bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equity in the Access of Chinese Immigrants to Healthcare Services in Portugal
Authors: Aparício Sandra Lopes , Duarte Ivone , Castro Luísa , Nunes Rui
Published: January 2023

International studies indicate that Chinese immigrants face barriers when trying to access healthcare in the host country. The aim of this study was to identify the barriers that Chinese immigrants face when accessing the Portuguese National Health Service. An observational, cross-sectional and quantitative study was carried out via a bilingual Portuguese/Mandarin self-completed paper questionnaire was applied. The study population consisted of individuals with Chinese nationality who were residing in mainland Portugal for at least one year and aged 18 years or over. A total of 304 individuals answered the questionnaire. The results show that 284 (93.4%) of the participants had already sought healthcare in Portugal. The participants identified language difficulties and health professionals’ lack of knowledge of Chinese cultural habits as the most significant barriers to accessing healthcare in Portugal. Of a total of 165 participants who sought healthcare in China, confidence in treatment outcomes and health professionals’ knowledge of Chinese cultural habits were the reasons given by 151 (91.5%) individuals. This study reveals the existence of linguistic and cultural barriers that can condition the access of the Chinese immigrant population to healthcare systems. Immigrants’ access to healthcare can be promoted via policies that contribute to proficiency in the Portuguese language and medical literacy among the Chinese immigrant population. It can also be promoted by raising the awareness of health professionals to Chinese cultural habits.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Assess Dental Caries, Overweight and Obesity in Schoolchildren in the City of Alfenas, Brazil
Authors: Ramirez Iago , Alves Diego , Kuchler Patrick , Madalena Isabela , Lima Daniela , Barbosa Mariane , Oliveira Maria , Thedei Júnior Geraldo , Baratto-Filho Flares , Küchler Erika , Oliveira Daniela
Published: January 2023

Childhood-related obesity and overweight are increasing concerns for the health and well-being of children. Dental caries (decay) is the most prevalent oral disease during childhood, and several studies have suggested that nutritional status and dental caries are associated in children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the geographic distribution of childhood overweight/obesity and dental caries in a medium-sized Brazilian city. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 269 children of both genders enrolled in four public schools in the city of Alfenas. The children were clinically examined to assess cavitated dental caries and nutritional status (overweight and obesity). In addition, the GIS was used for the geospatial clustering analyses. A heat map was created by the Kemel method to estimate the concentration of the outcomes. The cavitated dental caries and overweight/obesity were also pointed out by dots on the map. However, of the 269 children, 118 were boys (43.87%) and 151 were girls (56.13%). One hundred fifty-seven children (58.4%) were classified as having “non-cavitated caries,” while 112 (41.6%) were classified as having “cavitied caries.” In the nutritional status assessment, 204 children (75.84%) were classified as “eutrophic,” while 65 children (24.16%) were classified as “overweight/obesity,” A geographical correlation of dental caries with overweight/obesity may exist in the northeast and southwest areas. In conclusion, a geographical concordance between the dental caries and the occurrence of overweight/obesity among the schoolchildren from Alfenas may exist in some areas. Future studies are necessary.
Is ICT Development Conducive to Reducing the Vulnerability of Low-Carbon Energy? Evidence from OECD Countries
Authors: Zhou Lingling , Shi Tao , Zhou Qian
Published: January 2023

This paper constructs a low-carbon energy vulnerability system with the three dimensions of economy–society–environment, uses the entropy method to measure the low-carbon energy vulnerability index of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 2002 to 2018, and observes the essential characteristics. On this basis, we analyze the impact of the development of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) service industry on the vulnerability of low-carbon energy and explore the moderating effects of technological innovation and resource consumption. This paper draws the following conclusions: (1) The low-carbon energy vulnerability of OECD countries shows a gradual downward trend, showing three stages of “continuous rise—declining volatility—low-level fluctuation”. The low-carbon energy policies and implementation efforts in different countries have become the key to reducing the vulnerabilities of low-carbon energy in OECD countries. The economic and social vulnerabilities of low-carbon energy in most countries are outstanding. (2) The development of the ICT service industry benefits by reducing the vulnerability of low-carbon energy with a significant weakening effect, while high-vulnerability countries benefit even more. (3) In the weakening effect of the development of the ICT service industry on the vulnerability of low-carbon energy, technological innovation exerts an enhanced moderating effect, and resource consumption exerts a disruptive moderating effect. Technological innovation accelerates the weakening effect of the ICT service industry, and resource consumption is not conducive to the weakening effect of the ICT service industry. Based on this, we draw corresponding policy recommendations.
Effect of pH on Adsorption of Tetracycline Antibiotics on Graphene Oxide
Authors: Li Zhenghao , Jiang Hua , Wang Xipeng , Wang Cunfang , Wei Xiangsheng
Published: January 2023

Graphene oxide (GO) has good dispersibility and adsorption capacity for antibiotics adsorption, a complex process influenced by many factors. In this work, the adsorption mechanism of GO on tetracycline antibiotics at different pH was studied to address its attenuated effects on the microbial growth. The results showed that the adsorption process of GO on three antibiotics, namely, tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC), followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacities were observed at pH5 which were 133.0 mg/g for TC, 125.4 mg/g for OTC, and 167.0 mg/g for CTC. Furthermore, the reaction was uniform adsorption with a single layer on the surface of GO, and heating was conducive to the reaction. In the microbial growth experiment, the growth of E. coli and B. subtilis senses was optimal at pH5, which was consistent with the adsorption experiment. This study analyzed the effect of pH on the adsorption of antibiotics by GO and provided a theoretical basis for the further application of GO in various aquatic environments.
Awake and Sleep Bruxism Prevalence and Their Associated Psychological Factors in First-Year University Students: A Pre-Mid-Post COVID-19 Pandemic Comparison
Authors: Osses-Anguita Álvaro Edgardo , Sánchez-Sánchez Teresa , Soto-Goñi Xabier A. , García-González María , Alén Fariñas Francisco , Cid-Verdejo Rosana , Sánchez Romero Eleuterio A. , Jiménez-Ortega Laura
Published: January 2023

There is a broad consensus accepting that psychological variables such as stress, anxiety, or depression play an important role in bruxism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on possible awake and sleep bruxism prevalence and on the psychological factors associated with bruxism, comparing pre-pandemic, pandemic/lockdown, and post-pandemic samples of first-year students. A total of 274 dentistry students from the Complutense University of Madrid participated in the study: 92 from 2018/2019 (pre-pandemic), 90 from 2020/2021 (pandemic), and 92 students from 2021/2022 (post-pandemic) academic years. The participants filled out a thorough battery of validated questionnaires evaluating bruxism and different psychological characteristics, such as anxiety, depression, somatization, personality, and stress coping styles. While sleep bruxism prevalence was significantly higher for the pandemic group, awake bruxism was smaller in comparison to pre-pandemic and post-pandemic groups. The post-pandemic group also presented higher levels of neuroticism and agreeableness personality traits, and positive reappraisal than the pre-pandemic group, with the pandemic group somewhere in between. Additionally, both the pandemic and post-pandemic group showed higher levels of depression and acceptance/resignation coping styles than the pre-pandemic group. Thus, among the three groups of students, the post-pandemic group was the one that showed a larger effect of the pandemic situation in their psychological variables, presenting higher levels of anxiety (state and trait), depression, acceptation/resignation coping style, higher neuroticism (emotional instability trait), and lower agreeableness trait. Nonetheless, the increase of positive reappraisal in the post-pandemic group (an adaptive coping stress style) might be also a sign of recovery. The higher sleep bruxism for the pandemic group might be related to the pandemic situation and lockdown, passively suffered, possibly promoting feelings of impotency, increased levels of depression and acceptance/resignation (normally considered a passive/maladaptive coping style), while acute stressful situations derived from daily personal social interactions might have increased anxiety levels and induced higher levels of awake bruxism observed in both the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic groups. However, further research, including larger and more representative samples, is needed to confirm this possible relationship.
Parent Perception of Child’s Behavior during the Initial Dental Visit among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Chanin Marisa , Etcheverry Nicole , Levi-Minzi Maria A. , Chung Jennifer , Padilla Oscar , Ocanto Romer A.
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate parent perception of behavior and level of cooperation to determine the success of a dental appointment with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). (2) Methods: pre-treatment form, task analysis (TAS), and Frankl scale scores were extracted from patient charts. Values were calculated for patient demographics and other health characteristics (N = 235). Regression models were constructed to examine the success level during the first dental appointment (measured by TAS and Frankl scores) by several factors. (3) Results: The model to test patient characteristics: age, gender, ethnicity, and verbal communication, Hispanic ethnicity significantly predicted the TAS score, F (4, 191) = 2.45, p = 0.03 [95% CI −17.18, −3.53], and age significantly predicted the Frankl score, F (4, 194) = 5.17, p = 0.00 [95% CI 0.04, 0.12]. There was a significant association between parent perception of behavior and Frankl scores, F (2, 202) = 7.68, p = 0.00 [ 95% CI −0.11, −0.02]. (4) Conclusion: The results indicate that ethnicity and age play a role in successful outcomes during the dental appointment. Additionally, parent perception of their child’s behavior significantly predicted the Frankl score, thus coordinating with parents during the dental appointment can be a key factor in treatment planning for productive dental visits.
Current Perspective on the Role of the Circadian Clock and Extracellular Matrix in Chronic Lung Diseases
Authors: Hahn Kameron , Sundar Isaac Kirubakaran
Published: January 2023

The circadian clock is a biochemical oscillator that rhythmically regulates physiological and behavioral processes such as inflammation, immunity, and metabolism in mammals. Circadian clock disruption is a key driver for chronic inflammatory as well as fibrotic lung diseases. While the mechanism of circadian clock regulation in the lung has been minimally explored, some evidence suggests that the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway and subsequent extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in the lung may be controlled via a clock-dependent mechanism. Recent advancements in this area led us to believe that pharmacologically targeting the circadian clock molecules may be a novel therapeutic approach for treating chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here, we update the current perspective on the circadian clock role in TGFβ1 signaling and extracellular matrix production during chronic lung diseases.
Impact of Cognitive Disturbances and Clinical Symptoms on Disability in Patients with Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Study of a Bulgarian Clinical Sample
Authors: Veleva Ivanka , Stoychev Kaloyan , Stoimenova-Popova Maya , Mineva-Dimitrova Eleonora
Published: January 2023

The study aimed to assess the impact of clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment on disability in patients with paranoid schizophrenia (PS). Methods: 108 patients with schizophrenia were included (66 male and 42 female). Their average age was 38.86 ± 10.02 years and the disease duration was 12.80 ± 8.20 years, with mean disease onset of 24 years. Clinical symptoms were assessed with the PANSS, and cognitive performance was measured using a seven-item neurocognitive battery. The disability level of the subjects was assessed using the World Health Organization—Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO-DAS 2.0). The relation between the variables studied was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs) at a probability level of p < 0.05. Results: An increase in symptom severity resulted in worsening of the “participation in society” (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), “life activities—household” (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), and “getting along with people” (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) WHO-DAS 2.0 domains. Positive symptoms (13.89 ± 3.48) correlated strongly with “getting along with people” (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), “life activities—household” (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and “participation in society” (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), and negative symptoms (14.25 ± 4.16) with “participation in society” (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and “life activities—household” (r = 0.48, p < 0.01). Symptoms of disorganization (15.67 ± 4.16) had the highest impact on “life activities—household” (r = 0.81, p < 0.01), “getting along with people” (r = 0.56, p < 0.05), and “participation in society” (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). Episodic memory (r = −0.28, p < 0.01) was remotely related to comprehension and communication. The information processing speed (rs = 0.38, p < 0.01), visual memory (rs = −0.30, p < 0.01), and focused executive functions showed moderate correlations with all domains on the WHO-DAS 2.0 scale (rs = 0.38, p < 0.01). Attention (rs = −0.33, p < 0.01) was moderately related to community activities. Semantic (rs = −0.29, p < 0.01) and literal (rs = −0.27, p < 0.01) verbal fluency demonstrated weak correlations with “cognition—understanding”, “getting along with people”, and “participation in society”. Conclusion: Symptoms of disorganization and disturbed executive functions contribute most to disability in patients with schizophrenia through impairment of real-world functioning, especially in social interactions and communication. Severe clinical symptoms (negative and disorganization-related ones) as well as deficits in executive function, verbal memory, and verbal fluency cause the biggest problems in the functional domains of interaction with other people and participation in society.
The Relationship between the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Land Use Function and the Level of Economic and Social Development in the Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Yin Rumeng , Li Xin , Fang Bin
Published: January 2023

To explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land use function and its correlation with social and economic development levels, taking the Yangtze River Delta region as an example, we quantified the multifunctional land use in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2000 to 2020 on a 5 km × 5 km grid and analyzed its spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. Each city’s comprehensive measure of economic development used the projection tracing method. Person’s method of interpretation was used for correlation between the spatial and temporal evolution of land use functions and the level of economic development and its coupling association. The study shows that: (1) from 2000 to 2020, the agricultural production function > ecological function > living function > non-agricultural production function in the Yangtze River Delta, but the non-agricultural production and living functions were gradually increasing, while the agricultural production and ecological functions were decreasing. In terms of spatial distribution, the agricultural production function decreases significantly around the built-up area due to the expansion of the built-up area. The non-agricultural production function strengthened around the central city in a network pattern and had a path-locking effect. Topography limits life functions, with high north and low south partially overlapping with non-agricultural production functions. Furthermore, the ecological function was high in the south and low in the north and continues to weaken due to the interference of human activities. (2) The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of different functions generated trade-offs/synergies. The trade-off relationship was prominent in agricultural production and non-farm production function and living function, and non-farm production and living function and ecological function during the study period. Conversely, agricultural production and ecological functions and non-farm production and subsistence functions were generally synergistic. Spatially, there was substantial spatial heterogeneity in the trade-off/synergy relationship between the two functions. (3) There was a clear correlation and spatial coupling between land use function indices and economic development levels in the whole region and sample zones. Still, the dynamic and regional nature of the evolution of land use functions results in sudden changes and jumps in different functions in space. Therefore, in the future integration of the Yangtze River Delta, it is necessary to pay comprehensive attention to the morphology of different land use functions and their synergy/trade-off relationship and to adjust the spatial governance strategy promptly according to the local conditions and the situation.
Effectiveness, Acceptability and Feasibility of Technology-Enabled Health Interventions for Adolescents Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Crowley Talitha , Petinger Charné , Nchendia Azia , van Wyk Brian
Published: January 2023

Background: Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are challenged to remain adherent and engaged in HIV care. Technology-enabled interventions can be used to optimize healthcare delivery to adolescents. The largest proportion of ALHIV resides in sub-Saharan Africa. This review synthesized the evidence for the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of technology-enabled health interventions for ALHIV in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Methods: Eight electronic databases (Ebscohost, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Sabinet) and Google Scholar were searched to identify studies in LMIC published from 2010 to 2022. Quantitative and qualitative studies reporting on technology-enabled health interventions for predominantly adolescents (10–19 years) were included. The review was performed, and findings were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols. The review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42022336330. Results: There is weak evidence that technology-enabled health interventions for ALHIV in LMIC improve treatment outcomes. However, most interventions appear to be acceptable and feasible. Conclusion: There is a need to ensure that technology-enabled interventions have a strong theoretical base. Larger studies with rigorous evaluation designs are needed to determine the effects of these interventions on the health outcomes of ALHIV in LMIC.
Status, Sources and Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) Contamination in Roadside Orchard Soils of Gaziantep (Türkiye)
Authors: Demir Mustafa , Tunç Erdihan , Thiele-Bruhn Sören , Çelik Ömer , Tsegai Awet Tekeste , Aslan Nevzat , Arslan Sevgi
Published: January 2023

To identify the sources of contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in roadside orchard soils and to evaluate the potential ecological and environmental impacts in Gaziantep, soil samples from 20 mixed pistachio and olive orchards on roadsides with different traffic densities and at different distances to the roads were analyzed. Concentrations were 23,407.36 ± 4183.76 mg·kg−1 for Fe, 421.78 ± 100.26 mg·kg−1 for Mn, 100.20 ± 41.92 mg·kg−1 for Ni, 73.30 ± 25.58 mg·kg−1 for Cr, 65.03 ± 12.19 mg·kg−1 for Zn, 60.38± 7.91 mg·kg−1 for Pb, 17.74 ± 3.35 mg·kg−1 for Cu, 14.93 ± 4.94 mg·kg−1 for Co, and 0.30 ± 0.12 mg·kg−1 for Cd. It was found that the Ni content in 51% and the Cr content in 18% of orchard soils were above the legal limits for agricultural soils (pH > 6) in Türkiye. Factor analysis (FA) showed that Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb loaded on the first factor (FC1), while Cd and Zn loaded mostly on the second factor (FC2). It was found that Cr, Ni, and Pb were primarily enriched through pedogenic processes, whereas Cd most likely originated from agricultural activities, while the impact of road traffic as source of PTE contamination was insignificant. It has been revealed that the soils are of low quality for agricultural production due to PTE contamination (PIave ≥ 1). The SOPI values from environmental and ecological individual indices showed that the soil pollution level was moderate for Cd, Ni, and Pb, and low for Cr. The soil pollution index (SOPI) proved to be suitable for evaluating and comparing PTE pollution in regions with different soil properties.
Sports Diagnostics—Maximizing the Results or Preventing Injuries
Authors: Mackala Krzysztof , Michalik Kamil , Makaruk Hubert
Published: January 2023

Sports diagnostics is a comprehensive scientific concept and comprises an aspect of training monitoring and/or sports medicine [...]
Impact of Facebook on Social Support and Emotional Wellbeing in Perinatal Women during Three Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Lara Ma. Asunción , Navarrete Laura , Medina Erica , Patiño Pamela , Tiburcio Marcela
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women in unique, unprecedented ways. Given the impossibility of delivering face-to-face care, digital platforms emerged as a first-line solution to provide emotional support. This qualitative study sought to examine the role that a closed Facebook group (CFG) played in providing social support for Mexican perinatal women and to explore the concerns they shared during the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis of all the posts in the CFG yielded nine main categories: (1) COVID-19 infections in participants and their families; (2) fear of infection; (3) infection prevention; (4) health services; (5) vaccines; (6) concerns about non-COVID-19-related health care; (7) effects of social isolation; (8) probable mental health cases; and (9) work outside the home. Participants faced stressful situations and demands that caused intense fear and worry. In addition to household tasks and perinatal care, they were responsible for adopting COVID-19 preventive measures and caring for infected family members. The main coping mechanism was their religious faith. The CFG was found to be a useful forum for supporting perinatal women, where they could share concerns, resolve doubts, and obtain information in a warm, compassionate, and empathetic atmosphere. Health providers would be advised to seek new social media to improve the quality of their services.
Accreditation of Quality in Primary Health Care in Chile: Perception of the Teams from Accredited Family Healthcare Centers
Authors: Coss-Mandiola Juan , Vanegas-López Jairo , Rojas Alejandra , Dubó Pablo , Campillay-Campillay Maggie , Carrasco Raúl
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to investigate the perception of the health teams belonging to the Family Healthcare Centers (CESFAMs) that are accredited, regarding the process of implementation and the achievement of accreditation. A qualitative approach was applied, with contributions from grounded theory, through the technique of individual in-depth interviews and focus groups. The interviews were carried out in nine accredited CESFAMs. For the presentation, organization and analysis of the data, Atlas.ti V9 software was used. From the results, derived from the open phase of the analysis, obtained from the opinions of the participants, a total of 26 categories emerged relating to the facilitating and hindering factors of the process. From the axial phase, it was possible to establish central categories that were related to quality management policies, the structure of Primary Health Care (PHC), participation and co-construction, and leadership and change management. In conclusion, the discourse of the teams reveals the need to have necessary conditions for the accreditation process, which are mainly related to training, characteristics of the types of leadership and teamwork in harmony with the process. Finally, the study reveals a gap in the community participation in this process, which suggests continuing this line of research.
A Community-Based, Participatory, Multi-Component Intervention Increased Sales of Healthy Foods in Local Supermarkets—The Health and Local Community Project (SoL)
Authors: Toft Ulla , Buch-Andersen Tine , Bloch Paul , Reinbach Helene Christine , Jensen Bjarne Bruun , Mikkelsen Bent Egberg , Aagaard-Hansen Jens , Glümer Charlotte
Published: January 2023

Project SoL was a 19-month (September 2012 to April 2014) community-based multi-component intervention based on the supersetting approach that was designed to promote healthier eating and physical activity among children and their families. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a multi-component intervention (level 1) and a mass media intervention alone (level 2) compared to a control area (level 3) on food sales. The design was quasi-experimental. Weekly sales data for all Coop supermarkets in the intervention and control areas were analysed via longitudinal linear mixed-effects analyses. Significant increases in the sales of fish (total) (29%; p = 0.003), canned fish (31%; p = 0.025) and oatmeal (31%; p = 0.003) were found for the level 1 intervention area compared to the control area. In the level 2 intervention area, significant increases in the sales of vegetables (total) (17%; p = 0.038), fresh vegetables (20%; p = 0.01), dried fruit (51%; p = 0.022), oatmeal (19%; p = 0.008) and wholegrain pasta (58%; p = 0.0007) were found compared to the control area. The sales of canned fish increased by 30% in the level 1 area compared to the level 2 area (p = 0.025). This study demonstrated significant increases in the sales of healthy foods, both in the areas with multi-component and mass media interventions alone compared to the control area.
The Treatment of Pediatric Pain in Spain: A Survey Study
Authors: Miró Jordi , Solé Ester , Castarlenas Elena , Ingelmo Pablo , Nolla Maria del Carme , Escribano Joaquín , Reinoso-Barbero Francisco
Published: January 2023

Pain is a common experience among children and adolescents, and pain management in this population is a challenge to clinicians. The aims of this study were to increase our understanding of current practices in the management of both acute and chronic pediatric pain in Spain, explore potential barriers to ideal practices, and identify professional needs as perceived by healthcare professionals. A total of 277 healthcare professionals took part, all of whom had wide experience in managing children and adolescents with pain (M [SD] age = 44.85, [10.73]; 75% women). Participants had to respond to a web-based survey with 50 questions related to pain education, organizational characteristics of their pain programs (including the characteristics of the patients treated), and current practices in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with pain. Almost all the participants (93%) acknowledged important gaps in their training, and only 47% reported that they had received specific education on the management of pediatric pain during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. A third (31%) were members of multidisciplinary teams, and almost all (99%) understood that protocols to guide the management of pain in young people were necessary. However, only a few of them used a protocol to assess and treat (56% and 48%, respectively) acute and chronic pain (24% and 23%, respectively). The data also showed that a lack of pain education, coordination of professionals, and guidelines was perceived as an important barrier in the care provided to children and adolescents with pain in Spain. The findings of this study can now be used by healthcare professionals in Spain interested in managing pediatric pain, as well as policymakers concerned to improve the education of professionals and the care given to young people with pain.
Treatment of Winery Wastewater by Combined Almond Skin Coagulant and Sulfate Radicals: Assessment of HSO5− Activators
Authors: Jorge Nuno , Teixeira Ana R. , Fernandes Lisete , Afonso Sílvia , Oliveira Ivo , Gonçalves Berta , Lucas Marco S. , Peres José A.
Published: January 2023

The large production of wine and almonds leads to the generation of sub-products, such as winery wastewater (WW) and almond skin. WW is characterized by its high content of recalcitrant organic matter (biodegradability index < 0.30). Therefore, the aim of this work was to (1) apply the coagulation–flocculation–decantation (CFD) process with an organic coagulant based on almond skin extract (ASE), (2) treat the organic recalcitrant matter through sulfate radical advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) and (3) evaluate the efficiency of combined CFD with UV-A, UV-C and ultrasound (US) reactors. The CFD process was applied with variation in the ASE concentration vs. pH, with results showing a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 61.2% (0.5 g/L ASE, pH = 3.0). After CFD, the germination index (GI) of cucumber and corn seeds was ≥80%; thus, the sludge can be recycled as fertilizer. The SR-AOP initial conditions were achieved by the application of a Box–Behnken response surface methodology, which described the relationship between three independent variables (peroxymonosulfate (PMS) concentration, cobalt (Co2+) concentration and UV-A radiation intensity). Afterwards, the SR-AOPs were optimized by varying the pH, temperature, catalyst type and reagent addition manner. With the application of CFD as a pre-treatment followed by SR-AOP under optimal conditions (pH = 6.0, [PMS] = 5.88 mM, [Co2+] = 5 mM, T = 343 K, reaction time 240 min), the COD removal increased to 85.9, 82.6 and 80.2%, respectively, for UV-A, UV-C and US reactors. All treated wastewater met the Portuguese legislation for discharge in a municipal sewage network (COD ≤ 1000 mg O2/L). As a final remark, the combination of CFD with SR-AOPs is a sustainable, safe and clean strategy for WW treatment and subproduct valorization.
On Time, Leisure, and Health in Retirement: Implications for Public Health Services
Authors: Hutchinson Susan , Kleiber Douglas
Published: January 2023

Various life challenges, such as widowhood, poor health, or significant caregiving responsibilities, can make the possibility of how to spend one’s time in retirement seem daunting. Planning can help people feel more confident and prepared. In this paper, we review research that has examined: (1) life factors impacting fears about and adjustment to retirement, (2) access to resources and utilization of strategies that impact adaptation processes, and (3) the ways leisure and leisure education may be resources to support not only individual adaptation but practices of public health service providers in assisting people who may be struggling with this transition. The review ends with recommendations for public health practice including: (1) the inclusion of leisure and leisure education as a focus of service provision; (2) the development of partnerships or collaborations between public health and recreation-related organizations; and (3) the development and delivery of group- and individual-based leisure education programs.
The Symmetric and Asymmetric Effect of Remittances on Financial Development: Evidence from South Africa
Authors: Biyase Mduduzi , Naidoo Yourishaa
Published: January 2023

Investigating the remittance-financial development relationship is an ongoing endeavor among economists and policy makers. Building and improving on the existing work, this study considers the possibility that the relation between remittances and financial development is potentially asymmetric. This study applies the linear ARDL and captures the possibility of an asymmetrical relationship by applying the non-linear Autoregressive Model (NARDL). Using NARDL, an attempt is made to estimate the short-run and long-run asymmetric responses of financial development through positive and negative partial sum decompositions of changes in remittances. To assess the robustness of the ARDL and NARDL estimates, a battery of long-run robustness tests were employed, including the linear and nonlinear versions of the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). Annual data series from 1980 to 2017, derived from the World Development Indicators, Fred Economic data and Penn World Tables were used for this study. The ARDL results reveal a positive and significant impact of remittances on financial development, whereas NARDL estimations suggest a both positive and negative shock of remittances on financial development in the long run: a percentage (%) increase in the remittances brings about 0.121568 percent increase in financial development, whereas a one-percent decrease in remittances produces a 0.33363 percent decrease in financial development.
Effectiveness of Rectangular Cartogram for Conveying Quantitative Information: An Eye Tracking-Based Evaluation
Authors: Jia Fenli , Wang Weiming , Yang Jian , Li Tingting , Song Guomin , Xu Yeqiu
Published: January 2023

A rectangular cartogram is a kind of graphical representation that uses a rectangular area to represent the attributes of geographical objects and is widely used in the representation of statistical data such as population, economic statistics, and epidemic distribution. However, there is currently little research on the effectiveness of rectangular cartograms for conveying quantitative data. In this paper, the rectangular cartogram and unclassed choropleth map are compared to evaluate the rectangular cartogram’s effectiveness in quantity representation through task-driven eye-tracking cognitive experiments. In addition, the accuracy and efficiency of information communication and the differences in the reading processes of map readers when using the two types of maps for different tasks have been analyzed to provide references for more effective use of rectangular cartograms in the future. The main contributions of this paper are: (1) it has been proven by experiments that when completing the four tasks of locate, compare, find extreme, and estimate, the participants have higher accuracy rates with the rectangular cartogram; (2) the reading process shown by the eye tracking experiment shows that the more complex the task is, the more patient the participants would be with the rectangular cartogram, and the more pronounced the advantages of the rectangular cartogram are.
Abnormal-Trajectory Detection Method Based on Variable Grid Partitioning
Authors: Chen Chuanming , Xu Dongsheng , Yu Qingying , Gong Shan , Shi Gege , Liu Haoming , Chen Wen
Published: January 2023

Abnormal-trajectory detection can be used to detect fraudulent behavior by taxi drivers when carrying passengers. Existing methods usually detect abnormal trajectories based on the characteristics of “few and different”, which require large data sets and, therefore, may identify “few and near” trajectories chosen by drivers according to their driving experience as abnormal situations. This study proposed an abnormal-trajectory detection method based on a variable grid to address this problem. First, the urban road network was divided into three regions: high-, medium-, and low-density road network regions using a kernel density analysis method. Second, grids with different sizes were set for different types of road network regions; trajectory tuples were obtained based on the grid division results, and the abnormality rate of the trajectory was calculated. Finally, a trajectory-abnormality probability function was developed to calculate the deviation of each trajectory from the benchmark trajectory to detect abnormal trajectories. Experimental results on a real taxi trajectory dataset demonstrated that the proposed method achieved a higher accuracy in detecting abnormal trajectories than similar methods.
Sustainability Indicators and GIS as Land-Use Planning Instrument Tools for Urban Model Assessment
Authors: Jiménez-Espada Montaña , Martínez García Francisco Manuel , González-Escobar Rafael
Published: January 2023

Among the priority concerns that figure in the public manager’s portfolio, the existing problems in cities when planning a more efficient management of urban space are well known. Within the wide range of reflections that local corporations consider, one of their main concerns is based on achieving a more livable city model, where the quality of life of its inhabitants is substantially improved and founded on sustainable development parameters. In view of these considerations, the purpose of this research is to establish an analysis of the formal relationship between urban sustainability and spatial morphology in a medium-sized Spanish city chosen as a pattern. The methodological process established combines the application of open data (from public administrations) with the calculation of urban sustainability indicators and GIS tools, with a particular focus at the neighborhood level. The results obtained at a global level throughout the city show that a large number of indicators including density, green areas, public facilities, public parking and cultural heritage elements are above the minimum standards required, which means that they comfortably meet the regulatory requirements and presumably present an adequate degree of sustainability. On the other hand, other indicators such as building compactness, urban land sponging and organic and recycling bins are below the minimum required standard. Considering the evaluation of the urban model obtained and, through the urban planning instruments set out in the law, the necessary corrective measures must be established to try to adapt the urban configuration to the objectives of sustainable development. It can be concluded that the implementation of urban sustainability indicators as a territorial planning tool linked to GIS tools would objectively facilitate the application of measures to promote the improvement of the citizens’ quality of life. However, the availability of open data sources must be taken into account as a prerequisite to develop the transformation into useful parameters for their practical application for citizens in urban environments.
Antimicrobial Compounds in Food Packaging
Authors: Duda-Chodak Aleksandra , Tarko Tomasz , Petka-Poniatowska Katarzyna
Published: January 2023

This review presents current knowledge on antimicrobial agents that are already used in the food packaging industry. At the beginning, innovative ways of food packaging were discussed, including how smart packaging differs from active packaging, and what functions they perform. Next, the focus was on one of the groups of bioactive components that are used in these packaging, namely antimicrobial agents. Among the antimicrobial agents, we selected those that have already been used in packaging and that promise to be used elsewhere, e.g., in the production of antimicrobial biomaterials. Main groups of antimicrobial agents (i.e., metals and metal oxides, organic acids, antimicrobial peptides and bacteriocins, antimicrobial agents of plant origin, enzymes, lactoferrin, chitosan, allyl isothiocyanate, the reuterin system and bacteriophages) that are incorporated or combined with various types of packaging materials to extend the shelf life of food are described. The further development of perspectives and setting of new research directions were also presented.
Identification of Alternative Splicing in Proteomes of Human Melanoma Cell Lines without RNA Sequencing Data
Authors: Lobas Anna A. , Solovyeva Elizaveta M. , Levitsky Lev I. , Goncharov Anton O. , Lyssuk Elena Y. , Larin Sergey S. , Moshkovskii Sergei A. , Gorshkov Mikhail V.
Published: January 2023

Alternative splicing is one of the main regulation pathways in living cells beyond simple changes in the level of protein expression. Most of the approaches proposed in proteomics for the identification of specific splicing isoforms require a preliminary deep transcriptomic analysis of the sample under study, which is not always available, especially in the case of the re-analysis of previously acquired data. Herein, we developed new algorithms for the identification and validation of protein splice isoforms in proteomic data in the absence of RNA sequencing of the samples under study. The bioinformatic approaches were tested on the results of proteome analysis of human melanoma cell lines, obtained earlier by high-resolution liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A search for alternative splicing events for each of the cell lines studied was performed against the database generated from all known transcripts (RefSeq) and the one composed of peptide sequences, which included all biologically possible combinations of exons. The identifications were filtered using the prediction of both retention times and relative intensities of fragment ions in the corresponding mass spectra. The fragmentation mass spectra corresponding to the discovered alternative splicing events were additionally examined for artifacts. Selected splicing events were further validated at the mRNA level by quantitative PCR.
Characterization of a Neutral Sphingomyelinase Activity in Human Serum and Plasma
Authors: Mühle Christiane , Kornhuber Johannes
Published: January 2023

Alterations of sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes play a role in various diseases. However, peripheral biomarkers for such changes are limited. Particularly, in the increasingly reported involvement of neutral sphingomyelinase (NSM) with four described isoforms in tissues or cells, a peripheral marker is lacking. We here describe the detection of an NSM activity in human serum and plasma samples which hydrolyses fluorescently labeled sphingomyelin to ceramide in a time- and volume-dependent manner. Reaction rates were linear up to 10 days, and serum volumes above 2 vol-% were inhibitory. Biochemical properties were different from acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) with respect to detergent specificity (sodium deoxycholate), pH profile (pH 7–9), and cation dependence: Serum NSM activity was inhibited by EDTA ≥ 1 µM and restored in EDTA-anticoagulated plasma with the addition of ≥ 100 µM Co2+. It was independent of Mg2+, the typical cofactor of cellular NSM species, and even inhibited by [Mg2+] ≥ 20 mM. Serum NSM activity was not correlated with ASM activity and was independent of sex and age in 24 healthy adults. Since human peripheral NSM activity is very low and activities in rodents are even lower or undetectable, future research should aim to increase the reaction rate and determine the source of this enzymatic activity. The established activity could serve as a future biomarker or therapeutic target in diseases affected by sphingolipid derangements.
A Comprehensive Investigation of Genomic Variants in Prostate Cancer Reveals 30 Putative Regulatory Variants
Authors: Labani Mahdieh , Beheshti Amin , Argha Ahmadreza , Alinejad-Rokny Hamid
Published: January 2023

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in the world. Previous studies have shown that genomic alterations represent the most common mechanism for molecular alterations responsible for the development and progression of PC. This highlights the importance of identifying functional genomic variants for early detection in high-risk PC individuals. Great efforts have been made to identify common protein-coding genetic variations; however, the impact of non-coding variations, including regulatory genetic variants, is not well understood. Identification of these variants and the underlying target genes will be a key step in improving the detection and treatment of PC. To gain an understanding of the functional impact of genetic variants, and in particular, regulatory variants in PC, we developed an integrative pipeline (AGV) that uses whole genome/exome sequences, GWAS SNPs, chromosome conformation capture data, and ChIP-Seq signals to investigate the potential impact of genomic variants on the underlying target genes in PC. We identified 646 putative regulatory variants, of which 30 significantly altered the expression of at least one protein-coding gene. Our analysis of chromatin interactions data (Hi-C) revealed that the 30 putative regulatory variants could affect 131 coding and non-coding genes. Interestingly, our study identified the 131 protein-coding genes that are involved in disease-related pathways, including Reactome and MSigDB, for most of which targeted treatment options are currently available. Notably, our analysis revealed several non-coding RNAs, including RP11-136K7.2 and RAMP2-AS1, as potential enhancer elements of the protein-coding genes CDH12 and EZH1, respectively. Our results provide a comprehensive map of genomic variants in PC and reveal their potential contribution to prostate cancer progression and development.
The Comprehensive Steroidome in Complete TSPO/PBR Knockout Mice under Basal Conditions
Authors: Liere Philippe , Liu Guo-Jun , Pianos Antoine , Middleton Ryan J. , Banati Richard B. , Akwa Yvette
Published: January 2023

The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO/PBR) is a multifunctional evolutionary highly conserved outer mitochondrial membrane protein. Decades of research has reported an obligatory role of TSPO/PBR in both mitochondrial cholesterol transport and, thus, steroid production. However, the strict dependency of steroidogenesis on TSPO/PBR has remained controversial. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the steroid profile in complete C57BL/6-Tspotm1GuWu(GuwiyangWurra)-knockout male mice (TSPO-KO) under basal conditions. The steroidome in the brain, adrenal glands, testes and plasma was measured by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). We found that steroids present in wild-type (WT) mice were also detected in TSPO-KO mice, including pregnenolone (PREG), progestogens, mineralo-glucocorticosteroids and androgens. The concentrations of PREG and most metabolites were similar between genotypes, except a significant decrease in the levels of the 5α-reduced metabolites of progesterone (PROG) in adrenal glands and plasma and of the 5α-reduced metabolites of corticosterone (B) in plasma in TSPO-KO compared to WT animals, suggesting other regulatory functions for the TSPO/PBR. The expression levels of the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC-1), CYP11A1 and 5α-reductase were not significantly different between both groups. Thus, the complete deletion of the tspo gene in male mice does not impair de novo steroidogenesis in vivo.