bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiments on the Electron Impact Excitation of the 2s and 2p States of Hydrogen Atoms Confirm the Presence of Their Second Flavor as the Candidate for Dark Matter
Authors: Oks Eugene
Published: June 2022

For the excitation of the n = 2 states of hydrogen atoms due to electron impact, we compared the experimental and theoretical ratios of the cross-sections σ2s/σ2p. We found this theoretical ratio to be systematically higher than the corresponding experimental ratio by about 20%—far beyond the experimental error margins. We suggest that this discrepancy can be explained by the presence of the Second Flavor of Hydrogen Atoms (SFHA) in the experimental hydrogen gas. The explanation is based on the fact that, in the experiments, the cross-section σ2s was determined by using the quenching technique—by applying an electric field that mixed the 2s and 2p states, followed by the emission of the Lyman-alpha line from the 2p state. However, the SFHA only had the s-states, so the quenching technique would not count the excitation of the SFHA in the 2s state and, thus, lead to the underestimation of the cross-section σ2s. We estimates the share of the SFHA in the experimental hydrogen gas required for eliminating the above discrepancy and found this share to be about the same as the share of the usual hydrogen atoms. Thus, our results constitute the third proof from atomic experiments that the SFHA does exist, the first proof being related to the experimental distribution of the linear momentum in the ground state of hydrogen atoms, and the second proof being related to the experimental cross-section of charge exchange between hydrogen atoms and low-energy protons.
Principal Amalgamation Analysis for Microbiome Data
Authors: Li Yan , Li Gen , Chen Kun
Published: June 2022

In recent years microbiome studies have become increasingly prevalent and large-scale. Through high-throughput sequencing technologies and well-established analytical pipelines, relative abundance data of operational taxonomic units and their associated taxonomic structures are routinely produced. Since such data can be extremely sparse and high dimensional, there is often a genuine need for dimension reduction to facilitate data visualization and downstream statistical analysis. We propose Principal Amalgamation Analysis (PAA), a novel amalgamation-based and taxonomy-guided dimension reduction paradigm for microbiome data. Our approach aims to aggregate the compositions into a smaller number of principal compositions, guided by the available taxonomic structure, by minimizing a properly measured loss of information. The choice of the loss function is flexible and can be based on familiar diversity indices for preserving either within-sample or between-sample diversity in the data. To enable scalable computation, we develop a hierarchical PAA algorithm to trace the entire trajectory of successive simple amalgamations. Visualization tools including dendrogram, scree plot, and ordination plot are developed. The effectiveness of PAA is demonstrated using gut microbiome data from a preterm infant study and an HIV infection study.
RNAi Mediated Gene Silencing of Detoxification Related Genes in the Ectropis oblique
Authors: Peng Cui , Yin Heng , Liu Yang , Mao Xin-Fang , Liu Zhong-Yuan
Published: June 2022

Ectropis oblique is one of the main pests that feed on tea leaves. At present, the main control method is chemical control, but the long-term use of insecticides has been related to the development of insect resistance. One of the resistance mechanisms is the upregulation of relevant detoxification enzymes for defense. In this study, four genes with increased expression were screened from the gene sequences annotated from the transcriptome data of deltamethrin-treated larvae of E. oblique, which are acid phosphatase EoACP138, and cytochrome P450 EoCYP316, carboxylesterase EoCarE592 and acetylcholine esterase EoAchE989, respectively. The fourth instar larvae of E. oblique were stimulated by deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos and fenpropathrin respectively, and the expression levels of the genes were detected by qRT-PCR. The result showed that all four genes’ expression had significantly increased under the stimulation of three insecticides. RNAi technology was used to silence the expression of genes of EoACP138, EoCYP316, EoCarE592 and EoAchE989 in the fourth instar larvae of E. oblique. The change in the expression levels of the above genes in the larvae treated with dsRNA and stimulated with pesticides was determined by qRT-PCR. The target genes have been effectively silenced after feeding on dsRNA and higher sensitivity with higher mortality to pesticides was observed in the larvae interfered with dsRNA. The above genes are related to the detoxification and metabolism of resistance of E. oblique, which lays a foundation for further study on the mechanism of insecticide resistance in E. oblique.
Internal Introns Promote Backsplicing to Generate Circular RNAs from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Gene
Authors: Luo Diou , Singh Natalia Nikolaevna , Singh Ravindra Narayan
Published: June 2022

Human survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) codes for SMN, an essential housekeeping protein involved in most aspects of RNA metabolism. Deletions or mutations of SMN1 lead to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a devastating neurodegenerative disease linked to a high rate of infant mortality. SMN2, a near identical copy of SMN1 present in humans, cannot compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant skipping of SMN2 exon 7. Restoration of SMN by splicing modulation of SMN2 exon 7 or gene replacement are currently approved therapies of SMA. Human SMN genes produce a vast repertoire of circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the mechanism of SMN circRNA generation has not yet been examined in detail. For example, it remains unknown if forward splicing impacts backsplicing that generates circRNAs containing multiple exons. Here, we employed SMN as a model system to examine the impact of intronic sequences on the generation of circRNAs. We performed our experiments in HeLa cells transiently transfected with minigenes expressing three abundantly represented circRNAs containing two or more SMN exons. We observed an enhanced rate of circRNA generation when introns joining exons to be incorporated into circRNAs were present as compared to the intronless context. These results underscore the stimulatory effect of forward splicing in the generation of circRNAs containing multiple exons. These findings are consistent with the reported low abundance of SMN circRNAs comprised of single exons. We confirmed our findings using inducible HEK 293 cells stably expressing the SMN circRNAs. Our results support the role of the exon junction complex in the generation of the exon-only-containing circRNAs. We showed that SMN circRNAs were preferentially localized in the cytoplasm. These findings provide new insights regarding our understanding of circRNA generation and open avenues to uncover novel functions of the SMN genes.
The Effect of Host miRNAs on Prognosis in COVID-19: miRNA-155 May Promote Severity via Targeting Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 (SOCS1) Gene
Authors: Gedikbasi Asuman , Adas Gokhan , Isiksacan Nilgun , Kart Yasar Kadriye , Canbolat Unlu Esra , Yilmaz Rabia , Hergunsel Gulsum Oya , Cukurova Zafer
Published: June 2022

The epigenetic features contribute to variations in host susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the relative expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the severity of the disease in COVID-19 patients. The miRNA profiles were monitored during the different stages of the disease course using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of the selected 11 miRNAs were measured in the blood samples collected from 73 patients (moderate, n = 37; severe, n = 25; critically ill, n = 11, a total of 219 longitudinal samples) on hospitalization day and days 7 and 21. Expression changes were expressed as “fold change” compared to healthy controls (n = 10). Our study found that several miRNAs differed according to disease severity, with the miR-155-5p the most strongly upregulated (p = 0.0001). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between the expression of miR-155-5p and its target gene, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1). The relative expression of miR-155-5p was significantly increased and SOCS1 was significantly decreased with the disease progression (r = −0.805 p = 0.0001, r = −0.940 p = 0.0001, r = −0.933 p = 0.0001 for admission, day 7, and day 21, respectively). The overexpression of miR-155-5p has significantly increased inflammatory cytokine production and promoted COVID-19 progression. We speculated that microRNA-155 facilitates immune inflammation via targeting SOCS1, thus establishing its association with disease prognosis.
iPBS-Retrotransposon Markers in the Analysis of Genetic Diversity among Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Germplasm from Türkiye
Authors: Haliloğlu Kamil , Türkoğlu Aras , Öztürk Halil Ibrahim , Özkan Güller , Elkoca Erdal , Poczai Peter
Published: June 2022

Beans are legumes that play extremely important roles in human nutrition, serving as good sources of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In this study, we tried to elucidate the genetic diversity and population structure of 40 Turkish bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) local varieties and 5 commercial cultivars collected from 8 different locations in Erzurum-Ispir by using inter-primary binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon markers. For molecular characterization, the 26 most polymorphic iPBS primers were used; 52 bands per primer and 1350 bands in total were recorded. The mean polymorphism information content was 0.331. Various diversity indices, such as the mean effective allele number (0.706), mean Shannon’s information index (0.546), and gene diversity (0.361) revealed the presence of sufficient genetic diversity in the germplasm examined. Molecular analysis of variance (AMOVA) revealed that 67% of variation in bean germplasm was due to differences within populations. In addition, population structure analysis exposed all local and commercial bean varieties from five sub-populations. Expected heterozygosity values ranged between 0.1567 (the fourth sub-population) and 0.3210 (first sub-population), with an average value of 0.2103. In contrary, population differentiation measurement (Fst) was identified as 0.0062 for the first sub-population, 0.6372 for the fourth subpopulations. This is the first study to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of bean germplasm in Erzurum-Ispir region using the iPBS-retrotransposon marker system. Overall, the current results showed that iPBS markers could be used consistently to elucidate the genetic diversity of local and commercial bean varieties and potentially be included in future studies examining diversity in a larger collection of local and commercial bean varieties from different regions.
Assessing the Morphological Quality of the Calore River (Southern Italy)
Authors: Magliulo Paolo , Sessa Sofia , Cusano Angelo , Beatrice Marika , Giannini Alberto , Russo Filippo
Published: June 2022

As highlighted by the EU Water Framework Directive from 2000, the hydromorphology of a stream, besides water quality and biological aspects, is one of the main elements to be evaluated to correctly assess its ecological state. Notwithstanding this, there are no such studies in peninsular Southern Italy. This study provides a contribution to filling this gap by assessing the morphological quality of one of the major rivers of this area, i.e., the Calore River, by using the IDRAIM method. The latter presents the advantage of taking into account the specific Italian context in terms of channel adjustments and human pressures, together with pre-existing geomorphological approaches developed in other countries. The method is based on data obtained by means of GIS analysis, remote sensing, and field survey. The analysis provided encouraging results, highlighting the good morphological quality of the Calore River. To maintain such quality, accurate monitoring of the human activities and/or careful planning of structures that could negatively affect the river’s morphological quality is unquestionably needed. The Calore River morphological quality seems to be controlled by artificiality rather than by the channel changes experienced since the 1950s. The results will be fundamental for already planned studies dealing with flood hazard and risk assessment.
Proposal for Flood Risk Mitigation in the Upper Tanaro Valley (Western Alps—North-Western Italy)
Authors: Taboni Battista , Licata Michele , Buleo Tebar Victor , Bonasera Mauro , Umili Gessica
Published: June 2022

Flood risk in Italy is a key aspect for the administrative authorities, from the national to the local level. This is especially true in Northern Italy, where the Po River, the most important river of the peninsula, and its river basin are located. In North-Western Italy, the Po Basin is described by numerous sub-basins, among which is the Tanaro River basin: here, in the last decades, floods have produced significant damage, causing an increased concern to local and regional administrations. The main goal of this study was to identify suitable sites for the construction of dams, having the function of retention basins, aiming to mitigate the flood risk in the Upper Tanaro Valley. First, using a qualitative approach, suitable sites were identified using available public data provided by regional administrations and field data obtained from geomorphological surveys, later elaborated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Several models were then produced using conventional methods to evaluate the hydrological characteristics of the study area and to assess the efficiency of each site in terms of flood water flow rate reduction: the performance was evaluated at control sections chosen in urban areas along the Upper Tanaro Valley. The results show that it is possible to find suitable locations for risk mitigation structures. These models also allowed for a rapid cost-effectiveness evaluation, which led to the definition of the best-performing site. The Upper Tanaro Valley case study here analyzed contributes to proving the importance of an integrated approach based on geomorphological, geo-hydrological, and hydraulic evaluations when dealing with the choice of a flood risk mitigation strategy.
Sex Difference in Control of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Older Patients after Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Nguyen Tan Van , Tran Dieu Thi Thanh , Ngo Trinh Thi Kim , Nguyen Tu Ngoc
Published: June 2022

Objective. The main aim of this study is to examine the achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in older patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and the secondary aim is to examine sex difference in LDL-C target achievement. Methods. Patients aged ≥60 years with ACS admitted to a tertiary hospital in Vietnam were recruited from December 2019 to August 2020. LDL-C target achievement was defined as having an LDL-C goal of <1.8 mmol/L. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to investigate the predictive factors for LDL-C target achievement. Results. A total of 232 participants were included in this study (mean age 75.5 years, 40.1% were women). Participants had an average of three chronic conditions other than coronary heart disease. All participants were prescribed statin monotherapy at discharge (59.5% on high-intensity statins). After 3 months, 218 (94.0%) of the participants were on statin monotherapy, 14 (6.0%) were on statin combined with ezetimibe. The proportion of participants that achieved LDL-C target after 3 months was 56.5% (40.9% in women and 66.9% in men, p < 0.001). On univariate logistic regression, women were less likely to achieve their LDL-C target compared to men (unadjusted OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20–0.59). This association was still significant in the adjusted model (adjusted OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.24–0.78). Other factors that were significantly associated with LDL-C target achievement included age, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, LDL-C level on admission, history of using statin before admission, and high-intensity statin prescribed at discharge. Conclusions. Our study found that nearly a half of older patients with ACS did not achieve their LDL-C target after 3 months, and suboptimal control of LDL-C was more common in women.
Factors Influencing Problem-Solving Competence of Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Choi Eunhee , Jeon Jaehee
Published: June 2022

Problem-solving ability is an important competency for nursing students to enable them to solve various problems that occur in dynamic clinical settings. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors that affect the problem-solving ability of nursing students. The subjects of this study were 192 nursing college students in their second year or beyond. The research tool consisted of an online questionnaire, with a total of 91 items regarding general characteristics, metacognition, and communication competence. Data collection was conducted from 10 to 30 March 2022. An online survey link was uploaded to the student group of a social network service from two nursing colleges that permitted data collection. Subjects who agreed to participate directly accessed and responded to the online survey. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the factors associated with the problem-solving ability of nursing students were examined using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The subjects’ mean problem-solving ability score was 3.63 out of 5. Factors affecting problem-solving ability were age, communication competence, and metacognition, among which metacognition had the greatest influence. These variables explained 51.2% of the problem-solving ability of nursing students. Thus, it is necessary to provide guidance to improve metacognition and to develop educational methods to improve communication competence in curricular and non-curricular courses to improve the problem-solving ability of nursing students.
Drought Forecasting: A Review and Assessment of the Hybrid Techniques and Data Pre-Processing
Authors: Alawsi Mustafa A. , Zubaidi Salah L. , Al-Bdairi Nabeel Saleem Saad , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Hashim Khalid
Published: June 2022

Drought is a prolonged period of low precipitation that negatively impacts agriculture, animals, and people. Over the last decades, gradual changes in drought indices have been observed. Therefore, understanding and forecasting drought is essential to avoid its economic impacts and appropriate water resource planning and management. This paper presents a recent literature review, including a brief description of data pre-processing, data-driven modelling strategies (i.e., univariate or multivariate), machine learning algorithms (i.e., advantages and disadvantages), hybrid models, and performance metrics. Combining various prediction methods to create efficient hybrid models has become the most popular use in recent years. Accordingly, hybrid models have been increasingly used for predicting drought. As such, these models will be extensively reviewed, including preprocessing-based hybrid models, parameter optimisation-based hybrid models, and hybridisation of components combination-based with preprocessing-based hybrid models. In addition, using statistical criteria, such as RMSE, MAE, NSE, MPE, SI, BIC, AIC, and AAD, is essential to evaluate the performance of the models.
The Effects of Lifestyle on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States: An Analysis of Market Segmentation
Authors: Ozdenerol Esra , Seboly Jacob
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study is to correlate lifestyle characteristics to COVID-19 vaccination rates at the U.S. County level and provide where and when COVID-19 vaccination impacted different households. We grouped counties by their dominant LifeMode, and the mean vaccination rates per LifeMode are calculated. A 95% confidence interval for both the mean and median vaccination rate for each LifeMode is generated. The limits of this interval were compared to the nationwide statistics to determine whether each LifeMode’s vaccine uptake differs significantly from the nationwide average. We used Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. (ESRI) Tapestry LifeModes data that are collected at the U.S. household level through geodemographic segmentation typically used for marketing purposes. High risk Lifestyle segments and their locations are clearly the areas in the U.S. where the public might benefit from a COVID-19 vaccine. We then used logistic regression analysis to predict vaccination rates using ESRI’s tapestry segmentation and other demographic variables. Our findings demonstrate that vaccine uptake appears to be highest in the urban corridors of the Northeast and the West Coast and in the retirement communities of Arizona and Florida and lowest in the rural areas of the Great Plains and Southeast. Looking closely at other parts of the West such as the Dakotas and Montana, counties that contain Native American reservations have higher vaccination rates. Racial/ethnic minorities also adopt the vaccine at higher rates. The most effective predictor of vaccination hesitancy was Republican voting habits, with Republican counties less likely to take the vaccine. The other predictors in order of importance were college education, minority race/ethnicity, median income, and median age. Our approach correlating lifestyle characteristics to COVID-19 vaccination rate at the U.S. County level provided unique insights into where and when COVID-19 vaccination impacted different households. The results suggest that prevention and control policies can be implemented to those specific households.
Gastronomic Tourism and Tourist Motivation: Exploring Northern Areas of Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Nadeem , Khan Jawad , Saeed Imran , Zada Shagufta , Xin Shanchao , Kang Zhihao , Hu YiKe
Published: June 2022

Gastronomic tourism is becoming an essential consideration among tourists when choosing a tourist destination. One of the main reasons for visiting a specific destination for almost 15% of tourists is “gastronomy”. This has led to the development of a new kind of tourism called “Gastronomic Tourism”. However, there has been minimal research on gastronomy tourism, specifically in Pakistan. The primary purpose of this study is to measure the level of satisfaction in a tourist destination and furthermore consider gastronomy as a component of visitor motivation. A survey of 307 tourists who had recently visited Pakistan’s northern areas was undertaken to conduct the study. This has enabled us to better understand the variables that influence the behaviors and attitudes of tourists toward this popular tourist attraction. Gastronomy motivation impacts tourism location selection, and gastronomic experience influences satisfaction, according to the research. Specifically, tourists show a keen interest in gastronomic experiences after feeling satisfied with the destination and local foods, developing loyalty toward the destination.
Prevalence of Homicide-Suicide Incidents in Greece over 13 Years
Authors: Alexandri Maria , Tsellou Maria , Antoniou Anastasia , Skliros Efstathios , Koukoulis Andreas Nikolaos , Bacopoulou Flora , Papadodima Stavroula
Published: June 2022

Prevalence of homicide-suicides is difficult to determine in Greece due to the lack of a national tracking system. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the homicide-suicide incidents in Greece over the past 13 years, and to determine the circumstances under which they occurred, as well as the characteristics of perpetrators and victims. Two Internet search engines (google and yahoo), as well as the search engine of the major national news websites, were surveyed to identify the number of homicide-suicide cases that occurred in Greece from January 2008 to December 2020. Over the study period, 36 homicide-suicide incidents occurred in Greece, resulting in 36 suicides and 41 homicides. The above incidents reflect an annual homicide-suicide rate of 0.02 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Most perpetrators were male (88.9%), whereas most victims were female (80.6%). Spousal-consortial cases accounted for 52.7% and familial cases for 41.7% of the total number of incidents. The use of firearms (mostly shotgun) was the most common method of homicide and suicide (58.3% and 63.9%, respectively). Women killed only their children, while men committed homicide and suicide mainly in the context of a former or current intimate partnership with the victim. Our results are in line with international homicide-suicide data. The establishment of a national surveillance system for homicides-suicides would be of paramount importance as it would facilitate accurate recording, identification of risk factors and characteristics of potential victims and perpetrators and it could ultimately be an aid to the prevention of such tragic events.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Ongoing Psychological Interventions for Emotional Problems in Real- or Close to Real-Time: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gual-Montolio Patricia , Jaén Irene , Martínez-Borba Verónica , Castilla Diana , Suso-Ribera Carlos
Published: June 2022

Emotional disorders are the most common mental disorders globally. Psychological treatments have been found to be useful for a significant number of cases, but up to 40% of patients do not respond to psychotherapy as expected. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods might enhance psychotherapy by providing therapists and patients with real- or close to real-time recommendations according to the patient’s response to treatment. The goal of this investigation is to systematically review the evidence on the use of AI-based methods to enhance outcomes in psychological interventions in real-time or close to real-time. The search included studies indexed in the electronic databases Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The terms used for the electronic search included variations of the words “psychotherapy”, “artificial intelligence”, and “emotional disorders”. From the 85 full texts assessed, only 10 studies met our eligibility criteria. In these, the most frequently used AI technique was conversational AI agents, which are chatbots based on software that can be accessed online with a computer or a smartphone. Overall, the reviewed investigations indicated significant positive consequences of using AI to enhance psychotherapy and reduce clinical symptomatology. Additionally, most studies reported high satisfaction, engagement, and retention rates when implementing AI to enhance psychotherapy in real- or close to real-time. Despite the potential of AI to make interventions more flexible and tailored to patients’ needs, more methodologically robust studies are needed.
Carbon Sink Cost and Influence Factors Analysis in a National Afforestation Project under Different Investment Modes
Authors: Li Xuexiang , Hu Wanlin , Zhang Fan , Zhang Jinxin , Sheng Feng , Xu Xiangyu
Published: June 2022

Afforestation projects are the main source of carbon sink. Measurement and impact analysis of carbon sink costs will help accelerate the marketization of forestry carbon sink. Considering the opportunity cost of land use and the carbon release cost of wood products, this study proposed a forestry carbon sink cost model under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) and the direct (DI) investment mode based on the classic carbon sink model. Then, the proposed models were applied to a real-world afforestation project, the 20-year national afforestation project (NAP) in Laohekou City, Hubei Province, China. With the help of the input–output forestry carbon sink cost–benefit analysis framework, the dynamic analysis of factors such as rotation period, timber price, discount rate and yield rate for forestry is carried out. Results show that: (1) with the increasing of rotation period, wood market price, and wood yield rate, the carbon sink cost of Laohekou NAP gradually decreases, while the discount rate has the opposite trend; (2) the DI mode is more feasible than the PPP model at the present condition. The PPP mode is more feasible than the DI mode only when the wood price is lower than 73.18% of the current price, the yield rate is lower than 0.485, and the discount rate is higher than 6.77%. (3) When choosing tree species for NAP, the carbon sink capacity, wood market price, maturity time, and planting cost should be synthetically considered. The proposed model and the obtained results can not only support local governments and forestry carbon sink enterprises to make tradeoffs between PPP and DI mode, but also provide them with useful information for reducing carbon sink costs.
Long Work Hours, Overtime, and Worker Health Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study among Stone, Sand, and Gravel Mine Workers
Authors: Le Aurora B. , Balogun Abdulrazak O. , Smith Todd D.
Published: June 2022

Background: Research has shown that long work hours and overtime are associated with health impairment, including stress, burnout, and overall health. However, this has not been thoroughly assessed among stone, sand, and gravel mine workers. As such, this study examined whether significant differences in stress, burnout, and overall health existed among workers that worked different hours each week. Methods: ANOVA analyses were completed for the outcome variables (stress, burnout, and health status). Each analysis included three categorical independent variables: age, sex, and work hours. Age and sex were control variables. BMI was added to the health status analysis as an additional control variable. Results: There were significant differences between work hour groups for all three outcomes. Post hoc analyses determined that workers working >60 h/week had more stress, more burnout, and lower health. Differences were not found between age or sex. There were no differences in health status for different BMI groups, but the interaction of BMI and work hours was significant. Conclusions: Working more than 60 h per week was problematic. Mine and safety administrators should enact programs to protect and promote worker health, particularly among those working long hours, especially if more than 60 h per week.
Socio-Demographic Composition and Potential Occupational Exposure to SARS-CoV2 under Routine Working Conditions among Key Workers in France
Authors: Ghoroubi Narges , Counil Emilie , Khlat Myriam
Published: June 2022

This study aims to describe the socio-demographic profile of so-called “key workers” during the first lockdown in France and to assess their potential occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 under routine, pre-pandemic working conditions. We used the French list of essential jobs that was issued during the first lockdown to identify three subgroups of key workers (hospital healthcare, non-hospital healthcare, non-healthcare). Based on the population-based “Conditions de travail-2019” survey, we described the socio-demographic composition of key workers and their potential work-related exposures (to “infectious agents,” “face-to-face contact with the public,” and “working with colleagues”) using modified Poisson regression. In general, women, clerical and manual workers, workers on temporary contracts, those with lower education and income, and non-European immigrants were more likely to be key workers, who accounted for 22% of the active population. Non-healthcare essential workers (57%) were the most socially disadvantaged, while non-hospital healthcare workers (19%) were polarized at both extremes of the social scale; hospital healthcare workers (24%) were intermediate. Compared to non-key workers, all subgroups had greater exposure to infectious agents and more physical contact with the public. This study provides evidence of accumulated disadvantages among key workers concerning their social background, geographical origin, and potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
Strengthening Community End-of-Life Care through Implementing Measurement-Based Palliative Care
Authors: Sandham Margaret H. , Hedgecock Emma , Hocaoglu Mevhibe , Palmer Celia , Jarden Rebecca J. , Narayanan Ajit , Siegert Richard J.
Published: June 2022

The increasing demand for palliative care in New Zealand presents a potential threat to the quality of service delivery. One strategy to overcome this is through the implementation of valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures. This mixed-methods study aimed to (1) implement measurement-based palliative care (MBPC) in a community palliative care service in Auckland, New Zealand; (2) evaluate the clinical utility of MBPC perceived by clinicians; (3) describe patient characteristics as measured by the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS), the Australasian Modified Karnofsky Performance Scale (AKPS), and Phase of Illness (POI); and (4) evaluate the internal consistency of the IPOS. Participants were over 18 years of age from a community outpatient palliative care service. In a phased approach to implementation, healthcare staff were educated on each instrument used for patient assessment. Uptake and internal consistency were evaluated through descriptive statistics. An interpretive descriptive methodology was used to explore the clinical utility of MBPC through semi-structured interviews with seven clinical staff members. Individual patient assessments (n = 1507) were undertaken predominantly on admission, with decreasing frequency as patients advanced through to the terminal phase of their care. Mean total IPOS scores were 17.97 (SD = 10.39, α = 0.78). The POI showed that 65% of patients were in the stable phase, 20% were in the unstable phase, 9% were in the deteriorating phase, and 2% were in the terminal phase. Clinicians reported that MBPC facilitated holistic and comprehensive assessments, as well as the development of a common interdisciplinary language. Clinicians expressed discomfort using the psychosocial and spiritual items. Measurement-based palliative care was only partially implemented but it was valued by staff and perceived to increase the quality of service delivery. Future research should determine the optimal timing of assessments, cultural responsivity for Māori and Pacific patients, and the role of MBPC in decision support for clinicians.
The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Function and the Implication for Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Houben Sarah , Bonnechère Bruno
Published: June 2022

There is mounting evidence that patients with severe COVID-19 disease may have symptoms that continue beyond the acute phase, extending into the early chronic phase. This prolonged COVID-19 pathology is often referred to as ‘Long COVID’. Simultaneously, case investigations have shown that COVID-19 individuals might have a variety of neurological problems. The accurate and accessible assessment of cognitive function in patients post-COVID-19 infection is thus of increasingly high importance for both public and individual health. Little is known about the influence of COVID-19 on the general cognitive levels but more importantly, at sub-functions level. Therefore, we first aim to summarize the current level of evidence supporting the negative impact of COVID-19 infection on cognitive functions. Twenty-seven studies were included in the systematic review representing a total of 94,103 participants (90,317 COVID-19 patients and 3786 healthy controls). We then performed a meta-analysis summarizing the results of five studies (959 participants, 513 patients) to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions. The overall effect, expressed in standardized mean differences, is −0.41 [95%CI −0.55; −0.27]. To prevent disability, we finally discuss the different approaches available in rehabilitation to help these patients and avoid long-term complications.
The Triple Bottom Line of Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Economic Policy Uncertainty: An Empirical Evidence from 22 Countries
Authors: Gu Wentao , Pan Hairui , Hu Zimin , Liu Zhongdi
Published: June 2022

Based on the data of 22 different countries from 2005 to 2018, this paper mainly studies the influence of entrepreneurship on sustainability, and further explores the influence of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) and the interaction effect between EPU and entrepreneurship on sustainability. The results show that EPU can promote economic, environmental, and social development, the interaction between EPU and green entrepreneurship is beneficial to social development, and the interaction between EPU and non-green entrepreneurship inhibits social development. For the heterogeneity analysis, 22 countries are grouped by high and low Human Development Index (HDI). The empirical results find that EPU has a better performance in low HDI countries than that in high HDI countries. In high HDI countries, the interaction between EPU and green entrepreneurship will weaken the positive effects of green entrepreneurship on the environment.
A Study on the Subjectivity of Parents Regarding “0th-Period Physical Education Class” of Middle Schools in Korea Using Q-Methodology
Authors: Choi Wonseok , Jeon Wonjae
Published: June 2022

The current study examined parents’ subjective perception types and characteristics regarding the 0th-Period Physical Education Class of Middle School in Korea. The Q-methodology was applied, and the final 25 Q-Samples were selected through the composition of the 42 Q-population. Among Korean parents, 20 students who participated in “Physical Education Activities in Class 0” for more than one year were selected as P-Sample. Q-sorting was performed by the P-Sample. Data collected by Q-sorting were analyzed using the PQ method program version 2.35, with centroid factor analysis and varimax rotation. The finding pointed to four types, with a total explanatory variance of 63%. Type 1 (N = 7), and was named “urgent legal and institutional settlement of 0th-period physical education”. Type 2 (N = 4) has the theme of “beach-head for a vibrant school life”. Type 3 (N = 4) was named “enhancement of academic capability”. Type 4 (N = 4) was described as “strengthening physical and mental health”. Moreover, the consensus statements between each type were investigated in Q1 and Q2. These findings highlight the importance of the “0th-period physical education class” so the program could be expanded and institutionalized in Korea.
Study on the Influencing Factors of Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Tillage Technology in Black Soil Region in China: A Logistic-ISM Model Approach
Authors: Guo Hongpeng , Zhao Wenkai , Pan Chulin , Qiu Guijie , Xu Shuang , Liu Shun
Published: June 2022

The adoption of conservation tillage technology can improve the production efficiency of black soils (mollisols), and it has great significance to ensure the sustainable development of agriculture. This paper takes farmers in the black soil region of Jilin Province as the research object, uses 442 survey data of farmers in seven municipal areas in the black soil region of Jilin Province, constructs a logistic-ISM model, first determines the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, and then analyzes the hierarchical structure of each influencing factor. The results show that: (1) among the eight significant influencing factors of farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, age, whether they know the government’s subsidies for conservation tillage and the number of labor force are the deep-rooted factors; (2) Education level, whether you know that the government is promoting conservation tillage, and the planting area are intermediate level factors; (3) whether they have received the technical services of conservation tillage and whether the cultivated land is scattered is the direct factors. Based on the significance analysis of the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology and the research on the action mechanism of the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, this paper puts forward policy suggestions to improve the extension system of conservation tillage technology, improve the implementation of land transfer and subsidy policies, strengthen the ability of rural socialized services, and strengthen the publicity of black soils protection.
HPV Vaccination in Young Males: A Glimpse of Coverage, Parental Attitude and Need of Additional Information from Lombardy Region, Italy
Authors: Mari Alessandra , Gianolio Laura , Edefonti Valeria , Khaleghi Hashemian Dariush , Casini Francesca , Bergamaschi Francesco , Sala Anna , Verduci Elvira , Calcaterra Valeria , Zuccotti Gian Vincenzo , Fabiano Valentina
Published: June 2022

Background: In the Lombardy Region, Italy, HPV vaccination is recommended and offered free of charge to 12-years-old males since 2017. The expected vaccination thresholds are still far to be reached. Methods: A cross-sectional survey to investigate parents’ attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and knowledge about HPV was administered to parents of boys aged 6 to 18 years attending a large pediatric hospital for outpatient specialistic evaluations. Two parallel multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for attitude towards HPV vaccination and perceived need for more information about HPV vaccination. Results: A positive attitude towards HPV vaccination was found in 74% of interviewed parents. Knowledge of HPV, having a generally positive attitude toward vaccination, and mothers filling in the survey were positively associated with a positive attitude to the HPV vaccine. Parents’ perceived need for more information about HPV vaccination was positively associated with the child’s age, general positive attitude toward vaccination, Christian religion, and positive attitude toward HPV vaccination; knowing that HPV vaccination is free of charge significantly reduced the risk of asking for more information on HPV vaccination. Conclusions: The majority of parents of male children and adolescents in our study have a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination. Attitude toward HPV vaccination and perceived need for more information on HPV vaccination were directly related to a positive attitude toward vaccines in general. In addition, knowledge of HPV and related pathologies favors a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination. Future health programs should target an even wider diffusion of evidence-based information on vaccines in general and on the HPV vaccine in young males, to support a positive attitude toward vaccines in the general population.
From Health Literacy to Self-Care: Contributions of the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing
Authors: Dias Marina do Rosário Jesus , Alves Faria Ana da Conceição , Ferreira Maria Salomé Martins , Faleiros Fabiana , Novo André , Gonçalves Maria Narcisa , Rocha Carla Gomes da , Teles Paulo João Figueiredo Cabral , Ribeiro Marlene Patrícia , Ventura da Silva João Miguel Almeida , Ribeiro Olga Maria Pimenta Lopes
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: Initiatives aimed at assessing and intervening in health literacy have the potential to promote adherence to self-care behaviours, which is the main focus of intervention by rehabilitation nurses. Thus, the objectives were to analyse the level of health literacy of working-age citizens and identify priority areas for intervention by rehabilitation nurses. (2) Methods: Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study, conducted in a multinational company, with the participation of 161 workers. The data were collected between 14 April and 7 May 2021, using a self-completion questionnaire composed of sociodemographic and clinical characterization and the European Health Literacy Survey, following a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee and the company’s management. (3) Results: Overall, low to moderate literacy scores were predominant. Age and education were significantly associated with literacy scores. Workers with higher levels of health literacy had no diagnosed illnesses, took less medication, reported less sadness, fewer memory changes and less muscle and joint pain. (4) Conclusions: The fact that higher levels of health literacy trigger self-care behaviours and, consequently, fewer health problems reinforces the need for rehabilitation nurses to invest in this area.
Solvent-Free Synthesis of MgO-Modified Biochars for Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater
Authors: Xu Siyu , Li De , Guo Haixin , Lu Haodong , Qiu Mo , Yang Jirui , Shen Feng
Published: June 2022

Adsorption is an efficient technology for removing phosphorus from wastewater to control eutrophication. In this work, MgO-modified biochars were synthesized by a solvent-free ball milling method and used to remove phosphorus. The MgO-modified biochars had specific surface areas 20.50–212.65 m2 g−1 and pore volume 0.024–0.567 cm3 g−1. The as-prepared 2MgO/BC-450-0.5 had phosphorus adsorption capacities of 171.54 mg g−1 at 25 °C and could remove 100% of phosphorus from livestock wastewater containing 39.51 mg L−1 phosphorus. The kinetic and isotherms studied show that the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.999) and Langmuir models (R2 = 0.982) could describe the adoption process well. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption of phosphorus on the MgO-modified biochars adsorbent was spontaneous and endothermic. The effect of pH, FTIR spectra and XPS spectra studies indicated that the phosphorus adsorption includes a protonation process, electrostatic attraction and precipitation process. This study provides a new strategy for biochar modification via a facile mechanochemical method.
Unchanged Fatality Rate on Austrian Ski Slopes during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Posch Markus , Burtscher Johannes , Ruedl Gerhard , Pocecco Elena , Burtscher Martin
Published: June 2022

Fatalities on ski slopes are very rare, with about one death per one million skier days. Whether the fatality rate is affected by substantial changes in the number of skier days and potentially associated alterations in the structure of the skier population is unknown. Thus, we compared the fatality rate on Austrian ski slopes in the winter season of 2020/21, when skiing activities were dramatically restricted during the COVID-19 lockdown, with those of the previous winter seasons. As a consequence of COVID-19 measures, the number of skier days dropped from over 50 million in previous years to 9.2 million skier days in the winter season of 2020/21. Still, the fatality rate (6.5 deaths/10 million skier days) was not different when compared to any of the seasons from 2011/12 to 2019/20. Despite the lack of international skiers and the reduction in skier days by more than 80%, the fatality rate remained surprisingly unchanged. The weather and snowfall conditions were on average comparable to those of previous winters, and, except for nationality, the composition of the skier population appears to have remained relatively unaltered. In conclusion, the fatality rate during downhill skiing is low and the absolute fatality numbers are primarily a function of the number of skier days.