bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-Dose Resveratrol Inhibits RIPK3-Mediated Necroptosis and Delays the Onset of Age-Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Yang Zeyin , Zhang Yan , Yang Shuling , Ding Yongqing , Qu Yan
Published: June 2022

Background: To investigate the pathophysiology of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and the mechanism of resveratrol (RSV) in prevention and treatment of ARHL.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice of different ages were used in this study. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was performed to assess hearing and identify abnormalities. Surface preparation and hair cell-specific marker Myo VIIa were employed to evaluated cochlear hair cell losses. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was to observe the microstructure of the organ of Corti (OC). The expression of related proteins in the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway in cochlear tissue was detected by immunofluorescence.

Results: In old mice (15 months), the ABR threshold increased significantly compared with the young mice. After 50 mg/kg RSV intervention, the hearing threshold of the old mice was significantly reduced at 8 kHz and 12 kHz as well as click. 100 mg/kg RSV led to a statistically significant reduction in hearing threshold only at clicks, whereas 300 mg/kg RSV showed no difference at all frequencies tested. In terms of cochlear hair cell loss, the damage of OHC and IHC was severe in old mice, but the damage was evidently reduced in RSV 50 mg/kg group. Notably, in the RSV 300 mg/kg group, the loss and disorientation of both the OHCs and IHCs were aggravated. Under SEM, a large number of OHCs were lost in the old group, but increased significantly in the RSV 50 mg/kg group, and even the OHCs were more seriously damaged in the RSV 300 mg/kg group. Furthermore, immunofluorescence showed that 50 mg/kg RSV significantly reduced the expression of RIPK3, RIPK1, and MLKL in the cochlea during aging, especially in necroptosis-sensitive regions OCs and SGN.

Conclusion: Low-dose RSV inhibited RIPK3-mediated necroptosis in aging cochlea and delayed the onset of ARHL, which was a promising therapeutic strategy for ARHL.
Nano-Mechanical Analyses of Native and Cross-Linked Collagen I Matrices Reveal the Mechanical Complexity of Homogenous Samples
Authors: Le Cerf Brock Alan , Pyne Natasha Theresa , Kular Jasreen , Boyle Sarah Theresa , Beattie David Allan , Krasowska Marta , Samuel Michael Susithiran
Published: June 2022

While it is now well appreciated that the extracellular matrix (ECM) exerts biomechanical cues that direct critical cellular behavior, including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival, the molecular mechanisms underlying these cues remain mysterious. It has long been known that the ECM is also a source of biochemical cues that influence these processes, but the way these interact with ECM biomechanics also remains largely unknown. The systematic study of these relationships has been hampered by a paucity of models and the tools to interrogate them. Studies of complex models and tissue samples employing techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) have informed much of our current understanding of how mechanical cues are transduced by the ECM and how cells respond to them. However, key observations made using such complex systems cannot be reliably assigned to the ECM or its components without a precise understanding of how these components respond to and exert mechanical force at the nanoscale – the scale at which individual cells respond. To address this knowledge gap, we used AFM to study the nanomechanical properties of a simple model, consisting only of type I collagen, the most abundant component of the ECM. Intriguingly, our data show bimodal distribution that is entirely attributable to type I collagen, greatly simplifying the interpretation of these studies. Furthermore, we examined the nanomechanical influence of tissue fixation by protein cross-linking, an approach commonly used in research and medical histopathology, revealing a significant and non-uniform distortion of the nanomechanical profile of fixed samples, which has the potential to introduce artifacts into the nanomechanical characterization of tissues. In contrast to the clear observation of mechanical differences induced by cross-linking, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed only subtle alterations to the chemical signature of the collagen, highlighting the importance of nanomechanical approaches for the complete characterization of model systems and tissues.
Irisin is an Effector Molecule in Exercise Rehabilitation Following Myocardial Infarction (Review)
Authors: Qin Shuguang , Tian Zhenjun , Boidin Maxime , Buckley Benjamin J. R. , Thijssen Dick H. J. , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: June 2022

Background: Regular exercise is an effective non-pharmacological therapy for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The therapeutic benefits of exercise are mediated partly through improved vascular and increase in metabolic health. Release of exercise-responsive myokines, including irisin, is associated with beneficial effects of exercise in CVD patients.

Observations: The present review provides an overview of the role of exercise in cardiac rehabilitation of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Further, the role of irisin as a motion-responsive molecule in improving vascular and metabolic health is explored. Possible mechanism of cardioprotective effect of irisin-mediated exercise on myocardial infarction are also summarized in this review.

Conclusion and significance of the review: Irisin is associated with reduced inflammation, antioxidant properties, and anti-apoptotic effect, implying that it is a potential key mediator of the beneficial effects of exercise on vascular and metabolic health. The findings show that irisin is a promising therapeutic target for treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly post-MI. Further research should be conducted to elucidate the potential mechanisms of cardioprotective effects of irisin and explored whether irisin induced by exercise exerts rehabilitation effects post-MI.
Development of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene-Drive Construct Targeting the Phenotypic Gene in Plutella xylostella
Authors: Asad Muhammad , Liu Dan , Li Jianwen , Chen Jing , Yang Guang
Published: June 2022

The gene-drive system can ensure that desirable traits are transmitted to the progeny more than the normal Mendelian segregation. The clustered regularly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) mediated gene-drive system has been demonstrated in dipteran insect species, including Drosophila and Anopheles, not yet in other insect species. Here, we have developed a single CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-drive construct for Plutella xylostella, a highly-destructive lepidopteran pest of cruciferous crops. The gene-drive construct was developed containing a Cas9 gene, a marker gene (EGFP) and a gRNA sequence targeting the phenotypic marker gene (Pxyellow) and site-specifically inserted into the P. xylostella genome. This homing-based gene-drive copied ∼12 kb of a fragment containing Cas9 gene, gRNA, and EGFP gene along with their promoters to the target site. Overall, 6.67%–12.59% gene-drive efficiency due to homology-directed repair (HDR), and 80.93%–86.77% resistant-allele formation due to non-homologous-end joining (NHEJ) were observed. Furthermore, the transgenic progeny derived from male parents showed a higher gene-drive efficiency compared with transgenic progeny derived from female parents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-drive construct in P. xylostella that inherits the desired traits to the progeny. The finding of this study provides a foundation to develop an effective CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-drive system for pest control.
Bacterial Endophytes Contribute to Rice Seedling Establishment Under Submergence
Authors: Ahumada Germán Darío , Gómez-Álvarez Eva María , Dell’Acqua Matteo , Bertani Iris , Venturi Vittorio , Perata Pierdomenico , Pucciariello Chiara
Published: June 2022

Flooding events caused by severe rains and poor soil drainage can interfere with plant germination and seedling establishment. Rice is one of the cereal crops that has unique germination strategies under flooding. One of these strategies is based on the fast coleoptile elongation in order to reach the water surface and re-establish the contact with the air. Microorganisms can contribute to plant health via plant growth promoters and provide protection from abiotic stresses. To characterise the community composition of the microbiome in rice germination under submergence, a 16S rRNA gene profiling metagenomic analysis was performed of temperate japonica rice varieties Arborio and Lamone seedlings, which showed contrasting responses in terms of coleoptile length when submerged. This analysis showed a distinct microbiota composition of Arborio seeds under submergence, which are characterised by the development of a long coleoptile. To examine the potential function of microbial communities under submergence, culturable bacteria were isolated, identified and tested for plant growth-promoting activities. A subgroup of isolated bacteria showed the capacity to hydrolyse starch and produce indole-related compounds under hypoxia. Selected bacteria were inoculated in seeds to evaluate their effect on rice under submergence, showing a response that is dependent on the rice genotype. Our findings suggest that endophytic bacteria possess plant growth-promoting activities that can substantially contribute to rice seedling establishment under submergence.
Unraveling the Effects of Cold Stratification and Temperature on the Seed Germination of Invasive Spartina alterniflora Across Latitude
Authors: Cheng Jingyang , Huang Hao , Liu Wenwen , Zhou Yupeng , Han Weipeng , Wang Xiuyan , Zhang Yihui
Published: June 2022

Seed germination is critical to the life history of plants, playing an important role in the successful recruitment, colonization, and even invasion of new individuals within and outside population distribution ranges. Cold stratification and temperature are the key factors affecting seed germination traits. Studying how these two factors drive geographical variation in seed germination is essential to analyze and predict the geographical distribution range of alien plants in novel habitats. Spartina alterniflora, native to the United States, was introduced into China in 1979 and has spread over 20° of latitude along the eastern coast of China. Germination plays a crucial role in S. alterniflora’s large-scale invasion and diffusion across latitude. To evaluate the effects of cold stratification and temperature on seed germination of S. alterniflora across latitude, we collected seeds at seven locations across latitude in China. We exposed these provenances to cold stratification at 4°C (0, 1, 3, and 5 months) and germination temperature (5°C, 15°C, 25°C, and 35°C) treatments in growth chambers. Seed germination was observed for 98 days, and we calculated germination rate, germination index, and germination time. Results indicated that longer cold stratification significantly promoted germination rate and germination index, but decreased germination time. Similarly, higher germination temperature significantly promoted germination rate and germination index, but decreased germination time. Moreover, there were significant interactive effects on germination traits between cold stratification and temperature. Seed germination traits showed linear relationships with latitude, indicating that S. alterniflora seeds from different provenances germinated at different times and adopted different germination strategies. The stratification and temperature are the most important factors regulating the dormancy and germination seeds, so they can be important drivers of this variation along latitude. Under scenarios of warmer regional temperature, seeds at higher latitudes could germinate earlier and have higher germination rate, which would favor a potential northern expansion of this invasive plant.
Evolutionary Relationships and Range Evolution of Greenhood Orchids (Subtribe Pterostylidinae): Insights From Plastid Phylogenomics
Authors: Nargar Katharina , O’Hara Kate , Mertin Allison , Bent Stephen J. , Nauheimer Lars , Simpson Lalita , Zimmer Heidi , Molloy Brian P. J. , Clements Mark A.
Published: June 2022

Australia harbours a rich and highly endemic orchid flora with over 90% of native species found nowhere else. However, little is known about the assembly and evolution of Australia’s orchid flora. Here, we used a phylogenomic approach to infer evolutionary relationships, divergence times and range evolution in Pterostylidinae (Orchidoideae), the second largest subtribe in the Australian orchid flora, comprising the generaPterostylisandAchlydosa. Phylogenetic analysis of 75 plastid genes provided well-resolved and supported phylogenies. Intrageneric relationships inPterostyliswere clarified and monophyly of eight of 10 sections supported.Achlydosawas found to not form part of Pterostylidinae and instead merits recognition at subtribal level, as Achlydosinae. Pterostylidinae were inferred to have originated in eastern Australia in the early Oligocene, coinciding with the complete separation of Australia from Antarctica and the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which led to profound changes in the world’s climate. Divergence of all major lineages occurred during the Miocene, accompanied by increased aridification and seasonality of the Australian continent, resulting in strong vegetational changes from rainforest to more open sclerophyllous vegetation. The majority of extant species were inferred to have originated in the Quaternary, from the Pleistocene onwards. The rapid climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene may have acted as important driver of speciation in Pterostylidinae. The subtribe underwent lineage diversification mainly within its ancestral range, in eastern Australia. Long-distance dispersals to southwest Australia commenced from the late Miocene onwards, after the establishment of the Nullarbor Plain, which constitutes a strong edaphic barrier to mesic plants. Range expansions from the mesic into the arid zone of eastern Australia (Eremaean region) commenced from the early Pleistocene onwards. Extant distributions of Pterostylidinae in other Australasian regions, such as New Zealand and New Caledonia, are of more recent origin, resulting from long-distance dispersals from the Pliocene onwards. Temperate eastern Australia was identified as key source area for dispersals to other Australasian regions.
Genotypic and Environmental Effects on Morpho-Physiological and Agronomic Performances of a Tomato Diversity Panel in Relation to Nitrogen and Water Stress Under Organic Farming
Authors: Tripodi Pasquale , Figàs Maria R. , Leteo Fabrizio , Soler Salvador , Díez María José , Campanelli Gabriele , Cardi Teodoro , Prohens Jaime
Published: June 2022

The agricultural scenario of the upcoming decades will face major challenges for the increased and sustainable agricultural production and the optimization of the efficiency of water and fertilizer inputs. Considering the current and foreseen water scarcity in several marginal and arid areas and the need for a more sustainable farming production, the selection and development of cultivars suitable to grow under low-input conditions is an urgent need. In this study, we assayed 42 tomato genotypes for thirty-two morpho-physiological and agronomic traits related to plant, fruit, and root characteristics under standard (control) and no-nitrogen fertilization or water deficit (30% of the amount given to non-stressed trials) treatments in two sites (environments), which corresponded to organic farms located in Italy and Spain. A broad range of variation was found for all traits, with significant differences between the applied treatments and the cultivation sites. Dissection of genotypic (G), environmental (E), and treatment (T) factors revealed that the three main factors were highly significant for many traits, although G was the main source of variation in most cases. G × E interactions were also important, while G × T and E × T were less relevant. Only fruit weight and blossom end rot were highly significant for the triple interaction (G × E × T). Reduction of water supply significantly increased the soluble solid content in both locations, whereas both nitrogen and water stress led to a general decrease in fruit weight and total yield. Despite so, several accessions exhibited better performances than the control when cultivated under stress. Among the accessions evaluated, hybrids were promising in terms of yield performance, while overall landraces and heirlooms exhibited a better quality. This suggests the possibility of exploiting both the variation within ancient varieties and the heterosis for yield of hybrids to select and breed new varieties with better adaptation to organic farming conditions, both under optimal and suboptimal conditions. The results shed light on the strategies to develop novel varieties for organic farming, giving hints into the management of inputs to adopt for a more sustainable tomato cultivation.
Improving Chinese College Students’ Argumentative Writing: A Presentation-Assimilation-Discussion-Exercise Approach
Authors: Liao Menglin , Liao Yuanxi
Published: June 2022

This study implemented the Presentation-Assimilation-Discussion-Exercise (PADE) model, a student-centered teaching model that originated in China, and examined its effect on college students’ argumentative writing. Quantitative method was used in this study following a teaching practice of 14 weeks. A total of 76 Chinese first-year university students of intermediate English level with 38 students in an experimental class and 38 students in a comparison class took part in the study. Students from the experimental class received the PADE model, and the comparison class received traditional teaching. Students from both classes were asked to compose two argumentative essays before and after the treatment. At the end of the treatment, students completed questionnaires on the PADE teaching model. Students’ writings were evaluated on aspects of linguistic quality and argumentative structure. The results indicated that students who learned in the PADE teaching environment outperformed students who followed traditional teaching method in the post-writing, and significant differences were shown in all aspects except organization and grammar. The questionnaire finding suggested that students from the experimental class held a welcoming attitude toward the PADE model and benefited from it from the perspectives of course design, teaching arrangement, and learning effect. The PADE teaching has implications for teaching writing in contexts that share many similarities.
Exposure to Depression Memes on Social Media Increases Depressive Mood and It Is Moderated by Self-Regulation: Evidence From Self-Report and Resting EEG Assessments
Authors: Akil Atakan M. , Ujhelyi Adrienn , Logemann H. N. Alexander
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of depression memes, spread mainly on social media, on depressive mood, and the moderating role of self-regulation based on self-report and electrophysiological (resting EEG frontal alpha asymmetry) assessments. We conducted a semi-online crossover study; first, we collected brain activity data from healthy young adults (n = 32) who were subsequently provided a link to the online experiment. Each participant participated in both the neutral and meme conditions. We also evaluated their level of depressive mood immediately before and after exposure to the stimuli. We further conducted a series of linear mixed effects model analyses and found that depression memes contributed to an increase in depressive symptoms. Specifically, lack of emotional clarity, difficulties in goal-directed behaviors in emotional distress, and impulse control difficulties were linked to greater depressive mood in the case of exposure to depression memes compared with neutral images. However, time interactions were insignificant. These results mainly indicate the centrality of behavioral problems during times of emotional distress caused by depression memes. Lastly, although frontal alpha asymmetry did not predict a change in depressive mood or significantly differ across conditions, lower inhibitory control may result in increased processing of depression memes as negative stimuli. This result is consistent with our self-report results (e.g., impulsivity) as well as other related studies in the literature. However, further research is needed to verify these frontal alpha asymmetry results.
Emotional Attractors in Subject-Verb Number Agreement
Authors: Hatzidaki Anna , Santesteban Mikel
Published: June 2022

Considering the crosstalk between brain networks that contain linguistic and emotional information and that no studies have examined the impact of semantic information of affective nature on subject-verb number agreement, the present Event Related Potential (ERP) study investigated the extent to which emotional local nouns whose number mismatched that of subject head nouns might be considered by the parser during comprehension of grammatically correct sentences. To this end, twenty-eight Spanish native speakers were tested on a self-paced reading task while their brain activity was recorded. The experimental materials consisted of 120 sentences where the valence (negative vs. neutral) and number (singular vs. plural) of the local noun of the singular subject noun-phrase (NP) were manipulated; El gorro de aquel/aquellos cazador(es)/mecánico(s) era… [The hat of that/those hunter(s)/mechanic(s) was…]. ERP results measured in the local noun position showed that valence and number interacted in the 300–500 ms (negative component) and 780–880 ms (late positivity) time windows. In the (target) verb position, the two factors only interacted in the late 780–880 ms time window, revealing an “ungrammatical illusion” for plural marked neutral words. Our findings suggest that number agreement is sensitive to affective meaning but that the emotional information of an attractor is considered in different operations and at different stages during grammatical sentence processing; it can affect lexical and syntactic representation retrieval of a subject-NP and impact agreement encoding only at late stages of processing, during verb agreement and feature integration.
Monitoring and Efficiency in Governance: A Measure for Sustainability in the Islamic Banking Industry
Authors: Awais Muhammad , Ullah Naeem , Sulehri Numair Ahmad , Thas Thaker Mohamed Asmy bin Mohd , Mohsin Muhammad
Published: June 2022

Corporate governance is a set of rules, regulations, procedures, processes, and practices through which an organization is controlled and directed. The present study aimed to examine the monitoring methods used in Islamic banking, including standardized measures for better performance, an individual’s aptitude towards Islamic financial markets, risk propensity, and the level of efficiency of the Islamic banking industry in Pakistan and Malaysia. There is room to improve monitoring systems for Islamic banking operations and standardized measures could improve efficiency, leading to more sustainable performance. The study uses a self-developed semi-structured scale based on literature and expert interviews, after content and context validity to gain a wide range of diverse information. In Pakistan and Malaysia, individuals’ perceptions are different because of differences in the banking environment and preferences. Eventually, the Islamic banking growth rate may differ in Pakistan and Malaysia. Thus, there should be regular monitoring to improve banking performance. Similarly, standardized measures for Islamic banking operations and governance performance in Pakistan and Malaysia will result in more sustainable performance. The antecedents of Islamic corporate governance could be improved to enhance banking performance, which helps individuals make decisions based on available product information. The business growth of the banking industry is based on convenient monitoring policies, standardized performance measures, and, most importantly, excellent corporate governance mechanisms. Improved monitoring measures will further enhance these business operations.
A Mixed Comparison of Interventions for Kinesiophobia in Individuals With Musculoskeletal Pain: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huang Jialu , Xu Yining , Xuan Rongrong , Baker Julien S. , Gu Yaodong
Published: June 2022

Objective

This systematic review aims to make a mixed comparison of interventions for kinesiophobia and individuals with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was conducted in the database of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science with the inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled design; (2) patients with musculoskeletal pain as participants; (3) treatments protocols of kinesiophobia as interventions or comparisons; (4) the score of Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia (TSK) as outcome measures. A network meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data after checking the model consistency. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Assessment Tool.

Results

Thirty-one studies were included in this review after a comprehensive search strategy with a low risk of bias and good consistency. According to the results of the network meta-analysis, a multi-modal treatment protocol had the highest probability to become the best choice in dealing with kinesiophobia caused by musculoskeletal pain, whereas psychological treatment protocols also showed a potentially positive effect on musculoskeletal pain-induced kinesiophobia.

Conclusion

Multi-modal protocols could be recommended as the preferred option when dealing with kinesiophobia caused by musculoskeletal pain. However, it is still worth mentioning that there are also potentially positive therapeutic effects of psychological interventions. Since the concept of kinesiophobia is based on the fear-avoidance model, the psychological mechanism should be paid enough attention to during treatment.

Registration Number

CRD42021286450.
Depression and Insomnia of Front-Line Medical Staff During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China: An On-Line Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Donglin , Luo Hailong , Xiao Litian , Zhang Zhun , Huang Jianqing , Li Xiaoqin , Zhu Hongke , Lai Cuiwei
Published: June 2022

Purpose

During the COVID-19 outbreak, medical staff working in high-risk workplaces had a higher rate of epidemic infection. They also faced heavy workloads and pressure, which means they are more likely to suffer from psychological problems than others. To understand the mental health of medical staff during the epidemic, we explore the characteristics of medical staff susceptible to negative psychological emotions during the outbreak of public safety and health events. At the same time, we provide corresponding prevention and intervention measures to help them relieve negative emotions, this study compared the psychological symptoms of front-line and non-front-line medical staff, then explored its influencing factors.

Methods

This research investigated 5,924 medical staff in Guangdong, Beijing, Hubei, Hainan, Jiangxi, and Henan in China. The questionnaires were released online by Questionnaire Star, and levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social support were measured by Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS).

Results

The depressive, anxious, and insomniac scores of front-line medical staff during the COVID-19 epidemic period were higher than those of non-front-line with significant differences (P < 0.001). In addition, front-line nurses went through the most serious psychological problems. Age, education, and anxiety level were the influencing factors of depression and insomnia in front-line medical staff. Among them, age was a protective factor for depression (OR = 0.71 <1, P = 0.001 <0.05, Beta = −0.34), while educational level was a risk factor for insomnia (OR = 1.27, P = 0.02 <0.05, Beta = 0.24).

Conclusions

During the epidemic, front-line medical staff would experience more serious psychological problems, especially those who were younger, less experienced, and insufficiently educated. Attention should be paid to giving them psychological assistance and psychological interventions in the future.
Construction of Evaluation Index System for Training Quality of High-Level Tennis Team
Authors: Cai Qian , Cheng Yan , Ke Yong
Published: June 2022

The paper established the evaluation index system of training quality of high-level tennis team, which comprising five first-class indexes: work planning evaluation index (i = 4) includes realistic state diagnosis, training goal establishment, specific training content, and training plan formulation; work implementation evaluation index (i = 4) includes training guarantee conditions, training plan implementation, training process monitoring, and training plan adjustment; work monitoring evaluation index (i = 5) includes physical function, physical fitness, sports technique, sports tactics, and sport psychology; the evaluation index of team work management (i = 2) is the team training management and team organization management; and the competition performance index (i = 2) includes the results of large-scale events and the trend of sports talents. Each index of the system was obtained by sorting analysis of radar chart. The weight table of evaluation index was calculated by analytic hierarchy process. Therefore, the evaluation index system of training quality of high-level tennis team constructed in this study aims to provide reference for real-time monitoring, comprehensive evaluation, and diagnostic evaluation of each link of high-level tennis team training.
Views of Hospital Nurses and Nursing Students on Nursing Engagement—Bridging the Gap Through Communication Courses
Authors: Huang Qing , Pun Jack
Published: June 2022

Background

Communicative engagement plays a significant role for effective nurse–patient communication. In the existing college nursing communication training within and outside China, there is a difference between what students are taught and what they can apply in their clinical placements.

Aims

Using needs analysis, this mixed-methods study explored potential gaps between frontline hospital nurses' and college nursing students' perceptions of nurse–patient communicative engagement, and collated a list of effective engagement strategies for pedagogy.

Methods

Surveys and interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, including 16 hospital nurses and 60 nursing students. A new scale named Nursing Engagement with Patients Scale (NEPS) was developed and validated to explore stakeholders' views on nursing engagement.

Results

Differences between the views of nurses and students on engagement were identified. While frontline nurses affirmed the importance of engaging with patients while providing nursing care, nursing students were unsure about the concept and role of engagement, and how to enact it. A list of communication strategies that promote engagement was culled from the interviews with the experienced nurses.

Implications

These can be used to inform nursing communication courses to bridge the gap between what nursing students are currently taught and what they will need in the workplace.
Oxytocin Impairs the Recognition of Micro-Expressions of Surprise and Disgust
Authors: Wu Qi , Xie Yanni , Liu Xuanchen , Liu Yulong
Published: June 2022

As fleeting facial expressions which reveal the emotion that a person tries to conceal, micro-expressions have great application potentials for fields like security, national defense and medical treatment. However, the physiological basis for the recognition of these facial expressions is poorly understood. In the present research, we utilized a double-blind, placebo-controlled, mixed-model experimental design to investigate the effects of oxytocin on the recognition of micro-expressions in three behavioral studies. Specifically, in Studies 1 and 2, participants were asked to perform a laboratory-based standardized micro-expression recognition task after self-administration of a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo (containing all ingredients except for the neuropeptide). In Study 3, we further examined the effects of oxytocin on the recognition of natural micro-expressions. The results showed that intranasal oxytocin decreased the recognition speed for standardized intense micro-expressions of surprise (Study 1) and decreased the recognition accuracy for standardized subtle micro-expressions of disgust (Study 2). The results of Study 3 further revealed that intranasal oxytocin administration significantly reduced the recognition accuracy for natural micro-expressions of surprise and disgust. The present research is the first to investigate the effects of oxytocin on micro-expression recognition. It suggests that the oxytocin mainly plays an inhibiting role in the recognition of micro-expressions and there are fundamental differences in the neurophysiological basis for the recognition of micro-expressions and macro-expressions.
The Influence of Online Social Value Co-creation Activity on Consumer Purchase Intention: An Experimental Study
Authors: Shi Ying , Zheng Jinjin , Liang Mo
Published: June 2022

In recent years, an increasing number of online social value co-creation activities are conducted by companies in their marketing campaigns. A question is that whether these activities that take social responsibilities could help enterprises improve marketing performance. Drawing from social interaction theory, this study explores the causal effect of online social value co-creation on consumer purchase intention through three experiments. The results show that social value co-creation can stimulate consumer purchase intention. Moreover, consumer-company identification plays a mediating role in linking social value co-creation to purchase intention. In addition, compared to low social norms, high social norms are more likely to weaken the influence of social value co-creation on consumers' buying intention. The study provides both theoretical and practical implications to research area. Limitation and future research directions are also discussed.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Life Habits in the Canadian Population
Authors: Iftene Felicia , Milev Roumen , Farcas Adriana , Squires Scott , Smirnova Daria , Fountoulakis Konstantinos N.
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The study aims to investigate the rate of clinical depression in the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the changes in anxiety, distress, suicidal ideation, and their relations with several personal and interpersonal/social variables.

Methods

This is an epidemiological, non-interventional study. It is part of an international multi-center study, with the main site at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Greece (COMET-G Study). We are presenting aspects of the research involving the Canadian site, based on 508 Canadian responders to the online survey (QAIRE).

Results

Of the 508 responders, 72.2% were females aged 42.57 ± 14.00 years; 27.2% were males aged 42.24 ± 15.49 years; and 0.6% were others aged 46.33 ± 17.79 years. Increased anxiety during the lockdown was reported by 69.3% of those surveyed. The rate of suicidal thoughts increased in 19.5% of participants during the lockdown. Depression was reported by 22% of responders, while distress was present in 18.4%. We found a greater prevalence of depression, but not distress, in individuals with a history of any mental disorder. Based on the multiple regression analysis, we found four CORE factors equally influencing the changes in mental health during the lockdown (gender, quality of sleep, family conflicts, and changes in daily routine). In the Canadian population, two major changes acted as protective factors, significantly expressed when compared with the worldwide tendencies: fewer financial difficulties; and an increase in religious beliefs.

Conclusion

The rate of major depression, distress, and suicidal ideation was higher in Canadians than in the worldwide population (per COMET-G), but the relative risk to develop depression in the presence of a history of mental disorders was lower. Almost 90% of Canadians believed in the real story of COVID source of provenience.
Prevalence and Correlates of Mental Health of University Students in Hong Kong: What Happened One Year After the Occurrence of COVID-19?
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L. , Dou Diya , Zhu Xiaoqin
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In this study, we studied the prevalence and correlates of mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress) in Hong Kong university students after one year of the occurrence of COVID-19. We examined the relationships between mental health problems and socio-demographic factors (including age, gender, local/international students, living status, and economic strain), need satisfaction, and difficulties encountered.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey involving 1,648 university students (Mean age = 20.09 years ± 1.37) was conducted. They responded to a questionnaire assessing their mental health (including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales—DASS), psychosocial resources, social support, need satisfaction, difficulties and challenges, and evaluation of services they received.

Results

Based on DASS cutoff scores, prevalence rates of moderate or above levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were 40.0, 50.7, and 22.2%, respectively. While age and gender were not related to the DASS measures, economic strain and living alone were positively related to negative emotional states based on the results of MANOVAs. Multiple regression and PROCESS analyses showed that need satisfaction and difficulties contributed to depression and anxiety, with stress as a mediating factor.

Conclusions

The proportions of students who experienced moderate and above levels of depression (40.0%), anxiety (50.7%), and stress (22.2%) indexed by DASS deserve attention. Living alone and experienced economic disadvantage are risk factors for negative emotional states. Need satisfaction and life challenges are related to negative emotional states. Need satisfaction and difficulties contributed to stress, which further influenced anxiety and depression.
Telephone Triage for Emergency Patients Reduces Unnecessary Ambulance Use: A Propensity Score Analysis With Population-Based Data in Osaka City, Japan
Authors: Katayama Yusuke , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Nakao Shunichiro , Himura Hoshi , Deguchi Ryo , Tai Shunsuke , Tsujino Junya , Mizobata Yasumitsu , Shimazu Takeshi , Nakagawa Yuko
Published: June 2022

Background

Telephone triage service in emergency care has been introduced around the world, but the impact of this service on the emergency medical service (EMS) system has not been fully revealed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of telephone triage service for emergency patients on decreasing unnecessary ambulance use by analysis with propensity score (PS) matching.

Methods

This study was a retrospective observational study, and the study period was the 4 years from January 2016 to December 2019. We included cases for which ambulances were dispatched from the Osaka Municipal Fire Department (OMFD). The primary outcome of this study was unnecessary ambulance use. We calculated a PS by fitting a logistic regression model to adjust for 10 variables that existed before use of the telephone triage service. To ensure the robustness of this analysis, we used not only PS matching but also a multivariable logistic regression model and regression model with PS as a covariate.

Results

This study included 868,548 cases, of which 8,828 (1.0%) used telephone triage services and 859,720 (99.0%) did not use this service. Use of the telephone triage service was inversely associated with the occurrence of unnecessary ambulance use in multivariate logistic regression model (adjusted OR 0.453, 95% CI 0.405–0.506) and multivariate logistic regression model with PS as a covariate (adjusted OR 0.514, 95% CI 0.460–0.574). In the PS matching model, we also revealed same results (crude OR 0.487, 95% CI 0.425–0.588).

Conclusions

In this study, we were able to statistically evaluate the effectiveness of telephone triage service already in use by the public using the statistical method with PS. As a result, it was revealed that the use of a telephone triage service was associated with a lower proportion of unnecessary ambulance use in a metropolitan area of Japan.
Improving Crowdsourcing-Based Image Classification Through Expanded Input Elicitation and Machine Learning
Authors: Yasmin Romena , Hassan Md Mahmudulla , Grassel Joshua T. , Bhogaraju Harika , Escobedo Adolfo R. , Fuentes Olac
Published: June 2022

This work investigates how different forms of input elicitation obtained from crowdsourcing can be utilized to improve the quality of inferred labels for image classification tasks, where an image must be labeled as either positive or negative depending on the presence/absence of a specified object. Five types of input elicitation methods are tested: binary classification (positive or negative); the (x, y)-coordinate of the position participants believe a target object is located; level of confidence in binary response (on a scale from 0 to 100%); what participants believe the majority of the other participants' binary classification is; and participant's perceived difficulty level of the task (on a discrete scale). We design two crowdsourcing studies to test the performance of a variety of input elicitation methods and utilize data from over 300 participants. Various existing voting and machine learning (ML) methods are applied to make the best use of these inputs. In an effort to assess their performance on classification tasks of varying difficulty, a systematic synthetic image generation process is developed. Each generated image combines items from the MPEG-7 Core Experiment CE-Shape-1 Test Set into a single image using multiple parameters (e.g., density, transparency, etc.) and may or may not contain a target object. The difficulty of these images is validated by the performance of an automated image classification method. Experiment results suggest that more accurate results can be achieved with smaller training datasets when both the crowdsourced binary classification labels and the average of the self-reported confidence values in these labels are used as features for the ML classifiers. Moreover, when a relatively larger properly annotated dataset is available, in some cases augmenting these ML algorithms with the results (i.e., probability of outcome) from an automated classifier can achieve even higher performance than what can be obtained by using any one of the individual classifiers. Lastly, supplementary analysis of the collected data demonstrates that other performance metrics of interest, namely reduced false-negative rates, can be prioritized through special modifications of the proposed aggregation methods.
DIMASS: A Delaunay-Inspired, Hybrid Approach to a Team of Agents Search Strategy
Authors: Yusuf Sagir M. , Baber Chris
Published: June 2022

This article describes an approach for multiagent search planning for a team of agents. A team of UAVs tasked to conduct a forest fire search was selected as the use case, although solutions are applicable to other domains. Fixed-path (e.g., parallel track) methods for multiagent search can produce predictable and structured paths, with the main limitation being poor management of agents’ resources and limited adaptability (i.e., based on predefined geometric paths, e.g., parallel track, expanding square, etc.). On the other hand, pseudorandom methods allow agents to generate well-separated paths; but methods can be computationally expensive and can result in a lack of coordination of agents’ activities. We present a hybrid solution that exploits the complementary strengths of fixed-pattern and pseudorandom methods, i.e., an approach that is resource-efficient, predictable, adaptable, and scalable. Our approach evolved from the Delaunay triangulation of systematically selected waypoints to allocate agents to explore a specific region while optimizing a given set of mission constraints. We implement our approach in a simulation environment, comparing the performance of the proposed algorithm with fixed-path and pseudorandom baselines. Results proved agents’ resource utilization, predictability, scalability, and adaptability of the developed path. We also demonstrate the proposed algorithm’s application on real UAVs.
Generalized Behavior Framework for Mobile Robots Teaming With Humans in Harsh Environments
Authors: Avram Oliver , Baraldo Stefano , Valente Anna
Published: June 2022

Industrial contexts, typically characterized by highly unstructured environments, where task sequences are difficult to hard-code and unforeseen events occur daily (e.g., oil and gas, energy generation, aeronautics) cannot completely rely upon automation to substitute the human dexterity and judgment skills. Robots operating in these conditions have the common requirement of being able to deploy appropriate behaviours in highly dynamic and unpredictable environments, while aiming to achieve a more natural human-robot interaction and a broad range of acceptability in providing useful and efficient services. The goal of this paper is to introduce a deliberative framework able to acquire, reuse and instantiate a collection of behaviours that promote an extension of the autonomy periods of mobile robotic platforms, with a focus on maintenance, repairing and overhaul applications. Behavior trees are employed to design the robotic system’s high-level deliberative intelligence, which integrates: social behaviors, aiming to capture the human’s emotional state and intention; the ability to either perform or support various process tasks; seamless planning and execution of human-robot shared work plans. In particular, the modularity, reactiveness and deliberation capacity that characterize the behaviour tree formalism are leveraged to interpret the human’s health and cognitive load for supporting her/him, and to complete a shared mission by collaboration or complete take-over. By enabling mobile robotic platforms to take-over risky jobs which the human cannot, should not or do not want to perform the proposed framework bears high potential to significantly improve the safety, productivity and efficiency in harsh working environments.