bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Janus-Faced State—Uncertain Futures and Frontline Workers’ Support for Immigrant Women Experiencing Abuse
Authors: Liversage Anika
Published: May 2022

Utilising interviews with immigrant women and frontline workers, this article discusses the role of the state in relation to immigrant women’s divorces. The article argues that the state has a Janus face when it comes to such women’s “intimate belonging”. On the one hand, state legislation both legally enables female-initiated divorce and supports divorced mothers economically. Accordingly, frontline workers generally back immigrant women who seek to leave troubled marriages. On the other hand, different parts of Danish legislation may place divorcing women at risk of losing their residency rights—a risk which has increased in recent years. Furthermore, while divorce may improve a woman’s life situation if she remains in Denmark, it may jeopardise her life if she returns to her country of origin. What constitutes “good help” for women who are facing the vital conjuncture of potentially divorcing their husbands is, thus, entangled with the increasingly unpredictable issue of where such women’s futures will come to unfold. This unpredictability challenges how social work should be carried out—a conundrum which Danish frontline workers seemingly have not fully realised. Presently, the situation means that such workers in reality may endanger the lives of the women whom they seek to support.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis Reveals Genetic Architecture and Candidate Genes Associated with Grain Yield and Other Traits under Low Soil Nitrogen in Early-Maturing White Quality Protein Maize Inbred Lines
Authors: Bhadmus Olatunde A. , Badu-Apraku Baffour , Adeyemo Oyenike A. , Agre Paterne A. , Queen Offornedo N. , Ogunkanmi Adebayo L.
Published: May 2022

Maize production in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is constrained by the low nitrogen in the soils. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring tolerance to low soil nitrogen (low-N) is crucial for the successful breeding of high-yielding QPM maize genotypes under low-N conditions. The objective of this study was to identify QTLs significantly associated with grain yield and other low-N tolerance-related traits under low-N. The phenotypic data of 140 early-maturing white quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines were evaluated under low-N. The inbred lines were genotyped using 49,185 DArTseq markers, from which 7599 markers were filtered for population structure analysis and genome-wide association study (GWAS). The inbred lines were grouped into two major clusters based on the population structure analysis. The GWAS identified 24, 3, 10, and 3 significant SNPs respectively associated with grain yield, stay-green characteristic, and plant and ear aspects, under low-N. Sixteen SNP markers were physically located in proximity to 32 putative genes associated with grain yield, stay-green characteristic, and plant and ear aspects. The putative genes GRMZM2G127139, GRMZM5G848945, GRMZM2G031331, GRMZM2G003493, GRMZM2G067964, GRMZM2G180254, on chromosomes 1, 2, 8, and 10 were involved in cellular nitrogen assimilation and biosynthesis, normal plant growth and development, nitrogen assimilation, and disease resistance. Following the validation of the markers, the putative candidate genes and SNPs could be used as genomic markers for marker-assisted selection, to facilitate genetic gains for low-N tolerance in maize production.
Investigation of Methods to Create Future Multimodal Emotional Data for Robot Interactions in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Case Study
Authors: Osaka Kyoko , Matsumoto Kazuyuki , Akiyama Toshiya , Tanioka Ryuichi , Betriana Feni , Zhao Yueren , Kai Yoshihiro , Miyagawa Misao , Tanioka Tetsuya , Locsin Rozzano C.
Published: May 2022

Rapid progress in humanoid robot investigations offers possibilities for improving the competencies of people with social disorders, although this improvement of humanoid robots remains unexplored for schizophrenic people. Methods for creating future multimodal emotional data for robot interactions were studied in this case study of a 40-year-old male patient with disorganized schizophrenia without comorbidities. The qualitative data included heart rate variability (HRV), video-audio recordings, and field notes. HRV, Haar cascade classifier (HCC), and Empath API© were evaluated during conversations between the patient and robot. Two expert nurses and one psychiatrist evaluated facial expressions. The research hypothesis questioned whether HRV, HCC, and Empath API© are useful for creating future multimodal emotional data about robot–patient interactions. The HRV analysis showed persistent sympathetic dominance, matching the human–robot conversational situation. The result of HCC was in agreement with that of human observation, in the case of rough consensus. In the case of observed results disagreed upon by experts, the HCC result was also different. However, emotional assessments by experts using Empath API© were also found to be inconsistent. We believe that with further investigation, a clearer identification of methods for multimodal emotional data for robot interactions can be achieved for patients with schizophrenia.
The Perception of Physical Therapy Students towards Their Profession in Jordan
Authors: Maayah Mikhled F. , Al-Jarrah Muhammed , Mysore Sunitha , Gaowgzeh Riziq Allah , Alabasi Umar M. , Altaim Thamer A. , Neamatallah Ziyad , Alfawaz Saad S.
Published: May 2022

Background: The physical therapy profession has grown rapidly in less than a century, increasing its importance, techniques, settings, and the responsibilities provided to its practitioners. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore how undergraduate physiotherapy students view physiotherapy as their future career and their perception of the educational physiotherapy programs in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire designed to collect data on students’ perceptions of their profession was delivered to 222 undergraduate physiotherapy students at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. The response rate was 157 (70.72%). Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to analyse the data. Results: Among 157 physiotherapy students, results were collected. Although students were satisfied with being physiotherapy students (p < 0.001), most of the study participants knew about physical therapy from their families, and they were not satisfied with the job opportunities in Jordan. Conclusions: Physiotherapy education in Jordan is rising rapidly. The public, patients, parents, and clinical preceptors in physiotherapy settings must recognize this educational and professional practice. It is noted that some levels of occupational awareness are intermediate. However, it would be beneficial to organize activities such as seminars and interviews in order to increase the level of professional awareness.
Association of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass with the Phenotype of Lean Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Byeon Jun-Hyeon , Kang Min-Kyu , Kim Min-Cheol
Published: May 2022

Low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) has emerged as a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, its clinical implications in patients with lean NAFLD have not yet been elucidated. We investigated the role of LSMM in patients with lean NAFLD. Lean NAFLD was defined as a body mass index of ≤23 kg/m2. Using bioelectrical impedance analysis, the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) was adjusted by height squared. The LSMM was based on 1 SD below the sex-specific mean for young, healthy Asian adults. Of the 8905 ultrasound-confirmed NAFLD patients, 3670 (41.2%) were diagnosed with lean NAFLD. The lean NAFLD group was younger (45.0 vs. 49.0 years, p < 0.001), and had a lower waist circumference (74.0 vs. 85.0 cm, p < 0.001), lower prevalence of diabetes (3.1 vs. 7.4%, p < 0.001) and hypertension (4.2 vs. 15.2%, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of LSMM (28.0 vs. 2.2%, p < 0.001) than the non-lean NAFLD group. Stepwise adjusted models suggested that LSMM was associated with lean individuals with NAFLD (odds ratio = 7.02, p < 0.001). LSMM may be a novel risk factor for lean NAFLD patients more than non-lean NAFLD patients, independent of classic metabolic factors.
Is Piperacillin-Tazobactam an Appropriate Empirical Agent for Hospital-Acquired Sepsis and Community-Acquired Septic Shock of Unknown Origin in Australia?
Authors: Gage-Brown Alice , George Catherine , Maleki Jenna , Singh Kasha P. , Muhi Stephen
Published: May 2022

Early appropriate empirical antibiotics are critical for reducing mortality in sepsis. For hospital-acquired sepsis of unknown origin in Australia, piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) is recommended as an empirical therapy. Anecdotally, some institutions also use TZP for community-acquired septic shock. This narrative review aimed to scrutinise the appropriateness of TZP as an empirical agent for undifferentiated hospital-acquired sepsis and community-acquired septic shock. An online database (Medline) was searched for relevant studies in adults published in the last 10 years. Studies were included if they addressed separately reported clinical outcomes related to a relevant aspect of TZP therapy in sepsis. Of 290 search results, no studies directly addressed the study aim. This review therefore explores several themes that emerged from the contemporary literature, all of which must be considered to fully interrogate the appropriateness of TZP use in this context. This review reveals the paucity and low quality of evidence available for TZP use in sepsis of unclear origin, while demonstrating the urgent need and equipoise for an Australian audit of TZP use in patients with sepsis of unknown origin.
Experience of Primary Care Physicians in the Aube Department, France, Regarding the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Braun Nicolas , Cormi Clément , Van Rechem Michel , Chrusciel Jan , Sanchez Stéphane
Published: May 2022

Background: General practitioners (GPs) played a decisive role during the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in the identification and care of patients at home. This study aimed to describe the primary care physicians’ perceptions of the COVID-19 crisis and to guide future decisions regarding measures to prolong, abrogate, or improve upon methods for crisis management. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a 30-item questionnaire aiming to investigate how primary care physicians (GPs) working in the rural Aube Department experienced the COVID-19 crisis. Results: Among the 152 respondents, 60.5% were not satisfied with the level of information from authorities during the crisis. By multivariate analysis, a feeling of having been adequately informed (OR 21.87, 95%CI 4.14–115.53) and a feeling that non-COVID-19-related diseases were adequately managed (OR 6.42, 95%CI 1.07–38.51) were both significantly associated with an overall satisfaction with the management of the crisis. Conclusion: This study about rural primary care physicians in Eastern France highlights some of the weaknesses of the French healthcare system in terms of the provision of primary care during the epidemic. A leading cause of dissatisfaction was that the information relayed by the health authorities about the disease and its management largely overlooked the primary care providers, many of whom had to rely on traditional media to obtain information.
High-Density Linkage Mapping and Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Powdery Mildew Resistance in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Authors: Pfarr Moreau Erin , Honig Josh A. , Molnar Thomas J.
Published: May 2022

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) is a popular, spring-blooming ornamental tree native to the eastern United States. The species is in general very susceptible to powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe pulchra, which disfigures leaves, decreases growth, and negatively affects flowering. Breeding for resistance has been recognized as an ideal strategy for controlling the disease in C. florida, but efforts have been hindered by the rarity of PM resistance in available germplasm and knowledge of its genetic control. In this study, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with PM resistance/tolerance in two full sibling populations segregating for PM response: Rutgers H4AR15P25 (P25) × Rutgers H4AR15R28 (P28) (n = 195) and Rutgers H4AR15R25 × Rutgers H4AR15P35 (P35) (n = 83). High-density genetic linkage maps were constructed for the mapping populations using double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs). The P25 × P28 map consisted of 2265 markers, spanning 1520 cM and 11 linkage groups (LGs) with an average marker spacing of 0.69 cM. The P25 × P35 map was constructed with 1788 markers, spanning 1256 cM and 11 LGs, with an average marker spacing of 0.72 cM. The maps had 604 markers in common and exhibited excellent collinearity. Through multiple QTL model mapping, one major QTL (LOD = 11.36 and R2 = 58.9%) was identified in P25 × P35. Furthermore, a minor QTL (LOD = 3.30 and R2 = 7.8%) was detected in P25 × P28. Due to their proximity onLG3, these QTL may be designating the same locus or tightly linked loci. The negative additive effects of both QTL signify that the PM susceptible male parents were contributing susceptibility alleles to the progeny. This is the first report of QTL associated with PM response on LG3 in C. florida and lays the groundwork for the development of marker-assisted selection for PM resistance in C. florida breeding programs.
Infiltration Assessments on Top of Yungang Grottoes by Time-Lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography
Authors: Mao Deqiang , Wang Xudong , Meng Jian , Ma Xinmin , Jiang Xiaowei , Wan Li , Yan Hongbin , Fan Yao
Published: May 2022

Water plays a vital role in the weathering process of grottoes. Precipitation is a main water source in the grotto hosting mountain rock. In this study, time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography was adopted to track the movement of infiltrated water in a profile in the Yungang Grottoes. Our one-year monitoring data indicated a good resistivity response to rainfall in the shallow unconsolidated soil layers. There were only resistivity decreases in the near surface 5 m across the whole monitoring profile, and resistivity values quickly returned to a neutral state after the rain stopped. Based on the analysis of a typical rainfall event during the rainy season, we found that the infiltrated water cannot continuously move downwards to recharge local groundwater. It moves horizontally to a nearby gully due to the existence of a hydraulic conductive fine sand layer and low permeable mudstone and sandstone base rocks. An artificial infiltration experiment was carried out to further verify the fate of infiltrated water. Based on mass balance analysis, with 10 m3 of infiltrated water, it only saturated dry soil in the top 1.36 m soil layer on average and this was roughly consistent with our field borehole wetting front verifications at 1.2 and 1.3 m. There were limited horizontal expansions from the infiltrated water. Therefore, based on our monitoring data and analysis, infiltrated water was not the main source of the water involved in the weathering process of the Yungang Grottoes.
Systemic Steroids in Preventing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): Neurodevelopmental Outcome According to the Risk of BPD in the EPICE Cohort
Authors: Zayat Noura , Truffert Patrick , Drumez Elodie , Duhamel Alain , Labreuche Julien , Zemlin Michael , Milligan David , Maier Rolf F. , Jarreau Pierre-Henri , Torchin Héloïse , Zeitlin Jennifer , Nuytten Alexandra ,   On behalf of the EPICE Research Group
Published: May 2022

Background: Postnatal steroids (PNS) have been used to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants but have potential adverse effects on neurodevelopment. These effects might be modulated by their risk of BPD. We aimed to compare patients’ neurodevelopment with PNS treatment according to their risk of BPD in a European cohort. Methods: We developed a prediction model for BPD to classify infants born between 24 + 0 and 29 + 6 weeks of gestation in three groups and compared patients’ neurological outcome at two years of corrected age using the propensity score (PS) method. Results: Of 3662 neonates included in the analysis, 901 (24.6%) were diagnosed with BPD. Our prediction model for BPD had an area under the ROC curve of 0.82. In the group with the highest risk of developing BPD, PNS were associated with an increased risk of gross motor impairment: OR of 1.95 after IPTW adjustment (95% CI 1.18 to 3.24, p = 0.010). This difference existed regardless of the type of steroid used. However, there was an increased risk of cognitive anomalies for patients treated with dexa/betamethasone that was no longer observed with hydrocortisone. Conclusions: This study suggests that PNS might be associated with an increased risk of gross motor impairment regardless of the group risk for BPD. Further randomised controlled trials exploring the use of PNS to prevent BPD should include a risk-based evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcomes. This observation still needs to be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial.
Multi-Task Joint Learning Model for Chinese Word Segmentation and Syndrome Differentiation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Hu Chenyuan , Zhang Shuoyan , Gu Tianyu , Yan Zhuangzhi , Jiang Jiehui
Published: May 2022

Evidence-based treatment is the basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the accurate differentiation of syndromes is important for treatment in this context. The automatic differentiation of syndromes of unstructured medical records requires two important steps: Chinese word segmentation and text classification. Due to the ambiguity of the Chinese language and the peculiarities of syndrome differentiation, these tasks pose a daunting challenge. We use text classification to model syndrome differentiation for TCM, and use multi-task learning (MTL) and deep learning to accomplish the two challenging tasks of Chinese word segmentation and syndrome differentiation. Two classic deep neural networks—bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) and text-based convolutional neural networks (TextCNN)—are fused into MTL to simultaneously carry out these two tasks. We used our proposed method to conduct a large number of comparative experiments. The experimental comparisons showed that it was superior to other methods on both tasks. Our model yielded values of accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of 0.93, 0.94, and 0.90, and 0.80, 0.82, and 0.78 on the Chinese word segmentation task and the syndrome differentiation task, respectively. Moreover, statistical analyses showed that the accuracies of the non-joint and joint models were both within the 95% confidence interval, with pvalue < 0.05. The experimental comparison showed that our method is superior to prevalent methods on both tasks. The work here can help modernize TCM through intelligent differentiation.
Pathways from Neuroticism, Social Support, and Sleep Quality to Antenatal Depression during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Chen Jiarui , Sun Mei , Huang Chongmei , Xiao Jinnan , Tang Siyuan , Chen Qirong
Published: May 2022

Background: Antenatal depression is a severe public health problem. Many studies support the concept that neuroticism, social support, and sleep quality are closely related to antenatal depression. However, there is little evidence concerning the influencing pathways of these variables on antenatal depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the pathways from neuroticism, social support, and sleep quality to antenatal depression during the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 773 eligible women in the third trimester of pregnancy submitted valid questionnaires from June 2016 to April 2017. Instruments with good reliability and validity were used to measure neuroticism, social support, sleep quality, and antenatal depression. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the pathways from neuroticism, social support, and sleep quality to antenatal depression during the third trimester of pregnancy. Results: Antenatal depression is shown to be positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively correlated with social support and sleep quality. Neuroticism is shown to have a direct effect and indirect effects through social support and sleep quality on antenatal depression. Conclusions: Neuroticism influences antenatal depression directly and indirectly. Social support and sleep quality are the mediators of the indirect relationship between neuroticism and antenatal depression. Our results suggest that a personality test offered to all pregnant women could help detect a vulnerability to depression, whereupon intervention in the domains of sleep and social support could prove preventive.
In the Shadow of the Casinos: The Relationship between Religion and Health in Macau
Authors: Chen Yiyi , Lu Jiaqi , Guan Canghai , Zhang Shiyang , Li Spencer De
Published: May 2022

Considerable research has shown that religion operates as a protective factor for one’s health. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the mechanisms by which religion is linked to individual health and wellbeing, especially in predominantly secular societies. This study tried to address this gap by developing a theoretical model to examine how religiosity is related to life satisfaction and health perception in a non-Western culture. Macau, a Portuguese colony until 1999, remains a diversified culture because of its intermixed historical background from the East and the West. Through structural equation modeling, the analysis of data collected from a representative sample of Macau residents, using a multistage stratified sampling procedure, indicated a positive link between religiosity and health. Moreover, altruism and prejudice mediated a portion of the relationship between religiosity and health. Additionally, our results demonstrated that Macau residents who were more religious had a higher level of altruism and a lower level of prejudice. The link between religion and prejudice in Macau differs from that of many other cultures, indicating that the effect of religion on prejudice varies by cultural context. In sum, our study showed that even in the shadow of glittering casinos, religion is positively related to health.
Analysis of Characteristics and Quality of Life of Elderly Women with Mild to Moderate Urinary Incontinence in Community Dwellings
Authors: Zhang Di , Wang Shiyan , Gao Lei , Jia Yuanyuan , Wang Haibo , Sun Xiuli , Wang Jianliu
Published: May 2022

Introduction: The incidence of urinary incontinence (UI) increases with age. Mild and moderate UI have little impact on women and are easily ignored. This study reports the characteristics of non-severe UI and quality of life (QOL) in elderly women using data from a Development and Evaluation of a Senile UI Alert System study. Methods: 926 women aged ≥60 were enrolled from six subcenters across China, among whom 717 SUI patients and 209 UUI/MUI patients were grouped into Group A and Group B, respectively, according to leakage symptoms. Demographic and clinical data, pelvic organ prolapse quantification and pelvic floor muscle strength measurement (PFMS) were collected from participants, followed by evaluation of QOL and sexual life. Result: The major type of UI in community women was SUI (77.4%); MUI and UUI accounted for 20.63% and 1.94%, respectively. Weakened PFMS was detected in 78.2% of the participants. Group B was significantly higher in terms of median age, weight, BMI, waist circumference and menopausal years, and had the greater UI severity and impact on QOL, as well as less active sex live than group A (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SUI distributes dominantly in elderly community women, but UUI/MUI has greater impact on QOL and is related to a less active sex life, which requires more attention from medical staff.
Microplastic Pollution Focused on Sources, Distribution, Contaminant Interactions, Analytical Methods, and Wastewater Removal Strategies: A Review
Authors: Martinho Sílvia D. , Fernandes Virgínia Cruz , Figueiredo Sónia A. , Delerue-Matos Cristina
Published: May 2022

Plastics have been one of the most useful materials in the world, due to their distinguishing characteristics: light weight, strength, flexibility, and good durability. In recent years, the growing consumption of plastics in industries and domestic applications has revealed a serious problem in plastic waste treatments. Pollution by microplastics has been recognized as a serious threat since it may contaminate all ecosystems, including oceans, terrestrial compartments, and the atmosphere. This micropollutant is spread in all types of environments and is serving as a “minor but efficient” vector for carrier contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The need to deeply study and update the evolution of microplastic sources, toxicology, extraction and analysis, and behavior is imperative. This review presents an actual state of microplastics, addressing their presence in the environment, the toxicological effects and the need to understand their extent, their interactions with toxic pollutants, the problems that arise in the definition of analytical methods, and the possible alternatives of treatments.
Usefulness of Ultrasound Examination in the Assessment of the Nail Apparatus in Psoriasis
Authors: Krajewska-Włodarczyk Magdalena , Owczarczyk-Saczonek Agnieszka
Published: May 2022

The assessment of psoriatic nail changes in everyday practice is based exclusively on clinical symptoms that do not reflect the entire disease process in the nail apparatus. The use of imaging methods, especially widely available and inexpensive ultrasonography, creates the possibility of additional revealing and assessing grayscale of morphological changes of the ventral nail plate, nail bed, and matrix, as well as the attachment of the finger extensor tendon to the distal phalanx. What is more, it enables the assessment of inflammation severity in the power Doppler technique. A qualitative classification of nail plate morphological changes corresponding to the severity of psoriatic nail changes has been developed so far and attempts are being made to develop a quantitative method to assess not only the presence of changes but also the severity of inflammation. Nail ultrasonography is not commonly performed, although published studies indicate the possible use of this technique in the assessment of psoriatic changes in nail structures. It can be particularly useful in subclinical changes imaging, preceding clinical manifestation of psoriatic nail changes, enthesopathy: subclinical and in the course of psoriatic arthritis, as well as in the assessment of treatment efficacy. This review article aims to summaries the research on ultrasonography of the nail apparatus which has been carried out so far, taking into account its applicability in clinical practice.
Changes in Air-Pollution-Related Information-Seeking Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland
Authors: Nazar Wojciech , Niedoszytko Marek
Published: May 2022

Low air quality in Poland is a problem of particularly high urgency. Therefore, Poles must be aware of air quality levels, also during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to compare air-pollution-related information-seeking behaviour between the pre- and intra-pandemic periods as well as between the actual and theoretical machine-learning-forecasted intra-pandemic models. Google Trends search volumes (GTSVs) in Poland for air-pollution-related keywords were collected between January 2016 and January 2022. To investigate the changes that would have occurred without the outbreak of the pandemic, Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) machine-learning models were trained. Approximately 4,500,000 search queries were analysed. Between pre- and intra-pandemic periods, weighted mean GTSVs changed by −39.0%. When the actual intra-pandemic weighted mean GTSVs were compared to the intra-pandemic forecasts, the actual values were lower by −16.5% (SARIMA’s error = 6.2%). Compared to the pre-pandemic period, in the intra-pandemic period, the number of search queries containing keywords connected with air pollution decreased. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic might have facilitated the decrease. Possible causes include an attention shift towards everyday problems connected to the pandemic, worse mental health status and lower outdoor exposure that might have resulted in a lower intensity of non-pandemic-related active information-seeking behaviour.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus as an Effect Modifier of the Association of Gestational Weight Gain with Perinatal Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study in China
Authors: Cheng Zhi-Hao , Wei Yu-Mei , Li Hong-Tian , Yu Hong-Zhao , Liu Jian-Meng , Zhou Yu-Bo
Published: May 2022

The association of gestational weight gain (GWG) with perinatal outcomes seems to differ between women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Whether GDM is an effect-modifier of the association has not been verified. This study aimed to assess the modifying effect of GDM on the association of GWG with perinatal outcomes. Data on 12,128 pregnant women (3013 with GDM and 9115 without GDM) were extracted from a prospective, multicenter, cohort study in China. The associations of total and trimester-specific GWG rates (GWGR) with perinatal outcomes, including small size for gestational age, large size for gestational age (LGA), preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and gestational hypertension disorders, were assessed. The modifying effect of GDM on the association was assessed on both multiplicative and additive scales, as estimated by mixed-effects logistic regression. As a result, total GWGR was associated with all of the perinatal outcomes. GDM modified the association of total GWGR with LGA and cesarean delivery on both scales (all p < 0.05) but did not modify the association with other outcomes. The modifying effect was observed in the third trimester but not in the first or the second trimester. Therefore, maternal GWG is associated with perinatal outcomes, and GDM modifies the association with LGA and cesarean delivery in the third trimester.
Establishment and Application of the Assessment System on Ecosystem Health for Restored Urban Rivers in North China
Authors: Xu Fei , Wang Yonggang , Wang Xu , Wu Dayong , Wang Yuanyuan
Published: May 2022

The study on ecosystem health evaluation for restored urban rivers is of specific significance to improving river health and realizing the adaptive management for urban river ecosystems. Based on the health definition of restored urban rivers in North China, this study attempted to set up a system of alternative indicators on ecosystem health assessment, including water quality, water regime, aquatic organism, riparian environment, and physical morphology. Additionally, a set of health assessment system was proposed, including selection of assessment indexes and determination of assessment criteria and health classes. Taking seventeen typical restored urban rivers in Beijing as the assessment target, the said system was applied in assessing urban river health in 2016 and 2019. As the assessment results indicated, in 2016, the health statuses of 29 percent of urban rivers were ordinary, while 71 percent of urban rivers were somewhat inferior. In 2019, the health state of only one urban river reached “good” level. The health statuses of 88 percent of urban rivers were ordinary, and 6 percent were somewhat inferior in terms of comprehensive health index. In 2019, the health states of rivers improved significantly compared with that of 2016, which indicated that most urban rivers saw marked improvement in ecosystem health after ecological restoration. The health assessment system proposed in the paper not only could be applied to regular evaluation of restored urban rivers in the north but also was suitable for a contrastive health-state analysis between different years prior to or after the restoration. In order to carry out adaptive management of water ecology in urban rivers, the measures of ecological restoration could be adjusted based on the regular health assessment and health weakness analysis.
Access to City Center: Automobile vs. Public Transit
Authors: Liu Linlin , Zheng Bohong , Luo Chen , Bedra Komi Bernard , Masrabaye Francis
Published: May 2022

For current territory development planning in China, city center accessibility (CCA) has gained increasing attention for evaluating the expansion of urban areas. How should CCA and its differences between the automobile and public transit (PT) modes be measured? We analyzed CCA from travel time and travel cost perspectives using the travel data obtained from the Baidu Map at a 100 m × 100 m resolution. The GWR was then examined to explore the correlation between the explanatory variables and the CCA differences. Automobile-based CCA shows a concentric structure and varies with time, while PT-based CCA has an apparent linear expansion along the metro lines and fluctuates less. When measuring by travel cost instead of travel time, CCA gaps between the two modes are lessened, and the automobile’s advantage is no longer evident. The distance from the metro stations has a significant positive effect on CCA differences, and the positive effect concentrates in the 3.6 km range (measured by travel time) and 2.8 km range (measured by travel cost) around the metro stations. Our study highlights the importance of multiple perspectives when comparing the accessibility of different transport modes, and the results also provide implications for policy-makers.
Scientometric Analysis of The Relationship between a Built Environment and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Zheng Zhonghui , Zhang Ping , Yuan Fangzheng , Bo Yunque
Published: May 2022

The prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are necessary to improve patient quality of life and to reduce the burden of medical and other social problems. Reducing the impact of CVD through environmental intervention was hailed as the most economical approach and research into such interventions is becoming key. The purpose of this article is to summarize the research topics and developments in the field of the built environment and CVD between 2000 and 2021 using scientometric analysis. In total, 1304 records retrieved from the Web of Science core database were analyzed using CiteSpace software, and the results were displayed using knowledge mapping. The number of publications and conferences relating to the built environment and CVD showed an upward trend over the study period, with the United States taking the lead. Physical activity and the food environment were used as mediators and entry points to map the relationship between the built environment and CVD. Walkability, residence characteristics, the food environment, and greenness were key research topics. Research shifted over the period to incorporate quantitative analyses of subjective feelings while focusing on decreasing sedentary behavior. Understanding the variability in the built environment is critical to improving the generalizability of the findings presented in the individual studies. Inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research is conducive to innovation and ensuring the integration of real environmental elements. This study provides an overview and valuable guidance for researchers relating to how the built environment impacts CVD.
Nano-Hydroxyapatite (nHAp) in the Remineralization of Early Dental Caries: A Scoping Review
Authors: Anil Aiswarya , Ibraheem Wael I. , Meshni Abdullah A. , Preethanath Reghunathan S. , Anil Sukumaran
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) has been reported to have a remineralizing effect on early carious lesions. The objective of this scoping review was to analyze the remineralization potential of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp)-containing dentifrices, by mapping the existing literature. (2) Methods: This review was performed using the PRISMA-ScR Checklist, which is an extension of the PRISMA Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. In this study, the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework was used to find relevant papers published between 2010 and 2021. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and dentifrices containing nHAp as one of the ingredients were the two main concepts of the research question. MeSH phrases, keywords, and other free terms relevant to nano-hydroxyapatite and dentifrices were used to search the literature databases. (3) Results: Preliminary searches yielded 59 studies; the title and abstract screening results excluded 11 studies. The remaining studies were thoroughly reviewed by two reviewers on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 28 studies were included, and 20 studies were excluded. Most of the studies that were included reported that when nHAp was used alone, it had many different effects, such as remineralization, caries prevention, less demineralization, brighter teeth, less pain, and remineralization of enamel after orthodontic debonding. (4) Conclusions: Dentifrices that contain nHAp offer a variety of therapeutic and preventative effects. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of nHAp dentifrices in primary teeth. Additional long-term investigations using standardized protocols are required to reach decisive conclusions about the effects of nHAp dentifrices on primary and permanent dentitions.
The Association between Parental Marital Satisfaction and Adolescent Prosocial Behavior in China: A Moderated Serial Mediation Model
Authors: Zhang Ruiping , Guo Yaqian , Bai Baoyu , Wang Yabing , Gao Linlin , Cheng Lan
Published: May 2022

Parental marital satisfaction is a well-established protective factor for prosocial behavior in adolescents, yet the parental socialization of adolescent prosocial behavior is limited in Chinese culture. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether the association between parental marital satisfaction and adolescent prosocial behavior is mediated by parent–child intimacy and/or adolescent empathy. The present study examined these associations in 480 students (50.4% male, age = 12.7 ± 0.54 years) and one of their parents. Path analysis (Mplus) revealed that parental marital satisfaction was related to a high level of parent–child intimacy, which was, in turn, associated with a high level of adolescent empathy, which itself predicted adolescent prosocial behavior. The serial mediation effect differed between boys and girls. Specifically, compared with boys, girls’ parent–child intimacy was a stronger predictor of their empathy, and empathy had a stronger predictive effect on their prosocial behavior. Several implications for interventions and policies for increasing prosocial behavior in children are suggested.
Participation in Sports Clubs during College Is an Important Factor Associated with School Counselors’ Participation in Leisure Time Activities
Authors: Wu Pei-Fung , Ke Ya-Ping
Published: May 2022

This study explored the physical activity participation, barriers to physical activity, attitudes toward physical activity, and physical activity levels of full-time school counselors at junior high schools in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire. A total of 156 questionnaires were distributed, 137 were returned, and 130 were valid. The reliability and constructed validity of the questionnaire were analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and factor analysis, respectively. The participants’ International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores were estimated to assess their physical activity levels. Simple and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the effects of independent variables on the respondents’ physical activity levels and attitude toward physical activity. Of the respondents surveyed, 44.6%, 36.9%, and 18.5% had low, moderate, and high levels of physical activity according to their IPAQ scores, respectively. In total, 55.4% of the school counselors met the World Health Organization criteria for physical activity. Moreover, the results of the Kruskal–Wallis test showed that respondents with high levels of physical activity, aged ≥41, and who perceived themselves to be healthy were more likely to have participated in sports clubs during their college years. Furthermore, participation in sports clubs during college years and self-perceived health were significant predictors of attitude toward physical activity. In conclusion, participation in sports clubs during college was an important factor related to school counselors’ physical activity.
Stressor-Induced Temporal Cortisol Deficiency as a Primary Trigger for Adaptation to Stress
Authors: Latour Ewa , Arlet Jarosław , Latour Emilia , Latour Marianna , Basta Piotr , Skarpańska-Stejnborn Anna
Published: May 2022

Background: Inconsistencies in measurements of cortisol response to stress have caused disagreements in the direction of the change in cortisol concentrations immediately after the onset of stress. Researchers typically observe increased cortisol levels in response to a stressor, perceiving occasional decreases as a sign of possible disorders. Reports indicate the relative ease of standardizing a physical stressor compared with a mental stressor, and cross-stressor adaptation is observable only in elite athletes. Methods: We investigated the cortisol response to top-intensity physical exertion by analyzing the course of the cortisol response, the changes in this response resulting from adaptation to intense exercise, and the possible convergence between the cortisol changes and body fat content. We examined 16 male athletes, members of the Polish National Rowing Team, competing in the World Rowing Championships, in top form, of an average training experience of seven years. The measurements were performed before and after the training camp preparatory to the Championships. We performed the measurements before and after the training camp preparatory to the Championships. Results: Before the camp, the athletes consistently reacted to the exertion test with a decrease in cortisol concentration and elevated cortisol levels after rest compared with baseline. After the camp, the post-exertion cortisol decrease as well as the post-rest cortisol elevation was much smaller and less consistent. Conclusions: The transient decrease in cortisol concentration at the onset of stress thus represents a physiological reaction, and the stress response counteracts the resulting cortisol deficiency to support cortisol availability during stress. Adaptation to stress enhanced this counteracting effect by (1) increasing the baseline cortisol concentration and (2) speeding up the response to its decline. This enhanced effect was boosted by adipose tissue.
Preliminary Results from the ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Obesity
Authors: Guerrini Usubini Anna , Cattivelli Roberto , Radaelli Asia , Bottacchi Michela , Landi Giulia , Tossani Eliana , Grandi Silvana , Castelnuovo Gianluca , Sartorio Alessandro
Published: May 2022

The study shows preliminary results of “The ACTyourCHANGE in Teens” project, a Randomized Controlled Trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based intervention combined with treatment as usual (ACT+TAU) compared to TAU only, for improving psychological well-being, psychological distress, experiential avoidance and fusion, emotion dysregulation, and emotional eating in a sample of 34 in-patient adolescents with obesity (Body Mass Index > 97th centile). Mixed between-within 2 × 2 repeated-measures analyses of variances (ANOVAs) were carried out to examine the changes in psychological conditions of participants over time. Moderation analyses were also conducted to test whether pre-test anxiety, depression, stress, and experiential avoidance and fusion predicted emotional eating at post-test with groups (ACT+TAU vs. TAU only) as moderators. Only a significant interaction effect (time × group) from pre- to post-test (p = 0.031) and a significant main effect of time on anxiety (p < 0.001) and emotional eating (p = 0.010) were found. Only in the TAU only group were higher levels of depression (p = 0.0011), stress (p = 0.0012), and experiential avoidance and fusion (p = 0.0282) at pre-test significantly associated with higher emotional eating at post-test. Although future replication and improvements of the study may allow us to obtain more consistent results, this preliminary evidence is actually promising.
Alcohol Consumption, Loneliness, Quality of Life, Social Media Usage and General Anxiety before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore
Authors: Ung Mengieng , Wan Kalista Yearn Yee , Liu Shi Yu , Choo Ying Jie , Liew Nathaniel Shan Wei , Shang Zhexuan Azure , Khoo Sophie Su Hui , Tay Wei Xuan , Lin Ruixi , Yi Siyan
Published: May 2022

This cross-sectional study aims to identify factors associated with anxiety levels of adults living in Singapore before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using a web-based survey conducted from July to November 2020, accruing 264 eligible participants. Ordered logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), ranked as minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), and severe (15–21) before and during the pandemic. About 74% of participants were female, 50% were aged 25–34, and 50% were married. The GAD-7 level went up from the pre-pandemic for moderate (12.5% to 16%) and severe GAD (2% to 11%). Alcohol consumption (AOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.04–3.06), loneliness (AOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05–1.54), and difficulty in switching off social media (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.29–3.79) predicted increased GAD-7 levels. The quality of life (AOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79–0.90) was significantly associated with decreased GAD-7 levels. The results heighten the awareness that early initiation of mental health support is crucial for the population in addition to the various financial support measures provided by the government as they are adapting to live with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmacologic Tumor PDL1 Depletion with Cefepime or Ceftazidime Promotes DNA Damage and Sensitivity to DNA-Damaging Agents
Authors: Murray Clare , Galvan Eva , Ontiveros Carlos , Deng Yilun , Bai Haiyan , Padron Alvaro Souto , Hinchee-Rodriguez Kathryn , Garcia Myrna G. , Kornepati Anand , Conejo-Garcia Jose , Curiel Tyler J.
Published: May 2022

The interaction between tumor surface-expressed PDL1 and immune cell PD1 for the evasion of antitumor immunity is well established and is targeted by FDA-approved anti-PDL1 and anti-PD1 antibodies. Nonetheless, recent studies highlight the immunopathogenicity of tumor-intrinsic PDL1 signals that can contribute to the resistance to targeted small molecules, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and αPD1 immunotherapy. As genetic PDL1 depletion is not currently clinically tractable, we screened FDA-approved drugs to identify those that significantly deplete tumor PDL1. Among the candidates, we identified the β-lactam cephalosporin antibiotic cefepime as a tumor PDL1-depleting drug (PDD) that increases tumor DNA damage and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in vitro in distinct aggressive mouse and human cancer lines, including glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, and melanoma. Cefepime reduced tumor PDL1 post-translationally through ubiquitination, improved DNA-damaging-agent treatment efficacy in vivo in immune-deficient and -proficient mice, activated immunogenic tumor STING signals, and phenocopied specific genetic PDL1 depletion effects. The β-lactam ring and its antibiotic properties did not appear contributory to PDL1 depletion or to these treatment effects, and the related cephalosporin ceftazidime produced similar effects. Our findings highlight the rapidly translated potential for PDDs to inhibit tumor-intrinsic PDL1 signals and improve DNA-damaging agents and immunotherapy efficacy.