bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Filter Masks during the Second Phase of SARS-CoV-2: Study on Population
Authors: Cumbo Enzo , Gallina Giuseppe , Messina Pietro , Scardina Giuseppe Alessandro
Published: January 2023

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the most common countermeasure are the use of masks, which are supposed to filter inhaled and exhaled air to reduce the spread of the virus. The masks, which are medical devices, must be used by providing appropriate instructions for correct use. This study, which examined the population during the advanced stage of the pandemic, highlighted a substantial improvement in the management and choice of masks, even though the information disseminated to the population probably should be even more detailed and precise in order to avoid incorrect behavior that could compromise the effectiveness of these devices; in fact a high percentage of subjects had behaviors that can facilitate the spread of the virus, such as the continuous attempts to correct the incorrect positioning of the mask on the face or the need to move it because it is annoying.
Ergonomic Design and Assessment of an Improved Handle for a Laparoscopic Dissector Based on 3D Anthropometry
Authors: Du Yujia , Jiang Rui , Wang Haining
Published: January 2023

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) has been shown to provide great benefits to patients compared with open surgery. However, surgeons experience discomfort, low-efficiency, and even musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) because of the poor ergonomic design of laparoscopic instruments. A methodology for the ergonomic design of laparoscopic dissector handles considering three-dimensional (3D) hand anthropometry and dynamic hand positions was addressed in this research. Two types of hand positions for grasping and stretching were scanned from 21 volunteers using a high-resolution 3D scanner. The 3D anthropometric data were extracted from these 3D hand pose models and used to design an improved handle (IH) that provides additional support for the thumb, a better fit to the purlicue, and a more flexible grasp for the index finger. Thirty subjects were invited to evaluate the IH in terms of muscular effort, goniometric study of motion, and efficiency and effectiveness during four trials of a laparoscopic training task. Questionnaires provided subjective parameters for ergonomic assessment. Positive results included less muscle load in the trapezius as well as significant but small angular differences in the upper limb. No significant reduction in the trial time and no increased percentage of the achievement were observed between the IH and the commercial handle (CH). Improved intuitiveness, comfort, precision, stability, and overall satisfaction were reported. IH provides significant ergonomic advantages in laparoscopic training tasks, demonstrating that the proposed methodology based on 3D anthropometry is a powerful tool for the handle design of laparoscopic dissectors and other surgical instruments.
The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Anxiety: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kindred Reuben , Bates Glen
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in negative mental health outcomes throughout the world, and its impact on social interactions and relationships is likely to be evident in problematic social anxiety. This systematic review qualitatively synthesized data from studies that have reported on the effects of the pandemic on social anxiety. A systematic search of Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Proquest Central—Dissertations and Theses was conducted, with thirty-three studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The results suggest that social anxiety has been heightened in the general population due to the pandemic, with women and low-income earners being especially vulnerable. Other contributing factors include impaired coping strategies, lower socio-emotional well-being, limited support networks, and contraction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Individuals with a Social Anxiety Disorder diagnosis may be at risk of a deterioration of mental health in general. Limitations of the literature reviewed include the predominance of cross-sectional study designs, which limit causal inferences are limited. Additionally, associations may be inflated as many studies have not accounted for mediating variables. Taken together, the research suggests that social anxiety, either pre-pandemic or arising due to the pandemic environment, has contributed to a variety of negative mental health outcomes related to social anxiety.
Social Determinants and Prevalence of Antenatal Depression among Women in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Insan Nafisa , Forrest Simon , Jaigirdar Aqil , Islam Reduanul , Rankin Judith
Published: January 2023

The prevalence of antenatal depression in Bangladesh ranges from 18 to 33%. Antenatal depression has negative impacts on the mother and child such as suicidal ideations, low birth weight, and impaired fetal development. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and social determinants of antenatal depression in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh. Data were collected from 235 pregnant women between March and November 2021. The validated Bangla Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure antenatal depressive symptoms (ADS). Background information was collected using a structured questionnaire including the Duke Social Support and Stress Scale, pregnancy choices, and WHO Intimate Partner Violence questions. Point-prevalence of antenatal depression was 56%. Intimate partner violence (IPV) before pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 10.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7–39.7]) and perceived husband’s male gender preference (AOR 9.9 [95% CI 1.6–59.6]) were significantly associated with increased odds of ADS among pregnant women. Increased family support was a significant protective factor for ADS (AOR 0.94 [95% CI 0.91–0.97]). Antenatal depression commonly occurs in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh, highlighting the need for improved screening and management within these settings. The findings suggest the need for community-based interventions for women with low family support and experiencing intimate partner violence, and educational programs and gender policies to tackle gender inequalities.
A New Method for Sequential Fractionation of Nitrogen in Drained Organic (Peat) Soils
Authors: Becher Marcin , Kalembasa Dorota , Kalembasa Stanisław , Symanowicz Barbara , Jaremko Dawid , Matyszczak Adam
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the transformation of organic matter in organic soils undergoing a phase of secondary transformation, based on a new method of nitrogen compound fractionation. Laboratory tests were carried out for 31 layers of muck (after secondary transformation) and peat (parent material of the soil) of drained organic soils (peat). The new method consists of sequential extraction in the following steps: (1) 0.5 M K2SO4 (extraction at room temperature); (2) 0.25 M H2SO4 (hot hydrolysis) (3) 3.0 M H2SO4 (hot hydrolysis); and (4) concentrated H2SO4 (mineralization of the post-extraction residue). As a result of the extraction process, the following fractions (operating forms) were obtained: mineral nitrogen (Nmin), dissolved organic nitrogen (N-DON), readily hydrolyzing organic nitrogen (N-RH), non-readily hydrolyzing organic nitrogen (N-NRH), and non-hydrolyzing organic nitrogen (N-NH). The study demonstrates the usefulness of the applied method for assessing the degree of secondary transformation of drained organic soils. The obtained results of nitrogen fractionation indicate the significant dynamics of nitrogen forms’ transformations and a significant relationship between these forms and soil properties. Nitrogen transformation processes during the secondary transformation process after dehydration resulted in an increase in the share of N-DON (on average: 1.47% of Norg for the peat layers and 2.97% of Norg for the muck layers) and in an increase in the share of NRHON (on average: 20.7% of Norg for the peat layers and 33.5% of Norg for the muck layers). The method of sequential nitrogen fractionation used in our study allowed us to define an index determining the degree of transformation of organic matter in peat after drying. We defined it as the ratio of readily hydrolyzable forms (the fraction is very variable in the secondary transformation process) to non-readily hydrolyzable forms (relatively stable fraction in the secondary transformation process): N-RH/N-NRH. The average value of this index was significantly lower in the peat layers (0.64 on average) than in the muck beds (1.04 on average). The value of this index is significantly correlated with soil properties: bulk density (R2 = 0.470); general porosity (R2 = 0.503); total carbon content (TC) (R2 = 0.425); total carbon to total nitrogen ratio (TC/TN) (R2 = 0.619); and share of carbon of humic substances (C-HS) (R2 = 0.466). We believe that the method of sequential nitrogen fractionation may be useful for other soils and organic materials.
Perceived Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) and Fear toward COVID-19 among Patients with Diabetes Attending Primary Healthcare Centers in Kuwait
Authors: Alsaleh Fatemah M. , Elzain Muna , Alsairafi Zahra K. , Naser Abdallah Y.
Published: January 2023

Objectives: To assess perceived fear and to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 infection among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Kuwait. This will help evaluate gaps and provide appropriate support to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection in high-risk patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. All patients aged 18 years or older attending for follow-up or newly diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were eligible to participate in the study. Patients waiting for their regular follow-up appointments at the PHCs were invited verbally to take part in the study. The study excluded patients under the age of 18 and those with significant cognitive or physical impairment that might interfere with independent self-care behavior. The questionnaire included 57 items. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 294 questionnaires were distributed to patients at PHCs in three health districts (Hawally, Capital, and Farwaniya) in Kuwait; 251 patients agreed to participate in the study, yielding a response rate of 85.4%. The study showed that most patients had moderate knowledge (71.1%) of COVID-19. The majority of correctly responded questions were about the mode of COVID-19 transmission, the most common clinical presentations, and at-risk people. On the other hand, 83.7% (n = 210) identified common cold symptoms (stuffy nose, runny nose, and sneezing) as COVID-19 symptoms. More than half of the patients (n = 146, 58.2%) were unable to identify uncommon COVID-19 symptoms, such as diarrhea and skin rash or discoloration. Most patients had a positive attitude (90.9%) and good prevention practices (83.6%). The overall fear score of the participating patients was 21.6 ± 6.5 (61.7%). Conclusions: Regardless of the positive attitude and good preventive practices of the patients, they had moderate knowledge levels about COVID-19. This indicates that there are significant knowledge gaps that still need to be filled. Different strategies can be used for this purpose, such as social media and public information campaigns. Supporting psychological well-being is vital for at-risk patients during a pandemic.
Public Engagement with Romanian Government Social Media Accounts during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gherheș Vasile , Cernicova-Buca Mariana , Fărcașiu Marcela Alina
Published: January 2023

Following international best practice examples, the Romanian government resorted to its social media accounts to disseminate information and unfold an awareness and persuasion campaign to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The article focuses on the use of the government’s YouTube and Facebook accounts to persuade the population to get vaccinated in 2021 via video messages tailored for this purpose. The research quantified the volume of public engagement with the two waves of the persuasive campaign, finding that, while click-based reactions tended to show a positive attitude toward the campaign, the comments mainly denoted frustration, anger, and anxiety on the part of the public. Moreover, the citizens’ engagement with the campaign messages was by far lower than the number of subscribers and followers of the analyzed social media accounts. The goal of the COVID-19 public health persuasion campaign was to build support for the governmental policy and minimize the risks of the pandemic while vaccination was being rolled out. The public reaction to the governmental campaign showed that a finer and more adapted approach was necessary. This study offers a qualitative basis for informing health communication strategies of the challenges posed by social media platforms used in crisis times.
The Two-Stage Ensemble Learning Model Based on Aggregated Facial Features in Screening for Fetal Genetic Diseases
Authors: Tang Jiajie , Han Jin , Xie Bingbing , Xue Jiaxin , Zhou Hang , Jiang Yuxuan , Hu Lianting , Chen Caiyuan , Zhang Kanghui , Zhu Fanfan , Lu Long
Published: January 2023

With the advancement of medicine, more and more researchers have turned their attention to the study of fetal genetic diseases in recent years. However, it is still a challenge to detect genetic diseases in the fetus, especially in an area lacking access to healthcare. The existing research primarily focuses on using teenagers’ or adults’ face information to screen for genetic diseases, but there are no relevant directions on disease detection using fetal facial information. To fill the vacancy, we designed a two-stage ensemble learning model based on sonography, Fgds-EL, to identify genetic diseases with 932 images. Concretely speaking, we use aggregated information of facial regions to detect anomalies, such as the jaw, frontal bone, and nasal bone areas. Our experiments show that our model yields a sensitivity of 0.92 and a specificity of 0.97 in the test set, on par with the senior sonographer, and outperforming other popular deep learning algorithms. Moreover, our model has the potential to be an effective noninvasive screening tool for the early screening of genetic diseases in the fetus.
Social Capital and Rural Health for Refugee Communities in Australia
Authors: Mwanri Lillian , Miller Emily , Walsh Moira , Baak Melanie , Ziersch Anna
Published: January 2023

Refugee resettlement significantly contributes to Australia’s migration programs, with recent policy directives prioritising rural resettlement. As a result, the cultural diversity of populations of several Australian rural towns has substantially expanded. Newcomers may encounter challenges becoming part of closed social networks and accessing the resources they need for a healthy life in resettlement. However, there are also benefits that stem from positive integration for newcomers and for receiving populations. As part of a larger study, which aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to successful resettlement in a rural setting, the objective of this paper was to show how social ties were important for participants’ health, both facilitating access to resources, including health services, and connecting people to health-promoting living conditions. In-depth individual interviews with 44 participants from refugee communities originally from Africa and South-East Asia, settled in a rural South Australian town, were conducted. Participants were invited to the study through snowball sampling via known connections between the researchers and key people within the communities. Interview transcripts were analysed using framework thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate how participants drew on connections within their cultural communities, reflecting collectivist cultural values. These social ties were key to enabling access to resources for health. These included emotional resources, such as a sense of belonging, as well as physical and practical resources, including food, housing, and/or accessing services. Several participants were also working towards a career in the health industry. Populations from refugee communities in rural towns are growing, not only with the continuation of new arrivals to these towns, but also as the settled populations expand their families and communities. Effective health service provision in these locations needs to serve these growing communities, and there is scope for services to tap into community networks to assist with this.
The Relationship between Social Media and the Increase in Mental Health Problems
Authors: Beyari Hasan
Published: January 2023

Social media has become an indispensable aspect of young people’s digital interactions, as they use it mostly for entertainment and communication purposes. Consequently, it has the potential to have both positive and negative effects on them. Deterioration in mental health is one of the side effects stemming from social media overuse. This study investigates the relationship between social media and the increase in mental health problems in Saudi Arabia. The population considered for analysis includes young people from Saudi Arabia, with a sample size of 385. A closed-ended survey questionnaire was used to collect data on different social media features and criteria. Using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP), the researcher analyzed data to compare the effect of different social media features on mental health. The social media features included in this paper are private chats and calls, group chats and calls, browsing posts, games, media sharing, adverts, likes/comments/followers, and pages. The researcher adopted entertainment, information, social interaction, privacy, esteem, and communication as the criteria in the AHP process. Among these criteria, the study found that entertainment was the most significant, while privacy was the least significant. Findings suggested that likes, comments, and followers were the biggest contributors to poor mental health (total utility = 56.24). The least effective feature was ‘games’ (total utility = 2.56). The researcher recommends that social media users be cautious when interacting with social media features, especially likes, comments, followers, media, and posts, because of their significant effect on mental health.
Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk Evaluation of Heavy Metals in the Bottom Sediments: A Case Study of Eutrophic Bukwałd Lake Located in an Agricultural Catchment
Authors: Sidoruk Marcin
Published: January 2023

Metals are natural components of the earth’s crust and are essential elements in the metabolism of fauna and flora. However, some metals at high concentrations may pose an ecological risk. Ecological risk analysis is one of the best methods for detecting potential metal pollution problems and its impact on ecosystems. This study analyzed the potential ecological risk and contamination from heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Zn) in bottom sediments. It analyzed the spatial variability of heavy metal concentrations in the bottom sediments of Lake Bukwałd. The potential ecological risk index (RI) was used to assess the impact of pollutants accumulated in bottom sediments on the environment. In addition to RI, the geochemical index (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF) were also calculated. The pollutant loading index (PLI) was used to compare the average content of metals in the bottom sediments of lakes. The obtained results indicate that agricultural activity determined the quality of the bottom sediments of the reservoir and the spatial content of trace metals in them. Higher concentrations of elements were found in sediments collected from the agricultural catchment, whereas the lowest concentrations were observed near the outflow from the lake. The calculated RI value was 153.3, representing a moderate ecological threat risk. The concentration of cadmium had the greatest influence on the value of the indicator. The analysis of the scale of pollution of bottom sediments using the geochemical index showed that the bottom sediments in terms of the content of most of the trace metals tested are class II. In Cu and Zn, the Igeo index classified these deposits as class 0 and class I. The highest CF values were determined for Cr, Ni, and Pb and classified as significant contamination. The remaining elements were classified as moderately contaminated. The designated PLI was 2.49, suggesting immediate action to reduce pollution and prevent the degradation of the lake.
A Literature Review on SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses in Thyroid Disorders: Environmental Triggers or No-Guilty Bystanders?
Authors: Gorini Francesca , Vassalle Cristina
Published: January 2023

A growing number of findings indicate a relationship between COVID-19 infection and thyroid dysfunction. This association is also strengthened by knowledge on the potential of viral infections to trigger thyroid disorders, although the exact underlying pathogenetic process remains to be elucidated. This review aimed to describe the available data regarding the possible role of infectious agents, and in particular of SARS-CoV-2, in the development of thyroid disorders, summarizing the proposed mechanisms and levels of evidence (epidemiological, serological or direct presence of the viruses in the thyroid gland) by which the infection could be responsible for thyroid abnormalities/diseases. Novel data on the association and mechanisms involved between SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and thyroid diseases are also discussed. While demonstrating a clear causal link is challenging, numerous clues at molecular and cellular levels and the large amount of epidemiological data suggest the existence of this relationship. Further studies should be taken to further investigate the true nature and strength of this association, to help in planning future preventive and therapeutic strategies for more personal and targeted care with attention to the underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction.
Rural–Urban Differences in Physical Fitness and Overweight Prevalence of Children and Adolescents from Central South China
Authors: Jiang Qing , Huang Xin , Cui Di
Published: January 2023

Purpose: This present study aims to determine the rural–urban differences in physical fitness and overweight prevalence among children and adolescents from Central South China. Methods: All the original parameters of physical fitness indicators for 216,718 participants aged from 7 to 15 years old were obtained from the website of the Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Database and were analyzed by SPSS. Results: (1) Children and adolescents from rural areas were observed to have a more adverse physical fitness ratio, and the urban–rural differences were identified in each physical fitness indicator. (2) Rural areas had a higher overweight prevalence (p < 0.01). When compared to urban cities, overweight students from rural towns measured a significantly poorer cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in primary school (p < 0.05), while the result in middle school was showed the opposite. (3) Rural–urban residence and sex were the moderately correlated factors for muscular fitness among overweight students. Conclusions: Urban children and adolescents in central south China had an overall healthier profile than their rural peers, particularly in overweight groups. The government and related functional departments should take the factors of rural–urban residence and sex of students into consideration when building a state strategy and interventions to promote physical activity and health.
The Trajectory of Anthropomorphism and Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Serial Mediation Model
Authors: Yang Yiping , Sun Le , Han Buxin , Liu Pingping
Published: January 2023

Anthropomorphism of nature can promote pro-environmental behavior (PEB). However, its underlying mechanism and these age-related changes are unclear. We propose that connectedness to nature and environmental guilt mediate the relationship between anthropomorphism of nature and PEB. The present study tests the hypotheses based on a cross-sectional sample of 1364 residents aged 15–76 years, using structural equation modeling. We found that: (1) environmental guilt decreases, but PEB increases, with age; (2) anthropomorphism of nature decreases in early adulthood and increases in old age; (3) connectedness to nature decreases in mid–late adolescence and increases in early adulthood. Connectedness to nature and environmental guilt have a serial mediating effect in the relationship between anthropomorphism of nature and PEB, with cross-age stability. These findings contribute to enriching the understanding of PEB from the human and nature perspective, and enhancing anthropomorphism of nature that could promote PEB in residents at different ages, through connectedness to nature and environmental guilt.
Lifestyle Habits Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Moroccan College Students
Authors: Achak Doha , El-Ammari Abdelghaffar , Azizi Asmaa , Youlyouz-Marfak Ibtissam , Saad Elmadani , Nejjari Chakib , Hilali Abderraouf , Marfak Abdelghafour
Published: January 2023

The transition to university is a critical period during which considerable life changes arise. Useful national data to design tailored interventions aimed at promoting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Moroccan students are lacking. The present study is aimed at filling this gap by investigating the levels and associated factors of HRQoL among a national sample of Moroccan university students. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L instrument. Data from 2759 university students were collected in a large, cross-sectional, web-based survey. All statistical analyses were conducted using the R software. The EQ-5D-5L findings showed that the majority of students rated level 1 (no problems) and level 2 (slight problems) for the “Mobility”, “Self-Care”, “Usual Activities”, and “Pain/Discomfort” HRQoL dimensions. However, the “Anxiety/Depression” dimension was the exception; more than half (57.1%) of the students were slightly to extremely anxious or depressed. The levels of lifestyle habits were of concern among participants of this study. With respect to sedentary behaviors and physical activity, we found that approximately 80% of participants spent ≥2 h/day on different screen-based sedentary behaviors, and 60% were physically inactive. Lifestyle habits that were found to be associated with HRQoL are sleeping time, physical activity, leisure, hygiene, household activities, homework, and social media time. The multiple regression model explained 93% of the EQ-VAS score variance. The findings could be of great importance for researchers and policymakers interested in promoting health of university students.
Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils of Old Industrial Areas—A Case Study of Shanghai, China
Authors: Yuan Chuan-Zheng , Wang Xiang-Rong
Published: January 2023

Heavy metals in the soil of industrial areas pose severe health risks to humans after land-use properties are transformed into residential land. The public exposure time and frequency will soar significantly under residential land. However, much uncertainty still exists about the relationship between soil heavy metal pollution and—human health risks in an old industrial zone in Shanghai, China. Principal component analysis—(PCA) was used to explore the main sources of these heavy metals. Kriging interpolation was u-sed to identify their spatial distribution and high-risk areas, and the Human Health risk model was used to measure health risk. The results illustrate that the pollution levels of Cd, Hg, and Pb in industrial land are more serious than those in irrigation cropland. Meanwhile, the results of PCA showed that there were two main pollution sources under irrigated cropland, a natural source and a traffic source, accounting for 44.1% and 31.0%, respectively, and there were three main pollution sources under industrial land, with natural sources accounting for 28.5%, traffic sources accounting for 25.7%, and industrial sources accounting for 13.1%. In addition, the health risk assessment results indicated that the priority control pollutants of non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk were Zn and Cr, respectively. The high-risk area was mainly located in the middle of the study area. These results indicate that eliminating heavy metal pollution in the soil of the industrial area is so important to decrease health risks. The results of this study provide theoretical contributions to early warning of health risks related to heavy metal pollution in industrial area soil and serve as a practical reference for speeding up the formulation of industrial land pollution management policies.
Implant Survival in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Alla Iris , Lorusso Felice , Gehrke Sergio Alexandre , Inchingolo Francesco , Di Carmine Maristella , Scarano Antonio
Published: January 2023

Background: The aim of this systematic review and case reports was to evaluate osseointegration and implant survival rate in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: The paper screening process was conducted on electronic databases in order to identify clinical studies concerning the study topic. The literature data were evaluated for eligibility and studies were included for the qualitative synthesis. The case report concerned a male subject affected by renal disorders, a candidate for full arch immediate loading procedure. Results: The article screening process reported a total of 54 manuscripts and one paper identified through the manual search. At the end of the review process, a total of 45 articles were excluded while nine manuscripts were included for the descriptive synthesis. No significant complications or events were present during the intraoperative/post-operative phases. The clinical course reported no significant inflammation or symptoms. At follow-up, the rehabilitation was found to be functionally and aesthetically integrated with no complications, probing, or bone resorption. Conclusions: The available evidence supports the clinical efficacy of the early implant placement protocol. Present findings indicate that the early implant placement protocol results in implant outcomes similar to immediate and delayed placement protocols and a superior stability of peri-implant hard tissue compared with immediate implant placement.
Delineating the Intrinsic, Long-Term Path of Land Degradation: A Spatially Explicit Transition Matrix for Italy, 1960–2010
Authors: Pace Letizia , Imbrenda Vito , Lanfredi Maria , Cudlín Pavel , Simoniello Tiziana , Salvati Luca , Coluzzi Rosa
Published: January 2023

Vulnerability to land degradation in southern Europe has increased substantially in the last decades because of climate and land-use change, soil deterioration, and rising human pressure. The present work focuses on a quantitative evaluation of changes over time in the level of vulnerability to land degradation of a Mediterranean country (Italy) using a composite indicator, the environmentally sensitive area index (ESAI), which is the final outcome of a complex model conceived to assess land vulnerability on the basis of climate, soil, vegetation, and human pressure. Considering four different levels of vulnerability to land degradation (not affected, potentially affected, fragile, and critical), the main trajectories of this index were highlighted in a long-time perspective (1960–2010), discriminating dynamics over two sub-periods (1960–1990 and 1990–2010). The empirical results at a very detailed spatial scale (1 km2 grid) reflect spatial consolidation of degradation hot-spots over time. However, aggregated trajectories of change indicate an overall improvement in the environmental conditions between 1990 and 2010 compared with what is observed during the first period (1960–1990). Worse environmental conditions concerned southern Italian regions with a dry climate and poor soil conditions in the first time interval, large parts of northern Italy, traditionally recognized as a wet and affluent agricultural region, experienced increasing levels of land vulnerability in the second time interval. Being classified as an unaffected region according with the Italian national action plan (NAP), the expansion of (originally sparse) degradation hot-spots in northern Italy, reflective of an overall increase in critical areas, suggests a substantial re-thinking of the Italian NAP. This may lead to a redesign of individual regional action plans (RAPs) implementing place-specific approaches and comprehensive measures to be adopted to mitigate land degradation.
Fast Methods for Drug Approval: Research Perspectives for Pandemic Preparedness
Authors: Abdin Ahmad Yaman , De Pretis Francesco , Landes Jürgen
Published: January 2023

Public heath emergencies such as the outbreak of novel infectious diseases represent a major challenge for drug regulatory bodies, practitioners, and scientific communities. In such critical situations drug regulators and public health practitioners base their decisions on evidence generated and synthesised by scientists. The urgency and novelty of the situation create high levels of uncertainty concerning the safety and effectiveness of drugs. One key tool to mitigate such emergencies is pandemic preparedness. There seems to be, however, a lack of scholarly work on methodology for assessments of new or existing drugs during a pandemic. Issues related to risk attitudes, evidence production and evidence synthesis for drug approval require closer attention. This manuscript, therefore, engages in a conceptual analysis of relevant issues of drug assessment during a pandemic. To this end, we rely in our analysis on recent discussions in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of medicine. Important unanswered foundational questions are identified and possible ways to answer them are considered. Similar problems often have similar solutions, hence studying similar situations can provide important clues. We consider drug assessments of orphan drugs and drug assessments during endemics as similar to drug assessment during a pandemic. Furthermore, other scientific fields which cannot carry out controlled experiments may guide the methodology to draw defeasible causal inferences from imperfect data. Future contributions on methodologies for addressing the issues raised here will indeed have great potential to improve pandemic preparedness.
Level of Physical Activity, Sleep Quality and Use of Personal Protective Equipment of Students at Wroclaw Medical University during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kosendiak Aureliusz Andrzej , Adamczak Bartosz , Kontek Sylwiusz , Kuźnik Zofia , Roman Michał , Gostkowski Michał , Niedziółka Arkadiusz
Published: January 2023

The study was conducted in October 2020 and March 2021 among Wroclaw Medical University students of different years and faculties. The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between some determinants, such as gender and the levels of physical activity, and the quality of sleep of medical students during the pandemic. Ultimately, 696 responses from October and 652 from March were included. To determine the level of physical activity, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used, and for sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. The findings pointed to a higher Total MET m/w (metabolic equivalent of task in minutes a week) in men compared to women in both study periods (2020: 1845.8 to 1542.5, p = 0.009; 2021: 2040.7 to 1826.6, p = 0.025). This was mainly due to a higher Vigorous Exercises MET m/w in men (2020: 837.3 to 635.8, p = 0.008; 2021: 773.3 to 490.3, p = 0.0006). Moreover, women had a lower quality of sleep resulting from problems in Habitual Sleep Efficiency, Sleep Disturbances, and Daytime Dysfunctions. An adequate level of physical activity and a good night’s rest are the fundaments of health; therefore, it is necessary to determine the causes of their deficiencies in order that we can counteract them.
Burnout, Resilience, Supervisory Support, and Quitting Intention among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Siraj Rayan A. , Alhaykan Ahmed E. , Alrajeh Ahmed M. , Aldhahir Abdulelah M. , Alqahtani Jaber S. , Bakhadlq Samah , Alghamdi Saeed M. , Alqarni Abdullah A. , Alqarni Manal M. , Alanazi Turki M. , Alruwaili Abdullah , Algarni Saleh S. , Alahmadi Fahad H. , Alahmari Mushabbab , Alahmadi Rashid H.
Published: January 2023

Although personal resilience and supervisory support are known to reduce the impact of burnout and quitting intention, there is limited data available to explore these relationships among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout and explore its association with resilience, supervisory support, and intention to quit among Saudi Arabian HCPs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a convenience sample of HCPs between April and November 2022. Participants responded to socio-demographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS (MP)), the Connor-Davidson resilience scale 10 (CD-RISC 10), and the Perceived of Supervisor Support Scale (PSS). Descriptive, inferential, correlation, and logistic regression tests were performed for data analyses. Results: Of the 1174 HCPs included in the analysis, 77% were presented with high burnout levels: 58% with emotional exhaustion (EE), 72% with depersonalization (DP), and 66% with low personal accomplishment (PA). Females were associated with increased odds of burnout (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.04–2.06) compared to males. Burnout and its subscales were associated with higher intention to leave practice, with 33% of HCPs considering quitting their jobs. Furthermore, HCPs reported a low resilience score overall, and negative correlations were found between EE (r = −0.21; p < 0.001) and DP (r = −0.12; p < 0.01), and positive correlation with low PA (r = 0.38; p < 0.001). In addition, most HCPs perceived supervisory support as low, and it is associated with increased burnout and quitting intention. Conclusion: Burnout is common among HCPs across all clinical settings and is associated with higher intention to quit and low resilience and supervisory support. Workplace management should provide a supportive workplace to reduce burnout symptoms and promote resiliency.
Application of a Machine Learning Method for Prediction of Urban Neighborhood-Scale Air Pollution
Authors: Wai Ka-Ming , Yu Peter K. N.
Published: January 2023

Urban air pollution has aroused growing attention due to its associated adverse health effects. A model which could promptly predict urban air quality with considerable accuracy is, therefore, important and will benefit the development of smart cities. However, only a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model could better resolve the dispersion behavior within an urban canyon layer. A machine learning (ML) model using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach was formulated in the current study to investigate vehicle-derived airborne particulate (PM10) dispersion within a compact high-rise-built environment. Various measured meteorological parameters and PM10 concentrations were adopted as the model inputs to train the ANN model. A building-resolved CFD model under the same environmental settings was also set up to compare its model performance with the ANN model. Our results showed that the ANN model exhibited promising performance (r = 0.82, fractional bias = 0.002) when comparing the > 1000 h PM10 measurements. When comparing the diurnal hourly measured PM10 variations in a clear-sky day, both the ANN and CFD models performed well (r > 0.8). The good performance of the CFD model relied on the knowledge of the in situ diurnal traffic profile, the adoption of suitable mobile source emission factor(s) (e.g., from MOBILE 6 and COPERT4), and the use of urban thermal and dynamical variables to capture PM10 variations in both neutral and unstable atmospheric conditions. These requirements/constraints make it impractical for daily operation. On the contrary, the ML (ANN) model adopted here is free from these constraints and is fast (less than 0.1% computational time relative to the CFD model). These results demonstrate that the ANN model is a superior option for a smart city application.
Identifying the Biomarker Profile of Pre-Frail and Frail People: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from UK Biobank
Authors: Chu Wenying , Lynskey Nathan , Iain-Ross James , Pell Jill P. , Sattar Naveed , Ho Frederick K. , Welsh Paul , Celis-Morales Carlos , Petermann-Rocha Fanny
Published: January 2023

Objective: This study aimed to compare the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail adults in the UK Biobank cohort by sex. Methods: In total, 202,537 participants (67.8% women, aged 37 to 73 years) were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Further, 31 biomarkers were investigated in this study. Frailty was defined using a modified version of the Frailty Phenotype. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail individuals categorized by sex. Results: Lower concentrations of apoA1, total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, albumin, eGFRcys, vitamin D, total bilirubin, apoB, and testosterone (differences ranged from −0.30 to −0.02 per 1-SD change), as well as higher concentrations of triglycerides, GGT, cystatin C, CRP, ALP, and phosphate (differences ranged from 0.01 to 0.53 per 1-SD change), were identified both in pre-frail and frail men and women. However, some of the associations differed by sex. For instance, higher rheumatoid factor and urate concentrations were identified in pre-frail and frail women, while lower calcium, total protein, and IGF-1 concentrations were identified in pre-frail women and frail women and men. When the analyses were further adjusted for CRP, similar results were found. Conclusions: Several biomarkers were linked to pre-frailty and frailty. Nonetheless, some of the associations differed by sex. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the pathophysiology of frailty as currently defined.
How People with Physical Disabilities Can Obtain Social Support through Online Videos: A Qualitative Study in China
Authors: Huang Shiwei , Wang Yuwei
Published: January 2023

Background: Online video creation is becoming an option for many people with physical disabilities in China. However, few studies have considered how physically disabled individuals access social support through online video creation. Methods: For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 online video creators with physical disabilities. The starting point of this study was video creation by people with physical disabilities, with a focus on the social interactions between creators, online video platforms, followers, viewers and sponsors, as well as the perceived social support in the process. Results: Thematic analysis was used to identify six social support themes: (i) meeting emotional needs; (ii) obtaining informational support; (iii) obtaining creative benefits; (iv) constructing identity; (v) reconstructing social relationships; and (vi) discovering self-worth. Four risk-related themes were identified: (i) online language violence; (ii) invasion of commercial capital; (iii) online video addiction; and (iv) fragile social support. Conclusions: The findings indicate that, although people with physical disabilities can obtain effective social support through creating online videos, it is accompanied by many risks. In addition, the social support gained through creating online videos differs from traditional online social support (e.g., changes in online support groups, emphasis on creative gain). Prospect: Future research should perform more detailed analyses of different types of social support and specific risks of creation, while taking into account individual differences and sociodemographic backgrounds.
Impact of Vanadium-Containing Stone Coal Smelting on Trace Metals in an Agricultural Soil–Vegetable System: Accumulation, Transfer, and Health Risks
Authors: Jiang Zhichao , Xiao Xiyuan , Guo Zhaohui , Zhang Yunxia , Huang Xiaoxiao
Published: January 2023

Dietary exposure to trace metals (TMs) through vegetable consumption has been identified as a potential risk to human health. Fifty-one paired agricultural soil and leaf vegetable samples were collected around V-containing stone coal smelting sites in Hunan Province, China, to study the contamination and transfer characteristics of TMs (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn) in the soil–vegetable system. The health risk to local residents through vegetable ingestion was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations. The results showed that 96.2%, 23.1%, 53.8%, 30.8%, 96.2%, and 69.2% of the soil samples had Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn contents exceeding their related maximum allowable values, respectively. Cadmium and V were the primary pollutants based on the Igeo values. Moreover, 46.9% and 48.4% of vegetable samples exceeded the maximum permissible levels for Cd and Pb, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the bioaccumulation factors for Cd and V of the vegetable and soil physicochemical properties, including pH, organic matter, and free Fe2O3 content. Ingestion of garland chrysanthemum and pak choi posed high health risks, and Cd, V, and Pb were the primary contributors. These findings will help design strategies to minimize contamination and human exposure to soil–vegetable systems caused by V-containing stone coal smelting.
The Association of Obesity and Overweight with Executive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Women
Authors: Nascimento Marcelo de Maio , Kliegel Matthias , Silva Paloma Sthefane Teles , Rios Pâmala Morais Bagano , Nascimento Lara dos Santos , Silva Carolina Nascimento , Ihle Andreas
Published: January 2023

Among the risk factors reported for cognitive decline, the literature highlights changes in body composition. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between obesity/overweight and executive functions in cognitively normal older adult women. This cross-sectional study included 224 individuals (60–80 years), stratified into normal weight (n = 45), overweight (n = 98), and obesity (n = 81). As outcomes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Trail Making Test Parts A and B were assessed. We found positive correlations of BMI and WC with completion times of TMT-A and TMT-B, and a negative correlation of BMI and WC with education. ANCOVA showed an association between higher BMI and slower completion time of TMT-A, TMT-B, and ΔTMT (B-A). Impairment of executive functions of cognitively normal older women may be positively associated with obesity and negatively associated with years of education. The findings may contribute to designing strategies that make it possible to prevent cognitive decline in women during aging.