bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction Workforce’s Mental Health: Research and Policy Alignment in the Australian Construction Industry
Authors: Hosseini Omid , Loosemore Martin , Fini Alireza Ahmadian Fard
Published: January 2023

The Australian construction industry is facing a mental health crisis; poor mental health indicators are significantly higher than the all-industry average. Despite a growing body of research into the mental health of the industry’s workforce, concerns have been raised about its alignment with regulatory developments in this area. This raises questions about the relevance of research to support mental health policy development in Australia and evidence-based research on mental health policy relating to the construction industry. However, there has been no research to explore the extent of this problem. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by reporting the results of a systematic review of peer-reviewed mental health research using the PRISMA scoping review methodology. The results reveal significant misalignment between existing research and Australian government regulation in this area. A particularly low level of research–policy alignment is found in the areas of: violence and traumatic events at work, financial concerns, poor organizational change management, workplace injustice, and social support. The paper concludes with recommendations for new avenues of mental health research to address these gaps, enabling closer alignment between mental health research and regulatory reform. It is concluded that this will facilitate more relevant research and improved evidence-based decision-making in this important field of research and policy development.
Sutureless Purely Off-Clamp Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy: Avoiding Renorrhaphy Does Not Jeopardize Surgical and Functional Outcomes
Authors: Brassetti Aldo , Misuraca Leonardo , Anceschi Umberto , Bove Alfredo Maria , Costantini Manuela , Ferriero Maria Consiglia , Guaglianone Salvatore , Mastroianni Riccardo , Torregiani Giulia , Covotta Marco , Tuderti Gabriele , Simone Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

To compare outcomes of sutureless (SL) vs. renorrhaphy (RR) off-clamp robotic partial nephrectomy (ocRPN), we retrospectively analyzed procedures performed at our center, from January 2017 to April 2021, for cT1-2N0M0 renal masses. All the patients with a minimum follow-up < 1 month were excluded from the analysis. The trifecta rate defined surgical quality. Any worsening from chronic kidney disease (CKD) I-II to ≧ IIIa (from IIIa to ≧ IIIb, and from IIIb to ≧ IV) was considered as significant stage migration (sCKDsm). A 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis minimized baseline imbalances between SL and RR cohorts in terms of age, gender, ASA score, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), tumor size, and RENAL score. Logistic regression analyses identified predictors of trifecta achievement. Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis assessed the impact of RR on significant chronic kidney disease sCKDsm-free survival (SMFS), while Cox regression analyses identified its predictors. Overall, 531 patients were included, with a median tumor size of 3.5 cm (IQR: 2.7–5); 70 (13%) presented with a cT2 mass. An SL approach was pursued in 180 cases, but 10 needed conversion to RR. After PSM analysis, patients receiving SL showed a higher trifecta rate (94% vs. 84%; p = 0.007). SMFS probabilities were comparable at KM analysis (log-rank = 0.69). Age (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.95–0.99; p = 0.01), a RENAL score ≧ 10 (OR: 0.29; 95%CI: 0.15–0.57; p < 0.001), and RR (OR: 0.34; 95%CI: 0.17–0.67; p = 0.002) were independent predictors of trifecta achievement. Age (OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.003–1.07; p = 0.03) and baseline eGFR (OR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.97–0.99; p = 0.05) independently predicted sCKDsm. Compared to RR, our experience seems to show that the SL approach significantly increased the probabilities of achieving the trifecta in the observed group of cases.
Influence of the Synthesis Protocol on the Catalytic Performance of PHI-Type Zeolites for the Dehydration of Lactic Acid
Authors: Häussermann Dorothea , Schömig Richard , Gehring Barbara , Traa Yvonne
Published: January 2023

Acrylic acid is an important basic chemical and a key starting compound for a variety of consumer products. Today, acrylic acid is still produced from fossil-based propene. If acrylic acid were produced from bio-based lactic acid, this would be an important step towards sustainability. The gas-phase dehydration reaction of lactic acid to acrylic acid was performed over eight-membered ring PHI-type zeolites in the Na+ and K+-form. A few variations in the synthesis procedure of PHI-type zeolite made a big difference in the performance during the catalytic reaction due to differences in the physical and chemical properties, especially the accessibility of the pores. The catalysts were characterized with ICP-OES, XRD, CO2 physisorption, SEM and 27Al MAS NMR. The calcination resulted in a partial collapse of the PHI structure. In the case of Na,K-PHI with a low surface area, the catalysis tends to take place on the outer surface, while in the case of Na,K-PHI with a high surface area the catalysis can also take place within the pore system. This has a considerable influence on the selectivity of the catalysts.
Calcium/Calmodulin-Stimulated Protein Kinase II (CaMKII): Different Functional Outcomes from Activation, Depending on the Cellular Microenvironment
Authors: Rostas John A. P. , Skelding Kathryn A.
Published: January 2023

Calcium/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a family of broad substrate specificity serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr) protein kinases widely expressed in many tissues that is capable of mediating diverse functional responses depending on its cellular and molecular microenvironment. This review briefly summarises current knowledge on the structure and regulation of CaMKII and focuses on how the molecular environment, and interaction with binding partner proteins, can produce different populations of CaMKII in different cells, or in different subcellular locations within the same cell, and how these different populations of CaMKII can produce diverse functional responses to activation following an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. This review also explores the possibility that identifying and characterising the molecular interactions responsible for the molecular targeting of CaMKII in different cells in vivo, and identifying the sites on CaMKII and/or the binding proteins through which these interactions occur, could lead to the development of highly selective inhibitors of specific CaMKII-mediated functional responses in specific cells that would not affect CaMKII-mediated responses in other cells. This may result in the development of new pharmacological agents with therapeutic potential for many clinical conditions.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Zirconium Compounds: A Review
Authors: Lamm Benjamin Weitkamp , Mitchell David Joseph
Published: January 2023

Coatings of zirconium compounds are used in a wide variety of fields, yet an understanding and descriptions of deposition mechanisms are scant in the public literature. The mechanisms of deposition for metallic zirconium, ZrC, ZrN, ZrO2, ZrB2, and zirconium silicides are discussed based on the direct vapor deposition research of those compounds where possible or compared to complementary titanium systems when direct research is lacking. Both inorganic and organometallic deposition systems are discussed. As a class of compounds, an understanding of the vapor deposition mechanisms can be significantly improved by investigations on metallic zirconium deposition by zirconium halides and hydrogen and by in situ analysis techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy or x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Sensitive Fingerprint Detection Using Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Coating on Non-Porous Surfaces
Authors: Bhati Kajol , Bajpai Tripathy Divya , Kumaravel Vignesh , Sudhani Hemanth , Ali Sajad , Choudhary Rita , Shukla Shruti
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the development and application of biocompatible nanomaterials in the detection of fingerprints have become a major focus for the forensic sector and crime investigators. This study aims to synthesize biocompatible silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) through cost-effective green methods and will be used to detect a latent fingerprint on a non-porous surface. As a type of environmentally friendly nanomaterial, Si NPs were prepared via an oil–water mixed micro-emulsion templating (MET) approach. Their characteristics and optical properties were measured using EDX-SEM, HR-TEM, FTIR, XRD, and UV–visible absorption. The biocompatibility of the synthesized Si NPs in terms of cell viability was observed, even at high concentrations (83.46% and 75.28% at 20 and 50 mg mL−1, respectively). The developed Si NPs were tested on different surfaces, including plastic, glass, silicon, steel, and soft plastic for the detection of crime scene fingerprints. In this research, it was found that the Si NPs were of the size of 100–150 nm. Results confirmed that synthesized mesoporous Si NPs can be used to detect latent fingerprints on multiple non-porous surfaces and were easy to detect under a UV lamp at 395 nm. These findings reinforce the suggestion that the developed Si NP coating has a high potential to increase sensitive and stable crime traces for forensic latent fingerprint detection, even in packaged food with different packaging surfaces.
The Role of TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) as a CandiDate Biomarker of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gambino Caterina Maria , Ciaccio Anna Maria , Lo Sasso Bruna , Giglio Rosaria Vincenza , Vidali Matteo , Agnello Luisa , Ciaccio Marcello
Published: January 2023

Background: TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregation in neuronal cells is recognized as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although the literature strongly supports the pathogenetic role of TDP-43 in ALS pathogenesis, the role of TDP-43 as a biomarker of ALS is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of TDP-43 for ALS. Methods: Relevant publications were identified by a systematic literature search on PubMed and Web of Science from their inception to 8 April 2022. Results: Seven studies, including 472 individuals, of whom 254 had ALS according to the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, met the inclusion criteria for our meta-analysis. According to the random-effects model, CSF TDP-43 levels are higher in ALS patients compared with control groups. Conclusions: CSF TDP-43 could represent a biomarker of ALS, but further studies are mandatory before drawing conclusions.
Deep Learning-Based Cost-Effective and Responsive Robot for Autism Treatment
Authors: Singh Aditya , Raj Kislay , Kumar Teerath , Verma Swapnil , Roy Arunabha
Published: January 2023

Recent studies state that, for a person with autism spectrum disorder, learning and improvement is often seen in environments where technological tools are involved. A robot is an excellent tool to be used in therapy and teaching. It can transform teaching methods, not just in the classrooms but also in the in-house clinical practices. With the rapid advancement in deep learning techniques, robots became more capable of handling human behaviour. In this paper, we present a cost-efficient, socially designed robot called ‘Tinku’, developed to assist in teaching special needs children. ‘Tinku’ is low cost but is full of features and has the ability to produce human-like expressions. Its design is inspired by the widely accepted animated character ‘WALL-E’. Its capabilities include offline speech processing and computer vision—we used light object detection models, such as Yolo v3-tiny and single shot detector (SSD)—for obstacle avoidance, non-verbal communication, expressing emotions in an anthropomorphic way, etc. It uses an onboard deep learning technique to localize the objects in the scene and uses the information for semantic perception. We have developed several lessons for training using these features. A sample lesson about brushing is discussed to show the robot’s capabilities. Tinku is cute, and loaded with lots of features, and the management of all the processes is mind-blowing. It is developed in the supervision of clinical experts and its condition for application is taken care of. A small survey on the appearance is also discussed. More importantly, it is tested on small children for the acceptance of the technology and compatibility in terms of voice interaction. It helps autistic kids using state-of-the-art deep learning models. Autism Spectral disorders are being increasingly identified today’s world. The studies show that children are prone to interact with technology more comfortably than a with human instructor. To fulfil this demand, we presented a cost-effective solution in the form of a robot with some common lessons for the training of an autism-affected child.
Economic Policy Uncertainty, Financial Leverage, and Corporate Investment: Evidence from U.S. Firms
Authors: Almustafa Hamza , Jabbouri Imad , Kijkasiwat Ploypailin
Published: January 2023

This paper examines the effect of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on firm-level investment and corporate financial leverage. The panel data of 1072 firms traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), New York Stock Exchange Market (NYSE MKT) (formerly known as American Stock Exchange—AMEX), or NASDAQ over the period 2012–2021 was analyzed using the fixed-effect model. The empirical results show that the financial leverage of a firm is negatively affected by EPU. Additionally, EPU depresses firms’ investment decisions and debt financing. Our results are robust when alternative measures of our main variables are used.
Research and Development of Environmental Awareness about Water in Primary Education Students through Their Drawings
Authors: Pozo-Muñoz Mª Paz , Martín-Gámez Carolina , Velasco-Martínez Leticia Concepción , Tójar-Hurtado Juan Carlos
Published: January 2023

Drinking water is a scarce resource and the problems associated with its poor management and conservation are generating significant imbalances in the well-being of society, human health, and the environment. This research paper aims to determine the level of environmental awareness of primary school students in Spain (n = 95) of the management, use, and sustainable care of water, before and after applying a training program that allows working on the contents of water, from the different dimensions and shortcomings of environmental awareness identified in the paper. The study was undertaken from a mixed Research and Development approach (R&D), with an exploratory sequential design [QUAL(quan) → QUAL(quan)], in which, initially, a qualitative content analysis of the students’ drawings was carried out, to subsequently apply a number of complementary quantitative analyses. The qualitative phase involved the elaboration of a mixed category (deductive-inductive) system that allowed for the organization and interpretation of the information obtained. The results of this work reveal low levels of knowledge about the integral water cycle. Primary school students also show a low degree of responsibility towards water issues. The conclusions of this study point to the need to address content related to water care and conservation in the educational curriculum from a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach, in order to understand the origin and impact of water problems.
Assessment of the Current for a Non-Linear Power Inductor Including Temperature in DC-DC Converters
Authors: Scirè Daniele , Lullo Giuseppe , Vitale Gianpaolo
Published: January 2023

A method for estimating the current flowing through a non-linear power inductor operating in a DC/DC converter is proposed. The knowledge of such current, that cannot be calculated in closed form as for the linear inductor, is crucial for the design of the converter. The proposed method is based on a third-order polynomial model of the inductor, already developed by the authors; it is exploited to solve the differential equation of the inductor and to implement a flux model in a circuit simulator. The method allows the estimation of the current up to saturation, intended as the point at which the differential inductance is reduced to half of its maximum value. The current profile depends also on the inductor temperature. Based on this, the influence of core temperature on the conduction time of the power switch was determined. This study shows that the exploitation of saturation requires a proper value of the conduction time value that depends on the temperature. The theoretical analysis has been experimentally verified on a boost converter and is valid for the entire class of DC-DC converters in which the power inductor is subjected to a constant voltage for a given time. The simulations agree with the experimental data from a case study concerning conduction time and temperature.
Development of SOFC Interconnects Based on Industrial Steels with Oxide Coating
Authors: Bushuev Andrey , El’kin Oleg , Tolstobrov Ivan , Chetvertnykh Yulia , Bobro Mark , Saetova Nailya , Kuzmin Anton
Published: January 2023

This work suggests a method for obtaining heat-resistant protective coatings for 08Kh17T stainless steel that can be used as interconnect material for solid oxide fuel cells. The suggested approach is based on the layer-by-layer precipitation of nickel, cobalt, and manganese, followed by heat treatment in a vacuum and oxidizing atmosphere. XRD results show that the coatings consist of a mixture of metal oxides and compounds with a spinel structure. The obtained coatings demonstrate high resistance to high-temperature oxidation for 100 h. The coating with the ratio of the thicknesses of the cobalt and manganese layers of 1.5/0.5 μm obtained by electrodeposition is the most stable. The specific electrical resistance of this coating is 3.50·10−3 Ω·cm2 after 100 h of exposure at 850 °C, which meets the requirements for SOFC interconnect materials.
Performance Assessment for Primary Frequency Regulation of Variable-Speed Pumped Storage Plant in Isolated Power Systems
Authors: Li Sha , Cao Zezhou , Hu Kuangqing , Chen Diyi
Published: January 2023

Primary frequency regulation (PFR) is a crucial operating condition for PSPs to realise frequency modulation, and the effectiveness of PFR is significant to the stability of power system frequency. Several challenges and risks have been presented in the PFR process for conventional PSPs, especially for those which run in the isolated grid, such as water inertia, negative damping of speed governor and ultra-low frequency oscillation (ULFO). Variable-speed pumped storage plants (VSPSPs) have the potential to overcome the negative impacts on regulation performance caused by hydraulic factors, due to the advantages of rapid power regulation and independent active power control from turbine output. In this paper, the primary task is to conduct a comprehensive assessment for PFR performance of VSPSPs in isolated power systems. Initially, the hydraulic–mechanical–electrical numerical models are established. Secondly, the rotational speed stability of the pump-turbine is quantified and the advantages of VSUs in suppressing ULFO are assessed. Relevant results reveal that the performance of VSUs is better than that of FSUs in the regulation process. Finally, assessments of frequency regulation performance under various scenarios are conducted with four indicators (standard deviation of power differences, power regulation time delay, settling time and overshoot).
Renewable Energy Consumption: Does It Matter for China’s Sustainable Development?
Authors: He Yugang , Wei Wei
Published: January 2023

In China, one of the most pressing issues that have to be addressed is how to best manage the link between energy consumption and sustainable development. Given this context, the goal of the current article is to investigate the effect of renewable energy consumption on sustainable development. Using provincial panel data from 2005 to 2020 and the province and year fixed effects model for an empirical study, we discover that renewable energy consumption has a favorable impact on sustainable development. Similarly, the findings suggest the influence of non-renewable energy consumption on sustainable development is weaker than that of renewable energy consumption. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the influence of renewable energy consumption and nonrenewable energy consumption on sustainable development in eastern, central, and western China has been demonstrated as well. Notably, the two-stage least squares approach and generalized system method of moments are utilized to examine the robustness of this issue, and the reliability and robustness of the conclusions presented in this study are also confirmed. To sum up, the results in this article provide more evidence that the use of energy is an important contributor to achieving sustainable development in China and realizing the target set for sustainable development in 2030.
Optimal Sizing and Environ-Economic Analysis of PV-BESS Systems for Jointly Acting Renewable Self-Consumers
Authors: Blasuttigh Nicola , Negri Simone , Massi Pavan Alessandro , Tironi Enrico
Published: January 2023

Future residential applications could benefit from nanogrids that integrate photovoltaics (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS), especially after the establishment of recent European Community directives on renewable energy communities (RECs) and jointly acting renewable self-consumers (JARSCs). These entities consist of aggregations of users who share locally produced energy with the aim of gaining economic, environmental, and social benefits by enhancing their independence from the electricity grid. In this regard, the sizing of the PV and BESS systems is an important aspect that results in a trade-off from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives. To this end, this paper presents an investigation on the optimal PV-BESS system sizing of a condominium acting as a JARSC community, which includes a common PV plant and EMS, operated by rule-based criteria. PV-BESS sizing results are investigated from economic and environmental perspectives, considering a case study located in Milan, Italy. In these regards, in addition to the common techno-economic criteria, carbon dioxide emissions are considered with particular attention, as their reduction is the driving ethos behind recent EU directives.
Stability and Bifurcation Analysis of Fifth-Order Nonlinear Fractional Difference Equation
Authors: Khaliq Abdul , Mustafa Irfan , Ibrahim Tarek F. , Osman Waleed M. , Al-Sinan Bushra R. , Dawood Arafa Abdalrhim , Juma Manal Yagoub
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a rational difference equation with positive parameters and non-negative conditions is used to determine the presence and direction of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation. The neimark–Sacker bifurcation of the system is first studied using the characteristic equation. In addition, we study bifurcation invariant curves from the perspective of normal form theory. A computer simulation is used to illustrate the analytical results.
Microbial Communities on Samples of Commercially Available Fresh-Consumed Leafy Vegetables and Small Berries
Authors: Artimová Renata , Játiová Michaela , Baumgartnerová Juliána , Lipková Nikola , Petrová Jana , Maková Jana , Javoreková Soňa , Hleba Lukáš , Medová Janka , Medo Juraj
Published: January 2023

Microbial communities on fresh-consumed plant products are an important predictor of quality and safety for the consumer. Totally, 45 samples of berry fruits (8 blackberries, 9 blueberries, 8 strawberries, 8 raspberries, 12 currants) and 40 samples of leafy vegetables (20 lettuce, 6 cornsalad, 8 rocket, 8 spinach) were analyzed using cultivation and DNA-depended methods. Total aerobic count, coliforms, and yeasts were significantly lower in fruits while counts of filamentous fungi were similar. Pantoea, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella were the most common colonies grown on VRBL agar. Salmonella was detected in single sample of cornsalad using qPCR but no sample contained Escherichia coli harboring stx1, stx2 and intimin genes. Sequencing of V4 region of bacteria 16S rRNA and ITS2 region of fungi amplified from plant tissue-extracted DNA confirmed different composition of fruit and vegetable microbiome. Pre-enrichment of bacteria in phosphate buffered water allowed deeper analysis of Enterobacteriaceae using V4–V5 region of 16S rRNA while differences among communities were described similarly. Pantoea, Klebsiella, or Staphylococcus were more frequent in berries while Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, or Sphingobacterium in leafy vegetables. Comparison of inner and outer leaves of head-forming lettuces (6 iceberg, 5 romain) showed that outer leaves are colonized by more bacteria with higher diversity. Microbiological safety of fresh production requires more attention as the potentially pathogenic bacteria were detected, particularly in leafy vegetables. However, the true pathogenicity of such bacteria needs further research.
Association between E-Cigarette Use Behaviors and Anxiety/Depression among Black/African American Adults Based on Sexual Identity
Authors: Adzrago David , Harrell Melissa B. , Fujimoto Kayo , Jones Antwan , Wilkerson J. Michael
Published: January 2023

Limited studies have examined disparities in e-cigarette use among Black/African American adults by sexual identity and whether the relationship between symptoms of anxiety/depression and e-cigarette use varies by sexual identity. We examined the association between e-cigarette use behaviors (never, former, and current use) and anxiety/depression among a nationally representative sample of Black/African American adults who identified as a sexual minority (lesbian/gay, bisexual, and others) or heterosexual individuals. We combined cross-sectional data from the 2011 to 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 6267), which is a nationally representative data set. We computed weighted e-cigarette use prevalence and multinomial logistic regression results (never use compared with former and current use, respectively). Among Blacks/African Americans, a larger percentage of sexual minority individuals compared with heterosexual individuals reported former and current e-cigarette use. Among sexual minorities, lesbian/gay individuals reported higher former e-cigarette use, whereas bisexual individuals reported higher current e-cigarette use. Among sexual minority individuals, moderate symptoms of anxiety/depression, compared with no symptoms of anxiety/depression, were associated with a higher likelihood of former e-cigarette use. Among heterosexuals, moderate symptoms of anxiety/depression were also associated with a higher likelihood of former e-cigarette use, while mild and severe symptoms of anxiety/depression were associated with current e-cigarette use compared with no symptoms of anxiety/depression. The intersection between sexual identity and anxiety/depression influenced e-cigarette use behaviors in different ways among Black/African Americans. The findings reinforce the heterogeneity within the Black/African American population, indicating the dangers of not considering subgroup differences as a standard part of public health research practice.
General and Case-Specific Approval of Coercion in Psychiatry in the Public Opinion
Authors: Steiger Sahar , Moeller Julian , Sowislo Julia F. , Lieb Roselind , Lang Undine E. , Huber Christian G.
Published: January 2023

Background: Psychiatric patients are subjected to considerable stigmatization, in particular, because they are considered aggressive, uncontrollable, and dangerous. This stigmatization might influence the approval of coercive measures in psychiatry by the public and healthcare professionals and might have an influence on the clinical practice of coercive measures. We examined whether the general approval of coercive measures for psychiatric patients with dangerous behaviors differs from case-specific approval. Method: We conducted a representative survey of the general population (n = 2207) in the canton of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. In total, 1107 participants assessed a case vignette depicting a fictitious character with a mental illness and indicated whether they would accept coercive measures (involuntary hospitalization, involuntary medication, and seclusion) for the person in the vignette. It was explicitly stated that within the last month, the fictitious character displayed no dangerous behavior (Vignette ND) or dangerous behavior (Vignette D). Another 1100 participants were asked whether they would approve coercive measures (involuntary hospitalization, involuntary medication, and seclusion) for psychiatric patients with dangerous behavior in general (General D), i.e., without having received or referring to a specific case vignette. Findings: The logistic regression model containing all variables explained 45% of the variance in approval of any type of coercive measures. Assessment of case vignettes without dangerous behavior (Vignette ND) was associated with significantly reduced approval of coercive measures compared to assessment of a case vignette with dangerousness (Vignette D), while approval for coercive measures in a person with mental health disorder with dangerous behavior in general (General D) was significantly higher than for the case vignette with dangerousness. Conclusions: The general approval of coercive measures for people with mental disorders seems to differ depending on if the respondents are asked to give a general assessment or to examine a specific and detailed clinical case vignette, indicating an increased role of stigmatization when asking about generalized assessments. This may contribute to diverging findings on the acceptance of coercive measures in the literature and should be considered when designing future studies.
Heart Rate and Body Temperature Evolution in an Interval Program of Passive Heat Acclimation at High Temperatures (100 ± 2 °C) in a Sauna
Authors: Siquier-Coll Jesús , Bartolomé Ignacio , Pérez-Quintero Mario , Toro-Román Víctor , Grijota Francisco , Maynar-Mariño Marcos
Published: January 2023

Heat exposure provokes stress on the human body. If it remains constant, it leads to adaptations such as heat acclimation. This study aims to observe the evolution of heart rate (HR), core temperature (Tcore), and skin temperature (Tskin) in an intervallic program of exposure to extreme heat. Twenty-nine healthy male volunteers were divided into a control group (CG; n = 14) and an experimental group (EG; n = 15). EG experienced nine sessions (S) of intervallic exposure to high temperatures (100 ± 2 °C), whereas CG was exposed to ambient temperatures (22 ± 2 °C). HR, Tskin, and Tcore were monitored in S1, 4, 5, 8, and 9. An important increase in HR occurred in the S4 compared to the rest (p < 0.05) in EG. A lower HR was discovered in S8 and S9 compared to S4 and in S9 in relation to S1 (p < 0.05) in EG. EG experiences a gradual decrease in Tcore and Tskin, which was detected throughout the assessments, although it was only significant in the S8 and S9 (p < 0.05). Interval exposure to heat at 100 ± 2 °C elicits stress on the human organism, fundamentally increasing Tcore, Tskin, and FC. This recurring stress in the full program caused a drop in the thermoregulatory response as an adaptation or acclimation to heat.
Time of Day and Chronotype-Dependent Synchrony Effects Exercise-Induced Reduction in Migraine Load: A Pilot Cross-Over Randomized Trial
Authors: Malek Elias M. , Navalta James W. , McGinnis Graham R.
Published: January 2023

Migraines are the most common cause of chronic pain. Effective, non-pharmacological strategies to reduce migraine load, like exercise, are needed, but it is unclear how exercise timing and chronotype modulate the effects. We sought to determine the effects of time-of-day of exercise, and synchrony with one’s chronotype, on migraine load. We performed a pilot cross-over randomized trial where participants with chronic migraine completed two one-month exercise interventions, consisting of either morning exercise (before 09:00 a.m.) or evening exercise (after 7:00 p.m.) in a randomized repeated measures cross-over design (Clinical Trial #NCT04553445). Synchrony was determined by exercise time and chronotype (i.e., a morning type participant exercising in the morning is ‘in-sync,’ while an evening type participant exercising in the morning is ‘out-of-sync’). Migraine burden, and anthropometric assessment occurred before and after each month of exercise. Data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with significance accepted at p < 0.05. When comparing morning and evening exercise, there was no significant improvements in any migraine-related parameters. However, when comparing in-sync and out-of-sync exercise, we found that migraine burden was only improved following in-sync exercise, while no benefits were seen in out-of-sync exercise. Our data suggests that exercise timing has limited impact, but synchrony with chronotype may be essential to decrease migraine load in chronic migraineurs.
The Effects of Population Aging on Sports Industry Development: The Mediating Effect of Technological Innovation
Authors: Wei Xiaolong , Wang Tao , Chen Yang , Lyulyov Oleksii , Pimonenko Tetyana
Published: January 2023

It is of great practical significance to rationally formulate a development strategy for the sports industry to deeply understand and comprehensively grasp the impact of population aging on the development of the sports industry. To study the impact of population aging on the development of the sports industry, panel data at the provincial level in China from 2014 to 2020 are selected, and a mediation effect model is established to test how the aging of the population affects the development of the sports industry through technological innovation. The results show that technological innovation can explain 59.87% of the impact of population aging on the development of the sports industry without considering the control variables, and the impact of population aging on labor productivity through technological innovation is positive. Under the condition of considering the control variables, technological innovation can explain 56.74% of the impact of population aging on the development of the sports industry, and the impact of population aging on the development of the sports industry through technological innovation is positive. The proportion of the population aged 65 and above in the total population was used as a proxy variable for population aging to test the robustness test, and the impact of technological innovation on the development of the sports industry was positive without considering the control variables. In the robustness test considering the control variables, the impact of technological innovation on the development of the sports industry is positive.
Assistive Products and Technology to Facilitate Activities and Participation for Children with Disabilities
Authors: Mensah-Gourmel Johanne , Thépot Margot , Gorter Jan Willem , Bourgain Maxime , Kandalaft Christèle , Chatelin Alain , Letellier Guy , Brochard Sylvain , Pons Christelle
Published: January 2023

We aimed to identify activity limitations and participation restrictions encountered by children and youth with disabilities for which assistive products and technology could be helpful. We used a convergent, parallel, mixed-methods design involving a nationwide, French survey composed of closed questions (quantitative) and open questions (qualitative) that enlightened the quantitative data. A total of 1055 responses were received, and 962 included: 92 from children and youth with disabilities, 493 from relatives and 377 from professionals. Difficulties frequently checked and described in detail were participation in recreational activities, leaving the house and traveling, participating in a group, and getting ready. Transversal explanations for difficulties were spontaneously provided (e.g., lack of accessibility and mobility). Solutions proposed included personal assistive devices to facilitate home life, high-tech devices, devices to compensate for impaired body functions, and adaptation of the familiar environment and daily activities. Few public solutions were proposed. The necessity of human assistance was emphasized. The mixed-methods design and involvement of different stakeholders identified common, macroscopic trends in difficulties encountered and desired solutions. Products and technology are required in the following domains: the familiar environment, accessibility and mobility, sports and leisure, high-technology, and family support. We provide suggestions to facilitate the development of innovative solutions.
The Incremental Role of Multiorgan Point-of-Care Ultrasounds in the Emergency Setting
Authors: D’Andrea Antonello , Del Giudice Carmen , Fabiani Dario , Caputo Adriano , Sabatella Francesco , Cante Luigi , Palermi Stefano , Desiderio Alfonso , Tagliamonte Ercole , Liccardo Biagio , Russo Vincenzo
Published: January 2023

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) represents a goal-directed ultrasound examination performed by clinicians directly involved in patient healthcare. POCUS has been widely used in emergency departments, where US exams allow physicians to make quick diagnoses and to recognize early life-threatening conditions which require prompt interventions. Although initially meant for the real-time evaluation of cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, its use has been extended to a wide range of clinical applications, such as screening for deep-vein thrombosis and trauma, abdominal ultrasonography of the right upper quadrant and appendix, and guidance for invasive procedures. Moreover, recently, bedside ultrasounds have been used to evaluate the fluid balance and to guide decongestive therapy in acutely decompensated heart failure. The aim of the present review was to discuss the most common applications of POCUS in the emergency setting.
Telemedicine and E-Health: An Innovative Challenge in Pediatric Care
Authors: Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Calcaterra Valeria
Published: January 2023

Telemedicine represents the practice of medicine by remote means, via real-time two-way communication between the patient and the healthcare provider [...]
The Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Surgery for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Feier Catalin Vladut Ionut , Ratiu Sonia , Muntean Calin , Olariu Sorin
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emergency treatment of patients with colorectal cancer in a university surgery clinic. Data from patients undergoing emergency surgery during the pandemic period (2020–2021) was taken into consideration and the results were analyzed and compared with the periods 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. A significant decrease in the number of patients undergoing emergency surgery was reported (p = 0.028). The proportion of patients who presented more severe symptoms at the hospital was significantly higher (p = 0.007). There was an increase in the average duration of surgical interventions compared to pre-pandemic periods (p = 0.021). An increase in the percentage of stomas performed during the pandemic was reported. The average duration of postoperative hospitalization was shorter during the pandemic. A postoperative mortality of 25.7% was highlighted. Conclusions: The pandemic generated by COVID-19 had significant consequences on the emergency treatment of patients with colon cancer. A smaller number of patients showed up at the hospital, and with more severe symptoms. In order to reduce the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus, the postoperative hospitalization period was shortened and a higher number of protective stomas were performed.
Comparison of Single Target-Controlled Infusion Pump-Delivered Mixed Propofol and Remifentanil with Two Target-Controlled Infusion Pumps-Delivered Propofol and Remifentanil in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery—A Prospective Study
Authors: Lai Hou-Chuan , Lai Meng-Fu , Huang Yi-Hsuan , Yu Jyh-Cherng , Tseng Wei-Cheng , Wu Zhi-Fu
Published: January 2023

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with remifentanil and propofol (RP) is considered to be an ideal type of general anesthesia (GA) for pediatric and adult patients undergoing medical procedures. However, delivery of an RP mixture by target-controlled infusion (TCI) for GA in surgical procedures has not been described. We investigated the merit of this approach for breast cancer surgery. Eighty-four patients (n = 42 per group) were randomly allocated to propofol and remifentanil either delivered by separate TCI pumps (S group) or in an RP mixture by a single TCI pump (M group). Dosages were adjusted based on the bispectral index (BIS) and the analgesia nociception index (ANI). The primary outcomes were adequate anesthesia (BIS 40–60 and ANI 50–70, respectively), acceptable hemodynamic fluctuations (<30% of baseline) with less frequent TCI pump adjustments, bolus injections of anesthetics, and total consumption of anesthetics during the procedure. The secondary endpoints included time of emergence from anesthesia, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, rescue with opioids, and adverse events. The characteristics of patients, hemodynamic parameters, BIS and ANI scores, duration of surgery, anesthesia, and emergence were not significantly different between groups. The adjustment frequency of TCI was significantly higher in the S group (3 (range 0–6) vs. 2 (0–6) times; p = 0.005). The total dosage of anesthetics, pain rating, patient satisfaction, need for opioids postoperatively, and incidence of adverse events were not significantly different. We have demonstrated that this RP mixture provided adequate hypnotic and analgesic effects under BIS and ANI monitoring in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery within 1 h.
Ultrasound-Guided Blocks for Spine Surgery: Part 1—Cervix
Authors: Adamczyk Kamil , Koszela Kamil , Zaczyński Artur , Niedźwiecki Marcin , Brzozowska-Mańkowska Sybilla , Gasik Robert
Published: January 2023

Postoperative pain is common following spine surgery, particularly complex procedures. The main anesthetic efforts are focused on applying multimodal analgesia beforehand, and regional anesthesia is a critical component of it. The purpose of this study is to examine the existing techniques for regional anesthesia in cervical spine surgery and to determine their effect and safety on pain reduction and postoperative patient’s recovery. The electronic databases were searched for all literature pertaining to cervical nerve block procedures. The following peripheral, cervical nerve blocks were selected and described: paravertebral block, cervical plexus clock, paraspinal interfascial plane blocks such as multifidus cervicis, retrolaminar, inter-semispinal and interfacial, as well as erector spinae plane block and stellate ganglion block. Clinicians should choose more superficial techniques in the cervical region, as they have been shown to be comparably effective and less hazardous compared to paravertebral blocks
Immortalized Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Novel Candidate Cell Source for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy
Authors: Yasumura Yuyo , Teshima Takahiro , Nagashima Tomokazu , Takano Takashi , Michishita Masaki , Taira Yoshiaki , Suzuki Ryohei , Matsumoto Hirotaka
Published: January 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells are expected to be a cell source for stem cell therapy of various diseases in veterinary medicine. However, donor-dependent cell heterogenicity has been a cause of inconsistent therapeutic efficiency. Therefore, we established immortalized cells from canine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) to minimize cellular heterogeneity by reducing the number of donors, evaluated their properties, and compared them to the primary cells with RNA-sequencing. Immortalized canine ADSCs were established by transduction with combinations of the R24C mutation of human cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDKR24C), canine cyclin D1, and canine TERT. The ADSCs transduced with CDK4R24C, cyclin D1, and TERT (ADSC-K4DT) or with CDK4R24C and cyclin D1 (ADSC-K4D) showed a dramatic increase in proliferation (population doubling level >100) without cellular senescence compared to the primary ADSCs. The cell surface markers, except for CD90 of the ADSC-K4DT and ADSC-K4D cells, were similar to those of the primary ADSCs. The ADSC-K4DT and ADSC-K4D cells maintained their trilineage differentiation capacity and chromosome condition, and did not have a tumorigenic development. The ability to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation by the ADSC-K4D cells was enhanced compared with the primary ADSCs and ADSC-K4DT cells. The pathway analysis based on RNA-sequencing revealed changes in the pathways mainly related to the cell cycle and telomerase. The ADSC-K4DT and ADSC-K4D cells had decreased CD90 expression, but there were no obvious defects associated with the decreased CD90 expression in this study. Our results suggest that ADSC-K4DT and ADSC-K4D cells are a potential novel cell source for mesenchymal stem cell therapy.
Plant Defense Elicitation by the Hydrophobin Cerato-Ulmin and Correlation with Its Structural Features
Authors: Gallo Mariana , Luti Simone , Baroni Fabio , Baccelli Ivan , Cilli Eduardo Maffud , Cicchi Costanza , Leri Manuela , Spisni Alberto , Pertinhez Thelma A. , Pazzagli Luigia
Published: January 2023

Cerato-ulmin (CU) is a 75-amino-acid-long protein that belongs to the hydrophobin family. It self-assembles at hydrophobic–hydrophilic interfaces, forming films that reverse the wettability properties of the bound surface: a capability that may confer selective advantages to the fungus in colonizing and infecting elm trees. Here, we show for the first time that CU can elicit a defense reaction (induction of phytoalexin synthesis and ROS production) in non-host plants (Arabidopsis) and exerts its eliciting capacity more efficiently when in its soluble monomeric form. We identified two hydrophobic clusters on the protein’s loops endowed with dynamical and physical properties compatible with the possibility of reversibly interconverting between a disordered conformation and a β-strand-rich conformation when interacting with hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces. We propose that the plasticity of those loops may be part of the molecular mechanism that governs the protein defense elicitation capability.
Activation of Ethanol Transformation on Copper-Containing SBA-15 and MnSBA-15 Catalysts by the Presence of Oxygen in the Reaction Mixture
Authors: Sobczak Izabela , Wisniewska Joanna , Decyk Piotr , Trejda Maciej , Ziolek Maria
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to get insight into the pathway of the acetaldehyde formation from ethanol (the rate-limiting step in the production of 1,3-butadiene) on Cu-SBA-15 and Cu-MnSBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves. Physicochemical properties of the catalysts were investigated by XRD, N2 ads/des, Uv-vis, XPS, EPR, pyridine adsorption combined with FTIR, 2-propanol decomposition and 2,5-hexanedione cyclization and dehydration test reactions. Ethanol dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde (without and with oxygen) was studied in a flow system using the FTIR technique. In particular, the effect of Lewis acid and basic (Lewis and BrØnsted) sites, and the oxygen presence in the gas reaction mixture with ethanol on the activity and selectivity of copper catalysts, was assessed and discussed. Two different reaction pathways have been proposed depending on the reaction temperature and the presence or absence of oxygen in the flow of the reagents (via ethoxy intermediate way at 593 K, in ethanol flow, or ethoxide intermediate way at 473 K in the presence of ethanol and oxygen in the reaction mixture).