bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescent individual, school, and neighborhood influences on young adult hypertension risk
Authors: Abdel Magid Hoda S. , Milliren Carly E. , Rice Kathryn , Molanphy Nina , Ruiz Kennedy , Gooding Holly C. , Richmond Tracy K. , Odden Michelle C. , Nagata Jason M.
Published: April 2022

Background

Geographic and contextual socioeconomic risk factors in adolescence may be more strongly associated with young adult hypertension than individual-level risk factors. This study examines the association between individual, neighborhood, and school-level influences during adolescence on young adult blood pressure.

Methods

Data were analyzed from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (1994–1995 aged 11–18 and 2007–2008 aged 24–32). We categorized hypertension as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg. Secondary outcomes included continuous systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We fit a series of cross-classified multilevel models to estimate the associations between young adulthood hypertension with individual-level, school-level, and neighborhood-level factors during adolescence (i.e., fixed effects) and variance attributable to each level (i.e., random effects). Models were fit using Bayesian estimation procedures. For linear models, intra-class correlations (ICC) are reported for random effects.

Results

The final sample included 13,911 participants in 128 schools and 1,917 neighborhoods. Approximately 51% (7,111) young adults were hypertensive. Individual-level characteristics—particularly older ages, Non-Hispanic Black race, Asian race, male sex, BMI, and current smoking—were associated with increased hypertension. Non-Hispanic Black (OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03–1.42) and Asian (OR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.02–1.62) students had higher odds of hypertension compared to non-Hispanic White students. At the school level, hypertension was associated with the percentage of non-Hispanic White students (OR for 10% higher = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). Adjusting for individual, school, and neighborhood predictors attenuated the ICC for both the school (from 1.4 null to 0.9 fully-adjusted) and neighborhood (from 0.4 to 0.3).

Conclusion

We find that adolescents’ schools and individual-level factors influence young adult hypertension, more than neighborhoods. Unequal conditions in school environments for adolescents may increase the risk of hypertension later in life. Our findings merit further research to better understand the mechanisms through which adolescents’ school environments contribute to adult hypertension and disparities in hypertension outcomes later in life.
Medical laboratory waste generation rate, management practices and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Endris Salem , Tamir Zemenu , Sisay Abay
Published: April 2022

Background

Biomedical wastes (BMWs) generated from medical laboratories are hazardous and can endanger both humans and the environment. Highly infectious biomedical wastes are produced at an unacceptably high rate from health laboratories in developing countries with poor management systems, such as Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of biomedical waste generation, management practices, and associated factors in public healthcare medical laboratories in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Materials and methods

From July 13 to September 25, 2020, a health institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 hospital laboratories and 20 health centres laboratories in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of biomedical waste management and generation rate were collected d in health facilities using pre tested data collection tools. SPSS version 20 was used to manage the data. To identify independent predictors of the dependent variable, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, linear, and logistic regression analysis were used. The strength of the association was determined using an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Results

In this study, the mean ± SD daily generation rate of biomedical wastes was 4.9 ± 3.13 kg/day per medical laboratory. Nineteen medical laboratories (74.3%) had proper biomedical waste management practice, which is significantly associated with professionals’ knowledge of biomedical waste management policies and guidelines, the availability of separate financial sources for biomedical waste management, and the level of training of professionals.

Conclusion

The study found that medical laboratories in Addis Ababa’s public healthcare facilities generate a significant amount of biomedical waste. Nearly two-thirds of hospitals performed proper waste segregation, collection, storage, and treatment procedures for biomedical waste generated in their laboratories. However, there was a poor transportation and disposal method. As a result, paying special attention and implementing the current national guidelines for biomedical waste management is recommended.
Monitoring the safety status of service bolts in mining roadways
Authors: Dong Jianjun , Xie Zhengquan , Zheng Gaoyang , Jiang Hao
Published: April 2022

To monitor the safety status of the bolts in coal mining roadways in real time, the safety and stability of the bolt support structure were evaluated. Based on the conventional support bolts used in the field, a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor and medium materials were selected. Through theoretical analysis, the bolt tension, and FBG temperature tests, the strain transmission mechanism of the FBG bolt was analyzed, and it was ensured that the developed FBG bolt could accurately measure the strain of the bolt. In the field test, FBG bolts were arranged on the positive and negative sides of the mining roadway to accurately monitor the safety status of the bolts in service in real time, and the force characteristics of the bolts monitored by the FBG sensor were analyzed to obtain the maximum axial force of the positive and negative bolts. Thereafter, the safety status of the roadway bolt was evaluated. The results show that the positive side bolts axial force change is significantly greater than that of the negative side bolt; with the working face advancing to a distance of 60 m from the bolt as the dividing line, the positive side bolts axial force grows slowly before this, after which the axial force increases rapidly. The locations of the roadway where the positive and negative bolts are most affected by mining are determined, and roadway support and prevention measures for this location should be conducted in time. The safety status of the bolts is evaluated and monitored as follows: the positive side No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, and No. 6 bolts have reached the failure state, the positive side No. 4 bolt is in a dangerous state, the positive side No. 1, negative side No. 8 and No. 9 are in an abnormal state, and the negative side No. 7, No. 10, No. 11, and No. 12 are in a normal condition. This research has laid a technical foundation for the real-time monitoring of the bolt support of the mining roadway and the assessment of the safety status of bolts.
The clinical impact of pain neuroscience continuing education on physical therapy outcomes for patients with low back and neck pain
Authors: Louw Adriaan , Puentedura Emilio J. , Denninger Thomas R. , Lutz Adam D. , Cox Terry , Zimney Kory , Landers Merrill R.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Research suggests that attendance by physical therapists at continuing education (CE) targeting the management of low back pain (LBP) and neck pain does not result in positive impacts on clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if therapists attending a self-paced 3-hour online Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program was associated with any observed changes to patient outcomes and also clinical practice.

Methods

Participants were 25 different physical therapists who treated 3,705 patients with low back pain (LBP) or neck pain before and after they had completed an online PNE CE course. Change in outcomes measures of pain and disability at discharge were compared for the patients treated before and after the therapist training. Clinical practice patterns of the therapists, including total treatment visits, duration of care, total units billed, average units billed per visit, percentage of ‘active’ billing units and percentage of ‘active and manual’ billing units, were also compared for the patient care episodes before and after the therapist training.

Results

There was no significant difference for change in pain scores at discharge for patients treated after therapist CE training compared to those treated before regardless of the condition (LBP or neck pain). However, patients with LBP who were treated after therapist CE training did report greater improvement in their disability scores. Also after CE training, for each episode of care, therapists tended to use less total visits, billed fewer units per visit, and billed a greater percentage of more ‘active’ and ‘active and manual’ billing units.

Discussion

Attending an online 3-hour CE course on PNE resulted in improved disability scores for patients with LBP, but not for those with neck pain. Changes in clinical behavior by the therapists included using less visits, billing fewer total units, and shifting to more active and manual therapy interventions. Further prospective studies with control groups should investigate the effect of therapist CE on patient outcomes and clinical practice.
Physical activity and exercise recommendations for people receiving dialysis: A scoping review
Authors: Lambert Kelly , Lightfoot Courtney J. , Jegatheesan Dev K. , Gabrys Iwona , Bennett Paul N.
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Remaining physically active is important to patients undertaking dialysis, however, clinical recommendations regarding exercise type, timing, intensity, and safety precautions vary. The purpose of this scoping review was to analyse and summarise recommendations for physical activity and exercise for people undertaking dialysis and identify areas that require further research or clarification.

Materials and methods

A scoping review of literature from five bibliographic databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus) was conducted. Eligible articles included consensus guidelines, position statements, reviews, or clinical practice guidelines that included specific physical activity and exercise recommendations for people undertaking dialysis. Key search terms included "kidney disease" OR "kidney failure" OR "chronic kidney disease" OR "end stage kidney disease" AND guideline* OR consensus OR "position statement" OR prescription OR statement AND exercise OR "physical activity". Hand searching for relevant articles in all first twenty quartile 1 journals listed on SCImago under ‘medicine—nephrology’ and ‘physical therapy, sports therapy and rehabilitation’ using the terms ‘exercise and dialysis’ was undertaken. Finally, home pages of key societies and professional organisations in the field of sports medicine and nephrology were searched.

Results

The systematic search strategy identified 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. Two were specific to pediatric dialysis and three to peritoneal dialysis. Whilst many publications provided recommendations on aerobic exercise, progressive resistance training and flexibility, few provided explicit guidance. Recommendations for the intensity, duration and frequency of aerobic and resistance training varied. Discrepancies or gaps in guidance about precautions, contraindications, termination criteria, progression, and access site precautions were also apparent.

Conclusion

Future guidelines should include specific guidance regarding physical activity, safety precautions, and timing and intensity of exercise for individuals who undertake dialysis. Collaborative multidisciplinary guideline development and appropriate exercise counselling may lead to increased participation in physical activity and exercise and facilitate better patient outcomes.
Children’s and adults’ use of fictional discourse and semantic knowledge for prediction in language processing
Authors: Lee Ruth , Chambers Craig G. , Huettig Falk , Ganea Patricia A.
Published: April 2022

Using real-time eye-movement measures, we asked how a fantastical discourse context competes with stored representations of real-world events to influence the moment-by-moment interpretation of a story by 7-year-old children and adults. Seven-year-olds were less effective at bypassing stored real-world knowledge during real-time interpretation than adults. Our results suggest that children privilege stored semantic knowledge over situation-specific information presented in a fictional story context. We suggest that 7-year-olds’ canonical semantic and conceptual relations are sufficiently strongly rooted in statistical patterns in language that have consolidated over time that they overwhelm new and unexpected information even when the latter is fantastical and highly salient.
Ecdysteroid responses to urban heat island conditions during development of the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus)
Authors: Moen Claire , Johnson J. Chadwick , Hackney Price Jennifer
Published: April 2022

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) controls molting in arthropods. The timing of 20E production, and subsequent developmental transitions, is influenced by a variety of environmental factors including nutrition, photoperiod, and temperature, which is particularly relevant in the face of climate change. Environmental changes, combined with rapid urbanization, and the increasing prevalence of urban heat islands (UHI) have contributed to an overall decrease in biodiversity making it critical to understand how organisms respond to elevating global temperatures. Some arthropods, such as the Western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus, appear to thrive under UHI conditions, but the physiological mechanism underlying their success has not been explored. Here we examine the relationship between hemolymph 20E titers and spiderling development under non-urban desert (27°C), intermediate (30°C), and urban (33°C) temperatures. We found that a presumptive molt-inducing 20E peak observed in spiders at non-urban desert temperatures was reduced and delayed at higher temperatures. Intermolt 20E titers were also significantly altered in spiders reared under UHI temperatures. Despite the apparent success of black widows in urban environments, we noted that, coincident with the effects on 20E, there were numerous negative effects of elevated temperatures on spiderling development. The differential effects of temperature on pre-molt and intermolt 20E titers suggest distinct hormonal mechanisms underlying the physiological, developmental, and behavioral response to heat, allowing spiders to better cope with urban environments.
Research on the transformation from international exhibition to “cloud” exhibition in the post COVID-19 era: A case study of China International Fair for Investment & Trade
Authors: Li Ting , Ye Qianqian , Chen Qiuxin
Published: April 2022

By exploring the China International Fair for Investment and Trade’s development process, this study analyzes its absolute advantages in future development, gradually lost comparative advantages, and potential crises. Through the data envelopment analysis model, the study analyzes its resource allocation efficiency based on two cooperation modes: traditional “Offline” investment mode and “Online + Offline” investment mode. Then we use vector autoregressive model to comprehensively investigate the impact and causality of the two input factors on output. We find that its comprehensive allocation efficiency presents a “U” shape that reflects the characteristics of its three stages: the first stage, 2001–2005; the second stage, 2006–2012; and the third stage, 2013–2020. The main factors affecting resource allocation efficiency are then deduced from the results: exhibition scale utilization, booth design innovation, project strength of participating enterprises, and the signing rate of overseas customers. The number of industrial and commercial groups (X4) and participating countries and regions (X6) have an important impact on the output indicators: signed contract projects (Y1). The empirical results verify that the “Online + Offline” investment mode is an effective and suitable mechanism to solve the problem of cooperation and investment constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the results of empirical analysis, this study posits the path and countermeasures of realizing the transformation to “cloud” exhibition in the post-pandemic era. Especially, we should focus on building new mechanisms of business environment that will promote the active participation of national, regional, and international industrial and commercial groups. The purpose is to continuously strengthen the foundation of cooperative trust and innovate a new trust model of online cooperative trading.
Vaccination against misinformation: The inoculation technique reduces the continued influence effect
Authors: Buczel Klara Austeja , Szyszka Paulina D. , Siwiak Adam , Szpitalak Malwina , Polczyk Romuald
Published: April 2022

The continued influence effect of misinformation (CIE) is a phenomenon in which certain information, although retracted and corrected, still has an impact on event reporting, reasoning, inference, and decisions. The main goal of this paper is to investigate to what extent this effect can be reduced using the procedure of inoculation and how it can be moderated by the reliability of corrections’ sources. The results show that the reliability of corrections’ sources did not affect their processing when participants were not inoculated. However, inoculated participants relied on misinformation less when the correction came from a highly credible source. For this source condition, as a result of inoculation, a significant increase in belief in retraction, as well as a decrease in belief in misinformation was also found. Contrary to previous reports, belief in misinformation rather than belief in retraction predicted reliance on misinformation. These findings are of both great practical importance as certain boundary conditions for inoculation efficiency have been discovered to reduce the impact of the continued influence of misinformation, and theoretical, as they provide insight into the mechanisms behind CIE. The results were interpreted in terms of existing CIE theories as well as within the remembering framework, which describes the conversion from memory traces to behavioral manifestations of memory.
Medication errors in type 2 diabetes from patients’ perspective
Authors: Mader Julia K. , Aberer Felix , Drechsler Kerstin Sarah , Pöttler Tina , Lichtenegger Katharina M. , Köle Wolfgang , Sendlhofer Gerald
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Drug errors pose a major health hazard to a number of patient populations. However, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus seem especially vulnerable to this risk as diabetes mellitus is usually concomitant with various comorbidities and polypharmacy, which present significant risk factors for the occurrence of drug errors. Despite this fact, there is little data on drug errors from patients’ perspective. The present survey aimed to examine the viewpoints of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus regarding their experiences with medication errors, the overall treatment satisfaction, and their perceptions on how a medication error was handled in daily hospital routine.

Materials and methods

Inpatients at the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the University Hospital of Graz were included in the survey. Out of 100 patients, one-half had insulin therapy before hospitalization while the other half had no insulin therapy prior to admission. After giving informed consent, patients filled out a questionnaire with 22 items.

Results

Independent of their preexisting therapy, 25% of patients already suffered at least one drug error, whereby prescribing a wrong dose seemed to be the most common type of error. Furthermore, 26% of patients in the non-insulin versus 50% in the insulin group (p = 0.084) were convinced that drug errors were addressed honestly by the medical staff, while 54% in the non-insulin versus 80% in the insulin-group (p = 0.061) assumed that adequate measures were taken to prevent drug errors. Finally, 9 out of 10 patients seemed satisfied with their treatment regardless of their diabetes therapy.

Discussion/conclusion

The results of the survey clearly showed that patients experienced at least one medication error during hospitalization. However, these errors only rarely led to patient harm. The survey also revealed the value of an honest and respectful doctor-patient relationship regarding patient perception of medication errors and general complaints. Increasing patient awareness on the existing in-hospital error management systems could eliminate treatment-related concerns and create a climate of trust that is essential for effective treatment.
Quality assessment and nutrient uptake and utilization in Luohan pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) seedlings raised by chitosan spraying in varied LED spectra
Authors: Song Qiyan , Xu Liang , Long Wei , Guo Jia , Zhang Xie
Published: April 2022

Target seedling cultivation pursues high quality and nutrient utilization instead of increasing growth and size. Exposure to light-emitting diode (LED) spectra is a well-known approach that can accelerate growing speed in tree seedlings, but it is still unknown whether seedling quality and nutrient utilization would be further improved with exogeneous polymer additives. Luohan pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) seedlings were exposed to red (red-green-blue lights, 71.7%-13.7%-14.6%), green (26.2%-56.4%-17.4%), and blue (17.8%-33.7%-48.5%) LED-light spectra with half receiving leaf spray by chitosan oligosaccharides (Cos) at a rate of 2 ppm (w/w) and the other half receiving only water. The red-light spectrum promoted height, biomass, nutrient utilization, and quality assessment (DQI) in water-sprayed seedlings. The Cos spray enhanced fine-root growth, protein, and chlorophyll-b contents with elevated nutrient utilization and quality in seedlings in the green-light spectrum. DQI was found to have a positive relationship with phosphorus utilization. In conclusion, although the red-light LED spectrum can promote seedling growth, green light combined with Cos spray is recommended with the aim of maintaining seedling quality and increasing P utilization in Luohan pine seedlings.
Drug therapy problems and predicting factors among ambulatory epileptic patients in Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Beyene Yadeta Babu , Daba Fekede Bekele , Goro Kabaye Kumela , Senbeta Birbirsa Sefera
Published: April 2022

Background

The care of epileptic patients is complicated by the cognitive adverse effect of the drug, disease, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics properties of antiepileptic drugs which in turn intensify the risk of drug therapy problems among epileptic patients.

Objective

To assess drug therapy problems and predicting factors among ambulatory epileptic patients at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, from September 2020 to May 2021.

Methodology

A hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from patients as well as from charts. Drug therapy problems were identified using Cipolle’s, Morley, and Strand drug therapy problem identification and classification method. Data were entered into Epi data manager version 4.6 and exported to statistical software package for social science version 23.0 for analysis. Multiplestepwise backward logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of drug therapy problems. The 95% CI was used to show an association between the dependent and independent variables. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Of the total 320 epileptic patients 224(70.0%) patients had at least one drug therapy problem. A total of 395 drug therapy problems were identified among two hundred twenty-four patients with an average of 1.2 drug therapy problems per patient. The frequently identified drug therapy problems were non-compliance 115(29.11), adverse drug reaction 110(27.84%), and dose too low 103(26%). Getting of a drug by purchasing [AOR = 4.6,95%CI:(2.05–10.7)], poorly involvement of the patients in therapeutic decision making [AOR = 3.02,95%CI:(1.5–6.06)], the number of medications ≥ two [AOR = 5.3,95%CI:(1.2–22.9)] and having had uncontrolled seizure [AOR = 10.9,95%CI:(4.9–24.2)] were independent predictors of drug therapy problems.

Conclusions

Drug therapy problems were common among epileptic patients in the study area. Patients who were getting their drugs by purchasing, poorly involved in therapeutic decision making, having had an uncontrolled seizure, and taking two and above drugs were more likely to experience drug therapy problems. Therefore, due attention should be given to patients with the aforementioned problems to decrease the occurrence of drug therapy problems and improve overall outcomes among epileptic patients.
Intergovernmental policy opportunities for childhood obesity prevention in Australia: Perspectives from senior officials
Authors: Esdaile Emma K. , Rissel Chris , Baur Louise A. , Wen Li Ming , Gillespie James
Published: April 2022

Background

Early childhood (from conception to five years) is a key life stage for interventions to prevent obesity. In the Australian Federation, policy responsibility for obesity prevention sits across all levels of government and several intergovernmental institutions, rendering a complicated policy space. There is a gap in our understanding of the role of intergovernmentalism in developing obesity prevention policy in Australia. Given the complexity of intergovernmental structures and initiatives influencing childhood obesity prevention policy, it is important to understand the perspectives of senior health officials within the bureaucracy of government who through their roles may be able to influence processes or new strategies.

Methods

Document analysis relating to obesity prevention in the intergovernmental context provided material support to the study. This analysis informed the interview guides for nine interviews with ten senior health department officials (one interview per jurisdiction).

Findings

Several opportunities exist to support nutrition and obesity prevention in early childhood including marketing regulation (discretionary choices, breastmilk substitutes, commercial complementary foods and ‘toddler milks’) and supporting the early childhood education and care sector. This study found a widening structural gap to support national obesity policy in Australia. New public management strategies limit the ability of intergovernmental institutions to support coordination within and between governments to address complex issues such as obesity. Subnational informants perceived a gap in national leadership for obesity prevention, while a Commonwealth informant noted the commitment of the national government to partner with industry under a self-regulation model. In this gap, subnational leaders have pursued nationally consistent action to address obesity, including the development of a national obesity strategy as a bipartisan endeavour across jurisdictions. Public officials calculate the strategic possibilities of pursuing opportunities within state agendas but note the limited chances of structural change in the absence of national leadership and funding.
Epidemiological characteristics, routine laboratory diagnosis, clinical signs and risk factors for hand, -foot -and -mouth disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yi Zhijie , Pei Shujun , Suo Wenshuai , Wang Xiaoyang , Huang Zengyuan , Yi Aihua , Wang Bohao , He Zhiquan , Wang Ruolin , Li Yi , Fan Wei , Huang Xueyong
Published: April 2022

Background

For the past few years, only a few monovalent EV71 vaccines have been developed, while other enterovirus vaccines are in short supply. We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis to explore the epidemiological characteristics, routine laboratory diagnosis, clinical signs and risk factors for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Methods

PubMed, Embase and the Web of Science were searched for eligible reports published before April 16, 2021, with no publication time or language restrictions. The primary outcome was the odds ratio of the epidemiological characteristics, routine laboratory diagnosis, and clinical signs associated with HFMD severity and death.

Results

After screening 10522 records, we included 32 articles comprising 781903 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. Patients with severe illness developed some clinical signs (hypersomnia (OR = 21.97, 95% CI: 4.13 to 116.74), convulsion (OR = 16.18, 95% CI: 5.30 to 49.39), limb shaking (OR = 47.96, 95% CI: 15.17 to 151.67), and breathlessness (OR = 7.48, 95% CI: 1.90 to 29.40)) and had some changes in laboratory parameters (interleukin-6 levels standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.57, 95%CI: 0.55 to 2.60), an increased neutrophils ratio (SMD = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.17 to 0.93), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) (SMD = -1.38, 95%CI: -2.33 to -0.43) and a reduced lymphocytes ratio (SMD = -0.48, 95%CI: -0.93 to -0.33)) compared with patients with mild illness. The risk factors for death included cyanosis (OR = 5.82, 95% CI: 2.29 to 14.81), a fast heart rate (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.65 to 6.30), vomiting (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.33 to 5.49) and an increased WBC count (SMD = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.93).

Conclusions

China has the highest incidence of HFMD. Our meta-analyses revealed important risk factors that are associated with the severity and mortality of HFMD.
Biochar enhances wheat crop productivity by mitigating the effects of drought: Insights into physiological and antioxidant defense mechanisms
Authors: Zulfiqar Bilal , Raza Muhammad Aown Sammar , Saleem Muhammad Farrukh , Aslam Muhammad Usman , Iqbal Rashid , Muhammad Faqeer , Amin Jawad , Ibrahim Muhammad Arif , Khan Imran Haider
Published: April 2022

Drought stress is a major limitation in wheat production around the globe. Organic amendments could be the possible option in semi-arid climatic conditions to mitigate the adverse effects of drought at critical growth stages. Wheat straw biochar (BC0 = Control, BC1 = 3% biochar and BC2 = 5% biochar) was used to alleviate the drought stress at tillering (DTS), flowering (DFS), and grain filling (DGFS) stages. Drought stress significantly reduced the growth and yield of wheat at critical growth stages, with DGFS being the most susceptible stage, resulting in significant yield loss. Biochar application substantially reduced the detrimental effects of drought by improving plant height (15.74%), fertile tiller count (17.14%), spike length (16.61%), grains per spike (13.89%), thousand grain weight (10.4%), and biological yield (13.1%) when compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, physiological parameters such as water use efficiency (38.41%), stomatal conductance (42.76%), chlorophyll a (19.3%), chlorophyll b (22.24%), transpiration rate (39.17%), photosynthetic rate (24.86%), electrolyte leakage (-42.5%) hydrogen peroxide (-18.03%) superoxide dismutase (24.66%), catalase (24.11%) and peroxidase (-13.14%) were also improved by biochar application. The use of principal component analysis linked disparate scales of our findings to explain the changes occurred in wheat growth and yield in response to biochar application under drought circumstances. In essence, using biochar at 5% rate could be a successful strategy to promote wheat grain production by reducing the hazardous impacts of drought stress.
Durability of mRNA-1273 against COVID-19 in the time of Delta: Interim results from an observational cohort study
Authors: Florea Ana , Sy Lina S. , Luo Yi , Qian Lei , Bruxvoort Katia J. , Ackerson Bradley K. , Lee Gina S. , Ku Jennifer H. , Tubert Julia E. , Tian Yun , Talarico Carla A. , Tseng Hung Fu
Published: April 2022

Background

We conducted a prospective cohort study at Kaiser Permanente Southern California to study the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of mRNA-1273 over time and during the emergence of the Delta variant.

Methods

The cohort for this planned interim analysis consisted of individuals aged ≥18 years receiving 2 doses of mRNA-1273 through June 2021, matched 1:1 to randomly selected unvaccinated individuals by age, sex, and race/ethnicity, with follow-up through September 2021. Outcomes were SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 hospitalization and hospital death. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing outcomes in the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Adjusted VE (%) was calculated as (1-aHR)x100. HRs and VEs were also estimated for SARS-CoV-2 infection by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and during the Delta period (June-September 2021). VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalization was estimated at 0-<2, 2-<4, 4-<6, and 6-<8 months post-vaccination.

Results

927,004 recipients of 2 doses of mRNA-1273 were matched to 927,004 unvaccinated individuals. VE (95% CI) was 82.8% (82.2–83.3%) against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 96.1% (95.5–96.6%) against COVID-19 hospitalization, and 97.2% (94.8–98.4%) against COVID-19 hospital death. VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection was similar by age, sex, and race/ethnicity, and was 86.5% (84.8–88.0%) during the Delta period. VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection decreased from 88.0% at 0-<2 months to 75.5% at 6-<8 months.

Conclusions

These interim results provide continued evidence for protection of 2 doses of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 infection over 8 months post-vaccination and during the Delta period, and against COVID-19 hospitalization and hospital death.
The effect of haze pollution on insurance development: Evidence from 268 prefecture-level cities in China
Authors: Chang Yonglian , Huang Yingjun , Li Manman , Duan Zhengmin
Published: April 2022

The relationship between haze pollution and insurance development is investigated based on the concentration of PM2.5 of 268 Chinese cities during 2009~2018. Subsequently, the effect of haze pollution on the development of insurance and the underlying mechanisms are also explored. The regional governance of haze pollution and its impact on insurance development is estimated by using a unified framework of two-stage least squares. The machine learning method-elastic network is adopted to filter the control variables and avoid multi-collinearity. The results show that haze pollution has an adverse effect on the insurance development through two important underlying mechanisms, residents’ emotions and economic development. Haze pollution affects residents’ emotions, and the impact coefficient is approximately equal to -0.18, which further inhibits residents’ participation in insurance. Moreover, pollution restricts residents’ budgets by hindering economic development, the impact coefficient is about -0.07, thus, the development of insurance is suppressed. These two negative effects exhibit regional variations, which gradually attenuate from eastern, western to the Chinese central region. The regional governance has a positive effect on haze pollution with the coefficient of -0.07, while impact coefficient of haze pollution on insurance development decreases to -0.02. The policy implication is that government supervision can formulate reasonable environmental and insurance policies based on the heterogeneity of regional development to alleviate haze pollution and promote insurance development.
Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among Chinese diabetic retinopathy patients: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Xu Ling , Chen Siqi , Xu Kai , Wang Yixin , Zhang Hongda , Wang Lie , He Wei
Published: April 2022

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the mental health among patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and to explore its’ influencing factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Liaoning Province, China. A total of 200 patients volunteered to participate in the survey. Psycho-social variables included stress, self-efficacy, resilience, and social support. logistic regression analysis was used to explore the effect of psycho-social factors on depression and anxiety in DR patients. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 25% and 13.5% among DR patients. Regression analysis showed that social support had a significant protective effect on depression (95%CI 0.931–0.997) and anxiety (95%CI 0.900–0.995). Stress had a significant acceleration of depression (95%CI 1.055–1.253) and anxiety (95%CI 1.120–1.457). Family history of diabetes (95%CI 1.856–18.057) and other chronic diseases (95%CI 1.485–12.508) were risk factors for anxiety. The high prevalence of depression (25.0%) and anxiety (13.5%) among DR patients should receive more attention in Chinese medical settings. Stress, social support, family history of diabetes and other chronic diseases seemed to be crucial in relation to depressive symptoms. Efficient interventions such as improving social support and decreasing stress with patients should be considered by health administrators aiming at alleviating depressive and anxiety among Chinese DR patients.
The SUMO E3 ligase activity of ORF45 determines KSHV lytic replication
Authors: Liu Zhenshan , Wang Xin , Liu Chengrong , Deng Hongying , Li Wenshu , Wang Xiaoqian , Xu Xue , Xiao Maggie Z. X. , Wang Chunxia , Zhang Yucai , Fu Joyce , Zhu Fanxiu , Liang Qiming
Published: April 2022

RSK1, an essential cellular kinase for Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) replication, is highly phosphorylated and SUMOylated during KSHV lytic cycle, which determine the substrate phosphorylation and specificity of RSK1, respectively. However, the SUMO E3 ligase responsible for attaching SUMO to RSK1 has not yet been identified. By genome-wide screening, we found that KSHV ORF45 is necessary and sufficient to enhance RSK1 SUMOylation. Mechanistically, KSHV ORF45 binds to SUMOs via two classic SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs) and functions as a SIM-dependent SUMO E3 ligase for RSK1. Mutations on these ORF45 SIMs resulted in much lower lytic gene expressions, viral DNA replication, and mature progeny virus production. Interestingly, KSHV ORF45 controls RSK1 SUMOylation and phosphorylation via two separated functional regions: SIMs and amino acid 17–90, respectively, which do not affect each other. Similar to KSHV ORF45, ORF45 of Rhesus Macaque Rhadinovirus has only one SIM and also increases RSK1 SUMOylation in a SIM-dependent manner, while other ORF45 homologues do not have this function. Our work characterized ORF45 as a novel virus encoded SUMO E3 ligase, which is required for ORF45-RSK1 axis-mediated KSHV lytic gene expression.
Educação ambiental e políticas públicas no âmbito do licenciamento ambiental:
Authors: Gomes Patricia Votto , Kitzmann Dione Iara Silveira , Zamberlam Fernanda
Published: April 2022

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar a Educação Ambiental Não-Formal (EANF), vinculada à gestão ambiental, identificando os seus espaços em políticas públicas vigentes no âmbito do licenciamento ambiental, tendo como referência o Programa de Educação Ambiental desenvolvido como condicionante de licenças ambientais de obras públicas municipais (PEA-Obras), com foco na gestão de Resíduos da Construção Civil (RCC). Foi identificado que a EANF no contexto do licenciamento ambiental está considerada em políticas públicas federais, estaduais e municipais como parte de seus instrumentos, diretrizes, metas e ações, sendo que o PEA-Obras atende a tais referenciais.
Pesquisas sobre Atitudes Ambientais no campo da Educação em Ciências:
Authors: De Almeida Barbosa Renan , Lima Robaina José Vicente
Published: April 2022

O processo educativo é essencial na formação para o enfrentamento da crise socioambiental, proporcionando momentos de aquisição de conhecimento de maneira ativa, autônoma, reflexiva e coletiva, para o desenvolvimento de atitudes pró-ambientais. O presente artigo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão do tipo Estado do Conhecimento sobre os conhecimentos produzidos por pesquisas com a temática de atitudes na área da Educação em Ciências.  Evidenciou-se a predominância de atitudes ambientais antropocêntricas e/ou utilitaristas, porém, concepções ou visões de mundo mais preocupadas com o meio ambiente podem se beneficiar de participações em atividades de Educação Ambiental. Dessa forma, aponta-se profícuos caminhos de pesquisa para o entendimento de como os(as) estudantes podem se beneficiar em aulas de Ciências ao mesmo tempo em que despertam o interesse pela natureza e sua preservação.
Más allá de la emigración. Presencia de la población extranjera residente en México
Authors: Pardo Montaño Ana Melisa , Dávila Cervantes Claudio Alberto
Published: April 2022

La migración internacional es un tema que ha sido bastante trabajado en los últimos años. Por lo general se hace referencia a las continuas oleadas migratorias de países en desarrollo, especialmente hacia Estados Unidos y Europa. Sin embargo, en fechas recientes, la migración interregional, especialmente entre países latinoamericanos como México, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, entre otros, ha cobrado mayor relevancia. El incremento de esta migración puede ser ocasionado tanto por la continua vigilancia en la frontera hacia Estados Unidos, principal destino de muchos de estos migrantes, el aumento de los requerimientos para solicitudes de visas en países europeos, como por la actual crisis económica mundial, lo que genera que la población comience a buscar destinos alternativos a los lugares a los que históricamente se habían desplazado. El análisis de la migración originada desde estos diferentes contextos presentados en este libro ayuda a entender muchos de los procesos de inclusión y exclusión hacia esta población en México. Las diferentes metodologías observadas a lo largo de los capítulos reflejan diversas formas de acercarse al estudio de la presencia de la población extranjera y la diversidad de problemáticas que los distintos grupos viven a diferentes escalas. Este es un aspecto que, más que diferenciar o ser un problema, es una virtud, pues al final, todos los trabajos que forman parte de este volumen se interesan por destacar un fenómeno en particular: la creciente presencia de la población extranjera en nuestro país.
Las investigaciones geográficas, naturalistas y geológicas en México, 1876-1946
Authors:   Instituto de Geografía, UNAM, Azuela Bernal Luz Fernanda , Vega y Ortega Baez Rodrigo Antonio , Montiel Reyes Sara Alejandra , García Corzo Rebeca Vanesa , de la Torre de la Torre Federico , Uribe Salas José Alfredo , Cuevas Cardona María del Consuelo , López Ramírez María del Carmen , Gómez Rey Patricia
Published: April 2022

El presente libro colectivo presenta estudios de caso acerca de las actividades científicas de geógrafos, naturalistas y geólogos en el periodo 1876-1946. Las investigaciones geográficas, naturalistas y geológicas en México, 1876-1946 se compone de siete capítulos que analizan e interpretan de fuentes históricas novedosas y su contraste con las tradicionales para construir un panorama distinto al de la historiografía clásica de la ciencia mexicana en cuanto al papel de los aficionados y los profesionales en las actividades científicas, al igual que la consolidación de instituciones regionales y la emergencia de espacios científicos poco conocidos hasta ahora. En cada investigación se pone de manifiesto que las élites científicas de la sociedad mexicana atendieron el desarrollo de la Geografía, la Geología y la Historia Natural en aspectos teóricos y prácticos dentro de instituciones y asociaciones de alcances nacional, regional y local. Geógrafos, naturalistas y geólogos se interesaron en la explotación de los recursos naturales, la educación científica de la sociedad y la fundación de espacios públicos y privados dedicados al reconocimiento del territorio del país.
La Mujery la Ciudad
Authors: Jiménez Arrieta Myriam
Published: April 2022

Este artículo pretende explicar como históricamente respondiendo a construcciones culturales la mujer en la ciudad ha estado ubicada en los espacios domésticos y privados, aunque simultáneamente contribuyó con sus acciones y movimientos a la libertad y reconocimiento de los Derechos y al desarrollo de la ciudadanía.
¿Qué pasa con el Pacífico Negro en el Atlántico Negro? El Atlántico Negro de Paul Gilroy frente a los acontecimientos (afro)colombianos.
Authors: Rossbach de Olmos Lioba
Published: April 2022

El presente artículo presenta una critica al Atlántico Negro ("The Black Atlantic") y a Paul Gilroy como representante de los estudios culturales desde un punto de vista antropológico y empírico usando como ejemplo la reciente dinámica política de Colombia. Especialmente en el "Pacífico Negro" colombiano se están constituyendo (nuevas) identidades étnicas negras. La nueva constitución de 1991 y una serie de disposiciones legales favorables contribuyen a que el "Pacifico Negro" se presenta como antítesis del Atlántico Negro de Gilroy.
La incorporación del puebloa la nación venezolana 1945-1948
Authors: Bracamonte Leonardo
Published: April 2022

Las ideas que ordenan este relato tratan de mostrar para el lector extranjero la experiencia del primer gobierno del partido Acción Democrática en Venezuela, luego de derrocar producto de un Golpe de Estado, al gobierno del general Isaías Medina Angarita. Se considera este período como el primer ensayo democrático que involucró a los sectores sociales hasta ese momento excluidos del sistema político. Se analizan brevemente el conjunto de reformas democráticas y las posibles causas que determinaron su salida del poder, producto también de un pronunciamiento militar en 1948.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Cardiac Electrophysiology
Authors: John Mathews M. , Banta Anton , Post Allison , Buchan Skylar , Aazhang Behnaam , Razavi Mehdi
Published: April 2022

Cardiac electrophysiology requires the processing of several patient-specific data points in real time to provide an accurate diagnosis and determine an optimal therapy. Expanding beyond the traditional tools that have been used to extract information from patient-specific data, machine learning offers a new set of advanced tools capable of revealing previously unknown data patterns and features. This new tool set can substantially improve the speed and level of confidence with which electrophysiologists can determine patient-specific diagnoses and therapies. The ability to process substantial amounts of data in real time also paves the way to novel techniques for data collection and visualization. Extended realities such as virtual and augmented reality can now enable the real-time visualization of 3-dimensional images in space. This enables improved preprocedural planning and intraprocedural interventions. Machine learning supplemented with novel visualization technologies could substantially improve patient care and outcomes by helping physicians to make more informed patient-specific decisions. This article presents current applications of machine learning and their use in cardiac electrophysiology.
Artificial Intelligence in Echocardiography
Authors: Coulter Stephanie A. , Campos Karla
Published: April 2022

Artificial intelligence in diagnostic cardiac-imaging platforms is advancing rapidly. In particular, artificial intelligence algorithms have increased the efficiency and accuracy of echocardiographic cardiovascular imaging, resulting in more complex echocardiographic imaging techniques and expanded use among noncardiologists. Here, we provide an overview of real-world applications of artificial intelligence in echocardiography including automatic high-quality computer-optimized image acquisition sequences, automated measurements, and algorithms for the rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac physiology. These advances will not replace physicians but will improve their productivity, workflow, and diagnostic performance.