bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drying Treatments Change the Composition of Aromatic Compounds from Fresh to Dried Centennial Seedless Grapes
Authors: Javed Hafiz Umer , Wang Dong , Andaleeb Rani , Zahid Muhammad Salman , Shi Ying , Akhtar Saeed , Shiping Wang , Duan Chang-Qing
Published: March 2021

Raisin aroma is a vital sensory characteristic that determines consumers’ acceptance. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fresh grapes, air-dried (AD), pre-treated air-dried (PAD), sun-dried (SD), and pre-treated sun-dried (PSD) raisins were analyzed, with 99 and 77 free- and bound-form compounds identified in centennial seedless grapes, respectively. The hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal, 1-hexanol, ethyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate in free-form while benzyl alcohol, β-damascenone, gerenic acid in bound-form were the leading compounds. Overall, the concentration of aldehydes, alcohols, esters, acids, terpenoids, ketones, benzene, and phenols were abundant in fresh grapes but pyrazine and furan were identified in raisin. Out of 99 VOCs, 30 compounds had an odour active value above 1. The intensity of green, floral, and fruity aromas were quite higher in fresh grapes followed by AD-raisins, PAD-raisins, SD-raisins, and PSD-raisins. The intense roasted aroma was found in SD-raisins due to 2,6-diethylpyrazine and 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine. Among raisins, the concentration of unsaturated fatty acid oxidized and Maillard reaction volatiles were higher in SD-raisins and mainly contributed green, fruity and floral, and roasted aromas, respectively.
Assessment of the Physicochemical and Conformational Changes of Ultrasound-Driven Proteins Extracted from Soybean Okara Byproduct
Authors: Aiello Gilda , Pugliese Raffaele , Rueller Lukas , Bollati Carlotta , Bartolomei Martina , Li Yuchen , Robert Josef , Arnoldi Anna , Lammi Carmen
Published: March 2021

This study was aimed at the valorization of the okara byproduct deriving form soy food manufacturing, by using ultrasound at different temperatures for extracting the residual proteins. The physicochemical and conformational changes of the extracted proteins were investigated in order to optimize the procedure. Increasing the temperature from 20 up to 80 °C greatly enhanced the yields and the protein solubility without affecting the viscosity. The protein secondary and tertiary structures were also gradually modified in a significant way. After the ultrasonication at the highest temperature, a significant morphological transition from well-defined single round structures to highly aggregated ones was observed, which was confirmed by measuring the water contact angles and wettability. After the ultrasound process, the improvement of peptides generation and the different amino acid exposition within the protein led to an increase of the antioxidant properties. The integrated strategy applied in this study allows to foster the okara protein obtained after ultrasound extraction as valuable materials for new applications.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds
Authors: Jiao Dan , Ji Kaixi , Liu Hu , Wang Wenqiang , Wu Xiukun , Zhou Jianwei , Zhang Yunsheng , Zhou Huitong , Hickford Jon G. H. , Degen Allan A. , Yang Guo
Published: March 2021

Thermogenesis plays an important role in the survival of sheep exposed to low temperatures; however, little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in sheep. We examined 6 Altay (A) and 6 Hu (H) six-month-old ewe lambs. Altay sheep are raised in northern China and are adapted to dry, cold climates, while Hu sheep are raised in southern China and are adapted to warm, humid climates. Each breed was divided into two groups: chronic cold sheep, exposed to −5 °C for 25 days (3 Ac; 3 Hc), and thermo-neutral sheep, maintained at 20 °C (3 Aw; 3 Hw). The transcriptome profiles of hypothalamus, tail-fat and perirenal fat tissues from these four groups were determined using paired-end sequencing for RNA expression analysis. There are differences in cold tolerance between Hu and Altay sheep. Under cold exposure of the lambs: (1) UCP1-dependent thermogenesis and calcium- and cAMP-signaling pathways were activated; and (2) different fat tissues were activated in Hu and Altay lambs. Several candidate genes involved in thermogenesis including UCP1, ADRB3, ADORA2A, ATP2A1, RYR1 and IP6K1 were identified. Molecular mechanisms of thermogenesis in the sheep are discussed and new avenues for research are suggested.
The Diversity of Plant Sex Chromosomes Highlighted through Advances in Genome Sequencing
Authors: Carey Sarah , Yu Qingyi , Harkess Alex
Published: March 2021

For centuries, scientists have been intrigued by the origin of dioecy in plants, characterizing sex-specific development, uncovering cytological differences between the sexes, and developing theoretical models. Through the invention and continued improvements in genomic technologies, we have truly begun to unlock the genetic basis of dioecy in many species. Here we broadly review the advances in research on dioecy and sex chromosomes. We start by first discussing the early works that built the foundation for current studies and the advances in genome sequencing that have facilitated more-recent findings. We next discuss the analyses of sex chromosomes and sex-determination genes uncovered by genome sequencing. We synthesize these results to find some patterns are emerging, such as the role of duplications, the involvement of hormones in sex-determination, and support for the two-locus model for the origin of dioecy. Though across systems, there are also many novel insights into how sex chromosomes evolve, including different sex-determining genes and routes to suppressed recombination. We propose the future of research in plant sex chromosomes should involve interdisciplinary approaches, combining cutting-edge technologies with the classics to unravel the patterns that can be found across the hundreds of independent origins.
Exon Shuffling Played a Decisive Role in the Evolution of the Genetic Toolkit for the Multicellular Body Plan of Metazoa
Authors: Patthy Laszlo
Published: March 2021

Division of labor and establishment of the spatial pattern of different cell types of multicellular organisms require cell type-specific transcription factor modules that control cellular phenotypes and proteins that mediate the interactions of cells with other cells. Recent studies indicate that, although constituent protein domains of numerous components of the genetic toolkit of the multicellular body plan of Metazoa were present in the unicellular ancestor of animals, the repertoire of multidomain proteins that are indispensable for the arrangement of distinct body parts in a reproducible manner evolved only in Metazoa. We have shown that the majority of the multidomain proteins involved in cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions of Metazoa have been assembled by exon shuffling, but there is no evidence for a similar role of exon shuffling in the evolution of proteins of metazoan transcription factor modules. A possible explanation for this difference in the intracellular and intercellular toolkits is that evolution of the transcription factor modules preceded the burst of exon shuffling that led to the creation of the proteins controlling spatial patterning in Metazoa. This explanation is in harmony with the temporal-to-spatial transition hypothesis of multicellularity that proposes that cell differentiation may have predated spatial segregation of cell types in animal ancestors.
iVar, an Interpretation-Oriented Tool to Manage the Update and Revision of Variant Annotation and Classification
Authors: Castellano Sara , Cestari Federica , Faglioni Giovanni , Tenedini Elena , Marino Marco , Artuso Lucia , Manfredini Rossella , Luppi Mario , Trenti Tommaso , Tagliafico Enrico
Published: March 2021

The rapid evolution of Next Generation Sequencing in clinical settings, and the resulting challenge of variant reinterpretation given the constantly updated information, require robust data management systems and organized approaches. In this paper, we present iVar: a freely available and highly customizable tool with a user-friendly web interface. It represents a platform for the unified management of variants identified by different sequencing technologies. iVar accepts variant call format (VCF) files and text annotation files and elaborates them, optimizing data organization and avoiding redundancies. Updated annotations can be periodically re-uploaded and associated with variants as historically tracked attributes, i.e., modifications can be recorded whenever an updated value is imported, thus keeping track of all changes. Data can be visualized through variant-centered and sample-centered interfaces. A customizable search function can be exploited to periodically check if pathogenicity-related data of a variant has changed over time. Patient recontacting ensuing from variant reinterpretation is made easier by iVar through the effective identification of all patients present in the database carrying a specific variant. We tested iVar by uploading 4171 VCF files and 1463 annotation files, obtaining a database of 4166 samples and 22,569 unique variants. iVar has proven to be a useful tool with good performance in terms of collecting and managing data from a medium-throughput laboratory.
Trends and Effectiveness of ICT Interventions for the Elderly to Reduce Loneliness: A Systematic Review
Authors: Choi Hee Kyung , Lee Seon Heui
Published: March 2021

Elderly people are sensitive to loneliness, which may contribute to mental and physical health, serious illness, and increased mortality. This study investigates the development trend of information communication technology (ICT) interventions designed for the elderly to reduce loneliness and synthesize its effect. We searched relevant articles on 23 May 2020 using three databases: Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane library. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two authors. The development is changing from animal robots to online social platforms and from simple emotional support to a multifaceted system that promotes social participation, cognition, physical activity, and nutrition. Our systematic review reported that ICT interventions are being developed to alleviate loneliness and increase social participation. Our study revealed an increase in the use of ICT interventions among the elderly and a positive change in their attitude toward ICT interventions. ICT interventions in the field of nursing should continue to be developed in the future to meet social, health, and safety needs. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ICT interventions are needed to respond effectively to the needs of the elderly. This study is expected to provide basic knowledge for the development of ICT interventions for the elderly.
North Italy: Welcome to the Tropics!
Authors: Veronese Federica , Graziola Francesca , Farinelli Pamela , Zavattaro Elisa , Tarantino Vanessa , Esposto Elia , Savoia Paola
Published: March 2021

We describe a case of cutaneous Larva Migrans in an 8-year-old Caucasian girl. The lesion appeared ten days after a bath in the river in a valley in the north-east of Piedmont. The patient was successfully treated with Albendazole 400 mg daily for 5 days. Autochthonous cases are rare, particularly in northern Italy. Probably the high temperatures and the high degree of humidity favored by the climate changes to which Europe is subjected are favorable to the development of larvae. The diagnosis of cutaneous Larva Migrans should, therefore, be considered also in individuals who have not traveled in geographic areas at risk for the climate.
Influencing Factors, Mechanism and Prevention of Construction Workers’ Unsafe Behaviors: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Meng Qingfeng , Liu Wenyao , Li Zhen , Hu Xin
Published: March 2021

Unsafe behaviors of construction workers are one of the main causes of accidents at construction sites. The research on unsafe behaviors of workers helps to reduce the incidence of accidents and has attracted much attention. However, a systematic literature review in this field is still lacking, which hinders stakeholders’ comprehensive understanding of the unsafe behaviors of construction workers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to address this research gap based on retrieved literature from the Web of Science. First, the study conducted a descriptive analysis of the year, quantity, publishing organization, and keywords of the literature. In addition, three research topics were identified and discussed, including the influencing factors of construction workers’ unsafe behaviors, the formation mechanism of unsafe behaviors, and the pre-control methods of unsafe behaviors. Moreover, a research framework was proposed and future research directions were also suggested. The research findings promote stakeholders’ understanding of the influencing factors, formation mechanism, and pre-control methods of construction workers’ unsafe behaviors, and lead to future research directions in the studied field.
Organophosphate Flame Retardants and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water Treatment Plants from Korea: Occurrence and Human Exposure
Authors: Sim Wonjin , Choi Sol , Choo Gyojin , Yang Mihee , Park Ju-Hyun , Oh Jeong-Eun
Published: March 2021

In this study, the concentrations of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were investigated in raw water and treated water samples obtained from 18 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The ∑13OPFR concentrations in the treated water samples (29.5–122 ng/L; median 47.5 ng/L) were lower than those in the raw water (37.7–231 ng/L; median 98.1 ng/L), which indicated the positive removal rates (0–80%) of ∑13OPFR in the DWTPs. The removal efficiencies of ∑27PFAS in the DWTPs ranged from −200% to 50%, with the ∑27PFAS concentrations in the raw water (4.15–154 ng/L; median 32.0 ng/L) being similar to or lower than those in the treated water (4.74–116 ng/L; median 42.2 ng/L). Among OPFR, tris(chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were dominant in both raw water and treated water samples obtained from the DWTPs. The dominant PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)) in the raw water samples were slightly different from those in the treated water samples (PFOA, L-perfluorohexane sulfonate (L-PFHxS), and PFHxA). The 95-percentile daily intakes of ∑13OPFR and ∑27PFAS via drinking water consumption were estimated to be up to 4.9 ng/kg/d and 0.22 ng/kg/d, respectively. The hazard index values of OPFR and PFAS were lower than 1, suggesting the risks less than known hazardous levels.
Psychosocial and Social Environmental Factors as Moderators in the Relation between the Objective Environment and Older Adults’ Active Transport
Authors: Nguyen Linda M. , Mertens Lieze
Published: March 2021

In order to develop tailored interventions aiming to encourage active transport among older adults, it is important to gain insights into the modifiable moderators affecting active transport behavior considering the neighborhood in which one lives. Therefore, this study aimed to determine which objective physical environmental factors have an impact on the active transport behavior of Belgian older adults (≥65 years old) and which psychosocial and social environmental moderators influence those relationships. Data from 503 independent living older adults who participated the Belgian Environmental Physical Activity Study in Seniors were included. Multilevel negative binominal regression models (participants nested in neighborhoods) with log link function were fitted for the analyses. Our resulted indicated that older adults living in an environment with higher residential density, higher park density, lower public transport density, and more entropy index had higher active transport levels. Furthermore, different types of neighborhood in which older adults live can lead to different moderators that are decisive for increasing older adults’ active transport behavior. Therefore, based on our results some recommendations towards tailored interventions could be given to increase older adults’ active transport behavior depending on the environment in which one lives.
Trace Element Analysis in Whole Blood and Plasma for Reference Levels in a Selected Queensland Population, Australia
Authors: Komarova Tatiana , McKeating Daniel , Perkins Anthony V. , Tinggi Ujang
Published: March 2021

The levels of trace elements in whole blood and plasma have been widely used for assessing nutritional status and monitoring exposure and can vary widely in populations from different geographical regions. In this study, whole blood samples (n = 120) and plasma samples (n = 120) were obtained from healthy donors attending the Red Cross Blood Bank (Queensland Red Cross Blood Service), which provided information for age and sex. There were 71 males (age range: 19–73 years) and 49 females (age range: 18–72 years) for whole blood samples, and 59 males (age range: 19–81 years) and 61 females (age range: 19–73 years) for plasma samples. The main aim of the study was to provide information on blood reference levels of 21 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, I, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl, U, V, Zn) in Queensland. The study also aimed to assess differences in trace element blood levels between males and females and the effect of age. The trace element levels in blood samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the standard reference materials of Seronorm (Trace Elements Whole Blood) and UTAK (Trace Elements Serum) were used for quality control and assurance. The study found wide variations of trace element levels in whole blood and plasma, and generally the levels were comparable to other countries. No detectable levels were found for Bi, Cr, U and V in whole blood, but V levels were found in plasma samples. There were significant differences between males and females for whole blood Cu (p < 0.001), I (p = 0.009), Tl (p = 0.016) and Zn (p = 0.016). Significant differences were also found for plasma Cu (p < 0.001) and Se (p = 0.003) between males and females. There were trends of increased levels of blood Pb, Se and Zn with age. The study has provided further information on a wide range of trace elements in blood as reference levels for Queensland and Australia which are currently lacking.
Developing Pandemic Prevention and Control by ANP-QFD Approach: A Case Study on Urban Furniture Design in China Communities
Authors: Liu Jing , Kamarudin Khairul Manami , Liu Yuqi , Zou Jinzhi
Published: March 2021

Background: An infectious disease can affect human beings at an alarming speed in modern society, where Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic, posing grave threats to public security and the social economies. However, as one of the closest attachments of urban dwellers, urban furniture hardly contributes to pandemic prevention and control. Methods: Given this critical challenge, this article aims to propose a feasible solution to coping with pandemic situations through urban furniture design, using an integrated method of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Analytic Network Process (ANP). Eight communities in China are selected as the research sites, since people working and living in these places have successful experience preventing and containing pandemics. Results: Three user requirements (URs), namely, usability and easy access, sanitation, and health and emotional pleasure, are determined. Meanwhile, seven design requirements (DRs) are identified, including contact reduction, effective disinfection, good appearance, social and cultural symbols, ergonomics, smart system and technology and sustainability. The overall priorities of URs and DRs and their inner dependencies are subsequently determined through the ANP-QFD method, comprising the House of Quality (HQQ). According to the theoretical results, we propose five design strategies for pandemic prevention and control. Conclusion: It is demonstrated that the incorporated method of ANP-QFD has applicability and effectiveness in the conceptual product design process. This article can also provide a new perspective for pandemic prevention and control in densely populated communities in terms of product design and development.
Effects of a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Social Interaction and Communication in Children with Autism
Authors: Zhao Mengxian , Chen Shihui , You Yonghao , Wang Yongtai , Zhang Yanjie
Published: March 2021

Various therapeutic interventions have been studied and found to be effective in reducing the stereotypical behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There has been increasing interest in using animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) as an alternative approach to therapeutic rehabilitation for children with ASD, and many studies have reported that AAI has significant benefits for the cognitive, psychological, and social behavior of children with ASD. The present study was designed to examine the effects of a 16 weeks therapeutic horseback riding program on social interaction and communication skills in children with autism. Eighty-four children diagnosed with ASD, aged between 6 and 12 years old, were recruited for this study. All selected participants met the DSM-V criteria, and a total of sixty-one participants (N = 61) completed the study. A quasi-experimental design with an experimental group and control group was implemented for this study, taking measurements at pre-test, interim-test, and post-test to monitor the behavior changes in social and communication throughout the 16-week intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA and the independent sample t-test were used for data analysis, to assess the difference between the experimental group and control group. The results indicated that the THR program had positive influences on overall social skills and communication, based on the SSIS and the ABLLS-R scores, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). A notable improvement in the overall social interaction score was observed from the interim-testing point to post-test. In addition, participants in the therapeutic horseback riding (THR) group achieved significant improvements on six out of seven items in their communication evaluations. In conclusion, after 16 weeks of intervention, the THR program significantly enhanced the subdomains of social and communication skills in the areas of social interaction, communication, responsibility, and self-control, compared to the control group.
‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?’ Psychological Distress Predicts Career Change Ideation among Intensive Care Staff in Lithuania and the UK Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Norkiene Ieva , Jovarauskaite Lina , Kvedaraite Monika , Uppal Encarl , Phull Mandeep Kaur , Chander Heidi , Halford Kathryn , Kazlauskas Evaldas
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on healthcare globally. Additional pressure created by coronavirus adversely affected the mental health and psychological well-being of healthcare workers, leading many to question their desire and willingness to continue working in healthcare. This study aimed to identify predictors for career change ideation among healthcare professionals in two countries; Lithuania and the United Kingdom amid the coronavirus pandemic. In total, 610 healthcare professionals from Lithuania and the UK (285 and 325, respectively) participated in a survey from May to August 2020. Psychological distress and psychological well-being were measured using the self-report scales “DASS-21” and “WHO-5”. Almost half of the sample (49.2%), 59.6% and 40.0% in Lithuanian and the UK, respectively, exhibited career change ideation, the country effect was significant (AOR = 2.21, p < 0.001). Stronger ideation to leave healthcare was predicted by higher levels of depression (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.005), stress (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007), anxiety surrounding inadequate personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.27, p = 0.009), and lower psychological well-being scores (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007). We conclude that psychosocial support must be provided for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout and loss of staff amid the pandemic.
Anger Rumination and Mindfulness: Mediating Effects on Forgiveness
Authors: de la Fuente-Anuncibay Raquel , González-Barbadillo Ángela , Ortega-Sánchez Delfín , Ordóñez-Camblor Nuria , Pizarro-Ruiz Juan Pablo
Published: March 2021

(1) Background: Different investigations relate mindfulness practice as a strategy to cope with and improve negative repetitive thinking states and forgiveness. (2) Methods: The aim is to analyze the mediating processes of mindfulness as a trait and the changes in the anger rumination on forgiveness. This sample comprised 264 undergraduate students (M = 24.13 years, SD = 11.39). The instruments used were the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS). For data analysis, the spillover effect was calculated using 10,000 bootstrap samples for the bootstrap confidence intervals (CI). (3) Conclusions: The results confirm that the relationship between mindfulness practice and forgiveness is mediated by changes in mindfulness trait and anger rumination. Given the results obtained, it is considered appropriate to extend the study to samples from other countries, as well as to contexts of depressive rumination or anxiety.
Ethnic Differences of Urinary Cadmium in Cigarette Smokers from the Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Cigan Shannon S. , Murphy Sharon E. , Alexander Bruce H. , Stram Daniel O. , Hatsukami Dorothy K. , Le Marchand Loic , Park Sungshim L. , Stepanov Irina
Published: March 2021

The Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC) has demonstrated racial/ethnic differences in smoking-associated lung cancer risk. As part of the ongoing effort to characterize exposure to cigarette smoke constituents and better understand risk differences, we evaluated Cd exposure as it is a known lung carcinogen. We quantified urinary cadmium (Cd) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in a subset of 1956 current smokers from MEC. Ethnic-specific geometric means (GM) were compared adjusting for age at urine collection, sex, creatinine (natural log), education, and smoking (urinary total nicotine equivalents [TNE] and smoking duration). Self-reported questionnaire data, including occupation, were also considered. Latinos and Native Hawaiians had the highest GM urinary Cd (0.871 and 0.836 ng/mL, respectively) followed by Japanese Americans and African Americans (0.811 ng/mL and 0.807, respectively) and Whites (0.736 ng/mL). Patterns in race/ethnicity were consistent by sex such that females had the highest GM urinary Cd. When further adjusting for categorical occupational Cd exposure, racial/ethnic differences of Cd remained (p = 0.009). Findings suggest differences in urinary Cd among smokers across different racial/ethnic groups exist and highlight the importance in considering environmental sources of Cd exposure beyond smoking. These finding lay ground for future studies of individual characteristics that are associated with lower risk for cancer despite higher carcinogenic exposures.
Remote Teaching Due to COVID-19: An Exploration of Its Effectiveness and Issues
Authors: Kawasaki Hiromi , Yamasaki Satoko , Masuoka Yuko , Iwasa Mika , Fukita Susumu , Matsuyama Ryota
Published: March 2021

Universities have quickly shifted to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study compared two versions—emergency remote teaching (ERT) and conventional face-to-face class (FFC)—of a course design based on the instructional design ARCS model for effectiveness and issues. The current study comprised 46 third-year nursing students who attended an FFC course in 2019, and 56 third-year students who took the ERT version in 2020. Students’ self-rated goal attainment and knowledge of genetics scores were compared before and after taking the courses. Scores between the two class types were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. The students’ worksheets were evaluated using keyword frequency and content analyses. Both classes achieved their goals satisfactorily, and this study confirmed that for this course, ERT was as effective as FFC. A comparison of the increase in domain goal attainment scores per student showed that only the psychomotor domain item, “I can fully explain human diversity using genomic information”, was significantly different, as it was significantly higher for ERT (p = 0.003). This higher item in the ERT group suggests that ERT can pose a lack of practice caution in acquiring nursing skills.
Relationship between Neuromuscular Mechanosensitivity and Chronic Neck Pain in Guitarists: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Rojas Valeria Estefanía Aguilar , Pluma Arisandy Flores , Pecos-Martín Daniel , Achalandabaso-Ochoa Alexander , Fernández-Matías Rubén , Martinez-Merinero Patricia , Nuñez-Nagy Susana , Gallego-Izquierdo Tomás
Published: March 2021

Musicians frequently complain of musculoskeletal pain due to high mechanical demands, with the cervical spine being the most affected. Increased neuromuscular mechanosensitivity due to repetitive mechanical stress over time has been described in neck pain patients. Nevertheless, the association between musculoskeletal pain and neuromuscular mechanosensitivity in musicians is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between neuromuscular tissue mechanosensitivity and neck pain in guitarists. Guitarists with chronic neck pain (n = 70) and without pain (n = 70) were enrolled. Pain and disability were measured by the visual analogue scale and the Neck Disability Index, respectively. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) was bilaterally measured for the upper trapezius and median nerve. Finally, the Upper limb neural test one (ULNT1) was bilaterally measured. The analyses included a 2-by-2 mixed analysis of variance, pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction, linear regression model, and multiple linear regression. Our data showed that chronic neck pain guitarists have a lower PPT at all locations compared to healthy guitarists. They also showed a bilateral main effect for pain for ULNT1 compared to healthy guitarists. These results were not affected by the mediator variables. Finally, a relationship between upper trapezius PPT and median nerve PPT was found.
Headache as an Adverse Reaction to the Use of Medication in the Elderly: A Pharmacovigilance Study
Authors: Monteiro Cristina , Dias Beatriz , Vaz-Patto Maria
Published: March 2021

There is a consensus that elderly individuals are quite vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and headaches are one of the most frequent clinical presentations of central nervous system problems in the general population, which can be an ADR. The purpose of our work was to analyze reports of “headache” associated ADRs in the elderly sent to the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System (PPS), and also which drugs were more frequently associated with this adverse reaction. A retrospective analysis of suspected ADR reports involving patients aged 65 years or older received by the PPS in the last 10 years was conducted. A search of all the terms associated with the High Level Term “headache” was performed. All duplicate reports were excluded from the analysis. A total of 155 ADRs reports were included, in which 15 reported isolated “headache” as suspected ADR, while the remaining 140 ADRs reports reported “headache” together with several other adverse reactions. Most reports of “headache” ADR occurred in women (74.8%; n = 116). About half (46.5%; n = 72) of the ADR reports were considered serious. Anti-viral medication, anti-depressants, anti-dyslipidemic agents and central nervous system-acting analgesics were the most frequent drugs associated with “headache” ADR reports in this population. In elderly patients, most ADR reports involving headaches occurred in women and a high percentage (46.5%) were considered serious. Thus, it is important that healthcare professionals pay more attention to headaches reported as ADRs in the elderly and drugs suspected to cause them, in order to increase knowledge about this type of reaction and contribute towards safely using drugs in this age group.
Study on the Relationship between Drivers’ Personal Characters and Non-Standard Traffic Signs Comprehensibility
Authors: Wontorczyk Antoni , Gaca Stanislaw
Published: March 2021

Drivers’ incorrect perception and interpretation of the road space are among reasons for human errors. Proper road markings are elements improving perception of road space. Their effectiveness relies on traffic participants receiving the provided information correctly. The range of signs used is constantly expanding and unusual situations in traffic require use of non-standard signs or an unusual combination of existing standard signs. The aim of this study was to explore the level of comprehensibility of four different types of non-standard signs. The relationship between the level of comprehensibility of these signs and personality traits of the drivers was also studied. A total of 369 drivers were tested using a questionnaire to analyze the traffic signs comprehensibility and Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The obtained results indicate that symbolic signs, unlike symbolic and text ones, are much better comprehended by drivers. Men comprehend the significance of non-standard symbolic regulatory signs better than women. Higher level of comprehensibility of symbolic and text regulatory signs is shown by older, better educated drivers and professional drivers. The study found there is a link between personality traits of the driver and the comprehensibility of symbolic regulatory signs.
Wetland Changes and Their Relation to Climate Change in the Pumqu Basin, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Yihao , Yan Jianzhong , Cheng Xian , He Xinjun
Published: March 2021

Wetland ecosystems play one of the most crucial roles in the world. Wetlands have the functions of ecological water storage, water supply, and climate regulation, which plays an indispensable role in global environmental security. The Pumqu River Basin (PRB) is located in an area with extremely vulnerable ecological environment, where climate change is obvious. Understanding wetland distribution, changes and causes in the PRB are of great importance to the rational management and protection of wetlands. Using the Landsat series satellite images, wetlands of this area in 2000, 2010, and 2018 were extracted. The results showed that (1) there were obvious regional differences in wetland types and their distribution patterns in the basin. Wetlands were mainly distributed in areas with slopes less than 12° and at elevations between 4000 m and 5500 m. (2) During the past 20 years, the wetland area in the basin decreased, and the changing trend of wetlands was different. Palustrine wetlands decreased tremendously, riverine and lacustrine wetlands first decreased and then increased, while floodplain wetlands first increased and then decreased. Palustrine wetlands were reclaimed to cultivated land, but the proportion of reclamation is small. (3) Climate dominated wetland changes in the PRB. The changes in riverine and lacustrine wetlands were mainly affected by the warm-season average temperature, the change in palustrine wetlands was mainly related to the annual precipitation and the warm-season average temperature, and the change in floodplain wetlands was related to the warm-season precipitation. To achieve sustainable development, the government plays a guiding role and actively formulates and implements wetland protection policies, such as restricting or prohibiting grazing on wetlands, which play an important role in wetland protection and restoration.
The Role of Organizational Support in Non-Technical Dimensions of Safety: A Case Study in the Automotive Sector
Authors: Galanti Teresa , Di Fiore Teresa , Fantinelli Stefania , Cortini Michela
Published: March 2021

Background. Historically, the most important approach to safety management consisted of controlling variability and error in human performance. This assumption was questioned by the changes of the economy and technology, which introduced higher levels of unpredictability and uncertainty. Starting from this consideration, our research aimed to investigate the issue of organizational safety from the dual perspective of individuals and organizations, with the aim of highlighting the weight that both actors have in the co-construction of a safe workplace. Method. A cross-sectional study was performed among workers of a multinational company of the automotive sector, through an online self-report questionnaire. Results. The results highlight the key role of two variables investigated, linked to safety management: organizational mindfulness and organizational citizenship behavior for safety. The first seems to be a partial mediator in the relationship between organizational support and affective commitment; the second, instead, seems to be a complete mediator between organizational support and safety ownership, otherwise non directly related. Conclusions. This study confirms the importance of considering both individual and organizational contribute to safety management in organizations, emphasizing the existing link between safety promotion and employee’s motivation and their personal involvement.
Mental Health among Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Multi-Country Comparison
Authors: Ding Kele , Yang Jingzhen , Chin Ming-Kai , Sullivan Lindsay , Demirhan Giyasettin , Violant-Holz Veronica , Uvinha Ricardo , Dai Jianhui , Xu Xia , Popeska Biljana , Mladenova Zornitza , Khan Waheeda , Kuan Garry , Balasekaran Govindasamy , Smith Gary ,   on behalf of Global Community Health–COVID-19 Collaborative Research Team
Published: March 2021

Despite the global impact of COVID-19, studies comparing the effects of COVID-19 on population mental health across countries are sparse. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults from 11 countries and to examine their associations with country-level COVID-19 factors and personal COVID-19 exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Mental health (anxiety, depression, resilient coping, hope) and other study data were collected between June–August 2020. Of the 13,263 participants, 62.8% were female and 51.7% were 18–34 years old. Participants living in Brazil had the highest anxiety and depression symptoms while participants living in Singapore had the lowest. Greater personal COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms, but country-level COVID-19 factors were not. Higher levels of hope were associated with reduced anxiety and depression; higher levels of resilient coping were associated with reduced anxiety but not depression. Substantial variations exist in anxiety and depression symptoms across countries during the COVID-19 lockdown, with personal COVID-19 exposure being a significant risk factor. Strategies that mitigate COVID-19 exposure and enhance hope and resilience may reduce anxiety and depression during global emergencies.
Lung Cancer Characteristics in the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center
Authors: Durmus Nedim , Pehlivan Sultan , Zhang Yian , Shao Yongzhao , Arslan Alan A. , Corona Rachel , Henderson Ian , Sterman Daniel H. , Reibman Joan
Published: March 2021

The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on 11 September 2001 resulted in acute and chronic dust and fume exposures to community members, including local workers and residents, with well-described aerodigestive adverse health effects. This study aimed to characterize lung cancer in the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) focusing on gender and smoking history. WTC EHC patients undergo an initial evaluation that includes WTC exposure information, demographics, and tobacco use. Detailed cancer characteristics are recorded from pathology reports. As of 31 December 2019, 248 WTC EHC patients had a diagnosis of lung cancer. More patients with lung cancer were women (57%) compared to men (43%). Many cases (47% women, 51% men) reported acute dust cloud exposure. Thirty-seven percent of lung cancer cases with available smoking history were never-smokers (≤1 pack-years) and 42% had a ≤5 pack-year history. The median age of cancer diagnosis in never-smoking women was 61 years compared to 66 years in men. Adenocarcinoma was more common in never-smokers compared to ever-smokers (72% vs. 65%) and in women compared to men (70% vs. 65%). We provide an initial description of lung cancers in local community members with documented exposure to the WTC dust and fumes.
Drunkorexia and Emotion Regulation and Emotion Regulation Difficulties: The Mediating Effect of Disordered Eating Attitudes
Authors: Azzi Vanessa , Hallit Souheil , Malaeb Diana , Obeid Sahar , Brytek-Matera Anna
Published: March 2021

Drunorexia refers to food calorie intake restriction to prevent weight gain and the desire to enhance the more extensive intoxicating effects of alcohol. The present study aimed to investigate the association of drunkorexia with emotion regulation as well as emotion regulation difficulties across the Lebanese population, and assess disordered eating attitudes as a potential mediator of these relationships. The cross-sectional study enrolled participants (n = 258) from all Lebanese districts. The study was performed through an online survey based on a self-designed and structured questionnaire. The Drunkorexia Motives and Behaviors Scales (DMBS), the College Life Alcohol Salience Scale (CLASS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were used in the present study. The results showed that higher EAT-26 total scores (more disordered eating attitudes) (B = 0.16) and higher DERS-16 total score (B = 0.30) were significantly associated with more drunkorexia motives. Also, higher EAT-26 total scores (B = 0.09) and higher DERS-16 total score (B = 0.17) were significantly associated with more drunkorexia behaviors. In addition, higher EAT-26 total scores (B = 0.10) and higher DERS-26 total score (B = 0.36) were significantly associated with more drunkorexia fails. Furthermore, higher EAT-26 total scores (B = 0.07), and higher DERS-16 total score (B = 0.37) were significantly associated with more drunkorexia during an alcohol consumption event. Higher EAT-26 total scores (B = 0.09), and higher DERS-16 total score (B = 0.22) were significantly associated with more post-drinking compensation. Higher EAT-26 total scores (B = 0.21), higher DERS-16 total scores (B = 0.65) and higher emotion regulation (B = 0.33) were significantly associated with higher CLASS scores. The results showed that EAT-26 total scores partially mediated the association between DERS-16 total score and drunkorexia motives (25.20%), between DERS-16 total score and drunkorexia behaviors (25.16%), between DERS-16 total score and drunkorexia fails (106.87%), between DERS-16 total score and drunkorexia during an alcohol consumption event (11.84%), between DERS-16 total score and post-drinking compensation (22.55%), between ERQ total score and college life alcohol salience (8.35%) and between DERS-16 total score and college life alcohol salience (20.14%). This study highlighted that only emotional regulation difficulties were associated with drunkorexia, whereas emotional regulation was not significantly associated with such behavior.
Higher Parity, Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Rate of Gestational Weight Gain Are Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Food Insecure Women
Authors: Yong Heng Yaw , Mohd Shariff Zalilah , Mohd Yusof Barakatun Nisak , Rejali Zulida , Tee Yvonne Yee Siang , Bindels Jacques , van der Beek Eline M.
Published: March 2021

Food insecurity may exacerbate adverse maternal health outcomes during pregnancy, however, this association has not been well established, particularly in the context of developing countries. This study aimed to identify the associations between household food insecurity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk among urban pregnant women. Household food insecurity was assessed using the translated 10-item Radimer/Cornell hunger scale. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between food insecurity status and GDM risk. About 35.6% of women experienced food insecurity, with 25.2% reported household food insecurity, 8.0% individual food insecurity, and 2.4% child hunger. Food insecure women were at significantly higher risk of developing GDM compared to food secure women (AOR = 16.65, 95% CI = 6.17–24.98). The significant association between food insecurity and GDM risk was influenced by pre-pregnancy BMI, parity and rate of GWG at second trimester. Food insecure women with parity ≥ 2 (AOR = 4.21, 95% CI = 1.98–8.92), overweight/obese BMI prior to pregnancy (AOR = 12.11, 95% CI = 6.09–24.10) and excessive rate of GWG in the second trimester (AOR = 9.66, 95% CI = 4.27–21.83) were significantly more likely to develop GDM compared to food secure women. Food insecurity showed strong association with GDM risk in that the association was influenced by maternal biological and physical characteristics. Multipronged interventions may be necessary for food insecure pregnant women who are not only at risk of overweight/obesity prior to pregnancy but also may have excessive gestational weight gain, in order to effectively reduce GDM risk.
Sibling Relationships of Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Moon Youngji , Jung Jo Won , Lee Sunhee
Published: March 2021

Adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) continuously need family support because of their repeated follow ups, treatments, and complications. However, sibling relationships have not been well studied among adolescents with CHD. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationships between adolescents with CHD and their siblings, and to examine these relationships according to birth order and age. Adolescents aged from 13 to 21 years who had been diagnosed with CHD and had siblings were included as participants. The Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) was used. The SRQ consists of four factors: warmth/closeness, conflict, relative power/status, and rivalry. A univariate general linear model was conducted to identify the sibling relationship factors according to birth order and sibling ages. The score for relative power/status of participants who were the eldest sibling was higher than that of younger siblings. The score for rivalry increased as sibling age increased. Therefore, healthcare providers need to investigate sibling relationships and to explain the importance of self-identity and power balance between adolescents with CHD and their siblings to parents.