bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical Analysis of Experimental Data of Sodium Diffusion in Oxidized Molybdenum Thin Films
Authors: Ayala Orlando , Belfore Benjamin , Ashrafee Tasnuva , Akwari John , Rajan Grace , Karki Shankar , Poudel Deewakar , Marsillac Sylvain
Published: April 2021

In this work, the diffusion process of sodium (Na) in molybdenum (Mo) thin films while it was deposited on soda lime glass (SLG) was studied. A small amount of oxygen was present in the chamber while the direct-current (DC) magnetron sputtering was used for the deposition. The substrate temperatures were varied to observe its effect. Such molybdenum films, with or without oxidations, are often used in thin film solar cells, either as back contact or as hole transport layers. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to quantify the concentration of the species. A grain diffusion mechanistic model incorporating the effect of grain and grain boundary geometrical shape and size was developed. The model was used to provide an in-depth theoretical analysis of the sodium diffusion in molybdenum thin films that lead to the measured SIMS data. It was observed that not only diffusion coefficients should be considered when analyzing diffusion processes in thin films but also the ratio of grain boundary size to grain size. Both depend on substrate temperature and directly affect the amount of diffused species in the film. The data were analyzed under the light of the film growth speed versus diffusion front speed, the effect of oxygen content, and the effect of substrate temperature on the overall diffusion process. The temperature inversely affects the ratio of grain boundary size and grain size and directly affects the diffusion coefficient, which leads to a preferable temperature at which the highest amount of alkali can be found in the film.
Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment Based Response Surface Approach for FLEX and Accident Tolerant Fuels for Medium Break LOCA Spectrum
Authors: Shah Asad Ullah Amin , Christian Robby , Kim Junyung , Kim Jaewhan , Park Jinkyun , Kang Hyun Gook
Published: April 2021

After the Fukushima Daiichi Accident, the safety features such as accident tolerant fuel (ATF) and diverse and flexible coping strategies (FLEX) for existing nuclear fleets are being investigated by the US Department of Energy under the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program. This research is being conducted to quantify the risk-benefit of these safety features. Dynamic probabilistic risk assessment (DPRA)-based response-surface approach has been presented to quantify the FLEX and ATF benefits by estimating the risk associated with each option. ATFs with multilayered silicon carbide (SiC), iron-chromium-aluminum, and chromium-coated zirconium cladding were considered in this study. While these ATF candidates perform better than the current zirconium cladding (Zr), they may introduce additional failure modes in some operating conditions. The fuel failure analysis modules (FAMs) were developed to investigate ATF performance. The dynamic risk assessments were performed using RAVEN, a DPRA tool, coupled with RELAP5 and FAMs. A cumulative distribution function-based index provided a mean of comparing the benefits of safety enhancements. For medium break loss of coolant accidents, FLEX operational timing window for each fuel type was estimated. Among these ATF candidates, SiC-type ATF was the most beneficial candidate for an increased safety margin than Zr-based fuel and was found to complement FLEX strategies in terms of risk and coping time.
Caffeine Interactions with Wood Polymers
Authors: Kobetičová Klára , Ďurišová Kristýna , Nábělková Jana
Published: April 2021

Caffeine is a verified bioactive substance suitable for wood protection against pests. Unlike studies of the biocidal effects of caffeine, caffeine-wood bonds and interactions with wood polymer structures have not been studied whatsoever thus far. For this reason, caffeine (1 g/L) interactions with the main wood components (cellulose; hemicellulose; lignin and its precursors conipheryl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, coumaryl alcohol) were analyzed in the present study. Caffeine concentrations were analyzed using UV–VIS spectrometry at wavelength 287 nm. The results confirmed caffeine variable binding with wood components in comparison to controls (pure caffeine). Cellulose and sinapyl alcohol did not interact with caffeine. Caffeine was bonded with the rest of the wood components in an increasing rank: conipheryl alcohol = lignin < hemicellulose < coumaryl alcohol. These results have a significant role in the protection of wood depending on its chemical composition and the wood species.
Effect of Soil Diversity on Forest Plant Species Abundance: A Case Study from Central-European Highlands
Authors: Samec Pavel , Volánek Jiří , Kučera Miloš , Cudlín Pavel
Published: April 2021

Plant distribution is most closely associated with the abiotic environment. The abiotic environment affects plant species’ abundancy unevenly. The asymmetry is further deviated by human interventions. Contrarily, soil properties preserve environmental influences from the anthropogenic perturbations. The study examined the supra-regional similarities of soil effects on plant species’ abundance in temperate forests to determine: (i) spatial relationships between soil property and forest-plant diversity among geographical regions; (ii) whether the spatial dependencies among compared forest-diversity components are influenced by natural forest representation. The spatial dependence was assessed using geographically weighted regression (GWR) of soil properties and plant species abundance from forest stands among 91 biogeographical regions in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Regional soil properties and plant species abundance were acquired from 7550 national forest inventory plots positioned in a 4 × 4 km grid. The effect of natural forests was assessed using linear regression between the sums of squared GWR residues and protected forest distribution in the regions. Total diversity of forest plants is significantly dependent on soil-group representation. The soil-group effect is more significant than that of bedrock bodies, most of all in biogeographical regions with protected forest representation >50%. Effects of soil chemical properties were not affected by protected forest distribution. Spatial dependency analysis separated biogeographical regions of optimal forest plant diversity from those where inadequate forest-ecosystem diversity should be increased alongside soil diversity.
Geographical Factors Trump Community Factors in Deforestation Risk in Two Watershed Conservation Forests in Myanmar
Authors: Kyaw Khin Thu Wint , Ota Tetsuji , Mizoue Nobuya
Published: April 2021

Community forestry, which is how local communities are involved in forest conservation and utilization activities, is an important forestry program in developing tropical countries. We evaluated the importance of geographical factors and community characteristics in the deforestation of community forests between 2000 and 2019 in the buffer zone of Inlay Lake Biosphere Reserve, Myanmar, using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. Distance to the nearest village, slope, and distance to the community forestry boundary were the most important variables explaining deforestation in community forests. Forests closer to human settlements and with gentle slopes faced higher risks of deforestation, presumably because such forests are more accessible. In addition, forests located far from the boundaries of community forests were more vulnerable to deforestation. Community characteristics were less important compared with geographical factors. Leadership was the most important variable among community characteristics, although not statistically significant. We conclude that deforestation depends more on forest accessibility. This indicates that the locations at which new community forests are established should receive increased consideration.
Experiments and Modeling of a Compliant Wall Response to a Turbulent Boundary Layer with Dynamic Roughness Forcing
Authors: Huynh David P. , Huang Yuting , McKeon Beverley J.
Published: April 2021

The response of a compliant surface in a turbulent boundary layer forced by a dynamic roughness is studied using experiments and resolvent analysis. Water tunnel experiments are carried out at a friction Reynolds number of Reτ≈410, with flow and surface measurements taken with 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV) and stereo digital image correlation (DIC). The narrow band dynamic roughness forcing enables analysis of the flow and surface responses coherent with the forcing frequency, and the corresponding Fourier modes are extracted and compared with resolvent modes. The resolvent modes capture the structures of the experimental Fourier modes and the resolvent with eddy viscosity improves the matching. The comparison of smooth and compliant wall resolvent modes predicts a virtual wall feature in the wall normal velocity of the compliant wall case. The virtual wall is revealed in experimental data using a conditional average informed by the resolvent prediction. Finally, the change to the resolvent modes due to the influence of wall compliance is studied by modeling the compliant wall boundary condition as a deterministic forcing to the smooth wall resolvent framework.
School Choice with Hybrid Schedules
Authors: Afacan Mustafa Oğuz , Dur Umut , Harris William
Published: April 2021

During the pandemic, school districts have adopted hybrid schedules to continue the education of the students while maintaining social distance. In a hybrid schedule, students in the same classroom are usually divided into two groups and students only in the same group can physically attend class together two days a week. School districts do not take preferences of the students/parents over the days they would like to come to school into account during this procedure. In this paper, we propose a solution that divides students into groups based on their preferences. Our solution respects the number of classrooms initially reserved for each grade and enables possible efficiency gains by swapping classrooms across grades. Moreover, when there are two alternative schedules provided for students, our solution is immune to preference manipulations.
MADS-Box Protein Complex VvAG2, VvSEP3 and VvAGL11 Regulates the Formation of Ovules in Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Xiangfei’
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Zhenhua , Wu Jiang , Hong Liang , Liang Jinjun , Ren Yangmei , Guan Pingyin , Hu Jianfang
Published: April 2021

The phenomenon of multi-carpel and multi-ovule exists in the grapevine cultivar ‘Xiangfei’, but the mechanism of ovule formation is seldom reported. In this study, we observed the ovule formation process by using ‘Xiangfei’ grapes. The role of the VvAG2 (VvAGAMOUS) gene in ovule formation was identified, and we explored the relationship between VvAG2, VvSEP3(VvMADS4) and VvAGL11(VvMADS5) proteins. The results showed that the ovule primordium appeared when the inflorescence length of ‘Xiangfei’ grapes were 4–5 cm long; the relative expression levels of VvAG2, VvAGL11 and VvSEP3 genes were higher during ovule formation, and the expression levels of VvAG2 gene was the highest. Transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants expressing VvAG2 produced higher numbers of ovules and carpels than the wild type. Moreover, yeast two-hybrid and yeast three-hybrid experiments demonstrated that VvSEP3 acts as a bridge and interacts with VvAG2 and VvAGL11 proteins, respectively. Meanwhile, a homodimer can be formed between VvSEP3 and VvSEP3, but there was no interaction between VvAG2 and VvAGL11. These findings suggest that the VvAG2 gene is involved in the formation of ovules, and VvAG2/VvSEP3 together with VvAGL11/VvSEP3 can form a tetrameric complex. In summary, our data showed that VvAG2 along with VvSEP3 and VvAGL11 jointly regulate the ovule formation of ‘Xiangfei’ grapes.
Imbalance between Expression of FOXC2 and Its lncRNA in Lymphedema-Distichiasis Caused by Frameshift Mutations
Authors: Missaglia Sara , Tavian Daniela , Michelini Sandro , Maltese Paolo Enrico , Bonanomi Andrea , Bertelli Matteo
Published: April 2021

Forkhead-box C2 (FOXC2) is a transcription factor involved in lymphatic system development. FOXC2 mutations cause Lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome (LD). Recently, a natural antisense was identified, called lncRNA FOXC2-AS1, which increases FOXC2 mRNA stability. No studies have evaluated FOXC2 and FOXC2-AS1 blood expression in LD and healthy subjects. Here, we show that FOXC2 and FOXC-AS1 expression levels were similar in both controls and patients, and a significantly higher amount of both RNAs was observed in females. A positive correlation between FOXC2 and FOXC2-AS1 expression was found in both controls and patients, excluding those with frameshift mutations. In these patients, the FOXC2-AS1/FOXC2 ratio was about 1:1, while it was higher in controls and patients carrying other types of mutations. The overexpression or silencing of FOXC2-AS1 determined a significant increase or reduction in FOXC2 wild-type and frameshift mutant proteins, respectively. Moreover, confocal and bioinformatic analysis revealed that these variations caused the formation of nuclear proteins aggregates also involving DNA. In conclusion, patients with frameshift mutations presented lower values of the FOXC2-AS1/FOXC2 ratio, due to a decrease in FOXC2-AS1 expression. The imbalance between FOXC2 mRNA and its lncRNA could represent a molecular mechanism to reduce the amount of FOXC2 misfolded proteins, protecting cells from damage.
The Interplay between Social and Ecological Determinants of Mental Health for Children and Youth in the Climate Crisis
Authors: Gislason Maya K. , Kennedy Angel M. , Witham Stephanie M.
Published: April 2021

Children and youth are showing increasing levels of mental health distress due to the climate crisis, characterized by feelings of sadness, guilt, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, solastalgia, and disconnection from land. To gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between climate change and children and youth’s mental health, we conducted a rapid review and a thematic analysis of the results in NVivo 12. Our findings show that children and youth experience a plethora of direct and indirect effects from climate change and this impacts their mental wellbeing in diverse and complex ways. Young people also have varied perceptions of climate change based on their social locations and many are dealing with feelings of immense worry and eco-anxiety. The mental health impacts of climate change on children/youth are tied to Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) but also need to be understood in relation to the Ecological Determinants of Health (EDoH). Through an eco-social lens, this paper explores these conceptual issues and uses them to provide a framework for understanding the interplay of social and ecological determinants of mental health for children/youth.
Are Psychosocial Factors Determinant in the Pain and Social Participation of Patients with Early Knee Osteoarthritis? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alabajos-Cea Ana , Herrero-Manley Luz , Suso-Martí Luis , Alonso-Pérez-Barquero Juan , Viosca-Herrero Enrique
Published: April 2021

The main objective of this research is to determine the psychosocial differences between patients with knee pain or early osteoarthritis (EOA) and healthy subjects at risk of developing osteoarthritis. The secondary objective is to determine how psychosocial factors might influence pain and social participation in patients with EOA. A cross-sectional study was performed. Participants were divided according to the presence of pain or EOA. Pain intensity both at rest and walking, psychological variables such as anxiety and depression, and social participation were evaluated. A total of 105 participants were included (64 with knee pain and 41 without pain), with a mean age of 51.42 ± 5.92 (35 men and 70 women). Patients with knee pain had higher levels of anxiety (MD = −2.35; p < 0.01; d = 0.66) and depression (MD = −2.45; p < 0.01; d = 0.87), regardless of the presence of EOA. In addition, patients with higher depression levels had lower levels of social participation. The results revealed a relationship between the psychological variables, anxiety and depression, with knee pain and the onset of symptomatic OA, as well as an influence of depression levels on social participation. Improving these psychological characteristics may be useful in delaying the onset of symptomatic OA and enhancing social participation.
Wasting and Associated Factors among Children under 5 Years in Five South Asian Countries (2014–2018): Analysis of Demographic Health Surveys
Authors: Wali Nidhi , Agho Kingsley E. , Renzaho Andre
Published: April 2021

Child wasting continues to be a major public health concern in South Asia, having a prevalence above the emergency threshold. This paper aimed to identify factors associated with wasting among children aged 0–23 months, 24–59 months, and 0–59 months in South Asia. A weighted sample of 564,518 children aged 0–59 months from the most recent demographic and health surveys (2014–2018) of five countries in South Asia was combined. Multiple logistic regression analyses that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights were used to examine associated factors. Wasting prevalence was higher for children aged 0–23 months (25%) as compared to 24–59 months (18%), with variations in prevalence across the South Asian countries. The most common factor associated with child wasting was maternal BMI [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for 0–23 months = 2.02; 95% CI: (1.52, 2.68); AOR for 24–59 months = 2.54; 95% CI: (1.83, 3.54); AOR for 0–59 months = 2.18; 95% CI: (1.72, 2.77)]. Other factors included maternal height and age, household wealth index, birth interval and order, children born at home, and access to antenatal visits. Study findings suggest need for nutrition specific and sensitive interventions focused on women, as well as adolescents and children under 2 years of age.
Attitude and Purchase Intention to Generic Drugs
Authors: Arcaro Ricardo , da Veiga Cássia Rita Pereira , da Silva Wesley Vieira , Pereira da Veiga Claudimar
Published: April 2021

Generic drugs were instituted in 1984 in the United States. Since that time, many studies have been conducted in several countries into consumer attitude and behavior when purchasing generic drugs. Understanding the factors that can influence attitude and purchasing intention in this segment has been a challenge. Thus, this paper aims to present a mapping of the literature on the attitude toward and intention to purchase generic drugs and capture insights that can help define and improve promotional strategies for the use of these products. To identify articles related to the theme, we selected the Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Lilacs, Pubmed Central, Springer, and Embase databases time limited to June 2020, using the keywords “generic drug”, “purchase intention”, and “attitude”. The results indicate that this topic is relatively new, with publications in the leading journals in the area demonstrating its importance. Analysis revealed five strategic insights and showed that the research theme could be grouped into three clusters: (i) consumer attitude and behavior, (ii) perspective of patients and health professionals, and (iii) assessment of the risks associated with generic medications to determine which factors can influence purchase intention, providing decision makers with a broader view with regard to directing public policy strategies in healthcare.
Comparison of Pregnancy Outcomes Using Different Gestational Diabetes Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment Thresholds in Multiethnic Communities between Two Tertiary Centres in Australian and New Zealand: Do They Make a Difference?
Authors: Yuen Lili , Wong Vincent W. , Wolmarans Louise , Simmons David
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Australia, but not New Zealand (NZ), has adopted the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria to diagnose gestational diabetes (GDM). We compared pregnancy outcomes using these different diagnostic approaches. Method: Prospective data of women with GDM were collected from one NZ (NZ) and one Australian (Aus) hospital between 2007–2018. Aus screening criteria with 2-step risk-based 50 g Glucose Challenge Testing (GCT) followed by 75 g-oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT): fasting ≥ 5.5, 2-h ≥ 8.0 mmol/L (ADIPS98) changed to a universal OGTT and fasting ≥5.1, 1-h ≥ 10, 2-h ≥ 8.5 mmol/L (IADPSG). NZ used GCT followed by OGTT with fasting ≥ 5.5, 2-h ≥ 9.0 mmol/L (NZSSD); in 2015 adopted a booking HbA1c (NZMOH). Primary outcome was a composite of macrosomia, perinatal death, preterm delivery, neonatal hypoglycaemia, and phototherapy. An Aus subset positive using NZSSD was also defined. RESULTS: The composite outcome odds ratio compared to IADPSG (1788 pregnancies) was higher for NZMOH (934 pregnancies) 2.227 (95%CI: 1.84–2.68), NZSSD (1344 pregnancies) 2.19 (1.83–2.61), and ADIPS98 (3452 pregnancies) 1.91 (1.66–2.20). Composite outcomes were similar between the Aus subset and NZ. Conclusions: The IADPSG diagnostic criteria were associated with the lowest rate of composite outcomes. Earlier NZ screening with HbA1c was not associated with a change in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
A Cross-Sectional Study on Pharmacy Students’ Career Choices in the Light of Saudi Vision 2030: Will Community Pharmacy Continue to Be the Most Promising, but Least Preferred, Sector?
Authors: Almaghaslah Dalia , Alsayari Abdulrhman , Almanasef Mona , Asiri Amjad
Published: April 2021

Introduction: The Saudi Arabian healthcare divisions that recruit and hire pharmacists include hospital pharmacy, community pharmacies, universities, and research centres. Local studies showed that hospital pharmacy is the most preferred sector, while community pharmacy is the least preferred. However, jobs in hospital pharmacy are limited compared to community pharmacy. Hence, to accommodate the increasing numbers of pharmacy graduates and to facilitate the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, which promotes primary healthcare and the participation of both private and non-governmental organisations in healthcare delivery, community pharmacy ought to be Saudised. This study was conducted to assess the career choices made by Saudi pharmacy students and the enablers that influence their career choice, especially in community pharmacy. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional approach was used. A total of 437 final year pharmacy students were recruited from 15 pharmacy schools around the country. Results: Salary and advancement opportunities as well as geographical location, benefits, and work environment were found to be “very important” enablers when making career decisions. Hospital pharmacy was selected as the most preferred sector by 242 (55.4%) of the participants, while community pharmacy was the least favoured pharmacy sector (17% or 6.2%). The enablers that might influence the consideration of a job in community pharmacy included career aspiration and social accountability. On the other hand, the barriers were personal beliefs about the sector and the nature of the work. Conclusions: The community pharmacy sector was found to be the least preferred sector to work in. The study revealed a list of enablers that the participants found to be relevant or of high relevance when choosing community pharmacy as a career pathway. Some of the enablers contribute to the role of the pharmacist towards the local community, social accountability, and towards the country’s Vision, such as interaction with the general public and educating them. Other enablers are related to the pharmacists’ career aspirations, such as owning a business. Some of the barriers that were found relevant include high workload, inflexible working hours, and limited opportunities for professional development. Localisation of community pharmacies would help to create more jobs for national pharmacists, increase the participation of female pharmacists in the workforce and support the achievement of Vision 2030. The barriers should be tackled on several levels: undergraduate curriculum, regulatory, and actual practice. Undergraduate education needs to include primary pharmaceutical care services in its curriculum. Regulatory changes include enforcing the renationalisation of the community pharmacy sector and permitting females to work in community pharmacies without location restrictions.
Rural Morphology and Forces Driving Change in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study in Fujian, China
Authors: Xiao Lishan , Shi Peiqi , Lin Tong , Chen Ning , Huang Sha
Published: April 2021

Rapid urbanization in China has transformed many rural areas from agriculture-dominated to diverse systems, but studies of rural morphology are limited compared to studies of urban settlement. This paper uses a fractal dimension (FD) value to analyze the change in rural morphology in Fujian Province, a region with a long history of rural settlement and rapid recent urbanization, and to explore the factors that influenced this change. We found that the rural FD value increased from 2000 to 2012 and that rural morphology was spatially heterogeneous. FD was generally lower than in urban areas but very close to a typical urban area value in the southeast coastal region. A structural equation model was used to identify key factors influencing rural morphology, which were natural conditions, rurality and economic development, while historic administration had the smallest positive effect. With a long history and unique administrative system, the spatial morphology of Chinese rural areas has shown characteristics distinct from compact urban or scattered rural areas. The urban planning method adopted by rural planners is not suitable in rural regions, because the planning potential of rural areas with high and low FD values varies. Although rural planning currently uses a very similar approach to urban planning, it should use a local, flexible and adaptive policy based on rural morphological characteristics.
A Cluster Analysis of University Commuters: Attitudes, Personal Norms and Constraints, and Travel Satisfaction
Authors: De Angelis Marco , Mantecchini Luca , Pietrantoni Luca
Published: April 2021

Higher education institutions are recognised as settings where the community’s awareness of sustainable mobility can be strengthened or reshaped. The first objective of the present study was to identify groups of commuters based on their modal choice in a large higher education institution in Italy. The second objective was to compare the groups on socio-demographic and psychosocial variables, specifically attitudes, personal norms, personal constraints, and travel satisfaction. The cluster analysis revealed five different types of commuters: car-oriented, two-wheeled urban users, pedestrians, long-distance commuters, and regular bus users. Attitudes, personal constraints and norms, and satisfaction differed in the five groups of commuters. The present study provides insights for behavioural change programmes and organizational policies on sustainable mobility.
Debt, Ownership, and Size: The Case of Hospitals in Poland
Authors: Miszczyńska Katarzyna , Miszczyński Piotr
Published: April 2021

The goal of this study is to compare the financial performance of public hospitals according to ownership and size. The study covered public hospitals in Poland and covered two hospitals types depending on their founding authority, i.e., hospitals established and financed by the Marshal’s Office (Marshal hospitals) or the City Hall (poviat-commune hospitals). The study was based on an analysis of the hospitals’ financial situation (using debt and solvency ratios) and its relationship to the founding body and size. The verification of hypotheses was carried out using the Mann–Whitney U test. The results led to the conclusion that the vast majority of public hospitals are indebted, and their ownership structure does not affect their financial condition. The study did not confirm a significant relationship between size or ownership and the financial status of the hospital. The article aims to fill the research gap regarding the debt analysis between different types of public hospitals. It also presents a new research direction aimed at finding the factors that determine the difficult financial situation of public hospitals in Poland.
Validity and Reliability of IPAQ-SF and GPAQ for Assessing Sedentary Behaviour in Adults in the European Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Meh Kaja , Jurak Gregor , Sorić Maroje , Rocha Paulo , Sember Vedrana
Published: April 2021

Current lifestyles are marked by sedentary behaviour; thus, it is of great importance for policymaking to have valid and reliable tools to measure sedentary behaviour in order to combat it. Therefore, the aim of this review and meta-analysis is to critically review, assess, and compile the reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity of the single-item sedentary behaviour questions within national language versions of most commonly used international physical activity questionnaires for adults in the European Union: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1749 records were screened, 287 full-text papers were read, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results and quality of studies were evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaires checklist. Meta-analysis indicated moderate to high reliability (rw = 0.59) and concurrent validity (rw = 0.55) of national language versions of single-item sedentary behaviour questions. Criterion validity was rather low (rw = 0.23) but in concordance with previous studies. The risk of bias analysis highlighted the poor reporting of methods and results, with a total bias score of 0.42. Thus, we recommend using multi-item SB questionnaires and smart trackers for providing information on SB rather than single-item sedentary behaviour questions in physical activity questionnaires.
Carbon Emissions in the SAARC Countries with Causal Effects of FDI, Economic Growth and Other Economic Factors: Evidence from Dynamic Simultaneous Equation Models
Authors: Latief Rashid , Kong Yusheng , Javeed Sohail Ahmad , Sattar Usman
Published: April 2021

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries like other developing countries are the major destination for foreign investors. At the same time, these countries are facing different climate change challenges. This study aims to inspect the economic determinants of carbon emissions (CE) and dynamic causal interaction of CE with foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (EG), and other economic factors using panel cointegration test, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and vector error correction model (VECM) for the SAARC countries. To make the homogenous analysis, we examined the association among variables for the individual country and as a group for the period 1990 to 2016. The panel results of this study confirmed the presence of the unidirectional causal association of EG with CE. The panel results of other economic factors confirmed the causality of urban population (UP) and energy consumption (EC) with CE. Moreover, the panel results of domestic capital (DS) and inflation rate (INF) confirmed the causal association with EG. Finally, the panel results of DS revealed a causality with FDI. Based on the above results, some policy guidelines are proposed.
Profiling Children Sexual Abuse in a Sample of University Students: A Study on Characteristic of Victims, Abusers, and Abuse Episodes
Authors: Castro Angel , Moreno José David , Maté Berta , Ibáñez-Vidal Javier , Barrada Juan Ramón
Published: April 2021

Because of its prevalence and its potential negative consequences, child sexual abuse (CSA) is a public health problem in every country in the world. Knowledge of the characteristics of abuse episodes (victim, abuser, relationship between them, type of sexual contact, duration, threat and/or use of force) is essential to specify the contents of intervention programs for the detection and reduction of the negative consequences of CSA. Starting with an initial sample of 1605 university students of both sexes (70.9% women, 29.1% men), aged between 18 and 26 years (M = 21.1, SD = 2.2), 90 participants who had suffered an episode of CSA up to age 16 were selected (84.4% women, 15.6% men; Mage = 21.1, SD = 2.2). It was found that: (1) there was a higher prevalence of CSA among women and that the victims’ average age when they suffered abuse was around 11 years; (2) the abusers were mostly male, close to the victims, and with an average of slightly less than 30 years; and (3) there was a significant proportion (25.6%) of CSA cases with penetration and in which force was used or threatened. These results are relevant, as they show that there is still a noteworthy prevalence of CSA cases on university campuses that needs to be addressed. Knowing the characteristics of these episodes is critical to implementing more effective interventions.
Association between Compliance with Movement Behavior Guidelines and Obesity among Malaysian Preschoolers
Authors: Lee Shoo Thien , Wong Jyh Eiin , Chan Geraldine K. L. , Poh Bee Koon
Published: April 2021

A daily balance of physical activities, sedentary behaviors and sleep are important for maintaining the health of young children. The aim of this study is to explore the association between 24-h movement behavior of Malaysian children aged 4 to 6 years with weight status. A total of 230 preschoolers were recruited from 22 kindergartens in Kuala Lumpur. Physical activity was assessed by Actical accelerometer while screen time and sleep duration were proxy-reported by parents. Children spent on average 5.5 ± 1.3 h on total physical activity (including 1.0 ± 0.4 h of moderate- vigorous physical activity), 3.0 ± 1.6 h on screen activities and 9.5 ± 1.3 h sleeping daily. The proportion of children who complied with physical activity and sleep guidelines were 48.7% and 55.2%, respectively. About 25.2% of children met screen time recommendation. Only 6.5% of children met all three age-specific physical activity, screen time and sleep guidelines. Children who met any two guidelines were less likely to be overweight or obesity compared to those who did not meet any of the guidelines (OR: 0.276; 95% CI: 0.080–0.950). In conclusion, Malaysian preschoolers have low compliance to movement behavior guidelines, especially in meeting screen time recommendations. Compliance to movement behavior guidelines was associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity.
Healthcare Contacts Regarding Circulatory Conditions among Swedish Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment, with and without On-Site Primary Healthcare
Authors: Bäckström Eric , Troberg Katja , Håkansson Anders , Dahlman Disa
Published: April 2021

Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) have increased mortality and morbidity, with circulatory conditions suggested to be a contributing factor. Since OST patients tend to have unmet physical healthcare needs, a small-scale intervention providing on-site primary healthcare (PHC) in OST clinics was implemented in Malmö, Sweden in 2016. In this study, we assessed registered circulatory conditions and healthcare utilization in OST patients with and without use of on-site PHC. Patients from four OST clinics in Malmö, Sweden, were recruited to a survey study in 2017–2018. Medical records for the participants were retrieved for one year prior to study participation (n = 192), and examined for circulatory diagnoses, examinations and follow-ups. Patients with and without on-site PHC were compared through descriptive statistics and univariate analyses. Eighteen percent (n = 34) of the sample had 1≤ registered circulatory condition, and 6% (n = 12) attended any clinical physiology examination or follow-up, respectively. Among patients utilizing on-site PHC (n = 26), the numbers were 27% (n = 7) for circulatory diagnosis, 15% (n = 4) for examinations, and 12% (n = 3) for follow-up. OST patients seem underdiagnosed in regard to their circulatory health. On-site PHC might be a way to diagnose and treat circulatory conditions among OST patients, although further research is needed.
Relative Handgrip Strength as Marker of Cardiometabolic Risk in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Sola-Rodríguez Sergio , Vargas-Hitos José Antonio , Gavilán-Carrera Blanca , Rosales-Castillo Antonio , Sabio José Mario , Hernández-Martínez Alba , Martínez-Rosales Elena , Ortego-Centeno Norberto , Soriano-Maldonado Alberto
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to examine the association of relative handgrip strength (rHGS) with cardiometabolic disease risk factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Seventy-seven women with SLE (mean age 43.2, SD 13.8) and clinical stability during the previous six months were included. Handgrip strength was assessed with a digital dynamometer and rHGS was defined as absolute handgrip strength (aHGS) divided by body mass index (BMI). We measured blood pressure, markers of lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]), and renal function. A clustered cardiometabolic risk index (z-score) was computed. Results: Pearson′s bivariate correlations revealed that higher rHGS was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglycerides, hs-CRP, PWV, and lower clustered cardiometabolic risk (rrange = from −0.43 to −0.23; all p < 0.05). Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted for age, disease activity (SLEDAI), and accrual damage (SDI) confirmed these results (all p < 0.05) except for triglycerides. Conclusions: The findings suggest that higher rHGS is significantly associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in women with SLE.
Hydrocephalus Following Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats with Different Aerobic Capacity
Authors: Toyota Yasunori , Shishido Hajime , Ye Fenghui , Koch Lauren G. , Britton Steven L. , Garton Hugh J. L. , Keep Richard F. , Xi Guohua , Hua Ya
Published: April 2021

Low aerobic capacity is considered to be a risk factor for stroke, while the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon are still unclear. The current study looked into the impacts of different aerobic capacities on early brain injury in a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model using rats bred for high and low aerobic capacity (high-capacity runners, HCR; low-capacity runners, LCR). SAH was modeled with endovascular perforation in HCR and LCR rats. Twenty-four hours after SAH, the rats underwent behavioral testing and MRI, and were then euthanized. The brains were used to investigate ventricular wall damage, blood–brain barrier breakdown, oxidative stress, and hemoglobin scavenging. The LCR rats had worse SAH grades (p < 0.01), ventricular dilatation (p < 0.01), ventricular wall damage (p < 0.01), and behavioral scores (p < 0.01). The periventricular expression of HO-1 and CD163 was significantly increased in LCR rats (p < 0.01 each). CD163-positive cells were co-localized with HO-1-positive cells. The LCR rats had greater early brain injuries than HCR rats. The LCR rats had more serious SAH and extensive ventricular wall damage that evolved more frequently into hydrocephalus. This may reflect changes in iron handling and neuroinflammation.
Cytoguardin: A Tryptophan Metabolite against Cancer Growth and Metastasis
Authors: Wu Kenneth K.
Published: April 2021

Cytoguardin was identified in the conditioned medium of fibroblasts as a tryptophan metabolite, 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP). It is synthesized via two enzymatic steps: tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase (HIOMT). A truncated HIOMT isoform, HIOMT298, catalyzes 5-MTP synthesis. Cancer cells produce scarce 5-MTP due to defective HIOMT298 expression. 5-MTP inhibits cancer cell COX-2 expression and thereby reduces COX-2-mediated cell proliferation and migration. 5-MTP also inhibits MMP-9 expression and thereby reduces cancer cell invasion. 5-MTP exerts its anti-cancer effect by blocking p38 MAPK and p38-mediated NF-κB and p300 HAT activation. The stable transfection of A549 cells with HIOMT298 restores 5-MTP production which renders cancer cells less aggressive. The implantation of HIOMT-transfected A549 into subcutaneous tissues of a murine xenograft tumor model shows that HIOMT-transduced A549 cells form smaller tumors and generate fewer metastatic lung nodules than control A549 cells. HIOMT298 transfection suppresses aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) expression and serotonin production. Serotonin is a cancer-promoting factor. By restoring 5-MTP and suppressing serotonin production, HIOMT298 overexpression converts cancer cells into less malignant phenotypes. The analysis of HIOMT expression in a human cancer tissue array showed reduced HIOMT levels in a majority of colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer. HIOMT298 may be a biomarker of human cancer progression. Furthermore, 5-MTP has the potential to be a lead compound in the development of new therapy for the chemoprevention of certain cancers such as hepatocellular cancer.
Metabolic Spectrum of Liver Failure in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: From NAFLD to NASH to HCC
Authors: Kim Hyunmi , Lee Da Som , An Tae Hyeon , Park Hyun-Ju , Kim Won Kon , Bae Kwang-Hee , Oh Kyoung-Jin
Published: April 2021

Liver disease is the spectrum of liver damage ranging from simple steatosis called as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinically, NAFLD and type 2 diabetes coexist. Type 2 diabetes contributes to biological processes driving the severity of NAFLD, the primary cause for development of chronic liver diseases. In the last 20 years, the rate of non-viral NAFLD/NASH-derived HCC has been increasing rapidly. As there are currently no suitable drugs for treatment of NAFLD and NASH, a class of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is sometimes used to improve liver failure despite the risk of side effects. Therefore, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the development and progression of NAFLD and NASH are important issues. In this review, we will discuss the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH and NAFLD/NASH-derived HCC and the current promising pharmacological therapies of NAFLD/NASH. Further, we will provide insights into “adipose-derived adipokines” and “liver-derived hepatokines” as diagnostic and therapeutic targets from NAFLD to HCC.
Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of Two Steroidogenic Genes TSPO and SMAD4 in Yellow Catfish
Authors: Chen Fang , Zhong Chong-Chao , Song Chang-Chun , Chen Shu-Wei , He Yang , Tan Xiao-Ying
Published: April 2021

The steroid hormones are required for gonadal development in fish. The present study was undertaken to characterize the cDNA and promoter sequences of TSPO and SMAD4 genes in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, explored the mRNA tissue expression and deciphered their promoter regions. Yellow catfish TSPO and SMAD4 shared the similar domains to the corresponding genes from other vertebrates. The TSPO and SMAD4 mRNAs were widely expressed in the detected tissues, but at different levels. Several transcription factors were predicted, such as Sp, GATA, AP1, SOX1, SRY, STAT, HNF4α, PPARγ, Pu.1 and FOXL2. PPARγ overexpression increased but STAT3 overexpression reduced TSPO promoter activity, and FOXL2 overexpression inhibited the promoter activity of TSPO and SMAD4. The site mutation and EMSA analysis indicated that TSPO promoter possessed STAT3 and FOXL2 sites. Overall, our provided the novel understanding into the transcriptionally regulatory mechanisms of TSPO and SMAD4 in fish.
Xanthohumol-Induced Rat Glioma C6 Cells Death by Triggering Mitochondrial Stress
Authors: Hou Shaozhi , Song Yang , Sun Di , Zhu Shujun , Wang Zhenhua
Published: April 2021

AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of xanthohumol (XN) on the proliferation inhibition and death of C6 glioma cells. METHODS: To determine the effects of XN on C6 cells, cell proliferation and mortality after XN treatment were assessed by SRB assay and trypan blue assay respectively. Apoptotic rates were evaluated by flowcytometry after Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The influence of XN on the activity of caspase-3 was determined by Western blot (WB); and nuclear transposition of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was tested by immunocytochemistry and WB. By MitoSOXTM staining, the mitochondrial ROS were detected. Mitochondrial function was also tested by MTT assay (content of succinic dehydrogenase), flow cytometry (mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)—JC-1 staining; mitochondrial abundance—mito-Tracker green), immunofluorescence (MMP—JC-1 staining; mitochondrial morphology—mito-Tracker green), WB (mitochondrial fusion-fission protein—OPA1, mfn2, and DRP1; mitophagy-related proteins—Pink1, Parkin, LC3B, and P62), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (energy charge). Finally, mitochondrial protein homeostasis of C6 cells after XN treatment with and without LONP1 inhibitor bortezomib was investigated by trypan blue assay (proliferative activity and mortality) and WB (mitochondrial protease LONP1). All cell morphology images were taken by a Leica Microsystems microscope. RESULTS: XN could lead to proliferation inhibition and death of C6 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induce apoptosis of C6 cells through the AIF pathway. After long incubation of XN, mitochondria of C6 cells were seriously impaired, and mitochondria had a diffuse morphology and mitochondrial ROS were increased. The content of succinic dehydrogenase per cell was significantly decreased after XN insults of 24, 48, and 72 h. The energy charge was weakened after XN insult of 24 h. Furthermore, the MMP and mitochondrial abundance were significantly decreased; the protein expression levels of OPA1, mfn2, and DRP1 were down-regulated; and the protein expression levels of Pink1, Parkin, LC3B-II/LC3B-I, and p62 were up-regulated in long XN incubation times (24, 48, and 72 h). XN incubation with bortezomib for 48 h resulted in lower proliferative activity and higher mortality of C6 cells and caused the cell to have visible vacuoles. Moreover, the protein expression levels of LONP1 was up-regulated gradually as XN treatment time increased. CONCLUSION: These data supported that XN could induce AIF pathway apoptosis of the rat glioma C6 cells by affecting the mitochondria.
Effect of Posttranslational Modifications on the Structure and Activity of FTO Demethylase
Authors: Marcinkowski Michał , Pilžys Tomaš , Garbicz Damian , Piwowarski Jan , Mielecki Damian , Nowaczyk Grzegorz , Taube Michał , Gielnik Maciej , Kozak Maciej , Winiewska-Szajewska Maria , Szołajska Ewa , Dębski Janusz , Maciejewska Agnieszka M. , Przygońska Kaja , Ferenc Karolina , Grzesiuk Elżbieta , Poznański Jarosław
Published: April 2021

The FTO protein is involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including adipogenesis and osteogenesis. This two-domain protein belongs to the AlkB family of 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG)- and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases, displaying N6-methyladenosine (N6-meA) demethylase activity. The aim of the study was to characterize the relationships between the structure and activity of FTO. The effect of cofactors (Fe2+/Mn2+ and 2-OG), Ca2+ that do not bind at the catalytic site, and protein concentration on FTO properties expressed in either E. coli (ECFTO) or baculovirus (BESFTO) system were determined using biophysical methods (DSF, MST, SAXS) and biochemical techniques (size-exclusion chromatography, enzymatic assay). We found that BESFTO carries three phosphoserines (S184, S256, S260), while there were no such modifications in ECFTO. The S256D mutation mimicking the S256 phosphorylation moderately decreased FTO catalytic activity. In the presence of Ca2+, a slight stabilization of the FTO structure was observed, accompanied by a decrease in catalytic activity. Size exclusion chromatography and MST data confirmed the ability of FTO from both expression systems to form homodimers. The MST-determined dissociation constant of the FTO homodimer was consistent with their in vivo formation in human cells. Finally, a low-resolution structure of the FTO homodimer was built based on SAXS data.