bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Protective Effect of Dexmedetomidine Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury after Hepatectomy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Huang Ya-Qun , Wen Rui-Ting , Li Xiao-Tong , Zhang Jiao , Yu Zhi-Ying , Feng Yu-Fei
Published: October 2021

Background: Hepatic inflow occlusion proceeded to reduce blood loss during hepatectomy induces ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in the remnant liver. Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist used as an anesthetic adjuvant, has been shown to attenuate IR injury in preclinical and clinical studies. However, a meta-analysis is needed to systematically evaluate the protective effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine use on IR injury induced by hepatectomy.

Methods: A prospectively registered meta-analysis following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines concerning perioperative dexmedetomidine use on IR injury after hepatectomy was performed via searching Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, and Sinomed for eligible randomized controlled trials up to 2021.3.31. The main outcome is postoperative liver function. Risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata12.0 were applied to perform data analyses.

Results: Eight RCTs enrolling 468 participants were included. Compared with 0.9% sodium chloride, dexmedetomidine decreased serum concentration of ALT (WMD = −66.54, 95% CI: −92.10–−40.98), AST (WMD= −82.96, 95% CI: −106.74–−59.17), TBIL (WMD = −4.51, 95% CI: −7.32–−1.71), MDA (WMD = −3.09, 95% CI: −5.17–−1.01), TNF-α (WMD = −36.54, 95% CI: −61.33–−11.95) and IL-6 (WMD = −165.05, 95% CI: −225.76–−104.34), increased SOD activity (WMD = 24.70, 95% CI: 18.09–31.30) within postoperative one day. There was no significant difference in intraoperative or postoperative recovery parameters between groups.

Conclusions: Perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine can exert a protective effect on liver IR injury after hepatectomy. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate postoperative recovery outcomes of dexmedetomidine with different dosing regimens.
Identification of Hub lncRNAs Along With lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network for Effective Diagnosis and Prognosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Li Haiyan , Liu Feng , Wang Xiaoyang , Li Menglong , Li Zhihui , Xie Yongmei , Guo Yanzhi
Published: October 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of different cancers and they have been potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. As the most common endocrine malignancy, precise diagnosis and prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is of great clinical significance. Here, we aim to identify new hub lncRNAs for marking PTC and constructed prognostics signatures based on lncRNA- miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) respectively. Five reliable hub lncRNAs were identified by integrating differential genes of four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) gene chips using the RobustRankAggreg (RRA) method. Based on differential analyses and interaction prediction, a lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network were established. Then a comprehensive function characterization of the five hub lncRNAs was performed, including validation dataset testing, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and functional analysis on two networks. All results suggest that these five hub lncRNAs could be potential biomarkers for marking PTC. The ceRNA network was used to identify RNAs which were associated with PTC prognosis. Two prognostic signatures were developed using univariate and step-wise multivariate Cox regression analyses and both of them were independent prognostic indicators for PTC OS and DFS. Tumor microenvironment difference analysis between high and low-risk patients showed that dendritic cells activated and macrophages M0 may be a possible target for immunotherapy of PTC. In addition, disclosing the potential drugs that may reverse the expression of hub genes may improve the prognosis of patients with PTC. Here, connectivity map (CMap) analysis indicates that three bioactive chemicals (pioglitazone, benserazide, and SB-203580) are promising therapeutic agents for PTC. So, the paper presents a comprehensive study on diagnosis, prognosis, and potential drug screening for PTC based on the five hub lncRNAs identified by us.
Comprehensive Analysis of Inflammatory Response–Related Genes, and Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Patients With Low-Grade Glioma
Authors: Han Tao , Zuo Zhifan , Qu Meilin , Zhou Yinghui , Li Qing , Wang Hongjin
Published: October 2021

Background: Although low-grade glioma (LGG) has a good prognosis, it is prone to malignant transformation into high-grade glioma. It has been confirmed that the characteristics of inflammatory factors and immune microenvironment are closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. It is necessary to clarify the role of inflammatory genes and immune infiltration in LGG.

Methods: We downloaded the transcriptome gene expression data and corresponding clinical data of LGG patients from the TCGA and GTEX databases to screen prognosis-related differentially expressed inflammatory genes with the difference analysis and single-factor Cox regression analysis. The prognostic risk model was constructed by LASSO Cox regression analysis, which enables us to compare the overall survival rate of high- and low-risk groups in the model by Kaplan–Meier analysis and subsequently draw the risk curve and survival status diagram. We analyzed the accuracy of the prediction model via ROC curves and performed GSEA enrichment analysis. The ssGSEA algorithm was used to calculate the score of immune cell infiltration and the activity of immune-related pathways. The CellMiner database was used to study drug sensitivity.

Results: In this study, 3 genes (CALCRL, MMP14, and SELL) were selected from 9 prognosis-related differential inflammation genes through LASSO Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic risk model. Further analysis showed that the risk score was negatively correlated with the prognosis, and the ROC curve showed that the accuracy of the model was better. The age, grade, and risk score can be used as independent prognostic factors (p < 0.001). GSEA analysis confirmed that 6 immune-related pathways were enriched in the high-risk group. We found that the degree of infiltration of 12 immune cell subpopulations and the scores of 13 immune functions and pathways in the high-risk group were significantly increased by applying the ssGSEA method (p < 0.05). Finally, we explored the relationship between the genes in the model and the susceptibility of drugs.

Conclusion: This study analyzed the correlation between the inflammation-related risk model and the immune microenvironment. It is expected to provide a reference for the screening of LGG prognostic markers and the evaluation of immune response.
Carbon Monoxide in Pancreatic Islet Transplantation: A New Therapeutic Alternative to Patients With Severe Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dugbartey George J.
Published: October 2021

Pancreatic islet transplantation is a minimally invasive procedure to replace β-cells in a subset of patients with autoimmune type 1 diabetic mellitus, who are extremely sensitive to insulin and lack counter-regulatory measures, and thereby increasing their risk of neuroglycopenia and hypoglycemia unawareness. Thus, pancreatic islet transplantation restores normoglycemia and insulin independence, and prevents long-term surgical complications associated with whole-organ pancreas transplantation. Nonetheless, relative inefficiency of islet isolation and storage process as well as progressive loss of islet function after transplantation due to unvoidable islet inflammation and apoptosis, hinder a successful islet transplantation. Carbon monoxide (CO), a gas which was once feared for its toxicity and death at high concentrations, has recently emerged as a medical gas that seems to overcome the challenges in islet transplantation. This minireview discusses recent findings about CO in preclinical pancreatic islet transplantation and the underlying molecular mechanisms that ensure islet protection during isolation, islet culture, transplantation and post-transplant periods in type 1 diabetic transplant recipients. In addition, the review also discusses clinical translation of these promising experimental findings that serve to lay the foundation for CO in islet transplantation to replace the role of insulin therapy, and thus acting as a cure for type 1 diabetes mellitus and preventing long-term diabetic complications.
Methods and Strategies for Reconditioning Motor Output and Postural Balance in Frail Older Subjects Prone to Falls
Authors: Paillard Thierry
Published: October 2021

In frail older subjects, the motor output of the antigravity muscles is fundamental in resisting falls. These muscles undergo accelerated involutions when they are inactive and the risk of falling increases during leisure and domestic physical activity. In order to reduce their risk of falling, frail older subjects limit their physical activities/exercises. The problem is that the less they exercise, the less they are able to exercise and the greater the risk in exercising. Hence, a vicious circle sets up and the antigravity muscles inevitably continue to deteriorate. This vicious circle must be broken by starting a reconditioning program based on developing the strength of antigravity muscles (especially lower-limb muscles). To begin with, for each increase in muscle strength, postural balance is improved. Once this increase reaches the threshold beyond which postural balance no longer improves, it seems appropriate to implement exercises aimed at concomitantly improving motor output and postural balance in order to counteract or even reverse the involution process of the postural balance system. Methods and strategies toward this end are proposed in this present communication. However, the transfer effects between strength increase and postural balance ability are not yet totally known and future research should evaluate the relationship between muscle strength and postural balance throughout rehabilitation programs (i.e., program follow-ups) in frail older subjects in order to advance knowledge of this relationship.
Differences in the Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Male Rowers of Various Age Categories, Rankings and Career Lengths: Selection Problems
Authors: Alfőldi Zoltan , Borysławski Krzysztof , Ihasz Ferenc , Soós Imre , Podstawski Robert
Published: October 2021

Background: Little is known about the anthropometric and physiological profiles of lower-ranking athletes who aspire to rise to the pinnacle of their profession.

Aim: The aim of this study was to create anthropometric and physiological profiles of Hungarian male rowers of different age categories (15–16, 17–18, and over 18 years), sports rankings and career lengths.

Materials and Methods: Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for 55 juniors, 52 older juniors and 23 seniors representing seven of the largest Hungarian rowing clubs. One-way independent analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare arithmetic means.

Results: Rowers in older age categories were significantly taller (185.0 ± 5.0 cm vs. 183.0 ± 7.3 cm vs. 178.7 ± 7.2 cm) and heavier (81.1 ± 8.8 kg vs. 73.7 ± 8.4 kg vs. 66.8 ± 12.3 kg) than their younger peers, with significantly higher BMI values and larger body dimensions. Compared to younger athletes, rowers in older age categories also covered 2,000 m significantly faster (6.6 ± 0.3 min vs. 6.9 ± 0.4 min vs. 7.5 ± 0.5 min) while developing significantly more power (372.2 ± 53.0 W vs. 326.8 ± 54.5 W vs. 250.6 ± 44.6 W). Similarly, seniors and older juniors had higher values of maximal oxygen uptake and force max (by 6.2 and 7.0 ml/kg/min, and by 263.4 and 169.8 N). Within the older juniors, internationally ranked rowers had significantly greater body height (+ 5.9 cm), body mass (+ 6.1 kg), sitting height (+ 2.7 cm), arm span (+ 7.9 cm), limb length (+ 3.73 cm) and body surface area (+ 0.21 m2). They also rowed 2,000 m significantly faster (–0.43 min, p < 0.001) and had significantly higher values of power (+ 58.3 W), relative power (+ 0.41 W/kg), jump height (+ 4.5 cm), speed max (+ 0.18 m/s) and force max (+ 163.22 N).

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that potential differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles are more difficult to capture in non-elite rowers, and that the final outcome may be determined by external factors. Therefore, athletes with superior aptitude for rowing are more difficult to select from among lower-ranking rowers, and further research is needed to determine specific training requirements to achieve the maximum rowing performance.
The Advances of Single-Cell RNA-Seq in Kidney Immunology
Authors: Zeng Honghui , Yang Xiaoqiang , Luo Siweier , Zhou Yiming
Published: October 2021

Kidney diseases are highly prevalent and treatment is costly. Immune cells play important roles in kidney diseases; however, it has been challenging to investigate the contribution of each cell type in kidney pathophysiology. Recently, the development of single-cell sequencing technology has allowed the extensive study of immune cells in blood, secondary lymphoid tissues, kidney biopsy and urine samples, helping researchers generate a comprehensive immune cell atlas for various kidney diseases. Here, we discuss several recent studies using scRNA-seq technology to explore the immune-related kidney diseases, including lupus nephritis, diabetic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis. Application of scRNA-seq successfully defined the transcriptome profiles of resident and infiltrating immune cells, as well as the intracellular communication networks between immune and adjacent cells. In addition, the discovery of similar immune cells in blood and urine suggests the possibility of examining kidney immunity without biopsy. In conclusion, these immune cell atlases will increase our understanding of kidney immunology and contribute to novel therapeutics for patients with kidney diseases.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Exercise, and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Matsuoka Yutaka , Tsuji Katsunori , Ochi Eisuke
Published: October 2021

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most frequently reported and disabling symptoms in cancer survivors. With its negative impact on the activities of daily living, work, social activities, and mood, CRF causes severe impairment of quality of life. A previous study showed that omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation unexpectedly reduced CRF compared with omega-3 PUFA supplementation and that omega-6 PUFA supplementation reduced pro-inflammatory serum markers in fatigued American breast cancer survivors. Meanwhile, a recent meta-analysis of individual patient data revealed significant benefits of exercise interventions on CRF. Recently, we completed our randomized controlled trial among early-stage Japanese breast cancer survivors, in which we examined the effect of baseline blood PUFA characteristics on change in CRF during the 12-week trial by exercise group and confirmed that increased Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS) was associated with both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p = 0.06) and omega-3 index (p = 0.08) at baseline in all participants (n = 46, omega-6/omega-3 ratio = 6.79, SD = 1.90). On the contrary, DHA at baseline was positively correlated with change in CRF (r = 0.40, p = 0.06) in the control group (n = 24, omega-6/omega-3 ratio = 7.0). Moreover, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at baseline was positively correlated with leg strength (r = 0.39, p = 0.10) in the exercise group. In conclusion, blood PUFA balance might be associated with the effect of exercise on CRF. In addition, higher EPA in individuals who conducted exercise likely has a beneficial effect on muscle strength. Further investigation is needed to clarify the interaction between PUFAs and exercise for alleviating CRF.
Beetles as Plant Pathogen Vectors
Authors: Wielkopolan Beata , Jakubowska Magdalena , Obrępalska-Stęplowska Aleksandra
Published: October 2021

Herbivorous insects, likewise, other organisms, are exposed to diverse communities of microbes from the surrounding environment. Insects and microorganisms associated with them share a range of relationships, including symbiotic and pathogenic. Insects damage plants by feeding on them and delivering plant pathogens to wounded places, from where pathogens spread over the plant. Thus insects can be considered as both pests and reservoirs or vectors of plant pathogens. Although beetles are not mentioned in the first place as plant pathogen vectors, their transmission of pathogens also takes place and affects the ecosystem. Here we present an overview of beetles as vectors of plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and Oomycota, which are responsible for developing plant diseases that can have a significant impact on crop yield and quality.
Performing COVID-19 Control in Finland: Interpretative Topic Modelling and Discourse Theoretical Reading of the Government Communication and Hashtag Landscape
Authors: Koljonen Juha , Palonen Emilia
Published: October 2021

This article discusses discursive transformations in the performance of the government and the “hashtag landscape,” studying Twitter discussions and the female-led government of one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the world, Sanna Marin of Finland. Among the countries in Europe, Finland has been, in the period of analysis of March 2020 to January 2021, one of the least affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our datasets from both Twitter discussions and the government’s press conferences in 2020 reveal which were the emerging topics of the pandemic year in Finland and how they were discussed. We observe a move from consensual governmental political control to control in the hands of the authorities and ministers responsible, performing a different basis for the pandemic. On the “hashtag landscape,” facemasks continually emerge as an object of debate, and they also become a point of trust and distrust that the government cannot ignore. In terms of comparative governance, this article also notes how the emergency powers legislation shifted control to the government from regional authorities and municipalities in spring 2020, and by that autumn, those powers were returned to regional and local bodies. We recognize several themes that were contested and the discursive field’s transformations and interplay with the authorities.
Technostress and Employee Performance Nexus During COVID-19: Training and Creative Self-Efficacy as Moderators
Authors: Saleem Farida , Malik Muhammad Imran , Qureshi Saiqa Saddiqa , Farid Muhammad Faisal , Qamar Sabeen
Published: October 2021

Technostress, a stressor, has implications for employee’s psychological states; however, flexibility like work from home can have positive outcomes, especially for instructors who have to teach and ensure social distance during COVID-19. The present study examined the relationship of technostress and employee performance while taking training and creative self-efficacy as boundary conditions. A sample of 222 university instructors, who worked from home or hybrid (home and workplace) during COVID-19 lockdown, was selected from Pakistan. The responses were recorded using a closed-ended questionnaire. Stepwise linear regression and PROCESS Macro byHayes (2013)was used to analyze the data. It was revealed that technostress, instead of having adverse effects, had a positive effect on employee’s performance and both training and one’s creative self-efficacy significantly moderated the relationship. As the main finding, it was revealed that the employees continued to perform well despite the prevalence of technostress. The training and one’s creative self-efficacy were useful to control the technostress and maintain the performance of instructors during COVID-19. The university administrators and employees must take technology as a positive tool for performance. The training, along with creative self-efficacy, adds to the working capacity of employees and enhances their performance.
Measuring Food-Related Attentional Bias
Authors: Franja Stefania , McCrae Anna E. , Jahnel Tina , Gearhardt Ashley N. , Ferguson Stuart G.
Published: October 2021

Objective: Food-related attentional bias has been defined as the tendency to give preferential attention to food-related stimuli. Attentional bias is of interest as studies have found that increased attentional bias is associated with obesity; others, however, have not. A possible reason for mixed results may be that there is no agreed upon measure of attentional bias: studies differ in both measurement and scoring of attentional bias. Additionally, little is known about the stability of attentional bias over time. The present study aims to compare attentional bias measures generated from commonly used attentional bias tasks and scoring protocols, and to test re-test reliability.

Methods: As part of a larger study, 69 participants (67% female) completed two food-related visual probe tasks at baseline: lexical (words as stimuli), and pictorial (pictures as stimuli). Reaction time bias scores (attentional bias scores) for each task were calculated in three different ways: by subtracting the reaction times for the trials where probes replaced (1) neutral stimuli from the trials where the probes replaced all food stimuli, (2) neutral stimuli from the trials where probes replaced high caloric food stimuli, and (3) neutral stimuli from low caloric food stimuli. This resulted in three separate attentional bias scores for each task. These reaction time results were then correlated. The pictorial visual probe task was administered a second time 14-days later to assess test-retest reliability.

Results: Regardless of the scoring use, lexical attentional bias scores were minimal, suggesting minimal attentional bias. Pictorial task attentional bias scores were larger, suggesting greater attentional bias. The correlation between the various scores was relatively small (r = 0.13–0.20). Similarly, test-retest reliability for the pictorial task was poor regardless of how the test was scored (r = 0.20–0.41).

Conclusion: These results suggest that at least some of the variation in findings across attentional bias studies could be due to differences in the way that attentional bias is measured. Future research may benefit from either combining eye-tracking measurements in addition to reaction times.
Second Graders’ Grapho-Motor Skill Learning and Verbal Learning: The Effects of Socio-Educational Factors
Authors: Hollander Chagit , Adi-Japha Esther
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families, and in particular, those with a lower level of maternal education, show lower fine-motor skills and lower vocabulary scores than their SES peers whose mothers have a higher level of education. Furthermore, low SES children frequently have difficulties in reading and spelling. These difficulties are attributed to deficits in the acquisition of skills through practice, such as those required for developing visual-motor routines, alongside deficits in the intentional acquisition of knowledge, such as those required in verbal learning. The aim of the current study was to test the effect of two background factors: low maternal education (ME) and risk of reading and spelling difficulties on practice-dependent learning of a motor task and intentional learning of a verbal task in second graders from low SES families.

Methods: In 2016/17, 134 low-SES second graders with higher and lower ME (95 typical learners and 39 with reading and spelling difficulties) were assessed with (a) the Invented Letter Task (ILT; a grapho-motor skill learning task) across five time-points (initial- and end-training Day 1; initial- and end-training Day 2; and 2-weeks post-training), as well as an ILT transfer task; and (b) The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT; an intentional word-learning task in which a word list is read to children for five learning trials and is recalled 20 min later).

Findings: Lower ME was associated with surplus segments in the performance of the motor task and its transfer to a novel condition as well as with lower recall on the verbal task, but not with the learning of both the motor and the verbal task. Having reading and spelling difficulties affected motor-task accuracy and also the way children learned the task, as evidenced by surplus segments at the beginning of Day 2, which were reduced with further practice.

Conclusion: Low ME affected overall performance level. Reading and spelling difficulties resulted in atypical learning of the motor task. Future research on practice-dependent learning in the context of children coming from low SES families should focus on subgroups within this heterogeneous population.
Exploring the “Dark Matter” of Social Interaction: Systematic Review of a Decade of Research in Spontaneous Interpersonal Coordination
Authors: Ayache Julia , Connor Andy , Marks Stefan , Kuss Daria J. , Rhodes Darren , Sumich Alexander , Heym Nadja
Published: October 2021

Interpersonal coordination is a research topic that has attracted considerable attention this last decade both due to a theoretical shift from intra-individual to inter-individual processes and due to the development of new methods for recording and analyzing movements in ecological settings. Encompassing spatiotemporal behavioral matching, interpersonal coordination is considered as “social glue” due to its capacity to foster social bonding. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are still unclear and recent findings suggest a complex picture. Goal-oriented joint action and spontaneous coordination are often conflated, making it difficult to disentangle the role of joint commitment from unconscious mutual attunement. Consequently, the goals of the present article are twofold: (1) to illustrate the rapid expansion of interpersonal coordination as a research topic and (2) to conduct a systematic review of spontaneous interpersonal coordination, summarizing its latest developments and current challenges this last decade. By applying Rapid Automatic Keyword Extraction and Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithms, keywords were extracted from PubMed and Scopus databases revealing the large diversity of research topics associated with spontaneous interpersonal coordination. Using the same databases and the keywords “behavioral matching,” “interactional synchrony,” and “interpersonal coordination,” 1,213 articles were identified, extracted, and screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. A total of 19 articles were selected using the following inclusion criteria: (1) dynamic and spontaneous interactions between two unacquainted individuals (2) kinematic analyses, and (3) non-clinical and non-expert adult populations. The results of this systematic review stress the proliferation of various definitions and experimental paradigms that study perceptual and/or social influences on the emergence of spontaneous interpersonal coordination. As methods and indices used to quantify interpersonal coordination differ from one study to another, it becomes difficult to establish a coherent picture. This review highlights the need to reconsider interpersonal coordination not as the pinnacle of social interactions but as a complex dynamical process that requires cautious interpretation. An interdisciplinary approach is necessary for building bridges across scattered research fields through opening a dialogue between different theoretical frameworks and consequently provides a more ecological and holistic understanding of human social cognition.
Acting Proactively to Manage Job Insecurity: How Worrying About the Future of One’s Job May Obstruct Future-Focused Thinking and Behavior
Authors: Koen Jessie , van Bezouw Maarten J.
Published: October 2021

An increasing number of people experience insecurity about the future of their job, making it more important than ever to manage this insecurity. While previous research suggests that proactive coping is a promising way to alleviate job insecurity, we suggest that, paradoxically, it may be particularly difficult to act proactively when feeling emotionally distressed about the future of one’s job. Drawing on the principle of resource scarcity and the Conservation of Resources theory, we propose that affective job insecurity ignites a scarcity mindset that inhibits workers’ future focus and cognitive functioning, thereby undermining proactive career behavior. Additionally, we examine whether income adequacy can compensate for these negative consequences of job insecurity. Results of a three-wave survey study among 108 self-employed professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that initial affective job insecurity was negatively related to cognitive functioning but unrelated to future focus. Yet, the latter relationship was moderated by income adequacy: affective job insecurity was positively related to future focus when participants reported high income adequacy. In turn, future focus was positively related to proactive career behavior, which was subsequently related to lower cognitive job insecurity. Thus, while replicating the finding that workers can proactively manage their cognitive job insecurity, we also showed that initial affective job insecurity may obstruct people’s cognitive functioning. We discuss how our results signal a Matthew effect, in which job insecure people with sufficient means are able to look ahead and proactively build resources to change their career, while job insecure people with insufficient means may fall behind.
Morphological Awareness in L2 Chinese Reading Comprehension: Testing of Mediating Routes
Authors: Zhang Haomin , Zhang Xing , Li Mengjie , Zhang Yiming
Published: October 2021

This study aims to examine the contribution of morphological awareness to second language (L2) Chinese reading comprehension through potential mediating factors. Adult L2 Chinese learners (n = 447) participated in the study and completed two morphological awareness tasks (segmentation and discrimination), two vocabulary knowledge tasks (character knowledge and word-meaning knowledge), one lexical inference task, and one reading comprehension task. By testing alternative path models, this study identified the preferred model assuming the covariates of morphological awareness and vocabulary knowledge. Morphological awareness and vocabulary knowledge jointly contributed to L2 Chinese reading comprehension through lexical inference. The written modality of morphological awareness induced the activation of both morphological and orthographic information in print. The result suggests that morphological awareness (in the form of grapho-morphological knowledge) and vocabulary knowledge seem to be two parallel components under the same construct predicting Chinese reading comprehension. More importantly, this study underscores the intermediary effect of lexical inference in associating morphological awareness and reading comprehension in L2 Chinese learners.
Investigating the Persuasive Effects of Testimonials on the Acceptance of Digital Stress Management Trainings Among University Students and Underlying Mechanisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Apolinário-Hagen Jennifer , Fritsche Lara , Wopperer Jeannette , Wals Frank , Harrer Mathias , Lehr Dirk , Ebert David D. , Salewski Christel
Published: October 2021

Objective: This experiment aims to investigate the influence of narrative information varying in the degree of perceived similarity and source credibility in supplemented testimonials on the acceptance of digital mental health services (digi-MHSs).

Methods: In fall 2020, n=231 university students were randomly assigned to an active control group (aCG, n=55, “information only”) or one of three intervention groups (IGs) receiving information plus different testimonials being presented either by nonacademic staff (IG1, n=60), university students (IG2, n=58) or experts (IG3, n=58). We assessed mediation effects of similarity and credibility on acceptance in terms of attitudes and usage intentions.

Results: Exposure to testimonials was associated with higher usage intentions (d=0.50) and more positive attitudes toward digi-MHSs (d=0.32) compared to mere information (aCG). Regarding source-related effects, one-way ANOVA showed group differences in intentions (ηp2=0.13) that were significantly higher after exposure to testimonials targeted at students than in the other groups after adjusting for baseline intentions (ηp2=0.24). Concerning underlying mechanisms, there were full mediation effects of similarity (IG1 versus IG2) on attitudes [95%CI (0.030, 0.441)] and intentions to use digi-MHSs [95%CI (0.100, 0.528)] and of credibility on attitudes [IG2 versus IG3; 95%CI (−0.217, −0.004)], all favoring students’ testimonials.

Conclusion: Overall, this study indicates that the acceptance of digi-MHSs can be substantially increased by providing a simple, context-sensitive information intervention, including testimonials by university students. Since we identified mediating effects of credibility on cognitive attitudes and similarity on affect-driven intentions, a future trial could vary these features using narrative versus statistic information on digi-MHSs.
Older and Younger Adults Perform Similarly in an Iterated Trust Game
Authors: Telga Maïka , Lupiáñez Juan
Published: October 2021

In social contexts, aging is typically associated with a greater reliance on heuristics, such as categorical information and stereotypes. The present research examines younger and older adults’ use of individuating and age-based categorical information when gauging whether or not to trust unfamiliar targets. In an adaptation of the iterated Trust Game, participants had to predict the cooperative tendencies of their partners to earn economic rewards in first encounters – in a context in which they knew nothing about their partners, and across repeated interactions – in a context in which they could learn the individual cooperative tendency of each partner. In line with previous research, we expected all participants to rely on stereotypes in first encounters, and progressively learn to disregard stereotypes to focus on individuating behavioral cues across repeated interactions. Moreover, we expected older participants to rely more on social categories than younger participants. Our results indicate that overall, both the elderly and the young adopted an individuating approach to predict the cooperative behaviors of their partners across trials. However, older adults more consistently relied on gender (but not age) stereotypes to make cooperation decisions at zero acquaintance. The impact of context, motivation, and relevance of categorical information in impression formation is discussed.
Strategy Use Among Chinese as Second Language Learners in Mainland China From the Mediation Theory Perspective
Authors: Li Chili , Chen Lu , Ma Chunyan , Zhang Shuang , Huang Haiquan
Published: October 2021

This paper reports a mixed-methods study that explored the strategy use of a cohort of Chinese as second language learners in mainland China from the perspective of mediation theory. Data sources include a questionnaire survey (N = 189) and a semi-structured interview (N = 12). The findings revealed that the participants orchestrated a repertoire of language learning strategies and frequently used social and meta-cognitive strategies. Analysis of the qualitative data suggested that the participants' strategy use was shaped by the learners' self agentic power (their beliefs and Ideal L2 self), and the socio-cultural environment. Specifically, their strategy use was mediated by a host of socio-cultural factors, including learner beliefs, social agents, cultural artifacts, and learning environment. Considered together, the findings illuminate the socially situated nature of the use of language learning strategy. That is, strategy use of the participants stems from the interplay of learner agency and socio-cultural factors. The findings also imply the necessity of strategy-based instruction and highlight the importance of a Chinese-speaking environment for Chinese learning.
Cognitive and Affective Learning in English as a Foreign Language/English as a Second Language Instructional-Learning Contexts: Does Teacher Immediacy Matter?
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan
Published: October 2021

A noteworthy frame of the literature has maintained the idea that communication in the classroom is dominant in language education, and in the process of language learning, teachers as an important figure may apply several ways to develop interpersonal relationships and social manners, such as teacher immediacy that has been established to support affective and cognitive learning in instructional settings. Therefore, this theoretical review tries to systematically refocus on the existing literature about teacher immediacy and its types, such as non-verbal and verbal, and their significant connections with affective and cognitive education. To this end, this review focuses on social behavior to review the eminence of teacher immediacy in the classroom and unquestionably exemplify their relationship with affective and cognitive learning. As a final fact, this review has been intended to consider the prevailing literature about teacher behavior, and suggestions and recommendations have been presented correspondingly for language teaching stakeholders in the educational setting.
Altered Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Qiu Yan , Yang Min , Li Sujuan , Teng Ziwei , Jin Kun , Wu Chujun , Xu Xuelei , Chen Jindong , Tang Hui , Huang Jing , Xiang Hui , Guo Wenbin , Wang Bolun , Wu Haishan
Published: October 2021

Background: Discriminating between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) remains challenging and cognitive deficits in MDD and BD are generally recognized. In this study, the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) approach was performed to explore neural activity and cognition in first-episode, drug-naïve BD and MDD patients, as well as the relationship between altered fALFF values and clinical or psychometric variables.

Methods: A total of 21 BD patients, 25 MDD patients, and 41 healthy controls (HCs) completed clinical assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans in this study. The rs-fMRI data were analyzed by fALFF method and Pearson correlation analyses were performed between altered fALFF values and clinical variables or cognition. Support vector machine (SVM) was adopted to identify the three groups from each other with abnormal fALFF values in the brain regions obtained by group comparisons.

Results: (1) The fALFF values were significantly different in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and left precuneus among three groups. In comparison to HCs, BD showed increased fALFF values in the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and decreased fALFF values in the right middle temporal gyrus, while MDD showed decreased fALFF values in the right cerebellar lobule IV/V. In comparison to MDD, BD showed decreased fALFF values in bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus and the right cerebellar lobule VIII/IX. (2) In the BD group, a negative correlation was found between increased fALFF values in the right ITG and years of education, and a positive correlation was found between decreased fALFF values in the right cerebellar lobule VIII/IX and visuospatial abilities. (3) The fALFF values in the right cerebellar lobule VIII/IX may have the ability to discriminate BD patients from MDD patients, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy all over 0.70.

Conclusions: Abnormal brain activities were observed in BD and MDD and were related with cognition in BD patients. The abnormality in the cerebellum can be potentially used to identify BD from MDD patients.
The Relationship Between Gambling Problems and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Strømme Rune , Børstad Karine Holthe , Rø Andrea Eftang , Erevik Eilin Kristine , Sagoe Dominic , Chegeni Razieh , Aune Mentzoni Rune , Kaur Puneet , Pallesen Ståle
Published: October 2021

Objectives: The aim of the present meta-analysis was to synthesize results from the association between problem gambling (PG) and dimensions of the five factor model of personality and to identify potential moderators (gambling diagnosis: yes/no, comorbidity: yes/no and trait assessment: four or fewer items vs. five items or more) of these associations in meta-regressions.

Methods: Searches were conducted in six databases; Medline, Web of Science, PsychInfo, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and Cochrane Library (conducted on February, 22, 2021). Included studies: (1) reported a relationship between PG and at least one of the personality traits in the five-factor model, (2) contained information of zero-order correlations or sufficient data for such calculations, and (3) were original articles published in any European language. Case-studies, qualitative studies, and reviews were excluded. All articles were independently screened by two authors. Final agreement was reached through discussion or by consulting a third author. Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were synthesized using a random effects model.

Results: In total 28 studies, comprising 20,587 participants, were included. The correlations between PG and the traits were as follows: Neuroticism: 0.273 (95% CI = 0.182, 0.358), conscientiousness −0.296 (95% CI = −0.400, −0.185), agreeableness −0.163 (95% CI = −0.223, −0.101), openness −0.219 (95% CI = −0.308, −0.127), and extroversion −0.083 (95% CI = −0.120, −0.046). For all meta-analyses the between study heterogeneity was significant. Presence of gambling diagnosis was the only moderator that significantly explained between-study variance showing a more negative correlation to extroversion when participants had a gambling diagnosis compared to when this was not the case.

Discussion: The results indicated some publication bias. Correcting for this by a trim-and-fill procedure showed however that the findings were consistent. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of the associations between personality traits and PG. Previous studies have for example showed neuroticism to be related to treatment relapse, low scores on conscientiousness to predict treatment drop-out and agreeableness to reduce risk of treatment drop-out.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42021237225).
Sociodemographic Indicators of Child and Adolescent Mortality in Finland—A Nationwide Study of 310 Municipalities Covering Over 5,000,000 Inhabitants
Authors: Oura Petteri , Sajantila Antti
Published: October 2021

Background: The reduction of child and adolescent deaths (defined as decedents aged 0–19 years) remains a crucial public health priority also in high-income countries such as Finland. There is evidence of a relationship between socioeconomic gradients and child mortality, but the association is considered complex and relatively poorly understood. Exploiting a Finnish dataset with nationwide coverage, the present study aimed to shed light on the sociodemographic predictors of child and adolescent mortality at the municipality level.

Methods: A public database of Statistics Finland was queried for municipality-level data on sociodemographic traits and child and adolescent deaths in Finland during the years 2011–2018. The sociodemographic indicators included total population size, child and adolescent population size, sex distribution, mean age, education, unemployment, median income, population density, rurality, percentage of individuals living in their birth municipality, household size, overcrowded households, foreign language speakers, divorce rate, car ownership rate, and crime rate. The sociodemographic indicators were modeled against child and adolescent mortality by means of generalized estimating equations.

Results: A total of 2,371 child and adolescent deaths occurred during the 8-year study period, yielding an average annual mortality rate of 26.7 per 100,000 individuals. Despite a fluctuating trend, the average annual decline in child and adolescent deaths was estimated to be 3% (95% confidence interval 1–5%). Of the sociodemographic indicators, population density was associated with higher child and adolescent mortality (rate ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.06), whereas the percentage of foreign language speakers was associated with lower child and adolescent mortality (0.96, 0.93–0.99).

Conclusion: Densely populated areas should be the primary focus of efforts to reduce child and adolescent mortality. Of note is also the apparently protective effect of foreign language speakers for premature mortality. Future studies are welcomed to scrutinize the mediating pathways and individual-level factors behind the associations detected in this study.
Stakeholder Influence on Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study of a German Apparel Frontrunner
Authors: Menke Clara , Hüsemann Malte , Siems Erik
Published: October 2021

Although interest in green and sustainable supply chains has been growing for over a decade in the academic discourse, the textile industry still embraces numerous examples of non-sustainable behavior (i.e., environmental damage, poor working conditions, or modern slavery). While there is a general agreement that stakeholder pressure can lead to more sustainable SCs, a lot remains for a more differentiated stakeholder perspective in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Thus, this study aims for theory elaboration by structuring relationships between SSCM and stakeholder constructs through an exploratory single case study design on the Otto Group, a German apparel frontrunner. It enables an in-depth investigation of the complexity of both stakeholder engagement/relationships and SSCM. As key results, sustainability managers and employees are important facilitators to realize win-win situations. Further, most progress is nowadays made in participating in multi-stakeholder-initiatives (MSI) and with standards to tackle sustainability issues in SCs. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of a shift from the perspective of sustainable products toward sustainable values, and it outlines best practices regarding the integration of stakeholders' expectations in SSCM.