bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROCSIM: An Open-Source Simulator to Generate Energy Community Power Demand and Generation Scenarios
Authors: Velosa Nuno , Gomes Eduardo , Morais Hugo , Pereira Lucas
Published: February 2023

Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the current millennium. In the last few years, researchers have focused their attention on balancing the demand and supply, thereby allowing better management of renewable energy resources. In this regard, many energy management strategies have been developed. Nevertheless, testing, evaluating, and comparing such approaches in multiple scenarios, and above all, assessing their generalization, is currently a hard, or even impossible, task. Furthermore, analyzing the impact of such strategies in Energy Communitys (ECs) is an underexplored task. This is due to the lack of existing EC datasets and simulators that allow users to evaluate and compare their approaches. Although there are some tools to generate demand and production profiles, they are all developed with a single purpose. To address these challenges, PROCSIM is presented: an open-source simulator designed especially to create energy community datasets for multiple purposes—in particular, to test and evaluate different algorithms and models. It includes integration with a consumption-profiles generator, tools to simulate Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and wind production, a module that generates an EC dataset, and finally, a set of metrics to evaluate the generated community. To conclude, a case study comprised of two experiments is presented. The first experiment shows how an EC dataset can be created using PROCSIM. In the second experiment, an exemplification of how this dataset can be used to evaluate an optimization algorithm is provided, namely, to optimize the control of a battery. Ultimately, it is shown that the simulator can generate energy community power demand and generation scenarios. The scenarios can be fully customized by the user, considering different sizes (power capacity) and numbers of assets, and diverse generation/consumption characteristics. The datasets generated by PROCSIM can be useful for different purposes, such as optimal scheduling of EC generation resources and consumption flexibility, and for designing battery energy storage systems.
Overview of the Russian Oil and Petroleum Products Market in Crisis Conditions: Economic Aspects, Technology and Problems
Authors: Borodin Alex , Panaedova Galina , Ilyina Irina , Harputlu Mustafa , Kiseleva Natalia
Published: February 2023

In the last decade, global discussions on the role of the Russian Federation in the energy supply system have continued to be relevant. Taking into account this context, the purpose of the article is to study the impact of the Russian oil and petroleum products market on sustainable development in the conditions of the “energy transition” declared in the country and to substantiate the mechanism of transition to a diversified energy model during the period of global geo-economic turbulence. The authors propose a methodological approach for conducting a comparative assessment of the level and dynamics of the development of the industry in the country and regions, based on the use of a set of objective indicators and the concept of taking into account the level and quality of life of the population. Using panel data on the country, federal districts and vertically integrated companies of Russia from 2005 to 2020 for empirical research, we found the determining influence of external and internal factors on sustainable development. The results revealed the problems regarding the current state of the Russian oil and petroleum products market. Summing up, it can be argued that the results presented in this article prove the need to solve industry problems and form innovative strategic directions of development in Russia in modern conditions of energy transformation.
On-Line Monitoring of Shunt Capacitor Bank Based on Relay Protection Device
Authors: Lin Yifeng , Gan Jingfu , Wang Zengping
Published: February 2023

In modern power systems, the installation of a shunt capacitor bank is one of the cheapest and most widely used methods for improving the voltage profile. One shunt capacitor bank is composed of mass capacitor units and have ground, ungrounded, delta, wye connections that make configuration of capacitor banks is various. In the case of long-term operation, the failure of a single capacitor unit of a capacitor bank is likely to cause uneven voltage, which will lead to the breakdown and burning of the whole group, resulting in huge losses. The relay protection device can detect the simultaneous voltage and current of the capacitor. By utilizing these data from the relay, the abnormal state of the shunt capacitor banks at the initial stage of the fault can be found through monitoring the slight change in capacitance. Timely and early maintenance and repair would avoid capacitor bank faults and potentially greater economic losses. Capacitor banks have different connection modes. For ungrounded wye-connected capacitor banks with an unknown neutral point voltage, the capacitance parameters of each branch cannot be calculated. A parameter symmetry based on the calculation method for capacitor parameters is proposed. For long-term monitoring and observation of the capacitor capacitance value, the fault state and abnormal state of the capacitor are identified based on statistical methods. The simulation established by PSCAD verified that a relay protection device can realized an effective monitoring of the early abnormal state of the capacitor bank.
Construction of a Core Collection of Germplasms from Chinese Fir Seed Orchards
Authors: Wu Hanbin , Duan Aiguo , Wang Xihan , Chen Zhiyun , Zhang Xie , He Guiping , Zhang Jianguo
Published: February 2023

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) is one of the most important tree species for afforestation in China. First-, second-, and third-generation seed orchards of Chinese fir have been established successively, and rich germplasms have been accumulated in the process of genetic improvement. It is necessary to build a core collection of germplasms from Chinese fir seed orchards. In this work, we constructed core collections representing the genetic diversity of Chinese fir seed orchard resources based on SSR data. A total of 607 seed orchard materials from three generations were used to determine the best sampling method and intensity by comparing and analyzing nine methods for constructing core collections. Core Hunter’s multi-strategy optimizes allele coverage and the distance criterion under a 30% sampling intensity (weight: A–NE, 0.7; CV, 0.3 and E–NE, 0.5; CV, 0.5), which is superior to other strategies and was selected as the best method. The two core collections (A–NE&CV73, E–NE&CV55) constructed contained all the alleles of the whole collection and effectively limited the homology in the core collections; each core collection contained 182 accessions. Our findings could contribute greatly towards improving the management of genetic resources in Chinese fir seed orchards and provide elite materials for future studies.
Examining the Effect of Beech Bark Disease on Radial Growth in American Beech
Authors: Coe Natalie , Mulder Obadiah , Mulder Kenneth
Published: February 2023

Beech bark disease (BBD) is a significant threat to forests of North America and the impact of BBD on radial growth in the American beech is substantial. We developed a novel hierarchical Bayesian (HB) model to simultaneously model disease dynamics, tree growth, and the interaction of the two. Our model can be adapted to both emerging and more mature forest–pathogen systems to aid in ecosystem loss predictions. Long-term data from a single site minimized potential confounding variables such as climate change, precipitation, land use history, and soil conditions that may influence radial growth. Here, 206 beech trees were monitored over 15 years at an 85-acre site in southwestern Vermont, measuring diameter at breast height (DBH) and progression of BBD. Our model allows us to accurately estimate error rates in disease severity estimation and DBH measurements, and estimate the true state based on environmental variables. As disease poses significant threats to many tree species around the world, researchers can obtain more value and information from their datasets utilizing an adapted HB model.
Breeding of Highly Virulent Beauveria bassiana Strains for Biological Control of the Leaf-Eating Pests of Dalbergia odorifera
Authors: Ni Xianpeng , Li Hongjun , Xia Yandong , Lin Yan , Wang Chuanting , Li Cong , Liu Junang , Zhou Guoying
Published: February 2023

Dalbergia odorifera (D. odorifera), commonly named the fragrant rosewood, is one of the second-level protected wild plants in China, and one of 34 species of rosewood in five genera and eight categories in the National Standard of China. As a kind of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it plays an important role in the pharmaceutical industry, including the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, rheumatic pain, etc. With the continuous expansion of the planting area of D. odorifera, the diseases and pests of D. odorifera become more and more serious, among which leaf-eating pests are the most serious. In this study, ultraviolet rays and microwaves were used to mutagenize Beauveria bassiana (B. bassiana) strain HNCMBJ-P-01, and excellent mutant strains with high spore yield and high virulence were screened out, and then they were prepared into a wettable powder for forest control experiments to study their biocontrol effects. The virulence screening test showed that the virulence of strain HBWB-44 was the strongest, and the 10 day corrected mortality rate was 80.00%, and the lethal time was 5.622 days. The results of biological control test showed that the control effect of B. bassiana wettable powder 100 times solution reached 60.89%, second only to the botanical fungicide matrine. Generically, The B. bassiana that we screened and mutated showed a good killing effect on Plecoptera bilinealis (P. bilinealis), and the wettable powder produced by it showed a good control effect on the leaf-eating pests of D. odorifera. The application of fungal insecticides in plantations has a good prospect for controlling the occurrence of leaf-eating pests of D. odorifera.
Chitosan and Pectin Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and In Vitro Modeling
Authors: Morello Giulia , De Iaco Gianvito , Gigli Giuseppe , Polini Alessandro , Gervaso Francesca
Published: February 2023

Hydrogels are fascinating biomaterials that can act as a support for cells, i.e., a scaffold, in which they can organize themselves spatially in a similar way to what occurs in vivo. Hydrogel use is therefore essential for the development of 3D systems and allows to recreate the cellular microenvironment in physiological and pathological conditions. This makes them ideal candidates for biological tissue analogues for application in the field of both tissue engineering and 3D in vitro models, as they have the ability to closely mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a specific organ or tissue. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels, because of their remarkable biocompatibility related to their polymeric constituents, have the ability to interact beneficially with the cellular components. Although the growing interest in the use of polysaccharide-based hydrogels in the biomedical field is evidenced by a conspicuous number of reviews on the topic, none of them have focused on the combined use of two important polysaccharides, chitosan and pectin. Therefore, the present review will discuss the biomedical applications of polysaccharide-based hydrogels containing the two aforementioned natural polymers, chitosan and pectin, in the fields of tissue engineering and 3D in vitro modeling.
Variable Selection for Sparse Data with Applications to Vaginal Microbiome and Gene Expression Data
Authors: Dousti Mousavi Niloufar , Yang Jie , Aldirawi Hani
Published: February 2023

Sparse data with a high portion of zeros arise in various disciplines. Modeling sparse high-dimensional data is a challenging and growing research area. In this paper, we provide statistical methods and tools for analyzing sparse data in a fairly general and complex context. We utilize two real scientific applications as illustrations, including a longitudinal vaginal microbiome data and a high dimensional gene expression data. We recommend zero-inflated model selections and significance tests to identify the time intervals when the pregnant and non-pregnant groups of women are significantly different in terms of Lactobacillus species. We apply the same techniques to select the best 50 genes out of 2426 sparse gene expression data. The classification based on our selected genes achieves 100% prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the first four principal components based on the selected genes can explain as high as 83% of the model variability.
The Genetics of Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A GWAS and Post-GWAS Update
Authors: Hitomi Yuki , Nakamura Minoru
Published: February 2023

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic, progressive cholestatic liver disease in which the small intrahepatic bile ducts are destroyed by autoimmune reactions. Among autoimmune diseases, which are polygenic complex traits caused by the combined contribution of genetic and environmental factors, PBC exhibits the strongest involvement of genetic heritability in disease development. As at December 2022, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and associated meta-analyses identified approximately 70 PBC susceptibility gene loci in various populations, including those of European and East Asian descent. However, the molecular mechanisms through which these susceptibility loci affect the pathogenesis of PBC are not fully understood. This study provides an overview of current data regarding the genetic factors of PBC as well as post-GWAS approaches to identifying primary functional variants and effector genes in disease-susceptibility loci. Possible mechanisms of these genetic factors in the development of PBC are also discussed, focusing on four major disease pathways identified by in silico gene set analyses, namely, (1) antigen presentation by human leukocyte antigens, (2) interleukin-12-related pathways, (3) cellular responses to tumor necrosis factor, and (4) B cell activation, maturation, and differentiation pathways.
Molecular Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: González-Vázquez Luis Daniel , Arenas Miguel
Published: February 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) produced diverse molecular variants during its recent expansion in humans that caused different transmissibility and severity of the associated disease as well as resistance to monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal sera, among other treatments. In order to understand the causes and consequences of the observed SARS-CoV-2 molecular diversity, a variety of recent studies investigated the molecular evolution of this virus during its expansion in humans. In general, this virus evolves with a moderate rate of evolution, in the order of 10−3–10−4 substitutions per site and per year, which presents continuous fluctuations over time. Despite its origin being frequently associated with recombination events between related coronaviruses, little evidence of recombination was detected, and it was mostly located in the spike coding region. Molecular adaptation is heterogeneous among SARS-CoV-2 genes. Although most of the genes evolved under purifying selection, several genes showed genetic signatures of diversifying selection, including a number of positively selected sites that affect proteins relevant for the virus replication. Here, we review current knowledge about the molecular evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, including the emergence and establishment of variants of concern. We also clarify relationships between the nomenclatures of SARS-CoV-2 lineages. We conclude that the molecular evolution of this virus should be monitored over time for predicting relevant phenotypic consequences and designing future efficient treatments.
Genome Identification of the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) ASMT Gene Family and Its Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stress
Authors: Xu Fangfang , Liu Wenxiang , Wang Hui , Alam Pravej , Zheng Wei , Faizan Mohammad
Published: February 2023

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Ktze) is an important cash crop grown worldwide. It is often subjected to environmental stresses that influence the quality and yield of its leaves. Acetylserotonin-O-methyltransferase (ASMT) is a key enzyme in melatonin biosynthesis, and it plays a critical role in plant stress responses. In this paper, a total of 20 ASMT genes were identified in tea plants and classified into three subfamilies based on a phylogenetic clustering analysis. The genes were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes; two pairs of genes showed fragment duplication. A gene sequence analysis showed that the structures of the ASMT genes in the tea plants were highly conserved and that the gene structures and motif distributions slightly differed among the different subfamily members. A transcriptome analysis showed that most CsASMT genes did not respond to drought and cold stresses, and a qRT-PCR analysis showed that CsASMT08, CsASMT09, CsASMT10, and CsASMT20 significantly responded to drought and low-temperature stresses; in particular, CsASMT08 and CsASMT10 were highly expressed under low-temperature stress and negatively regulated in response to drought stress. A combined analysis revealed that CsASMT08 and CsASMT10 were highly expressed and that their expressions differed before and after treatment, which indicates that they are potential regulators of abiotic stress resistance in the tea plant. Our results can facilitate further studies on the functional properties of CsASMT genes in melatonin synthesis and abiotic stress in the tea plant.
A Scan-to-BIM Approach for the Management of Two Arab-Norman Churches in Palermo (Italy)
Authors: Aricò Manuela , Lo Brutto Mauro , Maltese Antonino
Published: February 2023

The paper shows the results of the research activities carried out by the Department of Engineering at the University of Palermo (Italy), which assessed the application of the Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) methodology through a Scan-to-BIM approach to two local churches belonging to the medieval period. This project was motivated by a renewed interest from the city administrators towards the conservation of cultural heritage dating back to the Arab-Norman domination in Sicily since one of the two buildings was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2015. The morpho-typological style of the churches has been acquired by high-detailed 3D surveys, which provided the base for two HBIM models suited to render the peculiarity of these buildings at their best. The BIM environment allowed both the geometrical representation of all the architectural elements and their further enrichment with the integration of non-geometric data and semantic signification through a knowledge-based workflow. This process led to a hierarchical organization of two high-accuracy digital replicas and to the creation of a database containing all of the architectural items typical of the Arab-Norman style, aimed to share the awareness of its conservation and to match all of the Cultural Heritage requirements. In the future, the features in this database can be shared with other specialists as reference objects for further studies on cultural heritage sites in the UNESCO list.
Diaporthe and Diplodia Species Associated with Walnut (Juglans regia L.) in Hungarian Orchards
Authors: Zabiák Andrea , Kovács Csilla , Takács Ferenc , Pál Károly , Peles Ferenc , Fekete Erzsébet , Karaffa Levente , Mihály Kata , Flipphi Michel , Sándor Erzsébet
Published: February 2023

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) production is a developing sector in Hungarian horticulture, where preharvest fruit rot increasingly causes economic losses. Previously, fungi from the Diaporthaceae and Botryosphaeriaceae families were isolated with a high incidence from rotten fruits. Here, we identify these pathogens from different plant parts (twigs, buds, and shoots) in orchards in the north-east of Hungary, and test their pathogenicity on immature nuts. Diaporthe eres Nitschke and Diplodia seriata De Notaris were identified in isolates from different symptomatic and asymptomatic plant parts based on their ITS (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) and tef1 (translation elongation factor EF-1-alpha gene) DNA sequences. Purified monocultures caused rot of immature nuts following in vitro inoculation. Our results suggest that D. eres Nitschke and D. seriata De Notaris lingering on buds and overwintering woody parts may affect the seasonal nuts through wound infection. Infection by Diaporthe and Botryosphaeriaceae species present on woody plant parts, as well as on/in buds has been reported in Mediterranean countries. This is the first report of such stepwise aetiology from a region with continental weather. Climate change, associated weather patterns and the limitations of fungicide use in the European Union, among other factors, could be responsible for the increasing number of infections and economic damage caused by these pathogens.
Increased Temperature Affects Tomato Fruit Physicochemical Traits at Harvest Depending on Fruit Developmental Stage and Genotype
Authors: Delgado-Vargas Victoria A. , Ayala-Garay Oscar J. , Arévalo-Galarza Ma. de Lourdes , Gautier Hélène
Published: February 2023

In this study, we investigated how increasing temperature affects tomato fruit physicochemical traits and looked for genetic variability to help maintain fruit quality in the context of climate change. High temperature (HT: +3 °C) was applied at four fruit developmental stages, from anthesis and 15, 30 or 45 days after anthesis until ripening to three genotypes, a commercial cultivar (Money Maker, “MM”) and two genotypes likely more tolerant to HT (Campeche 40 “C40”, a landrace from a warm, humid region, and a hybrid Chapingo F1, “F1”, resulting from crossbreeding landraces tolerant to high temperature). Increasing average diurnal temperature (from 27.0 to 29.9) reduced fruit firmness and size and affected fruit composition according to genotype. Sugar and acid contents were highly impacted in MM and C40 fruits, especially when HT was applied during the rapid fruit growth period. The application of HT at different fruit developmental stages revealed that HT could enhance acid accumulation and degradation (rate and/or duration), resulting in different effects on fruit acidity between genotypes. The F1 genotype appeared to be more adapted to HT, producing larger fruits with higher sugar, lower acid and increased vitamin C and calcium content. These results provide interesting directions for breeding programs that want to maintain future tomato fruit yields and quality.
Removal of Heavy Metals from Mine Tailings in Central Chile Using Solidago chilensis Meyen, Haplopappus foliosus DC, and Lycium chilense Miers ex Bertero
Authors: Lazo Pamela , Lazo Andrea , Hansen Henrik K. , Ortiz-Soto Rodrigo , Hansen Marcela E. , Arévalo Felipe , Gutiérrez Claudia
Published: February 2023

Mining activities have been a part of the history of Chile since time immemorial, generating pollution and environmental liabilities. Due to the lack of regulation, many tailings are deposited close to rivers or/and on unstable ground, near which towns have been built, generally in locations with no budget for their treatment. This study tested three plant species from Northern and Central Chile to remove total chromium, nickel, and zinc from tailings: Solidago chilensis, Haplopappus foliosus, and Lycium chilense, which complements the few existing studies on heavy metals removal with native or endemic Chilean shrubs. The experiments were conducted ex situ, and the initial and final concentrations of metals were determined in tailings and plants to obtain the removal efficiency, translocation and bioconcentration factors. Among these species, the best performance was obtained using Solidago chilensis, achieving removal efficiencies of 24% for Cr, 19% for Ni, and 17% for Zn, showing the ability to phytostabilize chromium and the higher resistance concerning the toxicity threshold. Haplopappus foliosus and Lycium chilense presented a slight tendency to stabilize chromium. Only Solidago chilensis showed little ability to extract Zn.
The Relationship between Job Insecurity and Psychological Well-Being among Malaysian Precarious Workers: Work–Life Balance as a Mediator
Authors: Abdul Jalil Nurul Iman , Tan Soon Aun , Ibharim Nur Shakila , Musa Anisah Zainab , Ang Siew Hui , Mangundjaya Wustari L.
Published: February 2023

The emergence of coronavirus disease has impacted human lives, one of which is economic disruption. Many Malaysian organisations have devised various crisis-response techniques, such as downsizing, laying off, retrenching, and combining. As a result, the number of Malaysians working in precarious jobs, which are defined by unpredictable and uncertain situations, has indirectly increased, hence increasing job insecurity. Therefore, maintaining psychological health is essential to safeguarding the mental health of employees. In the current working landscape, job security and work–life balance have commonly been deemed necessary in contributing to well-being among employees. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine how work–life balance influences the relationship between job insecurity and psychological well-being among Malaysian precarious workers. It also fills a gap in the research by explaining the causal association between job insecurity and psychological well-being among precarious workers, as previous well-being studies have largely focused on employees with secure jobs. There were 442 responders collected using purposive and snowball sampling methods, and they were requested to complete the Job Insecurity Scale (JIS), Work–Life Balance, and Well-Being Index Scale (WHO-5). Job instability was negatively connected with work–life balance and psychological well-being. On the other hand, work–life balance was found to be positively related to psychological well-being. This supports the notion that work–life balance is a significant mediator in the relationship between job insecurity and psychological well-being. These findings emphasise that Malaysian precarious workers with job security could enhance their psychological well-being by achieving work–life balance.
Cessation of Face Mask Use after COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Diabetes: Prevalence and Determinants
Authors: Cordero Franco Hid Felizardo , Salinas Martínez Ana María , Martínez Martínez Diana Laura , Santiago Jarquin Blanca Reyna , Guzmán de la Garza Francisco Javier
Published: February 2023

Studies on the cessation of face mask use after a COVID-19 vaccine in patients with diabetes are not available, despite their greater predisposition to complications. We estimated the prevalence of cessation of face mask use after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with diabetes and identified which factor was most strongly associated with non-use. This was a cross-sectional study in patients with diabetes 18–70 years with at least one dose of vaccine against COVID-19 (n = 288). Participants were asked to respond face-to-face to a questionnaire in a primary care center. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate binary logistic regression were used for analyzing the association between vulnerability, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, vaccine expectations (independent variables), and cessation of use (dependent variable), controlling for sociodemographic, smoking, medical, vaccine, and COVID-19 history. The prevalence of cessation of face masks was 25.3% (95% CI 20.2, 30.5). Not feeling vulnerable to hospitalization increased the odds of non-use (adjusted OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.2, 8.6), while perceiving benefits did the opposite (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.9). The prevalence was low, and only two factors were associated with the cessation of face mask use after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Parental Burnout and Adolescents’ Development: Family Environment, Academic Performance, and Social Adaptation
Authors: Wang Wei , Chen Shen , Wang Shengnan , Shan Geyan , Li Yongxin
Published: February 2023

The present study aimed to examine the effect and underlying mechanism of parental burnout on adolescents’ development as well as the mediating role of parental psychological control. Adolescents’ academic performance, and social distress were selected as developmental indicators. Data were collected on three different occasions using a time-lagged design. Questionnaires were distributed to 565 Chinese families. In the first phase of data collection, fathers and mothers were asked to provide data regarding their parental burnout separately. In the second phase, adolescents were asked to provide details regarding their perceived father and mother’s psychological control. In the third phase, adolescents were asked to provide information on their social distress. At the end of their term, academic performance scores on the final exams were collected. In total, data of 290 students (135 boys; Mage = 13.85 years) and their parents (for fathers age M = 41.91, and for mothers M = 40.76) were matched. The results of the multi-group structural equation model showed that parental burnout was negatively related to adolescents’ development indirectly through parental psychological control. Parental psychological control partial mediated the relation between parental burnout and academic performance, and fully mediated the relation between parental burnout with social adaptation. In addition, mothers’ parental burnout showed a stronger effect than fathers’. Mothers’ parental burnout generally showed significant effects on adolescents’ development, while the same indirect effects were not significant in the sample of fathers. These results showed the importance of mothers’ influence on adolescents in parenting activities, and therefore, attention should be paid to mothers in the intervention and prevention of parental burnout.
Effect of Fluoride Content of Mouthwashes on the Metallic Ion Release in Different Orthodontics Archwires
Authors: Pastor Francisco , Rodriguez Juan Carlos , Barrera José María , García-Menocal José Angel Delgado , Brizuela Aritza , Puigdollers Andreu , Espinar Eduardo , Gil Javier
Published: February 2023

Metal ion release studies were carried out on three of the most commonly used orthodontic wires in the clinic: austenitic stainless steel, Ti-Mo, and superelastic NiTi, using three mouthwashes with different fluoride concentrations: 130, 200, and 380 ppm. Immersions were carried out in these mouthwashes at 37 °C for 1, 4, 7, and 14 days, and the ions released were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). All wires were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed a moderate ion release in the stainless steel wires, with nickel and chromium values of 500 and 1000 ppb in the worst conditions for the wires: concentrations of 380 ppm fluoride and 14 days of immersion. However, in the Ti-Mo and NiTi alloys, an abrupt change in release was observed when the samples were immersed in 380 ppm fluoride concentrations. Titanium releases in Ti-Mo wires reached 200,000 ppb, creating numerous pits on the surface. Under the same conditions, the release of Ni and Ti ions from the superelastic wires also exceeded 220,000 ppb and 180,000 ppb, respectively. This release of ions causes variations in the chemical composition of the wires, causing the appearance of martensite plates in the austenitic matrix after 4 days of immersion. This fact causes it to lose its superelastic properties at a temperature of 37 °C. In the case of immersion in 380 ppm mouthwashes for more than 7 days, rich-nickel precipitates can be seen. These embrittle the wire and lose all tooth-correcting properties. It should be noted that the release of Ni ions can cause hypersensitivity in patients, particularly women. The results indicate that the use of mouthwashes with a high content of fluoride should not be recommended with orthodontic archwires.
Effects of Emotional Regulation, Resilience, and Distress Disclosure on Post-Traumatic Growth in Nursing Students
Authors: Kim Kyungmi , Lee Jongeun , Yoon Jaeyeon
Published: February 2023

Nursing students, who need to reflect on self, secure their identity, and be prepared as would-be nurses, can make a good use of post-traumatic growth (PTG) that can function as a catalyst for positive change even amidst this COVID-19 crisis. Emotional regulation strategies in traumatic events are key factors for successful growth, resilience is positively associated with PTG, and distress disclosure is an important factor for stress reduction. In this context, this study is a descriptive research study to identify factors influencing the PTG of nursing students, using emotional regulation, resilience, and distress disclosure as the main variables. Data were collected from 231 junior and senior students of the nursing departments of two universities, and the collected data were analyzed using the t-test, the Mann–Whitney U test, ANOVA, the Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS/WIN 26.0. Analysis of the PTG scores of the nursing students by general characteristics revealed significant differences in PTG according to the transfer status, perceived health status, and levels of satisfaction with major, hybrid-learning class, interpersonal relationship satisfaction, and clinical practice. Factors influencing PTG were identified to be resilience, reappraisal among emotional regulation strategies, satisfaction with clinical practice, and transfer, with the overall explanatory power calculated at 44%. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to consider resilience and reappraisal, which is a sub-variable of emotional regulation strategies, in order to develop programs designed to promote PTG of nursing students in the future.
LGBTQIA+ Adolescents’ Perceptions of Gender Tailoring and Portrayal in a Virtual-Reality-Based Alcohol-Prevention Tool: A Qualitative Interview Study and Thematic Analysis
Authors: Prediger Christina , Heinrichs Katherina , Tezcan-Güntekin Hürrem , Stadler Gertraud , Pilz González Laura , Lyk Patricia , Majgaard Gunver , Stock Christiane
Published: February 2023

Gender-sensitive interventions in alcohol-prevention that target adolescents often lead to binary tailoring for girls and boys. However, increased societal and legal recognition of sexual and gender minorities as well as research with this age group demand a broader understanding of gender. Therefore, the present study addresses the question of how interventions should be further developed to include sexual and gender diversity by exploring LGBTQIA+ adolescents’ perceptions of gender portrayal and gender-tailoring using Virtual LimitLab—a virtual-reality simulation for training refusal skills under peer pressure to consume alcohol. Qualitative interviews with 16 LGBTQIA+ adolescents were conducted after individual simulation testing. Using a thematic analysis with reflexive orientation, four themes were identified: Statements on relevance of gender, opinions on tailoring- and flirting options, and opinions on characters. Participants called for greater diversity representation among the characters, regarding gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as for representing, e.g., racialised peers. Moreover, participants suggested expanding the simulation’s flirting options by adding bisexual and aromantic/asexual options. Divergent views on the relevance of gender and wishes for tailoring options reflected the participant group’s heterogeneity. Based on these findings, future gender-sensitive interventions should conceptualise gender in a complex and multidimensional manner that intersects with further diversity categories.
Integrating Landscape Ecological Risks and Ecosystem Service Values into the Ecological Security Pattern Identification of Wuhan Urban Agglomeration
Authors: Xiong Haojun , Hu Haozhi , Han Pingyang , Wang Min
Published: February 2023

Urban agglomerations are the main form of China’s future promotion of new urbanization development. Nevertheless, their accelerated expansion and development are increasingly threatening the security of regional ecosystems. The identification and optimization of ecological safety patterns (ESPs) is the fundamental spatial way to guarantee the ecological safety of urban circles and realize the sustainable development of the socio-economic and ecological environment. Nevertheless, from the perspective of urban green, low-carbon, and ecological restoration, regional safety evaluation still lacks a complete framework integrating ecological elements and social and natural indicators. Moreover, the evaluation method of ESPs also has a lack of judgment on the long-term change dynamics of regional landscape ecological risks and ecosystem service values. Thus, we proposed a new regional ecological security evaluation system based on ecosystem service value (ESV) and landscape ecological risk (LER), using the Wuhan urban agglomeration (WUA) as the research object. This study analyzed LER and ESV’s spatial and temporal changes over nearly 40 years from 1980 to 2020. LER and LSV were used as ecological elements combined with natural and human-social elements to jointly model the resistance surface of the landscape pattern. Applying the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR), we identified green ecological corridors, constructed the ESPs of WUA, and proposed optimization measures. Our results show that: (1) The proportion of higher- and high-ecological-risk areas in WUA has decreased from 19.30% to 13.51% over the past 40 years. Over time, a “low–high–low” hierarchical distribution characteristic centered on Wuhan city was gradually formed in the east, south, and north; the total value of ecosystem services increased from CNY1110.998 billion to CNY1160.698 billion. The ESV was higher in the northeastern, southern, and central parts of the area. (2) This study selected 30 ecological source areas with a total area of about 14,374 km2 and constructed and identified 24 ecological corridors and 42 ecological nodes, forming a multi-level ecological network optimization pattern with intertwined points, lines, and surfaces, increasing the connectivity of the ecological network and improving the ecological security level of the study area to a large extent, which is of great significance to promote the ecological priority and green-rise strategy of WUA and the high-quality development path of the green ecological shelter.
Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children: A Validation Study
Authors: Silva Cátia , Pereira Beatriz , Figueiredo Gabriela , Rosário Pedro , Núñez José Carlos , Magalhães Paula
Published: February 2023

Self-efficacy has a strong influence on children’s eating behavior. Feeling capable of regulating one’s eating behavior is especially relevant in situations of activation while facing temptations or experiencing negative emotions. Despite the relevance, there is no validated measure to assess children’s self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in these domains. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children based on a sample of 724 elementary school children in Portugal. The sample was split randomly into two groups, and a principal component analysis with Group 1 and a confirmatory factor analysis with Group 2 were carried out. The scale comprises two distinct but related factors—self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in activation and temptation situations and self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in negative emotional situations. Moreover, self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors was positively and statistically related to self-regulation processes toward healthy eating, declarative knowledge about healthy eating, and attitudes and perceptions toward healthy eating. The present study provides preliminary evidence that the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children is valid and reliable for evaluating children’s self-efficacy in regulating their eating behaviors.
Commonly Used Subjective Effort Scales May Not Predict Directly Measured Physical Workloads and Fatigue in Hispanic Farmworkers
Authors: Thamsuwan Ornwipa , Galvin Kit , Palmandez Pablo , Johnson Peter W.
Published: February 2023

In North America, Hispanic migrant farmworkers are being exposed to occupational ergonomic risks. Due to cultural differences in the perception and reporting of effort and pain, it was unknown whether standardized subjective ergonomic assessment tools could accurately estimate the directly measured their physical effort. This study investigated whether the subjective scales widely used in exercise physiology were associated with the direct measures of metabolic load and muscle fatigue in this population. Twenty-four migrant apple harvesters participated in this study. The Borg RPE in Spanish and the Omni RPE with pictures of tree-fruit harvesters were used for assessing overall effort at four time points during a full-day 8-h work shift. The Borg CR10 was used for assessing local discomfort at the shoulders. To determine whether there were associations between the subjective and direct measures of overall exertion measures, we conducted linear regressions of the percentage of heart rate reserve (% HRR) on the Borg RPE and Omni RPE. In terms of local discomfort, the median power frequency (MPF) of trapezius electromyography (EMG) was used for representing muscle fatigue. Then full-day measurements of muscle fatigue were regressed on the Borg CR10 changes from the beginning to the end of the work shift. The Omni RPE were found to be correlated with the % HRR. In addition, the Borg RPE were correlated to the % HRR after the break but not after the work. These scales might be useful for certain situations. In terms of local discomfort, the Borg CR10 were not correlated with the MPF of EMG and, therefore, could not replace direct measurement.
Association between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Firefighters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ras Jaron , Kengne Andre P. , Smith Denise L. , Soteriades Elpidoforos S. , Leach Lloyd
Published: February 2023

Approximately 45% of on-duty related mortalities were due to sudden cardiac death, with many of these fatalities related to cardiovascular disease and overexertion, while performing emergency duties. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to determine the association between cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness in firefighters. A literature search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCOHost, and ScienceDirect was conducted; the Rayyan® intelligent systematic review tool was used to screen and select studies for inclusion. The appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme toolkit were used for methodological assessment of included studies. Data were analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 and MedCalc® statistical softwares to determine the effects of obesity (Z = 10.29, p < 0.001) and aging (Z = 4.72, p < 0.001) on cardiorespiratory fitness. Furthermore, there was a significant effect for cardiorespiratory fitness level on systolic blood pressure (Z = 5.94, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (Z = 2.45, p < 0.001), total cholesterol levels (Z = 3.80, p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Z = 4.44, p < 0.001), triglycerides (Z = 3.76, p < 0.001) and blood glucose concentration (Z = 4.78, p < 0.001). Cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly and inversely associated in firefighters. Fire service departments should adopt behavioral intervention strategies to maintain optimum cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles and cardiorespiratory fitness among firefighters to ensure their occupational well-being.
Mood Status Response to Physical Activity and Its Influence on Performance: Are Chronotype and Exercise Timing Affect?
Authors: Liu Hengxu , Liang Jiaqi , Wang Kun , Zhang Tingran , Liu Shiqi , Luo Jiong
Published: February 2023

Purpose: It is well known that there is an obvious 24 h diurnal variation in the individual’s mood state and physiological activity, and training at different times of the day may lead to different exercise performance and metabolic outcomes; however, the time-dependent effect of emotional state on physical activity and the influence of its circadian rhythm on exercise performance are still not comprehensively understood. Based on this, this study summarizes the rhythmic experimental research in the field of sport psychology, and it aims to provide the basis for coaches to optimize sports training scientifically and to improve the mental health of the related crowd to the greatest extent. Methods: The systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and CNKI databases for relevant literature; the search scope was research before September 2022. Results: 13 studies comprising 382 subjects examined the effects of exercise timing on mood responses to exercise or the effects of circadian rhythms of mood on exercise performance, which included 3 RCTs and 10 Non-RCTs. The subjects included athletes (both training or retired), college students, and healthy adults. Two studies were designed for long-term exercise intervention (aerobic training and RISE) and the rest for acute intervention (CrossFit training, HIIT, aerobic combined with muscle conditioning training, constant power exhaustion training, and cycling) or physical function tests (RSA + BTV tests, 30 s Wingate test, muscle strength + CMJ + swimming performance test, RSSJA, shooting accuracy tests + 10 × 20 m dribbling sprint, 200 m time trials). All trials reported specific exercise timing; of these, 10 studies reported subjects’ chronotypes, most commonly using the MEQ scale, while 1 recorded with the CSM. Mood responses were assessed with the POMS scale in 10 studies, while 3 other studies used the UMACL, PANAS, and GAS scales, respectively. Conclusion: There was much inconsistency between the results, with subjects likely to be exposed to more sunlight (the main timing factor of the circadian rhythm) during early morning exercise, resulting in feeling more positive emotions; however, following a night’s rest, delayed responses and poor functioning of the various organ systems of the human body may also lead to higher feelings of fatigue and negative emotions indirectly. Conversely, for athletes, their physical function tests are also more susceptible to the circadian rhythm of emotions, suggesting the importance of synchronizing them. In addition, night owls’ emotional state during physical activity seems to be more susceptible to exercise timing than that of early birds. In order to achieve the best emotional state, it is suggested that night owls arrange courses in the afternoon or evening in future training.