the modular battery management system proposed in this paper can effectively manage the battery balancing of each cell in the battery module, battery module overcharge, over-discharge, temperature protection, and control.
Influence of Forest Management and Sylvicultural Treatments on Abundance of Snags and Tree Cavities in Mountain Mixed Beech Forests
Authors: Tavankar Farzam , Latterini Francesco , Nikooy Mehrdad , Venanzi Rachele , Naghdi Ramin , Picchio Rodolfo
Published: June 2021

In this study the influence of forest management on the characteristics of snags and tree cavities in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran was investigated. In particular, the effect of two sylvicultural treatments (shelter wood and single-tree selection) was assessed in comparison to protected stands. The abundance, diameter, height, and degree of decay of snag species, and the characteristics of birds excavated and natural cavities (number and height from the ground level) were measured by systematic plots in each stand. The results showed that the abundance, species diversity, and size of snags in both of the sylvicultural treatments were significantly lower than the protected stands. The number of birds excavated and natural cavities on thicker snags with moderate decay was significantly higher than other decay classes. Abundance, species diversity, size of snags, and number of tree cavities in the single-tree selection stands were significantly higher than sheltered-wood stands.
Current Progress in the Utilization of Soy-Based Emulsifiers in Food Applications—A Review
Authors: Deng Lingli
Published: June 2021

Soy-based emulsifiers are currently extensively studied and applied in the food industry. They are employed for food emulsion stabilization due to their ability to absorb at the oil–water interface. In this review, the emulsifying properties and the destabilization mechanisms of food emulsions were briefly introduced. Herein, the effect of the modification process on the emulsifying characteristics of soy protein and the formation of soy protein–polysaccharides for improved stability of emulsions were discussed. Furthermore, the relationship between the structural and emulsifying properties of soy polysaccharides and soy lecithin and their combined effect on the protein stabilized emulsion were reviewed. Due to the unique emulsifying properties, soy-based emulsifiers have found several applications in bioactive and nutrient delivery, fat replacer, and plant-based creamer in the food industry. Finally, the future trends of the research on soy-based emulsifiers were proposed.
Bioactive Lipids of Seaweeds from the Portuguese North Coast: Health Benefits versus Potential Contamination
Authors: Soares Cristina , Sousa Sara , Machado Susana , Vieira Elsa , Carvalho Ana P. , Ramalhosa Maria João , Morais Simone , Correia Manuela , Oliva-Teles Teresa , Domingues Valentina F. , Delerue-Matos Cristina
Published: June 2021

The total lipid content and lipidic profile of seaweeds harvested in the North Coast and purchased in Portugal were determined in this paper. The amount of total lipids in the different species of seaweeds varied between 0.7 ± 0.1% (Chondrus crispus) and 3.8 ± 0.6% (Ulva spp.). Regarding the fatty acid content, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ranged between 0–35%, with Ulva spp. presenting the highest amount; monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) varied between 19 and 67%; and saturated fatty acids (SFA) were predominant in C. crispus (45–78%) and Gracilaria spp. (36–79%). Concerning the nutritional indices, the atherogenicity index (AI) was between 0.4–3.2, the thrombogenicity index (TI) ranged from 0.04 to 1.95, except for Gracilaria spp., which had a TI of 7.6, and the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH) values ranged between 0.88–4.21, except for Gracilaria spp., which exhibited values between 0.22–9.26. The n6/n3 ratio was below 1 for most of the species evaluated, except for Ascophyllum nodosum, which presented a higher value, although below 2. Considering the PUFA/SFA ratio, seaweeds presented values between 0.11–1.02. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) contamination of seaweeds under study was also quantified, the values found being much lower than the maximum levels recommended for foodstuff.
Eco-Inefficiency Formula: A Method to Verify the Cost of the Economic, Environmental, and Social Impact of Waste in Food Services
Authors: Lins Maísa , Zandonadi Renata Puppin , Strasburg Virgílio José , Nakano Eduardo Yoshio , Botelho Raquel Braz Assunção , Raposo António , Ginani Veronica Cortez
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to develop an Eco-Inefficiency (Ely) formula to verify the cost of the economic, environmental, and social impact of waste, applicable to food services (FS). Six stages were performed: identification of the terms that characterize food waste; definition of constructs influenced by food waste; identification of the variables that make up each construct; indicators capable of measuring the impact generated by food waste; definition of the mathematical formula; and EIy pilot test. The formula was based on eco-efficiency but focused on food waste. The constructs were translated into three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. Researchers created a score for the dimensions and the entire evaluation, based on a literature review. Water footprint, cleaning material, food production waste, the amount of rest-intake, and the amount of distribution leftover were evaluated on the environmental impact. The economic dimension variables were energy consumption to produce the wasted food, cost of raw material used in wasted food, and food handlers’ wages for the economic impact measurement. The social impact variables were: energy density (ED), rest-intake (kcal/g), distribution of leftover ED (kcal/g), use of organic food, and food surpluses’ donation. With an EIy application in each item, we have the item’s score in each dimension. The higher value of an item, the higher is its influence on the dimension, allowing us to identify those with the most significant impact in the restaurant. The Environmental dimension presented the most significant problems in the assessed scenario. The eco-inefficiency formula identifies food waste’s main critical points, allowing us to trace strategies to reduce food waste.
A Deep-Learning Sequence-Based Method to Predict Protein Stability Changes Upon Genetic Variations
Authors: Pancotti Corrado , Benevenuta Silvia , Repetto Valeria , Birolo Giovanni , Capriotti Emidio , Sanavia Tiziana , Fariselli Piero
Published: June 2021

Several studies have linked disruptions of protein stability and its normal functions to disease. Therefore, during the last few decades, many tools have been developed to predict the free energy changes upon protein residue variations. Most of these methods require both sequence and structure information to obtain reliable predictions. However, the lower number of protein structures available with respect to their sequences, due to experimental issues, drastically limits the application of these tools. In addition, current methodologies ignore the antisymmetric property characterizing the thermodynamics of the protein stability: a variation from wild-type to a mutated form of the protein structure (XW→XM) and its reverse process (XM→XW) must have opposite values of the free energy difference (ΔΔGWM=−ΔΔGMW). Here we propose ACDC-NN-Seq, a deep neural network system that exploits the sequence information and is able to incorporate into its architecture the antisymmetry property. To our knowledge, this is the first convolutional neural network to predict protein stability changes relying solely on the protein sequence. We show that ACDC-NN-Seq compares favorably with the existing sequence-based methods.
Pregnancy Outcomes among Women with Intermittent Asthma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chaiprom Phuttipol , Sekararithi Ratanaporn , Tongsong Theera , Traisrisilp Kuntharee
Published: June 2021

Background: It is already known that asthma strongly increases risks of poor pregnancy outcomes. We wonder whether intermittent asthma, the least severe form but accounting for the majority of cases, increases such adverse outcomes or not. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies with intermittent asthma and low-risk pregnancies (controls). Methods: The full medical records of pregnancies with intermittent asthma were comprehensively reviewed and low-risk pregnancies were randomly recruited as controls with a ratio of 10:1. The obstetric outcomes were compared between both groups, and the outcomes in the active subgroup of intermittent asthma (defined as at least one asthmatic attack during pregnancy) were also compared with the controls. Results: Of 364 study cases and 3640 controls, the rates of poor outcomes (preterm birth, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction etc.) were not significantly different. However, cases with active disease slightly, but significantly, increased the risk of low birth weight. Moreover, mean gestational age was significantly lower in the study group. Conclusions: A new insight gained from this study is that intermittent asthma is not associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, but cases with asthmatic attack during pregnancy tended to increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. This information is important for counseling and the planning of antepartum management.
Perceptions and Patterns of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use among Hispanics: A Heterogeneity Analysis of the 2017–2019 Health Information National Trends Survey
Authors: Cardona Stephanie , Calixte Rose , Rivera Argelis , Islam Jessica Yasmine , Vidot Denise Christina , Camacho-Rivera Marlene
Published: June 2021

There are documented disparities in smoking behaviors among Hispanic adults in the U.S., but little is known about patterns of e-cigarette use. Using data from the HINTS 5 cycle 1–3, we examined cigarette and e-cigarette history and current use, as well as perceptions of the dangers of e-cigarette use relative to cigarette use. Primary predictors were Hispanic ethnic group, gender, age, education, income, and English language proficiency. Binary outcomes were modeled using the logit link, and multinomial outcome variables were modeled using generalized logit model. Fifty-three percent of participants were Mexican, 8% Puerto Rican, 4% were Cuban, and 35% identified as other Hispanics. Of the 1618 respondents, 23% were former cigarette smokers and 10% were current cigarette smokers. Twenty percent reported history of electronic cigarettes and 4% reported current use. In multivariable models, Hispanic women were significantly less likely to report ever being smokers compared to Hispanic men (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.88). Puerto Ricans were 2.4 times as likely to report being current smokers (95% CI = 1.11, 5.11) compared to Mexicans. Among Hispanics, significant differences in e-cigarette and cigarette use behaviors emerged by gender, age, ethnicity, and cancer history, with implications for tailoring smoking prevention and cessation messages.
Religiosity, Emotions, Resilience, and Wellness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Taiwanese University Students
Authors: Edara Inna Reddy , del Castillo Fides , Ching Gregory Siy , del Castillo Clarence Darro
Published: June 2021

One hard fact of COVID-19 is the uncertainty of all things. Anchoring on the assumption that the religiosity of an individual has a profound impact on their emotions, resilience, and wellness, this study investigated the levels of the centrality of religiosity, emotions towards God, resilience, and wellness among 399 Taiwanese university students. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, group comparisons, multiple regression, and mediation analysis. Findings showed that most of the participants were religious. Furthermore, the 16 emotions towards God were successfully factored into three distinct sub-groups, namely: pleasant, unpleasant, and moral valence, which were later found to be quite related to Asian religions. More importantly, the results suggested that the resiliency of an individual can be attributed to their belief in the existence of God or the Divine, while the wellness indicators of security and satisfaction were related to one’s religiosity. Lastly, structural equation modeling showed that resilience fully mediated the relationship between the ideology dimension of religiosity and the security and satisfaction component of wellness. In addition to discussing these significant results, this paper also included some implications of the study results, particularly the importance of religiosity and emotions toward God or the Divine in sustaining resilience and promoting wellness, especially in the context of crisis, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The Longitudinal Link between Organizational Citizenship Behaviors and Three Different Models of Happiness
Authors: Unanue Wenceslao , Barros Eduardo , Gómez Marcos
Published: June 2021

A growing body of research conducted in general life settings has found positive associations between happiness and prosocial behavior. Unfortunately, equivalent studies in the workplace are lacking. Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), the prosocial behaviors at work, have not been properly studied in relation to happiness, despite the positive consequences of both constructs for workers and companies. In response, our research aims to better understand this relationship from several angles. First, using a three-wave longitudinal design, we explored how OCBs and happiness are related to each other over time. Second, happiness was measured from a broad perspective, and three conceptualizations were adopted: the hedonic (e.g., positive affect and life satisfaction), the eudaimonic (e.g., relatedness and autonomy), and the flourishing (e.g., meaning and engagement) approaches. Thus, not only the prospective link between OCBs and happiness was tested, but it was also explored using the three models of happiness previously mentioned. Third, we conducted this longitudinal design in a less typical sample than previous research (i.e., Chile). We found results that supported our main hypotheses: (1) OCBs are prospective positive predictors of hedonic happiness, eudaimonic happiness, and flourishing; (2) the three models of happiness also prospectively predict OCBs. Our findings suggest that OCBs foster a broad range of happiness facets, which in turn fosters back the emergence of more OCBs, leading to a virtuous circle of prosociality and well-being in the workplace. This positive spiral benefits not only workers’ quality of life, but also organizations’ profitability and sustainability. Theoretical and applied implications for the field of Positive Organizational Psychology are discussed.
Metal Ion Release from Engineered Stone Dust in Artificial Lysosomal Fluid—Variation with Time and Stone Type
Authors: Maharjan Preeti , Crea Joseph , Tkaczuk Michael , Gaskin Sharyn , Pisaniello Dino
Published: June 2021

Inhalational exposure to dust from engineered stone (ES), also known as artificial or composite stone, is associated with a specific disease profile, namely accelerated silicosis, and scleroderma. The pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood, particularly the role of resin and metal ions. Metal ions are present in pigments and constituent minerals and may be considered potential contributors to toxicity. The aim of this preliminary study was to understand the solubility of ES-containing metals in artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) simulating the acidic intracellular environment of the lung macrophage lysosome. Differences with respect to ES types and temporal release were explored. Ten ES products of variable colour and company origin were comminuted and assessed for four different metals, solubilized into ALF solutions at 1,2,4 and 8 weeks at 37 °C. There was significant variability in metal release, particularly with regard to iron and manganese, which could be correlated with the reflected brightness of the stone. A majority of the available Mn, Fe, Al and Ti was solubilized. Time trends for metal release varied with ES type but also with metal ion. The data suggest a high metal ion bioavailability once engulfed by lung macrophages. There is a need to investigate a wider range of ES dust and relate metal content to markers of ES toxicity.
Urban and Rural Population and Development Research on Medical Coordination: In View of Dalian 2008–2017 Official Statistics
Authors: Qiu Yukun , Lu Wei , Guo Jianke , Sun Caizhi , Jia Peng
Published: June 2021

Providing universal quality health services is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to achieve by 2030. We evaluated the sustainable and coordinated development of urban and rural medical care from 2008–2017 in Dalian, China, by developing an evaluation system based on population and health services. We used a comprehensive development index model and a coupling coordination model to evaluate the status and sustainable development of population and medical services in Dalian. The overall level of population development index in urban areas was significantly lower than in rural areas in the past decade. Comparing the data for 2008 and 2017, Zhongshan District (−31.51%), Ganjingzi District (−25.67%), Lyshunkou District (−35.45%), and Pulandian District (−19.59%) posted significant declines in the population development index. The overall medical service development index for both urban and rural areas registered a steady upward trend. In terms of the relationship between population and medical services, a more pronounced coupling running-in stage was observed among urban areas than among rural areas. Among urban areas, the coupling running-in stage in Zhongshan District (2013–2016) and Shahekou District (2011–2014) was most pronounced, while among rural areas, Jinzhou District (2012–2016, 0.684~0.756) had the most distinct coupling running-in stage. In terms of coordination development, we found that both urban and rural areas experienced a long period of moderate coordination stage. Among urban areas, except for some middle and mountainous districts with unstable changes in the coordination degree, the overall development trend in the region showed a stable transition from moderate coordination stage towards high coordination stage. From 2008 to 2017, only the coordination degree in Jinzhou District (−9.17%) showed negative growth. Although considerable efforts have been initiated to improve the coordinated development of Dalian’s urban and rural populations and its medical services, the medical and healthcare systems still face numerous challenges.
Breast Cancer Care Quality Indicators in Spain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Maes-Carballo Marta , Gómez-Fandiño Yolanda , Estrada-López Carlos Roberto , Reinoso-Hermida Ayla , Khan Khalid Saeed , Martín-Díaz Manuel , Bueno-Cavanillas Aurora
Published: June 2021

Breast cancer (BC) management care requires an increment in quality. An initiative to improve the BC quality care is registered, and quality indicators (QIs) are studied. We appraised the appearance of QIs and their standards systematically in Spain. A prospective systematic search (Prospero no: CRD42021228867) for clinical pathways and integrated breast cancer care processes was conducted through databases and the World Wide Web in February 2021. Duplicate data extraction was performed with 98% reviewer agreement. Seventy-four QIs (QI per document mean: 11; standard deviation: 10.59) were found in 15 documents. The Catalonian document had the highest number of QIs (n = 30). No QI appeared in all the documents. There were 9/74 QIs covering structure (12.16%), 53/74 covering process (71.62%), and 12/74 covering outcome (16.22%). A total of 22/66 (33.33%) process and outcome QIs did not set a minimum standard of care. QIs related to primary care, patient satisfaction, and shared decision making were deficient. Most of the documents established a BC QI standard for compliance, but the high variability hinders the comparison of outcomes. Establishing a consensus-based set of QIs needs urgent attention.
Physical Activity during COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zaccagni Luciana , Toselli Stefania , Barbieri Davide
Published: June 2021

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a general lockdown in Italy, one of the most affected countries at the beginning of the outbreak, between 9 March and 3 May 2020. As a consequence, Italian citizens were confined at home for almost two months, an unprecedented situation, which could have negative effects on both psychological and physical health. The aim of this study was to review the published papers concerning the effects of the lockdown on physical activity and the consequences on general health. As expected, most studies highlighted a significant reduction in the amount of performed physical activity compared to before lockdown, in both the general population and in individuals with chronic conditions. This fact had negative consequences on both general health, in terms of increased body mass, and on specific chronic conditions, especially obesity and neurological diseases.
The Influence of Teachers’ Self-Efficacy and School Leaders’ Transformational Leadership Practices on Teachers’ Innovative Behaviour
Authors: Zainal Mohammed Afandi , Mohd Matore Mohd Effendi Ewan
Published: June 2021

Background: The current rapid development demands educators to possess innovative behaviour. Presently, in the environment of rapid technological growth and borderless global communication, teachers with innovative behaviour are capable of facing each painful challenge that confronts the education system; therefore, it is essential to understand the factors influencing the innovative behaviour of teachers. Purpose: To identify the influence of teachers’ self-efficacy and school administrators’ transformational leadership practices on teachers’ innovative behaviour. Method: A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 1415 teachers from four states in Malaysia, and the data were statistically analysed using SPSS® version 26.0 for Windows™ (IBM Corporation, New York, NY, USA). Result: Multiple Regression Analysis found that teachers’ self-efficacy and school administrators’ transformational leadership practices both had a significant influence on teachers’ innovative behaviour by contributing 47.0% of the variance in teachers’ innovative behaviour. Conclusion: The findings suggested that teachers’ self-efficacy and school administrators’ transformational leadership practices both play a role in influencing teachers’ innovative behaviour. Therefore, the stakeholders need to consider the aspects of self-efficacy and transformational leadership practices of school administrators in drafting policies and related programmes to improve teachers’ innovative behaviour.
Comprehensive Analysis of Risk Factors for Periodontitis Focusing on the Saliva Microbiome and Polymorphism
Authors: Toyama Naoki , Ekuni Daisuke , Matsui Daisuke , Koyama Teruhide , Nakatochi Masahiro , Momozawa Yukihide , Kubo Michiaki , Morita Manabu
Published: June 2021

Few studies have exhaustively assessed relationships among polymorphisms, the microbiome, and periodontitis. The objective of the present study was to assess associations simultaneously among polymorphisms, the microbiome, and periodontitis. We used propensity score matching with a 1:1 ratio to select subjects, and then 22 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation, 60.7 ± 9.9 years) were analyzed. After saliva collection, V3-4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced to investigate microbiome composition, alpha diversity (Shannon index, Simpson index, Chao1, and abundance-based coverage estimator) and beta diversity using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on weighted and unweighted UniFrac distances. A total of 51 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to periodontitis were identified. The frequencies of SNPs were collected from Genome-Wide Association Study data. The PCoA of unweighted UniFrac distance showed a significant difference between periodontitis and control groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in alpha diversity and PCoA of weighted UniFrac distance (p > 0.05). Two families (Lactobacillaceae and Desulfobulbaceae) and one species (Porphyromonas gingivalis) were observed only in the periodontitis group. No SNPs showed significant expression. These results suggest that periodontitis was related to the presence of P. gingivalis and the families Lactobacillaceae and Desulfobulbaceae but not SNPs.
Role of Chest Imaging in Viral Lung Diseases
Authors: Cozzi Diletta , Bicci Eleonora , Bindi Alessandra , Cavigli Edoardo , Danti Ginevra , Galluzzo Michele , Granata Vincenza , Pradella Silvia , Trinci Margherita , Miele Vittorio
Published: June 2021

The infection caused by novel beta-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. However, in the last 20 years, this has not been the only viral infection to cause respiratory tract infections leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, referring in particular to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), influenza H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Although in this pandemic period SARS-CoV-2 infection should be the first diagnosis to exclude, many other viruses can cause pulmonary manifestations and have to be recognized. Through the description of the main radiological patterns, radiologists can suggest the diagnosis of viral pneumonia, also combining information from clinical and laboratory data.
Dietary Intake and Supplement Use Among Saudi Residents during COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Alfawaz Hanan A. , Khan Nasiruddin , Aljumah Ghadah A. , Hussain Syed D. , Al-Daghri Nasser M.
Published: June 2021

Healthy diet and supplement use may prove as sustainable strategies to lower COVID-19 infection. Our study investigated the dietary changes before and during lockdown and observed dietary supplements (DS) use among residents in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study collected data via an online electronic survey questionnaire among males (N = 921) and females (N = 1044) residing in Saudi Arabia, 15 years of age and above. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of males (before vs. during lockdown) having improved changes in dietary habit (68.6% vs. 65.8%; p = 0.004), which was similar in female participants (69 vs. 73.4% vs. 69%; p < 0.001). The frequency of multivitamin users among COVID-19 participants was significantly lower than non-users (44.4 vs. 55.6; p < 0.003). Male respondents within 26–35 years of age were more likely to use multivitamin supplements than females (30.1 vs. 22.6%; p < 0.05) of same age group. Predictors for DS use were increased age group, income, education level and COVID-19 status. In conclusion, an increase in unhealthy diet behavior was observed among Saudi males and females during the pandemic lockdown and the predictors of DS use included increased age, income, education level and COVID-19 status.