bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyses of lncRNAs, circRNAs, and the Interactions between ncRNAs and mRNAs in Goat Submandibular Glands Reveal Their Potential Function in Immune Regulation
Authors: Wang Aili , Wang Jianmin , Mao Meina , Zhao Xiaodong , Li Qing , Xuan Rong , Li Fajun , Chao Tianle
Published: January 2023

As part of one of the main ruminants, goat salivary glands hardly secrete digestive enzymes, but play an important role in immunity. The immune function of goat salivary glands significantly changes with age, while the expression profile and specific function of non-coding RNA during this process are unknown. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed on submandibular gland (SMG) tissues of 1-month-old, 12-month-old, and 24-month-old goats, revealing the expression patterns of lncRNA and circRNA at different ages. A total of 369 lncRNAs and 1699 circRNAs were found to be differentially expressed. Functional enrichment analyses showed that the lncRNA regulated target mRNAs and circRNA host genes were significantly enriched in immune-related GO terms and pathways. CeRNA network analysis showed that the key differentially expressed circRNAs and lncRNAs mainly regulate the key immune-related genes ITGB2, LCP2, PTPRC, SYK, and ZAP70 through competitive binding with miR-141-x, miR-29-y, and chi-miR-29b-3p, thereby affecting the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway, the T cell receptor signaling pathway, and other immune-related pathways. It should be noted that the expression of key circRNAs, lncRNAs, and key immune-related genes in goat SMGs decreased significantly with the growth of the goat. This is the first reporting of lncRNAs, circRNAs, and ceRNA network regulation in goat SMGs. Our study contributes to the knowledge of changes in the expression of non-coding RNAs during SMG development in goats and provides new insights into the relationship between non-coding RNAs and salivary gland immune function in goats.
Marker-Assisted Recurrent Selection for Pyramiding Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Disease Resistance Alleles in Coffea arabica L.
Authors: Saavedra Laura Maritza , Caixeta Eveline Teixeira , Barka Geleta Dugassa , Borém Aluízio , Zambolim Laércio , Nascimento Moysés , Cruz Cosme Damião , Oliveira Antonio Carlos Baião de , Pereira Antonio Alves
Published: January 2023

In this study, marker-assisted recurrent selection was evaluated for pyramiding resistance gene alleles against coffee leaf rust (CLR) and coffee berry diseases (CBD) in Coffea arabica. A total of 144 genotypes corresponding to 12 hybrid populations from crosses between eight parent plants with desired morphological and agronomic traits were evaluated. Molecular data were used for cross-certification, diversity study and resistance allele marker-assisted selection (MAS) against the causal agent of coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum kahawae). In addition, nine morphological and agronomic traits were evaluated to determine the components of variance, select superior hybrids, and estimate genetic gain. From the genotypes evaluated, 134 were confirmed as hybrids. The genetic diversity between and within populations was 75.5% and 24.5%, respectively, and the cluster analysis revealed three primary groups. Pyramiding of CLR and CBD resistance genes was conducted in 11 genotypes using MAS. A selection intensity of 30% resulted in a gain of over 50% compared to the original population. Selected hybrids with increased gain also showed greater genetic divergence in addition to the pyramided resistance alleles. The strategies used were, therefore, efficient to select superior coffee hybrids for recurrent selection programs and could be used as a source of resistance in various crosses.
A Deep Learning-Based Framework for Retinal Disease Classification
Authors: Choudhary Amit , Ahlawat Savita , Urooj Shabana , Pathak Nitish , Lay-Ekuakille Aimé , Sharma Neelam
Published: January 2023

This study addresses the problem of the automatic detection of disease states of the retina. In order to solve the abovementioned problem, this study develops an artificially intelligent model. The model is based on a customized 19-layer deep convolutional neural network called VGG-19 architecture. The model (VGG-19 architecture) is empowered by transfer learning. The model is designed so that it can learn from a large set of images taken with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and classify them into four conditions of the retina: (1) choroidal neovascularization, (2) drusen, (3) diabetic macular edema, and (4) normal form. The training datasets (taken from publicly available sources) consist of 84,568 instances of OCT retinal images. The datasets exhibit all four classes of retinal disease mentioned above. The proposed model achieved a 99.17% classification accuracy with 0.995 specificities and 0.99 sensitivity, making it better than the existing models. In addition, the proper statistical evaluation is done on the predictions using such performance measures as (1) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, (2) Cohen’s kappa parameter, and (3) confusion matrix. Experimental results show that the proposed VGG-19 architecture coupled with transfer learning is an effective technique for automatically detecting the disease state of a retina.
Lung and Infection CT-Scan-Based Segmentation with 3D UNet Architecture and Its Modification
Authors: Asnawi Mohammad Hamid , Pravitasari Anindya Apriliyanti , Darmawan Gumgum , Hendrawati Triyani , Yulita Intan Nurma , Suprijadi Jadi , Nugraha Farid Azhar Lutfi
Published: January 2023

COVID-19 is the disease that has spread over the world since December 2019. This disease has a negative impact on individuals, governments, and even the global economy, which has caused the WHO to declare COVID-19 as a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern). Until now, there has been no medicine that can completely cure COVID-19. Therefore, to prevent the spread and reduce the negative impact of COVID-19, an accurate and fast test is needed. The use of chest radiography imaging technology, such as CXR and CT-scan, plays a significant role in the diagnosis of COVID-19. In this study, CT-scan segmentation will be carried out using the 3D version of the most recommended segmentation algorithm for bio-medical images, namely 3D UNet, and three other architectures from the 3D UNet modifications, namely 3D ResUNet, 3D VGGUNet, and 3D DenseUNet. These four architectures will be used in two cases of segmentation: binary-class segmentation, where each architecture will segment the lung area from a CT scan; and multi-class segmentation, where each architecture will segment the lung and infection area from a CT scan. Before entering the model, the dataset is preprocessed first by applying a minmax scaler to scale the pixel value to a range of zero to one, and the CLAHE method is also applied to eliminate intensity in homogeneity and noise from the data. Of the four models tested in this study, surprisingly, the original 3D UNet produced the most satisfactory results compared to the other three architectures, although it requires more iterations to obtain the maximum results. For the binary-class segmentation case, 3D UNet produced IoU scores, Dice scores, and accuracy of 94.32%, 97.05%, and 99.37%, respectively. For the case of multi-class segmentation, 3D UNet produced IoU scores, Dice scores, and accuracy of 81.58%, 88.61%, and 98.78%, respectively. The use of 3D segmentation architecture will be very helpful for medical personnel because, apart from helping the process of diagnosing someone with COVID-19, they can also find out the severity of the disease through 3D infection projections.
Childhood Adversities and Psychological Health of Adult Children of Parents with Mental Illness in Japan
Authors: Kageyama Masako , Sakamoto Taku , Kobayashi Ayuna , Hirama Akiko , Tamura Hiroyuki , Yokoyama Keiko
Published: January 2023

In this study, we seek to clarify whether the present-day experience of psychological distress among adults whose parents suffered from mental illness is related to their childhood experiences of abuse and neglect and their provision of emotional care for their parents during their school-age years. To this end, a web-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 120 participants over the age of 20 who attended a self-help group responded (50% response rate); of these, 94 had a parent diagnosed with a mental illness, and these participants were included for data analysis purposes. Of the 94 respondents, 65 (69.2%) were highly distressed, as measured by a Kessler (K) 6 measure of ≥5. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the experience of providing emotional care for parents during school-age childhood was significantly related to high levels of distress in adulthood (OR = 3.48; 95% CI 1.21–9.96). For children of parents with mental illnesses, the effects of providing emotional care for parents during childhood may include long-term psychological distress. For this reason, mentally ill parents raising children need visiting community nurses or other professionals to provide emotional care on behalf of their children.
Analysis of Healthcare Professionals’ and Institutions’ Roles in Twitter Colostomy Information
Authors: Jiménez-Hidalgo Pedro Jesús , Jiménez-Gómez Beatriz , Ruiz-Núñez Carlos , Segado-Fernández Sergio , Diez-Villacañas Fernando , López-Espuela Fidel , Herrera-Peco Ivan
Published: January 2023

Social media represents a powerful tool for disseminating verified health information on topics such as colostomy, and the roles of healthcare professionals and institutions to ensure the veracity of the information conveyed is increasingly relevant. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the roles of these healthcare professionals and institutions in the conversation about colostomy, without being framed in a specific health communication campaign, and to know the use of reliable information in the conversation. The study was carried out by analyzing Twitter messages containing the hashtag “colostomy” and “Chron” between the 1 January and the 30 April 2022. It was conducted using the NodeXL software, focusing on content analysis of tweets and users’ accounts. The results show that accounts with healthcare activity influence the impressions generated on the network (p = 0.018), finding that nurses are the most active healthcare professionals (22.24%) also having a significant effect on the overall network interactions (p = 0.022). In contrast, we found that institutions do not actively participate on the network. We emphasize the responsibility of institutions for health education and the need for professionals to improve communication skills on social networks, but also the need to improve communication skills on social media to support public health campaigns through these increasingly important channels.
Analysis of Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Images for the Assessment of Bacterial Activity and Distribution of Tongue Coating
Authors: Kim Yu-Rin , Kang Hyun-Kyung
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to verify and to validate the correlation between, and validate the assessment of, bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating, by analyzing quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) images for the diagnosis of oral malodor. Oral malodor was measured using the Twin Breasor II, and bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating were investigated using QLF images. Bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating were quantitatively analyzed by dividing the tongue into six areas using the TB01 1.05 software. ROC curves were generated using MedCalc® software to validate the diagnosis of oral malodor, the testing of bacterial activity, and the distribution of tongue coating. Bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating showed a very strong association with each other (r = 0.937, p < 0.01), and were significantly higher in the oral malodor group (p < 0.05). The distribution of tongue coating was highly correlated with H2S (r = 0.223, p < 0.01) but not associated with CH3SH. Sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve confirmed the high accuracy of this method in assessing bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating in the diagnosis of oral malodor. Since QLF images provide significant accuracy during quantitative analysis in the identification of bacterial activity and the distribution of tongue coating, systematic management of tongue coating and reduced oral malodor can be achieved by actively using QLF images and oral malodor measurement.
Evaluation of Muscle Oxygen Dynamics in Children’s Gait and Its Relationship with the Physiological Cost Index
Authors: Shirai Yuya , Ito Tadashi , Ito Yuji , Matsunaga Naomichi , Noritake Koji , Ochi Nobuhiko , Sugiura Hideshi
Published: January 2023

The response of muscle oxygen saturation, which is an index for the energy metabolism of muscles during walking in children, and its relationship to the physiological cost index, which indicates walking efficiency, are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate muscle oxygen saturation in lower extremity muscles during walking in children, its changes with age, and the relationship between the physiological cost index. The oxygen saturation was measured by the amount of change during a two-minute walk, and the physiological cost index was calculated from the change in heart rate before and after exercise and walking speed. Results were compared for each muscle, and the correlation between the two was examined. Changes in muscle oxygen saturation were greater in the lower leg muscles, significantly greater in the tibialis anterior at six to seven years, and in the gastrocnemius medial head at eight to ten years. The physiological cost index was significantly correlated with changes in muscle oxygen saturation in the tibialis anterior (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). The lower leg muscles were metabolically active in children’s gait, and their response varied with age. Moreover, the muscle oxygenation dynamics of the tibialis anterior may influence walking efficiency.
Suitability of Co-Composted Biochar with Spent Coffee Grounds Substrate for Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Fruiting Stage
Authors: Picca Giuseppe , Goñi-Urtiaga Asier , Gomez-Ruano Cristina , Plaza César , Panettieri Marco
Published: January 2023

Peat is the predominant component of growing media in soilless horticultural systems. However, peat extraction from peatlands destroys these fragile ecosystems and emits greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Peat replacement by other growing media is, thus, paramount to ensure a more sustainable horticultural sector. This study investigated the agronomical performances of two spent coffee ground-based composts with and without biochar, during three different stages of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) development: seeds germination (0–6 days), seedling development (7–49 days), and plant-to-fruit maturity (36–100 days). The two composts were used as peat replacement and mixed with peat at four different volumetric proportions: 100% (pure compost), 50%, 30%, and 15%. The substrates had a stimulant effect on seed germination but induced stunted growth due to the elevated electrical conductivity. For the latest stages of plant development, compost with and without biochar mixed with peat at 50% promoted an increase in fruit production of 60.8% and 100.3%, compared to the control substrate. The present study provides evidence that combining biochar with spent coffee ground compost represents a potential alternative for peat-based growing media promoting a circular production model in the horticultural sector, but the results are dilution- and plant development stage-dependent.
Organic Production of Snap Bean in Bulgaria: Pests and Diseases Incidence and Control, Soil Fertility and Yield
Authors: Yankova Vinelina , Georgieva Olga , Karadzhova Nataliya , Markova Dima , Kalapchieva Slavka , Tringovska Ivanka
Published: January 2023

Among factors affecting snap bean production in organic growing systems, pests and diseases are of paramount importance. The current study was aimed to determine the impact of organic production practices on snap bean pests and diseases infestation, soil fertility and yield. Five treatments of plants during the whole growing season with a Bordeaux mixture at a dose of 3000 g/ha, provided more than 50 percent protective effect against the development of the bacterial blight Xanthomonas axanopodis pv. phaseoli and anthracnose Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. In organic fields, commercial bioproducts containing pyrethrins or entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana can be successfully applied to control the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae Scop.). To limit the attack of bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus Say), phytopesticide containing pyrethrins can also be used. Against the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.), products containing the active ingredient azadirachtin were seen to be effective five days after treatment. Soil amendment with vermicompost at a dose of 2850 L/ha slightly increased the amounts of water-soluble nutrients; however, soil remained nutrient deficient across the growing season. Among the tested Bulgarian varieties, Evros possessed higher yield, and appear to be suitable for organic system than the Tangra variety.
Establishing and Operating (Pilot Phase) a Telemetric Streamflow Monitoring Network in Greece
Authors: Mazi Katerina , Koussis Antonis D. , Lykoudis Spyridon , Psiloglou Basil E. , Vitantzakis Georgios , Kappos Nikolaos , Katsanos Dimitrios , Rozos Evangelos , Koletsis Ioannis , Kopania Theodora
Published: January 2023

This paper describes HYDRONET, a telemetry-based prototype of a streamflow monitoring network in the Greek territory, where such data are sparse. HYDRONET provides free and near-real-time online access to data. Instead of commercially available stations, in-house-designed and -built telemetric stations were installed, which reduced the equipment cost by approximately 50%. The labour of hydrometric campaigns was reduced by applying a new maximum-entropy method to estimate the discharge from surface velocity observations. Here, we describe these novelty elements succinctly. The potential of HYDRONET to provide civil protection services is exemplified by a flood warning demonstrator for Kalamata’s City Centre. The network’s operation, including the hydraulic criteria for monitoring site selection, the characteristics of the telemetric equipment, the operational monitoring and hydrometric procedures, and the specifics of data transmission, quality control, and storage are described in detail, along with experiences with problems encountered during this pilot phase.
Impact of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) of Falling Dust in Urban Area Settings: Status, Chemical Composition, Sources and Potential Human Health Risks
Authors: EL-Saeid Mohamed Hamza , Alghamdi Abdulaziz G. , Alzahrani Abdulhakim Jari
Published: January 2023

The present work is considered to investigate the sources, concentration, and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and associated health risk assessment of road dust in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The study region included an urban area, strongly affected by traffic, a bare and an industrial area. A total of 50 locations were selected for sampling and 16 different PAHs were determined. The concentration of PAHs in road dust and their estimated lifetime average daily dose (LADD) for adults (human) ranged from 0.01 to 126 ng g−1 and 1950 to 16,010 mg kg−1 day−1, respectively. The ADDing was calculated separately for children (>6), teenagers (6–12), and adults (>12) for all PAHs with each collected sample. Moreover, the average daily exposure dose by ingestion (ADDing) and average daily exposure dose by dermal absorption (ADDder) were more in children (<6 years) as compared to teenagers (6–12 years) and adults (>12 years). Likewise, total equivalency factor based on BaP (TEQBaP) calculations pointed out that PAHs having more benzene rings or having high molecular weight showed high TEQBaP as compared to low molecular weight PAHs. The data revealed that the children population is at high risk for asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and immunity suppression as compared to adults in the particular area of investigated region. These outcomes of this study can be used to deliver significant policy guidelines concerning habitants of the area for possible measures for controlling PAHs contamination in Riyadh City to protect human health and to ensure environmental sustainability.
Perception among NHIS–HMO Enrolees of the Attitudes of Medical Personnel during Outpatient Care in Lagos Hospitals
Authors: Mkperedem Abigail , Ogunlade Peter , Igbolekwu Chisaa , Arisukwu Ogadimma , Owa Stephen , Afolabi Abiodun , Etta-Oyong Stephen
Published: January 2023

The quality of healthcare services depends on the interactions between administrators, customers, and healthcare providers. This study seeks to examine how National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)–Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) enrolees perceive the attitudes of medical personnel while receiving outpatient care in Lagos hospitals. Mixed methods were used, i.e., distributing questionnaires and in-depth interviews with participants. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 20, and approaches that involved frequency statistics, factor analysis, contingency chi-square and correlation analysis were applied. The results indicate that the variables “humane” and “empathetic” have a direct impact on enrolees’ perception and an indirect impact on motivation to adhere to medical advice among enrolees. This research has practical implications, especially in light of new initiatives of NHIS collaboration with HMO to deliver quality healthcare services to enrolees.
Epidemiology of Adverse Outcomes in Teenage Pregnancy—A Northeastern Romanian Tertiary Referral Center
Authors: Ursache Alexandra , Lozneanu Ludmila , Bujor Iuliana , Cristofor Alexandra , Popescu Ioana , Gireada Roxana , Mandici Cristina Elena , Găină Marcel Alexandru , Grigore Mihaela , Matasariu Daniela Roxana
Published: January 2023

Background: Despite being a very well-documented subject in the literature, there are still conflicting results regarding teenage pregnancies and their fetal outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, comparative cohort study that included 1082 mothers aged less than 18 years, compared to 41,998 mothers aged over 18 years, who delivered in our tertiary referral center between January 2015 and December 2021. To check for significant differences between the two groups, the chi-qquared or Fisher’s test for categorical variables were used. Results: We detected statistically significant higher rates of fetal malformation, premature birth, FGR and SGA fetal growth conditions, preeclampsia, condylomatosis and vaginal infection with E. coli in our cohort of teenagers. In this subpopulation of teenagers, the rate for premature birth at less than 32 weeks of gestation was 3.26-fold higher and 3.25-fold higher for condylomatosis, and these results referred to the cohort of adult patients (>18 years old) that gave birth in the same interval of time. Conclusions: Teenage pregnancies still remain a major health problem that burdens all countries worldwide regardless of their income. It needs solutions initially to prevent pregnancy in this young age segment and last but not least to improve both maternal and fetal outcomes.
Exploring the Needs and Expectations of Expectant and New Parents for an mHealth Application to Support the First 1000 Days of Life: Steps toward a Co-Design Approach
Authors: Brunelli Laura , Bussolaro Sofia , Dobrina Raffaella , De Vita Chiara , Mazzolini Elena , Verardi Giuseppa , Degrassi Maura , Piazza Maria , Cassone Andrea , Starec Anja , Ricci Giuseppe , Zanchiello Sara , Stampalija Tamara
Published: January 2023

To improve maternal and child health, it is essential to adhere to health-promoting and preventive measures. However, reliable information as well as effective tools are not easy to identify in this field. Our cross-sectional study investigated the needs and expectations of expectant and new mothers and fathers as potential primary users of a hypothetical application supporting the first 1000 days of life. Between May and August 2022, we recruited expectant and new parents by administering an 83-item 5-point Likert scale questionnaire related to the content, functionalities, and technical features of the hypothetical app. We stratified responses using sociodemographic characteristics and then performed ward hierarchical clustering. The 94 women and 69 men involved in our study generally agreed with the proposed content, but expressed low interest in certain app functionalities or features, including those related to the interaction mechanism and interactivity. Women were generally more demanding than men. Our findings, resulting from the engagement of end-users, may be useful for designers and technology providers to implement mHealth solutions that, in addition to conveying reliable information, are tailored to the needs and preferences of end-users in the first 1000 days of life.
The Flipped Break-Even: Re-Balancing Demand- and Supply-Side Financing of Health Centers in Cambodia
Authors: Koy Sokunthea , Fuerst Franziska , Tuot Bunnareth , Starke Maurice , Flessa Steffen
Published: January 2023

Supply-side healthcare financing still dominates healthcare financing in many countries where the government provides line-item budgets for health facilities irrespective of the quantity or quality of services rendered. There is a risk that this approach will reduce the efficiency of services and the value of money for patients. This paper analyzes the situation of public health centers in Cambodia to determine the relevance of supply- and demand-side financing as well as lump sum and performance-based financing. Based on a sample of the provinces of Kampong Thom and Kampot in the year 2019, we determined the income and expenditure of each facility and computed the unit cost with comprehensive step-down costing. Furthermore, the National Quality Enhancement Monitoring Tool (NQEMT) provided us with a quality score for each facility. Finally, we calculated the efficiency as the quotient of quality and cost per service unit as well as correlations between the variables. The results show that the largest share of income was received from supply-side financing, i.e., the government supports the health centers with line-item budgets irrespective of the number of patients and the quality of care. This paper demonstrates that the efficiency of public health centers increases if the relevance of performance-based financing increases. Thus, the authors recommend increasing performance-based financing in Cambodia to improve value-based healthcare. There are several alternatives available to re-balance demand- and supply-side financing, and all of them must be thoroughly analyzed before they are implemented.
Interventional Strategies to Reduce Test Anxiety among Nursing Students: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kaur Khaira Manjit , Raja Gopal Raja Lexshimi , Mohamed Saini Suriati , Md Isa Zaleha
Published: January 2023

Nursing students are reported to have moderate to high test anxiety, leading to reduced academic performance, poor self-esteem, and failure to complete the program and practice nursing. This review aims to examine the interventions for test anxiety reduction in nursing students. Following the PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed experimental studies published in English between 2016 and 2021 from four databases, EBSCOhost, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus, were systematically searched. The findings were presented in tabular and narrative form. Among the 722 studies retrieved, 14 selected studies were critically appraised, guided by the Joanna Briggs checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials and the checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies, resulting in 11 studies for inclusion in the systematic review. Test anxiety was assessed by different scales. Aromatherapy hand massage, aromatherapy using a diffuser in combination with music therapy, confidence training for test relaxation, coping program, music therapy, emotional freedom technique, animal-assisted intervention, and guided imagery were all found to be effective in reducing test anxiety. In conclusion, while numerous interventions to reduce test anxiety in nursing students were found to be effective, the quality of the studies investigating these interventions was varied with generally small sample sizes and limited follow-up. Future research should be conducted, and the same interventions should be carried out using a larger sample size to strengthen the body of evidence.
Development of Infant Sitting Postural Control in Three Groups of Infants at Various Risk Levels for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Kyvelidou Anastasia , DeVeney Shari , Katsavelis Dimitrios
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the development of sitting postural control among two groups of infants at elevated risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and a group of infants at typical risk for ASD and its association with cognitive, language and communication skills at a later age. We visited infants in their home environment from the onset of sitting until sitting independence and at 12 and 18 months of age. We collected data on sitting posture (center of pressure), through a portable force platform, as well as communication, cognitive and social behavior assessments at various time points. Our results showed that postural control differences at the onset of sitting, were present among the groups of infants but there were no statistically significant differences among the groups in the development of sitting posture. In addition, there were statistically significant communication differences among the groups and mostly the change in sample entropy in the anterior/posterior direction (posture measure) was significantly correlated with other skills at a later age. This study highlights the importance of investigating multiple at-risk groups to identify unique developmental pathways that may lead to an ASD diagnosis.
Psychopathology and Mindful Parenting in Parents of Preschool and School-Aged Children: The Role of Supportive Coparenting
Authors: Mourão Daniela , Fonseca Ana , Moreira Helena
Published: January 2023

The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of supportive coparenting in the relationship between parental psychopathology symptoms and mindful parenting and to explore whether the child’s age group moderates the associations in the model. A sample of 462 parents (94.2% mothers) of preschool and school-aged children completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Parental Perceptions of Coparenting Questionnaire, and the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale. A moderated mediation model was estimated to analyze the indirect effect of psychopathology symptoms on mindful parenting through supportive coparenting and the moderating role of the child’s age group. Higher levels of parental psychopathology were found to be associated both directly and indirectly (through lower levels of supportive coparenting) with lower levels of mindful parenting, regardless of the child’s age group. The results suggest that supportive coparenting is a relevant explanatory mechanism for the relationship between parental psychopathology and mindful parenting.
Sleep Continuity, Stability and Cyclic Organization Are Impaired in Insomniacs: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Conte Francesca , Malloggi Serena , De Rosa Oreste , Di Iorio Ilaria , Romano Federica , Giganti Fiorenza , Ficca Gianluca
Published: January 2023

The possibility of distinguishing insomniacs from good sleepers based on polysomnography (PSG) remains an open question. While these groups show modest differences in traditional PSG parameters, some studies suggest that finer measures may be more useful. Here we assess differences between good sleepers (GS), poor sleepers (PS) and insomniacs (IN) in classical PSG measures as well as in sleep continuity, stability and cyclic organization. PSG-monitored sleep (two nights) of 17 IN (diagnosed through a standard clinical interview; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) ≥ 5, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) > 14) was compared to that of 33 GS (PSQI < 5) and 20 PS (PSQI ≥ 5, ISI ≤ 14). Compared to GS, IN were impaired in sleep macrostructure (sleep latency, sleep efficiency, WASO%) and in continuity, stability and organization, whereas PS only showed disrupted continuity and stability. Spindle parameters were comparable between IN and GS, but the former displayed enhanced power in fast frequency bands. Our findings support the hypothesis of a continuum between individuals with self-reported poor sleep and insomniacs. Further, they add to extant data on impaired sleep continuity, stability and organization in poor sleepers and elderly individuals, underlining the utility of including these measures in standard sleep assessments.
Linking Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression to Mindfulness: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhou Senlin , Wu Yunpeng , Xu Xizheng
Published: January 2023

Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression have long been considered the two most important emotion regulation strategies. Increasingly, studies have found that mindfulness has a relationship with them. However, the magnitude and direction of the relationship between them have yet to reach a consistent conclusion. To this end, a three-level meta-analysis was used to explore the relationship between mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and expressive suppression. Thirty-six studies were included in the meta-analysis through a literature search, including 36 samples with 83 effect sizes and a total of 12,026 subjects. The three-level random effects model showed that mindfulness was positively correlated with cognitive reappraisal to a low to moderate degree but was not correlated with expressive suppression. The moderating effect analysis showed that the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal was slightly closer in males than in females. The study found a relatively stable positive relationship between mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal, an adaptive emotion regulation mode, while the relationship with expressive suppression was insignificant. The finding supported the affect regulation training model and also shed light on potential areas for future studies.
Green Physical Activity Indicator: Health, Physical Activity and Spending Time Outdoors Related to Residents Preference for Greenery
Authors: Stangierska Dagmara , Fornal-Pieniak Beata , Szumigała Paweł , Widera Katarzyna , Żarska Barbara , Szumigała Karolina
Published: January 2023

Spending time in the natural outdoor environment is a part of a healthy lifestyle. This study focused on identifying elements of green infrastructure that have a positive impact on both increasing physical activity, spending time outdoors and improving overall health. The aim of the research was to identify which elements of the settlement units’ green and blue infrastructure, related to residents’ preferences for greenery, influence more physical activity and spending time in green spaces and improve the healthy feeling of users as perceived by respondents. A total of 721 respondents from Poland took part in the survey. Using multiple regression models, the factors that influence an increase in outdoor physical activity Green Physical Activity Index (GPAI) were: using green spaces for exercise, spending time outdoors, exposure to nature and sufficiently large amounts of green space in the neighborhood and proximity to places to walk the dog. In contrast, physical activity has been shown to improve feeling healthy (health declaration). The main findings show that the increase in physical activity outdoors (GPAI) is positively influenced by factors related to respondents’ reasons for being outdoors, rather than the attractiveness and availability of green infrastructure. The research confirmed the necessity of arranging green areas with rich offerings in terms of a variety of activities for leisure visitors, to give them more opportunities for being outdoors.
Attitudes of Young Tri-City Residents toward Game Meat. Development and Validation of a Scale for Identifying Attitudes toward Wild Meat
Authors: Mesinger Dominika , Ocieczek Aneta , Owczarek Tomasz
Published: January 2023

Attitudes toward food are one of the most critical factors related to consumer behavior in the food market. Therefore, identifying attitudes toward a specific food product may be essential for identifying factors influencing certain behaviors regarding game. In addition, game meat is a valuable food that can increase the variety of meat and reduce the intensive breeding of slaughter animals. Therefore, a research gap was found regarding the lack of a tool for identifying attitudes toward game that would allow for the acquisition of data valid for studying conditions related to game consumption. The study aims to validate a developed scale for identifying the attitudes of young Tri-City residents toward game. To collect the database, two groups of respondents are involved in the validation procedure. This procedure includes validation of content, response process, and statistical validation. The scale is validated, and four domains are distinguished based on the PCA test. The validated scale consists of 10 statements (initially 11). The estimated Cronbach’s alpha (0.6944) indicates good scale internal consistency. The developed scale can be used to identify attitudes of young Tri-City residents toward game and search for links between these attitudes and behaviors related to game consumption.
Hands off the Mink! Using Environmental Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in American Mink
Authors: Boyd Ellen , Coombe Michelle , Prystajecky Natalie , Caleta Jessica M. , Sekirov Inna , Tyson John , Himsworth Chelsea
Published: January 2023

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous non-human species were shown to be susceptible to natural infection by SARS-CoV-2, including farmed American mink. Once infected, American mink can transfer the virus from mink to human and mink to mink, resulting in a high rate of viral mutation. Therefore, outbreak surveillance on American mink farms is imperative for both mink and human health. Historically, disease surveillance on mink farms has consisted of a combination of mortality and live animal sampling; however, these methodologies have significant limitations. This study compared PCR testing of both deceased and live animal samples to environmental samples on an active outbreak premise, to determine the utility of environmental sampling. Environmental sampling mirrored trends in both deceased and live animal sampling in terms of percent positivity and appeared more sensitive in some low-prevalence instances. PCR CT values of environmental samples were significantly different from live animal samples’ CT values and were consistently high (mean CT = 36.2), likely indicating a low amount of viral RNA in the samples. There is compelling evidence in favour of environmental sampling for the purpose of disease surveillance, specifically as an early warning tool for SARS-CoV-2; however, further work is needed to ultimately determine whether environmental samples are viable sources for molecular epidemiology investigations.
Knowledge of Primary Care Patients Living in the Urban Areas about Risk Factors of Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Sobierajski Tomasz , Surma Stanisław , Romańczyk Monika , Banach Maciej , Oparil Suzanne
Published: January 2023

Arterial hypertension (AH), one of the most common diseases of civilization, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This disease is the second, after lipid disorders, the most common cardiovascular risk factor and a significant cause of premature death. In Poland, one in three adults (approximately 11 million people) suffers from it. The aim of our survey was to determine patients’ knowledge of the factors (e.g., age, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, shift work) that may influence the development of hypertension. The survey was conducted among 205 adult primary care patients living in urban areas. There was a high correlation between patients’ education and risk factors of AH, such: as excess salt in the diet (p = 0.038), smoking electronic cigarettes (p = 0.005), moderate alcohol consumption (p = 0.028), moderate daily physical activity (p = 0.011), female and male sex (p = 0.032 and p = 0.012), air pollution (p < 0.001) and others. In addition, a statistically significant factor shaping patients’ attitudes toward hypertension prevention was the correlation between the respondents’ education and their parents’ prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.40). This study increases the knowledge of patients’ awareness of hypertension. It may serve as guidance for primary care providers to pay special attention to environmental interviews with patients and the patient’s family history for the prevention of hypertension incidence.
Suicidal Crisis among Children and Young People: Associations with Adverse Childhood Experiences and Socio-Demographic Factors
Authors: Ashworth Emma , Jarman Ian , McCabe Philippa , McCarthy Molly , Provazza Serena , Crosbie Vivienne , Quigg Zara , Saini Pooja
Published: January 2023

Suicide is a major public health issue and a leading cause of death among children and young people (CYP) worldwide. There is strong evidence linking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to an increased risk of suicidal behaviours in adults, but there is limited understanding regarding ACEs and suicidal crises in CYP. This study aims to examine the ACEs associated with CYP presenting at Emergency Departments for suicidal crises, and specifically the factors associated with repeat attendances. This is a case series study of CYP (aged 8–16) experiencing suicidal crisis who presented in a paediatric Emergency Department in England between March 2019 and March 2021 (n = 240). The dataset was subjected to conditional independence graphical analysis. Results revealed a significant association between suicidal crisis and several ACEs. Specifically, evidence of clusters of ACE variables suggests two distinct groups of CYP associated with experiencing a suicidal crisis: those experiencing “household risk” and those experiencing “parental risk”. Female sex, history of self-harm, mental health difficulties, and previous input from mental health services were also associated with repeat hospital attendances. Findings have implications for early identification of and intervention with children who may be at a heightened risk for ACEs and associated suicidal crises.
Recreational Skydiving—Really That Dangerous? A Systematic Review
Authors: Barthel Christiane , Halvachizadeh Sacha , Gamble Jamison G. , Pape Hans-Christoph , Rauer Thomas
Published: January 2023

Skydiving have gained mainstream popularity over the past decades. However, limited data exist on the injury risk or type associated with skydiving. This systematic review evaluated the injuries and fatalities of civilian skydivers. A PRISMA-guided literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase using the following MeSH terms: “skydiving” or “parachute” alone or in combination with “injury” or “trauma” was performed including all studies through June 2022 in both English and German. Additionally, injury reports from the German, American, and British Parachute Associations were reviewed. Of the 277 articles matching the selected search terms, 10 original articles and 34 non-scientific reports from various skydiving associations were included. More than 62 million jumps were evaluated, with an average of 3,200,000 jumps per year, which showed an average injury rate of 0.044% and an average fatality rate of 0.0011%. The most common injuries sustained by recreational skydivers involved the lumbar spine and lower extremities. Injuries were most commonly reported during the landing sequence. With modern equipment and training methods, fatalities occur in less than 1 per 100,000 cases, and serious injuries requiring hospitalization in less than 2 per 10,000 cases. This puts the assessment of skydiving as a high-risk sport into perspective.
Does Education Influence Life-Course Depression in Middle-Aged and Elderly in China? Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)
Authors: Xu Xiwu , Zhou Yaodong , Su Dai , Dang Yuan , Zhang Xianwen
Published: January 2023

Mental health problems have become a major public health problem worldwide and are more common among middle-aged and elderly people in China. Research on the effect of education on depression is limited, and whether the relationship between education and depression changes over the life course remains unclear. This study was based on the cross-sectional data of 15,767 middle-aged and elderly individuals in the 2018 tracking survey (Wave 4) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database. Multiple linear regression and bootstrap methods were developed to detect the mediating effect of education on depression. In all samples or different age groups, education was significantly positively associated with depression. Three mediators (economic level, health-related lifestyle, and cognitive level) were significantly positively associated with depression, and cognitive level had a greater effect on depression than economic level and health-related lifestyle. The total, direct, and indirect effects of the whole samples and elderly samples were significant; however, the direct effect of the middle-aged samples was insignificant, and the total and indirect effects of the three mediating pathways were all significant, that is, economic level, health-related lifestyle, and cognitive level should produce complete mediation. The multiple linear regression and bootstrap methods could successfully detect the mediating effect of education on depression. On the basis of the education, economic level, health-related lifestyle, cognitive level, and depression of middle-aged and elderly people, we established and compared the total, direct, and mediating effects of education on depression under the life course. The mediating variables should be further increased, and the measurement methods of depression should be developed to improve the credibility of the research results.
Peripheral Refraction of Two Myopia Control Contact Lens Models in a Young Myopic Population
Authors: Marcellán Maria Concepción , Ávila Francisco J. , Ares Jorge , Remón Laura
Published: January 2023

Peripheral refraction can lead to the development of myopia. The aim of this study was to compare relative peripheral refraction (RPR) in the same cohort of uncorrected (WCL) and corrected eyes with two different soft contact lenses (CL) designed for myopia control, and to analyze RPR depending on the patient’s refraction. A total of 228 myopic eyes (114 healthy adult subjects) (−0.25 D to −10.00 D) were included. Open-field autorefraction was used to measure on- and off- axis refractions when uncorrected and corrected with the two CLs (dual focus (DF) and extended depth of focus (EDOF)). The RPR was measured every 10° out to 30° in a temporal-nasal orientation and analyzed as a component of the power vector (M). The average RPR for all subjects was hyperopic when WCL and when corrected with EDOF CL design, but changed to a myopic RPR when corrected with DF design. Significant differences were found between RPR curves with both CLs in all the eccentricities (Bonferroni correction p < 0.008, except 10°N). An incremental relationship between relative peripheral refraction at 30 degrees and myopia level was found. It is concluded that the two CLs work differently at the periphery in order to achieve myopia control.